What is xiao xue?
November 6, 2013
If a Chinese child saw this question, he would laugh, because everybody knows “xiao xue” is Chinese for the primary school. But the “xiao xue” here refers to some other thing. It was the traditional..
Learn MoreLeave some leeway
November 6, 2013
“Leeway” refers to room for maneuver in speech or action, implying that people should reserve opportunities to retreat or make new choices. Lao Zi(circa 600-500 B.C.), a philosopher of the late Spring and Autumn Period,..
Learn MoreZhajiang Mian, Dandan Mian and Regan Mian
November 6, 2013
“Zhajiang Mian” (fried sauce noodles) is a northern Chinese dish consisting of thick wheat noodles topped with a mixture of ground pork stir-fried with fermented soybean paste. In Beijing cuisine, soybean paste id used, while..
Learn MoreThe First Emperor of China Qin Shi Huang
November 6, 2013
If you have a general idea about Chinese history, you might know Qin Shi Huang, he called himself the first emperor of China. He was born in c. 259 B.C. in the northwest China. His..
Learn MoreThe Tea-Horse Road (Ⅰ): The Origin
November 6, 2013
As its name suggests, the Tea-Horse Road was a central trade route for exchanges during the Han people’s tea and the Tibetan horses. The road stretched across more than 4,000 km, mainly through southwestern China…
Learn More(Ⅰ)Vigil on the Lunar New Year’s Eve : the Meaning and Origin
November 5, 2013
It is a tradition for the Chinese people to stay up on the lunar New Year’s Eve. The tradition begins with an extended dinner of celebration, which may last from dusk to midnight. By staying..
Learn MoreThe Origin of Chinese Embroidered Shoes
November 5, 2013
Chinese embroidered shoes are reputed as “Chinese shoes” as they are characteristic of Chinese culture and elements. In the Spring and Warrior States periods dating back more than 600 years, the capital of Jin was..
Learn More(i) The Nine-Times-Nine Days of Winter – the nine-times-nine song
November 5, 2013
In China, when people write or speak, they frequently make use of such idioms such as “the cold falls on the third nine-day period in winter” or “the coldest days of the year in the..
Learn MoreChildren’s Worship of Lord Rabbit
November 5, 2013
The Lord Rabbit is a typical Chinese toy for the children. In the past, the dolls of Lord Rabbit were customarily given to children on Mid-Autumn Festival. When people worshipped the moon, they would make..
Learn MoreWolf Totem
November 5, 2013
In traditional Chinese culture, the wolf has always been the embodiment of ruthlessness and cunning and a natural enemy of mankind. A very familiar Chinese fable is, “Mr. Tung-kuo and the wolf”. It’s a story..
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