A Fascinating Overview of Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism

Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism are the three pillars of Chinese philosophy and have influenced all thinking and actions in China since their inception. Confucianism Confucianism is represented by Confucius (founder, 551-479 B.C.), Mencius, and Xunzi. Literary works include The Analects, the Mencius, and the Xunzi. It is the first important philosophy from the Warring States ...

Max Lu

A statue of Conficius.

Lu Zongdao and Meng Xin: Stories of Unwavering Honesty in Ancient China

During the time when Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty was still the crown prince, Lu Zongdao played a crucial role as his tutor. Despite his esteemed position, Lu Zongdao faced the challenge of poverty, notably lacking in suitable wine vessels at home. This limitation led him to a humble yet creative solution: Whenever friends ...

Mikel Davis

AI-generated illustration of a Chinese scholar sitting in a garden studying an open book.

The Success Code of Renowned Japanese Entrepreneur Kazuo Inamori

On August 24, 2022, Kazuo Inamori, a renowned Japanese entrepreneur, passed away at his home in Kyoto, Japan, at the age of 90. He founded the Kyocera Corporation, a Japanese multinational ceramics and electronics manufacturer, and the KDDI Corporation, a Japanese telecommunications operator.  Kazuo Inamori was one of Japan’s leading entrepreneurs following World War II. ...

Michael Segarty

Kazuo Inamori.

Lin Yutang: Enlightenment and Return of Faith and Tradition (Part 1)

In the late 19th century, in the town of Banzi in Zhangzhou, Fujian Province, there was a notable figure named Lin Zhicheng. A priest by vocation, Lin was often seen ascending to the top of the church. There, he would raise the cross a little higher using steel bars imported from the U.S. Or, at ...

Mikel Davis

Black and white photo of Lin Yutang.

Respecting Your Elders: Lessons From Korea

Respect for your elders is deeply ingrained in Korean culture. This respect is based on Confucian philosophy and is essential to Korean values and norms. From a young age, children are taught to respect their elders. So even when making important life decisions, the opinion of your grandparents and parents counts. Why is it important ...

Nathan Machoka

An elderly Korean couple.

The Magnificent Ginkgo Tree: A Hidden Beauty 

Some of the beauties of the world are popularly recognized, and some aren’t — these are hidden beauties. In particular, the magnificent ginkgo trees in large parts of China are majestic. Most are situated on the east side of the Hu Huanyong line in China, which has a humid climate. The Chinese respect and admire ...

Viena Abdon

A ginkgo tree.

Rare and Exquisite Beauties of China: Ban Zhao

Ban Zhao, also known as Hui Ji (48-117 CE), was a renowned Chinese scholar and historian of the Eastern Han Dynasty. In addition, she was a talented teacher and author, a great beauty, and a woman of high moral character. Let us get to know the knowledgeable and virtuous “female saint” — the teacher of ...

Tatiana Denning

The 'Book of Han.'

The Wisdom of the Chinese Zodiac

When ancient Chinese astronomers examined the cycles of the Sun, Earth, and Moon, they decided that the resulting calendar would feature a cyclical dating method that repeats every 60 years. This is reflected in the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese calendar is based on two cycles that interact with each other — the Chinese zodiac, which ...

Max Lu

A Chinese zodiac decoration for the lunar new year showing the 12 animals of the zodiac.

Becoming a Worthy Person Depends Greatly on One’s Mother

Readers who are fond of history might notice that there were usually wise and insightful mothers behind many accomplished people. As the most critical person in a child’s life, a mother’s values and outlook deeply affect the family and children. For a family, even if it is a poor family, an upright, kind, hardworking, optimistic, ...

Trisha Haddock

A mother hugging her daughter.