ancient china, harmony, moral values, patience, song dynasty, tolerance, traditional virtues, understanding

Embracing Harmony and Tolerance: Wisdom From Ancient China

Tolerance, patience, generosity, and kindness are easily spoken of, but they are challenging to embody, especially in today’s fast-paced world. In interpersonal dealings, the ability to show tolerance is not just admirable, but is also instrumental in resolving conflicts. Stories from ancient China, steeped in traditional culture, offer insightful examples of how these virtues were ...

Mikel Davis

Huashan mountain in China.

Empress Jiang: A Paragon of Virtue and Wisdom in Ancient China

In the annals of Chinese history, the mention of wise and influential empresses invariably brings us to Empress Jiang, the queen who successfully guided King Xuan of Zhou, the 11th monarch of the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 B.C.). Her story is not just about advising a king; it’s a narrative of moral strength, strategic counsel, ...

Mikel Davis

Oil painting of pink peonies.

The Four Anchors Are Traditional Chinese Virtues

The Chinese proverb of the Four Anchors, also known as the Four Social Bonds (四維 sìwéi), represents the sense of propriety, justice, integrity, and honor (禮義廉恥 lǐ yì lián chǐ), which are the traditional Chinese virtues. lǐ (禮) means proper rite, ceremony, propriety, etiquette, courtesy, manners; yì (義) denotes righteousness, justice; lián (廉) signifies honesty, cleanness, incorruptible; chǐ (恥) means shame, a sense ...

Billy Shyu

A Chinese temple.

Xiao Yixin Demonstrated How to Have a Harmonious Relationship

Xiao Yixin, who lived during the Liao Dynasty (A.D. 916-1125), was known for displaying the traditional virtues of a Chinese lady. Her father was the emperor’s son-in-law and her mother was Princess Hutu. Xiao Yixin, who was beautiful and also had a kind heart, got married at the age of 20 and never failed to respect her parents or ...

Emma Lu

Painting of a young Chinese woman kneeling by a stream.

The Descent of a Heavenly Maiden

There is a story about a heavenly maiden descending during the Han Dynasty (202 B.C. to A.D. 220). There lived a young man by the name of Dongyong, who lost his mother when he was a child. He grew up alone with his father, but there came a time when his father grew old and ...

Hermann Rohr

A young woman in a field of flowers.

Wang Baochuan: The Legend of a Woman’s Determination and Loyalty

The legend of Wang Baochuan of the Tang Dynasty has been passed down in China from generation to generation. Her perseverance and loyalty have touched the hearts of many. Near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in southern Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, there is a desolate cave with three Chinese characters above it – “古寒窑” (ancient cold ...

Nspirement Staff

A Chinese woman with a fan.