Traditions6 min
Chinese numbers: why 4 frightens and 8 sells
The 4 that sounds like death, the 8 that sounds like wealth: how homophony governs floors, licence plates, gifts and prices in China.
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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.
26 articles
Society8 min
Xiangqi: Chinese chess, from the river to the scandal
Rules, pieces, origins and scandals of xiangqi, Chinese chess: the river across the board, the cannon that needs a screen, and the lifetime bans of 2024.
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Society8 min
Guanxi: the web of relationships that keeps China running
Renqing, mianzi, banquets, favour debts: what guanxi (关系) really covers, where the line with corruption runs, and what has changed since 2012.
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Pop Culture8 min
After Labubu: Pop Mart's next wave
Crybaby, Skullpanda, Hirono: the characters Pop Mart is pushing so it no longer depends on Labubu, the artists behind them, and what this IP portfolio reveals.
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Arts12 min
The vermilion of the torii: why Asian temples are these colours
Red that repels evil and protects wood, the gold of the Buddha, the five colours of dancheong: what the colours of Japanese, Chinese and Korean shrines actually say.
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Society12 min
Mianzi: The Chinese Concept of Face and Its Social Weight
Understand mianzi (面子), Chinese 'face': giving, losing, and saving face, and its ties to guanxi, renqing, and Confucianism in everyday life.
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Culture7 min
Hongbao: the art of the red envelope in China
Everything about hongbao, the red envelopes of money given at Chinese New Year and other big occasions. Traditions, amounts, etiquette and the digital turn.
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Society9 min
The Gaokao: the exam that decides the fate of eleven million Chinese students
Everything you need to know about the Gaokao, China's national university entrance exam. History, social pressure, intensive preparation, and impact on Chinese society.
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Traditions8 min
The Dragon Boat Festival: when China paddles for Qu Yuan
History and traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节 Duanwu) in China: dragon boat races, zongzi, Qu Yuan, and rituals of the fifth lunar month.
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Arts7 min
Wushu: the Chinese martial art between combat and poetry
History of wushu and Chinese kung fu: from Shaolin to taiji quan, internal and external styles, traditional weapons and the legacy of martial arts in China.
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Society7 min
Beijing's hutong: in the alleyways of Chinese memory
History and life of Beijing's hutong: siheyuan architecture, neighbourhood culture, demolitions and resistance. A journey through the traditional alleyways of Beijing.
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Arts7 min
Blue and white porcelain: China's fragile treasure
History of Chinese blue and white porcelain: Jingdezhen, cobalt, Yuan and Ming dynasties, kraak ware, export to Europe and a living legacy.
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Culture7 min
The classical gardens of Suzhou: nature reinvented
Discovering the classical Chinese gardens of Suzhou: the Master of the Nets, the Humble Administrator, rocks, water, philosophy and UNESCO heritage.
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Traditions6 min
The Lantern Festival: when China lights up the night
History and traditions of the Lantern Festival (元宵节) in China: lanterns, riddles, tangyuan, dragon and lion dances, the fifteenth night of the New Year.
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Culture14 min
Donghua: The Rise of Chinese Animation Challenging Japan
A complete guide to donghua (动画): from the Wan brothers to Bilibili studios, the overlooked history of Chinese animation, its masterpieces, and its meteoric international rise.
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Society6 min
4 and 8 across Asia: the map of lucky and unlucky numbers
China, Japan, Korea: three languages, three sets of homophones, the same fourth floor missing from the lifts. A comparative table of the digits.
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Culture6 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.
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Society6 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.
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Food7 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.
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Culture6 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.
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Arts6 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.
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Arts6 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.
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Culture6 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.
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Culture7 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.
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