Alternatively, browse terms in alphabetical order according to their Chinese Pinyin 汉语拼音
Qiuhu (秋胡), a native of the state of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BCE), was ordered to take up an official post in the state of Chen a scant five days after his marriage to Jiefu (洁妇), …
These set of images portray the last moment of the life of Qu Yuan 屈原 (340 – 278BCE), an important Chinese poet and politician, who was in exile in the wilderness because of his unsuitable political stance in court. He …
One day during Su Shi (苏轼, 1037 – 1101)’s exile in Huangzhou, Hubei province, his friend, Fo Yin (佛印, 1032 – 98) invited him and Huang Tingjian (黄庭坚, 1045 – 1105) to taste the ‘Peach-Blossom-Flavoured Vinegar’, made with a famous …
Emperor Yang of the Sui dynasty (r. 606 -18) 隋炀帝 is considered to have brought disaster to the country and misery to the people with his unwise rule and debauched lifestyle. In one of these decadent episodes, his consorts and …
Continue reading “Night Revel of the Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty”
Wei Jie 卫玠 (286 – 312) was admired as a handsome “jade man’ when he appeared in his signature goat-drawn carriage in town. Wei Jie shone like a piece of gleaming diamond whichever company he was in. On 17th century …
Xiahou Dun (夏侯惇, died 13 June 220) was one of Cao Cao’s (曹操, 155 – 220) most valued generals in the late Eastern Han dynasty (东汉, 25–220) of China. Xiahou showed his strong temperament even when he was in his …
Continue reading “Xiahou Dun Yanking an Arrow that Pierced His Eyeball”
Sima Xiangru Inscribing on the Bridge Gateway (相如题桥)’ was a popular theme in theatre from at least the Song (960 – 1279) through to the Qing (1644 – 1911) dynasty. Sima Xiangru (司马相如) was a Western Han (202 BCE – …
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In Zhuangzi (庄子), an ancient Chinese text from the late Warring States period (476–221 BCE) and one of the two foundational texts of Daoism, the Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu 西王母) was mentioned as a deity who ‘obtained the Dao (the Way)’. …
Continue reading “Birthday Celebration for the Queen Mother of the West”
Zhao Bian (赵抃, 1008 – 84) was held in high esteem all his life and posthumously because of his incorruptibility and sound statesmanship during his entire career. His prize possessions were legendarily well-known: a qin zither and two pets, a …
Romance of the Western Chamber (西厢记) is the most popular love comedy in late imperial China. In the story, Scholar Zhang (张生) falls in love with a beautiful lady named Cui Yingying (崔莺莺), who happens to be stranded in a …
Continue reading “Consummation of Love from Western Chamber”
