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On the Importance of Good Handwriting
A joke from the Ming-dynasty collection Jieyun ji 解慍集.

Rachelle
Jan 15, 20242 min read


王中立《感事》(其三)“Musing on Things (No. 3)” by Wang Zhongli (fl. 13th-14th century)
On a not very poetic-sounding image: why do Chinese poets hit the spittoon?

Rachelle
Jan 8, 20242 min read


On the Jiujiu xiaohan tu 九九消寒圖 (nine-by-nine winter-repelling design)
A little spring-summoning game.

Rachelle
Jan 1, 20243 min read
![朱彝尊《清平樂·題水墨南瓜》“To the Tune ‘Joy of Pure Peace’, inscribed on a painting of pumpkins” by Zhu Yizun [1629-1709]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/044059_fc99c06111794becb2fb35b2710246ee~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_333,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/044059_fc99c06111794becb2fb35b2710246ee~mv2.webp)
![朱彝尊《清平樂·題水墨南瓜》“To the Tune ‘Joy of Pure Peace’, inscribed on a painting of pumpkins” by Zhu Yizun [1629-1709]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/044059_fc99c06111794becb2fb35b2710246ee~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/044059_fc99c06111794becb2fb35b2710246ee~mv2.webp)
朱彝尊《清平樂·題水墨南瓜》“To the Tune ‘Joy of Pure Peace’, inscribed on a painting of pumpkins” by Zhu Yizun [1629-1709]
A winter companion.

Rachelle
Dec 25, 20232 min read
![韓維《城西書事》(其二)“On [various] Matters in the West of the City” (No. 2) by Han Wei (1017-1098)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/044059_9f503cb7b05d4733b1a09c204aa74b7b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_333,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/044059_9f503cb7b05d4733b1a09c204aa74b7b~mv2.webp)
![韓維《城西書事》(其二)“On [various] Matters in the West of the City” (No. 2) by Han Wei (1017-1098)](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/044059_9f503cb7b05d4733b1a09c204aa74b7b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_341,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/044059_9f503cb7b05d4733b1a09c204aa74b7b~mv2.webp)
韓維《城西書事》(其二)“On [various] Matters in the West of the City” (No. 2) by Han Wei (1017-1098)
The season of "divine fruits" (Diospyros) again.

Rachelle
Dec 18, 20232 min read


A note on antler-shedding
From the canonical commentary on the Book of Rites.

Rachelle
Dec 11, 20233 min read


樊增祥《爽翁惠咖啡余誤為鼻煙》“Old Shuang gave me some coffee as a gift; I mistook it for snuff”
An amusing incident about coffee in China.

Rachelle
Dec 4, 20232 min read


An Omen on a Moonlit Night
An anecdote from an 11th-century history.

Rachelle
Nov 27, 20232 min read


Bamboo in the Wind by Tang Yin 唐寅 (1470-1524)
A bit of art for windy days.

Rachelle
Nov 20, 20232 min read


A pillow tale
A quirky little story from the Soushenji 搜神記.

Rachelle
Nov 13, 20232 min read


"Fengyu guimu" 風雨歸牧, hanging scroll by Li Di 李迪 (fl. 12th century)
A country scene on a rainy day

Rachelle
Nov 6, 20232 min read


人鬚筆 Beard Brush Pen
Another joke from Feng Menglong's collection Gujin tangai 古今譚槩.

Rachelle
Oct 30, 20233 min read




張鎡《清平樂·炮栗》To the Tune Qingpingle, On Roasting ChestnutsBy Zhang Zi (1153-1221?)
Another autumn delight...

Rachelle
Oct 16, 20232 min read


On how to use quinces
Two suggestions for an autumn delight from the thirteenth century.

Rachelle
Oct 9, 20232 min read


Yet another model son
Lu Xun's review of the story about Guo Ju burying his son.

Rachelle
Oct 2, 20234 min read


Another model son
Lu Xun's review of the story about Laolaizi

Rachelle
Sep 25, 20235 min read


What it takes to be a model son
One of the Twenty-four Filial Exemplars

Rachelle
Sep 18, 20233 min read


曾幾《蚊蠅擾甚戲作》“Written in jest when much annoyed by mosquitoes and flies” by Zeng Ji (1084-1164)
Summer nuisances.

Rachelle
Sep 11, 20233 min read


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