One of the first European books on China - read (and download) it for free on Google Books


Athanasii Kircheri E Soc. Jesu China Monumentis Qva Sacris quà Profanis, Nec non variis Naturae & Artis Spectaculis, Aliarumque rerum memorabilium Argumentis Illustrata
Athanasius Kircher  - 1 January 1667
Joannes Janssonius à Waesberge & Elizeus Weyerstraet - Publisher

This book is written in Latin language, which means pretty much no one can read it any more however there are a lot of interesting illustrations in the book.

Another reason for taking a look at the book would be the fact that this was one of the first books published in Europe covering the topic of Chinese civilization (in other words it took Europe two thousand years to notice another important country and culture "just over the hill").

One may say things are not much better even today.

You can find and download this book here.

Test post # 2

Mr Niú Hóng Míng's Calligraphy



This is one of several pieces of calligraphy bought from Mr Niú Hóng Míng (牛宏明) from a small city in Hubei Province in China (the city is called 十堰,  Shíyàn). More information and Mr Niu's contact information can be found here: www.yilongwei.com/board/viewforum.php?f=13

If you want to buy some Chinese calligraphy from Mr. Niu here is his contact information:

This is his address: 

牛宏明 
湖北省十堰市 
武当路韩家沟15号(重庆路), 
442012 

His telephone number is: +86-719-878-3110 

Mr Niu doesn't speak any English.

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Test post # 1
















64. Wei Chi / Before Completion

 above LI THE CLINGING, FLAME
 below K'AN THE ABYSMAL, WATER

 This hexagram indicates a time when the transition from disorder to order is not yet completed.

The change is indeed prepared for, since all the lines in the upper trigram are in relation to those in the lower. However, they are not yet in their places. While the preceding hexagram offers an analogy to autumn, which forms the transition from summer to winter, this hexagram presents a parallel to spring, which leads out of winter's stagnation into the fruitful time of summer.

With this hopeful outlook the Book of Changes come to its close.

 THE JUDGMENT
 BEFORE COMPLETION. Success.
 But if the little fox, after nearly completing the crossing,
 Gets his tail in the water,
 There is nothing that would further.

 The conditions are difficult. The task is great and full of responsibility. It is nothing less than that of leading the world out of confusion back to order. But it is a task that promises success, because there is a goal that can unite the forces now tending in different directions. At first, however, one must move warily, like an old fox walking over ice. The caution of a fox walking over ice is proverbial in China. His ears are constantly alert to the cracking of the ice, as he carefully and circumspectly searches out the safest spots. A young fox who as yet has not acquired this caution goes ahead boldly, and it may happen that he falls in and gets his tail wet when he is almost across the water. Then of course his effort has been all in vain. Accordingly, in times "before completion," deliberation and caution are the prerequisites of success.

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