CHINESE CULTURE
Why Standardized Tests Are Not as Valuable as They Once Were
Standardized testing, as we know it today, originated in ancient China. Used as a system to gather the...
Li Bai: The Star of China’s Golden Age of Poetry
If any verses of ancient Chinese poetry continue to uplift the spirit and impress the intellect of today...
Practical Feng Shui – Energize Your Space and Spirit Through Ancient Principles of Geomancy
Feng shui (風水), translated literally as “wind water,” is the ancient Chinese practice of aligning physical...
The Dunhuang Caves: An Earthly Glimpse Into Otherworldly Realms
In China’s northwest, on the edge of the Gobi Desert, lies a town that was once a blessed stopover for...
The Orchid Pavilion: A Celebration of Beauty in Poetry, Calligraphy, and Music
It was the third day of the third lunar month of the year 353. Wang Xizhi, the greatest calligrapher...
The Many Benefits of Rose Water and How to Make It
Roses have been treasured for thousands of years, not only for their intoxicating fragrance, but also...
Tai Chi: The Daoist Martial Art of Winning Without Fighting
It is said that during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279), in the twelfth century, a man called Zhang...
Want a Healthy Halloween Treat? Try the Weird and Wonderful Water Caltrop
What is a nutty fruit — shaped like a bat — that’s both auspicious and delicious? It’s a water caltrop...
The Virtuous King Wen: Forging a Legacy for the Ages in an Era of Corruption
An important concept in the history of China’s many dynastic governments is tian ming (天命), or the Mandate...