Xiaohan (小寒 xiǎo hán), or Minor Cold, falls on January 6th this year. In this episode, we show you what ancient Chinese people used to buy when preparing for the New Year.
Jan 2025
China’s evolving serpent legacy: Ferocious treasures, from rituals to households
Why has the snake, often feared, been revered in Chinese culture and become one of the 12 zodiac animals? How is it portrayed in artifacts, and what does it symbolize in China compared to other cultures? In this episode, we explore the serpent's evolving meanings in Chinese civil ... Show More
16m 21s
Jan 2025
A ceramic vessel of culture, wine, and poetic spirit
Like the finest wines, the best inspiration for poetry is brewed and vivified, if served in the right vessel. In this episode, we present a phoenix-headed tricolor ceramic wine vessel from the Tang Dynasty, some 1200 years ago. In what ways did it influence the development of Chi ... Show More
13m 53s
Jan 2014
#11 - Special: Gong Xi Fa Cai!
This Episode, we take a time-out from the historical flow to take advantage of the upcoming Chinese New Year festivities. We explore the history, legends, customs, and meaning behind this ancient and storied period of celebration. Happy Year of the Yang Wood Horse!
Learn more abo ... Show More
36m 56s
Jan 2025
#195 Gift-Giving Taboos 送礼的禁忌
<p>Lunar New Year’s around the corner, so today we’re spilling the tea on gift-giving in China—what’s a hit, what’s a miss, and what’s downright taboo!<br/><br/><b>Membership preview:</b><br/>On Tuesday 28th January MaoMi Chinese+, we’re diving into a thought-provoking topic: why ... Show More
4m 50s
Dec 2024
Intermediate | Jewish Holiday
<p>Grab your apples and honey, because we've got a sweet Mandarin lesson lined up for you. In today's Chinese podcast, we're looking at Rosh Hashanah, often called the "Jewish New Year." Jews and Gentiles alike will find something useful and interesting in this Mandarin lesson. S ... Show More
15m 50s