The Maneki Neko is a traditional Japanese figurine, which is also extremely popular in Chinese culture. Here are all you have to know about “the lucky cat”. If you’ve ever visited a Japanese restaurant, Chinese store, or any other Eastern Asian businesses, you might have noticed a cat figurine with…
Chinese Porcelain – Types, History, Identification
Chinese porcelain is one of the most unique products of the history of Chinese culture. Unlike porcelain equipment, tools, and ornaments we see in western countries, Chinese porcelains have unique translucency and luster, giving the Chinese earthenware rather unique characteristics and popularity over…
Guide to Chinese Jade – History, Meanings, Properties
Jade has been a very important part of the Chinese tradition, and the history between the Chinese culture and jade has been recorded for a very long time and can be traced back to as early as the Neolithic era (10,000–4,500 BCE) with records showing how the ancient Chinese during the period has worn…
Lucky Bamboo in Feng Shui (Meaning, Placement, Care)
The lucky bamboo is a real bamboo plant, typically from the species Dracaena sanderiana. It is relatively small and you can put it in a pot and place it indoors as a Feng Shui charm, and it is quite aesthetically-pleasing so it can also act as a decoration. The lucky bamboo has been popular for centuries…
Baoding Balls: History, Benefits, and How To Use Them
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…
Chinese Traditional Masks (Types – History – Meaning)
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…