Ancient China in a Nutshell:
By Jayden Davis
And yes, this is Comic Sans.
In ancient China, there were many traditions which were very common at the time, but nowadays would seem strange, nigh, alien. Many of these were simply ways to dress, but others were torture techniques. Please stay with me as I elaborate.
The 人 (People):
In Ancient China, the rich wore silk robes to show off their status. The poor wore hemp (yes, the drug) or ramie robes, which scratched or irritated skin. The richest person in China was the emperor, who acted similarly to a king or monarch. China was ruled by emperors for almost 2000 years, until 1912, when Emperor Puyi of the Qing Dynasty was overthrown by the Republic of China. The emperor took several wives, but only one was named empress. Ladies, as children, were forced to bond their feet and leave these bonds on for years, until the feet grew to their full size. During these years, the feet had bones breaking and warping, so the women were in constant pain. Women with the smallest feet were often considered the prettiest.
The 餐饮 (Food):
In Ancient China, eating was a communal event, as people shared meals such as Chinese duck (no idea how they are different from normal ducks, besides nationality) and hot pots. Hot pots were basically pots of boiling water in which people dipped raw vegetables and meats, and took them out cooked, dipped in sauce and ate. Here are some variations on how they look and are used. .http://cultureofchinese.com/food/chinese-hot-pot-or-steam-boat/
The Chinese soil did not naturally grow wheat, so before inter-continental trades began, the Chinese had to make due with what they had- Millet. Millet was a grain very similar to wheat, but has over 500 species. Millet also has negative effects on people's health over time. The Chinese also developed Tofu, a soybean based food which absorbs flavor.
The 医学 (Medicine):
In Ancient China, many unorthodox medicines were developed to treat a wide variety of ailments. Acupuncture was one such treatment. When acupuncture was applied, fine needles were inserted into the skin to cure aches, headaches and other pains in the body. Herbs were also used during acupuncture to burn and heat acupuncture points, also called moxibustion. Tui na was a form of therapeutic massage similar to ones done by masseuses today. Tai Chi and Qi Gong were both used for medicinal processes due to them involving specific movements or postures, coordinated breathing and mental focus.
The 拷打 (Torture) a.k.a The Interesting stuff:
In Ancient China, many very dark torture techniques were used to kill prisoners. One of these was the Lingchi, or death by a thousand cuts. In this torture, small parts of the body were removed, until only the torso remained. The person was then killed, but it was believed those who were killed this way where not wholesome in the underworld. Another technique was putting sharpened bamboo on a bed and a restrained prisoner, while it slowly growths into the victim, inevitably piercing a vital organ and killing them.
Many unique societal features were evident in Ancient China, and I hope to be able to go there one day. If you were interested in the ways of Ancient China, let me know in the comments!
The 餐饮 (Food):
In Ancient China, eating was a communal event, as people shared meals such as Chinese duck (no idea how they are different from normal ducks, besides nationality) and hot pots. Hot pots were basically pots of boiling water in which people dipped raw vegetables and meats, and took them out cooked, dipped in sauce and ate. Here are some variations on how they look and are used. .http://cultureofchinese.com/food/chinese-hot-pot-or-steam-boat/
The Chinese soil did not naturally grow wheat, so before inter-continental trades began, the Chinese had to make due with what they had- Millet. Millet was a grain very similar to wheat, but has over 500 species. Millet also has negative effects on people's health over time. The Chinese also developed Tofu, a soybean based food which absorbs flavor.
The 医学 (Medicine):
In Ancient China, many unorthodox medicines were developed to treat a wide variety of ailments. Acupuncture was one such treatment. When acupuncture was applied, fine needles were inserted into the skin to cure aches, headaches and other pains in the body. Herbs were also used during acupuncture to burn and heat acupuncture points, also called moxibustion. Tui na was a form of therapeutic massage similar to ones done by masseuses today. Tai Chi and Qi Gong were both used for medicinal processes due to them involving specific movements or postures, coordinated breathing and mental focus.
The 拷打 (Torture) a.k.a The Interesting stuff:
In Ancient China, many very dark torture techniques were used to kill prisoners. One of these was the Lingchi, or death by a thousand cuts. In this torture, small parts of the body were removed, until only the torso remained. The person was then killed, but it was believed those who were killed this way where not wholesome in the underworld. Another technique was putting sharpened bamboo on a bed and a restrained prisoner, while it slowly growths into the victim, inevitably piercing a vital organ and killing them.
Many unique societal features were evident in Ancient China, and I hope to be able to go there one day. If you were interested in the ways of Ancient China, let me know in the comments!
This was interesting...
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