Tom in China

By HUO JIANYING

A guqin of the Ming Dynasty, part of the Chinese History Museum collection.

FIVE years ago, an ancient Chinese air was beamed to outer space as a PR exercise. To humankind, music is a universal language, so the tune seemed an ideal medium for communication with extraterrestrial intelligence. So far there has been no response, but it is believed that the tune will play for a billion years, and eventually be heard and understood. The melody is called High Mountain and Flowing Stream, and it is played on the guqin, a seven-stringed classical musical instrument similar to the zither.

By staff reporter HUO JIANYING Chinatoday

Pottery ox cart from the Northern Qi (550-577) of the Northern Dynasties, unearthed in Shanxi

AN excavated pit at the side of an expressway in Shandong’s Linzi contains visible 2,000-year-old remains of horses and wooden carriages. The horse skeletons are on their side, in an attitude of motion. The pit was discovered in the late 20th century, when the expressway was being built. These early ancestors of modern transport, no longer “roadworthy,” are now protected historic artifacts.

By staff reporter HUO JIANYING

The Changpu River.

IN August 2002, the Changpu River east of the Tian’anmen Rostrum saw daylight once more after 40 years concealment underground. In the late 1960s the river was boarded over and warehouses in which to store adornments for Tian’anmen Square pageants were built on it. Increasing concern for the Beijing eco-environment and preservation of its historic features in recent years has resulted in the municipal government’s launching of a series of measures, and that of renewing the city’s river network carries high priority.

By LIN YING Chinatoday

Editor’s Note: Ms Lin Ying compiled and published a lengthy academic work entitled Celestial Horses in the Year of the Horse. Charles Willemen, a well-known Orientalist and member of the Belgian Royal Academy of Sciences, commented that this is a well-documented and original study about the relationship between horses and Chinese civilization. The book has selected certain masterpieces showing images of celestial horses of special significance. The history of celestial horses is, of course, put in the general framework of Chinese civilization, and these horses also reflect the Chinese people’s sorrows, happiness and hopes over thousands of years. Following are some excerpts.

By staff reporter HUO JIANYING Chinatoday

IN China the epithet a “modern Bao Zheng” is the highest praise possible for government officials, especially those in judicial posts. Bao Zheng (999-1062), the best-known upright and incorruptible official in Chinese history, was born in today’s Hefei in Anhui Province. After working as county magistrate and prefect, he was promoted to a series of senior positions in the imperial Song court.

By HUO JIANYING Chinatoday

THERE are few people in Chinese history whose fame, be it for reasons of heroism or infamy, has lasted over centuries. He Shen is a name enshrined in ill fame.

The Xijin Study was built from nammu wood. Its architecture followed the imperial style, which made it one of He Shen

It is recorded that in 1799, when He Shen was brought to justice and his house searched, his household possessions acquired through graft amounted to a value of 800 million taels of silver — an amount equal to 10 years’ revenue of the Qing government. At the time of his downfall, He Shen was the highest and most powerful official in the overall operation of the Qing imperial government, and his massive wealth was obtained during his two decades of officialdom. In 1799, at the age of 49, he received an imperial decree ordering that he hang himself.

By staff reporter ZHANG HUA Chinatoday

Tibetan Clothes

Years ago, a friend of mine went to the roof of the world — Tibet. Her initial physiological reaction to the high altitude made her feel depressed, until she saw the local men and women working and dancing in the thinnest air in the world. She was deeply affected by the splendor of their beautiful clothes, and by the good humor and confidence radiating from them. She felt that the optimism of the local people and their colorful clothes symbolized the charm and dignity of their life in this secluded outpost.

By WEN BO & SUN LI Chinatoday

Teahouse are almost as old as tea production in China, and form an integral part of China’s unique tea culture. Teahouses appeared throughout urban and rural China as early as the Tang Dynasty (618-907). During the Qing Dynasty, going to the teahouse was very common practice. Some teahouses were large and luxurious, while others were small and simple. Storytellers and folk singers were often hired to enliven the atmosphere.

by staff reporter HUO JIANYING Chinatoday

TANG San Cai, or Tang Tri-color (tri-color pottery of the Tang Dynasty), was created specifically as a burial object. Its existence relates closely to the political system and burial rituals of the Tang Dynasty.

The Tragedy of Sumptuous Burials

In late 1999, a 2,000-year-old tomb from the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-A.D.25) was discovered on Mount Lao in Beijing’s western suburbs, when it also transpired that this tomb had been robbed shortly after interment of its owner. In January 2000, the State Cultural Relics Bureau approved the excavation of this tomb in the interests of its conservation, and, for a time, this discovery was a hot topic in Beijing. People could not help wondering what possible treasure may have been buried within the tomb, but were at the same time concerned as to whether or not it had been robbed of all its original contents.

By staff reporters LIAO ZENGBAO & HUO JIANYING Chinatoday

NEW Year woodblock engraving

NEW Year woodblock engraving, a type of watercolor block printing, is a folk art that dates back hundreds of years. The whole process includes drawing, block cutting, printing and color processing. Woodblock engravings became popular in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and were an integral feature of Chinese New Year celebrations.