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Art dance revives interest in tragic Song Dynasty painter

A teenage painter's extraordinary skill marked him out for a great career, but fate had other plans. The "Emperor of Art" who mentored him came to an even sadder end. That happened 900 years ago, yet the story of the boy and his royal teacher, and the one painting he created, has inspired…

February 28, 20220Comments ByEmily Zhou

Culture

The girl who was married to the edge of the world

MORE THAN TWO millennia ago, a 14-year-old girl was sent on an epic journey to unite two great powers and change the course of history. She was a Chinese orphan named Liu Xijun, and she had an important job to do. To the north of China lived the powerful empire of the Xiongnu, a which…

February 24, 20220Comments ByEmily Zhou

Culture

Virus silences Cantonese opera, but just for a while

A major Cantonese opera event was due to take place in Hong Kong this week. But the Arts Festival's 50th anniversary celebration of the signature Cantonese operas of Sun Ma Sze Tsang, has been postponed due to the city's Covid precautions. The star, who died in 1997, was due to have his works interpreted by…

February 23, 20220Comments ByLee Chack Fan

Culture Life

There’s a pharmacy in your kitchen, tradition says

AN OLD MAXIM says: “Food is the medicine you take every day.” This is a relatively new idea in the west, popping up in books like Food Pharmacy (2018). But food therapy is an old belief in China, known Shi Liao. The Chinese have long believed that all naturally occurring foods, including fruits, vegetables, meat…

February 22, 20220Comments ByH.C. Lu

Culture

Tai chi: the fighting steps that bring us peace

THE GRACEFUL CHINESE exercise known as Tai Chi Chaun is gradually spreading around the world - and even into the fictional world of Hollywood movies. “I love the idea of having a place I can go every day. I want the connection, the excitement. I wanna be challenged,” says Robert De Niro, playing a retired executive…

February 21, 20220Comments ByH.C. Lu

Culture

Tiny Hong Kong becomes giantkiller in global art market

STEP ASIDE, LONDON. Tiny Hong Kong has overtaken Europe to became the second largest art market in the world: and has its eyes on claiming the top spot from the United States. America has a big lead, for now, and is staging something of a recovery. Yet in the long run, Asia will surely…

February 15, 20220Comments ByH.C. Lu

Culture

Streets are empty, but lantern festival goes on

Sadly this year's lantern festival in Hong Kong will be very subdued, with the arrival of Omicron in the city. But while people are unlikely to be parading in the streets with their children holding lights, there are red lamps on show in shops and homes, and the traditions are still remembered, reports Aleesha Naqvi…

February 15, 20220Comments ByAleesha Naqvi

Culture

When a woman ruled the world

THE VAST, VAST majority of people listed as leaders in human history have been men. But did you know that a woman once commanded the top superpower in the world? Yet her story has been forgotten. Here at Fridayeveryday, we regularly celebrate amazing true stories from Asian culture, and particularly like to share tales which…

February 14, 20220Comments ByNury Vittachi

Culture

The millennia-old medicine that is still used today

One thing that the east and the west have shared for several hundred years is ginseng, a medicinal plant found in both China and Canada (although discovered more than a millennia apart). Today, both varieties are popular around the world. Out of 44 academic studies, 29 found evidence of positive effects. Dr Guo Ping reports…

February 7, 20220Comments ByGuo Ping

Culture Videos

The General, the priest, and the young woman

A real-life mystery story from our podcast-style series of tales of ancient Asia Above is a two-minute video telling an amazing true story from the Shang Dynasty period of China's growth, more than 30 centuries ago. Click here to go to our YouTube channel

January 17, 20220Comments ByNury Vittachi

Culture

Art dance revives interest in tragic Song Dynasty painter

The girl who was married to the edge of the world

Virus silences Cantonese opera, but just for a while

There’s a pharmacy in your kitchen, tradition says

Tai chi: the fighting steps that bring us peace

Tiny Hong Kong becomes giantkiller in global art market

Streets are empty, but lantern festival goes on

When a woman ruled the world

The millennia-old medicine that is still used today

The General, the priest, and the young woman

Truth at last: Yes, Chinese Uyghurs ARE treated badly

Record-breaking number of deals clinched at China import expo

Mainland China, HK, now helping other nations make clean energy transition