A curated interactive journey through the structured experiences, philosophical systems, and artistic traditions that shaped China.
Chinese history is not linear but cyclical, marked by the "Mandate of Heaven." Dynasties rise through virtue and fall through corruption. Understand the scale of these eras below.
"Empires wax and wane; states cleave asunder and coalesce." — Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Click on the chart bars or the buttons below to explore the major dynasties that defined Chinese civilization.
Chinese culture is a syncretic blend of three distinct philosophies. It is often said that a Chinese person is a Confucian at work, a Taoist at leisure, and a Buddhist at death.
Structured systems for flavor, health, and celebration.
Tea is more than a beverage; it is a medium for self-cultivation. Different processing methods yield vastly different characteristics. Compare them below.
Health is balanced Qi (Energy). TCM treats the root cause through the balance of Yin and Yang.
Often categorized into "External" (Waijia) focusing on physical strength and speed, and "Internal" (Neijia) focusing on breath, spirit, and internal energy.
The supreme visual art form. It reveals the character of the writer. "The brush dances and the ink sings."
Brush, Ink, Paper, Inkstone. These are the scholar's essential tools.
From the rigid Seal Script to the legible Regular Script (Kaishu) and the wild Cursive Script (Caoshu).