The Red Envelopes—the Hong Bao, Lai See or Ang Pow— is a very important part of Chinese history and traditions. Here, we will discuss all you need to know about the hongbao and let us begin with a brief discussion about the philosophy behind the red envelopes.
The Chinese are known for their mysticism and their ability to tell the future in a variety of ways, using different materials that hold some semblance of importance for them. One of these ways involves the use of what is called Chinese fortune sticks.
The Chinese Pagoda is considered one of the most unique and important buildings in ancient Chinese architecture with its distinct style of construction. Pagoda structures can be made from various different materials: stone, brick, and wood, among others.
Baoding balls, also known as Chinese meditation balls, exercise balls, or sometimes Zen meditation balls, are a pair of relatively small balls, each of them small enough to be held in one hand. Baoding balls are typically used by rolling both them (or sometimes, more) repeatedly in the palm of your hand, where the relative positions of the balls are constantly switching. This exercise is intended to improve finger dexterity, relaxation, as well as aiding the recovery of motor skills and muscle strength after injury.
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.