ANCIENT HISTORY

Mockery, Sarcasm, and Roasting in Ancient China

Ancient scholars and ministers used all forms of scathing rhetoric to refute, persuade, and influence—sometimes to disastrous ends

HISTORICAL FIGURES

Wen Yiduo: The Poet, The Martyr

Wen Ting, the great-granddaughter of Republican Era-poet Wen Yiduo, talks about her great-grandfather’s cultural and emotional legacy

CHINESE CHARACTERS

物: The Ox, the Earth, and the Infinite

How the character for “ox” evolved to encompass everything within the cosmos

CHINESE CHARACTERS

On the Character: 联

Learn about a character that’s been fostering connections since ancient times

CHINESE CHARACTERS

On the Character: 里

Learn all about a Chinese character that can be both close and far

ANCIENT HISTORY

When Did the Cult of Widow Chastity Start in China?

When did it become unacceptable for widows to remarry in ancient China?

CHINESE CHARACTERS

On the Character: 劳

Learn the Chinese character for work, labor, and toil

CHINESE CHARACTERS

On the Character: 长

Grow your enthusiasm with the character for growth, length, and seniority

ANCIENT HISTORY

The Bizarre and Dangerous World of Ancient Chinese Weight Loss

From a weight-loss dance to diets of cacti and musk, ancient Chinese had a variety of ways to keep themselves slim

ANCIENT HISTORY

What Do Tigers Symbolize in China?

Tigers have represented bravery, strength, and authority for centuries in Chinese culture