祸兮福之所倚，福兮祸之所伏。《老子》 Prosperity is rooted in calamity, Calamity is rooted in prosperity . In other words, good fortunes lies in bad, bad fortune lurks within good. Said by philosopher Laozi, Fortune may come out of misfortune and vice versa. During happy times you may feel particularly hard hit by bad shocks, which could be around the […]
Frozen Fish Poor little buggers, lying among the ice crystals with blank stares, awaiting the next meal. The next meal for people, that is. Finding ourselves at the top of the food chain is a blessing we don’t consider everyday. The helplessness of our prey, the cold end they meet are also thoughts that probably […]
Efficiency is certainly a standard most cultures strive for. The popular saying”killing 2 birds with one stone” also has a Chinese story. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, 長孫晟 (长孙晟) Zhang Sun Cheng was a well known smart capable leader. He was particularly famed for his strong military knowledge and an expertise in archery. […]
The Chinese have a term for cell phone users: Ditouzhu 低頭族（低头族), or the clan of those with lowered heads. It encompasses the young and the old, the mobile and the bedridden. Everyone with a cell phone attached. Cell phone users are slowly catching on. On the popular show Shark Tank, 2 guys pitched the “NoPhone”, […]
During the warring states period, the ruler of the Chu Kingdom 楚莊王 had been ruling for 3 years without much regard for governing. He enjoyed hunting, drinking, and spending time with his court of concubines. One day his doctor went to see him and came upon him holding a woman, sitting in front […]
Sometimes we take our mothers for granted. I know this because I’m guilty of it also. Living apart from my mom, I don’t frequently see her or tell her I love her. But I know that she is always there for me. My mother wrote this poem. To me, the essence of this particular hug […]
Characters: 有志竟成, Style: Standard Script (楷书kǎishū) The second dynasty in Chinese history was divided between Western or Former Han (206 B.C.–9 A.D.) and the Eastern or Later Han (25–220 A.D.). During Western Han, a scholar named Gengyan 耿弇 took an interest in the military. When he heard that General Liuxiu 劉秀 （漢光武）(who later Emperor Gwangwudi of […]
Find the spirit of the brush! The soul of the brush reminds artists to use the brush with energy, offering calligraphy a life and spirit of its own. Character meaning : 筆魂 (笔魂 Bǐ hún) Pen/brush soul Style: Mix of Standard and running font 行楷
2016 was full of surprises. New Year’s Resolution: Let it Go Character meaning from right to left: 捨得(舍得 Shěde)-Willing to part with, 放下 Fàngxià- Put down Style: Standard #楷書) A storied fable describes an older monk and a younger monk running into an elderly woman by a stream. As soon as she saw them, she […]
Original Light Poetry in Chinese calligraphy Snowflakes fill the skyWhite in every directionSnowmen standing in rowsPuffing their chests and holding heads highSmiling with a confident airChecking to see who’s tallThe highest is not meTurns out it’s the building 雪花飞满天 四野白茫茫 雪人排排站 昂首挺胸膛 含笑真神气 看谁个儿高 最高不是我 原来是楼房 Xuěhuā fēi mǎn tiān sìyě bái mángmáng xuěrén pái pái […]