Correctly identifying figures is crucial to deciphering an obscure story scene. Looking at this featured image, for example, some may think that the two figures in non-specific attires on a dragon and a phoenix are anonymous Daoist immortals. But ...

This is an overview by Dr Yibin Ni on how the topic of ‘The Birthday Party of the Queen Mother of the West’ was depicted on Chinese artworks, from woodblock print during Ming dynasty to scroll painting and porcelains in Qing dynasty.

‘Eighteen Scholars’ was the name bestowed upon the circle of eminent men whom Li Shimin, later Emperor Taizong, drew to his side in the early Tang dynasty.

In the fourth year of Wude (621 CE), Prince Qin Li Shimin 李世民, ennobled as Grand General of Heavenly Strategy and permitted to appoint his own officers, founde...

The Empty Fort Strategy is the thirty-second of the Thirty-Six Stratagems (三十六计), a psychological ploy that feigns strength through an appearance of calm to mislead the enemy into retreat. In ancient times, it was used not only to defend cities but also in situations where one was heavily outnumbered.

In the ficti...

Legend of the Epiphyllum (Tanhua Ji 昙花记) is a late Ming dynasty drama written by the accomplished scholar Tu Long (屠隆, 1542–1605), composed during the Wanli reign. Renowned for his achievements in literature, art, and Buddhist philosophy, Tu Long described this legendary play as a work intended ‘to expound the l...

Duke Mu of the Qin State (秦穆公, died 621 BCE) was one of the so-called Five Hegemons (五霸 wuba) in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 476 BCE) (春秋 chunqiu). He had a daughter named ‘Nongyu (弄玉, meaning Playing Jade)’, who was a talented musician excelling at playing the sheng (笙 mouthorgan...

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)’. According to the Scripture of Great Peace (Tai...