China’s evolving serpent legacy: Ferocious treasures, from rituals to households
Why has the snake, often feared, been revered in Chinese culture and become one of the 12 zodiac animals? How is it portrayed in artifacts,...
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A Thousand Whys
Answers to 'what are the Chinese ways and why?'
Episodes
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A ceramic vessel of culture, wine, and poetic spirit
Like the finest wines, the best inspiration for poetry is brewed and vivified, if served in the right vessel. In this episode, we present a...
Greenware stationary: Creating the right ink for calligraphy and painting
How did the water dropper help artists enter the right creative mindset for traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting using the color of...
Cong: The jade vessel which assisted governance in ancient China
What role did jade play in ancient Chinese rituals? In this episode, we delve into an artifact that embodied authority and order in the Yang...
China’s goddess of war and her bronze owls
What did owls symbolize 3,000 years ago in China? How were they linked to an ancient woman known as the goddess of war and a female politici...
Tomb paintings decode ancient feasts
Why did the upper-classes of the Hexi Corridor about 1800 years ago enjoy an affluent lifestyle while the rest of China suffered from politi...
King of bridal sedan chair: Thirty years of craftsmanship
Why did a team of master artisans take a decade to make a bridal sedan chair? In this episode, we'll delve into the story of the Wan Gong Se...
9,000 year old music: The Jiahu bone flute
What did the earliest Chinese instruments look and sound like? In this episode, we travel back nearly 9,000 years to discover the Jiahu cran...
Welcome to "Ancient Relics and Their Stories"!
Artifacts are bridges to the past, revealing how we ever lived, loved, and dreamed. Over the coming weeks, join us for "Ancient Relics and T...
Why is the chrysanthemum special in Chinese culture?
The chrysanthemum flower is one of China's top ten most popular flowers, boasting a cultivation history of over 3,000 years. These flowers n...
Why are Chinese people so fond of the osmanthus flower?
As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, many places in China will be delighted with the enchanting scent of golden osmanthus. In this episode...
Why has weightlifting maintained its popularity from ancient times up to the present day?
A bull, a bronze tripod, a city gate latch—nothing was too heavy to lift! The awe for extraordinary strength dates back centuries. Curious a...
Why is wrestling much more than a sport in China?
Have you ever thought about learning some wrestling movements and postures? Follow Pierre de Coubertin to travel back in time to an ancient...
Ancient swings to modern pools: The enduring spirit of diving
Imagine a diving competition where athletes leap not from a springboard on the ground, but from a swing that's suspended on a boat! In this...
Why did ancient Chinese shoot arrows with music playing?
Ta-da! Get ready for a wild ride with our new mini-series Sports Fantasia! We're time-traveling back to ancient China with none other than P...
Welcome to Sports Fantasia!
Get ready for an exciting adventure with "Sports Fantasia"! Join us as we travel back to ancient China to experience traditional Chinese spo...
Why is the lotus flower a symbol of noble character in Chinese culture?
The lotus flower, known as "荷花" in Chinese, is one of the top ten most popular flowers in China. In this episode, we'll discover why the lot...
Why is the jasmine flower a symbol of timeless elegance in Chinese culture?
When it comes to Chinese folk songs, "茉莉花" (jasmine flower) is often the first that comes to mind. But did you know that its name is also me...
Why do Chinese people hang Chinese mugwort during the Duanwu Festival?
Duanwu Festival, or the Dragon Boat Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the traditional Chinese calendar, which f...
Why are pomegranate flowers special in Chinese culture?
As temperature rises, there's nothing like chilling with a glass of refreshing pomegranate juice. Beyond its antioxidant-rich goodness, have...