ChineseSociété6 min
Lucky numbers and taboos in Asia: the 8, the 4 and the rest
Why 8 brings luck and 4 brings fear in China, Korea and Japan: homophones, tetraphobia, missing floors, license plates and phone numbers sold for a fortune.
Read
Journal
The Kotoba Interactive journal.
Editorial features on the cultures, history and languages of Asia. Filter by culture, by topic, or search for what inspires you.
12 articles
ChineseCulture6 min
Feng shui: the Chinese art of harmonizing space and qi
History and principles of feng shui, the Chinese art of harmony: qi, yin and yang, the five elements, the luopan compass, and the line between tradition and superstition.
Read
ChineseSociété6 min
Mahjong: The History and Rules of the Chinese Tile Game
The history of mahjong, the Chinese tile game: Qing-era origins, the 144 tiles, the worldwide craze of the 1920s, and the Chinese, Japanese and American variants.
Read
ChineseGastronomie6 min
Chinese Tea and Gongfu Cha: The Ancient Art of Brewing
The history of Chinese tea and gongfu cha: the legend of Shennong, Lu Yu's Classic of Tea, the six great families, the Yixing teapot and the art of infusion.
Read
ChineseCulture6 min
The qipao: history of the Chinese dress and its mandarin collar
History of the qipao (cheongsam), the iconic Chinese dress: Manchu origins, the 1920s-30s Shanghai revolution, symbolism, decline and revival.
Read
ChineseArts5 min
Peking Opera: Makeup, Roles and History of Chinese Jingju
The history of Peking opera (jingju): its birth in the 18th century, the four roles, the lianpu painted faces and their colors, Mei Lanfang and the preservation of a total art.
Read
ChineseTraditions6 min
Hanfu: The History and Revival of Chinese Traditional Dress
The history of hanfu, the traditional dress of the Han: its forms, its symbolism, its disappearance under the Qing and its spectacular revival among Chinese youth.
Read
ChineseArts5 min
Chinese paper cutting: the art of scissors and luck
History and symbols of jianzhi, Chinese paper cutting: red motifs on New Year windows, double happiness, origins after the invention of paper, listed by UNESCO.
Read
ChineseCulture6 min
The Chinese dragon: the serpent that brings the rain
Symbolism of the Chinese dragon (long): benevolent creature of the waters, imperial five-clawed emblem, master of rain, and why the Chinese call themselves its descendants.
Read
ChineseCulture7 min
Traditional Chinese medicine: qi, yin-yang and needles
Understanding traditional Chinese medicine: qi, yin and yang, the five phases, acupuncture, herbal pharmacopoeia, its founding texts and today's scientific debate.
Read
