Art and Culture

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

Poem: Lotus in Flower

2006-01-01

Watching the worldwith many sails furledyet a light emergesin China’s darkest hour.The world awakenstruth no longer forsakenChina’s heart to blossomlike a lotus in flower.

more ...
Stories from Ancient China: Accepting Criticism Improves Conduct, Allowing Bad Habits to be Prevented

2005-12-31

Tangtaizong said, "That is true, indeed. When I am doing something wrong, you need to admonish me as soon as I begin. I found that in previous dynasties some emperors did not like to hear their officials admonish them. They always said, 'It is done already,' or 'I have given my consent already,' and did not want to correct themselves. In this way, how could they avoid failing?"

more ...
Painting: Lady with Plum Blossom

2005-12-30

Ms. Zhang is an Australia Citizen, and has been a tireless ambassador for human rights, since the conclusion of her eight-month long experience of torture and incarceration in Chinese prisons, for peacefully appealing the communist regime's persecution of Falun Gong.

more ...
Painting: One Lotus Flower - One World

2005-12-29

Lotus flowers grow out of mud yet remain pure and unpolluted. They are called the 'true gentlemen of flowers'. Poems about lotus flowers started to appear in China three or four thousand years ago. Legend has it that the Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss is filled with lotus flowers whose majestic beauty cannot be described in words.

more ...
The Relationship Between Warrior Lian Po and Superior Minister Who As He Wishes Lin Xiangru

2005-12-28

Lian Po thought of his achievements in battle and compared himself to Lin Xiangru, who was born in a humble family. How could Lin Xiangru be placed higher in rank than he simply because of his ability to talk? Lian Po felt quite distressed and claimed repeatably that, if he ever met up with Lin Xiangru, he would teach him a lesson and dishonour him to his face. Against his expectations, he never saw Lin Xiangru whenever he went to the court, making him even more furious.

more ...
Stories from Ancient China: A True Gentleman Behaves in a Modest Manner, Naturally Gaining the Respect of the People

2005-12-27

After Zhao Kuangyin became the emperor, he once asked Cao, “In the past, I always wanted to get to know you better. Why did you deliberately keep your distance and stay away from me?” Cao Bin replied, “I was a close relative of the former Zhou emperor and was also an official in his court. I was concentrating on fulfilling my duties and not making any mistakes. How did I dare to befriend Your Majesty?” The Emperor thought even more highly of him because of his honest answer.

more ...
The Emperor's Greed Destroys His Country; An Official's Greed Destroys His Body

2005-12-26

"The Emperor's greed destroys his country while an official's greed destroys his body." This was what Emperor Taizong, the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty, used to exhort his government officials not to take bribes or practise graft, and to caution himself. Emperor Taizong and his officials managed to rule the country by virtue and, through this, bring peace and stability. Together they made the Great Tang Dynasty one of the most prosperous in China's history.

more ...
Music: Following the Righteous Way Back Home

2005-12-25

Following the Righteous Way Back HomeAleksey said that he transfered his feelings he experienced during his cultivation into this piece of music: to be calm and peaceful, to be simple and pure so as to be less restrained by all human attachments, to experience bliss beyond human happiness and to be enlightened. He said he felt calm and peaceful when he played this piece of music.

more ...
Poem: Life's Music, On First Encountering the Tao

2005-12-24

Whether bright spring,Or in the shade of the dayEach his own aspires,To hear life’s music play.

more ...
Poem: Realms of the Divine

2005-12-23

From the human worldto realms of the divinefrom the coarsest of sandto gold refined.

more ...
Poem: From Ways of Old

2005-12-22

From every cornerof the cosmos we comehere midst the shadowsof this human domain.

more ...
Stories from Ancient China: Being Arrogant and Having No Fear Provokes Disaster, Step on Rugged Terrain with Modest Discretion

2005-12-21

Ji Xiaolan remarked, “Out of all the major character flaws, there is almost nothing worse than being arrogant and fearless, thinking one has things that he can rely on. People who rely on their wealth are often defeated because of their wealth. People who rely on their power are often defeated because of their power. People who rely on wisdom are often defeated because of their wisdom. People who rely on their strength are often defeated because of their strength."

more ...
Ancient Cultivation Stories: To Be a Prime Minister or a Deity?

2005-12-20

On that occasion, the priest was delighted and spoke amicably with Li Linfu: “I have been in this human world for five hundred years and saw your name listed in the register of deities. If you cultivate, you will rise up to heaven in broad daylight to be a deity. If you do not wish to be a deity, you will be a prime minister with great powers for twenty years. You go home today and give it some thought. Three days later, at the fifth watch we shall meet again.”

more ...
Poem: The Last Winter Fades

2005-12-19

Where mountains rise steepestskies beckon brightestworlds from languishing to luminous.When the last winter fadesand truth no longer a masqueradehearts come wide to wondrous.

more ...
Stories from Ancient China: Feet Create the Path - No Effort Means No Progress

2005-12-18

If you really study, then even the most challenging subject can become easy. On the other hand, if you don't want to study, then even the easiest assignment becomes difficult. If one relies on his own intellect and educational background but refuses to study more, then the person will destroy his future. Those who refused to be discouraged by their own average intelligence and capability and continued to learn did obtain success through their own efforts.

more ...