Art and Culture

Art | Music | Poetry | Literature | Culture | New Science | Ancient Cultivation Stories

Poem: A Call

2007-02-14

A call to end injusticeto expose the vicious crimesa call to awaken the worldwhere hearts still all too blind.A call for precious truthfor innocent lives now losta call against a brutal regimeand its ‘means to an end’ at any cost.

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Poem: Change

2007-02-13

Change like a sunrisespringtime in the airchange like a flowerunfolding fruit to bear.Change in the coming tideever closer to shorechange from winter’s coldtraversing oceans and more.

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Painting: Flowers and Plants

2007-02-12

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Stories from Ancient China: Repaying Ingratitude with Selfless Justice

2007-02-08

The sages have all praised and advocated tolerance over grievance, and consider it a remarkable virtue. Confucius said, "Repay ingratitude with justice." Justice means fairness. Didn’t Jin Zhong’s actions epitomise this concept? Lao Zi also said, "Repay ingratitude with goodness," which is a higher requirement for people.

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Painting: Force Feeding

2007-02-07

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Painting: Viewing the Plum Tree Blossom

2007-02-06

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Drawing: Lotus Flowers

2007-02-05

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Painting: Why?

2007-02-04

This painting is based on a true story. A mother and son were arrested in China simply because they practise Falun Gong. Being beaten, the boy held back his tears asking: Why? Why did the policemen beat my mom and me?

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Poem: A Man of Courage

2007-02-03

A man of courage and consciencerisking life for a greater causea man of heart and hopeholding back the 'wolves'* at the door.

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Stories from Ancient China: What Goes Around Comes Around

2007-02-02

The other replied, "He is a man of very good fortune. When he reaches 17 he will pass the entrance exam for a government-official training school and at age 19 will graduate and become a county official. He will advance rapidly in his career and enjoy a comfortable life." The first divine gestured toward Li Fu and asked, "What about him?" The second divine being answered, "He is a man with no luck and will have neither money nor power all his life." With those words, the two divine beings flew up and disappeared behind the closed Heavenly Gate. Li Fu awoke puzzled, and told his dream to his parents and friends.

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A Noble Man Has the Same Characteristics as Jade

2007-02-01

The Chinese and the western world view jade differently. In western mineralogy and petrology, rocks and minerals are studied based on physics and chemistry. Scientists research their ingredients and how they were formed. They are classified and appraised based on their investigations. However, the ancient Chinese studied rocks and minerals with a connection with the realm of thoughts.

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Kind, Gracious, and Forgiving, Du Lide Refuses to Respond to Abuse

2007-01-31

Du Lide, also called Chunyi, was from Baodi in Shuntian (current Baodi Area in Tianjin City) in the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911 AD). He ranked high as the minister of Etiquette, and he was honoured as a private teacher for princes. He was known for his kindness, graciousness, and forgiveness in both his public and private life.

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Stories from Ancient China: Dealing with Verbal Insults in a Calm and Righteous Way

2007-01-30

When, finally, the person was done with his cursing, Sakyamuni asked him with a smile: "My friend, when a person gives something to another person and if the person refuses to accept it, then who shall own the thing?" That person answered offhandedly: "Of course it belongs to the giver." Sakyamuni said: "That's right. You have been cursing me until now. If I don't accept your cursing, then who will receive the cursing?"

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Painting: Plum Tree Blossoms

2007-01-29

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Stories from Ancient China: Virtue Brings Prosperity to One's Family

2007-01-27

A couple of years later, Zhang Ying's father again dreamt of Wang Dun who was to be born into his family. He scolded Wang, "You're indeed a minister of dishonesty. You want to fool me again. I won't have you." Wang Dun answered, "I looked around each of the major families south of the Yangtze River. No single family matches yours in terms of blissfulness and virtue. I'm not going to leave this time."

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