China, Fashion

How Ancient Chinese Clothing Indicated Rank and Status

Ancient Chinese clothing worn by emperors, noblemen, and officials used color and pattern to signify rank. The association of rank to a particular color and pattern was known as the Regulation Attire System. In accordance with the yin-yang and five element theory, blue, red, white, black, and yellow represent East, South, West, North, and Central, ...

Nspirement Staff

Qing Dynasty imperial clothing.

How Confucius Influenced Chinese Concepts of Morals and Ethics

As William Blakney stated about Confucius in his 1955 translation of the Tao Te Ching: “It is no accident that China’s great moral innovator Confucius was a gregarious man who haunted capital cities, accompanied by disciples, pleading for a chance to set things right. Nor is it an accident that an important and original expression ...

Nspirement Staff

A statue of Confucius.

Berberine: The Essence of the Golden Thread

Before going on long trips, it is common for Chinese people to assemble a set of Chinese herbal medicine pills in order to prepare themselves for minor medical emergencies. Taking berberine is a must. Many of my patients often come to my clinic to purchase these herbal pills before they travel. Berberine is one of ...

Raven Montmorency

Old brown medicine bottles lined up on a shelf.

The History of Silk in Ancient China

Of all Chinese inventions, the history of silk (絲 sī) is perhaps the oldest. Traces of silk fabric have been found among remains from around 1300 B.C. The use of silk in China possibly goes back even much earlier. It’s said that until the second century B.C., silk remained an article known only to the ...

Raven Montmorency

Old-time Chinese silk weaving workshop.

Giuseppe Castiglione’s Chinese Paintings

Giuseppe Castiglione (July 19, 1688-July 17, 1766) was an Italian Jesuit Brother, a missionary in China, and a painter at the Royal Court of the emperor, who had a marked influence on Chinese painting. Giuseppe Castiglione was a missionary In 1715, Giuseppe Castiglione went to China as a missionary. While in China, Castiglione took the ...

Armin Auctor

Giuseppe castiglione's painting of peonies.

Beautiful Paintings of Children by the Master Su Hanchen

Please examine these remarkable paintings, which give us an insight into the lives of children during the Song Dynasty. They were painted by Su Hanchen (1094-1172), who was a native of Kaifeng, Henan Province, who specialized in painting Buddhist and Taoist figures. During the Xuanhe era under Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song Dynasty, Su was ...

Jessica Kneipp

Painting of 100 Song Dynasty children playing in the spring.

Chinese Zodiac Signs: How Can All Snakes Be the Same?

According to Chinese zodiac signs, everyone born in a particular year shares the same characteristics of a particular Chinese zodiac sign. For example, everyone born under the Chinese zodiac sign of the snake has the characteristic of the snake — intelligent, calm, intuitive, introspective, and organized. However, you might be wondering: “How can every person ...

Emma Lu

Statue of a snake, along with the other animals in the Chinese Zodiac, in a fountain.

Jiangsu Musician Yearns for Shen Yun

Pan Xiang and his daughter are well-known musicians from Jiangsu Province, China. They yearned for the chance to see a Shen Yun performance. He suffered years of persecution under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). His so-called “crime”? Asking the local authorities to return a letter written to him by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. His family ...

Max Lu

A group of musical instruments.

The Fascinating Origin of Chinese Dough Figurines

On the birthday of Emperor Qianlong, there was drumming and music in the royal palace, and the atmosphere was lively. The emperor met with other royalty and officials, and accepted their blessings and salutations. The palace was filled with a large number of stunning gifts. Liu Yong went to Emperor Qianlong, saluted him, and offered ...

Emma Lu

Photo of clay figurines of the Sanxing, or Three Stars Gods, taken at a temple in Hong Kong.

How a Lowly Servant in Ancient China Won the Respect of an Empire

There is a story from ancient China about Emperor Tang Wenzong, the 15th emperor of the Tang Dynasty, who had an exquisite pillow carved of precious white jade that he hid among his draperies. However, one day it disappeared. Emperor Tang was shocked, as his inner palace was very secure. Only his concubines could gain ...

Jack Roberts

Black and white photo of three men dressed in ancient Chinese clothing.