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Wei Hu is a character from the classic Ming Dynasty novel 'Fengshen Yanyi', and was an analogue of Skanda (Kartikeya), the Hindu god of war. He was a disciple of the Heavenly Master of Divine Virtue, and wielded a demon suppression club. Possessed of monstrous strength, Wei Hu was bloodthirsty and loved fighting.<br/><br/> He was sent to assist Jiang Ziya in the sage's fight against the Shang Dynasty by his master, and often fought alongside Nezha and other heroes opposed to the cruel King Zhou of Shang. He developed a close comradeship with Yang Ren, and was appointed as executioner of the vixen spirit Pipa Jing.
Cao Cao (155-15 March 220 CE), courtesy name Mengde, was one of the mosty important warlords during the Tree Kingdoms period. The penultimate Chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, Cao rose to great power in the last years of the dynasty. When the Eastern Han dynasty fell, Cao Cao was able to secure the largest and most prosperous cities of the central plains of northern China, uniting them under his rule.<br/><br/> During the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what would become the state of Cao Wei, posthumously honoured with the title of 'Emperor Wu of Wei'. Though he had been very successful as the Han chancellor, his handling of the Han emperor Liu Xie was harshly criticised by many, and led to a long-running civil war, with opposition flocking to the banners of rival warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan. Cao was unable to quell the civil war, and he died in 220 CE before he could unite China under his rule.<br/><br/> While Cao Cao was praised as a brilliant ruler and tactical genius who respectfully treated those beneath him like they were family, later historical accounts and fictional literature such as 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' portray him as a cruel and merciless tyrant.
Cao Cao (155-15 March 220 CE), courtesy name Mengde, was one of the most important warlords during the Tree Kingdoms period. The penultimate Chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, Cao rose to great power in the last years of the dynasty. When the Eastern Han dynasty fell, Cao Cao was able to secure the largest and most prosperous cities of the central plains of northern China, uniting under his rule.<br/><br/> During the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what would become the state of Cao Wei, posthumously honoured with the title of 'Emperor Wu of Wei'. Though he had been very successful as the Han chancellor, his handling of the Han emperor Liu Xie was harshly criticised by many, and led to a long-running civil war, with opposition flocking to the banners of rival warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan. Cao was unable to quell the civil war, and he died in 220 CE before he could unite China under his rule.<br/><br/> While Cao Cao was praised as a brilliant ruler and tactical genius who respectfully treated those beneath him like they were family, later historical accounts and fictional literature such as 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' portray him as a cruel and merciless tyrant.
Cao Cao (155-15 March 220 CE), courtesy name Mengde, was one of the most important warlords during the Tree Kingdoms period. The penultimate Chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, Cao rose to great power in the last years of the dynasty. When the Eastern Han dynasty fell, Cao Cao was able to secure the largest and most prosperous cities of the central plains of northern China, uniting under his rule.<br/><br/> During the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what would become the state of Cao Wei, posthumously honoured with the title of 'Emperor Wu of Wei'. Though he had been very successful as the Han chancellor, his handling of the Han emperor Liu Xie was harshly criticised by many, and led to a long-running civil war, with opposition flocking to the banners of rival warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan. Cao was unable to quell the civil war, and he died in 220 CE before he could unite China under his rule.<br/><br/> While Cao Cao was praised as a brilliant ruler and tactical genius who respectfully treated those beneath him like they were family, later historical accounts and fictional literature such as 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' portray him as a cruel and merciless tyrant.
Cao Cao (155-15 March 220 CE), courtesy name Mengde, was one of the most important warlords during the Tree Kingdoms period. The penultimate Chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, Cao rose to great power in the last years of the dynasty. When the Eastern Han dynasty fell, Cao Cao was able to secure the largest and most prosperous cities of the central plains of northern China, uniting under his rule.<br/><br/> During the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what would become the state of Cao Wei, posthumously honoured with the title of 'Emperor Wu of Wei'. Though he had been very successful as the Han chancellor, his handling of the Han emperor Liu Xie was harshly criticised by many, and led to a long-running civil war, with opposition flocking to the banners of rival warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan. Cao was unable to quell the civil war, and he died in 220 CE before he could unite China under his rule.<br/><br/> While Cao Cao was praised as a brilliant ruler and tactical genius who respectfully treated those beneath him like they were family, later historical accounts and fictional literature such as 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' portray him as a cruel and merciless tyrant.
Cao Cao (155-15 March 220 CE), courtesy name Mengde, was one of the most important warlords during the Tree Kingdoms period. The penultimate Chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, Cao rose to great power in the last years of the dynasty. When the Eastern Han dynasty fell, Cao Cao was able to secure the largest and most prosperous cities of the central plains of northern China, uniting under his rule.<br/><br/> During the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what would become the state of Cao Wei, posthumously honoured with the title of 'Emperor Wu of Wei'. Though he had been very successful as the Han chancellor, his handling of the Han emperor Liu Xie was harshly criticised by many, and led to a long-running civil war, with opposition flocking to the banners of rival warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan. Cao was unable to quell the civil war, and he died in 220 CE before he could unite China under his rule.<br/><br/> While Cao Cao was praised as a brilliant ruler and tactical genius who respectfully treated those beneath him like they were family, later historical accounts and fictional literature such as 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' portray him as a cruel and merciless tyrant.
The Jin dynasty, distinguished as the Sima Jin and Liang Jin, was a Chinese dynasty, empire, and era traditionally dated from 265 to 420 CE. It was founded by Sima Yan, son of Sima Zhao who was made Prince of Jin and posthumously declared the founder of the dynasty.<br/><br/> The Western Wei followed the disintegration of the Northern Wei, and ruled northern China from 535 to 557 CE. As with the Northern Wei state that preceded it, the ruling family of Western Wei were members of the Tuoba clan of the Xianbei.
The Northern Wei was a dynasty founded by the Tuoba clan of the Xianbei, who ruled northern China from 386 to 534 CE, during the period of the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Described as 'part of an era of political turbulence and intense social and cultural change', the Northern Wei Dynasty is particularly noted for unifying northern China in 439.<br/><br/> This was also a period of introduced foreign ideas such as Buddhism, which became firmly established. Many antiques and art works, both Daoist and Buddhist, have survived from this period.
Yashima Gakutei was a Japanese artist and poet who was a pupil of both Totoya Hokkei and Hokusai. Gakutei is best known for his kyoka poetry and surimono woodblock works.
The Jin dynasty, distinguished as the Sima Jin and Liang Jin, was a Chinese dynasty, empire, and era traditionally dated from 265 to 420 CE. It was founded by Sima Yan, son of Sima Zhao who was made Prince of Jin and posthumously declared the founder of the dynasty.<br/><br/> The Western Wei followed the disintegration of the Northern Wei, and ruled northern China from 535 to 557 CE. As with the Northern Wei state that preceded it, the ruling family of Western Wei were members of the Tuoba clan of the Xianbei.
Wang Wei was one of the most famous men of arts and letters of his time. Many of his poems are preserved, and twenty-nine were included in the highly influential 18th century anthology 'Three Hundred Tang Poems'.<br/><br/> Wang Shimin was a Chinese landscape painter during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911).
The Jin dynasty, distinguished as the Sima Jin and Liang Jin, was a Chinese dynasty, empire, and era traditionally dated from 265 to 420 CE. It was founded by Sima Yan, son of Sima Zhao who was made Prince of Jin and posthumously declared the founder of the dynasty.<br/><br/> The Western Wei followed the disintegration of the Northern Wei, and ruled northern China from 535 to 557 CE. As with the Northern Wei state that preceded it, the ruling family of Western Wei were members of the Tuoba clan of the Xianbei.
The Jin dynasty, distinguished as the Sima Jin and Liang Jin, was a Chinese dynasty, empire, and era traditionally dated from 265 to 420 CE. It was founded by Sima Yan, son of Sima Zhao who was made Prince of Jin and posthumously declared the founder of the dynasty.<br/><br/> The Western Wei followed the disintegration of the Northern Wei, and ruled northern China from 535 to 557 CE. As with the Northern Wei state that preceded it, the ruling family of Western Wei were members of the Tuoba clan of the Xianbei.
Cao Cao (155-15 March 220 CE), courtesy name Mengde, was one of the mosty important warlords during the Tree Kingdoms period. The penultimate Chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, Cao rose to great power in the last years of the dynasty. When the Eastern Han dynasty fell, Cao Cao was able to secure the largest and most prosperous cities of the central plains of northern China, uniting under his rule.<br/><br/> During the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what would become the state of Cao Wei, posthumously honoured with the title of 'Emperor Wu of Wei'. Though he had been very successful as the Han chancellor, his handling of the Han emperor Liu Xie was harshly criticised by many, and led to a long-running civil war, with opposition flocking to the banners of rival warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan. Cao was unable to quell the civil war, and he died in 220 CE before he could unite China under his rule.<br/><br/> While Cao Cao was praised as a brilliant ruler and tactical genius who respectfulyl treated those beneath him like they were family, later historical accounts and fictional literature such as 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' portray him as a cruel and merciless tyrant.
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is either an enlightened (bodhi) existence (sattva) or an enlightenment-being or, given the variant Sanskrit spelling satva rather than sattva, 'heroic-minded one (satva) for enlightenment (bodhi).' Another term is 'wisdom-being.' It is anyone who, motivated by great compassion, has generated bodhicitta, which is a spontaneous wish to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings.
The Eastern Wei Dynasty (simplified Chinese: 东魏朝; traditional Chinese: 東魏朝; pinyin: Dōng Wèi Cháo) followed the disintegration of the Northern Wei, and ruled northern China from 534 to 550.<br/><br/> In 534 Gao Huan, the potentate of the eastern half of what was Northern Wei territory following the disintegration of the Northern Wei dynasty installed Yuan Shanjian a descendant of the Northern Wei as ruler of Eastern Wei. Yuan Shanjian was a puppet ruler as the real power lay in the hands of Gao Huan. Several military campaigns were launched against the neighboring Western Wei in an attempt to reunify the territory once held by the Northern Wei, however these campaigns were not successful, and in 547 Gao Huan died. His sons Gao Cheng and Gao Yang were able to pursue his policy of controlling the emperor, but in 550 Gao Yang deposed Yuan Shanjian and founded his own dynasty, the Northern Qi.<br/><br/> The Buddhist art of the Eastern Wei displays a combination of Greco-Buddhist influences from Gandhara and Central Asia (representations of flying figures holding wreaths, Greek-style folds of the drapery), together with Chinese artistic influences.
Wang Wei (also known as Wang Youcheng, 699-759), was a Tang Dynasty Chinese poet, musician, painter, and statesman. He was one of the most famous men of arts and letters of his time. His paintings survive only in later copies by other artists, although nevertheless very influential in terms of Tang Dynasty painting and subsequent Chinese painting. Many of his poems are preserved, and twenty-nine were included in the highly influential 18th century anthology 'Three Hundred Tang Poems'.
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled Emperor Wu of Wei. Although often portrayed as a cruel and merciless tyrant, Cao has also been praised as a brilliant ruler and military genius who treated his subordinates like his family. He was also skilled in poetry and martial arts and authored many war journals.
Lacquer painting on wood from Datong dated to the Northern Wei dynasty (386-534). The bottom panel illustrates the story of Lady Ban from the ‘Admonitions of the Court Instructress’ to palace women.
The Admonitions Scroll is a Chinese narrative painting on silk that is traditionally ascribed to Gu Kaizhi (c.345-c.406 CE), but which modern scholarship regards as a 5th to 8th century work that may be a copy of an original Jin Dynasty (265–420 CE) court painting by Gu Kaizhi. The full title of the painting is Admonitions of the Court Instructress (Chinese: Nushi Zhentu). It was painted to illustrate a poetic text written in 292 by the poet-official Zhang Hua (232–300). The text itself was composed to reprimand Empress Jia (257–300) and to provide advice to imperial wives and concubines on how to behave. The painting illustrates this text with scenes depicting anecdotes about exemplary behaviour of historical palace ladies, as well as with more general scenes showing aspects of life as a palace lady. The painting is reputed to be the earliest extant example of a Chinese handscroll painting.
The Eastern Wei Dynasty (simplified Chinese: 东魏朝; traditional Chinese: 東魏朝; pinyin: Dōng Wèi Cháo) followed the disintegration of the Northern Wei, and ruled northern China from 534 to 550.<br/><br/> In 534 Gao Huan, the potentate of the eastern half of what was Northern Wei territory following the disintegration of the Northern Wei dynasty installed Yuan Shanjian a descendant of the Northern Wei as ruler of Eastern Wei. Yuan Shanjian was a puppet ruler as the real power lay in the hands of Gao Huan. Several military campaigns were launched against the neighboring Western Wei in an attempt to reunify the territory once held by the Northern Wei, however these campaigns were not successful, and in 547 Gao Huan died. His sons Gao Cheng and Gao Yang were able to pursue his policy of controlling the emperor, but in 550 Gao Yang deposed Yuan Shanjian and founded his own dynasty, the Northern Qi.<br/><br/> The Buddhist art of the Eastern Wei displays a combination of Greco-Buddhist influences from Gandhara and Central Asia (representations of flying figures holding wreaths, Greek-style folds of the drapery), together with Chinese artistic influences.
Cao Pi (187 – 29 June 226), formally known as Emperor Wen of Wei, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in Qiao County, Pei Commandery (present-day Bozhou, Anhui), he was the second son of the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao. In 220, Cao Pi forced Emperor Xian, last ruler of the Han Dynasty, to abdicate and proclaimed himself Emperor of Wei. Cao Pi continued his father's war against the rival states of Shu Han and Eastern Wu but was unsuccessful. Unlike his father, he concentrated most of his efforts on his home country, which prospered under his rule.<br/><br/> Yan Liben (Wade–Giles: Yen Li-pen, c. 600-673), formally Baron Wenzhen of Boling, was a Chinese painter and government official of the early Tang Dynasty. His notable works include the Thirteen Emperors Scroll and Northern Qi Scholars Collating Classic Texts. He also painted the Portraits at Lingyan Pavilion, under Emperor Taizong of Tang, commissioned in 643 to commemorate 24 of the greatest contributors to Emperor Taizong's reign, as well as 18 portraits commemorating the 18 great scholars who served Emperor Taizong when he was the Prince of Qin. Yan's paintings included painted portraits of various Chinese emperors from the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD) up until the Sui Dynasty (581-618) period
The Mogao Caves, or Mogao Grottoes (Chinese: Mògāo kū) (also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas and Dunhuang Caves) form a system of 492 temples 25 km (15.5 miles) southeast of the center of Dunhuang, an oasis strategically located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road, in Gansu province, China.<br/><br/> The caves contain some of the finest examples of Buddhist art spanning a period of 1,000 years. The first caves were dug out 366 CE as places of Buddhist meditation and worship. The Mogao Caves are the best known of the Chinese Buddhist grottoes and, along with Longmen Grottoes and Yungang Grottoes, are one of the three famous ancient sculptural sites of China. The caves also have famous wall paintings.
The Mahasattva jataka fresco illustrates Prince Sattva offering himself to a starving tigress and her cubs.<br/><br/> The jataka starts from the top centre with Prince Sattva and his two brothers looking down at the tigress and her seven cubs. The story continues on the right. The prince kneels and pierces his neck with a bamboo stick, and then dives with an outstretched left arm from the cliff to feed the tigress. Then his remains are found by his saddened family.<br/><br/> The Mogao Caves, or Mogao Grottoes (Chinese: mògāo kū, also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas and Dunhuang Caves) form a system of 492 temples 25 km (15.5 miles) southeast of the center of Dunhuang, an oasis strategically located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road, in Gansu province, China.<br/><br/> The caves contain some of the finest examples of Buddhist art spanning a period of 1,000 years. The first caves were dug out in 366 AD as places of Buddhist meditation and worship. The Mogao Caves are the best known of the Chinese Buddhist grottoes and, along with Longmen Grottoes and Yungang Grottoes, are one of the three famous ancient sculptural sites of China. The caves also have celebrated wall paintings
Chinese erotic art was a tradition that spanned from antiquity until its apex in the late Ming Dynasty (early 17th century). This art was not just produced for stimulation. Chinese erotica portrays ideals of feminine beauty, narratives on imperial and vernacular life, humour, tenderness and love. However, traditional Chinese erotic art remains a little known tradition because so much of it was destroyed during the Maoist era.
Kang Youwei (simplified Chinese: 康有为; traditional Chinese: 康有為; pinyin: Kāng Yǒuwéi; Wade-Giles: K'ang Yu-wei; March 19, 1858–March 31, 1927), was a Chinese scholar, noted calligrapher and prominent political thinker and reformer of the late Qing Dynasty.<br/><br/> He led movements to establish a constitutional monarchy and was an ardent Chinese nationalist. His ideas inspired a reformation movement that was supported by the Guangxu Emperor but loathed by Empress Dowager Cixi. Although he continued to advocate for constitutional monarchy after the foundation of the Republic of China, Kang's political ideology was never put into practical application.
Cao Cao (155-15 March 220 CE), courtesy name Mengde, was one of the most important warlords during the Tree Kingdoms period. The penultimate Chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, Cao rose to great power in the last years of the dynasty. When the Eastern Han dynasty fell, Cao Cao was able to secure the largest and most prosperous cities of the central plains of northern China, uniting under his rule.<br/><br/> During the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what would become the state of Cao Wei, posthumously honoured with the title of 'Emperor Wu of Wei'. Though he had been very successful as the Han chancellor, his handling of the Han emperor Liu Xie was harshly criticised by many, and led to a long-running civil war, with opposition flocking to the banners of rival warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan. Cao was unable to quell the civil war, and he died in 220 CE before he could unite China under his rule.<br/><br/> While Cao Cao was praised as a brilliant ruler and tactical genius who respectfully treated those beneath him like they were family, later historical accounts and fictional literature such as 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' portray him as a cruel and merciless tyrant.
Known by many names, Jiang Ziya was a Chinese noble and sage who played a criitical role in the overthrow of the Shang Dynasty and the establishment of the Zhou Dynasty afterwards. The last ruler of the Shang Dynasty, King Zhou of Shang, was a tyrannical and depraved man corrupted by his possessed concubine Su Daji. After having dutifully served in the Shang court for twenty years, he found King Zhou's reign insufferable, and feigned madness to be excused from court life.<br/><br/> He was eventually found and recruited by King Wen of Zhou, reportedly at the age of seventy-two, after Jiang Ziya agreed to serve him. Given the title of Jiang Taigong Wang ('The Great Duke's Hope') and appointed as prime minister, he served King Wen's son, King Wu, after the former died. Once the people of Shang Dynasty had had enough of King Zhou's tyrannical rule and rose up against him, Jiang Ziya led an army to overthrow him, defeating the Shang army at the Battle of Muye in 1043 BCE. The Shang Dynasty fell, and the Zhou Dynasty rose in its place to rule over all of China.<br/><br/> He is also a prominent character in the Ming Dynasty classic novel 'Fengshen Yanyi', where he has mystical powers and is considered the archrival of Su Daji. After King Zhou's death, Su Daji was captured as she attempted to flee and executed on the order of Jiang Ziya himself. He is considered by some as the most famous Prime Minister in Chinese history, and one of the world's greatest strategists.
Kang Youwei (simplified Chinese: 康有为; traditional Chinese: 康有為; pinyin: Kāng Yǒuwéi; Wade-Giles: K'ang Yu-wei; March 19, 1858–March 31, 1927), was a Chinese scholar, noted calligrapher and prominent political thinker and reformer of the late Qing Dynasty.<br/><br/> He led movements to establish a constitutional monarchy and was an ardent Chinese nationalist. His ideas inspired a reformation movement that was supported by the Guangxu Emperor but loathed by Empress Dowager Cixi. Although he continued to advocate for constitutional monarchy after the foundation of the Republic of China, Kang's political ideology was never put into practical application.
The Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) is a large even-toed ungulate native to the steppes of central Asia. It is presently restricted in the wild to remote regions of the Gobi and Taklimakan Deserts of Mongolia and Xinjiang.<br/><br/> There are a small number of wild Bactrian camels still roaming the Mangystau Province of South West Kazakhstan. It is one of the two surviving species of camel. The Bactrian camel has two humps on its back, in contrast to the single-humped Dromedary camel.<br/><br/> Camels were widely used in the Silk Road trade across the deserts of Central Asia.