Category: Chinese customs

Kongming lock(孔明锁Kǒngmíngsuǒ) is a traditional Chinese intellectual toy. It is said that the toy was invented by Zhuge Kongming(诸葛孔明 Zhūgé Kǒngmíng ) some 2,000 years ago based on the principles of the eight-diagram metaphysics(八卦玄学 Bāguàxuánxué). It was widely popular among the folks. The concave and convex parts inside the three-dimensional interpolation toy mesh perfectly. Kongming locks come in different shapes and sizes, with different internal structures. But they are usually easy to take apart and difficult to reassemble.

Liubo 六博

Apart from xiangqi(象棋xiàngqí) (Chinese chess) and weiqi(围棋wéiqí) (the game of go), liubo(六博liùbó) was another board game popular in ancient China. It's a game between two players, each of whom has six chess pieces, hence the name "liubo" or "six sticks".

The Mongolian Chess 蒙古象棋

The Mongolian chess(蒙古象棋Ménggǔ Xiàngqí) is a popular sport game in Inner Mongolia. It's also one of the most attractive items on the Nadam Fair.

Chupu 樗蒲

Chupu(樗蒲Chūpú) is an ancient chess game played in China. It is so named because the dice used in the original game were made of simaruba. It is also called the Play of Five Wooden Dice(五木之戏Wǔmù Zhī Xì) since a set of five wooden dice are adopted.

The Culture of Shuanglu 双陆棋的文化

Shuanglu (Backgammon set), an ancient dice game that has been lost. According to records in literary works and cultural relics handed down, as a game like the flying chess, Shuanglu should have been a prevalent game in ancient China. Nowadays, it’s also treated as an important part of game culture in China.双陆（西洋双陆棋）是古代的一种博弈游戏，现已失传。从文学作品中的记载和传世文物来看，作为一种类似飞行棋的游戏，双陆应当曾在中国古代相当流行过。即使在今天，双陆棋仍是中国棋类文化中非常重要的一部分。

Chinese Culture: Terracotta Duplicates (兵马俑)

Today, I will introduce the Terracotta Duplicates. Let us have a brief introduction. The Terracotta Warriors near the Tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuang (秦始皇 Qínshǐhuáng, 259BC- 210BC) in Xi’an (西安 Xī'ān) city is regarded as the eighth marvel in the world. With great study values in military, economy and culture of its time, the excavation and exhibition of the grand Terracotta Duplicates has shocked the world and attracted thousands of visitors home and abroad.

Chinese Culture: Chinese Cloisonné (景泰蓝)

Today, I will introduce the Chinese Cloisonné. Let us have a brief introduction. Cloisonné, or Jingtai Blue in Chinese, is a traditional enamelware with a history of more than 500 years. Prevalent in Jingtai period of Ming Dynasty (1450- 1456), and with its typical color of blue, the cloisonné was so called as Jingtai Blue by people. With its distinctive shape, exquisite workmanship, solemn design and splendid color, Cloisonné is strong in national culture that enjoys a high reputation home and abroad.

Chinese Culture: Paper-cut (剪纸)

Today, I will introduce the Paper-cut. Let us have a brief introduction. Paper-cut is a hollow-out art as well as a popular folk craftsmanship in China especially in countryside which was listed into the national non-material cultural heritage in 2006.

Chinese Culture: Chinese Jade (中国玉器)

Today, I will introduce the Chinese Jade. Let us have a brief introduction. As jade articles were used 7000 years ago and studies by people about 2500 years ago in China, the country wins a good reputation as a country of jade articles. With its long history, wide distributed in the country, perdurability, elaborate workmanship, and great influence on people’s life, jade enjoyed a rather important statue in Chinese culture that almost every Chinese respect and love jade and endow it with animistic concept and power.

Chinese Culture: Chinese Ink (墨)

Today, I will introduce the Chinese Ink. Let us have a brief introduction. As one of the Four Treasures of Study in China (brush, ink, paper and inkstone), Chinese ink, or ink stick, is the key part in the Chinese traditional calligraphy and painting. It is a kind of ink in solid and should be ground with water for use. Originally a pigment only in black, ink was gradually derived to the red ink and then colored ink in later periods.