History
-
“He who knows others is learned; He who knows himself is wise.” – Lao Zi During the reign of Emperor Dezong of Tang dynasty, there was a court academician named Pan Yan who enjoyed immense favour from the emperor. Once, mayor of the capital wished to see Pan Yan but failed to gain an audience…
-
After the fall of the Qin Dynasty, Xiang Yu and Liu Bang engaged in the four-year-long “Chu-Han Contention.” Han Xin, a general under Liu Bang, was known for his intelligence, courage, and skills in warfare. In 204 BC, Han Xin led his army to attack the Zhao state. The two sides confronted each other near…
-
Madame Huarui (?—976AD) , originally named Xu (or Fei), was a consort of Meng Chang, the ruler of the Later Shu Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. She was beautiful and talented, especially known for her poetry. Meng Chang was an incompetent ruler who indulged in pleasure and ignored Madame Huarui’s advice to…
-
During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, there was a renowned physician revered as the ‘Father of Medicine’ named Bian Que. On one occasion, King Wen of Wei asked Bian Que, ‘You and your two brothers are all skilled in the art of medicine. Which of you is the best?’ Bian Que replied,…
-
Wang Ceng (978–1038AD) was a renowned prime minister and poet of the Northern Song dynasty. As prime minister, Wang Ceng never made a public show of either promoting or dismissing officials, to the extent that people were unaware of which individuals had been appointed or dismissed at his behest. The statesman Fan Zhongyan once said…
-
In the history book “Zuo Zhuan”, under “Duke Xiang, Year 25” , there is the phrase “崔杼弑其君” (Cui Zhu murdered his sovereign), referring to an event in the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn period, in which a minister murdered his ruler. To faithfully document this event, three official historians sacrificed their lives. …