Ancient times

I advise all those who like Chinese history to read these articles


https://multimedia.scmp.com/infogra...y-of-the-forbidden-city/index.html?src=arcade
#Ancient China


Imperial court/Imperial harem/Wuxia-Jianghu/Murim/daily life in ancient times Fengshui


The four arts (四藝, siyi), or the four arts of the Chinese scholar, were the four main academic and artistic accomplishments required of the aristocratic ancient Chinese scholar-gentleman. They are qin (the guqin, a stringed instrument, 琴), qi (the strategy game of Go, 棋), shu (Chinese calligraphy, 書) and hua (Chinese painting, 畫), and are also referred to by listing all four: 琴棋書畫; qínqíshūhuà.


“ 男子有德便是才，女子無才便是德 ” “Men’s talent lies in his virtue, women’s virtue lies in her not showing off her talent”

[This phrase “ 女子無才便是德 ” was mistranslated as “Women without literary or artistic talent is virtuous”
And therefore it was frequently used in modern day China as evidence of how ancient feudal Chinese society is against women from getting education
The truth is actually the opposite
The complete sentence is “ 男子有德便是才，女子無才便是德 ”
and it means “Men’s talent lies in his virtue, women’s virtue lies in her not showing off her talent”
It promotes humility, one of the most cherished qualities in ancient China
It also implies a fundamental principle which is the relationship between men and women
According to Taoism, men are yang, and women are yin, the two properties together can create a harmonious life
It doesn’t work if both are trying to be yin or both wanting to be yang
This could create conflicts or a chaotic household
So it makes sense for women to draw back a little and not to compete with the husband
Ultimately it’s not about who wins in a marriage, but how to balance and support each other
That’s a true wisdom from ancient China that still applies today
]

# How do people enjoy Xianxia novels?

Wuxia: Martial arts, but nothing else, People practice martial arts. They are mortals and their goal is not to be immortal.
Xianxia: Wuxia + C-nese magic-based mainly on Daoism
Xuanhuan: eastern fantasy, Might have cultivation, but it's more fantasy than anything

My recommended Wuxia story [Which is QT but all the worlds are related to this genre]

[No CP] [Comprehensive Martial Arts] My life will stop 【无CP】[综武侠]吾命将休

[Comprehensive] Zhao Ru Sun and Moon_Little Fox Xili [End + Fan Wai] [综]昭如日月_小狐昔里【完结+番外】

A favorite Korean manhua -> Trinity Wonder

Jianghu/kangho: the most generalised answer is “The part of the world the imperial court doesn’t have direct jurisdiction over.” You are talking about brothels, gangs, bandits, slums, the underworld, rogue disciples from various sects and more. There's no order and rife with crime. It's like taobao, lol. Wulin/murim: refers to specifically and only to martial arts schools/sects/cults etc. The wulin is considered the refined, respected and virtuous people in society; they're also placed higher on the hierarchy. There's order. If jianghu is taobao, Wulin is Tmall.

# For those who don't know what's going on ^^

https://www.wuxiaworld.com/page/general-glossary-of-terms

https://owlcation.com/humanities/A-Beginners-Guide-to-Wuxia

https://owlcation.com/humanities/A-Wuxia-Glossary


^^ It's not that each novel in the genre is enjoyable, but the good quality ones even have a saying at the global level. Of course, they need to be adjusted into scripts and shorter novels, you see before getting into reading web novels, a 3 book series was the end of it for me.

But it's kind of unique, especially those ones that use mythology and folklore heavily. As a foreigner, who had read novels and classic literature for most of my life, this way of 'hard-magic system building' of folklore and mythology kind of fascinated me. It's like living your historical culture and feeling the development of your countrymen thinking of their culture. It can also start an open ground study and discussion of your culture throughout the whole country. Maybe that's what makes the Chinese love it. Personally, I see it unlikely that mythology and religious thinking of my own home country get such a setting any time soon. As it's a living, mostly single religion country. And the past religion and mythological beliefs had been truly misinterpreted to justify the current one. If there was even a middle quality work it could win the masses support. First of all, it's unique, and second, you can relate to it and compare it with the stories that you've heard growing up.
Telling the truth, at first, tolerating some cliche in a new media circle is mind-blowing as most of these cliches were never to be found in the bestsellers of the global market when I started reading. Each genre has a growth timeline, as you can see the history of sci-fi or fantasy as a genre but Xianxia although old as works like the journey to the west can kind of be fathers of the genre[Not really] wasn't in line with social discussions and problems that were going around me. Lots of the problems discussed were ridiculous in my culture. Maybe ongoing Chinese social problems were kind of distinct from mines. I got a thorough understanding of this as I got to know more about modern Chinese history, the things this nation had gone through are kind of unimaginable for us to think we could tolerate. Only the one-child policy had such a social effect for that country that made me dumbfound. The effect of the great leap forward and cultural reform that were going on before and after the genre was getting attention can't be ignored. Although I accept that some of the annoying elements were added for wish fulfillment of some types of readers, it can't be ignored that a healthy society doesn't produce such a pressured readers.

overall, the genre has both their cultural, mythological backbone which makes it relatable for them, these mythologies and beliefs were formed from their ancestor's imagination and a way for thousands of years, making it a completely natural process for the next generation to enjoy it. Second, the growth of the genre is in line with the social situation and performance of their own national readers.

So here I am not relating to lots of troops and even wanting to throw out my laptop facing some of them, but also learning about another group of people and their story. You see reading wuxia or Xianxia stories for years is also kind of reading the story of the genre and the Chinese audience's growth and change. Where will it take us, I don't know. But as long as the tour is enjoyable and I've got free time I'm on this ship.


#Ancient Japan
manga de yomu genji monogatari -> Manga "Tale of Genji"


Another favorite manga -> fushigi no kuni no bird or Isabella Bird in Wonderland

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBkqDNqao03ldC3u78-Pp8g

Introduction to yokai -> http://yokai.com/introduction/



Ancient times https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/18590/
https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/18594/

Rome

Growing up Roman