A Thousand Whys

Jan 23 2025 200 ep. 7 mins 1.4k
A Thousand Whys Podcast artwork

A Thousand Whys is tailor-made for curious minds about China and the Chinese culture.

This podcast offers fascinating facts about what this ancient civilization has to offer, covering a wide range of topics including history, philosophy, literature and arts, lifestyle, science, and the natural world.

Subscribe to learn "what are the Chinese ways and why", for free.

  Society & Culture
RSS feed Share
Copy RSS


Subscribe on Podcast Addict


China’s evolving serpent legacy: Ferocious treasures, from rituals to households

Jan 23 2025 16 mins  
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 civilization. Special Thanks: Liu Yanfeng

A ceramic vessel of culture, wine, and poetic spirit

Jan 20 2025 13 mins  
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 Chinese poetry at the height of its glory?

Greenware stationary: Creating the right ink for calligraphy and painting

Jan 16 2025 15 mins  
How did the water dropper help artists enter the right creative mindset for traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting using the color of black only? In this episode, we present the "Yandi" from the Yuan Dynasty about 900 years ago. How did Chinese green ware gain world recognition between the mid-10th and 17th centuries?

Cong: The jade vessel which assisted governance in ancient China

Jan 13 2025 13 mins  
What role did jade play in ancient Chinese rituals? In this episode, we delve into an artifact that embodied authority and order in the Yangtze River Delta 5000 years ago and explore its connection to urban planning and state governance in early Chinese society. Special Thanks: Zhejiang Provincial Museum Wu Sihe Liu Yanfeng

China’s goddess of war and her bronze owls

Jan 09 2025 11 mins  
What did owls symbolize 3,000 years ago in China? How were they linked to an ancient woman known as the goddess of war and a female politician of vision at that time? In this episode, we uncover the story of Queen Fu Hao, from the Shang Dynasty, through the bronze owl vessels found in her tomb. Special Thanks: Henan Museum Wang Zichen Liu Yanfeng

Tomb paintings decode ancient feasts

Jan 06 2025 12 mins  
Why did the upper-classes of the Hexi Corridor about 1800 years ago enjoy an affluent lifestyle while the rest of China suffered from political upheaval? In this episode, we present tomb paintings from this era to get a glimpse of their delicacies and entertainment at lavish banquets, and the way food and drink were prepared and served.

King of bridal sedan chair: Thirty years of craftsmanship

Jan 02 2025 12 mins  
Why did a team of master artisans take a decade to make a bridal sedan chair? In this episode, we'll delve into the story of the Wan Gong Sedan Chair from the Qing Dynasty about 200 years ago, a dazzling moving palace like the one for Britain's Princess of Wales and a remarkable example of craftsmanship and cultural tradition.

9,000 year old music: The Jiahu bone flute

Dec 30 2024 16 mins  
What did the earliest Chinese instruments look and sound like? In this episode, we travel back nearly 9,000 years to discover the Jiahu crane bone flute, to explore its role in material and spiritual life in primitive tribes, and hear the echoes of early Chinese civilization.

Welcome to "Ancient Relics and Their Stories"!

Dec 30 2024
Artifacts are bridges to the past, revealing how we ever lived, loved, and dreamed. Over the coming weeks, join us for "Ancient Relics and Their Stories". Together, we’ll uncover the objects that defined our history, shaped our present, and continue to inspire our future. Special Thanks: Liu Yanfeng

Why is the chrysanthemum special in Chinese culture?

Oct 10 2024 7 mins  
The chrysanthemum flower is one of China's top ten most popular flowers, boasting a cultivation history of over 3,000 years. These flowers not only add vibrant colors to the autumn season but are also deeply tied to the Double Ninth Festival. In this episode, we'll explore the connection between chrysanthemum and this festival, as well as its special significance in Chinese culture