Make a false move to tie up the main force of the enemy. It is of benefit to set forth in conformity to the situation. The idiom refers to the strategy used by Liu Bang, founder of the Han Dynasty, when he embarked on a campaign against his rival contender for the empire, Xiang Yu. […]
When circumscribed in situation and restricted in disposition, seek profit from nearby and keep peril at distance. Fire above the lake. In the late Warring States period, Qin emerged as the most powerful state and proceeded to destroy its rivals to gain control of all China. Though superior to any other single state, Qin was […]
In Dali Yunnan Province, there is a famous tea—Dali Three-Cup Tea, it is prepared for the respectful guests. The 1st cup is completely bitter; the 2nd cup is made of sweet ingredients, like walnut, lotus seed and jujube etc. So it is quite pleasant to try this cup. The 3rd cup is for you to […]
There is a very popular Chinese story about tolerance and understanding. Zhang and Ye were neighbors. Each family wanted to push their outer wall further to the other side. No sooner had one family pushed its wall outwards by one foot than the other family would push its wall in the opposite direction by 2 […]
Chinese people like to eat together; this tradition can be traced a long time ago. It reflects the Chinese notion of union versus division—round tables, round dishes, and round bowls all symbolize union and perfection. Dishes are usually placed at the center of the table so that everyone around the table can share them. A […]
Wu Hua Ba Men is a frequently-used Chinese idiom. It stands for variety and changeability. The literal meaning of “Wu hua” is five flowers and eight doors for “ba men”. Actually, Wu Hua Ba Men used to refer the various trades. Of “wu hua”, “jin hua” referred to tea girls; “mu mian hua”, traditional Chinese […]
In Chinese, there are various forms of the address for a wife and each of them boasts different meanings. “huang hou” : an empress. “fu ren”: the wives of the dukes and princes. “zao kang”: one’s wife who has shared his hard a lot. “tai tai”: used by the common people in the old times […]
Unlike Greek architecture, which is an organic combination of blocks, Chinese traditional architecture emphasized unobstructedness and tone, and displays the rich variance and connotation of the tone with innumerable flowing lines. Large, solid walls not only function as a protective surrounding defense, they also embody tranquility. Secluding the residence from the outside world, the […]
In China, except for drinking alcohol on auspicious moments, people also drink on some sad moments, such as to show respect to the dead. In ancient China, when a dead person was buried, some alcohol was usually placed into the tomb. This meant that even the dead went to another world; he or she can […]
In ancient China, the royal families liked to enjoy music and dances very much, also they used this kind of entertainment to celebrate some important days. Thus it gave the chance for the development of court music. The most famous period is the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) with its “zuobuji” and “libuji”. It is said […]