• Baili Xi

    Baili Xi (c. 725–621 BCE) was a virtuous minister of Duke Mu of Qin during the Spring and Autumn period. His courtesy name was Ziming, and he was from Wan in the state of Chu (present-day Nanyang, Henan).

  • Hundred Schools of Thought Contending

    A flourishing intellectual era during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods (circa 770–221 BCE), characterized by diverse philosophical schools writing treatises, debating one another, and vigorously promoting their doctrines. The term “hundred” is used figuratively to denote a great multitude.

  • Ma Liang and His Magic Brush

    Once upon a time, there was a poor boy named Ma Liang who was naturally clever and loved drawing from a young age. Due to his family’s poverty, he couldn’t afford a brush; instead, he drew with tree branches on hillsides, grass roots dipped in river water by the banks, and pieces of charcoal…

  • Wang Xizhi Seeks Immortals

    Wang Xizhi had practiced calligraphy with a brush at home for three years. Seeing that his calligraphy still fell short of mastery, he began to wonder: “Everyone says I’m clever. I’ve worked hard for three years, yet my calligraphy isn’t up to par. It must be either because my teacher wasn’t skilled enough or…

  • Wukong vs. Great Sage Equal to Heaven [Journey to the West]

    In the classic Chinese mythological novel Journey to the West, the Monkey King has two highly representative titles: “Wukong” and “Great Sage Equal to Heaven”. These two titles reflect the characteristics of the Monkey King at different stages and contain rich cultural connotations.

  • Exchanging Scriptures for Geese

    Wang Xizhi, a preeminent calligrapher of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, is revered as the “Sage of Calligraphy.” His life was not only marked by extraordinary artistic achievements but also enriched by numerous intriguing anecdotes. Among the most famous tales is “Exchanging Scriptures for Geese,” a story that reflects his artistic sensitivity and zest for…