Tatiana Denning

Divine Protection: Temple Stands Despite Bombing by Japan

In what is now nearly-forgotten history, Japan invaded China in 1937, more than two years before the official start of World War II in 1939, when Germany invaded Poland. In the early morning of June 1, 1938, as fighting between Japan and China escalated, a company of Japanese invaders attacked Luyi County, Henan Province. As ...

Tatiana Denning

The Rising Immortal Platform.

Xuyun, the Most Eminent Monk in Modern China

The life of Xuyun, the most eminent monk in modern China, is a legendary tale. He lived through five emperors of the Qing Dynasty and witnessed a century of upheaval and monumental changes caused by war in China.  At the age of 112, Xuyun was severely beaten several times but miraculously survived and recovered, shocking ...

Tatiana Denning

A brown leaf on a twig.

A Beautiful Phenomenon: The Magnificent Rainbow

In meteorology, the rainbow is an optical phenomenon of light bending as it passes through water droplets. It is a natural and beautiful occurrence whereby white light is split into different colors. To have the privilege of seeing it occur in the afternoon after the rain has cleared is truly a magnificent sight. In Chinese ...

Tatiana Denning

A rainbow over some mountains.

The Fascinating Origin of ‘Fair Trade’

Historically, fair trade has been cast on a steelyard’s sliding weights for weighing steel. Today, business people also consider it a principle to abide by in trading. But not many people know the fascinating origin of the term “fair trade.” Fair seeks Trade According to legend, a person named Fair conducted a retail business. Fair ...

Tatiana Denning

A commercial scale.

3 Stories from Ancient China: The Power of Kindness

Ancient China has left us many stories full of wisdom and valuable lessons. One common theme is the importance of kindness, for within it lies the power to change the world.  Ancient Chinese stories about the power of kindness 1. A Buddhist master’s wisdom One cool summer evening, an elderly Buddhist monk strolled outside the ...

Tatiana Denning

A stone with the word 'kindness' on it.

The Power of Filial Piety to Change People’s Fate

Throughout history, many people were so righteous and filial that those around them were inspired to practice righteousness. Here are two stories of how filial piety changed people’s fate. Filial piety converts a robber During the Han Dynasty, there lived a man named Zhao Zi. After being appointed governor of Dunhuang, he became the highest ...

Tatiana Denning

Elderly Chinese couple standing outside their home in a village in China.

Where Does Your Wealth Come From?

There is a famous saying in the West: “Man plans, and God laughs.” Though man may compete and strive for things like wealth or a prestigious position, what actually determines if he will have these things in his lifetime? It seems that just because someone wants these things, it does not mean that he will have ...

Tatiana Denning

A wealthy woman getting ready to board a private jet.

‘Journey to the West’: How the Monkey King Was Enlightened

The classic Chinese novel Journey to the West tells the tale of a Buddhist monk named Tang Sanzang who sets off for India in search of sacred Buddhist Scriptures. Along the way, he is joined by three disciples chosen to accompany and protect him. The Monkey King, also known as Sun Wukong, was the first ...

Tatiana Denning

The Monkey King jumping up to the moon.

Tourists ‘Cursed’ by Stealing Artifacts from Pompeii 

Pompeii’s historical ancient city has attracted countless tourists over the years. Visiting the Italian site is the experience of a lifetime for many visitors, and some have taken home souvenirs from the site to remember their trip. However, there are hundreds of tales of “bad luck” ensuing, causing many to believe that anyone who steals ...

Tatiana Denning

'The Last Day of Pompeii.'

The Virtue of Gratitude: A Meal Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold

The idiom of “a meal worth a thousand pieces of gold” is a common saying in China and dates back to Han Xin of the Han Dynasty. It means that one should always show gratitude for the kindness received from someone. Although the favor received may be very small, even a little help in times ...

Tatiana Denning

Egg noodles and rice.