Chinese words of wisdom by Confucius

An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger

Chinese words of wisdom by Confucius:

To be wrong is nothing unless you repent 

Chinese words of wisdom by Confucius: Sorrow

We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.  

By Confucius 

Chinese words of wisdom by Confucius

"If you think in term of a year,plant a seed; if in term of ten years, plant trees;
if in term of 100 years, teach the people"
 by Confucius

Four greatest invention in Ancient China ep4/4: Printing

Printing technique was first started during Sui Tang Dynasty. It was started of by using Block Printing method. The earliest unearthed printed matter was a single page of Sanskrit printed on linen paper dated back to AD 650 - 670.
Until AD 1045, Letterpress Printing was invented. According to a book written by a Song Dynasty scientist ShenKuo, letterpress printing was invented by HuaSheng. Clay was first used to make the letterpress block. The letterpress printing invention was said to be the Mother of Civilization.

Four greatest invention in Ancient China ep3/4: Paper making

During East Han dynasty (AD105) paper making technique was greatly improved by Lord Cài Lún. This is why the prototype of paper was called Lord Cai Paper. Cai based on the silk waving technique using tree bark, used fishing net, used cloth, and linen etc. as material to make fabric paper which is suitable for writing. Since then the word "paper" mean this particular type of paper making technique.
Well before the Cai paper was invented, the ancient Chinese started using inscriptions on bones or tortoise shells during the Shang Dynasty(3500 yr ago). Until Spring and Autumn warrior nation era, bamboo was used instead of tortoise shells, however, it was still very bulky and hard to carry.
During the West Han dynasty, silk cloth was started being used for writing, and drawing. But it was not popular as silk was very expensive that only affordable by the nobles.

Four greatest invention in Ancient China ep2/4: :Gun powder

Gun powder was invented during he Sui and Tang dynasties (AD 581 - 907). It was started off during the alchemy of immortality medicine process. So gun powder was invented unintentionally. 

Surly the creation of immortality medicine failed. However gun powder was used as medicine. As Běn cǎo gāng mù ( the bible of Chinese medicine) stated, it can heal skin ulcers, cue plaque, use as insecticide. 

Later on the gun powder techniques transferred to the military development, and hence became one of the four greatest invention in China. 

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Words of wisdom by Confucius: Superior man

Words of Wisdom by Confucius: Moral qualities of men

Words of wisdom by Confucius: How to gain wisdom?

Four greatest invention in Ancient China ep1/4: Compass

Compass was first found being used during the Spring and Autumn Warrior  Kingdoms era (BC 475 - 221). It was made by natural magnet and was designed similar as a spoon with a rounded bottom so that it can be placed on a smooth platform. It was called "South setting" as it points to the South direction. Once it was invented, it was widely used for military function.

Chinese words of wisdom by Confucius

Chinese words of Wisdom by Confucius

Chinese words of wisdom by Confucius

Four Legendary creatures ep4/4 : Rosefinch

Rosefinch (Zhu Que) is one of the legendary creature in the Chinese culture. It is a bird in red color which belongs to similar breed as the Phoenix. ZhuQue represents fire, and the direction of south. It is a very beautiful bird, the ways it looks and the voice it sings make it become the  queen of all birds. The ZhuQue has meanings of peace and long-living. 

Chinese words of wisdom by Confucius

Chinese words of wisdom by Confucius

Mid Autumn Festival

Mid Autumn festival is one of three most important festivals. It is on the 

15/8 in the Chinese calendar. It is believed that the most rounded full moon of a year appears on that night. It was originally a festival of celebrating the autumn harvest. The Chinese celebrate the festival by decorating with lantern, eating moon cake, and playing lantern quest.

Chinese words of wisdom by Confucius

Chinese Legendary creature (ep3/4) - White Tiger

White Tiger is one of the four Chinese Legendary creatures. It has the meaning of Mightiness, Justice, and power. The Chinese use white tiger picture or figure to cast away evils. Amongst the four legendary creatures, the white tiger represents the direction of west, and the season autumn.

Because of it's Mightiness nature, white tiger is always associated with the military force. Hence, the white tiger had always appear on the army flag, or the naming of places.

Chinese words of wisdom by Confucius

The flower of the Chinese nation - MeiHua

MeiHua is a flower representing the Chinese nation. It can symbolize hero and nation because of its toughness in nature. It blooms during the winter and early spring while the land is still covered by snow. It can withstand extreme weather from -10℃ to 40℃. 

MeiHua is beautiful, elegant, tough, and can grow in different geographic region. This shows the characters of the Chinese nation. There are 5 petals in one MeiHua flower, it has the meaning of bringing 5 blessings. "MeiHua blooms, 5 blessings come."

Chinese words of wisdom by Confucius

Chinese traditional auspicious pattern - AUSPICIOUS CLOUDS （Lucky cloud)

Lucky cloud is a very common pattern used in the Chinese culture. It can be found on the ancient bronze  containers, cave painting, costumes, porcelain,etc. The cloud is always associated with gods, legendary creatures like dragons, treasure. That is why it represents the meaning of holiness, and it also means luck when it appears in red color. It was also the major pattern printed on the 2008 Beijing Olympics torch. 

Chinese words of wisdom by Confucius

Chinese Legendary creature - Basalt

Basalt (Xuanwu) is a Chinese Legendary creature which is a combination of a tortoise and a snake. "Xuan" means black, "Wu" means solar(positive). Xuanwu is he God of the sea living in the North Sea. The Chinese believe that the North Sea is the passage to the underworld.it has the meaning of long living and can go in and out between the spiritual world and the real world. 

Chinese words of wisdom by Confucius

THE TWELVE ORNAMENTS

These ornaments appeared on the decoration of the ceremonial robe worn by the ancient Chinese emperor during the big events and ceremony. The orders would be : 

Sun, moon, stars(all three represent shining and protection.) mountains(stable), 

dragon(responsive and change), 

pheasant(elegant), 

two goblets(loyalty), 

pondweed(clarity), 

flames(light and truth), 

rice grain(nourish), 

axe( decisive),

double bow(understanding)

Chinese words of wisdom by Confucius

Chinese traditional Auspicious item- Ruyi

Ruyi (meaning as wish) is a kind of mascot. Its shape is streamlined, and its handle is a little bended. It is splendid and with beautiful image. It is normally made with jade, and was found since the Ming dynasty. 

  In Qing dynasty, when the emperor chose his wives, if he gave the Ruyi to one of his wives, it meant that she would be the queen. Ruyi is always on behalf of valuable things, and it means good fortune and pleasant. 

However, Ruyi was originally designed to be a very useful tool to help people scratch their back by their own self. People can scratch the itchy place on their back "As wish" (Ruyi), just like using their own hand,that's how it got it's name. 

Chinese words of wisdom by Confucius

Chinese words of wisdom

Potala Palace, the world's highest palace

Potala palace, located in Lhasa, Tibet, China. It was built on 3700m above sea level, with an area of 360 thousands meters sq. The building was built using granite stone with sloping stone walls averaging 3 m. thick, and 5 m. thick at the base, and with copper poured into the foundations to help proof it against earthquakes. Thirteen stories of buildings – containing over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues – soar 117 meters on top of Marpo Ri, the "Red Hill", rising more than 300 m in total above the valley floor.

The Potala Palace was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala, India, during the 1959 Tibetan uprising. 

Inside the place, there is a Gold stupa which is 15 meters tall coated with 3724kg of Gold and decorated by 150000 gems.

Chinese words of Wisdom by Confucius

Chinese words of wisdom by Confucius

Chinese Legendary creature (ep1/4) -Dragon

Dragon is a mighty Legendary creature, it composed of nine different animals in one body: deer's horn, camel's head, donkey's mouth, turtle's eye, cow's ear, fish scale, shrimp's antenna, snake's body and eagle's claw. Dragons are said to have several special abilities: they can stealth, change it's size, fly, dive, and control weather. Dragon is associated at one time with the emperor and hence power and majesty. It is one of the 12 Chinese horoscope. 

Chinese Auspicious patterns - "Return" pattern

 "Return"pattern like Chinese character 回，meaning "fortune keeps coming back", and never ending. The 回 patterns are linked up to form a continuous pattern. It was widely used since the Song Dynasty on the porcelain art. Then it became much more popular n the Ming Ching dynasty. It can be found on the embroidery, craft art, architecture, picture and window frames, furniture and porcelain. 

Chinese tradition folk art - Chinese knotting

Chinese knotting is representing wisdom and love which are the essence of the  ancient Chinese culture.  The Chinese using knot to as a record of events and daily life can be dated back to the ancient time. Chinese knot  is a handicraft folk art that became popular in the Tang and Song Dynasty (960-1279AD) in China. It was widely used in clothing decorations, jade and jewelry, and home decorations, etc.

The word's largest Palace - Forbidden city

Forbidden city, situated in the middle axle of the Beijing city. It was the royal palace of 24 Emperors during the Ming and Ching dynasty. It consists of 980 buildings and covers 720,000 m2 of area. The construction started from the year 1406 and lasted for 14 years. The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987, and is the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. 

Chinese top past beauty, ep 4: diāo chán(The earliest female secret agent in China)

Diāo chán was born in the Three Kingdoms era（AD220-265). She was the first Nakita (female secret agent) in China. During the transition period between the Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era, Dǒng zhuó, a rebellious minister was trying to take over the country. Diao Chan pray to the moon for the protection of the country. However, the moon felt ashamed and hide behind the cloud. 

Dian Chan was an adopted daughter of a Han minister Wáng yǔn. In order to repay Wang, Dian Chan took up a secret agent role and executed a "Serial honey trap" to sow discord among Dong and his chief warrior Lǚ bù. Her mission was success resulting Dong was killed by Lu, and Dian became Lu's concubine. At the end, Lu was killed by Cáo cāo, and Dian followed Lu's family and went.    

Chinese words of wisdom sharing

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.

Confucius

Chinese traditional craftsmanship - Paper cutting

Paper cutting, paper crafting, is one of the oldest craftsmanship in China, This technique's history can be dated back to BC 3, long before paper was invented. It is a hollow out craftsmanship performed on different base materials e.g. Paper, gold foil, leave, cloth, leather, etc. It was first appeared on ancestor worshipping ceremony. Until the Han dynasty, paper was invented, paper crafting was widely used on art decorations, home decorations. 

Chinese poem sharing

I climb the western tower in silence by Li Yu

I climb the western tower in silence, the moon like a sickle.

Clear autumn is locked in the deep courtyard, where a wutong tree stands lonely.

Sorrowful parting has cut, but not severed our ties; my mind is still wild.

Separation is just like a taste in head and heart.

Chinese traditional craftsmanship - Bifacial embroidery

Bifacial embroidery is a craftsmanship technique that embroidering double- sided same picture on one base material. So that a flipped picture can be seen on the other side. It is founded in Su Province, called Su style, one of the four major embroidery style in China. 

The earliest Bifacial embroidery was found in Song Dynasty ( AD 960-1279) mostly used on scarf and handkerchief. The subjects of the embroidery are mostly, floral, scenery, birds, and human portrait.

Chinese Words of Wisdom by Confucius

What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.

Confucius

Chinese philosopher (551 BC - 479 BC)   

Chinese top past Beauties ep 3 - Wang Zhao Jun

Wang Zhao Jun was born in the Han dynasty while the Han empire was in battle with the barbarians in the west. The battle had been on for many years until the leader of the biggest tribe of the barbarians Fu wanted to

become reconciled with the Han empire. The emperor of Han was delighted and decided to betroth a  chosen palace girl to barbarian leader Fu. 

Wang Zhao Jun was chosen and sent to barbarians' territory. On the way to the boarder, Wang was full of depression and played some sad music. The wild geese heard the sad music and pity Wang's situation. Then the wild geese forget to fly and felt down from the sky. Wang was called "fallen wild geese" because of this. 

Chinese traditional craftsmanship - Micro-Craft

Micro-craft has a very long history in China. Dating back to 3000 years ago, some tiny characters were found crafted on the oracle-bone inscription. These characters can only be view by 5 times magnifier. Micro-craft was not renounced unit Chang dynasty. There was one artist crafted four blessing words on a sesame and presented to the King Qian Long to celebrate his birthday. After that micro-craft got famous and was demanded by the upper class of the society.

Chinese traditional Craftsmanship - Inside-bottle painting

Inside-bottle painting, is a technique using a tiny paint brush drawing flipped image inside a tiny transparent bottle such as a snuff bottle. The subject are mostly people, animals, floral, and calligraphy. While drawing, the painter has to hold the breath and use precise movements of the wrist. 

Inside-bottle painting nowadays is treated as a diplomatic gift by our country. In the 11th Asian game, the IOC chairman Samaranch was given a special gift which is a bottle with his portrait painted inside.