AMONG the forest of steles in front of Shaolin Temple is that in-scribed by Li Shimin, second emperor(reigned 627-650)of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Upon succeeding his father Li Yuan as emperor, Li Shimin ushered the...AMONG the forest of steles in front of Shaolin Temple is that in-scribed by Li Shimin, second emperor(reigned 627-650)of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Upon succeeding his father Li Yuan as emperor, Li Shimin ushered the country into a period of unprec-edented prosperity. The stele commends and commemorates the 13 Shaolin monks that rescued and protected this meritorious emperor from his enemies.展开更多
THE ancient Chinese tale The Zhao Family Orphan is expected to undergo a new surge of popularity this year. Both the China National Modern Drama Theater and the Beijing People's Art Theater
As the curtain lifted on the year 2003,two classic love stories were staged in China:the Peking Opera The West Chamber and French musical Notre Dame de Paris.To the throngs of theater-goers who went to these performan...As the curtain lifted on the year 2003,two classic love stories were staged in China:the Peking Opera The West Chamber and French musical Notre Dame de Paris.To the throngs of theater-goers who went to these performances,they were an aural and visual Chinese/cordon bleu feast.展开更多
THE dance drama, Along theSilk Road, returned to the Beijing stage for the 2003 Chinese New Year celebrations, to as enthusiastic a receptionas when it was first performed 24years ago. Set in the heyday of theTang Dyn...THE dance drama, Along theSilk Road, returned to the Beijing stage for the 2003 Chinese New Year celebrations, to as enthusiastic a receptionas when it was first performed 24years ago. Set in the heyday of theTang Dynasty, the drama celebrates the grotto art of Dunhuang and gorgeous Tang finery. With the ancient Silk Road as a back-drop, its stories extol the love, humanity, and friendship of this essentially open era.展开更多
CHINA has been home to a myriad of beautiful women throughout the ages, and differing standards of beauty account for its wide aesthetic scope. Some women were lauded for their dancing or singing skills, others for th...CHINA has been home to a myriad of beautiful women throughout the ages, and differing standards of beauty account for its wide aesthetic scope. Some women were lauded for their dancing or singing skills, others for their virtuous nature, and still others for their involvement in political intrigue.展开更多
THE paifang, a stone or wooden arch, is a unique element of ancient Chinese architecture. In feudal times, it was erected as a monument in memory of anyone-dead or alive-who had rendered
TANG women were the most fortunate of all in China’s feudal history. They lived in a period of unprecedented economic prosperity, cultural and artistic diversity and, most signi cantly, gender equality.
The event occurred 2,000 years ago in Chang'an,capitalof the Western HanDynasty.As EmperorXuandi,named LiuXun(91 B.C.-A.D.49),was attending to hisduties one morning the district inspector of public morals arrived ...The event occurred 2,000 years ago in Chang'an,capitalof the Western HanDynasty.As EmperorXuandi,named LiuXun(91 B.C.-A.D.49),was attending to hisduties one morning the district inspector of public morals arrived to report on a scurrilous rumor: that Metropolitan Governor Zhang Chang personally traced in his wife's eyebrows each day.展开更多
IT is A.D. 633 in Chang'an, capital of the Tang Dynasty. Brandishing their halberds, armored generals and their troops practice changes in battle formation, but in the ritualistic, graceful style of martial arts, ...IT is A.D. 633 in Chang'an, capital of the Tang Dynasty. Brandishing their halberds, armored generals and their troops practice changes in battle formation, but in the ritualistic, graceful style of martial arts, and to the accompaniment of a military refrain. This is not real war, but a dance depicting a past battle - an emperor's historical retrospect.展开更多
QU Yuan (340-278 B.C.) was born in the State of Chu, in what is present-day Zigui County, Hubei Province. He lived during the late Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.) of political chaos shortly before Emperor Qin Shi...QU Yuan (340-278 B.C.) was born in the State of Chu, in what is present-day Zigui County, Hubei Province. He lived during the late Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.) of political chaos shortly before Emperor Qin Shihuang unified China. Qu Yuan's academic excellence earned him a place in the court of King Huai Before long his eloquence and state administrative skills brought him a promotion to the position of zuotu- deputy prime minister, a position he used to carry out much needed reforms to the State of Chu's domestic and foreign affairs.展开更多
WITHIN traditional Chinese aesthetics there is actual and virtual appreciation of beauty.The former is the emotional response to beauty as perceived through sight, hearing and olfaction; the latter is that endowed by ...WITHIN traditional Chinese aesthetics there is actual and virtual appreciation of beauty.The former is the emotional response to beauty as perceived through sight, hearing and olfaction; the latter is that endowed by the imagination. It is this intangible aesthetic that carries greater significance.展开更多
IN 196 B.C. a Chinese philosopher observedto his ruler: "A lord's to ppriority is the welfare of his subjects; to the peopie, eating is foremost." Chinese ancients perceived clearly the essentiality of g...IN 196 B.C. a Chinese philosopher observedto his ruler: "A lord's to ppriority is the welfare of his subjects; to the peopie, eating is foremost." Chinese ancients perceived clearly the essentiality of grain cultivation to the survival of the population and country as a whole. This is apparent in the premillennial term for "country" -sheji literally translated as god of land and grain.展开更多
INCREDIBLE as it may sound,the phenomenally successful 12-Girl Band rour has had an adverse affect on China's handicraft industry by engendering more stringent customs regulations.
ACCORDING toancient Chinese phi-losophy,a person’shometown is the start-ing and ending point of his or herlife.A hometown and its inhabi—tants are like the roots and leavesof a tree.Those that go awayeventually retu...ACCORDING toancient Chinese phi-losophy,a person’shometown is the start-ing and ending point of his or herlife.A hometown and its inhabi—tants are like the roots and leavesof a tree.Those that go awayeventually return,a concept spiri—tualized in the Chinese idiom.“Falling leaves settle on展开更多
OVER the course of almost a millennium, Beijing served as the capital of four dynasties: the Jin (ruled by the Jurchens, 1115-1234), Yuan (the Mongol empire, 1271-1368), Ming (ruled by the Han Chinese, 1368-1644)
THE history ol humankind started hundreds of millennia ago when our ancestors learned to shape stones into working tools, thus distinguishing themselves from other anthropoid apes who knew only how to use stones to cr...THE history ol humankind started hundreds of millennia ago when our ancestors learned to shape stones into working tools, thus distinguishing themselves from other anthropoid apes who knew only how to use stones to crack nuts.展开更多
THE Qin Dynasty （221-206 B.C.） had four imperial polymath councilors who were highly revered by the imperial court for their intelligence and resourcefulness. Since they would not go along with Emperor Qinshihuang＇...THE Qin Dynasty （221-206 B.C.） had four imperial polymath councilors who were highly revered by the imperial court for their intelligence and resourcefulness. Since they would not go along with Emperor Qinshihuang＇s tyranny, they re- signed together and lived a secluded life on Shangluo Mountain （Shang Moun-tain）. The hair on all their heads turned white-gray, earning them the collective epithet the ＂Four White-haired Hermits.＂展开更多
WHAT the Chinese generalize as "ta," or "tower" for the convenience of cross-cultural communication, has its origins in the Indian "stupa," which means "tomb mound" in Sanskrit.
THOUGH bricks and tiles are ordinary building materials judged by today＇s standards,centuries ago commoners mostly built their houses with sun-dried adobes and thatch. Back then, bricks and tiles implied wealth and d...THOUGH bricks and tiles are ordinary building materials judged by today＇s standards,centuries ago commoners mostly built their houses with sun-dried adobes and thatch. Back then, bricks and tiles implied wealth and dignity, in much the same way as marble, steel and glass do today. This was particularly true of bricks and tiles featuring ornamental designs for imperial use. The most representative of these aristocratic building blocks were the bricks and tiles of the Qin and Hart dynasties. These were later followed by other ornamental brick carving techniques.展开更多
文摘AMONG the forest of steles in front of Shaolin Temple is that in-scribed by Li Shimin, second emperor(reigned 627-650)of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Upon succeeding his father Li Yuan as emperor, Li Shimin ushered the country into a period of unprec-edented prosperity. The stele commends and commemorates the 13 Shaolin monks that rescued and protected this meritorious emperor from his enemies.
文摘THE ancient Chinese tale The Zhao Family Orphan is expected to undergo a new surge of popularity this year. Both the China National Modern Drama Theater and the Beijing People's Art Theater
文摘As the curtain lifted on the year 2003,two classic love stories were staged in China:the Peking Opera The West Chamber and French musical Notre Dame de Paris.To the throngs of theater-goers who went to these performances,they were an aural and visual Chinese/cordon bleu feast.
文摘THE dance drama, Along theSilk Road, returned to the Beijing stage for the 2003 Chinese New Year celebrations, to as enthusiastic a receptionas when it was first performed 24years ago. Set in the heyday of theTang Dynasty, the drama celebrates the grotto art of Dunhuang and gorgeous Tang finery. With the ancient Silk Road as a back-drop, its stories extol the love, humanity, and friendship of this essentially open era.
文摘CHINA has been home to a myriad of beautiful women throughout the ages, and differing standards of beauty account for its wide aesthetic scope. Some women were lauded for their dancing or singing skills, others for their virtuous nature, and still others for their involvement in political intrigue.
文摘THE paifang, a stone or wooden arch, is a unique element of ancient Chinese architecture. In feudal times, it was erected as a monument in memory of anyone-dead or alive-who had rendered
文摘TANG women were the most fortunate of all in China’s feudal history. They lived in a period of unprecedented economic prosperity, cultural and artistic diversity and, most signi cantly, gender equality.
文摘The event occurred 2,000 years ago in Chang'an,capitalof the Western HanDynasty.As EmperorXuandi,named LiuXun(91 B.C.-A.D.49),was attending to hisduties one morning the district inspector of public morals arrived to report on a scurrilous rumor: that Metropolitan Governor Zhang Chang personally traced in his wife's eyebrows each day.
文摘IT is A.D. 633 in Chang'an, capital of the Tang Dynasty. Brandishing their halberds, armored generals and their troops practice changes in battle formation, but in the ritualistic, graceful style of martial arts, and to the accompaniment of a military refrain. This is not real war, but a dance depicting a past battle - an emperor's historical retrospect.
文摘QU Yuan (340-278 B.C.) was born in the State of Chu, in what is present-day Zigui County, Hubei Province. He lived during the late Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.) of political chaos shortly before Emperor Qin Shihuang unified China. Qu Yuan's academic excellence earned him a place in the court of King Huai Before long his eloquence and state administrative skills brought him a promotion to the position of zuotu- deputy prime minister, a position he used to carry out much needed reforms to the State of Chu's domestic and foreign affairs.
文摘WITHIN traditional Chinese aesthetics there is actual and virtual appreciation of beauty.The former is the emotional response to beauty as perceived through sight, hearing and olfaction; the latter is that endowed by the imagination. It is this intangible aesthetic that carries greater significance.
文摘IN 196 B.C. a Chinese philosopher observedto his ruler: "A lord's to ppriority is the welfare of his subjects; to the peopie, eating is foremost." Chinese ancients perceived clearly the essentiality of grain cultivation to the survival of the population and country as a whole. This is apparent in the premillennial term for "country" -sheji literally translated as god of land and grain.
文摘INCREDIBLE as it may sound,the phenomenally successful 12-Girl Band rour has had an adverse affect on China's handicraft industry by engendering more stringent customs regulations.
文摘ACCORDING toancient Chinese phi-losophy,a person’shometown is the start-ing and ending point of his or herlife.A hometown and its inhabi—tants are like the roots and leavesof a tree.Those that go awayeventually return,a concept spiri—tualized in the Chinese idiom.“Falling leaves settle on
文摘OVER the course of almost a millennium, Beijing served as the capital of four dynasties: the Jin (ruled by the Jurchens, 1115-1234), Yuan (the Mongol empire, 1271-1368), Ming (ruled by the Han Chinese, 1368-1644)
文摘THE history ol humankind started hundreds of millennia ago when our ancestors learned to shape stones into working tools, thus distinguishing themselves from other anthropoid apes who knew only how to use stones to crack nuts.
文摘THE Qin Dynasty （221-206 B.C.） had four imperial polymath councilors who were highly revered by the imperial court for their intelligence and resourcefulness. Since they would not go along with Emperor Qinshihuang＇s tyranny, they re- signed together and lived a secluded life on Shangluo Mountain （Shang Moun-tain）. The hair on all their heads turned white-gray, earning them the collective epithet the ＂Four White-haired Hermits.＂
文摘WHAT the Chinese generalize as "ta," or "tower" for the convenience of cross-cultural communication, has its origins in the Indian "stupa," which means "tomb mound" in Sanskrit.
文摘THOUGH bricks and tiles are ordinary building materials judged by today＇s standards,centuries ago commoners mostly built their houses with sun-dried adobes and thatch. Back then, bricks and tiles implied wealth and dignity, in much the same way as marble, steel and glass do today. This was particularly true of bricks and tiles featuring ornamental designs for imperial use. The most representative of these aristocratic building blocks were the bricks and tiles of the Qin and Hart dynasties. These were later followed by other ornamental brick carving techniques.
