Culture

Stories from Ancient China: The Humiliation of Crawling between a Ruffian's Legs

2006-08-20

Han Xin, a famous general during the Han Dynasty about 2,200 years ago, made great contributions in helping Emperor Liu Bang to establish the dynasty. Han Xin's achievements have been praised by Chinese till this day, so is his great capacity to endure humiliation.

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Kuang Heng’s Remarks on "Disasters and Unusual Phenomena" and "The Emperor Leads by Example"

2006-08-15

Kuang Heng was a man of Cheng County in Donghai area during the Western Han Dynasty. He was eager to learn and had many insights into both history and current events. He was recommended to the emperor for his wisdom, capabilities, and superior knowledge of the I Ching, also known as The Book of Changes.

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Stories from Ancient China: Respectfulness

2006-08-11

When Mr. Xiao Deyan was Scholar at the Hongwen Institute he always took baths, kept his body and mind clean, wore clean clothes, and sat upright seriously and respectfully each time he began to read scriptures or to teach a class. Once, his wife said to him, "At such an old age, why do you have to make things so hard for yourself?" Mr. Xiao Deyan replied, "Scriptures are teachings passed down from our ancestor saints. How could I be afraid of being laborious?"

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Photography: Heavenly Lotus Flower

2006-08-09

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Stories from Ancient China: Exercise Self-restraint, Leave Benefits to Others

2006-08-08

Emperor Guangwu Di (6 B.C.-57 A.D.), the first emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, established an advanced institute for the teachings of Confucianism. The institute's principal learnt teachers were called Boshi. Among these teachers was Zhen Yu, a clean-hearted, upright scholar who had few desires and who often modestly declined personal benefits.

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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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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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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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Traditional Culture: Be Respectful and Prudent with a Dignified Appearance

2006-07-22

Mr. Zhu Xi (1130 A.D.-1200 A.D.) lived in the Nan Song Dynasty (1127 A.D.-1279 A.D.). A renowned scholar and educator of his time, he has been respectfully referred to as "Sir Zhu" (pin yin "Zhu Zi") by later generations. Mr. Zhu Xi was a person worthy of respect with a calm personality. Even in his everyday life he cared a great deal about the dignity of his appearance and behaviour. As a very knowledgeable person who produced an abundance of works, he has greatly influenced Chinese traditional culture, moral values, education, propriety and religious beliefs.

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Stories from Ancient China: Loyalty, Fairness and Self-Restraint

2006-07-14

Guan Yu was a man of the Three Kingdom Period (approximately 3rd century A.D.). He was very loyal, fair, and courteous. As a youth, he befriended Liu Bei and Zhang Fei, and the three became blood brothers. Since then, Guan Yu maintained his loyalty and accompanied Liu Bei in many fierce battles. He was conferred the title of a general of the Shu Kingdom. His character is well known in China throughout history.

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Stories from Ancient China: Zhao Dun Rewarded for His Good Deeds

2006-07-13

In the Chunqiu Dynasty King Jinlinggong of Jin the Kingdom had no integrity as king. His official, Mr. Zhao Dun was able to repeatably persuade Jinlinggong, whilst simultaneously greatly annoying him. King Jinlinggong secretly sent an assassin, Chu Ni, to kill Zhao Dun. Chu Ni arrived at Zhao Dun's house very early in the morning, and found his door open.

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Ancient Cultivation Stories: "Stupid" Mokelu

2006-07-11

In Morocco, in India, around 500 monks lived in a temple which was located six to seven miles away from the city. They were all strictly trained Picchu. Among them, there was one elder monk called Mokelu who was famous for his "stupidity." No matter how hard people tried to teach him anything, he still did not get it. He couldn't even recite a single Zen proverb and so all the 500 Picchu looked down on him. Nobody liked to be with him making him feel very lonely.

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Stories from Ancient China: Honesty and Living up to One’s Promise

2006-07-02

The mayor insisted that he wanted to purchase the property and offered Lu twice as much money. Still, Lu Yuanfang politely declined his offer and firmly stated that once he had promised someone something, he would keep his word. The mayor was not at all happy and asked Lu Yuanfang to go back and think it over.

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