Have you heard the Taoist tale of “The Harp Taming”? Once upon a time in the Lung Men Gorge (Dragon’s Gate) stood a paulownia tree, the true ruler of the forest. It lifted its head to converse with the stars; its roots delved deep into the earth, intertwining its bronze tendrils with those of the … Read more
When ordinary people come before the king, they say: “Long live the king forever!” Once, in ancient times, there lived a man who, upon coming to the court, always said: “There is no king but God.” He repeated the same sentence constantly, which greatly angered the king who eventually decided to kill him. The man … Read more
A mighty king fell ill with a strange sickness and melancholy, and no longer knew what he loved or desired in this world. The great king began to wither away, and the court dignitaries and advisors were concerned and tried to figure out how to cure him of this affliction that struck both the poor … Read more
Mystical place where the bird of heavenly light overcame the forces of the transient world. According to legend, the goal of their long search was a sign given to the priests by Huitzilopochtli – to find a white eagle holding a snake in its beak on a nopal cactus in the middle of a lake. … Read more
The Bandiagara Escarpment with its rocky ridge is one of the most impressive geological formations in Western Africa. The escarpment is located in Mali, south of the Sahara and the ancient city of Timbuktu, and adjacent to the ridge that runs parallel to the Niger River are the fortified settlements of the Dogon people. According … Read more
The Chinese philosopher Mengzi (Mencius, 372-288 BC) is a follower of Confucius’ teachings and a representative of the idealistic wing of Confucianism. He was born in the state of Zou (northwestern part of present-day Shandong province), which bordered the state of Lu, Confucius’ hometown. His mother played an important role in his life, raising him … Read more
