Art and Culture
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Poem: Words and Beyond
2007-01-26
Words of hope beyond despairof truth to expose the lieswords of light above the lairof conscience to question why. -
From the Tang Dynasty to the Present, Ruthless Officials Meet with Retribution
2007-01-25Suo Yuanli (unknown-691) was a general during the guerrilla war in the reign of Wu Zetian. He was responsible for the court of Luozhou. He oppressed many innocent people, took bribes, and tortured people to extract a confession. He made a device, the Iron Dragon Head, used as torture instrument when interrogating criminals. The Iron Dragon Head torture instrument was used when he himself was interrogated. He confessed to all his crimes and died in jail. -
Painting: Tiger Bench
2007-01-24
This piece depicts a common torture method used to inflict severe, prolonged pain. Bricks are stacked beneath the feet while ropes tying the legs down are pulled taut, bringing the legs to the point of breaking. The artist has given both men an ethereal halo - one bright, one dark and ghostly. The stark difference suggests the difference between being kind hearted and having a heart of evil. -
Painting: Mountain Pine
2007-01-23
The tall green mountain serves as a nice backdrop to two uniquely-shaped pine trees. In ancient times, people often used the pine tree as an analogy to describe the characteristics of a true gentleman. It does not shed its leaves (needles) in the harsh winter and remains upright in any situation. Throughout history, painters have often painted pine trees to declare their own determination. -
Poem: A Call
2007-01-22A call to end injusticeto expose the vicious crimesa call to awaken the worldwhere hearts still all too blind.A call for precious truthfor innocent lives now losta call against a brutal regimeand its 'means to an end' at any cost. -
Ancient Chinese Cultivation Stories: Zhao Sheng, the Seeker of Tao
2007-01-21When he got up on the mountain, three roaring tigers charged at him at the same time, as though they were about to devour him. At the pivotal moment, Zhao did not panic. He thought, "I am Master Zhang's disciple. Master is watching over me! Nothing will harm me!" Indeed, the tigers tore his clothes and licked at his face, but they did not bite him at all. Seeing that he was fearless, the tigers lowered their heads and abandoned him. -
Poem: At the Helm
2007-01-20The hour resplendenta new light aflamewith many hearts awakenedsails billowed one the same.This voyage unchartereda song from distant shorescrossing oceans unknowntowards a timeless dawn. -
Stories from Ancient China: Benefiting from Chanting Buddha's Name
2007-01-19He believed in Buddha and built a statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, which he set out at home and paid respect to. Later on, he was framed and imprisoned. He could not stand the torture and had to admit to things he did not do. He was sentenced to death. One night, he dreamt of a monk, who told him to chant, "Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, the Savior," one thousand times. When he woke up, he started chanting immediately. -
Poem: As Sure As the Sun
2007-01-18As sure as the suncomes to riseand clouds come to passas sure as the seedcalls to harvestand this life calls to surpass.As sure as the truthcomes to lightand darkness comes to fadeas sure as the seasfind another shoreand the heart finds another way. -
Stories from Ancient China: Li Shiqian, a Kind and Caring Officer
2007-01-17During one calamitous year, crop yields were very poor. Li Shiqian distributed grain to tens of thousands of poor people. When, by the end of the year, those people were still unable to return the grain to him, they came to his house to apologise and asked him for a six-month extension. Li Shiqian said, "My family's surplus grain should be used to help people." He burned his debtors' I.O.U.'s and said, "You have all paid back what you owed. You should no longer worry about it anymore." The next year's harvest was good and people hurried to return the grain they had borrowed but he still wouldn't accept a single grain. -
Acupuncture Cuts Tension Headache Rates by Almost Half
2007-01-16Those receiving traditional acupuncture care saw their headache rates drop by almost half - suffering 7 fewer days of headaches over the four weeks following the treatment. Those receiving minimal acupuncture had 6.6 fewer days of headaches. While the control group experienced 1.5 less days of headaches - a drop of just a tenth. -
Poem: To Ever Flower
2007-01-15Like a petal of a lotus flowerlike water upon the calmest sealike gold of a precious hearta purest heart to be.Like beauty of a rising dawnlike hope upon the brightest shoreslike worlds unseen and awakeningawakening as never before. -
Stories from Ancient China: Be Persevering, Dauntless, and Concerned with the World
2007-01-14When he arrived, he opened a barn to provide food for the hungry, exempted them from taxes, and decreased their terms of service, which helped people to recover from the disaster quickly and to live and work in peace and contentment. The people in Suzhou loved and appreciated him. He, as well as Bai Juyi and Wei Yingwu, who also held official posts in Suzhou, were honoured as "Three Distinguished Persons." The townspeople built a memorial hall called the "Hall of Three Distinguished Persons." The emperor also praised his contribution and awarded him a purple and golden fish bag. -
Painting: Chinese Cherub
2007-01-13
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Stories from Ancient China: "Only the Ordinary People Like to Trouble Themselves"
2007-01-12After he went to Yi Zhou, he was very kind and generous to the local people. He did not even like to physically punish the criminals. His assistant commented," People here are very stubborn and very hard to manage. You need to have a system to punish them harshly, otherwise you will not be able to not establish your reputation and people will not fear you." Lu Huiangxhian shook his head and said, "I see it entirely different. If you manage the people's affairs well, there will be social stability. The people will love to work hard and enjoy their lives. They will then obey you. So why do I need to punish them heavily to build my reputation?"
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