China Report

Mirroring Beijing’s Past Glory

2008-08-31T22:59:00.000-07:00

If there is one place where you can get an idea of Beijing’s past and culture, it’s the ongoing exhibition of Beijing Cultural Treasures at the Capital Museum.

On display are 285 artifacts divided into 7 categories, namely, porcelain, Buddhist sculptures, jade, gold and silver objects, carvings, calligraphy and painting, and classical furniture. The exhibition opened on July 26, 2008 and has remained a regular exhibition at the Capital Museum ever since.

Porcelain

China boasts a long history of porcelain making. The Song Dynasty (960-1279) was a boom period following the Han (206 BC-220 AD) and the Tang (618-907) dynasties, when porcelain kilns were spread throughout the country and the top five kilns had different strong local flavors.

The exhibits in this part are exhaustive, including works from the top five kilns dating back to a thousand years ago, and will be a rare and beautiful sight for any porcelain lover. Porcelain from Jingdezhen, the hub of Chinese imperial porcelain during the Yuan (1271-1368) and Ming (1644-1911) dynasties, is also available.

Silk and painting

2008-08-31T20:02:00.000-07:00

Silk was once used as a main material for writing and painting. before being replaced by paper upon the latter`s invention. However. the tradition of painting on silk was kept. used not only for professional artistic works. but also as decorations on silk clothes.
A hand-painted colored gauze (thin. transparent silk fabric) was unearthed at the Mawangdui Relics Site of the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD). By the Tang Dynasty (618-907). more hand-painted silk appeared. such as those excavated from the Famen Temple in Fufeng County of Northwest China`s Shaanxi Province. and the Dunhuang Grottoes in Northwest China`s Gansu Province.
The largest excavation to date has been from the Tomb of Yelu Yu in the Liao Dynasty (916-1125). In addition. the unique flowing-style painting technique of the excavated silk is of very high artistic quality.

Shadow-play

2008-08-28T18:12:00.000-07:00

As for the model and making of characters and scenes in shadow play, shadow play belongs to the folk fine arts, and its artistic style flies its own color in the art and literary circle of all ethnic groups. In order to adapt to the screen-shadow performance form, it combines abstract and realistic techniques, and apply boldly complanate, artistic, cartoon and opera features to characters and scenes in shadow play, synthesized all the above art forms. Patterns of the make-up and costume in it are vivid and visual, overdrawn and humorous, with some simple and bold, or others delicate and romantic. Plus, being smoothly carved, flamboyantly painted, physically transparent, the figures and scenes products in shadow play are really pleasing to the eye and mind, and make it hard for people to put them down. Products of leather-shadow puppets (shortened as shadow puppet) are not only being used in the performance of shadow play, but can be played with hands, as well as used as decorations inside placed in front of windows or on wall. Thanks to their unsophisticated and graceful model and rich ethnic flavors, they are highly praised for their artistic value for appreciation and collection value. So they have been collected in many museums, and by many collectors, artists and shadow play lovers. In the international association, there are some people present to international friends Chinese shadow play products as first-class gifts, too.

shadow play

2008-08-27T00:53:00.000-07:00

Shadow play is one of the earliest operas. Its performance equipment is easy to carry around; with rich and beautiful music for voices, splendid and touching performance, it has gained the favor of the great mass hundreds of years, and has become very popular. And moreover, shadow play has made a certain contribution to the culture and art development both domestic and overseas. Many new genres of local opera are derived from the music of voices of the shadow play. The principle of performance on the screen and the artistic techniques of performance employed in Chinese shadow play, have acted as a forerunner to the invention of modern film and the development of modern animation film. From Goethe in 18th century to the later Chaplin and other famous men world culture in the west have ever praised highly to Chinese shadow play. After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and other leaders of China have entertained guests both home and abroad with shadow play many times. However，the condition of being on the brink of extinction has not been changed up to now, after shadow play suffered the severe damage in “the Great Proletarian Culture Revolution”.

Brief Introduction of Shadow-play

2008-08-24T22:55:00.000-07:00

Piying” (leather-shadow puppet art) or shadow play is general term referring to shadow drama and shadow play character (including stage scene, properties, and setting). Chinese shadow play is a unique art, ingeniously combined Chinese folk fine art and traditional opera, and an indispensable, exquisite gem in Chinese art palace.
Shadow play is a kind of drama in which the artistic effect is achieved through the performance of plane puppet figures projected with light onto a transparent white screen, on which the audience watch the performance. The plane puppet figures, as well the stage scene, properties and setting are usually made of leather, curved and painted manually by folk craftsmen. Therefore it is called “piying” (leather-shadow puppet art)

Yao: Playing for China is a big honor

2008-08-21T23:01:00.000-07:00

The longest 13 days in Yao Ming's 27 years of life ended on Wednesday after China lost to Lithuania. That the Chinese men's basketball team could not create an impact in Beijing re-ignited rumors over his retirement from the Olympics.
But the NBA star was not ready to answer that question with a straight yes or no.
China's Yao Ming (L) attempts to score against Lithuania during their basketball game at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 20, 2008. [Agencies]
"Playing for the country and competing in the Olympics is a big, big honor," he said in his trademark ambiguous tone. "I knew about the Olympics before I learned about the NBA ... playing in the Olympics was my childhood dream."
Yao was straightforward with his best wishes for Liu Xiang, though. The ace Chinese hurdler pulled out off the heats with an injured Achilles tendon. "Liu still has a long career before him," Yao said.
"He will strive to bring more honor to us. Please understand him Injury is part of our career it just happens sometimes."
The Chinese men's basketball team finished eighth, equaling its best Games record of two wins and four defeats, including a heartbreaking loss to Spain.
Everyone agrees the team has given an improved performance. For his part, Yao said he was "really, really proud" of his teammates, who "played with courage and (gave) all they could give".
"We're still not (among) the best few teams in the world our players (need) to become stronger, quicker and more experienced (but) it's always easy to say, of course," the 7-foot-6 giant said at a media briefing, organized in Beijing by Coca-Cola.
He is proud of the Beijing Games, he said, and thankful to those who devoted their seven years for its preparation. "All (this) shows how we love sport and how we love communicating with the entire world I hope we'll get more opportunities like this."
NBA superstar LeBron James, too, was present at the briefing, and presented an autographed, 2-m version of a "Unity Bottle" of Coke.
James applauded China's Games performance on home soil, saying the country had done "an excellent job".
Yao responded, in a lighter vein, though: "(More than) 40 golds may be surprising, but compare it with 1.3 billion people (in China) - I think it's pretty normal."

Olympic dream leads to greener lifestyle

2008-08-20T23:32:00.000-07:00

we still love liuxiang

2008-08-19T00:14:00.000-07:00

Name: Liu Xiang

Gender: Male

Birth Place: Shanghai, China

Birth Date:July 13 1983

Hight:1.89 m

Weight:74kg

Speciality:110m hurdles

Education: Huadong Normal University

Hobby: Singing, computer

Registered with: Shanghai

Personal best: 2006 Lausanne IAAF Super Grand Prix - Champion, 12"88

Sports career:

03/1999 Athlete, Shanghai Athletics Team

08/2000 National Youth Team

Career Highlights:

Fourth place of the men's 110m hurdles at 2000 World Junior Championships

110m hurdles gold medal at 2001 National Games, East Asian Games and World University Games

Broke the world youth and Asian record with a time of 13.12 at IAAF Grand Prix in Lausanne in 2001.

110m hurdles gold medal at 2002 Asian Championships

110m hurdles gold medal at 2002 Asian Games

Bronze medal of men's 60m hurdles at 2003 IAAF World Indoor Champs, the first medal for China in 18 years.

Gold medal at National Grand Prix in April 2003, Silver medal at IAAF Grand Prix in Zagreb

Listed among top ten athletes of China in March, 2003

110m hurdles gold Medal Olympics at Athens, 2004

110m hurdles champion and new world recorld IAAF Super Grand Prix in Lausanne,2006
110m hurdles gold medal and new Asian Game record , Asian Game at Doha ,2006
110m hurdles gold medal ,Osaka IAAF World Athletics Championships,2007 (juni)

Olympic bulletin August 19

2008-08-18T23:57:00.000-07:00

Liu hurdled by injury
Olympic hurdler Liu Xiang is out of competition due to injury.
The gold winning athlete left the Bird’s Nest on Monday morning before qualifying for his event.
Liu is said to have suffered injury to his Achilles tendon and after an initial false start by another athlete, he left the track with head down.
With Liu’s absence from the competition, Cuban sensation Dayron Robles looks like a shoo-in for the 110 men's hurdles gold medal.
Lord of the rings
Olympic gymnast Chen Yibing claimed his second gold, winning the Men’s Rings event.
His next-to-perfect performance won the hearts of judges and secured Chen's leading position with a score of 16.600.
The win marks the second Olympic gold in the event in China's gymnastic history.
It took China 24 years to make the achievement after Li Ning, who lit the Olympic torch on August 8, brought the first rings gold at the Los Angeles Games in 1984.
A long jump to glory
The tiny country of Panama claimed its first Olympic gold last night in the Men’s Long Jump competition. Irving Saladino leapt a staggering 8.34 metres in the final at the Bird’s Nest and in doing so was declared a national hero. Before last night’s victory, Panama only had two bronze medals both won by Lloyd LaBeach in the men's 100m and 200m sprints in 1948. Saladino’s long leap was 10 centimetres ahead of indoor champion Khotso Mokoena of South Africa, who took silver, whilst Ibrahim Camejo of Cuba was third at 8.20 metres.

great beijing

2008-08-14T19:54:00.000-07:00

Mascots for 2008 Olympics

2008-08-13T23:12:00.000-07:00

Like the Five Olympic Rings from which they draw their color and inspiration, Fuwa will serve as the Official Mascots of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, carrying a message of friendship and peace -- and good wishes from China -- to children all over the world.

Mascots for 2008 Olympics

2008-08-13T23:11:00.001-07:00

Great Beijing

2008-08-12T01:43:00.001-07:00

Olympic Games In Beijing

2008-08-12T01:38:00.000-07:00

Opening ceremony draws 34.2m US viewers

2008-08-11T01:30:00.000-07:00

The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics last Friday drew 34.2 million TV viewers in the US.
The show became the largest TV event in the US since the Super Bowl football game, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) has said.NBC also cited statistics released by global provider of television audience measurement Nielsen Media Research, saying the show had the biggest audience ever for an Olympic opening ceremony not held in the US, and even eclipsed this year's Academy Awards and the finale of "American Idol."
Domestically, the ceremony on seven China Central Television channels and more than 30 provincial satellite TV channels averaged 842 million people, or 68.8 percent of China's total TV viewers, according to statistics released by CSM Media Research, a leading market research company in China.
More than 40 percent of Chinese viewers watched over two hours of the four-hour live broadcast, and nearly 10 percent watched the entire ceremony.
The Olympics in Athens four years ago averaged 25.4 million viewers for its first night, according to Nielsen Media Research.
The 2000 Sydney Games had 27.3 million viewers.
"It was a magical and memorable spectacle and a great way to start the Beijing Olympics," said Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports and Olympics.
Zhang Yimou, director in charge of the opening ceremony on Friday, has been highly praised.
Netizen Rao Jin believed the idea of producing 29 huge footprints by fireworks was "really stunning".
Yin Yanyan, a college student and a volunteer, said she has been through the previous three rehearsals, but still felt excited at the opening ceremony.
"The torch-lighting was a surprise," she said.
"It was really unexpected that Li Ning would run in the air around the stadium.
"And it was amazing that the main torch could be designed so beautifully with Chinese characteristics."
Many others were moved by the 9-year-old girl in a red dress who sang Singing a Song of Praise for the Motherland.
An overseas Chinese student in Australia, surnamed Li, said the song by the girl was so touching she could not hold back her tears when watching the opening ceremony on TV with friends.

silk produntion

2008-08-06T20:03:00.001-07:00

Production
The advent of synthetic fibers such as nylon and polyester, which are stronger than silk and lower in price, but do not possess the same hand, or quality, has caused a tremendous reduction in silk production and consumption. World production in 1940 was 59 million kg (130 million lb). By 1950 it had dropped to 19 million kg (42 million lb), but by the mid-1980s had climbed to about 68 million kg (150 million lb).
In the U.S., silk is still used for clothing, including lightweight suits, coats and slacks, jackets, shirts and neckties, robes, loungewear, underwear, hosiery, and gloves. Silk is also used in lace, napery, draperies, linings, narrow fabrics, and handbags.

Silk

2008-08-05T20:38:00.000-07:00

Silk, fiber produced as a cocoon covering by the silkworm, and valuable for its use in fine fabrics and textiles. The silkworm, in fact, is not a worm but a caterpillar. Although cocoon coverings of fiber are made by a large number of insects, only those of the mulberry silk moth, Bombyx mori, and a few other moths closely akin to it, are used by the silk industry. The silk of other insects, notably the spider, is used for certain manufacturing purposes, particularly for the cross hairs of telescopes and other optical instruments. For a description of the life and habits of the silk moth, see Silkworm.

China RedChinese Cheongsam(Qipao)

2008-07-24T18:48:00.000-07:00

The cheongsam is a high-necked dress with distinctive Chinese features. The dress is buttoned on the right side, with a loose chest, a fitting waist, and slits up from the sides, all of which combine to enhance the beauty of the female shape. Easy to slip on and comfortable to wear, the cheongsam perfectly fits the beautiful figure of females.
The Cheongsam, especially the red-colored, is one of the most typical, traditional costumes of Chinese women. Even though Cheongsam is not often appearing in daily life, it is worth collecting, for it reflects the Chinese culture and arts with its national characteristics and strong happy colors and fashion designs. That’s why brides in China choose red cheongsam as their most preferred dress, to perform the traditional Chinese wedding ceremony and create a happy environment.
The cheongsam enjoys a long history and is now enjoying resurgence in popularity in the world of international fashion. After evolvement and development, Cheongsam has become an inspiration for fashion designers. Regarded as a symbol of the Chinese nation, Cheongsam is often seen worn by women on formal or semi-formal occasions. In either case, it creates an impression of simple and quiet charm, elegance and neatness. No wonder cheongsam is so much liked by women not only of China but of foreign countries as well.

The best time to feel China Red

2008-07-24T00:53:00.000-07:00

The best way to feel China Red is to stay in China during the Spring Festival or attend a Chinese wedding. To celebrate the Spring Festival – the most important festival in China, people will set off red firecrackers, paste red couplets on doorframes and red paper-cuts on windows, hang and light red lanterns at night, and give out red envelopes to kids.
In contrast to the use of white, especially with wedding dresses, popular in many western countries, a Chinese wedding features the use of red, which is supposed to ensure a happy future for the couple. In a traditional Chinese wedding, you will find red everywhere. Red candles create a cozy and warm environment, and red Double Happiness characters are pasted on doors and walls. Red invitation cards are sent and guests present red envelopes. The new bed is covered with red bed sheets and red quilts. The couple walks down a red carpet, strewn with red flowers. Even at modern weddings, where the bride wears the western white wedding gown for the ceremony, it is customary for her to change into something red for the reception.
In China, red is more than just a color. It carries the ancient history and culture of the Chinese nation. China Red is filled with mysterious charm beyond description and it is right here in China waiting for you to feel, to discover

China Red, the Color of China

2008-07-22T19:34:00.000-07:00

From among a world of colors, red stands out the most. The color red is fresh and pure, and in China we call it China Red. Chinese people are fascinated by the color red not only because of its intoxicating vibrancy, but also because of its rich meaning in Chinese culture and history.
It is believed that no country in the world has ever adopted a color in such a thoroughgoing way as China, where red is a symbol that gives color to the soul of the nation. In the past, red stood for dignity and mystery. Even now, we adore the color much more than we love it. It is can be said that ‘China Red’ is an eternal theme for China, and an essential color for the Chinese people. “China Red” has become a quite popular word, attracting the world’s attention.
Shooting red-colored things in China is an easy task, as its powerful presence can be found every-where. All traditional red things have been playing special roles in China: the walls of ancient palaces, the national flag, Chinese knot, lantern, couplet, clothes, traditional paper-cuts for window decorations, and even red tanghulu (sugar-coated haws on a stick). Red is the color of the auspicious, signifying reunion, health, happiness, harmony, peace and prosperity. Only real things and events can fully display and explain its beauty. Only in its relation with people can the color be alive and meaningful. Here we will reveal the cultural significance of China red.

Three Cup’s of Tea in Baizu

2008-07-20T19:10:00.000-07:00

There is a tea custom popular in a Chinese nation called BaiZu. If they are visited by someone, however familial or not so familial, they will cheat him with three cups of tea.The first taste bitter，it symbolizes the life’s rule that if you want to success in your business, you should deal with a lot of difficulties.The second is sweet. Because they add some sugar and other sweet into the tea. BaiZu people just pour the cup to it’s capacity’s eight tenths. This stands for the happiness following the hard days.The last cup of tea called aftertaste tea. This time they add honey, pepper, the pulp of walnut and so on, guests drink it when it is hot, they will taste a mixed flavor, include sour, sweet, bitter and hot, this cup of tea remind people remember to aftertaste the things have done, try to find some experience or learn a lesson from it, and remember the philosophy that sweet will always comes after bitterness.

2008-07-17T23:29:00.000-07:00

Paper Umbrellas
The best oilpaper umbrellas are generally thought to be those from Fujian and Hunan provinces, with a good reputation for its delicate craftsmanship and vivid pattern. Their bamboo frames are treated against mould and worms. The paper covers are hand-painted with flowers, birds, figures and landscapes and then coated with oil so that they are not only practical but also pretty and durable.
Though it is only a small paper umbrella like other arts, the producing craft is without any carelessness. Take Fuzhou paper umbrella for example. The rib must be made of five-year-old bamboo produced in northern Fujian Province to make it have strong tenacity and elasticity, and possess mould resistance, antiseptic property and resistance to insects by special manufacturing. An umbrella is finished via over 80 processes, and traditionally has five independent parts -- the rib, the umbrella, the head of umbrella, the shaft and painting. The umbrella surface is made of refined cotton paper with strong pulling force. Then it is treated with pure paint, again tung oil which has strong stickiness, designed with flowers and birds, figures, landscape and scenery.

Chinese Umbrellas

2008-07-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

China is believed to be the home to umbrellas, which are still widely used in the country. The earliest umbrellas are known to have existed at least two thousand years ago, first made of silk and later popularly paper. The Chinese waxed and lacquered their paper parasols because oil repels water. In ancient times, the frames of the umbrellas were made of mulberry bark or bamboo. Red and yellow umbrellas were used by royal families, and blue umbrellas, by the common people.

Making Butter Sculptures

2008-07-10T00:39:00.000-07:00

Butter sculptures are traditionally made with yak butter, but in exiled Tibetan communities, as the weather is usually warmer, they are made with ghee, fat, and wax.

Butter Sculptures

2008-07-08T20:16:00.001-07:00

Butter sculptures symbolize impermanence, (a main tenet of Buddhism,) along with more ritualistic components, and are usually destroyed in anywhere from a day to a few years. Butter sculptures are displayed on altars and shrines in monasteries or family homes. They are traditionally made every Losar, the Tibetan New Year, and for the Butter Sculpture Festival, part of the Great Prayer Festival, or "Monlam Chenmo" that is held soon after Losar. In it, monks made huge, story high butter sculptures displayed outside the Jokhang in Lhasa, the holiest temple in Tibetan Buddhism.

Butter sculpture

2008-07-07T01:33:00.000-07:00

Butter sculpture is another Tibetan Buddhist artistic visual impact. The sacred offering is made from mainly butter and other mineral pigments. The size of butter sculpture varies from several centimeters torma to several meters tableaux, covering a variety of subject including deities, butter mandalas, flowers, animals and Buddhist motifs. Traditionally, butter sculptures are displayed on monastery altars and family shrines as offerings. In the session of the Great Prayer Festival, there will be a butter sculpture display and competition before the Jokhang Temple.Butter sculptures are modeled by hands. Since butter melts easily, monk artists making butter sculptures need work in cold conditions, they have to dip their hands into cold water to make their fingers cold enough then can they start to model. Monks take great pride to do the religious work. A few tools, such as hollow bones for making long threads and moulds for making leaves and alike, are applied.The butter sculptures in Taer Monastery enjoy the highest reputation in the Tibetan world. The monastery has a butter sculpture museum housing a collection of fine butter sculptures.

lotus shoes

2008-07-03T23:52:00.001-07:00

lotus shoes

2008-07-03T00:06:00.000-07:00

The custom of foot binding was at first a sign of wealth, as the woman with a properly bound foot could do very little. This remained a custom of the royalty, nobility and very rich until the beginning of the 17th century. By the end of the 1600抯, millions of women from all classes were binding their feet in order to imitate the upper classes. Though the custom was outlawed in 1911, footbinding was not completely abandoned until the Communists。

The Lotus Shoe

2008-07-01T23:21:00.001-07:00

The Chinese custom of breaking and binding a little girl抯 feet began over one thousand years ago. Since that time, millions of Chinese women from all classes have experienced the excruciating pain involved in achieving the extraordinarily tiny lotus foot. Foot binding began in the royal palaces in the mid-10th century. There are several stories surrounding how this strange custom began. Myths surrounding the gods and goddesses of China include a story about a fox who, in an attempt to disguise himself as an empress, concealed his feet by binding them. Another story suggests that the last empress of the Shang dynasty had a club foot and persuaded her husband to make the compression of the feet obligatory for young girls. The generally accepted theory, however, credits Prince Li Yu, who ruled one of ten kingdoms in southern China. It is said that he had a favourite woman in his concubine, who was a suburb dancer.

chinese lotus shoes

2008-06-29T18:18:00.000-07:00

Nineteenth-century photograph of a San Francisco child who wears beautifully embroidered three-inch “lotus shoes.”
This cruel practice lasted from the tenth century to 1911, when it was banned by the new Chinese republic.

西藏饰品（二）

2008-06-26T23:49:00.000-07:00

西藏饰品

2008-06-25T19:26:00.000-07:00

TIBETAN JEWELRY

2008-06-22T19:18:00.000-07:00

Tibetan jewelry, with a unique ethnic customs and artistic charm, and modern jewelry different, it is not just a decoration, but also represented a culture, its unique texture. Types. Modeling. Ornamentation and its logo, with a strong The sense of meaning and nature of art, traditional Tibetan jewelry form of expression, depending on the Tibetan people's thinking, social patterns, and the production of traditional way of life, in the unique social and cultural concept, it led to such a need to explore the beautiful Patterns. In the long river of time, whether it has experienced what kind of history and evolution, what is its impact on the composition, and in modern jewelry

Tibetan Dorje Jewelry

2008-06-19T19:14:00.000-07:00

Many Tibetan gem cutters and silversmiths practice their craft high in the mountains of Nepal in remote villages that have been virtually untouched by time. Fathers teach their sons the techniques to become grand master artisans. Asia is home to some of the worlds finest gemstones, so grand master artisans have a wide variety of stunning stones to work with when creating dorje jewelry. Tibetan jewelry is often set with green turquoise, red coral, butterscotch yellow amber, labradorite and deep blue lapis lazuli. You'll also find stunning dorje jewelry set with fiery white opal, sky-blue fire moonstone and dazzling blue topaz. Most dorje jewelry is deeply carved sterling silver, but you'll find pieces in pure silver, bronze and gold. Look for double dorje jewelry that is ornately carved. You'll be amazed at the intricate hand carvings and artistry in each piece.

Tibetan Dorje Jewelry

2008-06-19T00:56:00.001-07:00

The bell and dorje, or thunderbolt, are inseparable ritual objects in Tibetan Buddhism, so they are common themes in Tibetan artisan jewelry. The dorje represents a thunderbolt of enlightenment, or the change in consciousness in the lives of mystics and saints. The bell symbolizes wisdom and the dorje symbolizes method. Together, they represent the attainment of enlightenment. You'll find dorje symbols in stunning cuff bracelets, deeply carved rings, fabulous pendants and gorgeous earrings. Tibetan dorje jewelry is among the most finely crafted in the world today. Skilled artisans use the same techniques that have been used for generations to create the most gorgeous silverworks and gem cuts.Many Tibetan gem cutters and silversmiths practice their craft high in the mountains of Nepal in remote villages that have been virtually untouched by time. Fathers teach their sons the techniques to become grand master artisans.

wenchuan before the erathquake

2008-05-28T00:27:00.001-07:00

Earthquake disaster victims need our help

2008-05-26T23:47:00.000-07:00

Earthquake disaster victims need our help
Daughters have lost their mothers. Fathers have lost their sons. Tens of thousands of students no longer have a place to study. They are sick, suffering, scared and need our help right now.
We at China Daily call upon all our readers to assist the thousands of victims in the disaster-hit areas in Sichuan Province, southwest China.
Monday’s earthquake has claimed more 14,000 lives, however the toll is expected to rise dramatically as rescue teams reach the most affected areas in Wenchuan county.
You can make a donation via the China Soong Qing Ling Foundation, which will ensure all money will be promptly delivered to disaster areas. Remember every donation counts, no matter how small.
Let’s join together to help rebuild these people’s lives with our love.
How to donate
Fund name: Emergency Aid Fund of China Soong Ching Ling Emergency Aid Foundation
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Chinese envoy for Darfur calls for fairer media coverage

2008-05-05T23:43:00.000-07:00

Speech on the First China-Arab Media Forum by Ambassador Liu Guijin, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on the Darfur Issue
(April 23, 2008 Beijing)
Ladies and gentlemen,
Firstly, I would like to express the honor I feel at being given the opportunity to attend this first China-Arab Media Forum, and to enter into communication with Arabian friends.
As Deputy Director of the State Council Information Office Mr. Qian has said, China and the Arab nations have a long tradition of interaction. Even before Zhenghe's voyages, over 600 years ago, China had both direct and indirect contacts with Arabic nations through economic and cultural links. There is a book I have read by a Chinese scholar where an interesting story recounts that the beautiful dresses of Cleopatra, the ancient Queen of Egypt, were made from imported Chinese silk. China’s Four Great Inventions were introduced to Europe and to other nations through Arabia, and in turn China learned from them such skills as the cultivation of cottons and watermelon.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, China-Arab relations have continued to advance. The China-Arab Cooperation Forum now provides a favorable platform for wide-ranging links between China and the Arab nations. This conference where we are gathered today, the China-Arab Media Forum, is one such channel.
Chinese people may now be conscious of Sudan's place in Africa. However, even five years ago few Chinese intellectuals would know of Darfur's place in Sudan. Until I became Ambassador to South Africa I myself had never heard the name "Darfur". I did not anticipate the close connections with Darfur that have subsequently developed.
I'd like to give you a little background in order to emphasize the importance of the role that the media play in their reporting of sensitive issues and conflicts.
As we are all aware, there are people in the world, especially in western countries, determined to associate events in Darfur with China, and even with the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. This perplexes many Chinese, not least my own colleagues, with the result that I am often asked what exactly the issues in Darfur are. Where is Darfur? Why do events in Darfur have anything to do with the Olympics?
I always try to provide a coherent response to these queries.
I explain that some Western non-governmental organizations and the western media are uncomfortable with the level of cooperation between China and Sudan, particularly in such fields as the oil business. According to them, the objective of China's assistance to Sudan in oil exploration and extraction, along with two other Asian partners, is to provide the Government of Sudan with petrodollars which can in turn be used for the purchase of armaments from China. These will then be used to carry out the so-called massacres allegedly taking place in Darfur. Thus, the responsibility for these alleged massacres is China's.
My view is that there is no substance to these accusations. Companies have been exploring oil in developing countries for many years, far longer than China has. However, no western media or non-governmental organizations hold that their own governments should therefore take responsibility for internal issues in those countries where they exploit oil. This is a clear case of double standards.
We consider that cooperation in the oil business between China and Sudan is normal, beneficial, transparent, open and non-exclusive. Sudan is also open to working with western companies. For their own reasons they are reluctant to work with Sudan in this field. China, India and Malaysia have formed a partnership in this area, which in my opinion is of benefit to Sudan and to all of the people of Sudan, including those from southern Sudan.
China's weapons export policy is conservative, and limited. Our country adheres strictly to international regulations, and respects United Nations' requirements with regard to transparency in the matter of small arms exports.
Statistics from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) show that in 2006 America topped the world's weapons exports market, with nearly 30% of the total. Following them were Russia, Germany, France and Britain. With only slightly more than 2% of world conventional arms exports, China ranked just sixth.
Additionally, according to the latest report from the Stockholm Institute, revenues from US weapons exports amounted to US$7.5 billion in 2007. Russia, earnings of US$4.56 billion ranked second, followed by France, the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain. China ranked eighth with revenues of only US$ 360 million. Even supposing that all of this US$360 million had been sold to Sudan, this would not represent a significant amount.
Moreover, the Sudanese government issues an end-user statement on all small-arms imports from China, pledging that these weapons will not be used for any irregular purpose. China acts responsibly in these matters.
Additionally, some international organizations and campaigns, including the Save Darfur Coalition and the Olympic Dream for Darfur, have sent letters to me signed by numerous supporters. They demand from me public denunciation of events in Darfur – what they describe as massacres. Speaking with reporters from western countries, I have recognized their right to choose the words they use when covering happenings in their own countries. However, no authoritative numbers regarding the death toll in Darfur-related conflicts have yet been made available.
My words and comments are often quoted out of context by the journalists of certain media organizations. In some cases quotes have been used accurately but others have been deliberately distorted, for example through the addition of words I have never spoken. I will not be silenced by this behavior.
For instance, I have spoken of five elements needed to help resolve the Darfur crisis:
Firstly, the efforts of the Sudanese government, because Darfur is a part of Sudan.
Secondly, the efforts of insurgent parties, also described as a political movement, who need to commit to negotiations for a political solution to the problem.
Thirdly, the efforts of those countries and regions bordering on Sudan, who need to demonstrate sincerity in working with Sudan to solve territorial disputes.
Fourthly, the efforts of International Organizations such as the African Union and the United Nations, who need to reinforce cross-party consultation.
Fifthly, and finally, the efforts of all other countries around the world, especially the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
And yet it is the case that these comments have been represented by some distorted reports as: "Ambassador Liu Guijin said today that the Sudanese government alone should be held responsible…"
Clearly I have enumerated five key factors in the issue – how then could the reports ignore four of them?
Furthermore, I think that Arab and African countries can understand the Darfur crisis more clearly than western countries, because countries who themselves have encountered similar problems have a better chance of understanding each other.
This became very apparent to me in the course of a visit to a North African country. During a meeting with that country's minister of foreign affairs, he said to me that he did not feel the need for further discussions on China's stance with regard to the Darfur crisis, because the position of the two countries on the issue was so close. The minister joked with me that our two assistants might each have read the texts of the other's statement before the meeting, so close in approach were our two positions.
My wish is that through the platform of the China-Arab Media Forum, the media of China and the Arab countries will make their voices and the voices of all the developing countries heard – that they will strengthen and spread the sound of these voices. Only by doing this can the interests of developing countries and African and Arab countries be better served.
Thank you.
(China.org.cn translated by Wang Wei & Zhang Tingting April 26, 2008)

Tibetan Youth Congress = Taliban?

2008-04-09T18:57:00.000-07:00

Credit to the gentleman from whose post the following has been extracted:How western journalists cover the Tibet riots is a textbook example of biased journalism. Nothing innovative here. Just old tricks recycled.Life expectancy of Tibetan was 35.5 years in 1959 vs. 67 years in 2005.And the infant mortality rate was 43% in 1959 and 3.1 % in 2005 (4.8% inCanada, 2006 data). What happened? Since 1959, 1,326 new medical institutions have been built ,among which, 764 new hospitals or clinics, 79 disease prevention centers and55 health centers dedicated to women and children. How about education? Before 1950, there was almost no decent school inTibet, less than 2% school-age children received education and theilliteracy rate was 95%. In 2003, 91.9% school-age children in Tibetenrolled in primary schools; 82.9% primary schools students continuedstudying in middle schools; and 72.1% middle school graduates continuedhigher education. All are decent numbers even they were from communities in U.S.No matter what kind of religion peeople follow and what kind of life harmony pople pursue: living longer is good; fewer infant deaths is good; more education is good.Tibetans put religion in first place. So does "his holiness", the DaLaiLlama hold that they don't need hospitals, don't need to get education, don't want to live longer, don't want more babies to survive? Are rights to medical care, to education, to have healthy babies not human rights?Denying Tibetans those rights is the biggest human rights abuse!Before 1959, Tibet was under the Lamaist (Buddhist) theocracy. Just like most theocracies in history, it was a very cruel and inhumane form of governing. Tibet before 1959 was close to, if not worse than, the Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.Michael Parenti, a history professor from U.S, (http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html)provides the following finding:"In the Dalai Lama's Tibet, torture and mutilation -- including eye gouging, the pulling out of tongues, hamstringing, and amputation of arms and legs -- were favored punishments inflicted upon thieves, runaway serfs, and other "criminals."Some Western visitors to Old Tibet remarked on the number of amputees to be seen. Since it was against Buddhist teachings to take human life, some offenders were severely lashed and then "left to God" in the freezing night to die. "The parallels between Tibet and medieval Europe are striking," concludes Tom Grunfeld in his book on Tibet.Theocratic despotism had been the rule for generations. An English visitor to Tibet in 1895, Dr. A. L. Waddell, wrote that the Tibetan people were under the "intolerable tyranny of monks" and the devil superstitions they had fashioned to terrorize the people. In 1904 Perceval Landon described the Dalai Lama's rule as "an engine of oppression" and "a barrier to all human improvement." In 1937, another visitor, Spencer Chapman, wrote, "The Lamaist monk does not spend his time in ministering to the people or educating them, nor do laymen take part in or even attend the monastery services. The beggar beside the road is nothing to the monk. Knowledge is the jealously guarded prerogative of the monasteries and is used to increase their influence and wealth."Does the West want to support another Taliban?There are good reasons and tons of books on the separation of church and state.You people on the bandwagon blasting China might want to read those books first.One respects the belief on "incarnation". But it seems that should be reserved for choosing a religion leader rather than choosing a government head. Democracy builds on accountability-government officials are accountable for the voters. The voters can deny their leaders positions through voting. Not sure about DaLaiLLam's thoughts on democracy.And democracy also builds on educated voters. Before 1959, the illiteracy rate was 95% and common Tibetans seldom got chance to be educated. Do you expect people who can't read to understand how a modern government operates and how to hold their leaders

一个外国教授眼中的拉萨事件

2008-04-07T23:23:00.000-07:00

The Riots in Lhasa 　　by Eirik Granqvist, a foreign expert in Shanghai who visited Tibet in 2006 　　"The western medias announced that China had cut all information and that articles about the riots could not be sent out! I got mad about all the apparently incorrect information and wrote this article and two other similar ones although I am not a journalist but just because I could not stand all the bad things about China that was told. I sent them by e-mail without problems and they arrived well but two newspapers did neither respond neither publish what I had written. The third answered and wanted a shorter version that was published many days later as a normal 'readers voice'. What Dalai Lama had said was largely published every day together with a real anti-China propaganda. What I had written was apparently too China friendly for the 'free press'." 　　I was very shocked by what I had seen in the television and been reading in China daily about the riots in Lhasa. The most that shocked me was anyhow may be not the cruel events by themselves but how the medias in my country of origin, Finland, reported the events. A friend has scanned and sent me articles and I have checked also myself what can be found at Internet. 　　Very few Finnish people have ever visited Tibet, but I was there together with my wife in 2006. This was private persons and not as a part of a group-travel. I have seen Lhasa with my own eyes. I have been talking and chatting with people there. This was without any restrictions. Okay, we had a lovely and very competent guide that helped us much and took us where we wanted to go in the mornings but in the afternoons we were alone. Therefore I think that I have something to tell. 　　I am also interested in history and know more than people in general. When writing this, I do not have any reference books so I write out of my memory. If I do a small mistake somewhere, I beg your pardon. Anyhow, I think that this gives my writing an objectivity. I am well aware of that I will be accused for this and that for writing what I think is the truth. I will be accused by those who think that they know but do not know and by those that haven't seen by their own eyes. 　　Tibet was for centuries an autonomous concordat between Nepal and China. Sometimes China ruled Nepal as well. The king of Tibet used therefore to have one Chinese wife and one Nepalese and then a number of Tibetan ones. 　　With the fifth Dalai Lama, the religious and the political power were unified under the rule of one person, The Dalai Lama. Tibet became a theocratic dictatorship and closed itself for the rest of the world. No foreigners were anymore allowed in. 　　At the end of the nineteenth century, the famous Swedish traveller Sven Hedin made an attempt to reach Lhasa but was sent politely back, out of Tibet by Dalai Lama. 　　A French woman, Alexandra David-Néel was more successful. She visited Lhasa dressed as a Tibetan pilgrim and she was fluent in the Tibetan language. She told how she was afraid many times that she should be discovered and then she knew that she like other suspects or opponents should "happen to fall down" from the walls of the Potala palace. 　　Tibet was not a paradise. Tibet was an inhuman dictatorship! 　　The weakened Chinese Qing Dynasty had more and more lost its influence in Tibet. Tibet became more and more interesting for the Russian empire in the north and the British in the south. 　　In 1903 a British army expedition directed by the colonel Younghusband reached Lhasa. The British lost 4 soldiers but slaughtered more the 700 Tibetans that tryed to stop them, mainly by magic. The British installed "a commercial representation" in Lhasa. The Chinese evacuated Dalai Lama to the Qinghai plateau where he hade limited rights of move, probably for preventing him from having contacts with the British occupants. 　　The Finnish national hero, Marshal Mannerheim, visited him there in 1907 during his famous horseback trip through central Asia. He was then a colonel in the Tsar Russian army and his trip was in reality a spy trip. Therefore the 13th Dalai Lama was interesting. 　　The power of Dalai Lama was weakened. In 1950 the PLA marched in to Tibet without war. The 14th Dalai Lama seems at the beginning to have accepted this just as a security for his power as the theocratic dictator he was. He enlarged and restructured the Norbulingka Summer Palace in a luxury way in 1954. 　　The Chinese decided anyhow to finish with the cruel theocratic dictatorship under which the opponents fell down from Potala. The borders where during this dictatorship closed for all foreigners and the only schools where the religious ones. It is well known that it is easier to rule a population with a low education and is ignoring the outside world. In Tibet, about 5% of the population owned everything and the rest literally nothing. About 40% of the Tibetans were monks and nuns living as parasites on the rest of the population that had to feed them. Tibet was not a paradise! 　　Now China decided that the Tibetans should have the same rights and place in the society as the rest of the country's population. The monasteries should be emptied from their excessively large monk and nun populations. 　　Tibet could earlier be reached only by some horse trails and was for the rest insulated. The Chinese built rapidly a trafficable road. The insulation was broken. 　　In 1959, the young Dalai Lama caused a peoples upraising, using the religion as power since he was loosing his own powerful position. The upraising was however stopped, may be in not a too clever and smooth manner. Dalai Lama then left Tibet and his fellow citizens and escaped to India wherefrom he has continued to fight for his come back and reinstall the theocratic dictatorship that China will never allow again. 　　Then followed the ten years of Cultural Revolution that was an unhappy time for all China that closed itself to the rest of the world. 　　Now Lhasa has a modern airport and a railway. China has invested a lot in Tibet. The standard of living has been raised a lot in Tibet and last Xmas I have seen Tibetans spending sun-holidays on Hainan Island! Very lucky looking old women in traditional dresses walking on the beach with their husbands and the youngsters dressed like other young people enjoying the beach life. 　　The possibilities for Dalai Lama to take back his power has diminished and he does not anymore have the population with him. China and India are developing their cooperation and with the closer friendship, India will for sure also not more admit Dalai Lama to disturb this development. His possibilities to act against China will be diminished. 　　Therefore he undertook recently an around the world diplomatic travel since he has seen the possibility of harming the now good international image of China and provoking boycotts of the Olympic games in Beijing. 　　The Lhasa riots where very well prepared. Curriers where crossing the borders illegally for to see Dalai Lama and get his orders. A group of foreign mountain climbers filmed recently across the border an unlucky incident when one of these curriers got shot and another that crossed the border openly declared that he wanted to go to see the Dalai Lama. I have seen that in television just before I left for China in November. 　　China is no longer a closed country. There is no need for illegal border crossings if you are not doing something illegally! You just ask for a passport and take the necessary visas and cross the border at a legal border crossing or better, just take a regular flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu! 　　There where no peaceful demonstrations in Lhasa that where brutally knocked down! Young men went to action after a well prepared scenario at many places at the same time so that police and fire brigade should be taken by surprise and unable to act everywhere at the same time. This was successful! People where just knocked down without differences and all what could be broken was broken in the shortest possible time. With Molotov cocktails, fires where lit and fire cars where stopped. 18 normal citizens where killed without feelings and one police. The police had order to not respond with firearms for not being internationally blamed! 　　When I have seen the filmed riots in television, my diagnosis was immediately clear. The scenario was the same that I had seen many times of organized riots in France since more the forty years of tight familiar contacts and 21 years of living there. The difference was only that less ordinary people seemed to take part in Lhasa. The rioters where surprisingly few but well organized! China's positive image in the world should be damaged! 　　Dalai Lama is acting as the friendly and peaceful father. This is an old trick that also dictators like Hitler and Stalin used. I am not comparing him with them but he is acting like a demon when he tries to take back his power at any cost, not once caring for human lives and against Buddhistic non-violence principles. It was a try to do a coup d'ètat that failed. Now he is asking for international help for to stop the violence that he, himself had planned! 　　When I visited Tibet in 2006, I was surprised by the relaxed atmosphere and the few policemen in Lhasa. All that I have seen were Tibetans. Not the Han-Chinese. The atmosphere was remarkably peaceful and gave a picture of general well living. There was no oppressed feeling like I had seen so many times in the Soviet Union and its satellites before all that non-human system collapsed. People in Lhasa where friendly and wanted to speak to me, mostly without success since I do not speak Chinese nor Tibetan but up and then somebody could speak some words in English. Their wish for contact was just out of normal curiosity towards the foreigners. 　　I had heard that the religious life should been oppressed but it was flowering! I had also heard that so many Han Chinese where moved in that the Tibetans where now very few in Lhasa. I did however see much more Tibetans there. May be that the Han Chinese where hiding? 　　The western medias announced that China had cut all information and that articles about the riots could not be sent out! I got mad about all the apparently incorrect information and wrote this article and two other similar ones although I am not a journalist but just because I could not stand all the bad things about China that was told. I sent them by e-mail without problems and they arrived well but two newspapers did neither respond neither publish what I had written. The third answered and wanted a shorter version that was published many days later as a normal "readers voice". What Dalai Lama had said was largely published every day together with a real anti-China propaganda. What I had written was apparently too China friendly for the "free press".

Chinese Embroidery

2008-03-25T19:06:00.001-07:00

Choice of image apart, the successful creation of a work of embroidery pivots on stitching methods, coloration, and their combination. These factors are decisive when applying distinct embroidery techniques to the depiction of figures, objects, animals, backgrounds, landscapes and ornaments.
Organic development and accumulation over centuries has made embroidery a complete art of rich patterns and malleable forms that evoke intense aesthetic pleasure. Works fall naturally into different series according to subject matter and technique. They include oil painting, traditional Chinese painting, water towns, flowers, greeting cards, pigeons and flower vases. Examples of practical-use embroidered articles are garments, handkerchiefs, scarves and greeting cards.
On display are scores of embroidered works, including daily-use articles from Suzhou and Hunan. The techniques and artistic accomplishments these works imbue are a true reflection of modern Chinese embroidery.

Chinese Embroidery

2008-03-25T19:04:00.001-07:00

Su (Suzhou) Embroidery is crafted in areas centered on Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. It is noted for its beautiful patterns, elegant colors, variety of stitches, and consummate craftsmanship. A needle creates Su embroidery on fabric as a brush paints a picture on canvas. Stitching is meticulously skillful, coloration subtle and refined.Xiang (Hunan) Embroidery comes from areas centered on Changsha, capital of Hunan Province. It is distinct for its starkly elegant black, white and gray coloration. Its emphasis is on contrasts of light and shade that highlight the pattern texture to give a three-dimensional effect. Xiang Embroidery composition combines void and solid imagery, utilizing empty space in the same way as Chinese ink-and-wash paintings.
Yue (Guangdong or Guang) Embroidery includes that crafted in Chaozhou. It is composed of intricate but symmetrical patterns, vibrant colors, varied stitches and a defined weave. Its use of primary colors, light and shade are reminiscent of Western paintings.
Shu (Sichuan) Embroidery comes from areas centered on Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province. Its raw materials are satin and colored silk, its craftsmanship painstaking and refined. The emphasis is on even stitching, delicate coloration, and local flavor. Sichuan embroidery is used to decorate quilt covers, pillowcases, garments, shoes and painted screens.

Chinese Embroidery

2008-03-24T23:15:00.000-07:00

Embroidery as a Chinese handicraft has long been an important facet of traditional Chinese arts and crafts. Practiced all over the country, China's most famous works of embroidery come from Suzhou (abbr. Su), Hunan (abbr. Xiang), Sichuan (abbr. Shu) and Guangdong (abbr. Yue). Embroidery as a folk art is imbued with the distinct characteristics of its locality. As an art form it features exquisite craftsmanship, immaculate execution and strong aesthetic appeal.

Cut Silk

2008-03-24T22:49:00.000-07:00

Silk tapestry with cut designs is one of the most artistic forms of traditional Chinese handicraft. Though many of the artisans who made them are anonymous, their works reveal an exceptional level of skill and patience as well as a considerable degree of artistic cultivation. The National Palace Museum is home to a large collection of tapestries from the ages, and this special exhibition represents a selection of some of the finest works to provide viewers with an opportunity to further appreciate and understand this important art form in traditional China.

Cut Silk

2008-03-17T00:27:00.000-07:00

The range of subject matter also blossomed as designs became ever more abundant and complex. The practice of combining tapestry and painting spread, resulting in further variety and beauty for this art form.

Cut Silk

2008-03-17T00:14:00.000-07:00

Kesi, or Cut Silk, refeto silk tapestry with cut designs, and is a unique Chinese traditional silk weaving technique. Archaeological evidence indicates that silk tapestries with cut designs were produced in China at least as early as the Tang Dynasty .

Pictures about Tibet Riots, horrible!

2008-03-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

The Nobel Foundation should contemplate withdrawing the so-called Nobel Peace Prize to the Dalai Lama. He don't deserve it as a riot instigator. This criminal is not a holy man of peace as should be expected of him. Dalai lama is not a lama at all. a lama must love his fatherland and devote himself to the world of peace and stability, while he is the mastermind of the horror in lhasa. he is a politician rather than a religious leader, he asks others to sacrifice for his personal gains. he is urged to apologize for the unrest in the region.

The Marvels of Bamboo Basketry

2008-03-14T00:02:00.001-07:00

Hand-woven bamboo articles are favored by many people due to the high-level technique involved and fine designs produced. Simple and elegant woven products can infuse a room with an artistic, natural atmosphere. The craftworks have hard outer skins and are odorless and tasteless, thus reducing pollutants from modern furniture ornaments obtained via chemosynthesis.
Bamboo is widespread and grows rapidly. Since only four-year-old or older bamboo can be used, using bamboo as one kind of material instead of wood is environmentally friendly and good to the sustainable development of rain forest.
Bamboo, as a multi-purpose product for the global marketplace that is easily grown and fashioned into salable merchandise, is what makes the art of bamboo basketry so popular.

The Marvels of Bamboo Basketry

2008-03-13T23:58:00.000-07:00

China is home toabout one-third of the world's 1,300 species of bamboo. For centuries, its tough, pliable stalks have been deftly woven into a wide variety of objects combining utility with remarkable artistic expression.
Ancient Fashion
Bamboo, pine and plum -- known as "three good friends in the cold years" -- have always been popular among the Chinese people. Whether strong, light, smooth or straight, bamboo is one of the most favorable materials used by handicraftsmen in China.
Bamboo basketry , an art of weaving or coiling and sewing flexible sawalis to form vessels or other commodities, has a long history in China. In primitive society, ancient people had mastered the skills of basketry using grass, bamboo, straw, etc, which is proven by the unearthed relics from the Liangchu Culture Period. The bamboo basketry has been employed by primitive people to make crude huts, articles of dress and adornment, granaries, traps, boats, cooking utensils, water vessels, and other utensils.
These hand-woven craftworks, which were light, convenient and cheap, later became favorites in people's lives, including daily articles, articles for cultural use and entertainment, cooking utensils, mats, shoes and caps, craftworks for ornaments, and so on. Today, many bamboo basketry products are exported to various countries and regions.

The Marvels of Bamboo Basketry

2008-03-11T20:06:00.000-07:00

Color: Bamboo with elegant green and speckle-free stalks is of the best quality.
Once gathered, the materials are cleaned and prepared via various techniques, including cutting, splitting, scraping, dividing, weaving, dyeing, and lacquering. Weavers have to size their materials so that they are uniform in width and diameter -- a meticulous, time-consuming task necessary to ensure the regular and even appearance of the finished craftwork.

The Marvels of Bamboo Basketry

2008-03-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

Bamboo basketry is widespread in China and features different local flavors in different places. It is remarkably diverse in terms of technique, form and method of decoration. The techniques range from the delicate and graceful to the rustic and bold.
Weavers gather and carefully choose bamboo materials in accordance to the following principles:
Maturity: Bamboo aged four to six years is most suitable. Younger bamboo is prone to shrinkage and is often worm-eaten; that over six years, on the other hand, is very mature and cannot be easily broken.
Production area: Bamboo grown in mountains is better due to its softness, tenacity and flexibility from the high humidity in mountains.
Length between nodes: The longer and the flatter, the node rings the better.
Calibers of both ends: The less disparity there is between the two calibers the better.

Hair Embroidery

2008-03-05T23:19:00.000-08:00

The origin of hair embroidery can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), when girls cut their long hair and used it to weave the image of Buddha to show their piety. However, this skill declined during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). In the 1970s, the ancient skill was revived and has since been explored and studied in detail. Today, the art has by far surpassed its past attainments in color and variety. The color is no longer limited to black. Others, such as blonde, amber, auburn, white and grey of various shades are also used, totaling dozens of tones mostly collected from ethnic-minority areas. Occasionally, to give the lips of an ancient beauty their usual rosiness, white hair may be dyed red. But, on the whole, works embroidered with hair retain their natural hues.

Hair Embroidery

2008-03-05T23:12:00.000-08:00

Hailed as a "unique skill of the world", hair embroidery is one of the gems of Chinese embroiderart, together with Su embroidery, Xiang embroidery, Yue embroidery and Shu embroidery. As the name indicates, hair embroidery refers to embroidery where human hair is used as a thread instead of other materials. Since Chinese people generally have black hair, embroidery is also called "Moxiu" (black embroidery).

Culture of Chinese Drum2）

2008-03-02T21:03:00.000-08:00

As an old and wonderful form of art, the drum finds application in almost every aspect of Chinese social life, including sacrificial and worshiping ceremonies, farming, and warfare, and throughout the centuries it has been imbued with profound cultural implications.
The history of the popularization of the Chinese drum is also the history of its continuous borrowing and assimilation of other artistic forms and expressions. During the process, Chinese drum performance arts have undergone a lot of regional as well as ethnic variations. As a result, today they produce different visual impacts and bring to the viewers different senses of beauty 。

Culture of Chinese Drum

2008-03-02T20:57:00.000-08:00

The drum occupies a prominent place in Chinese culture. Though the exact origin of the Chinese drum is still subject to debate, ancient literatures show that it is about as old as Chinese history itself. The earliest documentation of its application in ancient China occurs in Oracle Inscriptions (Jiaguwen) of the Shang Dynasty , that is, inscriptions carved on tortoise shells and animal bones.

Hot Designs: Chinese Wax Printing

2008-02-28T17:52:00.000-08:00

The raw materials used in wax dyeing are pure cotton fabrics; the usual tools used for applying wax include a piece of copper and brass with bamboo handles. They are made from two small triangular pieces of metal, with their apexes bound to a bamboo holder by a copper wire. It is held like a pen either upright or on a slant in relation to the cloth, which is laid flat on a board. This tool is convenient for drawing straight or slightly curved lines.The patterns of most wax printings are rooted in social history, totem worship, mythical legends or religious ethnic cultures. For example, Miao wax printings convey the independent idea for beauty and the way of thinking of Miao women, expressing their yearning for happiness, respect and admiration for life, a d worship of ancestors. Such patterns can feature geometric images, animals or plants.

Hot Designs: Chinese Wax Printing

2008-02-27T18:55:00.000-08:00

Chinese wax printing is a special Chinese handicraft typical of ethnic characteristics and local styles. As one of the most antique handworks, it is perceived as an important part of China's ancient civilization. Called "laran" in Chinese, wax printing is a way of decorating fabric by covering parts of it with a coat of wax and then dyeing it. Beeswax is the main ingredient but other resins can also be used. To make a wax printing, certain areas of the fabric are selected and blocked out by brushing or drawing wax that has been heated in a little pot over the cloth; the cloth is then dyed different colors. The parts covered by wax resist the dye and retain their original hues. This process of waxing and dyeing can be repeated to create more elaborate and colorful designs. After the final dyeing the wax is removed and the fabric is prepared for usage or display. The wax printings can be framed and, if used properly, can make any house or office more unique and inviting.

Shahrisabz, Xinjiang，CHINA

2008-01-10T00:18:00.000-08:00

Shahrisabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane, 160 km from Samarkand, is located in a small valley, surrounded by the foothills of the Pamir Mountains. It was only a small town at the time of Tamerlane, but at his behest, his descendants continued the development of Shahrisabz long after his death.

Among the architectural monuments of Tamerlane's time there are the remains of the massive portal of the Ak-Saray Palace, which took 20 years to build and was destroyed by Abdulla-Khan of Bukhara in the XVII century.

The Dor-us-Saodat Burial Complex includes a mausoleum for two of Tamerlane's sons, Jahangir and Umar Sheikh, is an outstanding example of Khorezmian architecture, built by Khorezmian slaves in the second half of the XIV century. Also here is a mausoleum built for Tamerlane himself several years before his death (although he was eventually buried in Gur-Emir Mausoleum in Samarkand). Arranged in the shape of a tent, the crypt of the mausoleum (the only part that have survived) has a single marble grave with its cover left open, waiting for Tamerlane. The walls of the crypt are very simply decorated with design in the shape of a teardrop, and an inscription in Arabic reading: "A wise and powerful man shall seek the advantage in every situation and act on his own, where as a fool waits upon the action of others".

In later times the burial complex was expanded and at the time of Tamerlane’s grandson, Ulughbek, an adjoining burial ground emerged - the Dor-ut-Tilovat built for relatives that lived in Shahrisabz. Across a small square from the mausolea is a Memorial Mosque called Kok-Gumbaz (The Blue Dome) which in the XIX century was turned into a cathedral mosque.

2007-12-04T22:57:00.000-08:00

Chinese Shadow Play

2007-12-04T00:42:00.001-08:00

Chinese Shadow Play

2007-12-02T23:21:00.001-08:00

“Piying” (leather-shadow puppet art) or shadow play is general term referring to shadow drama and shadow play character (including stage scene, properties, and setting). Chinese shadow play is a unique art, ingeniously combined Chinese folk fine art and traditional opera, and an indispensable, exquisite gem in Chinese art palace.
Shadow play is a kind of drama in which the artistic effect is achieved through the performance of plane puppet figures projected with light onto a transparent white screen, on which the audience watch the performance. The plane puppet figures, as well the stage scene, properties and setting are usually made of leather, curved and painted manually by folk craftsmen. Therefore it is called “piying” (leather-shadow puppet art)

Chinese New Year pictures

2007-11-27T23:53:00.000-08:00

New Year Painting

2007-11-27T23:51:00.001-08:00

Chinese New Year pictures pinned up on doors, room walls and windows on the Chinese New Year to invite heavenly blessings and ward off disasters and evil spirits - which dates back to the Qin and Han dynasties. Thanks to the invention of block printing, folk painting became popular in the Song Dynasty and reached its zenith of sophistication in the Qing. Woodcuts have become increasingly diverse in style, variety, theme and artistic form since the early 1980s. Classification of Chinese Traditional Painting

Yangliuqing New Year Painting

2007-11-25T22:09:00.000-08:00

Yangliuqing New Year Painting

One of China's three famous folk New Year picture styles, Yangliuqing New Year pictures originated in Yangliuqing Town, in the western suburbs of Tanjin City, in the early 17th centuryThe characters' countenances and attires are painted in lead powder in golden colour and characterized by varied themes, such as brightness, vivacity, happiness, auspiciousness and fascination, they are very popular.

New Year Painting

2007-11-25T22:07:00.000-08:00

Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is the longest and most important holiday for Chinese people. It is usually celebrated from the eighth day of the twelfth month to the fifteenth of the first month (lantern festival), by Chinese lunar calendar. Traditionally, from the 23rd to the 27th of the twelfth lunar month, every family cleans and paints their houses and does New Year shopping. In rural China, hanging New Year paintings is a must. Bought from the market, New Year pictures are hanged on every important spots of the house-the gete, rooms, the kitchen, the storehouse, the well, and the stable. Portraits of village god and kitchen got are usually pasted up on niched to express people's wishes for peace and happiness. For average Chinese farmers, hanging New Year paintings bring about unusual festive joy and delight to them.

Chinese knots中国结

2007-11-15T17:58:00.001-08:00

The knots are pulled tightly together and are sturdy enough to be used for binding or wrapping, making them very practical. Furthermore, the complicated structure of the Chinese knot allows all kinds of variations and enhances its decorative value. Almost all basic Chinese knots are symmetrical, which has set certain technical limitations on the design and creation of new patterns and themes. Symmetry is consistent with time-honored ornamental and aesthetic standards in China. Visually, the symmetrical designs are more easily accepted and appreciated by Chinese people.
Except for the Two-Coins Knot, the Chinese knot is three dimensional in structure. It comprises two planes tied together leaving a hollow center. Such a structure lends rigidity to the work as a whole and keeps its shape when hung on the wall. The hollow center also allows for the addition of precious stones.

Chinese knots中国结

2007-11-15T17:53:00.000-08:00

Chinese people have known how to tie knots using cords ever since they began learned how to attach animal pelts to their bodies to keep warm thousands of years ago. As civilization advanced, Chinese people used knots for more than just fastening and wrapping. Knots were also used to record events, while others had a purely ornamental function. In 1980, dedicated connoisseurs collected and arranged decorative yet practical knots passed down over centuries in China. After studying the structures of these knots, the devotees set about creating new variations and increasing the decorative value of knots. The exquisitely symmetrical knots that come in so many forms are as profound as the great cultural heritage of the Chinese people.

The Chinese knot is based on over a dozen basic knots named according to their distinctive shapes, usages, or origins. The Two-Coins Knot, for example, is shaped like two overlapping coins once used in ancient China. The Button Knot function as a button, and the Reversed Swastika Knot was derived from the Buddhist symbol commonly seen on the streamers hanging down from the waistband of the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy.

Chinese knots

2007-11-12T23:29:00.000-08:00

Traditional Chinese decorative knots, also known as Chinese knots, are typical local arts of China. They are a distinctive and traditional Chinese folk handicraft woven separately from one piece of thread and named according to its shape and meaning. In Chinese, “knot” means reunion, friendliness, peace, warmth, marriage, love, etc. Chinese knots are often used to express good wishes, including happiness, prosperity, love and the absence of evil.

Chinese Colored Lanterns

2007-11-11T23:54:00.000-08:00

Beijing, as one of the nation's four famous ancient capitals, boasts some of the most exquisite and elegant-shaped colored lanterns made of select raw materials. The lanterns hanging in front of the Tian'anmen Square are representatives of royal lanterns. They are made of steel frames which are then covered by red silk. Both their top and bottom mouths are decorated with ruyi (wish-granting scepter) patterns; their bottom mouths are also decorated with hanging golden tassels that shine beautifully and elegantly.
The best traditional Beijing palace lanterns require valuable rosewood as the skeleton and are usually covered with traditional-patterned thin silk or glass. Besides their original lighting function, the palace lanterns are also high works of art that are favored by Chinese lantern collectors. Palace lanterns are so named because they were first used in the palace. Now they are usually hung in halls or study rooms, for an added classic antique effect.

Fascinating Clay-figurines

2007-11-08T23:08:00.000-08:00

Huishan clay figurines

2007-11-08T22:54:00.000-08:00

The Huishan clay figurines of Wuxi, Jiangsu Province are in a different style and have a long history.
In the slack seasons, nearly all families in Wuxi make clay figurines. When festivals approaching, many people sell clay figurines at templeand market fairs.
In the Qing Dynasty, there were some professional clay figurine workshops in Huishan. Clay figurine artist Wang Chunlin once made five plates of clay children to the Emperor Qianlong and received high praise. From Emperor Tongzhi's to Guangxu's reign in the Qing Dynasty, more opera figurines were produced and Huishan clay figurine production reached its peak. At that time, there were over 40 clay figurine workshops and stores in Huishan, with more than 30 professional craft workers. When the Empress Dowager Cixi celebrated her 60th birthday, the local officer of Huishan presented a set of clay figurines named Immortality Peach Gathering. From then on, Huishan clay figurines were officially recognized as articles of tribute to the imperial court.

Huishan clay figurines include fine and coarse figurines. Coarse figurines are made from moulds and produced in large numbers. However, fine figurines are made by hand in the shapes of oxen, tigers, the God of Longevity and so on. Generally speaking, Huishan clay figurines are short in stature, full with big heads, and their facial expressions are vividly depicted. Bright red, yellow, green and blue colors are applied to them to make them more distinct and beautiful.

Clay Figurine Zhang and Huishan clay figurines

2007-11-08T00:29:00.001-08:00

Chinese folk artists use simple and cheap materials to make small and delicate handicrafts, won great favor among folk people. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, painted clay figurines were very popular. The most famous were the Clay Figurine Zhang ( Niren Zhang) made in Tianjin and the Huishan clay figurines made in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province.
Clay Figurine Zhang

Clay Figurines Zhang was a kind of school of art in northern China. It was initiated by Zhang Mingshan in the late Qing Dynasty. Zhang Mingshan was born in a poor family in Tianjin. He learned from his father how to make clay figurines at a very young age. Zhang was clever, deft and full of imagination. He carefully observed people at different places, such as market fairs, theaters and so on. Then he would secretly make clay figurines of those he met and hide them inside his sleeves.
His clay figurines were very vivid and expressive, and Zhang and his figurines were soon well known in the surrounding area. Zhang not only inherited the legacy of traditional skills but also incorporated skills from other art forms such as painting, opera singing and Chinese folk wood engravings. He created more than 10,000 clay figurines during his life, and his unique handicrafts became famous both at home and abroad. People liked his clay figurines very much and gave him the nickname of Clay Figurine Zhang.

Fascinating Clay-figurines

2007-11-08T00:19:00.000-08:00

The craft of making painted clay-figurines of Fengxiang has a recorded history of more than 3,000 years.
According to archaeologists, the decorative designs of Fengxiang's figurines made in the Western Zhou Dynasty were different from those on bronzeware buried in the same period. The images of clay figurines typically included flowers, birds, fish, insects, as well as auspicious birds and beasts, reflecting cultural characteristics of ancient China.
The figurines are made of local clay, which was mixed with pulp and painted after it was shaped. The colors of Fengxiang figurines are extremely bright, and with intensive contrasts. With a black outline, they are primarily scarlet, green and yellow.
The figurines have a wide-range of subjects, including facial makeup, folklore, historical stories, rural life and others. Their bold and short shapes are widely exaggerated. The resonate with admirers, and are deeply loved by people at home and abroad.
In recent years, with the development of China's tourism, Fengxiang's clay - figurines have become one of the Shaanxi's important travel souvenirs.

Papercuts

2007-10-25T00:49:00.000-07:00

Although papercuts are simple to make, their themes reveal many local Chinese customs. Papercuts typically demonstrate the preferred aesthetics of shape and the artistic concepts behind Chinese folk handicrafts. An understanding and scrutiny of papercuts is a good beginning to getting to know and appreciate the complexity of Chinese folk arts.
The art forms are mainly used as decorations and patterns for religious and ornamental purposes. Papercuts can also be used as ornaments on gates, windows, walls, columns, mirrors, lamps and lanterns. They are still widely used today at important festivals, especially during the New Year. It is very important to put papercuts at the entrance gates for good luck for the family. Papercuts can also serve as presents or as decorations on gifts and sacrificial offerings to the ancestors or gods. In addition, they can be used as embroidery patterns for clothes and lacquer works.
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Papercuts

2007-10-24T00:37:00.000-07:00

Papercuts refer to handicrafts made by cutting paper with scissors to form different patterns and pasting them on walls, windows, doors and ceilings. With their long history, papercuts, which originated in China, have been very popular among the ordinary people of China. The first papercut can be traced back to the Northern and Southern Dynasties(386-581) period. The initiation and spread of papercuts had a close relationship with Chinese rural festivals. People pasted papercuts on walls, windows and doors at wedding ceremonies or festivals to enhance the festive atmosphere.
Chinese papercuts are rich in content. The auspicious designs symbolize good luck and the avoidance of evil. The child, lotus and bottle gourd designs suggest a family with a large number of children and grandchildren. Domestic birds, livestock, fruit, fish and worms are also familiar objects depicted by Chinese farmers. There are some special papercuts of traditional design used as patterns for embroidering clothes,

Papercuts

2007-10-23T00:07:00.000-07:00

As an art, folk papercuts imitate nature in the shape of characters, symbols and other designs. Various paper objects were buried with the deceased or burned with other symbolic figures of the dead. This practice is still observed in some parts of China.

Paper and scissors are the usual materials utilized, but sometimes an engraving knife is used. Papercuts are all hand-made. There are two common practices for making papercuts: scissors- and knife-cutting techniques. In the first technique, about eight paper strips are fastened together to form a pattern. The artist cuts the motif with a pair of sharp, pointed scissors to attain the desired pattern. Knife cutting, on the other hand, is where the artist puts several layers of paper on a relatively soft foundation consisting of a mixture of tallow and ashes. The artist then holds a sharp knife vertically and cuts the motif out of the paper by following a pattern. More papercuts are made with the knife-cutting technique rather than scissors since it is less time consuming

Chinese Ribbon Buttons

2007-09-24T01:36:00.000-07:00

Ribbon buttons vary a lot in shapes and materials. They include butterfly buttons, bud buttons, and engraving-like buttons, which can have different influences on different types of costumes. A ribbon button decorated on a straight standing collar is likely to add a touch of classical elegance and implicitness, typical ofZhang Ailing, a famous Chinese female writer in the 1930s, who liked to wear the old clothes of the late Qing dynasty; one on a low-cut collar will show the romantic and charming character of modern women, while a row of parallel ribbon buttons on a long dress are exquisite and beautiful; a slightly opened short blouse with several flower-like ribbon buttons can show the beauty and innocence of a girl.

Chinese Ribbon Buttons

2007-09-24T01:26:00.001-07:00

Chinese ribbon buttons, also known as right-angled buttons, have always been the most fascinating part of Chinese costumes with their classical beauty and antique flavor. Made of simple cloth ribbons, the buttons have in fact become precious artworks, combining the disposition and wisdom of makers. As a traditional accessory, Chinese ribbon buttons are making a comeback in a larger variety of types, such as long-sleeve buttons, short-sleeve buttons and front ribbon buttons. Even on the back vent of a straight bottom dress are decorations of several ribbon buttons.

2007-09-18T01:16:00.000-07:00

Main categories of Chinese kites
Chinese kites may be differentiated into four main categories:
1. Flat-Kites
Flat kites are constructed within a single plane, and are made of a completely rigid bamboo frame. Spars (longitudinal beams) frame all the four sides of the frame or of the frame segements. Most of these kites, which are very easy to fly, are flown with long tails to grant a stable in-flight behavior. Flat kites are built in many forms and types, very often with pictorial motives from ancient myths and religious ideas, or very often with a picture of the ying-yang sign or the "Eight Diagrams" (a kind of ancient philosophy-related Chinese diagram).
2. Hard-winged kites
This kind of kite is made of two bamboo strips attached to a rectangular framework, which is covered with paper or silk to form a triangle to ensure a good wind-catching effect and good flight performance.

Chinese Traditional Kite Craft

2007-09-16T23:44:00.001-07:00

Flying includes: selecting site and weather, choosing the kite, launching the kite into the air, adjusting the line, and controlling the kite.
To make a kite, first, the right kind of bamboo strips must be selected for the frame. It should be thick and strong for a kite of large dimensions in order to stand the wind pressure. The regular paper or sometime silk is used to cover the frame. Silk kites, especially, are more durable and generally of higher artistic value. Third, painting the kite may be done in each way.
China has a large area of territory. As a traditional culture and folk art, kite has formed unique style of different regions during its development, among which the most famous ones are the styles of Beijing, Tianjin, Weifang in Shangdong Province, Sichuan and Guangdong Province .
Art genre & characteristics of Chinese kites
The art of Chinese kites has developed endlessly alongside the long history of the nation's cultural traditions. Each kind of kite art has its strong point due to its strong affinity with each rich and colorful historical period. The specific kite art and firmly relates with the music, dance, drama, folk-custom, and religion of their respective areas.
Various art systems and genres have formed over time. Generally, there are six kinds: Beijing kite, Weifang kite, Tianjin kite, Nantong kite, Jiangnan kite, and Taiwan kite.

Silver Ornaments of the Miao Ethnic Group

2007-09-13T19:52:00.000-07:00

Silver Ornaments of the Miao Ethnic Group
Silver Chest Bands
A popular silver chest decoration, the bands are usually rectangular or semicircular and evolved from longevity locks. Some smaller ones are made of single pieces, and bigger ones are made up of two or three pieces, covering almost the whole chest and abdomen with a highly decorative effect.
Silver Hanging Decorations
The most common hanging decorations are shaped like butterflies, birds, fish, coins, and riding figures. They usually consist of chains, brands, and pendants arranged in as many as four to five levels, and the longest can be up to 85 cm long.
Hand Decorations
Silver Bracelets
Bracelets are an important part of the Miao people's silver decorations. There are many variations in shape and different styles represent the diversified tastes of various Miao group branches. People usually wear four or five pairs of bracelets at a time up their forearms.
Silver Rings
Miao silver rings are usually large and wide featuring birds, flowers or vines. There is no specific restriction on how many or where to wear rings. The Miao people near Guiyang sometimes wear eight rings at one time - one on each finger except the two thumbs. In comparison with other silver Miao ornaments, there are few patterns and styles for rings, and they are only popular in a small number of regions.

Silver Earrings

2007-09-11T23:10:00.000-07:00

There is a much greater range of silver earrings than any other type of Miao silverware. The Museum of Guizhou Province alone has, nearly one hundred kinds in its incomplete collection. There are four types of earrings: drop, circle, hook and wheel. Drop and circle types are the most popular types and earrings use other patterns besides the usual flowers, birds, butterflies and dragons.
Silver Bonnet Ornaments
The Miao people regard silver as talisman against evil spirits, so people living around the Qingshui River have a custom of decorating their children's bonnets with silver ornaments. Traditional bonnet ornaments include lions, fish and butterflies. Chinese characters such as fu (prosperity), lu (high position), shou (longevity), xi (happiness) and changming fugui (longevity with wealth and honor) are also used because of the influence of dominant Han Chinese culture.

Silver Ornaments of the Miao Ethnic Group

2007-09-10T23:12:00.000-07:00

There is a great demand for Miao silverware but all the craftsmen are amateurs who can often only work during the farming off season. Then in some regions unique "silver villages" or large compound silver workshops appear.
Because the Miao silverware producing regions have no natural silver resources, the hardworking Miao people used to melt almost all the silver coins and ingots they earned. This led to different levels of silver purity as currencies differed from region to region. From the 1950s, the government began to regularly allocate special silver to the Miao people to as a sign of respect for their tradition and customs.

The design of the silver decorations is largely inspired by other art forms such as embroidery and wax printin. The silversmiths consistently improve and enrich the patterns while keeping the traditional designs.
The rich varieties, elegant patterns, and exquisite craftsmanship not only demonstrate the colorful world of Miao people's art, but their spiritual life as well.

Silver Ornaments of the Miao Ethnic Group

2007-09-10T00:28:00.000-07:00

Silver Ornaments of the Miao Ethnic Group
The Miao ethnic group's silver ornaments are second to none, both in terms of quantity and variety. Miao women's festive attire includes a variety of silver decorations, weighing as much as 15 kilos! The purpose of wearing all this silver is of course primarily aesthetic, but it also shows affluence and is thought to wards off evil spirits.
While usually worn by women, the Miao ethnic minority's silverware is made by men. Categorized by functions, there are hats, clothing, necklaces, bracelets, and rings. The level of craftsmanship ranges from relatively basic styles seen in some of the bracelets and neckbands to very delicate skilful work used to make silver bells, flowers, birds, butterflies, needles, bubbles, chains, and earrings.
There are three basic varieties of Miao silverware distinguished by area. The first type is represented by eastern Guizhou Province where people wear silver ornaments made with a high degree of craftsmanship. The main works are silver hats and clothes. The hats are made of dozens or even more than a hundred parts, topped by tall horn-like decorations. The second style is from the Songtao and Tongren regions, and features silverware inlaid on kerchiefs, shawls, and clothes. Delicate earrings are also made with a high degree of craftsmanship although there is now less silver decoration than before. The third type, from the regions west of Guiyang, capital of Guizhou Province, features comparatively few varieties of silverware. Only hairpins, combs, and flower decorations are made there. All three areas make earrings, neckbands, and bracelets.

Chinese Qipao

2007-09-05T23:01:00.000-07:00

The Qipao had another side: simplicity and purity. Girls from ordinary families also wore qipaos, but these were made from sackcloth or yarn. Wearing their qipaos, they bustled in yards of blue tile and white walls, on small bridges over rivers or in narrow strttes paved with flagstone. Although lacking in sophisticated handiwork and exquisite adornment, the qipaos worn by these humble maidens were full of purity and earthiness.
An oradinary qipao can easily enhance the warer's bearing. Female college graduates during the early 20th century wore blue cotton qipaos. White scarvets were draped loosely over a shoulder. An air of refinement, as well as the vigor and warmth of youth were conveyed with simple dress.
The qipao, interpreted by Chinese women in different times and for occasions, will never lose its charm.

Taichi II

2007-09-05T01:14:00.001-07:00

Tai chi chuan was created as a form of traditional Chinese martial arts of the Neijia (soft or internal) branch. Since the first widespread promotion of tai chi's health benefits by Yang Shaohou, Yang Chengfu, Wu Chien-ch'uan and Sun Lutang in the early twentieth century, it has developed a worldwide following among people with little or no interest in martial training for its benefit to health and health maintenance. Some call it a form of moving meditation, as focusing the mind solely on the movements of the form purportedly helps to bring about a state of mental calm and clarity. Besides general health benefits and stress management attributed to tai chi training, aspects of Traditional Chinese medicine are taught to advanced tai chi students in some traditional schools。Some martial arts, especially the Japanese martial arts, use a uniform for students during practice. Tai chi chuan schools do not generally require a uniform, but both traditional and modern teachers often advocate loose, comfortable clothing and flat-soled shoes。

The physical techniques of tai chi chuan are described in the tai chi classics (a set of writings by traditional masters) as being characterized by the use of leverage through the joints based on coordination in relaxation, rather than muscular tension, in order to neutralize or initiate attacks. The slow, repetitive work involved in the process of learning how that leverage is generated gently and measurably increases and opens the internal circulation (breath, body heat, blood, lymph, peristalsis, etc.).

Chinese Qipao

2007-09-03T23:59:00.000-07:00

Qipao (Ch'ipau) is one of the most typical, traditional costumes for Chinese women. Also known as cheongsam, it is like a wonderful flower in the Chinese colorful fashion scene because of its particular charm.

Like other costumes, the beauty of Qipao comes first. Simplicity is one of its features from the collar, loop, chest, waist and hips to the lower hem, and a Qipao almost varies with a woman's figure. It not only lays stress on the natural beauty of a female figure, but also makes women's legs appear more slender. Mature women in Qipaos can display their graceful refined manner.
Besides its simplicity, Qipao provides designers with vast, creative space: some short, some long, with low, high, or even no collars at all.
Practicality always goes with beauty. Qipaos are worn in both urban and rural areas, its long-standing elegance and serenity making wearers fascinating.

Taichi

2007-08-28T19:37:00.000-07:00

I practiced the Taichi since I graduate from the high school, which is little more than 10 years ago, even I stop it right now use busy work as excuse, well, I know that is unforgivable. Anyway, The following is some brief introduction of Taichi, that is I cited from the internet source, of course I would add some my feeling and experience too. Hope you, who read it will like it.

Tai chi chuan is an internal Chinese martial art often practiced with the aim of promoting health and longevity. Tai chi chuan's training forms are well known as the slow motion routines that groups of people practice together every morning in parks around the world, particularly in China. Some medical studies support its effectiveness as an alternative exercise and a form of martial arts therapy. Tai chi chuan is considered a soft style martial art — an art applied with internal power — to distinguish its theory and application from that of the hard martial art styles. There are many different styles of tai chi chuan, but most modern schools can trace their development to the system originally taught by the Chen family to the Yang family starting in 1820。

The Mandarin term "tai chi chuan" literally translates as "supreme ultimate boxing" or "boundless fist," but may better translate to "great extremes boxing," with an emphasis on finding balance between two great extremes. The concept of the "supreme ultimate" is the symbol of the Taijitu meant to show the principles of Yin and Yang duality of Taoist philosophy. Thus, tai chi theory and practice evolved in agreement with many of the principles of Chinese philosophy and Taoism in particular. Tai chi training first and foremost involves learning solo routines, known as forms. While the image of tai chi chuan in popular culture is typified by exceedingly slow movement, many tai chi styles (including the three most popular, Yang, Wu and Chen) have secondary forms of a faster pace. The other half of traditional tai chi training (though many modern schools disregard it entirely) consists of partner exercises known as pushing hands, and martial applications of the postures of the form.

Traditional Chinese Shoes

2007-08-26T23:48:00.000-07:00

Shaolin Wushu

2007-08-23T00:04:00.000-07:00

Shaolin Wushu (Shaolin Martial Art) is one of the most influential genres of Chinese martial art, and it's named after the Shaolin Temple located in Dengfeng County, Henan Province. The monks in the Shaolin Temple began to study martial art during the Southern and Northern Dynasties and this tradition prevailed during the Sui and the Tang dynasties (581-907).

Shaolin Wushu is famous both at home and abroad as a highly effective method of self-defense and health-building. Combining both external and internal, and "hard" and "soft" exercises, Shaolin Wushu involves various methods of fighting techniques, consisting of barehanded boxing and weaponry combat. The Shaolin boxing has compactly designed routines. Its movements are quick, powerful and flexible; both practical for defense and attack.

The most outstanding characteristic of Shaolin boxing is that the practitioner works on one straight line. It means that his movements of advancing, retreating, turning around, sideways, or jumping are restrained on one line. His arms are kept slightly bent so that he can stretch out to attack or withdraw freely for self defense. Another characteristic of Shaolin Wushu is to maintain the body in perfect balance, as stable as a mountain. The practitioners should keep a tranquil mind but strike with great force and speed. He should be good at "borrowing" force from the opponent. That is, he should not meet the opponent's strikes head-on, but take advantage of the striker's force and go along with it to bring him to ward off a force of a thousand weights. The practitioner should know how to make feigned strikes and when striking, hit the vital parts of the opponent. The movements should be as dextrous as a cat, the shaking as a tiger, the moving as a dragon, the advancing as lightning and the yelling as thunder.

Shaolin Wushu is a very convenient sport, for the practice does not need a large space and is not affected by weather or the kind of weapons used.

There are many routines. External exercises include Minor Hong Boxing, Greater Hong Boxing, Old Hong Boxing, Chaoyang Boxing, Chang Boxing, Plum Blossom Boxing, Cannon Boxing, Luohan Buddha Boxing, Tongbei Boxing, Seven-star Boxing, Dragon-out-of-the-sea Boxing and Shooting-star Boxing; for internal exercises there are Xingyi Boxing and Juji Boxing. Shaolin boxing can be practiced singly or in pairs. The dual routines include: Banshou Liuhe Boxing, Yaoshou Liuhe Boxing and Kick and Strike Liuhe Boxing.

Chinese Martial Art

2007-08-20T23:12:00.000-07:00

Wushu, or Martial Art, is an important component of the cultural heritage of China, with a rich content over the centuries. Literally, "Wu" means military, and "Shu" means art. Wushu therefore means the art of fighting, or martial arts. Martial training includes Ti (kicking), Da (punching), Shuai (throwing), Na (controlling), Ji (hitting), Ci (thrusting), etc. Related to each style are basic forms, or sequences, which may involve defense strategies, offense, retreat, mobility and immobility, speed and slowness, hard or soft postures, emptiness and fullness, with or without weapons.

Wushu was born and has steadily grown and attained perfection as an integral part of Chinese culture. As such it is bound to be influenced and conditioned by other forms of culture, first and foremost by philosophy, art and literature, and religion. Wushu reigns as one of the most traditional and popular national sport in China, practiced by the young and old alike.

Wushu was originally a military training method, bearing a close relationship with ancient combats. Practical skills, such as strength training, fencing, staff sparring, spear training, etc., are still used now by policemen and soldiers. Today Wushu has been organized and systematized into a formal branch of study in the performance arts and has become an athletic and aesthetic performance and competitive sport. Every movement must exhibit sensible combat application and aestheticism.

Chinese Wushu is classified into various styles according to different regions, different schools and families, as well as different fighting techniques. Routines are performed solo, paired or in groups, either barehanded or armed with traditional Chinese weaponry. Wushu can be viewed in terms of two categories, including Taolu (Forms with or without weapons) and Sanshou (Free Sparring).

Taolu is a performance of set offensive and defensive Wushu movements based on Chinese Wushu principles. It includes the following four main categories: Bare-Handed Forms, Weapon Forms, Duilian, and Group Forms.

Duilian form consists of sets of offensive and defensive movements for two or more practitioners in mock combat routines. They usually include three groups -- Bare-handed vs. Bare-handed, Weapon(s) vs. Weapon(s), and Bare-handed vs. Weapon(s). Group Forms are usually for demonstrations only and performed with or without weapons by a group of six or more persons.

Wushu's emphasis has shifted from combat to performance, and it is practiced for its method of achieving health, self-defense skills, mental discipline, recreational pursuit and competition. In 1990, Wushu was adopted as an official medal event in the Asian Games, and since then World Championships have been held with 56 nations participating. Now Wushu is vying for the Olympic Games in the 21st century.

The Art of Tea Drinking

2007-08-16T00:57:00.001-07:00

The Chinese people are without a doubt the ones who best understand the nature of tea. Tea has a long history over 2,000 years old, and is a common thread running through our culture. Tea drinking has become a form of artistic and intellectual expression in Chinese culture, and is rich in tradition. Many relationship with tea, though of superficial origins, grew more and more profound over time. The significance of tea began to assert itself in the Tang and Song Dynasties. It was during this time that the art of tea was born. The Tea Classics, written by Lu Yu during the Tang Dynasty, helped to elevate tea drinking to a high status throughout China.
It was somewhere between the Tang and Song Dynasties that the custom of tea drinking was brought to Japan, which readily adopted the Chinese custom. But there were, and still are, differences between the Japanese and Chinese interpretations of the art of tea drinking.
Chinese people tend to view tea drinking as a natural form of enjoyment, unlike the Japanese, who approach the concept in a very strict and ritualistic fashion. In spite of its popularity throughout the ages, the Chinese have never elevated tea to the god-like status it enjoys in Japan. Rather, tea is something one drinks after a meal; it is merely a part of one's life. For a Chinese to say anything more of tea than this would be to misunderstand its purpose, which can be anything but to be worshipped. The attitude Chinese take toward tea drinking is in many ways symbolic of their relatively balanced position towards different attitudes and behaviors. One could say that in the Chinese interpretation of the art of tea, one can find the source their open mindedness.
But it wasn't until the Song Dynasty that tea drinking really became in vogue. Even the Emperor indulged in this new and wonderful custom, which subsequently drew tea-growers to the capital every spring to pay tribute to the Son of Heaven. The Emperor gave tea as a gift to those worthy of the honor, which not only helped increase the drink's popularity, but also helped spread elevate its value. Books, poems, and paintings about tea became increasingly popular.
With the passing of the Yuan, and the start of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the technology of tea production was constantly being improved; not only in an effort to enhance its flavor, but also to further simplify its production. By this time, tea houses were popping up all over the country. Tea-drinking establishments could be found at any public gathering place or point of interest; temples, palaces, even famous mountains had their respective tea vendors.
Li Ri Hua, a Ming Dynasty scholar, once said: "One should clean out a room in one's home and place only a tea table and a chair in the room with some boiled water and fragrant tea. Afterwards, sit salutarily and allow one's spirit to become ranquil, light, and natural." Li Ri Hua used tea drinking to calm his spirit and clear his mind. He practiced the art of living naturally, avoiding outside influences.
During the same period, a man by the name of Luo likened the drinking of tea to a spiritual release, unique to every individual. It was people like Luo who cultivated the artistic conception of tea, which represents the Chinese way of turning the mundane things in life into ones of higher meaning.
Though its history is indeed lengthy, the art of tea drinking is not without competition. The introduction of coffee by the West, along with its own culture, is believed by some to be destroying the virtues of tea drinking in the modern age with slick advertising that promotes outside values and life-stles. Now, coffee houses in Taiwan outnumber their tea-peddling counterparts, driving them slowly out of business. Even though the quality of Taiwanese tea has improved over the years, tea drinking simply cannot compete any longer.
Over the last few years, through the efforts of people who care deeply for the culture and history of tea, various tea associations have been founded. This, along with the publication of many books and articles on the subject, has begun a tea revival of sorts. But we must be careful not to let the art of tea drinking become some complex concept that is difficult to appreciate or to understand. Only by returning to the old principles of simplicity and universality can we hope to see the art of tea regain its popularity or old.

The Art Of Drinking Tea

2007-08-16T00:53:00.000-07:00

Yum cha, or "tea lunch," is a treat for the entire family. Many Chinese families reserve Sunday mornings for this outing. It is not only an opportunity to savor the delights of dim sum, but to visit with friends as well.
The Chinese call the little delicacies served at tea lunch dim sum, which translates as "touching your heart." And that indeed is what these small morsels do. The advantage of sampling them at a teahouse is the great variety available. It may take you several visits to determine your favorites. There are steamed shrimp and pork dumplings, deep-fried egg rolls and taro-root dumplings, green peppers with shrimp filling, and on and on.
Dim sum is based on Cantonese dim sum, it is all good at color, fragrance, taste and shape, its characteristic is that the ingredients used are of best quality and plentiful, variety is numerous, style is novel, tastes are various, it suits the needs of every eater and four seasons.
The first step in yum cha is the selection of your tea. The waiter will ask you for your choice, and you might take this opportunity to try a variety you haven’t tasted before, such as loong jaing (dragon’s well), po nay, jasmine and so on.
There is no need to ask for a menu. The food will come to you on carts or on trays. Some items are on plates, some in metal or bamboo steamers; each serving contains 2 to 6 pieces, depending on the item. There are four main groups of food from which to choose. The first is made up of steamed dishes like shrimp or pork dumplings and pork buns. The second group is the variety group, such as parchment chicken, pickled mustard greens and duck or chicken feet. The third classification covers deep-fried items: egg rolls, rice rolls, pork triangles and others. The fourth group is comprised of sweet items like sponge cake, coconut jelly, and delightful custard tarts.

What is all About Chinese Tea?

2007-08-14T02:12:00.000-07:00

Chinese Tea? What is all About?

Thirst quenching! Right.

But is Chinese tea drinking are really that simple?
The answer? Sure not that easy!

Chinese tea is healthy
Chinese tea is healthy in a lot of ways. It lowers blood pressure, protects the heart, helps to prevent obesity, prevents tooth decay and increases immunity, etc. Sounds like a TV commercial but it has been working on more than billions of Chinese people over thousands of years.

It's announced in November, 2001 that research has found scientific evidence that Chinese tea can actually help to prevent cancer. It's more than just empty talk now. It's psychological

As a fellow Chinese tea drinker puts it "when I am home after a busy day, I make myself a cup of tea while sitting slanted on the sofa. A sip of hot tea down the throat, the whole world loosens up. The feeling is soooo ... you know... ". Yes, as a Chinese tea drinker, I know, you know, we all know. Chinese tea's impact on one's psychological health is immediate.
Chinese tea is a way of life
A cup of tea in the morning sets the pace of the day. Sitting and chatting with a few good friends over a couple rounds of tea makes life worth living. Brewing Chinese tea calms me down.

Chinese tea is more than just something to drink. It has in fact become a way of life for many. It's philosophical

Good Chinese teas have the flavor of nature. In the process of searching for the right combination to bring out that flavor, we think, we fail, we reflect, and hopefully, we succeed. When we take a sip of the hard-earned tea, we realize that the process itself is what tastes the best.

A lifetime's Searching
Of course there is much, much more to the way of tea. Chinese tea enlightens individual tea drinkers in different ways. I have seen tea drinkers change their attitude of life after adapting tea as a way of life, some start looking deep into Chinese culture to search for more inspiration.
Keep in mind that Chinese tea is not just a beverage. You will be surprised that through the way of tea, you will find something in yourself.

The Art of Tea

2007-08-13T02:56:00.000-07:00

"When a guest comes to my home from afar on a cold night, I light bamboo to boil tea to offer him." — Ancient Chinese poem.

China is the home country of tea. Before the Tang Dynasty, Chinese tea was exported by land and sea, first to Japan and Korea, then to India and Central Asia and, in the Ming and Qing dynasties, to the Arabian Peninsula. In the early period of the 17th century, Chinese tea was exported to Europe, where the upper class adopted the fashion of drinking tea. Chinese tea—like Chinese silk and china—has become synonymous worldwide with refined culture. At the heart of the art of tea—the study and practice of tea in all its aspects—is the simple gesture of offering a cup of tea to a guest that for Chinese people today is a fundamental social custom, as it has been for centuries. China traces the development of tea as an art form to Lu Yu, known as "the Saint of Tea" in Chinese history, who lived during the Tang Dynasty and who wrote The Book of Tea, the first ever treatise on tea and tea culture. The spirit of tea permeates Chinese culture, and throughout the country there are many kinds of teas, teahouses, tea legends, tea artifacts and tea customs. Better-known places to enjoy a good cup of tea in China include Beijing noted for its variety of teahouses; Fujian and Guangdong provinces and other places in the southeast of China that serve gongfu tea, a formal serving of tea in tiny cups; the West Lake in Hangzhou, also the home of the Tea Connoisseurs Association, noted for its excellent green tea; and provinces in southwest China like Yunnan where the ethnic groups less affected by foreign cultures retain tea ceremonies and customs in original tea-growing areas.

Chinese Chess

2007-08-12T22:56:00.000-07:00

Chinese Chess, or xiangqi, is perhaps the most popular board game in the world, played by millions of people in China, other parts of Asia, and wherever Chinese have settled. In recent years it has started to become better known among non-Chinese. Westernized sets of boards and pieces sometimes show up in specialty games shops, and there have been several computer versions. But this wonderful game is still not as well known as it deserves to be.

All forms of chess are thought to have a common ancestor, but the dating and placing of the prototypical game are contentious. Following the lead of the chess historian H.J.R. Murray (whose scholarship may have been wider than it was deep), it has frequently been asserted that chess originated in India as chaturanga around the middle of the first millenium CE. Others, citing the lack of direct literary or archaeological evidence for chess in India at that time, point to Persia or some part of central Asia. The only thing known for certain is that an early form of the game was known in Persia by the seventh century. Called shatranj, it was played on a board identical to that used in modern Western chess, and with the same configuration of pieces, although some of the moves were more limited.

Peking Opera

2007-08-08T01:25:00.000-07:00

With its fascinating and artistic accompanying music, singing and costumes, the Peking Opera is China's national opera. Full of Chinese cultural facts, the opera presents the audience with an encyclopedia of Chinese culture, as well as unfolding stories, beautiful paintings, exquisite costumes, graceful gestures and martial arts. Since Peking Opera enjoys a higher reputation than other local operas, almost every province in China has more than one Peking Opera troupes. Opera is so popular among Chinese people, especially seniors, that even "Peking Opera Month" has been declared.
Peking Opera has a 200-year-long history. Its main melodies originated from Xipi and Erhuang in Anhui and Hubei respectively and, over time, techniques from many other local operas were incorporated.
It is believed that Peking Opera gradually came into being after 1790 when the famous four Anhui opera troupes came to Beijing. Peking Opera underwent fast development during the reign of Emperor Qianlong and the notorious Empress Dowager Cixi under the imperial patron, eventually becoming more accessible to the common people.
In ancient times, Peking Opera was performed mostly on stage in the open air, teahouses or temple courtyards. Since the orchestra played loudly, the performers developed a piercing style of song that could be heard by everyone. The costumes were a garish collection of sharply contrasting colors to stand out on the dim stage illuminated only by oil lamps. Peking Opera is a harmonious combination of the Grand Opera, ballet and acrobatics, consisting of dance, dialogue, monologues, martial arts and mime.
The Peking Opera band mainly consists of an orchestra and percussion band. The former frequently accompanies peaceful scenes while the latter provides the right atmosphere for battle scenes. The commonly used percussion instruments include castanets, drums, bells and cymbals. One person usually plays the castanets and drum simultaneously, which conduct the entire band. The orchestral instruments include the Erhu, Huqin, Yueqin, Sheng (reed pipe), Pipa (lute) and other instruments. The band usually sits on the left side of the stage.

Facial Painting
It is said that this special art derived from Chinese opera has different origins. But no matter what its origin, facial painting is worth appreciating for its artistic value. The paintings are representations of the characters' roles. For example, a red face usually depicts heroic bravery, uprightness and loyalty; a white face symbolizes a sinister, treacherous and guile character and a green face connotes surly stubbornness, impetuosity and lack of self-restraint. In addition, facial painting patterns reveal information about a character, as well. Essentially, the unique makeup allows characters on stage to reveal them voicelessly.

Changing Faces

Peking Opera performers mainly have two types of facial decorations: masks and facial painting. The frequent on-stage changing of masks or facial makeup (without the audience noticing) is a special technique known as changing faces.

Changing faces is a difficult technique in operatic performance. It is considered to be a stunt that can only be mastered after extensive training. Face changing is also a special technique used to exaggerate inner feelings of characters, portray their dispositions, set off the atmosphere and improve effects. Facial changes expressing sudden changes in a character's feelings are done in four ways:

Blowing dust: The actor blows black dust hidden in his palm or close to his eyes, nose or beard, so that it blows back into his face.

Manipulating beard: Beard colors can be changed while the beard is being manipulated -- from black to gray and finally to white -- expressing anger or excitement.

Pulling-down masks: The actor can pull down a mask that has previously been hidden on top of his head, leaving his face red, green, blue or black to communicate happiness, hate, anger or sadness respectively.

Mop: The actor mops out the greasepaint hidden in his sideburns or eyebrows, around his eyes and nose, to change his facial appearance.

Xingtou

Peking Opera costumes are called Xingtou or, more popularly, Xifu in Chinese. The origins of Peking Opera costumes can be traced back to the mid-14th century when operatic precursors first began to experiment with large, ornate articles of clothing.

Since each dynasty in Chinese history had its own unique operatic costume, the number of costumes was too great for performers to master. Hence, artists and costume designers worked together to create costumes that would be unwieldy on stage and acceptable no matter when or where the action was supposed to take place. The stage image of some well-known historical figures, such as Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Zhang Liang, were already fixed in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Lavish costumes include:
1. Toukui, or opera headdress: crown, helmet, hat and scarf
2. Costume (about 20 kinds): the ceremonial robe, or Mang; the informal robe, or Pei; and the armor, or Kao, for soldiers
3. Opera shoes and boots, or Xue in Chinese
Audiences can distinguish a character's sex and status at the first glance by the type of headdress, robes, shoes and baldrics associated with the role.
Main Roles in Peking Opera
Roles fall into four categories: Sheng, Dan, Jing and Chou. The roles have the natural features of age and sex, as well as social status, and are artificially exaggerated by makeup, costume and gestures.
1. Male Role (Sheng): civil, military; Lao Sheng (old man with a beard: dignified, polished, official, scholar); Xiao Sheng (young man, shrill voice, young warrior, young man of society, stature, elaborate dress), Wu Sheng (acrobatic male, extremely agile and physically skilled).
2. Female Role (Dan): Qing Yi (modest, virtuous), Hua Dan (flirtatious, playful), Gui Men Dan (young, married girl), Dao Ma Dan (strong woman, female general), Wu Dan (female acrobat), Lao Dan (old woman).
3. Painted Face Male (Jing): Spectators are usually startled by the appearance of the Jing. His facial colors symbolize the type of character: red = good, white = treacherous, etc.
4. Comedy Actor or Clown (Chou): dim-witted, amusing, rascal, occasionally slightly wicked.

Chinese Shubi

2007-08-07T00:05:00.000-07:00

Manufacture of Shubi
The manufacture of combs and fined-toothed combs is a complex and exquisite folk craft. Materials must be of the best quality, and the manufacturing process is also very complicated. The main materials for making combs are bamboo, wood and animal bones. The bamboo material is mainly selected from Yinshan grown, high-quality bamboo in South Jiangsu and West Zhejiang. Bamboo from these places is not only rigid and flexible but also durable. The wood material is mainly selected from such rare woods as rosewood, jujube wood, heath and boxwood. The comb and fined-toothed combs are made of boxwood and have fine wood character and clear grain, and also have functions of relieving headaches and itching, so they are particularly rare and welcomed. From preparing materials to the end product, a piece of wood comb needs 28 processes, and a single piece of fine-toothed comb needs 72 and a half processes. The delicate processes such as carving, drawing, scalding, engraving and grinding can only be finished by traditiFirst, the business of such combs and comb-making and selling enjoys a kind of extremely special right in ancient and modern Chinese industry.
Second, combs are a symbol of a happy life, and are an essential dowry in ancient China and some countries in the north part of modern China..However, combs in some nations are a kind of taboo. For example, for Tibetans, a comb must be hidden in a private place.

Chinese Shubi

2007-08-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

Chinese Shubi
Shubi is also named as Zhi, including "Shu" (comb) and "Bi"(fine-toothed comb) and was one of eight hair-styles in ancient China. It has a history of more than 1,500 years since it became popular in Wei Jin and North-south dynasties.
Legends of Shubi
It was said that after the death of the Yan Emperor (a legendary emperor in the early days of Chinese history who is said to be the inventor of agriculture and herbal medication), Chi You raised troops for revenge. Like many other people, Hao Lian, a craftsman, was forced to fight. In the Zhulu War, Xuan Yuan Emperor defeated Chi You, while Hao Lian was captured and placed in prison and condemned to death. A warder, Huang Fu, learned that Hao Lian could make combs, and advised him to make a comb overnight as a way to escape death . It was presented to Luo Zu Queen. It was also said that from then on on February 18 and September 28 of each lunar calendar year, a memorial ceremony for the comb and fined-toothed comb trade would be held for the founders, and practitioners could pray for flourishing future business.

Art of Chinese Fans

2007-08-01T23:14:00.000-07:00

There were many kinds of fans in ancient China, though only the Zheshan (folding fan) and Tuanshan (round fan) have grown to receive true appreciation from art collectors
The folding fan is also known as the "head-gathering" style of fan because its ends meet together when folded. Such fans were first manufactured in the Song Dynasty and became popular in the Ming Dynasty.
The birth of the round fan was much earlier than those of the folding variety. Its shape, like a full moon, signifies the auspicious meaning of a union and happiness. The round fan has many elegant names, like " Wan Shan", " Luo Shan", "Bing Mian" " Bian Mian" and "Zhang Mian."
Such fans were very popular in the Han Dynasty. The birth of the round fan was much earlier than those of the folding variety. Its shape, like a full moon, signifies the auspicious meaning of a union and happiness. The round fan has many elegant names, like " Wan Shan", " Luo Shan", "Bing Mian" " Bian Mian" and "Zhang Mian."
Such fans were very popular in the Han Dynasty. The best ones had a surface covered by white silk from East China's Shandong Provincewhile the handles were crafted out of bamboo from Central China's Hunan Province . Fans sometimes were decorated on both sides with paintings, poems or calligraphy . Those that held a famous artist's paintings or calligraphy were highly prized possessions.he famous calligrapher Wang Xizhi of the Jin Dynastyonce met an old woman selling folding fans in the street. He wrote five characters on each fan. This made the woman angry because she thought all her fans had been ruined. But when people discovered the artist's words on the otherwise ordinary fans, they sold like hot cakes - and at high prices. Fans are not only tools for cooling oneself, but also artworks symbols for status and taste. Scholars would wave their fans to show off their grace as they composed poetry or sat deep in thought. When not in use, fans were sometimes concealed inside sleeves or hung from the waist. For aristocratic young women, fans made from silk or other precious cloth -- especially flat round ones -- were a kind of prop to show off grace and beauty. Whenever they met a strange man, they would use their fans to hide their faces. So women's fans also have another name: "Zhang mian," which means, "Hiding face."
Fans gradually came to have attachments, such as fan bags, fan pendants and fan boxes. Fans also spread to other countries in the world, especially to Europe, becoming "emissaries" for Chinese culture.