If you have seen the Chinese classical work “Journey to the West”, you may notice every time when the Monkey King comes to a new place, he will knock the ground with his Jinggu-bang (golden-cudgel, its weapon) to ask the local Earth God about the situation of the place. Such a local Earth God is […]
In China, around the Song Dynasty, tea was used as the engagement gift, for the reason that “All tea plants have seeds and the plant will die if moved”, which symbolizes the loyalty and fertility of the couple. A man’s giving betrothal gifts to his fiancée is called “to give tea” or “to pass tea”, […]
Colorful painting is one of the most original designs in Chinese building. It is originally for protecting wood structure against dump and corrosion and insect-eating, afterwards the press of it is just the adornment. After Song Dynasty, the colorful paintings have become the indispensable adornment of palace. It is divided into 3 grades. The highest […]
yù bàng xiāng zhēng，yú wēng dé lì 鹬蚌相争, 渔翁得利 This is a very popular Chinese fable. A clam swam to the bank and opened its shell in the sun. a snipe flew over and saw it. It dived to the ground and pecked at it. Before the snipe drew back its beak, it was gripped […]
There is a saying in Chinese, “The magistrates are free to set fire, while the common people are forbidden even to light lantern”. Here is a story. In the Song Dynasty (960-1279A.D.), a mahistrate named Tian Deng made it a taboo to say the word “deng” or its homonyms to show his dignity. At the […]
The Spring Festival Picture is a special type of painting in China. It is used during the Spring Festival. It is originated in the Pre-Qin Period (before 221 B.C.). People paste the images of various gods on both sides of the door, expecting them to ward off the evils and usher in good luck. In […]
The phrase “finding a new trail” is often used to mean independently developing a new style or method. There are many Chinese sayings that refer to “tunnel vision”, such as “Don’t stick to only one path until you walk into complete darkness,” “a single-track mind” and “one who refuses to turn back until running into […]
Initially made in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), “Tang Sancai” (tri-colored glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty) is well-known for its gorgeous glaze and exquisite shape. “Tang Sancai” was mainly used as articles buried with the dead in the graves. They are based on brown, yellow and blue, with white, reddish brown, light yellow, jade […]
Ancient Chinese considered marriage as the origin of all ceremonies. Ceratin rules and formalities had to be observed and certain gifts had to be presented. In the Tang Dynasty, custom went so that tea was treated as a betrothal gift. Since the Song Dynasty, tea was even more closely related to wedding. A betrothal gift […]
In China, there is a Magpie Bridge. You may feel surprised and wonder if the bridge is made of magpies. Actually, it is true. So that isn’t a real bridge, but a bridge in a beautiful legend. There was once a fair girl named Zhinv who lived in heaven. She fell in love with a […]