Category Archives: News

Mongolian Calligraphy

Erdenesiin Khuree is a non-governmental organization dedicated to preserving, promoting, and developing Mongolian calligraphy art and nurturing future generations of calligraphers.
Founder Tamir Samandbadraa Purev is keen to share this art form and spiritual practice.
Mongolia is a large country with a long history.  Here’s a video about its geography, including bits on horses and language.
Erdenesiin Khuree is in Kharkhorin, about 6 hours drive west of the capital Ulaanbaatar.
Video about the Mongolian language.
Traditional Mongolian script, Hudum Mongol bichig, is an alphabet,  derived from the old Uyghur alphabet.  It is traditionally written in vertical lines from top to bottom, with columns reading  from left to right.
Mongolian alphabet letters.  Apparently they may change form depending on their position in the word.
Mongolian language tools
The Diamond Sutra is an important Buddhist text.  English translation.
Ger or Yurt?

Looking and Learning 2026

CBP Learning:

CBP Looking:

 

CBPS AGM 2025

Three Friends of Winter with Squirrels by Xugu, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The CBPS AGM and demonstrations will be held by Zoom.  All events are free to CBPS members.

Saturday 1 November 11am – 12.30pm UK time: AGM

Saturday 1 November 2pm – 3.30pm UK time: painting demonstration by Shuhua Jin
Watch or paint along as Shuhua paints Xugu’s Three Friends of Winter with Squirrels.
He will paint the central section only (image below): paper 35cm x 70-80cm, single unsized Xuan.  If you want to do the whole painting you will need longer paper (at least 210 cm long, 35cm wide).
You will need ink and these colours: indigo, yellow ochre and cinnabar.
Brushes: a small fine tip brush, a medium size goat hair brush and a harder hair, eg wolf or mixed hair (goat with rabbit or horse hair).
This is Xugu’s work, featuring the classic traditional scholar theme called Three Gentlemen of The Winter (soul friendship) – Plum blossom, Pine tree and Bamboo.  Obviously it is dominant by the three squirrels which is always the favourite subject for the artist.
This image shows the centre part of the hand scroll painting.  Painter used free view of the perspective, allowing the objects scattered around, the central point is emphasised by the three squirrels facing to the direction. In terms of composition, amazingly using the branches of the plum blossom tree to bridge all in the manner of classic diagonal composition.
Essentially, the dry and wet brush strokes apply to many areas in the painting.  The fine brush lines and side point brush strokes which  reflected of Xugu’s unique style.  The combination of the dry brush strokes and gentle wet washes gives the phenomenon atmosphere.

Sunday 2 November 10 am UK time: painting demonstration LIVE FROM CHINA
Watch or paint along as Mr Lv Xiaoshu of the Chinese Association of Artists demonstrates his individual style of landscape painting

Landscape by Lv Xiaoshu

Treasures and Curiosities

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An ancient colour recreated  (zoom/scroll in to get to the text).  In the video I love the combination of the modern lab with the mortar and pestle.

We should have respect for our xuan paper!

Love these small books

An English Poem !  Is it really about Chinese art?  Commentary.  Another poem by Elizabeth Jennings.

Recreations of traditional works in nails.  Why not?

Painting on toilet paper !  Probably more absorbent than xuan. Apparently these are characters from a video game.

Daoist whistling is a thing.  A learned paper on the subject.  And another.  Pottery whistles.

 

 

Mystery Objects

Our recent Newsletters have featured mystery objects associated with Chinese art and culture.  Check out the CBPS Newsletters for the secrets!

Mystery Object 8, October 2025

Bought at an online auction. It is 5.5” (14 cm) tall, 4” (10 cm) in diameter and made of bone, beautifully inscribed with the 8 Immortals and elaborate brass fittings. It has 2 handles.  There is an inner container similarly made from bone and brass with 2 handles and this is 3.5” (9.5 cm) tall and 2” (5cm) in diameter again finely carved with dragons. There is also a separate piece that looks like a spout but doesn’t seem to fit. It appears that a lid is missing. There are inscribed characters on the base but they do not look Chinese so could it be Korean?  What is it? How does it function? Does anyone know anything about such an object?

Mystery Object 7, July 2025

Mystery Object 6, April 2025

Mystery Object 5, January 2025

Mystery Object 4, October 2024

Mystery Object 3, July 2024

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Mystery Object 2, April 2024

Mystery Object 1, January 2024

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