Chinese Culture.

Hello everybody! Welcome to this subject, I can not show you every Chinese cultures, but you can come in with me, right? tell me something cultures or history of your country to share with us, will you?

at first , The Four Great Inventions of ancient china

Papermaking, gunpowder, printing and the compass  .if I say all of the Great Four clearly ,it will be a big project , so just in short words.

Paper Making
The invention of paper greatly contributed to the spread and development of civilization. Before the invention of paper, bones, tortoise shells, and bamboo slips were all used as writing surfaces, but as Chinese civilization developed they proved themselves unsuitable because of their bulk and weight.

Gunpowder
In Chinese, gunpowder is called huo yao, meaning flaming medicine. Unlike paper and printing, the birth of gunpowder was quite accidental. It was first invented inadvertently by alchemists while attempting to make an elixir of immorality. It was a mixture of sulphur, saltpeter, and charcoal. At the end of the Tang Dynasty, gunpowder was being used in military affairs. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, frequent wars spurred the development of cannons, and fire-arrows shot from bamboo tubes.

Printing Technique
Inspired by engraved name seals, Chinese people invented fixed-type engraved printing around 600 A.D.During the reign of Emperor Ren Zong of the Northern Song Dynasty, Bi Sheng invented moveable, reusable clay type after numerous tests. Single types were made and picked out for printing certain books. These types could be used again and again for different books. About 200 years later, this moveable-type technique spread to other countries and advanced the development of world civilization.

Compass
During the Warring States period, a device called a Si Nan became the forerunner of the compass. A Si Nan was a ladle-like magnet on a plate with the handle of the ladle pointing to the south. In the 11th century, tiny needles made of magnetized steel were invented. One end of the needle points north while the other points south. The compass was thus created. The compass greatly improved a ship's ability to navigate over long distances. It was not until the beginning of the 14th century that compass was introduced to Europe from China.

Ancient Chinese Warrior Huang Xin

Huang Xin was from Qingzhou, where he served as a general. He was exceptionally good in martial arts, which earned him fame throughout Qingzhou. Once, he boasted that he could subdue the outlaws on Qingfeng Mountain, Erlong Mountain and Taohua Mountain. Thus he earned himself the nickname "suppresser of three mountains".

Once, the governor of Qingfeng Fort, Liu Gao, captured Song Jiang. Governor Murong of Qingzhou sent Huang Xin to escort Song back to Qingzhou. Huang Xin believed Liu Gao's words that Hua Rong was planning to betray him, so he tricked Hua to a banquet under the pretext that he wanted to resolve the conflict between them. Halfway during the banquet, Huang Xin's soldiers ambushed Hua Rong and captured him.

With the two prisoners, Huang Xin made his way back to Qingzhou. Along the way, Yan Shun, Wang Ying, Zheng Tian-shou and the bandits from Qingfeng Mountain attacked Huang Xin. Huang Xin could not resist all three men at the moment so he retreated. The Qingfeng bandits then rescued Song Jiang and Hua Rong. Later the Qingfeng bandits also captured Qin Ming, who agreed the join the band. Qin Ming had taught Huang Xin martial arts before, so he managed to persuade Huang Xin to join the band as well. With Huang Xin's help, the heroes conquered Qingfeng Fort and killed Liu Gao with his family, then fled to Liangshan for refuge.

Huang Xin became one of the leaders of the Liangshan calvary and 72 Earthly Fiends. After Song Jiang had obtained amnesty from the emperor, Huang Xin followed the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao Tartars and rebels. He was one of the few lucky surviving heroes after the campaigns, and took up his official post again in Qingzhou as a reward.

Guan Gong Warrior Saint

This warrior's name is or Guan Gong (at least that is what his friends call him). He was born with the name Guan Yu, but he earned the name "Gong" which is used to refer to a most respected person (You could also translate "Gong" as "Duke" in old English).

Much as Confucius is seen in China as the Saint of Philosophy, Guan Gong is known as the Saint of War.

He is known for not only for his status as a great warrior, but also being full of wisdom and knowledge.

He is the essence of what Chinese people call or "yong" which means brave, courageous, and not afraid of difficulty.

Happy Buddha's Big Belly

This depicts the Happy Buddha. The actual title in Chinese is "Zhao Cai Jin Bao", which literally means "Bringing Money and Treasures". It's a good luck title that suggests this painting will bring such treasues to you.

The smaller characters written on this scroll go on to suggest that a big belly can tolerate all intolerable things in the world. And a second line suggests that a smiling face is best used to make all the good people in the world to laugh with you.

Honorable Chinese Warrior Wu Song

   Wu     

Song

Wu Song was a hero in the Water Margin, one of the four most famous classical works of Chinese literature. He was famous for his slaying of the tiger, which, in Chinese, is known as Wu Song Da Hu or "Wu Song Kills The Tiger".

Wu Song was from Qinghe Prefecture. Legend has it that he was good-looking, with eyes which shone like stars, thick eyebrows, a wide chest and a muscular body.

In his travels Wu Song passed by Jingyang Ridge and killed the fierce tiger there with his bare hands. Thus he became famous and was offered the post of a chief constable in Yanggu Prefecture. By chance, he met his elder brother Wu Dalang, nicknamed the 'Three-inch nail' for his short stature.

Wu Dalang brought his brother home and introduced his wife Pan Jinlian to Wu Song. Pan was pretty and her marriage to the ugly Wu Dalang was commonly described as 'A rose placed on a pile of cow dung'. Pan tried to seduce the handsome Wu Song but Wu did not fall for her.

Later Wu Song left on official business and came back only to find his brother dead. Wu discovered that Pan Jinlian had committed adultery with Ximen Qing and the pair of adulterers murdered his brother with poison. Wu Song went to the county office to present his case, with a bone from his brother's cremated body as evidence that his brother was poisoned, as well as a neighbor as a witness. The judge had been bribed by Ximen Qing so he just dismissed the case. Wu Song was furious and took matters into his own hands. He confronted his sister-in-law and her lover and killed the pair of adulterers. Then, he went to the county office to surrender himself.

Wu Song was exiled to Mengzhou and became fast friends with the Mengzhou prison governor's son, Shi En. Shi treated Wu Song well and Wu Song decided to repay Shi's kindness. Wu Song confronted Jiang-the-Doorgod, a hooligan who took over Shi En's restaurant after beating him up.

Wu Song defeated Jiang in a fierce fight and got back the restaurant for Shi En. Jiang was furious after being beaten up and he ganged up with Governor Zhang to frame Wu Song. Wu Song was charged with theft and exiled to Enzhou. The guards escorting him there were bribed to finish him off at Flying Cloud Pool. However, Wu Song had sensed the plot earlier and managed to kill the guards. He went back to Mengzhou and killed Governor Zhang and his family, as well as Jiang-the-Doorgod. Before fleeing from Mengzhou, Zhang Qing and Sun Erniang disguised Wu Song as a priest to avoid arrest from government troops. Thus, Wu Song earned the nickname "The Priest".

Wu Song went to Erlong Mountain to join Lu Zhishen, and later joined the Outlaw Heroes after the battle of Qingzhou. He became one of the leaders of the Outlaws infantry. Wu Song followed the Outlaw Heroes on their campaigns against the Imperial Army, Liao Tartars and southern rebels, making great contributions. However, in a battle with Fang La at Muzhou, Wu Song's left arm was sliced off.

When his warring days were over, Wu Song went to Liuhe Pagoda to practice Buddhism and died peacefully at the age of 80.

Sexy Asian Tribal Woman Batik Wall Hanging

The woman in this batik is from one of China's 55 minority ethnicities, dressed in traditional clothing of her tribe . This is a very traditional piece with highly skilled work with the "wax knife". It is ready to hang with the loomed cloth backing and fringe that has been sewn on. There is a sleeve at the top where you can put a stick or small bamboo shaft (not included).

Abstract Asian Artwork

This is painted on special xuan paper (rice paper) with a combination of Chinese black ink and watercolor.

Chinese Philosophy Art