Francis Wann and the Letters of Wen Su
Reconstructing the life of a Qing dynasty official through unpublished family archives Francis Wann (雲中燕) is a producer, photographer, editor, and teacher. He holds a … Read more
Murder in the Maloo Brings 1870s Shanghai to English Readers
Paul Bevan Breathes New Life into Forgotten Chinese Pulp Fiction Paul Bevan is a Sinologist, historian, and literary translator. He lectured in Modern Chinese Literature … Read more
Sanhu: Traditional Chinese Instrument with a Modern Twist
The Artistry and Craftsmanship Behind the Sanhu’s Unique Sound. The Sanhu (三胡), a unique Chinese musical instrument, was developed in the 1970s based on the … Read more
Lai Afong: The Pioneering Chinese Photographer of the 19th Century
Capturing Qing Dynasty China: The Mastery of Lai Afong’s Afong Studio. Hailing from Gaoming, Guangdong, Lai Afong (黎芳) emerged as a beacon of photographic brilliance … Read more
25+ Essential Books for a Broader Understanding of China
Some of the Best Chinese Books to Explore the Many Facets of China. Two Millennia of Storytelling: Essential Picks from Chinese Literature. China’s narrative, spanning … Read more
Supernatural Tales of Ji Yun: Chinese Ghosts Stories
Spirits, Ghosts & Foxes in the stories of Ji Yun Ji Yun (紀昀, 1724-1805), also known as Ji Xiaolan, a senior official of the Qing Dynasty and … Read more
Tiandihui or Hongmen, the Heaven and Earth Society
History & Facts of the Tiandihui or Hongmen According to the mythological origins reported by the affiliate Kelvin Bechkam Chow, the sect originated during the … Read more
A short history of the First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War (中日甲午戰爭, Zhōngrì Jiǎwǔ Zhànzhēng) was an armed conflict that took place between July 25, 1894, and April 17, 1895, between the … Read more
Interview with Alice Poon, author of Tales of Ming Courtesans
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Alice Poon steeped herself in Chinese poetry and history, Jin Yong’s martial arts novels, and English Literature in her … Read more
The art of Jiao Bingzhen during the Qing Dynasty
Jiao Bingzhen (焦秉贞; born in Jining, Shandong; 1689–1726) was a noted painter and astronomer. He is regarded as one of the first Qing dynasty painters … Read more
The Taiping Rebellion: facts, causes, and effects
The Taiping Rebellion The Taiping Rebellion (太平天國運動) was a massive revolt in China from 1850 to 1864 between the established Manchu-led Qing dynasty and the … Read more
The first photographs of Hong Kong, the Second Opium War, and Beijing, Felice Beato in 1860
Felice Beato’s 1860 Visual Chronicles of Hong Kong and Beijing Felice Beato (born in Venice in 1832 and died in Florence in 1909) was an … Read more
30+ illustrations of “An Embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces, to the Grand Tartar Cham”
“An Embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces, to the Grand Tartar Cham” is a book written by the Dutch explorer and author … Read more
Facts, History & Combatants of the Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion: Understanding the Combatants and Conflicts The Boxer Rebellion was an armed insurrection in China between 1899 and 1901 against the increasing foreign … Read more