ANCIENT HISTORY

Curious Court Etiquette From Ancient China

An audience with the Son of Heaven could be a minefield of ritual, ceremony, and etiquette for China’s court officials

ANCIENT HISTORY

How Did Ancient Chinese Avoid Sunburn?

From veiled scholar hats to canopied backpacks, China’s obsession with sun protection is not a recent one

ANCIENT HISTORY

Objects that Flew over China’s Skies (In Ancient Times)

From toys for children to weapons of war, ancient inventors sent many things into the sky

HISTORY

The Blast that Nearly Destroyed Beijing

The Wanggongchang Explosion continues to mystify historians almost 400 years later

SPORTS

The Traditional Chinese Sports Enjoying Modern Revivals

Hovering bamboo discs, flying feathers, twisty harvest dance...Some of China’s traditional sports still enjoy a modern following, even internationally

ANCIENT HISTORY

How Did Ancient Chinese Mourn the Deceased?

On Qingming Festival, here’s a look at some ancient Chinese mourning rituals, from costume and diet, to mourning periods and wedding bans

ANCIENT HISTORY

Three Ancient Chinese Banquets that Changed History

Ancient feasts were venues of political intrigue, murder, and even cannibalism

ANCIENT HISTORY

Famous Cheating Scandals from Chinese History

China's imperial exams were a hotbed for fraud

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE
ANCIENT HISTORY

The Challenges of Adoption in Imperial China

The importance of male heirs made for complex negotiations of ritual, law, and lineage for those wishing to adopt

ANCIENT HISTORY

Making the Ming Great Again

A now-deleted Twitter account offered humorous historical lessons on the Ming dynasty’s last emperor