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.
Throughout the long tapestry of Chinese history, few groups have held a position as unique, complex, and frequently misunderstood as the imperial eunuchs. To modern readers, the practice of castration may seem distant, yet within…
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 MeÄnÇš). 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.
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.…
It’s a well-known history that the Great Wall was built originally to repel foreign invaders. As China’s historic landmark and one of the most important world cultural heritage sites, the Great Wall stretches more than 5,000 miles along the Northern borders of China.
Fortune-telling is an important part of Chinese social life and culture. Suan Ming (算命), or fate calculation, has a long history in China, with roots in divination and primordial religion. Nevertheless, many aspects of it have persisted to the present day and continue to be quite popular, even among young people.
For much of history, women in China were expected to follow the “Three Obediences and Four Virtues” (三从四德), a Confucian doctrine that emphasized submission to fathers, husbands, and sons. Their roles were largely confined to…
