Category: Chinese Classics

(Source: china.com.cn) In the northern areas of China: There is an old saying in Beijing that goes, “have wontons (hun tun) on the Winter Solstice and noodles on Summer Solstice.” It is said that during the Han Dynasty, the northern tribes often harassed the northern border of China, and the people there suffered from the invasion. At that time, the two leaders of the tribes with the surnames “Hun” and “Tun” were the cruelest. People hated them so much that they made dumplings filled with spiced minced pork, and named them “huntun” (wonton). By eating them, people released their hatred of the brutal leaders, and prayed for peace. Because they happened to make the dumplings on the day of the Winter Solstice, people decided to have wontons on that day.

Mystery of Women Underwear in Ancient China古代中国女性内衣的谜团

In ancient China，women’s outer garments were strictly governed by rank. In order to express their inner feeling and distinguish themselves from other women, the intelligent ancient women chose their underwear as the platform to express their feelings and exhibit their delicate craftsmanship and ingenious designs.

Ancient Chinese Clothing古代中国服饰

The ancient Chinese clothing consisted mostly of robes. While the women wore lengthy tunics that reached the ground, the men wore tunics that reached their knees. The sleeves of the garments were wide, and loose fitting, with sashes being added as ornamentation. Darker shades were preferred over light ones. Lighter coloured clothing was worn more commonly by the common people. The original ancient Chinese clothing was referred to as the Han Chinese clothing. The outfit was called the Hanfu. With the coming of various dynasties, the hanfu underwent a lot of modifications.

Historical Hair Ornaments and Their Social Connotations历史上的发饰及其社会内涵

Hairpins（发簪fàzān） and hair clasps were everyday embellishments(装饰品zhuāngshìpǐn) in old China. During the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasties (1644-1911), women's hair ornaments expressed traditional Chinese thought and culture in exquisite, sophisticated techniques.

Dragon Robe (龙袍 Longpao)

The robe embroidered with dragon patterns was made for the exclusive use of an emperor during the Qing dynasty. The ritual of embroidering dragon patterns on the emperor's robe, however, dates back to as early as the Zhou Dynasty (11th century-256 B.C.).

Evolution of Female Beauty and Fashion in China中国美女与时尚演变

In ancient China, there were Four Great Beauties－Diaochan, Lady Yang, Xi Shi and Wang Zhaojun [*note] － who were so famed for their beauty that, like Helen of Troy, they could overthrow states and cities(倾国倾城qīngguó qīngchéng). Their beauty has been depicted in countless traditional paintings, but unlike the art that came much later, ancient painting techniques make it hard to tell how accurate these depictions are.

Proverbs and Poems in Heavy Snow

◆ The weather of Major Snow Day, the first day of Major Snow, has influence on the future: If it is not cold on the day of Major Snow, the next spring will be. (Guangxi)

A Beautiful Legend: White Snake一个美丽的传说：白蛇

The legend of white snake is well-known in China. Once upon a time, in Mount Emei there were a white snake and a green snake who had magical power and had transformed into two beautiful young ladies, one dressed in white and the other in green. They met a man named Hsu Sheng at the West Lake of Hangzhou City. The white snake fell in love with Hsu Sheng at first sight. They got married soon after. The white snake was very considerate and wanted to help his husband.

Proverbs and Poems in Minor Snow

During Minor Snow, agricultural production in most areas in China involves field management and farmland capital construction. In this season a snowfall is beneficial for winter wheat. Thus, the proverb “a fall of seasonable snow gives promise of a fruitful year” has been used in China for a long time.

The Pilgrimage to the West 西游记

The Pilgrimage to the West is avery lively and famous mythical novel of China. Also known as Journey to the West, it is based on the true deed that a Buddhist of the Tang Dynasty went on a pilgrimage for Buddhist scriptures to India, s the popular legend and mythical legend. Journey to the West has described Tang Monk and him 3 apprentices went on a pilgrimage for Buddhist scriptures to India. The 3 apprentices of Tang Monk are Sun Wukong,Piggie, Sha Monk. They have many magical and dangerous experiences on the way. They have suffered a lot of tribulation. They have defeated varied demon and monster, have obtained real Buddhist scriptures finally. All of four people become Buddha. Journey to the West is a romantic masterpiece in China ancient times.