In traditional Chinese thought, certain years are believed to carry stronger fire energy than others. One old expression …
Mikel Davis
Mikel Davis
Mikel serves as editor and sometime writer for Nspirement. He’s willing to tackle any assignment, really, but prefers editing. Writing can take you anywhere and is a little unpredictable (or maybe it’s just his writing). Take this bio for instance. When he started writing, the goal was clear: make it fun and interesting. “Interesting” is no problem. He’s worked on a farm, owned a bakery and worked in healthcare. He’s lived on the Navajo reservation in Arizona as well as in Vienna, Austria. And boy, has he traveled! He’s been to Italy and France, Spain and Portugal, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan. He loves foreign cultures and foreign places. He’s interested in renewable energy and dreams of buying an electric vehicle some day when there are more charging stations around. He cares about his work and hopes it can impact others so they have a better life, or at least a better day. But “fun”? Does the liberal use of parenthetical phrases count as fun? (Say “yes” or else he might start typing a “Dad” joke!)
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Chinese CultureEditor's Pick
A Taoist Priest Foretold Zhang Jun’s Rise Decades in Advance
by Mikel DavisZhang Jun (1097-1164), courtesy name Deyuan, was one of the Southern Song Dynasty’s best-known officials. He resisted the …
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Long before military working dogs became a familiar part of modern warfare, armies were already discovering how valuable …
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HistoryEditor's Pick
Kindness and Cruelty: True Stories That Reveal Human Nature During China’s Darkest Years
by Mikel DavisAt the height of the Cultural Revolution, people quickly learned that survival often meant keeping their distance — …
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TaiwanEditor's Pick
Lech Wałęsa Says Taiwan Offers a Democratic Model for the Chinese-Speaking World
by Mikel DavisOn March 17, 2026, President Lai Ching-te of the Republic of China welcomed former Polish president and Nobel …
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In a small town in what is now Pudong, Shanghai, there once stood a house facing a bridge …
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WisdomEditor's Pick
Zeng Guofan’s Biggest Mistake: What He Learned About Choosing a Marriage Partner
by Mikel DavisZeng Guofan is remembered as one of the Qing Dynasty’s most perceptive judges of character. Throughout his life, …
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Chinese Health TipsFeatured
A Cup of Calm: The Traditional Uses and Benefits of Chrysanthemum Tea
by Mikel DavisChrysanthemum tea has been enjoyed for centuries as a light, floral drink often associated with relaxation and seasonal …
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ChinaEditor's Pick
Zhang Xueliang and the Xi’an Incident: The Decision That Changed China’s History
by Mikel DavisHistory often turns on a single decision made under pressure. In modern Chinese history, few moments demonstrate this …
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After the disaster-relief ceremony at Wolong Temple in Xi’an made Master Xuyun famous far and wide, devotees from …