A Legendary Bonsai Master and Her Museum

Never before has a woman been so dedicated to bonsai art as Amy Liang (梁悅美). A native Taiwanese, she was born into a respected family in northern Taiwan and married a prominent gynecologist/obstetrician before becoming an internationally renowned bonsai master. Please watch the video about legendary bonsai master Amy Liang and her museum: As noted in ...

Billy Shyu

Fentanyl: The Killer Drug Made in China

The China-made drug fentanyl has killed thousands of Americans in the past several years. In response, President Donald Trump last month announced that the U.S. was increasing measures to “hold back the flood of cheap and deadly fentanyl, a synthetic opioid manufactured in China and 50 times stronger than heroin.” Trump made his statement not ...

James Burke

Fentanyl is a killer opioid.

Foreign Media Excluded From China’s 19th National Congress

China’s 19th National Congress held on October 25, 2017, excluded several mainstream media organizations. The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China (FCCC) regards the exclusion as a serious violation of freedom of the press. The committee, which sees as its purpose protecting the rights of journalists, condemned the action and believes it to be an act ...

Hermann Rohr

‘Tea’: A Simply Beautiful Poem Written by Carol Ann Duffy

Carol Ann Duffy is a Scottish poet and playwright born in 1955. Her work is widely successful and studied in schools throughout the United Kingdom. With her verse, she likes to use simple words in complicated ways. She began writing poems at 11 years of age. With the dream of always wanting to be a writer, ...

Jessica Kneipp

Eight Treasures Tea: An Elixir From Ancient China

Of all the herbal tonics in China, none is as well known as the medicinal tea called the Eight Treasures Tea (Ba Bao Cha), the base of which was created during the Tang Dynasty. However, it wasn’t until Li Shizhen changed some of the ingredients and added a few more that it really became one ...

Emma Lu

Green tea leaves.

The Science Behind Eating

Traditional Chinese cooking takes the theories of balance and seasonality very seriously. Its strict adherence to the yin-yang theory arises from the idea that food is medicine, and different foods are closely tied with different parts of the body. Here is some of the science behind eating from the Chinese perspective. Briefly, the theory of ...

Nspirement Staff

13 Taboos to Avoid When Using Chopsticks

Chopsticks have been a part of Chinese life since ancient times. There are customs and rules for properly using chopsticks. These rules are very particular, but they are followed quite naturally by Chinese who grow up with them. To start, lay your chopsticks together on the right side of the bowl before the dishes are ...

Raven Montmorency

A hand holding chopsticks.

A Fascinating Overview of Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism

Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism are the three pillars of Chinese philosophy and have influenced all thinking and actions in China since their inception. Confucianism Confucianism is represented by Confucius (founder, 551-479 B.C.), Mencius, and Xunzi. Literary works include The Analects, the Mencius, and the Xunzi. It is the first important philosophy from the Warring States ...

Max Lu

A statue of Conficius.

‘China’s Mona Lisa’ Is Almost 6 Yards Long

One of the most famous Chinese paintings, often referred to as “China’s Mona Lisa,” has a connection to the annual Qingming Festival that is celebrated in April in the Western calendar. China’s Mona Lisa The real name of “China’s Mona Lisa” is Qingming Shanghe Tu. Qingming (清明) means “clear-bright,” and Shanghe Tu (上河圖) means “going-along-the-river-picture.” ...

Armin Auctor

Bianjing city gate depicted in the Song Dynasty painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" from the 12th century.