HISTORY
Becoming a “Fangirl” of History
Who gets to write history? Historians may have one answer, while young female history fandoms offer another.
Han Dynasty
ANCIENT HISTORY
The 3,000-Year-Old Poetry Collection That’s Still Alive
From millennia-old rituals to everyday idioms, the Classic of Poetry’s importance to Chinese literary culture cannot be overstated—and a recent archa…
HISTORICAL FIGURES
Late Bloomers in Ancient China
A cursory look back through some key characters in China’s history reveals that much can be achieved, even in one’s twilight years
ANCIENT HISTORY
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 …
ANCIENT HISTORY
Paths to Power: A Guide to China’s Civil Servant Selection Systems
Facing an increasingly competitive job market, the battle to enter China’s civil service seems more ruthless than ever—though it’s really the continu…
ANCIENT HISTORY
China’s Long History of Dragon Sightings
Reported sightings of the mythical creature have captivated people in China for centuries
ANCIENT HISTORY
Ancient Snitches: How China’s Emperors Encouraged Informants
From Wu Zetian to Emperor Yongzheng, China’s imperial rulers were obsessed with people conspiring against the throne and came up with various systems…
ANCIENT HISTORY
Death by Flaming Shoes and Hundred Cuts: Disturbing Methods in Ancient Chinese Torture
From ankle crushing to slow slicing, ancient Chinese punishments and torture were brutal
ANCIENT HISTORY
Behind the Screen: A Brief History of Chinese “Pingfeng”
How the humble “pingfeng” screen came to adorn everything from cave dwellings to the emperor’s throne
ANCIENT HISTORY
How Ancient Chinese Got Their Hair Cut
Hair was almost sacred to some ancient Chinese, and hairdressers eventually cashed in
TRADITIONAL CULTURE
Discover the Many Legends of Dragon Boat Festival
Dozens of historical figures are commemorated on Duanwu Festival, so how exactly did the festival begin?
ANCIENT HISTORY
How a Daoist Movement Emerged Out of Han Dynasty Chaos
As the Han empire crumbled and the Yellow Turban Rebellion sought to overthrow imperial rule, the “Way of the Five Pecks of Rice” quietly planted the…
