South Sea Butterfly (aka Hundred Illusions Butterfly) Physical Description: A huge butterfly that still weighs about 80g after its massive wingspans are cut off Lore: It is said that sailors of South Sea had once encountered something as massive as a sail that fluttered by and hit the sails on their ship. They hit thisContinue reading “Chinese Lore- A Selection of Mythical Fauna (1)”
Category Archives: Chinese Lore
Chinese Lore- A selection of Mythical Flora (3)
Li Tree Physical Description: A tree with square leaves and yellow flowers that sprouts tiny floss on their petals. Special Properties: The fruits it bears are fist-sized. Consuming them will greatly improve one’s memory, might even make someone attain photographic memory. Zhi Chu Physical Description: A plant that looks like okra except that it hasContinue reading “Chinese Lore- A selection of Mythical Flora (3)”
Chinese Lore- A selection of Mythical Flora (2)
I usually run my Remarkable Women in ancient China (RWAC) series this month but I didn’t want a break in between the Mythical Flora series so I decided to move back the RWAC post to next month. Face Tree Physical Description: A tree with branches that sprout peach-like fruits with human faces Lore: Another lifeformContinue reading “Chinese Lore- A selection of Mythical Flora (2)”
Chinese Lore- A selection of Mythical Flora (1)
Shadow Wood Physical Description: A tree distinguishable because in the day-time, each of its leaves has one hundred of the Chinese character that means “shadow” on it while at night its flowers will shine like stars. This tree will only bear fruit every 10 000 years. Its fruits are as large as a melon, withContinue reading “Chinese Lore- A selection of Mythical Flora (1)”
Chinese Lore- Legendary Chinese String Instruments (Guqin) (3)
Now, the last of this series: Pillar Circler Appearance & Characteristics: Its name came from a story published in a famous ancient text: a renowned female singer from the Han region in the Zhou dynasty who was travelling to the Qi kingdom but ran out of money half way and so had to resort toContinue reading “Chinese Lore- Legendary Chinese String Instruments (Guqin) (3)”
Chinese Lore- Legendary Chinese Broadswords and Knives (Dao) (2)
The broadsword that I’m describing today has really dramatic and awesome lore. No. 7: Cold Moon Appearance & Construction: Forged by Madam Xu of the Warring States period before the Qin Dynasty. Lore: There is a very grand lore surrounding this blade. Specifically, it goes as follows: Madam Xu was originally a scholarContinue reading “Chinese Lore- Legendary Chinese Broadswords and Knives (Dao) (2)”
Chinese Lore- Legendary Chinese Broadswords and Knives (Dao) (1)
Another of my Chinese lore posts and this time it would stretch across a number of posts. Pictures for some of the “weapons” in this submission can be seen at http://baike.baidu.com/view/795444.htm. What’s available are for no 4 up to no 9. Same as usual, I’m starting with no. 10 and working backwards to no. 1.Continue reading “Chinese Lore- Legendary Chinese Broadswords and Knives (Dao) (1)”
Chinese Lore- Legendary Chinese String Instruments (Guqin) (2)
Continuing from last time, here’s the next snippet and the last one of this series will be posted this Friday/Thursday. Scorched Tail Appearance & Characteristics: Made from a scorched block of wood from a Chinese parasol tree, its name is derived from the fact that the tail of this instrument shows visible scorch marks. Lore:Continue reading “Chinese Lore- Legendary Chinese String Instruments (Guqin) (2)”
Chinese Lore- Legendary Chinese String Instruments (Guqin) (1)
Over this and the next post, I will be covering the 10 greatest guqins in ancient China. Guqin literally means ancient string instrument. It is basically a musical instrument of the zither family (multiple strings stretched across a flat body). It typically has seven strings but there is a more ancient version with five stringContinue reading “Chinese Lore- Legendary Chinese String Instruments (Guqin) (1)”
Chinese Lore- Legendary Chinese bows (2)
Continuing from last time: No. 5: The Heaven Shaker Lore: wielded by Xue Ren Kui, a famous general in the Tang dynasty. In 661 AD, Xue Ren Kui was fighting against the Uighurs, a group of nomads from Northern Asia who were strong riders and whose bows could create winds that shake the heaven. InContinue reading “Chinese Lore- Legendary Chinese bows (2)”
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