When used as a noun, this character often refers to a place of residence, such as gong yu, which refers to an apartment. The word yu yan, in which…[详细]

In the Taoist classic Zhuangzi, the peng is a giant legendary bird that transforms from a kun, a giant fish in Chinese mythology. Photo: SOHO …[详细]

This character has two tones. When pronounced as shān, it is used as a verb, referring to slapping or flapping. When pronounced as shàn, i…[详细]

Details from the painting “Lady with Fan in Autumn Breeze” by the Ming artist Tang Yin (1470–1524) Photo: FILE Ladies&rsqu…[详细]

This character refers to the color purple. Purple is the symbolic color of nobility and divinity in traditional Chinese culture. It often appears …[详细]

Bird's eye view of the Forbidden City, the Palace Museum Photo: 699PIC The Forbidden City and its magnificent architecture lies at the cente…[详细]

This character refers to mountains or hills. Mountains are of key importance to Chinese culture. Literati always acquire inspiration from mountain…[详细]

Details from “Mountains and Streams without End” by the Ming artist Shen Zhou (1427—1509) Photo: FILE As a key form of anc…[详细]

When used as a noun, this character refers to wooden or bamboo slips, the material used for writing in ancient China before the widespread use of …[详细]