Organisations
Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (SACU). Information about China, language and culture.
Modern Chinese Art – Red Mansion Foundation
Videos
Animated short film Feelings of Mountains and Water: no dialogue and made using only traditional Chinese ink-wash painting techniques.
All China’s dynasties explained in 7 minutes!
Recorded talks about Forbidden City Architecture (3 parts).
Photos
Books about Chinese Artists and Lectures on Chinese Art
Chinese Sayings
Chinese Poetry
Chinese Calligraphy
- Khan Academy Introduction to Chinese Calligraphy
- Informative Introduction and History
- Asian Art Museum Appreciating Chinese Calligraphy
- Talk by contemporary artist Xu Bing, known for his square-word calligraphy. An extension of square-word calligraphy.
- Documentary about Kazuaki Tanahashi – The Brush Mind (Calligraphy)
Chinese Literature
If you are interested in the ancient Chinese Classics, have a play on this website. Example:
- Click “Lun-Yu” The Analects of Confucius on the list of books at the “far left panel”
- An Introduction of Lun-Yu:
- http://wengu.tartarie.com/wg/wengu.php?l=Lunyu&no=0
- Near the top of the screen, a list of “I” to “XX”, 20 books:
- Click “I” to display book I
- http://wengu.tartarie.com/wg/wengu.php?l=Lunyu&no=1
- There are 16 chapters in book I
- Highlight each Chinese character to display the sound and meaning for each character. Click each character to display further meaning and phrases.
- Have a look at Yi-Jing. I feel one needs quite deep knowledge and understanding of the Chinese language, culture and history to grasp the meaning of Yi-Jing.
The Classic of Mountains & Seas is an a collection of myths and stories assembled in the Han Dynasty, featuring figures such as Yu the Great and the Queen Mother of the West. Here is a 5-minute version, plus an animation of some of the strange creatures. And there is a modern satirical version!
Chinese Music
Podcasts
BBC Radio
- Classical Chinese Philosophy: Legalism; Daoism; Confucianism, the Han Synthesis
- Chinese history: early sources; Silk Roads; Warring States
- Artefacts: bronze bell; wall painting
- Historical figures ancient and recent, in Chinese Characters – from the female Emperor Wu Zetian to Bruce Lee.
- China: As History is my Witness – how history informs today’s China.
Other podcasts
Online Courses
- FutureLearn: Chinese History and Chinese books
- Coursera: Chinese language and culture
- Khan Academy free course on Asian Art
- Search MOOC list for other options
NOTE: CBPS is not responsible for the content of any of these sites.