China
Dossier
TRADITIONAL ARTS
The Millennial Code of Chinese Traditional Culture
In the rapidly spinning wheel of modern civilisation, Chinese traditional culture are not just about preserving skills — they are keys to understanding the spiritual world of the Chinese people.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): A Philosophy of Harmony Between Humans and Nature
Rooted in ancient shamanistic healing practices, TCM developed a complete theoretical framework during the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BCE). Unlike modern medicine’s focus on localised treatment, TCM views the human body as a microcosm in harmony with nature. Its core principles — Yin-Yang balance and the interplay of the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) — create a holistic understanding of health.
Diagnostic methods like observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking decode signals of imbalance between the body and nature. Herbal formulas mimick nature’s symbiotic relationships. Acupuncture regulates vital energy by stimulating meridian points, while massage techniques imitate the flow of rivers. This medical wisdom, born from observing natural patterns, remains relevant today in chronic disease management and preventive care.
Calligraphy: Cosmic Philosophy in Ink and Brush
From oracle bone carvings to ink dances on rice paper, Chinese calligraphy evolved through five revolutionary scripts: Zhuan (seal), Li (clerical), Kai (regular), Xing (running), and Cao (cursive). Each style mirrors its historical era, for example Zhuan’s solemnity reflects Bronze Age rituals, while Cao’s wild strokes capture the free spirit of Wei-Jin dynasty scholars.
The “Four Treasures of the Study” (brush, ink, paper, inkstone) carry deep symbolism: the brush’s flexible tip embodies softness and strength, ink sticks condensed from pine soot hold the weight of time, and rice paper’s absorbent texture welcomes spontaneity. Even basic techniques, like holding the brush with “firm fingers and an empty palm,” echo the philosophy of the Yin-Yang balance.
Tea Culture: A Ritual of Reflection in Nature
Chinese tea culture began with the legend of Shennong (one of Chinese ancient tribal leaders whose name can be translated as “the Divine Farmer”) tasting herbs, and matured with Lu Yu’s famous book “Classic of Tea” in the Tang dynasty.
Unlike Japan’s formal tea ceremonies, Chinese tea art emphasises harmony between heaven, earth, and humanity. The six major tea types—green, black, white, yellow, oolong, and dark—represent adaptive responses to natural conditions.
A tea setup balances the Five Elements: ceramic (earth), iron kettles (metal), fresh tree leaves (wood), flowing water (water), and burning charcoal (fire). The ritual of sipping tea in slow breaths is both a sensory journey and a mental cleanse. Teahouses, unique social hubs in China, have fostered intellectual exchange for centuries.
Traditional Festivals
The lunar calendar’s 24 solar terms and festivals form a cultural timeline. Spring Festival fireworks, Qingming tomb-sweeping, Dragon Boat races, and Mid-Autumn family reunions preserve agricultural heritage while shaping modern emotional bonds.
Symbolic seasonal foods are used to celebrate each of these festivals : rice balls (yuanxiao) in spring nourish vitality, zongzi (sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves) in summer ward off pests, and winter dumplings protect against cold. Symbols like red lanterns, Chinese knots, and paper cuttings create a visual language of luck and harmony.
These intertwined traditions encode the logic of Eastern civilisation. In today’s globalized world, they retain their ancient soul while evolving through creative dialogue with modernity. To understand them is to unlock the wisdom of a civilization that has contemplated life, nature, and time for thousands of years.