Category: Chinese customs

Paktong, or baitong hardware was commonly used for reinforcement and decoration. Paktong is essentially a brass alloy with a 5-10% nickel content with imparts a silvery luster and retards the tarnishing which is typical to brass. Metalsmiths were a specialized trade distict from woodworking carpenters.

峨眉派武术起源于先秦时期，峨眉武术创始人是先秦时期的武师司徒玄空。因其曾模仿峨眉山白猿的形态创造了白猿剑法与白猿通臂拳，又称白猿公；峨眉派武术成型于南宋时期，代表人物为峨眉山白云禅师和白眉道人。Originating during the pre-Qin dynasties, Emei Kungfu was invented by Situ Xuankong, a Kungfu master of that time. He imitated the movements of white monkeys in Emei Mountain and invented the White Monkey Sword and White Monkey Arm and Fist, earning him the nickname Master White Monkey. Emei Kungfu took shape in the Southern Song Dynasty with representatives including Buddhist Monk Baiyun (white cloud) and Taoist Baimei (white eyebrows).
南宋建炎年间，峨眉山白云禅师将阴阳虚实和人体盛衰的机理，与武术中的动静功法相糅杂融合，创编出了"峨眉气桩功"。During the reign of Emperor Jianyan of the Southern Song Dynasty, Buddhist Monk Baiyun invented Emei stake Kungfu by combining the principles of the yin and yang, and the rising and falling of human energy while staying within the bounds of Kungfu theory.
南宋时期的另外一名僧人德源长老则是峨眉武术自成流派的重要人物。他居峨眉山时，因山中有好多灵猴，于是他模仿猿猴腾跃的动作，编出一套猿拳，由于德源和尚的眉毛是纯白色的，所以被人们称为白眉道人。Another monk Master Deyuan in the Southern Song Dynasty was important in establishing Emei Kungfu as an independent sect. While living near Emei Mountain, he observed the monkeys and their movements. He eventually invented a set of monkey fists to use during Emei Kungfu. Since Monk Deyuan had white eyebrows, he was given the name Taoist Baimei (white eyebrows).

Decorative stone was used as a secondary material for table top panels, decorative inlay panels, and impressionistic screen panels. The natural imagery revealed in a slice of geological time often revealed abstract landscape scenes or figures.
Soft decorative stone such as marble or serpentine were commonly used; agate panels were also used, but much more rarely.

昆仑派以山得名，自立一派。据传，昆仑派源于周朝武王时期。后来，昆仑派又分东西两家，均属于道家。The Kunlun Sect originated in the Kunlun Mountain. It is an independent Kungfu sect. Allegedly, the Kunlun Sect was formed during the rule of Emperor Wuwang of the Zhou Dynasty. Later, the sect was divided into the eastern and western schools, both of which are Taoist.
昆仑派在东晋时期，祖师为铁棱道人，下传五代：In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the ancestor master of Kunlun Sect is Taoist Tieling. After Tieling, the sect was handed down in five important generations:
唐代：圣天云、天风、天雷三位道人，以昆仑剑、乾元功、天罡掌得名。The Tang Dynasty: Three Taoists Sheng Tianyun (heavy cloud), Tianfeng (heavy wind) and Tianlei (heavy thunder), famous for Kunlun sword, Qianyuan Gong and Tiangang palm.
宋代：王龙又叫王子，以八卦龙形剑术得名。The Song Dynasty: Wang Long, who was also called Wang Zi, famous for the dragon sword of eight diagrams.
元代：昆仑双鹤、玄真、玄机三位道人以乾元功、玉龙天罡剑掌得名。The Yuan Dynasty: Three Taoists Kunlun Shuanghe (double cranes), Xuanzhen and Xuanji, famous for Quanyuan Gong and jade dragon tiangang sword and palm.
明代：昆仑七剑，紫阳、紫霞、紫明、紫光、紫微、紫星、紫云七位道人，以乾元七星玉龙天罡剑掌得名。The Ming Dynasty: Seven swords of Kunlun, namely the seven Taoists of Zi Yang, Zi Xia, Zi Ming, Zi Guang, Zi Wei, Zi Xing and Zi Yun, famous for Jade Dragon Tiangang Sword and Palm of Qianyuan Seven Stars.
清代：昆仑三英，一心、正心、恢心三位道人以乾元七星怪龙剑术得名。The Qing Dynasty: Three Heroes of Kunlun, namely the three Taoists of Yi Xin, Zheng Xin and Hui Xin, famous for the Odd Dragon Sword of Qianyuan Seven Stars.
1947年，在四川万县的刘裕隆等在该县国术馆遇昆仑派传人刘惠元老师，并拜纳门下习昆仑派武功。In 1947, Liu Yulong of Wanxian County of Sichuan Province met Liu Huiyuan, heir of the Kunlun Sect, at the county's national kungfu museum and studied Kunlun kungfu.

Zitan is an extremely dense wood which sinks in water. It is a member of the rosewood family and is botanically classified in the Pterocarpus genus. The wood is blackish-purple to blackish-red in color, and its fibers are laden with deep red pigments which have been used for dye since ancient times. The fine texture of the wood grain is especially suitable for intricate carving.

崆峒派又名"崆峒栖霞派"。相传源于甘肃平凉地区的崆峒山，创派大约是在唐朝末年，创始人飞虹子，为当时的江湖五剑侠之一。他年轻的时候喜欢游走江湖，四处学艺，后来隐居在崆峒山独自钻研，功夫有了很大的成就，吸引了一大部分当时对武术痴迷的人前来切磋。徒弟遍布中华大地，所会武艺可谓纷繁复杂，器械更是难以计数，故得名"海纳百川"。The Kongdong Sect, also known as the Kongdong Xixia Sect, originated in the Kongdong Mountain in Pingliang region of Gansu Province. It was established by Feihong Zi, one of the five sword masters at that time, in the late Tang Dynasty. When Feihong was young, he traveled China learning different Kungfu techniques. Later, he lived in seclusion in Kongdong Mountain to research Kungfu independently. His achievements became widely known and eventually many Kungfu enthusiasts journeyed to Kongdong to compete with him. He had many apprentices throughout China and knew many martial art skills. He was well versed in using an arsenal of weapons. He eventually was given the title: "the Sea that can absorb numerous rivers."

Tieli wood is often confused with jichimu, yet lacks the latter's contrasting colors. Tieli is predominantly grayish black, and its open grain has a coarse texture. It once grew abundant in Guangdong where its large timbers were used for bridges and house construction; on Hainan Island the natives used it for firewood. Nevertheless, in the more northern regions its was regarded as a rare hardwood and was noted for as a desirable wood for furniture-making in late Ming texts. Furniture made from tieli often has a thick quality and is frequently with little or no carved decoration.

华山派是全真道教的一个支派。华山派开派祖师郝大通是全真教祖师王重阳的弟子之一，相传王重阳圆寂后郝大通等四人为他们的师傅守孝，有一天郝大通在歧山遇了一位神人，神人指点了他《易》的真谛，得高人指点郝大通逐渐体会到王重阳的武功精髓，于是开堂演道，广收弟子，逐渐形成了自己的道教门派——华山派。The Huashan sect is a branch of Quanzhen Taoism founded by Hao Datong, an apprentices of Wang Chongyang who played a crucial role in founding Quanzhen Taoism. After Wang's death, four of his apprentices including Hao Datong mourned the death of their master, until one day, Hao Datong met an immortal on Qishan Mountain. The immortal taught him the essence of change. Learning from the immortal, Hao Datong gradually understood the Kungfu essence of his former master and he opened a class to spread Taoism and teach Kungfu. Gradually, he founded his own Taoism branch – Huashan sect.

The coming of the End of Heat implies that most parts in China are getting rid of the hot summer and entering autumn. But in some areas, especially in South China, autumn is late in coming and people are still bothered by hot weather.