ANCIENT HISTORY

Death by Flaming Shoes and Hundred Cuts: Disturbing Methods in Ancient Chinese Torture

From ankle crushing to slow slicing, ancient Chinese punishments and torture were brutal

ANCIENT HISTORY

Behind the Screen: A Brief History of Chinese “Pingfeng”

How the humble “pingfeng” screen came to adorn everything from cave dwellings to the emperor’s throne

ANCIENT HISTORY

How Ancient Chinese Got Their Hair Cut

Hair was almost sacred to some ancient Chinese, and hairdressers eventually cashed in

TRADITIONAL CULTURE

Discover the Many Legends of Dragon Boat Festival

Dozens of historical figures are commemorated on Duanwu Festival, so how exactly did the festival begin?

ANCIENT HISTORY

How a Daoist Movement Emerged Out of Han Dynasty Chaos

As the Han empire crumbled and the Yellow Turban Rebellion sought to overthrow imperial rule, the “Way of the Five Pecks of Rice” quietly planted the roots of a durable Daoist movement

ANCIENT HISTORY

How Did Ancient Chinese Mourn the Deceased?

On Qingming Festival, here’s a look at some ancient Chinese mourning rituals, from costume and diet, to mourning periods and wedding bans

ANCIENT HISTORY

How Ancient Chinese Seniors Spent Their Retirement

Retirement from working wasn’t always bliss for ancient Chinese officials

TRADITIONAL CULTURE

Chinese Trees and Their Meanings

Symbolism of eight common trees in Chinese culture

ANCIENT HISTORY

Three Ancient Chinese Banquets that Changed History

Ancient feasts were venues of political intrigue, murder, and even cannibalism

TRADITIONAL CULTURE

Supernatural Chinese Beings Perfect for Halloween

Halloween may be a Western import, but ancient Chinese literature is full of spooky beasts, demons, and ghosts to consider this October 31