Rounded furniture forms were especially popular during the Ming dynasty. As a stylistic concept roundness and wholeness (yuanhun) suggest organic unity. Unfortunately, because curvilinear components are easily broken, few of these lovely objects Read More

   在“第九个五年计划”时期，政府发起了重点建设一大批高等教育学府和重点学科领域的行动。可以想象的是，经过多年努力之后，有100所高等教育学府和一批重点学科领域将极大地提升教育质量、科学研究、管理和制度效率。此外，这些学府也在管理制度的改革中取得显著进步，并将最终成为高等教育培训和解决国家经济建设及社会发展中的重要问题的基石。作为这些努力的结果，这一批高等教育学府在全国总体水平上处于一流标准，其中若干所高校和部分重点学科点达到或接近世界先进水平。这些高校中的大多数已经增强了硬件设施条件和员工能力，且在人力资源培训和科学研究方面取得瞩目成就。为了适应地区性和部门性的发展需要，这些高校被期待着充当关键和典范的角色。    Project（工程gōngchéng） 211 is the Chinese government’s new endeavor（努力nǔlì） aimed at strengthening about 100 institutions of higher education and key disciplinary areas as a national for the 21st century. “211工程”是指中国政府面向21世纪重点建设的100所左右的高等学校和一批重点学科的建设工程。 The implementation（履行lǚxíng） Read More

   ‘Corner-leg’ types are divided into ‘flush-sided’ (simianping) and ‘waisted’ type. ‘Flush-sided’ types are box-like in form, and generally of austere style with minimal decoration. The ‘waisted’ style, with a narrow recess around the Read More

   吴刚是个懒惰而又不学无数的学徒。有一天他想学道成仙，于是他住到深山里强求以为仙人教他法术。起初，仙人教他治病的草药，但三天之后吴刚不安定的本性就暴露出来了。他又求仙人教他其他的东西，于是仙人教他下棋，但不久之后吴刚又失去了兴趣。于是仙人给了他研习仙术的书籍。当然没几天吴刚又觉得无聊了，并问仙人能否远行到一些新鲜有趣的地方。气恼于吴刚毫无耐心的本性，仙人罚他去月宫，并告诉他除非他能砍倒一棵巨大的桂树，否则他就不能回到人间。虽然吴刚日夜砍伐，但这棵神奇的树每次被砍倒创伤又会自己愈合，于是吴刚只有夜以继日地砍伐。    The August Moon Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival (Chinese characters above) is one of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. Chinese legends Read More

The Mid-Autumn Festival (Chinese: 中秋节), also called the Chinese Moon Festival, is one of the most important annual festivals for the Chinese people (in addition to the Spring Festival and Chinese New Year) and Read More

   在儒家思想中，“君子怀德，小人怀土”“君子喻于义，小人喻于利”“君子坦荡荡，小人长戚戚”“君子求诸己，小人求诸人”“君子易事而难说也，小人难事而易说也”“（君子）知之为知之，不知为不知，是知也”。儒家经典经常强调“君子”和“小人”二者行为的不同。中国古代的“小人”好比今天的普通人或普通市民。因此，在中国古代社会，不是所有人都可以成为“君子”。事实上，中国古代学习儒家思想本身也仅限于极少的一群人中。他们中的很多人来自统治阶层和上流社会家庭。他们是群有需要学习经典和理解道德的人。由于自身对家族、祖先和帝国的责任，他们需要理解为什么有些事情不得不做。于是乎，拥有学识的君子们便贯彻实行中国文化传统，甚至为其他人设立社会规则。    Many Chinese scholars believe the history of education in China can be traced back at as far as the 16th century B.C. during the late “Xia Dynasty” (1523-1027 B.C.). Throughout this Read More

   This type of stool, with straight legs and straight stretchers, was already a standard form in Song times and was further developed during the Ming dynasty. The structural resemblances of furniture pieces to Read More

   笔架为圆雕五峰式，架底边深刻水波纹，波涛中双龙盘绕于五峰之间，龙腾水怒。 The full-relief brush rack has five peaks with deep water-wave patterns on its sides. Among the waves, two flying dragons wind themselves among the five peaks. 明代中后期，金、玉、竹、木、牙、角雕刻艺术中出现大量赏玩器，并前所未有地迅速发展起来。为了满足社会需求，民间作坊不断设计创新，许多艺术家也在风格上相互借鉴或者标新立异，于是各种精美的文房摆设和雅玩层出不穷，成一时风尚。 In the mid- and late-Ming Read More

The early history of Chinese furniture recorded in excavated material, engraved stone and stamped brick reveals a mat-level furniture culture. The ancient Chinese knelt or sat cross-legged upon woven mats surrounded by various furnishings Read More

      The folding stool is thought to have been introduced to China during the second century AD, at which time the Han emperor Lingdi was recorded to have had a fondness for Read More