Today, Chinese masks are usually associated with Chinese New Year or Chinese opera. Those are the two most common occasions when we can see people wearing them. In the past, they had more functions - from scaring evil spirits to celebrating various events. If you were wondering what do all these masks actually mean, you will find the answer to that and many other questions here.
In this article, we explore the specificities of Chinese opera, its rich history and everything you need to know about the symbolism involved in this intriguing art form.
For centuries, one of the most haunting symbols of beauty in Chinese history was something few would dare to call beautiful today: bound feet. Known as “lotus feet,” this tradition altered the lives—and bones—of millions…
Diao Chan 貂蟬 is the only Great Beauty who has no historical records. She became a legendary figure after being portrayed as a heroic figure in the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms,"(Aff.link) a famous work of Chinese literature.
A long time ago, in ancient China, there were four beautiful women who are now known as the "Four Great Beauties" 四大美女 (Sì Dà Meĭnǚ). They were said to be the most beautiful ladies in ancient China. Each of them has been the source of an expression used to describe someone of remarkable beauty.
This time I will share with you a fable from the book "Leaves From My Chinese Scrapbook "by Henry Balfour (as always, you can find the link to this book at the end of the article). Based on Confucius' teachings, this story focuses on Mr. Fan's son, Tzŭ-hua, and a modest man named Shang Ch'iu-k'ai. Through their story, we learn an important lesson about the power of faith and the influence one person can have on others.
Qiu Jin was born in 1875, during the final decades of the Qing dynasty—a time of deep unrest in China. Foreign interference, internal rebellions, and the decline of imperial rule created a nation in crisis.…
The Hungry Ghost Festival is one of the Chinese major festivals that is focused on venerating the ancestors, just like other festivals like the famous Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Festival) and the Double Ninth Festival.The Hungry Ghost Festival is also known as the Zhongyuan Festival (中元節), and is celebrated every 15th day of the 7th month. As with any other Chinese Festivals
The stories of great emperors are frequently rich in insights and teachings that transcend time in the history of ancient China's wisdom. One of these stories is the Yellow Emperor fable by Lieh Tzu, about an emperor whose journey from self-indulgence to self-discovery reveals the real meaning of contentment and the way to effective leadership.
As the name “Double Seventh” suggests, the Festival is held every 7th day of the 7th month. However, keep in mind that as with other Chinese Festivals, the Double Seventh Festival, or also called Qixi Festival (七夕), is celebrated based on the Chinese Lunar Calendar rather than our Gregorian Calendar, so it is celebrated on different dates each month, typically around July or August.