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A glimpse of Tang prosperity from murals

As I walk up Wyndham Street in Central on the last day of April, the iconic red brick building of the Fringe Club catches my eye: and the display seen through the glass differs from the modern art panels more commonly seen there. Exterior of the Fringe Club. I push open the door to Anita Chan…

May 9, 20240Comments ByEmily Zhou

Chinese history

The emperor treated everyone harshly—except one man

IT WAS EXTRAORDINARILY RISKY to be the brother of Yinzhen (胤禛), the fourth son of Emperor Kangxi (康熙帝). Yinzhen wanted the throne really badly. A cold-blooded man, he imprisoned some of his 23 brothers and killed one who had the same mother as he did. He wanted to get rid of competition to become the…

August 3, 20230Comments ByEmily Zhou

Chinese history

Visiting the thatched home of China’s great poet-sage Du Fu

Could I get mansions covering ten thousand miles, I’d house all scholars poor and make them beam with smiles. In wind and rain these mansions would stand like mountains high. Alas! Should these houses appear before my eye, Frozen in my unroofed cot, content I’d die. -- the poem “My Thatched Hut was torn apart…

June 28, 20230Comments ByEmily Zhou

Culture

A student told Confucius the most important thing in life

ONE DAY, CONFUCIUS asked four of his students to tell him about the greatest thing they would like to achieve. “I’d like to help rule a troubled land and bring peace to it,” said one. “I’d like to govern a poor place and raise it to prosperity,” said another. The third was a humbler young…

August 9, 20220Comments ByEmily Zhou

Culture

The betrayal of China’s super-soldier: General Yue Fei

Every military man is trained to charge into battle brandishing weapons. But one real life soldier became famous for his willingness to put his weapons down when his family needed him. At a young age, Yue Fei won the admiration of his country for his incredible feats in battle against a terrifying enemy - but…

June 9, 20220Comments ByMeno Monteir

Culture Videos

The first meritocrat

Are you sitting comfortably? We begin a new podcast-style series of short videos with the true story of an emperor who married both his daughters to a farmhand — with very good reason

January 4, 20220Comments ByFridayeveryday