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Stories from Ancient China: Confucius Learns to Play the Harp

2006-08-07

Confucius, the most famous Chinese thinker and educator of the 5th Century BC, once took lessons on the harp with the musician Shi Xiangzi. One day, Shi Xiangzi gave him a new piece of music without mentioning its name. Confucius started to practice.

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Painting: In Harmony

2006-08-06

This painting depicts a young woman doing the fifth exercise of Falun Gong, "Way of Strengthening Divine Powers." The clear water and blue sky reflect her tranquility and give a feeling of her union with heaven while she meditates. The four "Cherubs" play amidst an energy field.

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Stories from Ancient China: Sun Simiao, Renowned Physician from the Tang Dynasty

2006-08-05

Sun Simiao, a renown physician from the Tang Dynasty, possessed superb medical skills. Because he was upright, honest, and noble, and healed many people, he was thus respectfully named the King of Medicine.

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Drawing: Bamboo

2006-08-04

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Stories from Ancient China: Gentlemen Hold No Worries or Fear

2006-08-03

Confucius had a disciple named Sima Niu, whose brother wanted to hunt down and kill Confucius because the latter had criticised his secret and illegal city wall construction. As a result, Confucius and his disciples could no longer stay in the Song Kingdom.

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Poem: Light Come Shining

2006-08-02

A light come shiningthe “Great Buddha Law”where all shadows waneand fall no more.Transforming Chinaencompassing the worldfrom one sail’s voyageto 100 million unfurled.

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Poem: Coming of Dawn

2006-08-01

Drawing the worldinto the deepest winterlands shadowed undera blood-red cloudwhere hearts darkenedmany a conscience blindand freedom calls too far from the crowd.

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Painting: Inhumane

2006-07-31

Prison guards are submerging a man's head into a bucket of human feces. One of the guards covers his own nose because of the odour, whilst a pregnant Falun Gong practitioner is hanging motionless in the background.

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Stories from Ancient China: Zhou Wen Wang’s Virtue

2006-07-30

When Wen Wang heard words beneficial to the public he would follow and put them into reality. When he heard upright criticism and advice, he would definitely accept and follow the advice. As a result, catastrophes and dangerous situations stopped occurring in his kingdom, and suffering and epidemics no longer existed.

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The Role of Colours in Traditional Chinese Culture

2006-07-29

For several thousand years in the history of China, other than the Pre-Qin and Qin dynasties, the Chinese people have used brilliant colours. Today, red is a very popular colour in modern China. But the ancient people before the Ming Dynasty did not pay special attention to the colour red, contrary to modern people's assumptions.

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The Importance of Etiquette

2006-07-28

Xiao Yixin, the wife of Liao State (916--1125 A.D.) official Ye Lunu, was known for displaying the traditional virtues of a Chinese lady. Her father was the emperor's son-in-law and her mother was Princess Hutu. Xiao Yixin, who was beautiful both inside and outside, married at 20 and never failed to respect her parents and love her family.

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Poem: Destined to Light

2006-07-27

A journey across endless seasonswhere cease bothtime and tideleading hearts throughrage of bitter storma path rising narrowuntil horizons wide.

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Ancient Cultivation Stories: Cultivation of Speech

2006-07-26

During the time of Jiaye Tathagata, there was a young monk who sang well. Because of his abilities he usually looked down upon the other monks while singing songs of praise of the Buddha together with them. He believed that his voice was superior to others with its clear, rich and deep qualities. He behaved arrogantly and always demonstrated that he was extraordinary.

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Poem: A Rogue Shadow

2006-07-25

A rogue shadowacross sky and fieldwhere truth subsidesand conscience yields.This China greyfrom fruits defilednow a silken roadbeyond lands beguiled.

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Poem: Bitter this Harvest

2006-07-24

Bitter this harvestevery seed to sourChina’s darkest disguisebearing blood and lies.Hearts forged redmany an evil handwith life betrayedunder sharpest blade.

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