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ANCIENT HISTORY
Thespian Emperors, Mandatory Castration, and Deadly Poetry: Fascinating Facts About China’s Forgotten Age of Chaos
Step back 1,000 years into the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, when political chaos produced a litany of historical curiosities
Power on a Paper: The Passport in Chinese History
Before the small, biometric-chipped booklet we now clutch when crossing borders, travel credentials in ancient China took many forms—from tokens and staffs to records inscribed on bamboo slips
How the Horse Became the Ultimate Metaphor for Talent in China
Prized in ancient China for their strength on and off the battlefield, horses have long been synonymous with talent and misused potential—a theme now resonating with the country’s youth
Why Netizens Can’t Stop Arguing About Qing Court Gossip
Forget about Princess Di—the Qing court was rife with rumors that rival any modern royal scandal, from identity-swapped emperors and contested successions to imperial assassinations, some even verified
A Short History of Pirates in Ancient China
Ancient seafarers who roamed China’s waters left behind countless legends: as leaders of popular uprisings, developers of maritime trade, and heroes against foreign invasion. Here are some notable Chinese “pirates” who deserve your attention.
Children Untaught: “Father-Destroying” Stories in Ancient China
Through greed, betrayal, or simple mischance, these ancient sons and daughters brought ruin upon their own fathers, officials, princes, and emperors alike
Peculiar Devices: A History of Robotic Fantasies in Ancient China
From pedestrian wheelbarrows imbued with mystical powers to mechanical beings that poured wine for Tang dynasty courtiers, ancient China birthed mechanical wonders that blurred the line between craft and myth
Rebellion, Corruption, and the Lychee: The History of Chinese Couriers
Long before express delivery became an everyday essential, ancient China had built an intricate courier system, though its bureaucracy also bred corruption and chaos
Greeting the New Year: The (Un)changing Customs of Chinese New Year Wishes
From carving on wood to “flying cards” in red envelopes, how people expressed their New Year’s greeting, or “bainian” in ancient China
Justice for Snakes: The Real Story of the Most Misunderstood Zodiac Animal
How the snake evolved from a revered symbol of worship to a figure of fear and evil in ancient Chinese culture
