chinese history

A people and their stories

I'm on my second time through Boxers & Saints and still bowled over by how good it is.  A modified version of the tale of Princess Miaoshan, which existed most popularly in the form of a baojuan, interrupts the plot of Boxers with a moment of peace and hope before the final battle.  That enough…Read more A people and their stories

Out in China with Mrs. Archibald Little

Ever since I read Heathen Chinese's post about Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang, I've been waiting for our library to make them available. I loved his American Born Chinese and I anticipate loving these books even more. And now I have them! But I'm saving them as a reward for whenever it is…Read more Out in China with Mrs. Archibald Little

Ningbo, China: Tianyi ge

Tianyi Ge is the oldest extant library in China. It is also walking distance from Popo's house, which meant that one afternoon, we ventured there despite the chilly rain. The complex is beautiful. Originally built in the mid-16th century, the library then housed over 50,000 volumes. Over the centuries, the collection diminished. By the 20th…Read more Ningbo, China: Tianyi ge