Textiles, types of cloth/woven fabric made of natural or synthetic fibers, vary in color, pattern, and durability. While simpler textiles were common and more numerous, the more complex textiles were hand-woven and expensive, made using a compound, gauze, satin, or twill weave. Fancier textiles were often woven into silk. Textiles were so essential that they…
Read moreThe Tang Dynasty – Reflection
Reading about the Tang Dynasty and the Silk Road was not only a blast from the past, but eye opening as well. The Tang Dynasty was a monumental moment in Chinese history as it allowed them to open their doors to the outside world and expand economically and politically. It was this period of creating…
Read moreThe Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty (5th to 8th century) China was known for its foreign affairs and success in territorial expansion mainland, and was considered the golden age for cultural and artistic prosperity. It was also a glorious period for economic, political, and military expenditures. To have done so, China had to extend its resources. They heavily relied…
Read moreThe Tombs of an Emperor – Reflection
Having already known about the Terra Cotta Army and the first emperor’s tomb, I have become more well informed on the subject while my thoughts remain unchanged. I was impressed by the commitment and amount of work put into creating the tomb and the Terracotta Army. They sculpted different facial expressions and poses for each…
Read moreThe Tombs of an Emperor – The Terracotta Army
The first time I had heard of, or even seen, the Terracotta Army was in the movie, the Mummy Rises Again. At that point, I was a child merely in awe, watching as the lifeless, ceramic statues came to life and attacked the main protagonist; however, that’s all it was then – just another action…
Read moreWriting on Bones – Reflection
Before this week I had no knowledge of the Shang Dynasty, and I especially didn’t think to guess that oracle-bones even existed. I assumed that, through most of human history, paper was the most reliable record-keeping tool. You would believe that documenting/archiving would be made as effortless as possible; however, this was not the case…
Read moreWriting on Bones – Shang Dynasty
Oracle-bone inscriptions, originated and heavily depended on by kings, were first introduced in the Shang dynasty around 1600 B.C.E. Since other writing mediums, like paper, did not survive for long, bones were used as alternatives. These bones are believed to be the first instances of permanent record keeping of historical, political, and religious events in…
Read moreThe Great Wall of China – Reflection
It is amazing to see that the Great Wall of China served many different purposes throughout its history: it shielded China’s territories; it pushed back invading forces; it united the people; it helped expand territory; it improved the economy; it serves as a symbol of power; it is a cultural icon. Historians, however, are trying…
Read moreThe Great Wall of China – Origins
Many historians agree that the Great Wall of China, first completed during the Qin Dynasty, served as a military defense line for China to defend against foreign invasions and that its role as a strategic landmark soon evolved to becoming China’s most important cultural heritage and a significant part of China’s historiography. Other historians, however,…
Read moreWordPress Theme
For my blog, I decided to look for a theme that I thought was both very easy to use but that also looked nice and professional. After a couple of minutes of searching, I had decided to choose the Fullscreenly theme for its smooth, modern look and its detailed customization options. I added numerous pictures…
Read moreFirst Post – Cat
The cat in the image below shares the same mindset as me. The reason why it resonates with me is because I, like many people, start off and continue to live as imperfect beings. We are born like this because we innately want to grow as a person. It is “through application and experience” that…
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