Art & Aesthetics

166 articles

Cheongsam

The cheongsam is a body-hugging Chinese dress for women that originated in the 1920s and has become an iconic representation of Chinese fashion.

Patrilineal Clan System

The patrilineal clan system was a hierarchical social structure that governed inheritance, power, and social organization in ancient China.

Temüjin

Temüjin, posthumously known as Genghis Khan, was the founder of the Mongol Empire and one of history's most significant military leaders.

Hot Pot

Hot pot is a communal dining experience featuring a simmering pot of broth at the center of the table, where ingredients are cooked and shared.

Li Shimin

Li Shimin, posthumously known as Emperor Taizong of Tang, was the second emperor of the Tang dynasty and one of the most influential rulers in Chinese history.

Oracle Bone Inscriptions

Oracle Bone Inscriptions are the earliest known systematic Chinese writing, dating from the Shang Dynasty.

The Forbidden City, Beijing

The Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, is a vast imperial palace complex in the heart of Beijing that served as the home of Chinese emperors for nearly 500 years.

Yuan Dynasty

The Yuan dynasty was the ruling dynasty of China established by Kublai Khan in 1271, which ruled over China until 1368.

Enfeoffment System

The enfeoffment system was a political structure in ancient China where rulers granted land and titles to nobles in exchange for loyalty and service.

Xiangqi

Xiangqi, also known as Chinese chess, is a strategic board game with a history spanning over two millennia.

Cantonese

Cantonese is a major variety of Chinese spoken in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, and Macau, with significant overseas communities.

Laozi

Laozi, also known as Lao-Tzu, was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer traditionally regarded as the founder of Taoism.

Water Margin

A classic Chinese novel that tells the story of 108 outlaws who gather on Mount Liang and eventually submit to imperial authority.

Porcelain

Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between 1,200 and 1,400 °C.

Mencius

Mencius was a Chinese philosopher who is often credited as the most famous Confucian after Confucius himself.

Standard Chinese (Putonghua)

Standard Chinese, known as Putonghua, is the official language of China based on Beijing dialect with Northern dialects as its foundation.

Emperor Wu of Han

Emperor Wu of Han, personal name Liu Che, was the seventh emperor of the Han dynasty, ruling from 141 to 87 BCE and known for expanding China's territory and establishing Confucianism as state ideolog

Qigong

Qigong is a traditional Chinese practice involving coordinated breathing, movement, and meditation for health and wellness.

Chinese Martial Arts

Chinese martial arts, also known as Wushu or Kung Fu, are traditional combat practices with deep cultural significance.

Chinese painting

Chinese painting (guohua) is an art form utilizing brush and ink to emphasize expressive line, tonal variation, and philosophical harmony with nature.