When Royal Banquets Were Surprisingly Modest The fantastical journey of Tang Sanzang and his disciples in Journey to the West […]
The Imperial Kitchen: A Culinary Powerhouse Behind Palace Walls The imperial kitchens of China’s Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE) represented the […]
The Myth of Imperial Frugality: Two Meals a Day Historical records from China’s dynastic eras reveal a surprising claim: emperors, […]
The Origins and Rituals of Tóuhú The ancient Chinese drinking game tóuhú (投壶), or “pitch-pot,” was far more than mere […]
Liquid History in Bronze Vessels When Du Fu penned “Let us quickly drink a measure together, just three hundred bronze […]
Unusual Brews: From Pork to Mutton Wines Chinese alcohol history reveals fascinating regional specialties that challenge modern palates. The Cantonese […]
A Summer in Bianliang: The Ice Age of Imperial China If you strolled through the streets of Bianliang (modern Kaifeng) […]
The Four Capitals and Their Gastronomic Hierarchy During China’s Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127), the empire maintained four secondary capitals alongside […]
From Counting Rods to Culinary Delights: The Dual Life of an Ancient Tool In the waning years of China’s Southern […]
The Tang Dynasty: Tea as a Boiled Elixir In the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), tea was not merely a beverage—it […]
Imperial Feasting as Political Theater The dining tables of China’s imperial courts served as stages for power displays far beyond […]
The Paradox of Song Dynasty Porcelain During the late Qing and early Republican era, Guangzhou collector Xu Shoubai famously declared […]
A Stinky Cover-Up: The Death of Qin Shi Huang One of history’s most macabre tales comes from the annals of […]
A Culinary Obsession of Song Dynasty Literati During China’s Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE), an unexpected culinary trend united the empire’s […]
A Scholar’s Retirement Dream: Ouyang Xiu’s Crab Paradise The great Song Dynasty polymath Ouyang Xiu (1007–1072) was many things—a statesman, […]
A Family of Longevity: The Exceptional Su Clan In the patriarchal society of Song Dynasty China (960–1279), male scholars often […]
From Raw to Refined: The Evolution of “Southern Tower Buns” In the bustling markets of Tang Dynasty China (618–907 CE), […]
A Carnivorous Culture: The Historical Roots of China’s Fat Obsession From the Song dynasty’s lavish banquets to the Ming-Qing era’s […]
A Diplomat’s Surprise at the Jurchen Feast In the 12th century, Southern Song diplomat Hong Hao found himself at a […]
A Violent Reaction at the Pipa Pavilion The 38th chapter of Water Margin presents a curious scene at Jiangzhou’s Pipa […]
The Significance of Winter Solstice in Song Dynasty Life In the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE), the Winter Solstice was not […]
The Prodigy Who Lit Up the Northern Song Dynasty In the intellectual ferment of China’s Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127 CE), […]
