Bamboo in Danxia Templeby Ma TianlaiGrass in the human world knows no fall here,Colorless flowers bloom in the realm of desire there.Ma Tianlai (1172-1232) worked as a compiler in the Historiography Institute during the Zhenyou reign (1213-1217) of Emperor Xuanzong of the Jin Dynasty. “Grass... kno...

Once upon a time there was a king’s daughter, who was so handsome, there was nothing in the world to be compared with her for beauty, and she was called the Fair with Golden Hair: because her locks were like the finest gold, marvellously bright, and falling all in ringlets to her feet. She always a...

New Bambooby Yang WanliEast wind, mender of broken mountainsOver the night add fresh stalks of jade.Fearing early spring's chill, fine robes half worn,Till stretched to heights, into dragons transform.Yang Wanli (1127-1206), an upright official known for daring to defy he powers that be, and a p...

The first time I lost my tooth, my parents got excited.“Do you know what this means?” they said.“No. What?”“You need to write a letter. To the toothfairy!” they exclaimed.The toothfairy?I was given a pen and a piece of paper, and suddenly, there I was, having to write a letter to this fairy th...

Temple Rock Luotianby Yue FeiI hike to Yellow Dragon cave, bamboo cane in hand.The old tiger's lair empty but for the cubs' tracks.Concealed deep in clouds the rock is hardly seen.Only pine and bamboo left trembling in west winds.The great national hero Yue Fei (1103-1142) fought the invadin...

The insignia of the great Japanese Empire is composed of three treasures which have been considered sacred, and guarded with jealous care from time immemorial. These are the Yatano-no-Kagami or the Mirror of Yata, the Yasakami-no-Magatama or the Jewel of Yasakami, and the Murakumo-no-Tsurugi or the...