In 221 B.C., Qin Shi Huang conquered the Six Kingdoms and established the first great unified regime of China. He then began a series of substantial political directives, such as unifying weights and measures, unifying the country’s writing system, and implementing a centralized system to manage state affairs. Externally, he defended his territory against the Xiongnu and expended his efforts to ...
During the Three Kingdoms period, the momentous story of Cao Cao “cutting off the head” has been passed down through the ages. When his troops passed through the wheat fields, he ordered his officials and soldiers not to trample on the wheat, and should anyone violate this order, they would get beheaded in public. For this ...
In the history of tea, Lu Yu is considered the Sage of Tea. In The Classic of Tea, he said: “Tea tempers the spirits and harmonizes the mind, dispels lassitude and relieves fatigue, awakens thought and prevents drowsiness, lightens or refreshes the body, and clears the perceptive faculties.” Tea has long been one of the ...
Most families in the Western world have a family crest, a coat of arms, or a family motto that serves as the philosophy, or family precepts, and is an inspirational call to excellence for each generation. The motto is usually written in Latin, such as Semper Fidelis — Always Faithful, or in French, such as ...
Chelsea Cai is a principal dancer from the prestigious Shen Yun Performing Arts troupe who gives an intriguing glimpse into her craft. Shen Yun Performing Arts is a classical Chinese dance and music company based in New York that tours worldwide. Their goal is to revive traditional Chinese culture, which was almost destroyed completely during ...
Legends are like the shifting sands of a desert — forever changing and hard to grasp. This Chinese legend of Houyi and Chang’e is no exception, and many different versions have been passed down. The Jade Emperor, the ruler of Heaven, had 10 unruly sons. One day, they transformed themselves into 10 suns, heartlessly scorching ...
In China, ancient Chinese garments were more than just a means to cover people’s bodies. They deemed clothing as an embodiment of culture and prestige symbols. Clothing in ancient China reflected the social status of the wearer. So there was a huge difference between the attire worn by the wealthy and peasants. In general, peasants ...
In a life and death ordeal, one selfless act of righteousness of a lowly woman halted an invading army. The state of Qi was about to attack the state of Lu. The Qi army had already amassed at the border to invade. In the wilderness of Lu, the general of the Qi army saw a ...
There was a true-life story about the “Hidden Treasure Under the Plum Tree” circulating in Huating County (now known as Songjiang District, Shanghai). This treasure-finding tale took place during the end of the Qing Dynasty. The protagonist of this story was a poor and humble man who people addressed as Han Weng. Han Weng was good-natured ...
In the time of the Qing Dynasty, there was an almshouse in Tianchang County where beggars who had nowhere to go could live. On the eve of the New Year, Mao Jun, who lived in the almshouse with his wife, went to the streets to beg as usual with another beggar who carried him, as ...
© 2024 nspirement. All rights reserved
