Diaries provide a unique window into the minds and thoughts of their writers. Provided they are not written with a view to later publication. The…
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Month: August 2022
The Dream of the Red Chamber (Part 4)
Volume IV is translated by John Minford. Not David Hawkes who translated Volume I to III. This Volume clearly identified Gao E as the editor…
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None But the Bold
This first volume of the biography of Lim Kit Siang (2021 ed) sheds much light on a politician who devoted his life to the country.…
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The Dream of the Red Chamber (Part 3)
A title (out of five) that Cao Xueqin considered using for his magnum opus is The Twelve Beauties of Jinling. The 5-volume set by Penguin…
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The Dream of the Red Chamber (Part 2)
Another title (out of five) that Cao Xueqin considered using for his magnum opus is The Twelve Beauties of Jinling. This title is considered because…
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The Dream of the Red Chamber (Part 1)
It is now more or less settled that the author of chapters 1 to 80 of the Dream of the Red Chamber is Cao Xueqin,…
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Chinese art appreciation
To appreciate Chinese paintings, one needs to read widely. The genres are varied and wide. Ranging from landscapes to portraits. The styles also evolved from…
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The enigma of China’s economy
The 18th century was the most prosperous age in China’s history. Post 18th century China’s economy declined. (Chinese Society in the 18th century by Susan…
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