A Thousand Whys Podcast
1) China’s evolving serpent legacy: Ferocious treasures, from rituals to households
Why has the snake, often feared, been revered in Chinese culture and become one of the 12 zodiac animals? How is it portrayed in artifacts, and what does it symbolize in China compared to other cultur...Show More
2) A ceramic vessel of culture, wine, and poetic spirit
Like the finest wines, the best inspiration for poetry is brewed and vivified, if served in the right vessel. In this episode, we present a phoenix-headed tricolor ceramic wine vessel from the Tang Dy...Show More
3) Greenware stationary: Creating the right ink for calligraphy and painting
How did the water dropper help artists enter the right creative mindset for traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting using the color of black only? In this episode, we present the "Yandi" from the...Show More
4) Cong: The jade vessel which assisted governance in ancient China
What role did jade play in ancient Chinese rituals? In this episode, we delve into an artifact that embodied authority and order in the Yangtze River Delta 5000 years ago and explore its connection to...Show More
5) China’s goddess of war and her bronze owls
What did owls symbolize 3,000 years ago in China? How were they linked to an ancient woman known as the goddess of war and a female politician of vision at that time? In this episode, we uncover the s...Show More
6) Tomb paintings decode ancient feasts
Why did the upper-classes of the Hexi Corridor about 1800 years ago enjoy an affluent lifestyle while the rest of China suffered from political upheaval? In this episode, we present tomb paintings fro...Show More
7) King of bridal sedan chair: Thirty years of craftsmanship
Why did a team of master artisans take a decade to make a bridal sedan chair? In this episode, we'll delve into the story of the Wan Gong Sedan Chair from the Qing Dynasty about 200 years ago, a dazzl...Show More
8) 9,000 year old music: The Jiahu bone flute
What did the earliest Chinese instruments look and sound like? In this episode, we travel back nearly 9,000 years to discover the Jiahu crane bone flute, to explore its role in material and spiritual ...Show More
9) Welcome to "Ancient Relics and Their Stories"!
Artifacts are bridges to the past, revealing how we ever lived, loved, and dreamed. Over the coming weeks, join us for "Ancient Relics and Their Stories". Together, we’ll uncover the objects that defi...Show More
10) Why is the chrysanthemum special in Chinese culture?
The chrysanthemum flower is one of China's top ten most popular flowers, boasting a cultivation history of over 3,000 years. These flowers not only add vibrant colors to the autumn season but are also...Show More