Tang Dynasty (618–907), an Introduction
The Tang dynasty (618–907) is considered a golden age in Chinese history. It succeeded the short-lived Sui dynasty (581–618), which reunified China after almost four hundred years of fragmentation. The Tang benefited from the foundations the Sui had laid, and they built a more enduring state on the political and governmental institutions the Sui emperors […]
China’s First Domestic Cats Took the Silk Road 1,400 Years Ago, New Study Finds
Domestic cats first stepped paw in China more than a millennium ago, a new study has found. Their route in? Quite likely, they hitched a ride along the Silk Road. A team of Chinese researchers has conducted a genomic analysis of 22 ancient cat bones gathered from 14 sites across the country, representing China’s largest […]
Han Gan, Night-Shining White
Tethered to a wooden stake, the horse in this painting appears wild-eyed and animated, its head raised with flaring nostrils and an open mouth as if it is emitting a shrill neigh. A leading court painter named Han Gan who specialized in horses is believed to have painted this portrait of “Night-Shining White,” the favored […]
Chinese Porcelain
Chinese porcelain is a durable, beautiful, and historically significant example of ceramic art. It serves as an important industry in China and is greatly admired around the world. The basic recipe for producing porcelain consists of four steps: forming a piece, glazing, decorating, and firing. The firing takes place in a kiln at extremely high […]
Storm in a Teacup: A Visual History of Tea (I)
by Anne Wallentine To dunk or not to dunk, that is the question. Tea is quite a conundrum: it is an uplifting social drink that has caused all manner of chaos,from devastating colonial exploitation to mere ‘violent disputes’ over its brewing methods, as George Orwell wrote. Tea fuelled centuries of imperial expansion, exploitation and industrialisation. […]
Princess Wencheng Elevates Tibetan Culture
On the Tibetan plateau, Kangrinboqe is a world-recognized sacred mountain and is considered the world’s center by Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, and primitive Tibetan religions. During the Zhengguan period of the Tang Dynasty, Songtsen Gampo, the ruler of the Tubo Dynasty who rose in the Yarlung Zangbo river valley, was defeated after invading the border of […]