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Xing Wu@xingwu.bsky.social |
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@x1ngwu on X. I translate and write about the bizarre bits of Chinese folklore, mythology, and history. Mythology | Yaoguai(妖怪) | Ghost(鬼) | Art | Myth | Fantasy | History
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Xing Wu
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The emperor played polo, accompanied by music from the court musicians playing drums. Only after the emperor scored the first goal, would the princes and ministers start the competition. (《宋史·禮志》 ) In the Tang Dynasty, polo was particularly popular.
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Xing Wu
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Daqiu, known as 'jiju(擊鞠)' in ancient China, used to be a military etiquette.
Every March, a ball game ceremony was held in the imperial palace. The emperor rode to the polo field, where officials welcomed him, mounted their horses in order.
#ChineseFolklore
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Xing Wu
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In #ChineseMythology, the daughter of the Yellow Emperor, Nüwa/Jingwei, drowns in the East Sea.
Transformed into a bird, she tirelessly fills the sea with stones, forever yearning to reclaim her lost life.
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Xing Wu
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Yes, The ancients were incredibly resourceful!
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Xing Wu
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In #ChineseMythology, Hebo(河伯; The River Lord) is the water deity of the YellowRiver.
His attributes & different images mirror the river's nature—celebrated as a vital asset yet notorious for immense sorrow due to catastrophic floods.
Read More in ALT📜
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Xing Wu
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In the past, in order to have ice to enjoy in the summer, people would store large amounts of ice during the winter. Icehouses were built underground, and walls were covered with bricks, stones, or pottery shards to help keep the ice cold. Read More in ALT📜
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Xing Wu
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Han dynasty art depicts Fuxi & Nüwa serpent-bodied deities, intertwined. Fuxi holds a square, Nüwa a compass, symbolizing order & creation. In some scenes, they grasp sun & moon, celestial bodies symbolizing life. Winged serpents & a playful child add to the mythical tapestry.
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Xing Wu
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In #ChineseMythology, Fuxi and Nüwa are both creator gods. They are both human-headed serpents, and are credited with creating humanity and bringing civilization through inventions like music, hunting, and writing.
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Xing Wu
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If you want to harvest ginseng fruit, you must tie a boundary with red silk thread, yellow hemp thread, and blue agate bead string at the edge of the ginseng fruit field. This will prevent the awakened ginseng fruit from escaping
#ChineseMythology
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Xing Wu
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Ginseng Fruit is a legendary fairy fruit in Journey to the West. Sculpted like a baby, it matures in 10,000 years, then sprouts limbs and walks free.
This elusive elixir grants 47,000 years of life, but bind it with magic threads, lest it flee!
#ChineseMythology
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Xing Wu
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In #ChineseMythology, Lady Fu(宓妃) is the daughter of FuXi. She drowned in the Luo River, becoming its deity.
Cao Zhi's masterpiece 'Ode to the River Goddess of Luo' solidified her as a literary reference for the #goddess of beauty & love in China.
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Xing Wu
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"梅妻鶴子" is an idiom used to describe someone who lives a life of seclusion & solitude.
Lin Bu, a poet in Northern Song Dynasty, found companionship in plum blossoms and cranes, inspiring generations with his verses.
Read More in ALT📜
#ChineseMythology
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Xing Wu
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“How great is your magical power, silly gods,” retorted the Great Sage angrily, “that you dare to mouth such foolhardy words? Don’t go away! Have a taste of old Monkey’s rod!”
#ChineseMythology #MonkeyKing
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Xing Wu
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According to folkBeliefs, 12 different flowerGods corresponding to 12 months of the year, each of whom was a real person.
There are both female & male versions. e.g., the Goddess of apricot flowers in February is YangGuifei.
Read More in ALT📜
#ChineseFolklore
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Xing Wu
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In #ChineseMythology, Magu brewed wine with mushrooms by the side of the Crimson Pearl River to celebrate the birthday of the Queen Mother of the West on 3rd Mar.
It's common for people to give a statue of her to women as a birthday gift.
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Xing Wu
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Xing Wu
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Magu(麻姑), a #Taoist immortal in Chinese lore, symbolizes immortality and protects women.
Depicted as a stunning figure with birdlike nails, stories from the Eastern Jin dynasty highlight her insights on the ever-changing East Sea.
Read More In ALT📜
#ChineseMythology
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Xing Wu
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Originating from the Zhou Dynasty in China, the craft of mother-of-pearl is widespread throughout East Asia. It is a decorative craft that embeds shells or conches onto the surface of vessels.
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Xing Wu
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In #ChineseMythology, HuangZu(黃祖) is a female tree spirit.
This guardian goddess lives tall, houses thousands of feathered friends, and summons rain with a flick of her wrist.
She keeps tabs on pure hearts & rewards 'em with good fortune.
Read More in ALT📜
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Xing Wu
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In #ChineseMythology, the Dragon's daughter was unjustly exiled to herd magical rain sheep.
Her electrifying quest for justice involves a brave scholar & lots of thunder.
Read More in ALTs📜
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Xing Wu
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🏺芙蓉石蟠螭耳蓋爐(Lotus Stone Coiled Panchi Ear Cover Stove), in the Qing Dynasty
The Panchi(蟠螭) is a legendary early dragon without horns, believed to be the offspring of a dragon and a tiger.
📷 動脈影
#ChineseMythology
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Xing Wu
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🎨 《西湖十景圖》 , in the Qing Dynasty This painting depicts the ten scenic spots of West Lake, a famous tourist destination in Hangzhou, China. It is in two parts that can be separated into two independent paintings.
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Xing Wu
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Peng Zu, a longevity mythology figure in the Yin-Shang era. He lived over 700 years and was associated with the 'Guizhi' mushroom.
Legends tell of his revered temple where prayers for favorable weather were said to be swiftly answered.
Read More in ALT📜
#ChineseMythology
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Xing Wu
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天馬(Tianma/Sky Horse) is a beast in there whose shape is like a white dog with a black head. When it sees a person, it flies away.
#ChineseMythology #ClassicOfMountainsAndSeas
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Xing Wu
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Gold Filigree Mythical Animal Bi Xie(辟邪), in the Han Dynasty
BiXie is a mythical creature that is often depicted as a combination of a tiger, a lion, and a dragon. It is a symbol of good luck and protection.
Read More In ALT📜
#ChineseMythology
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Xing Wu
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With just a fixed stare, he could see through the disguises of demons and discern their true forms. This ability played a crucial role in his journey to the West
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Xing Wu
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In Chinese novel "Journey to the West," the Monkey King, SunWukong, was imprisoned by the Taishang Laojun in the Eight-Trigram Furnace and forged with fire for forty-nine days.
Instead of being harmed, he gained the ability of "Fire-Eyes and Gold-Vision".
#ChineseMythology
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Xing Wu
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In the mythological text Classic of Mountains and Seas《山海经》, a creature called "FeiFei(朏朏)" is described as a forgetfulness beast.
It lives in the Huo Mountain and looks like a mountain cat. It has a white tail and has long hair on its neck. Raising it can cure worry.
#ChineseMythology
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Xing Wu
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People traditionally wear Pixiu jade carvings, believing they bring good fortune and ward off evil spirits. Pixiu is also associated with home protection, neutralizing misfortune, and promoting harmonious relationships.
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Xing Wu
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Pixiu(貔貅), a revered mythical creature in Chinese culture, is often depicted as a powerful and auspicious beast with a single horn, a left-facing head, a forward left foot, wings, and a mane.
#ChineseMythology
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Xing Wu
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He told his disciples to set up a shrine by the river and wait for his return. On the agreed date, Qin Gao emerged from the water riding a carp. He stayed in the shrine for over a month, and then rode the carp back into the water and became an immortal.
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Xing Wu
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Qin Gao Riding on a Carp(琴高乘鯉), as in《列仙傳》
This happy man, QinGao, was skilled at playing the Chinese Zither and had the art of longevity. He once entered the River Zhuo to take a dragon child.
#ChineseMythology
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Xing Wu
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He was wearing a straw hat and laughing as he climbed over the railing,but he fell into the well again. The person who drew the water stirred up the straw hat and hung it on the tree in the courtyard. Whenever it rained,the place where the water dripped from the straw hat would grow yellow mushrooms
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Xing Wu
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Dugu Shuya, who often ordered his family to draw water from the well, felt that it was very heavy and could not turn the rope. Several people helped to pull it up, but it turned out to be a person.
#ChineseMythology
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Xing Wu
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The person who drew the water stirred up the straw hat and hung it on the tree in the courtyard. Whenever it rained, the place where the water dripped from the straw hat would grow yellow mushrooms.
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Xing Wu
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In ancient Xianbei language, "Bùyáo" is pronounced similar to the two characters "Mùróng(慕容)". Later, Mohubei's descendants simply called him "Mùróng", and thus Mùróng became the name of the tribe.
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Xing Wu
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Mohubei saw that Han people were popular with the Bùyáo guān, and he was very envious in his heart, and also asked someone to make one to wear. After a long time, people no longer called him by his original name, but only called him "Bùyáo".
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Xing Wu
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When buyao is attached to a crown, it is called a "bùyáo guān" (步摇冠). During the Three Kingdoms period(三国), a chieftain of the Xianbei tribe named Mohubei(莫护跋) led his people to follow Sima Yi(司马懿) on a campaign. Mohubei made military merits and was named the King of Yizhi, and established a state.
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Xing Wu
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Historically, the famous surname Murong(慕容) in Jin Yong(金庸)'s martial arts novels originated from a headdress "Bùyáo guān"(步摇冠). It is usually fixed to the hairline. When the wearer walks, the hanging ornaments sway or collide with each other. creating a visual and auditory aesthetic
#ChineseHistory
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Xing Wu
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Wang Jian asked, "What about you?" The servant replied, "I'm dead too. I heard you calling, so I got up." As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly fell to the ground and died. Wang Jian was terrified and ran to stay in another village. A year later, he fell ill and died.
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Xing Wu
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He asked the servant to bring out a lamp, but the flame was dim and blue. Wang Jian was angry and wanted to beat the servant. The servant said, "In the past ten days, seven people on the estate have fallen ill and died one after the other."
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Xing Wu
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He arrived at his estate late at night. The gate was closed, and no one came out when he knocked. He started to curse and shout. After a while, a servant opened the gate. Wang Jian asked, "Where are the servants?"
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Xing Wu
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He told them about what he had just seen, but no one paid any attention to him. Wang Jian looked closely and saw that half of the people around the fire had no heads, and those who did had their faces covered. Wang Jian was terrified and fled on horseback.
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Xing Wu
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"Foolish ghost, you are trying to trick your master." He got back on his horse and continued on his way. Suddenly, he met a group of ten or so people gathered around a fire. It was cold, and the sky was dark. Wang Jian dismounted and joined them.
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Xing Wu
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A woman appeared under a tree and asked Wang Jian where he was going. She asked him to deliver a package, and then she suddenly disappeared. Wang Jian opened the package and found it was full of paper money and bones. He laughed and said,
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Xing Wu
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Wang Jian of Yanzhou was a man who was afraid of nothing. He often insulted ghosts and spirits. He was riding a horse to his estate, which was thirty miles from the city. He had not taken this road in five or six years. After walking about ten miles, it was dusk.
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Xing Wu
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"Foolish ghost, you are trying to trick your master! "
Wang Jian, man who is afraid of nothing, ends up being tricked by ghosts and frightened to death in a darkly humorous way.
#ChineseFolklore
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Xing Wu
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alt is not entire😓
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Xing Wu
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its infamy during the Jin Dynasty, rooted in the tale of Liu Boyu and his jealous wife, Duan. Duan's rage over her husband's admiration for the 'Rhapsody on the Goddess of the Luo River' drove her to a watery grave, vowing to become a vengeful spirit and haunt the ferry. 2/2
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Xing Wu
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In ancient China, there was a famous crossing called 'Jealous Woman's Ferry.' Beautiful women had to dishevel their appearance before crossing to avoid turbulent waters, while unattractive women dressed neatly could pass unharmed. This notorious crossing gained 1/2
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