Key Concepts in Chinese Thought and Culture

Ethereal Effect

This refers to an open, free, and flexible style of a work of art； it is the opposite of a “densely packed” work of art. Ethereal effect does not mean sheer emptiness； it does not completely avoid imagery, nor does it entirely avoid natural description. Rather its aim is to suggest unlimited possibilities for the viewer’s imagination through a …

Condemnation and Admonition

This term means two types of imperial decrees in ancient times. Xi (檄) was an official condemnation of the enemy and an official rallying call to fight, whereas yi (移) was an admonition released to the public to advise people against improper speech and behavior. As Liu Xie (465?-520) remarked in his literary critique The Literary Mind and the C…

Major Cause

Dagu (大故) refers to a necessary and sufficient cause or condition. The Mohists categorized the causes of things being so into dagu (major cause) and xiaogu (小故minor cause). Dagu inevitably leads to the corresponding consequence, while its absence inevitably leads not to the consequence. To put it simply, dagu must be present, and its presence is…

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: - Firing up a precious legacy - Exhibition invites audience to a cinematic f… - Restoring and maintaining tombs ensure legac… - Cultural heritage proves powerful in boostin… - Discoveries give the ancient past a future More 》

: - Ancient Yi embroidery stitches new life into… - Beijing exhibition celebrates three masters … - Exhibition zooms in on Yangtze's tide of his… - 24 Solar Terms: 7 things you may not know ab… - Carrying the torch of craft More 》

: The purposes of the Project are to select the concepts in Chinese culture and thought that reflect the characteristics of the country's traditional culture and the Chinese people's way of thinking, and that embody the core values of China.
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