Culture

The Woven Threads of Truku Ancestral Spirit Culture

History and traditions are closely related to the lives of our ancestors. For the Taiwan Truku, also known as Taroko people, their society is a kinship or ‘gaya’ society, where home is the center of the tribal unit. Grandmothers and mothers are significant in the passing of the tribe’s oral history and traditions to the […]

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Favorite Treasure Boxes of the Emperors

“Duo Bao Ge” (多寶格) is the Chinese term given to the imperial “treasure boxes.” Their sole purpose was to store small and intricately carved objects. These wooden boxes and cases with their lacquered drawers, shelves of various sizes and shapes were individually made to contain a specified number of objects. Craftsmen from within China, as

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Past and Present Culinary Traditions

Exploring the diverse culinary traditions and cultures within our international and local communities, past and present, offers readers unique opportunities to learn about the rich histories and  changing cultures that are associated with different countries and their food traditions. (Please click or tap on any thumbnail to view it in full screen and make it

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The Mid-Autumn – Moon Festival

Chinese emperors of the royal Zhou dynasty traditionally worshiped the harvest moon in autumn. Being an innovative agricultural society, they thought that heavenly worship rituals, especially to the god T’ien, would bring about future and bountiful harvests for the people. (Please click or tap on any thumbnail to view it in full screen and make

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The Mythical and Powerful Dragons of Asia

Asian dragons and myths are inexhaustible topics, especially around the time of the Dragon Boat Festival. In Chinese, the word for dragon is “long,” and is associated with the earth branch of the five elements. The dragon is considered the most powerful of all the creatures within the Chinese zodiac; however, it is ranked number

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A Chinese Fable : The Carp that Leapt Over the Dragon Gate

The following ancient Chinese fable about the value of persistence as a pathway to success was told to Chinese students and would-be government officials preparing to take their final and  imperial examinations. (Please click or tap on any thumbnail to view it in full screen and make it readable.)     This Article was published

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