In the regions of the Yi and Bai ethnic groups, there is a popular saying, “The theme of the Spring Festival is eating while the theme of the Torch Festival is playing.” The Torch Festival begins from the twenty fourth of the sixth lunar month and lasts for three days. On the nights of the festival, holding […]
Reassure the enemy to make it slack, work in secret to subdue it; prepare fully before taking action to prevent the enemy from changing its mind: This is the method of hiding a strong will under a compliant appearance. The idiom represents an archetype in world literature: a person with a smiling face and a […]
Change the enemy’s formation frequently, dislocate its main force and deal the blow when it tends towards defeat. Stop the wheel. Battle formations are a common feature in early military history of China. A typical formation has a central axle (heavenly beam)extending from the front to the rear and a horizontal axle(earthly pillar)connecting the left […]
Lucky knot is a favorite auspicious sign in China. According to Buddhist explanation, the lucky knot means “with winding encirclement, everything is clear”. This has already denoted the meaning that everything goes well and all roads are unblocked. The pattern of the lucky knot is various geometric figures are formed by well-regulated lines of silk […]
The story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai is the so-called “Chinese Romeo and Julie”, it is based on a historical legend known to every Chinese. In feudal China, love as young people’s own choice was considered to be devious from the norm of the society. Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai were classmates. Liang Shanbo […]
Xu Xiake(1587~1641) was a descriptive Ming Chinese travel writer and geographer noted for his bravery and humility. He visited southwestern China for years. His sobriquet is Zhenzhi. Xiake was an alternate given to him by one of his friend, and it means “onewho is in the sunset clouds”. After 30 years of traveling, he wrote […]
Some Chinese people like to keep a bowl of gold fish in their office. They think this can bring good luck in dealing with office politics and in their career. That is what we call Feng Shui or geomancy. Feng Shui is not a kind of superstition as many people think. It is a juxtaposition […]
Since ancient times, noodles have not only fed the Chinese but also brought them plenty of fun. In China, noodles can be eaten in so many ways: by cutting them with scissors, chopping them with a knife, tearing them with one’s hand, stretching them, and pulling them with chopsticks. Shaved Noodles is one of them. […]
There is an old popular Chinese saying that “A white face covers 10 ugly parts”. In Chinese’s mind, no matter men or women, they always think that having a white skin is the most important thing to judge a person is beautiful or not, especially for women. But that kind of white skin should be […]
In Chinese traditional tea culture, making Kungfu tea has certain etiquette. The tea set, small and exquisite, comprises a pot and some cups. Pure and mineral water is usually suggested to brew the tea. At first, you should rinse all vessels with hot water to make it ready to receive the tea; this signifies the […]