Bai Juyi: The Tang dynasty’s baldest poet
The thinning and graying of the hair on one’s head has been a preoccupation of many writers throughout Chinese history, but none more so than the Tang dynasty’s Bai Juyi (772–846).
Beating the heat: Handheld fans in medieval China
The handheld fan has been used as a means to keep cool since time immemorial. But in medieval China, this was just one of its many functions.
Polo Buddies and Rental Cabs: The Donkeys of Tang China and Their Poetic Destinies
The humble donkey was a constant presence across Tang China and a regular feature in the day-to-day business of people from all walks of life. How were these animals remembered by writers of the time?
“Be like the River-Crab” and Other Life Lessons from the Twelfth Century
On a collection of short tips, pointers and ways of thinking about life by a former schoolteacher at the imperial palace of the Song dynasty (960–1279).
“Do you wanna build a snow-lion?”: Fun with snow in medieval China
The annual snowfall across much of medieval China provided various opportunities for fun and games.
How to Guard Your Tang Dynasty Tomb
Let us delve into the surprisingly colorful and cute world of Tang dynasty ‘tomb guardians’.
Salt mafias and rebellion in medieval China
Salt was big business in Tang China, and for certain individuals the vibrant but illegal trade in contraband salt paved the way for grander, imperial ambitions.
Stones into Sheep: The medieval search for a legendary Daoist master
The legend of the Daoist master of Mount Redpine who could turn stones into sheep had fascinated China for centuries. Sometime in the 1200s, one man ventured up the mountain to see if he was still there.
The intriguing world of medieval Chinese ceramic pillows
Pre-modern Chinese pillows were made of hard materials like ceramics and possessed a surprising range of functions beyond simply acting as a headrest.
The insomniac poets of medieval China
What to do on those nights where no matter how hard you try, you just can’t fall asleep? For the literati of pre-modern China there was at least one possible answer: write a poem about it.
Abstaining from alcohol in medieval China
If you, like many at this time of year, have resolved to give up alcohol, then it might be a comfort to remember you are not the first in history to have attempted this. As Song dynasty writer Liu Xueji found, then as today, peer pressure and social obligations can test one’s resolve to cut back on wine.
Essential Hiking Gear for a Medieval Chinese Monk
Pilgrimage, alms begging, and journeys to obtain scriptures or relics: life on the road was a reality for many monks in medieval China. So what kind of things did they take with them, according to popular depictions?
Child Emperor vs Empress Dowager: Regency in the Western Xia
Court intrigue and poison plots were rife, policy swung from one direction to the other, and geopolitical relations were put under severe strain.
The Upstart King: Jingzong of Xia
The headstrong and ambitious ruler of an underdog state, Jingzong’s bold military and civil policies reached into almost every aspect of Xia life.
Book care in Medieval China
How did people look after their books and libraries in medieval China?
Parenting Tips from a Tang Dynasty General
What was it like to have this famous general as a father?
How to get good horses in medieval China
During the Northern Song period, the best regions for horse breeding had been snapped up by powerful steppe empires. So the Chinese state had to turn to other means to obtain good horses, coming up with a variety of innovative and ambitious schemes in the process.