A Thousand Whys
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A Thousand Whys
A Thousand Whys is tailor-made for curious minds about China and the Chinese culture.This podcast offers fascinating facts about what this ancient civilization has to offer, covering a wide range of topics including history, philosophy, literature and arts, lifestyle, science, and the natural world....
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China’s evolving serpent legacy: Ferocious treasures, from rituals to households
Why has the snake, often feared, been revered in Chinese culture and become one of the 12 zodiac animals? How is it portrayed in artifacts, and what d...
A ceramic vessel of culture, wine, and poetic spirit
Like the finest wines, the best inspiration for poetry is brewed and vivified, if served in the right vessel. In this episode, we present a phoenix-he...
Greenware stationary: Creating the right ink for calligraphy and painting
How did the water dropper help artists enter the right creative mindset for traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting using the color of black only...
Cong: The jade vessel which assisted governance in ancient China
What role did jade play in ancient Chinese rituals? In this episode, we delve into an artifact that embodied authority and order in the Yangtze River...
China’s goddess of war and her bronze owls
What did owls symbolize 3,000 years ago in China? How were they linked to an ancient woman known as the goddess of war and a female politician of visi...
Tomb paintings decode ancient feasts
Why did the upper-classes of the Hexi Corridor about 1800 years ago enjoy an affluent lifestyle while the rest of China suffered from political upheav...
King of bridal sedan chair: Thirty years of craftsmanship
Why did a team of master artisans take a decade to make a bridal sedan chair? In this episode, we'll delve into the story of the Wan Gong Sedan Chair...
9,000 year old music: The Jiahu bone flute
What did the earliest Chinese instruments look and sound like? In this episode, we travel back nearly 9,000 years to discover the Jiahu crane bone flu...
Welcome to "Ancient Relics and Their Stories"!
Artifacts are bridges to the past, revealing how we ever lived, loved, and dreamed. Over the coming weeks, join us for "Ancient Relics and Their Stori...
Why is the chrysanthemum special in Chinese culture?
The chrysanthemum flower is one of China's top ten most popular flowers, boasting a cultivation history of over 3,000 years. These flowers not only ad...
Why are Chinese people so fond of the osmanthus flower?
As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, many places in China will be delighted with the enchanting scent of golden osmanthus. In this episode of "A Tho...
Why has weightlifting maintained its popularity from ancient times up to the present day?
A bull, a bronze tripod, a city gate latch—nothing was too heavy to lift! The awe for extraordinary strength dates back centuries. Curious about how a...
Why is wrestling much more than a sport in China?
Have you ever thought about learning some wrestling movements and postures? Follow Pierre de Coubertin to travel back in time to an ancient Chinese wr...
Ancient swings to modern pools: The enduring spirit of diving
Imagine a diving competition where athletes leap not from a springboard on the ground, but from a swing that's suspended on a boat! In this episode, f...
Why did ancient Chinese shoot arrows with music playing?
Ta-da! Get ready for a wild ride with our new mini-series Sports Fantasia!
We're time-traveling back to ancient China wit...
Welcome to Sports Fantasia!
Get ready for an exciting adventure with "Sports Fantasia"! Join us as we travel back to ancient China to experience traditional Chinese sports. With...
Why is the lotus flower a symbol of noble character in Chinese culture?
The lotus flower, known as "荷花" in Chinese, is one of the top ten most popular flowers in China. In this episode, we'll discover why the lotus plant...
Why is the jasmine flower a symbol of timeless elegance in Chinese culture?
When it comes to Chinese folk songs, "茉莉花" (jasmine flower) is often the first that comes to mind. But did you know that its name is also meant to...
Why do Chinese people hang Chinese mugwort during the Duanwu Festival?
Duanwu Festival, or the Dragon Boat Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the traditional Chinese calendar, which falls on Ju...
Why are pomegranate flowers special in Chinese culture?
As temperature rises, there's nothing like chilling with a glass of refreshing pomegranate juice. Beyond its antioxidant-rich goodness, have you ever...
Why do Chinese people adore the winter jasmine?
迎春花, or winter jasmine, is a native plant of China with a recorded history spanning over 1,000 years. In this episode, we'll continue our floral jo...
Why are peach blossoms associated with love?
With the arrival of spring, colorful flowers are once again ready to take central stage. "A Thousand Whys" also offers a new series, exploring stories...
How do Chinese people extend Spring Festival greetings?
"拜年" is a cherished tradition observed during the Chinese New Year. It includes not just saying "Happy Chinese New Year" but also visiting friends a...
What does loong, or the Chinese dragon, mean to the Chinese people?
2024 marks the Year of the Loong, or the Chinese dragon. In today's episode, we cover the powerful symbolism of loong in Chinese culture.
24 Solar Terms: How did ancient Chinese merchants honor the god of earth?
Dahan (大寒 dà hán), or Major Cold, falls on January 20th this year. In this episode, we show you how ancient Chinese merchants conduct a grand ceremo...
24 Solar Terms: How did ancient Chinese people prepare for the New Year?
Xiaohan (小寒 xiǎo hán), or Minor Cold, falls on January 6th this year. In this episode, we show you what ancient Chinese people used to buy when prep...
24 Solar Terms: Why Chinese people "count in nines" in winter?
Dongzhi (冬至 dōng zhì), or Winter Solstice, falls on December 22nd this year. It is the 22nd of the 24 solar terms and the fourth one in winter. In t...
24 Solar Terms: Did ancient Chinese build snowmen?
Daxue (大雪 dà xuě), or Major Snow, begins on December 7th this year. It is the 21st of the 24 solar terms and the third one in winter. In this episod...
24 Solar Terms: How did ancient Chinese enjoy vegetables in winter?
Xiaoxue (小雪 xiǎo xuě), or Minor Snow, begins on November 22nd this year. It is the 20th of the 24 solar terms and the second one in winter. In this...
24 Solar Terms: How do Chinese people celebrate the Start of Winter?
Lidong (立冬 lì dōng), or Start of Winter, begins on November 8th this year. It is the 19th of the 24 solar terms and the first one in winter. In this...
24 Solar Terms: Why do Chinese people love to savor persimmons on Frost's Descent?
Shuangjiang (霜降 shuāng jiàng), or Frost's Descent, begins on October 24th this year. It is the 18th of the 24 solar terms and the last one in autumn...
24 Solar Terms: Why do Chinese people enjoy viewing chrysanthemums during the Cold Dew?
Hanlu (寒露 hán lù), or Cold Dew, begins on October 8th this year. It is the 17th of the 24 solar terms and the fifth one in autumn. In this episode,...
24 Solar Terms: Why is Autumn Equinox an important solar term in China?
Qiufen (秋分 qiū fēn), or Autumn Equinox, begins on September 23rd this year. It is the 16th of the 24 solar terms and the fourth one of the autumn se...
24 Solar Terms: Why Chinese people love to drink White Dew tea during the White Dew?
Bailu (白露 bái lù), or White Dew, begins on September 8th this year. It is the 15th of the 24 solar terms and the third in autumn. In this episode, w...
24 Solar Terms: Why do people float river lanterns during the End of Heat?
As summer fades, we embrace the "End of Heat", the 14th among the 24 solar terms, also known as Chushu (处暑 chǔ shǔ) in Chinese. One of the customs d...
24 Solar Terms: How Chinese people welcome the Beginning of Autumn?
Liqiu (立秋 lì qiū), or Beginning of Autumn, begins on August 8th this year. It is the 13th of the 24 solar terms and the first one of the autumn seas...
24 Solar Terms: Why Chinese people drink herbal tea during Major Heat?
The 12th solar term on the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, Dashu (大暑 dà shǔ), or Major Heat, begins on July 23rd this year. As the name suggests...
24 Solar Terms: How did ancient Chinese people beat the heat during Minor Heat?
The 11th solar term on the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, Xiaoshu (小暑 xiǎo shǔ), or the Minor Heat, begins on July 7th this year. During Minor...
Why do Chinese people give fans as gifts during the Duanwu Festival?
Duanwu Festival, or the Dragon Boat Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar, which falls on June 22n...
24 Solar Terms: Why do Chinese people enjoy noodles on the Summer Solstice?
The tenth solar term on the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, Xiazhi (夏至 xià zhì), or the Summer Solstice, begins on June 21st this year. In this...