EP 54: Dunhuang is where my heart belong...

Among all the mythical beasts in Dunhuang, the Chinese dragon, or loong, undoubtedly holds the top stop. Dunhuang not only has a diverse collection of different loong patterns, it's also the home to a very unique one that can hardly be found anywhere else. 

The Dunhuang Night Market shines like a hidden gem amidst the dazzling culture and historical heritage of Dunhuang. What do locals in Dunhuang love to eat? Where can we find these special delicacies? What other interesting and enjoyable things are there to do and see? 

How did people make wine over 1000 years ago? How did the ancient blacksmiths do their work? Yulin Cave 3 is an encyclopedia where you can find all the answers. 

If you have the opportunity to travel around the countryside in China, you might notice these fierce looking gods painted on red paper pasted onto the family gates. Who are these and what are they for? 

The legend of the White Snake is one of the four great folktales of China. Today, we start that with an act of kindness, demons lurking in the places we can’t look, and a (misguided?) monk hoping to bring justice. When the creature this week has time off, it prefers crashing fune ... Show More

<p>Ellen Wong (Beacon 23, GLOW) headlines a Chinese legend about how the dragon came to be a powerful symbol of prosperity and luck.</p> <p>Sign up for our monthly newsletter, "The Lion's Roar", <a href="https://wbur.fm/42KQfw3">here</a>.</p> 

<p>A dragon is rising in the East. All around, curious faces wait to see whether it will roar or sing. In today&#39;s Chinese lesson, we&#39;ll look at some different perspectives on the rise of modern China. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1220</p> 

Sun Wukong, the (Handsome) Monkey King, is both an actual monkey and an actual king…and presumably handsome according to whatever standard that is judged. One of the most famous anti-heroes of Chinese literature, we start his story, and the story of the extremely famous “Journey ... Show More

A powerful and mischievous shape-shifter from Japanese mythology, Tengu was known as a mythological trickster. Its depiction ranges from a fierce demonic dog in Chinese folklore to a modern half-man-half-bird creature that permeates Japanese art and ceremony. Learn more about you ... Show More

A Taoist story.  

<p>For Americans, the sight of pagoda roofs and dragon gates means that you are in Chinatown. Whether in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, or Las Vegas, the chinoiserie look is distinctive. But for those just arriving from China, the … <a href="http://99percentinvisible.prx.o ... Show More

2024 marks the Year of the Loong, or the Chinese dragon. In today's episode, we cover the powerful symbolism of loong in Chinese culture.