Xuande Censer

Casting History During the reign of Emperor Xuande of the Ming Dynasty, to satisfy his hobby of appreciating incense burners, he specially ordered a batch of red copper to be imported from Siam, and entrusted the imperial craftsman Lü Zhen and the Minister of Works Wu Bangzuo to refer to the styles of famous porcelain from the Chai kiln, Ru kiln, Guan kiln, Ge kiln, Jun kiln, and Ding kiln in the imperial palace, as well as historical books such as "Xuanhe Bogutu Lu" and "Kaogu Tu", to design and supervise the production of incense burners. Emperor Xuande To ensure the quality of the incense burners, Lü Zhen cautiously reported to the emperor that to make good incense burners, the copper had to be refined six times. After each refinement, some would be lost, and after six times, only half of the raw material would remain. Emperor Xuande was wealthy and powerful, and had a strong sense of quality,...

2019-01-05

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Xian Gao rewards the army

Anecdote In the spring of the 33rd year, the Qin army passed through the north gate of Zhou, and the soldiers on the left and right dismounted and descended. There were 300 chariots of superior mounts. Wang Sun Man was still young, and when he saw this, he told the king: “The Qin army is light and impolite, and it will surely be defeated. Lightness means few plans, and impoliteness means carelessness. Entering danger and being careless, and unable to plan, how can it not be defeated?” When they arrived at the slippery place, Zheng businessman Xian Gao was going to market in Zhou, and he encountered them. He offered a carriage of leather goods and twelve oxen to reward the army, saying: “My lord has heard that your army will pass through our small state, and I dare to reward your followers. Our small state is not rich, but we have prepared enough food for one day's stay, and enough supplies for one night's journey.” And he sent someone to quickly inform Zheng. Zheng Mugong sent someone to inspect the guest house, and saw that they were packing their belongings, sharpening their weapons, and feeding their horses. He sent Huang Wuzi to politely decline, saying: “You have stayed for a long time…”

2019-01-05

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Bronze Guan Gong Statue: Worship and Placement

Guan Yu, an important general under Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. Because of Guan Yu's image of loyalty and righteousness, he is revered as Guan Gong, and also given the title "Martial Saint." The reason for Guan Yu's special status and his role as an object of worship is primarily due to the enduring reverence for his loyalty and righteousness throughout Chinese culture. In Feng Shui, he is also known as the Martial God of Wealth, capable of protecting homes and warding off evil. Even in contemporary society and certain social groups, the practice of worshipping Guan Yu persists. Those familiar with Hong Kong dramas will know that in Hong Kong, from the triad members in Causeway Bay to the senior police superintendents of the CIB, there is a tradition of worshipping Guan Yu. Although we worship Guan...

2019-01-05

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Methods for gilding bronze Buddhist statues

There are many types of Buddhist statues, and gold-leaf statues are one of them. Gold-leaf statues are a gold-leafing technique introduced from Taiwan, Japan, and other places, based on inheriting traditional sculpture techniques and absorbing the essence of folk art. It involves applying gold leaf to the surface of the statue. Gold-leaf statues represent a high form of art, and there are many different methods for applying the gold leaf. Below, we will briefly introduce two methods. 1. Traditional Gold-leafing Technique The effect of gold-leafing on handicrafts produced using the traditional gold-leafing technique varies, mainly due to differences in the preparation of the glue used for the base coat. Commonly used glues now include water-soluble glue and toothpaste glue.

2019-01-05

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Three main reasons why bronze Buddha statues have always been highly popular

Since the development of bronze sculpture, it has always been one of people's favorite handicrafts. There are many types of it, but for thousands of years, bronze Buddha statues have been particularly popular, and their place in people's hearts has never changed. There are many reasons for its popularity, and today we will briefly introduce three points. Firstly, because China has been a Buddhist country since ancient times, worshiping gods and Buddhas is a traditional custom in China, and bronze Buddha statues are one of the most important expressions of Buddhism. It allows people to clearly see the Buddha in their minds and express a sense of worship. Buddha statues also embody the solemnity, sacredness, and compassion of Buddhism.

2019-01-05

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