Blue and White Brushwasher in Dragon and Phoenix Design

Name and Specifications:Ming Dynasty Blue and WhitePorcelain Brushwasher in Dragon and Phoenix Design, This round bowl is 20.8 cm indiameter.Its inside base is decorated in the auspicious dragon and phoenix motif, andon its outer base are printed two lines of six Chinese characters that mean“Made in theXuande Reign of the Great Ming Dynasty.”     

Gilded Copper Statue of Vajrasattva from the Yongle Reign of the Ming Dynasty

Name and Specifications: Gilded Copper Statue of Vajrasattva from the Yongle Reign (1403-1424) of the Ming Dynasty. This red copper lost-wax cast statue is 24 cm in height. On its lotus base are engraved with characters that state, "Donated during the Yongle Reign of the Great Ming Dynasty."     

Tianjin：Past and Present

TIANJIN is a vibrant seaside city in northern Chi- na. The city got its name in the early years of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), when Emperor Yongle, named Zhu Di, described it as "the ferry point where the son of heaven (the emperor) makes his crossing." During the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) it transformed from a small fishing village and military base into a bustling trading port. Today, it is one of China's biggest cosmopolises and one of the country's four municipalities un- der th…     

Living Music Fossil in an Ancient Temple

LOCATED in the heart of Beijing, Zhihua Temple is an oasis of tranquility in this busy metropolis. It is not only the largest existing temple complex from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Beijing, but also the home of some priceless cultural heritages, including China’s oldest style of music, elegant Buddhist sculptures, and exquisite frescoes.     

Heritage-based Prosperity--Anshun’s Fifth Turning Point-Exclusive Interview with Chen Jian,Secretary of CPC Anshun Municipal Committee

Anshun’s sites of scenic beauty,notably the Huangguoshu Waterfall,and the unique Tunpu culture originating in the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644) have made the city in midwestern Guizhou Province one of the most popular tourist destinations in China.Less known to outsiders is An-shun’s reformist vision and pluck.Twenty years ago the     

Imperial Tombs of the Ming Dynasty

WITHIN Chinesethinking, thenumber "13" isnot an inauspi-cious omen, except in the case ofthe Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)imperial family. The 13th imper-ial family tomb marks not onlythe burial ground of EmperorChongzhen himself, but also ofthe entire Ming Dynasty.16 Emperors and 13 TombsThe Ming Dynasty saw thereign of 16 emperors (excludingthe last three who lived in exileafter the downfall of the MingDynasty) over a period of 277years. Thirteen of them areburied in Beijing in what arekn…     

Life at Its Purest： A Dong Village

Q IANDONGNAN in southeastern Guizhou Province is an autono- mous prefecture for the Miao and Dong ethnic minorities. Life on the remote plateau is about as close to nature as you can get these days, and it is one of the world’s 18 preserves of ethnic culture. People of the 2,500-year-old Dong ethnic minority make up 31.5 percent of the local population. Known for hav- ing “Tang Dynasty hairstyles, Song Dy- nasty dress sense, and Ming and Qing Dynasty houses,” the region has been de…     

Dali-Heaven on Earth

Dali Old Town surrounded by the remains of Ming Dynasty walls is only 4 square kilometres in size, yet its influence is worldwide because it draws in crowds of young foreigners attracted by its gentle charms, relaxing lifestyle and wonderful climate.     

China's Ensign Aloft

It is not the first time China has dispatched its ships to explore the deep blue seas. Early in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), navigator Zheng He and his merchant boats reached the Gulf of Aden.     

Ancient and Contemporary Changes to the Great Wall

The total length of the Han Dynasty Great Wall exceeded 10,000 kilometers, and was around 6,000 kilometers in the Ming Dynasty.     

An Undiscouered Scenic Town in Western China

WE came across Fubao (fortune and trea-sure) Town by chance during a trip to Fobao (Buddhist Treasure) Mountain in Sichuan Province. Cloaked in dense forest, watered by rivers and waterfalls, and the habitat of various wild animals, the mountain is 46 kilometers from Hejiang County, Luzhou City. At its foot nestles the small secluded town of Fubao, little changed throughout the centuries.First emerging in the late Song Dynasty, Fubao Town took shape during the Ming Dynasty.     

Youlong Xi Feng (Swimming Dragon Playing with Phoenix)

Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty (1368 1644), named Zhu Houzhao, was a clever ruler and led several successful battles against Mongolian troops. He was the second monarch after Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty to personally participate in the war on the frontier.     

Street Life

Wangfujing Street,located in Dongcheng District,is the only commercial pedestrian street in Beijing.Like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall,it is a must-see for tourists in Beijing. In the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644),the residences of 10 princes and three princesses were built here,so the street was named Wangfu,which literally means the"residence of princes."     

Gender Bending——Social Trends You Can Wear

PASSING for a member of the opposite sex is a tirelessly amusing trick celebrated in several art forms over many centuries and in many cultures. In 1998,Walt Disney Pictures made the animated film named Mulan based on a story from the Sui Dynasty(581-618) about a Chinese legendary heroine Hua Mulan.Mulan impersonated a man and took the place of her ill father in the ranks of the army fighting invaders from the north.For her bravery in assuming a male role,and the sacrifice she made for her father,Mulan has been honored in history.There are many such female heroines in Chinese history,fictitious and real,such as Fan Lihua of the Tang Dynasty(618-907) and Qin Liangyu of the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644) whose legends celebrate female ferocity and their awakening to inner strength and power.     

Connoisseur

Market Value: At the China Guardian 2004 Autumn Auction, this item sold for 4.29 million yuan (US $520,000) - five times its 1995 price of 880,000 yuan. Features: This Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) piece is regarded as a jewel in the crown of antique Chinese furniture. Most extant antique sandalwood and rosewood furniture was created during this period of Chinese history, as pieces made with this material are virtually impossible to find today. Smooth, hard, glossy rosewood was widely used to make furniture in the Ming and early Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The color of scented rosewood ranges from light yellow to maroon. It has a robust feel and a delicate scent Another kind is narra, a yellowish-brown wood that is less valuable than the scented variety. During the Ming Dynasty rosewood was used to make chairs, tables, chests and beds. To preserve the wood's natural beauty, carvings were kept to a minimum and pieces would be adorned with just a few engravings.     

Union of Sino-British Operas Bestrides Four Centuries

THE year 1616 mourned the simultaneous loss of two masters of drama in both the oriental and occidental worlds:China’s Tang Xianzu(1550-1616)in the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644),and Great Britain’s William Shakespeare(1564-1616)in the Stuart Dynasty.Four centuries have passed,and the two     

Garrison Communities： Living Relics of the Ming Dynast

THE Ming Dynasty （1368-1644） is regarded as a high point in Chinese civilization and historically it was certainly one of the richest and most populous empires. However, during its early period, the nation＇s economywas in a slump; large areas of arable land had been laid to waste by years of war, and most people were living in dire poverty. In order to restore the peacetime economy and strengthen the country＇s borders.     

Decorative Silverwork on Mongolian Knives

<正>In terms of craftsmanship and design of silver ornaments,silverwork in China reached maturity in the Ming Dynasty.The flourishing of the industry was due in large measure to the transfer of the Ming capital from Nanjing in the south to Beijing in the north,the move providing an opportunity for craftsmen from around China to exchange skills and give full rein to their talents.Furthermore,the wearing of silver ornaments became an important factor in everyday life,serving aesthetic and practical functions,and also as a reflection of the different beliefs of China's various ethnic groups.     

A Street With History

A mixture of old and new,entertainment and business,Beijing's Xidan Street is a booming area that attracts scores of visitors About 2 km west of Tiananmen Square is Xidan Street,one of the most famous com- mercial areas in Beijing and once the home of temples and entertainment venues. Xidan was a burgeoning commercial area as early as the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). At that time,businessmen,travelers and traders from southwest China used to stop in Xidan before heading for other parts of Beijing.They fuelled a boom in shops,markets,     

Bold Shanghai- Nostalgia and New Beginnings

SHANGHAI is the symbol of China＇s modem prosperity and opening to the outside world, though its outward reach dates back as early as 1,000 years ago when this city at the estuary of the Yangtze River in East China opened its port to Japan and Korea. By the Ming Dynasty （1368- 1644） it had become famous for its prosperous commerce zone and dense urban population.