Ming the Merciless

In 629 C.E., a Chinese Buddhist named Xuanzang (shoo-wen-zahng) set out on a long journey to India. His goal was to spread Buddhist learning and form closer ties between India and China. He traveled by land, heading west on the Silk Road across Central Asia before turning south to India. All told, he would cover more than 10,000 miles on his remarkable journey.Xuanzang encountered many dangers along the way. He got lost in the Gobi Desert and nearly died of thirst. Snow and freezing conditions…

This is a Jade GUI Tablet (gui圭) in Late Neolithic to early Shang dynasty (2nd millennium BCE). The GUI is one of the important objects for a ceremony and also a symbol of a person's status. Jade as a stone age heritage, occupies an important position in Chinese culture. The cultural connotation of ancient jade in China not only includes the design of art, grinding technology, written records, but also includes etiquette, religion, economic value and decorative features. The ancient jade's…

The Events of Yuan Dynasty The book is told through Wang’s life time during the Yuan dynasty. Wand Meng is born in noble family and they were all related the government. However, he have gone far in government service. He preferred to concentrate on the painting the landscapes at mountains. He had four friends who influenced and assisted the their art each other and they were renowned painter in previous history. Druing the Yuan dynasty, Mongols had ruled China and Wang was refused to serve the…

The Revival of the Spiritual Tradition: The God of Theatre focuses on rituals involving the theatrical arts in China and the god of theatre. Ritual theatrical performances played an important part in religious practice of China. Various forms of dramatic arts were employed as part of the religious ritual, “such as marionette and exorcistic drama” (317). The rites provided entertainment and a spiritual connection with various deities. For example, in Southern China, the rituals revolve mainly…

The widespread use of silver beginning in the 1570’s resulted in the increase of globalization through greater foreign trade. However, the use of silver as currency had negative as well as positive consequences. On one hand, through the use of silver in world trade, trading countries were connected through a common currency, and many were able to benefit their economies through the use of silver (documents 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8). On the other hand, the widespread use of silver also deepened the…

Most people would want to go to Europe or to Africa; however, the true beauty in the world is China. In this special edition on China, you would see the perspective on China in the eyes of a trader. As a girl, I endured many endless journeys of trading knowledge and messages to scholars and government officials, but one of my most memorable journeys was to China. China was known as a beautiful and majestic empire, ranging from exotic flowers to great emperors.The Chinese invented many…

of gold, mercury, jade, sulphur, cinnabar, orpiment, quartz and lead, ‘dissolved’ in a herbal mixture” in hopes that the incorruptible nature of these substances would be transferred to his body (Wood 119). Even centuries later during the Ming Empire, the Ming Emperor also had an interest in achieving immortality. Admiral Cheng Ho, a eunuch who gained the Emperor’s favor, led several naval expeditions in the fifteenth century with the primary purpose of collecting tribute and conducting trade;…

instability. Further to the east, towards Asia, and down south towards Africa and India, the opposite was being experienced. Empires were becoming more isolated, but also more politically and economically stable. The social systems of empires like the Ming Dynasty, Korea, and Islamic and Hindu states, were becoming more rewarding towards its people. These empires were undergoing a social order based on meritocracy, but economic status still partially determined one’s social status. This meant…

Ancient China, a beautiful world power that thrived through the changing of dynasties and pressures of the Western World, was a creator of magnificent artworks. However, during the times of Cultural Revolution and after there was a drastic change in “Chinese Art”. Mao Zedong and predecessors had forever changed the way the outside world sees Chinese Art with their use of propaganda and censorship. Or has China been using art for thousands of years to coerce its people into submission? China’s…