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劉應時《登樓》“Ascending a Tower” by Liu Yingshi (fl. 12th century)
An autumnal moment under the night sky.
Rachelle
Oct 3, 20222 min read
An anecdote from the 3rd century about the Northern and Southern Dippers
How to trick the deities of the Northern and Southern Dippers to extend your life.
Rachelle
Sep 26, 20224 min read
An anecdote from the Tang dynasty about hiding the Big Dipper
How an astrologer-monk tricked the emperor into releasing a murderer.
Rachelle
Sep 19, 20224 min read
晁補之《次韻鄧正字慎思秋日同文館（其八）》"After the rhyme of Deng Zheng on an autumn day ..." by Chao Buzhi
For the festive Mid-Autumn day with stars.
Rachelle
Sep 12, 20223 min read
孔平仲《狂犬》“Crazy Dog” by Kong Pingzhong (fl. 11th century)
For the two "crazy dogs" that amused me in the past few days.
Rachelle
Sep 5, 20223 min read
“Caotang shi zhi tu” 草堂十志圖 (Ten Records on the Thatched Hall) Pt. 1
A(nother) handscroll dedicated to reclusion in nature.
Rachelle
Aug 29, 20223 min read
“Yunlong shanque” 筠籠山雀 (The mountain tit in the bamboo cage)
Jiaqing Emperor 嘉慶 on a bird in the cage.
Rachelle
Aug 22, 20222 min read
“Jiusheng huan yu” 鳩聲喚雨 by Shen Zhou 沈周 (1427-1506)
In celebration of the rain after numerous scorching days.
Rachelle
Aug 15, 20221 min read
Zheng Xie 鄭燮 on bird keeping
Zheng Xie on the proper way to keep birds.
Rachelle
Aug 8, 20223 min read
郭子章《六月柿》“The persimmon of the sixth month” by Guo Zizhang
For a happy problem at the moment...
Rachelle
Aug 1, 20224 min read
呂從慶《永豐橋閒坐》“Sitting idly on the Yongfeng Bridge” by Lü Congqing
敝襪輕鞋緩足投， 永豐橋上寄雙眸。 山沿東舍環西舍， 水繞南疇赴北疇。 村婦坐畦挑馬齒， 野童蹲澗采雞頭。 娛閒不覺忘中飯， 一點斜陽射竹樓。[1] In worn socks and light shoes, [I] ease my pace, Lodging my...
Rachelle
Jul 25, 20223 min read
趙翼《偶書所見（其一）》“Casual notes on my observations (No. 1)” by Zhao Yi
For those who (like myself) often forget what they’ve read...
Rachelle
Jul 18, 20223 min read
When a centipede meets a slug
An allegory from the Yulizi 郁離子.
Rachelle
Jul 11, 20223 min read
Tao Gu 陶穀 (903-970) on the art of tea
饌茶而幻出物象于湯面者，茶匠通神之藝也。沙門福全，生於金鄉，長於茶海，能注湯幻茶成一句詩，並點四甌，共一絕句，泛乎湯表。小小物類，唾手辦耳。檀越日造門求觀湯戲，全自詠曰： 生成盞裏水丹青， 巧畫工夫學不成。 卻笑當時陸鴻漸， 煎茶贏得好名聲。 In tea...
Rachelle
Jul 4, 20223 min read
Another odorous anecdote from the Qing dynasty
A little reform of portable toilets
Rachelle
Jun 27, 20224 min read
葉茵《酷暑》 “Scorching heat” by Ye Yin (fl. 12th century)
To commemorate the hottest days in my life (around 40 degrees)...
Rachelle
Jun 20, 20222 min read
張泰《採芝圖》“Picking Ganoderma” by Zhang Tai
On mushroom hunting in Chinese paintings.
Rachelle
Jun 13, 20222 min read
![“Wuri Zhong Kui” 午日鍾馗 (Zhong Kui on [Double] Fifth Day) by Hua Yan華嵒 (1682-1756)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/044059_a02f76f2f64f475ebb5621e7e17f988d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1176,h_883,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/044059_a02f76f2f64f475ebb5621e7e17f988d~mv2.jpg)
![“Wuri Zhong Kui” 午日鍾馗 (Zhong Kui on [Double] Fifth Day) by Hua Yan華嵒 (1682-1756)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/044059_a02f76f2f64f475ebb5621e7e17f988d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1176,h_883,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/044059_a02f76f2f64f475ebb5621e7e17f988d~mv2.jpg)
“Wuri Zhong Kui” 午日鍾馗 (Zhong Kui on [Double] Fifth Day) by Hua Yan華嵒 (1682-1756)
“Wuri Zhong Kui” 午日鍾馗 (Zhong Kui on [Double] Fifth Day) by Hua Yan 華嵒 (1682-1756), inscribed with his own poem Picture credit: National...
Rachelle
Jun 6, 20223 min read
An odorous anecdote from the Qing dynasty
An innovative evaluation system for dogs and their farts.
Rachelle
May 30, 20222 min read
Qianlong's poem on a "cat bowl"
A glimpse into feline life in the palace?
Rachelle
May 23, 20223 min read
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