The Immortality of the Chinese Horse

China's very survival as an ancient society greatly depended upon the mighty Asian horse.  Beginning around the 4th century BC, China's most fearsome and powerful adversaries came from nomadic invaders out of the north and west.  The ancient battles of the Middle Kingdom, which we can only envision in our minds today, were terribly violent.... with much bloodshed!  Horses fought bravely side by side with their warrior masters to the bitter end of life.  By the time of the Han Dynasty the Chinese were forced (albeit quite reluctantly) to abandon the war chariot drawn by horses as a military weapon.  In its place came the mounted, skilled soldier riding a horse.  Once again, horses were intimate participators in the gruesome battles of ancient warfare.  Converting to the mounted soldier was done to better deal with the nomadic threat in the most effective way possible at the time.  From the Xiongnu to the Mongols and Manchus, the northern nomadic tribesmen fielded some of the most spectacular mounted soldiers which the world has ever seen.  At the very same time, this fact was a thorn in the side of the Chinese who had to use the same tactics of war to resist these warrior tribesmen who were hungry for conquest and conflict.

The Chinese horse also played a vital role in the mythology of early China.  This magnificent animal was closely associated with the famous Chinese dragon.  Both creatures were thought to be capable of flight.  Their flights supposedly carried their brave riders to the "home of the immortals."  The horse then became a symbol of immortality, power, and honor.  This ability to fly through free air and/or space has been linked to survival throughout all of China's long history.  It is only logical to conclude that any horse which can fly to the realm of the immortals must also be able to survive forever!

The importance of the horse has subsided in the time period we today call "modern China."  However, the mythological spirit of this ancient horse continues to run deeply throughout China's culture, in their decoration, and with their art forms.  In 1995, it was estimated that the population of horses had exceeded 11 million.  This is aproximately one sixth of all horses in the world.  Since this is the case a Chinese horse collectible is the perfect gift for most anyone, especially those aspiring to create that authentic Asian home decor!

Harlan Urwiler

For more information, please feel free to check out my website at:  http://www.myorientalgallery.com/.

The Mighty Horse of Asia

What is the Asian horse collectible really all about?  Well, a very famous horse owes its unique history and mythology almost totally to China.  I am talking here about the Chinese horse, which dates back thousands of years.  It special history began during the earliest time of the Chinese Emperor.  Horses have captured the hearts of human beings throughout the whole world.  Many believe this is due to their grace, power, and beauty.  So the love of the horse is just as strong in the experiences of nearly all Asian civilizations.  Even so, the symbolism of the Chinese horse remains very powerful and for good reasons.

During China's very old history, no animal has earned greater respect and admiration as the horse.  The Chinese horse was domesticated in the area of northeastern China around 5,000 years ago.  Since this time, the horse has been an integral figure in the creation, maintenance, and survival of the Middle Kingdom.  The animal's great need was obvious as early as the Shang Dynasty (1600-1100 BC).  It is true that horses and the vehicles they powered were often placed in the same tombs with their owners at death.  This was done so the horse could go with its master into the next life.  This tradition was so strong in its influence that later on many ordinary Chinese horsemen were buried with clay horse sculptures.

At the time of the western Zhou Dynasty (1100-771 BC), military strength was calculated by the number of war chariots available.  As the Empire grew, horses became necessary for maintaining contact with the whole country.  Horses were absolutely necessary for transporting goods throughout the vast area of ancient China.  Horses were also needed for the control exerted by the Emperor over the population.  The will of the divine Potentate was exercised by his soldiers who rode these magnificent animals nearly every where.

The Chinese horse symbolizes great power, strength, endurance, and importance.  Horses are considered to be loyal, as are those who own horse collectibles.  A horse collectible in your home is a very wise selection, as you can probably tell by now.  These are just a few of the reasons why the Chinese horse has exerted such influence over much of Asia.  However, there is still more to the story!

Harlan Urwiler

For more information, please feel free to check out my website at:  www.myorientalgallery.com.  

The Fate of the South China Tiger

South China's own tiger species may be the source for much Asia's infatuation with this species.  It is worthy of our consideration for this reason.  The South Chinese tiger (Panthera tigris amoyenis) is also known as the Chinese Amoy or Xiamen tiger.  It is a peculiar subspecies of tiger native to the forests and jungles of South China.  This tiger is one of the smaller species.  Sadly, it is also the most critically endangered of any living tiger species.  Experts in this area of study say that there are probably fewer than 20 of these tigers left in the wild.  Plus, they also warn that the South Chinese tiger could become extinct in a decade or so.  The Chinese tiger is believed by these experts to be the "stem" tiger which all other tigers may have descended.  No matter the case, the South Chinese tiger has been listed more recently as one of the world's 10 most endagered animals.

Since the year 1990, China's State Forestry Administration has been leading the effort to preserve the South Chinese tiger from extinction.  This has been done through the establishment of special Nature Reserves for the 10 to 30 Chinese tigers believed to be left in the wilderness.  A 1987 study by Chinese scientists also reported a few tigers remaining in the Guangdong mountain area, which border Hunan and Jiangxi Provinces.  Still, another survey in 1990 noted some evidence of about a dozen tigers in 11 reserves.  These reserves were located in the remote mountain areas of Guangdong, Hunan, and Fujian Provinces.  These provinces, needless to say, are all located in South China.

Perhaps reasons like these also encourage people to remember the South China tiger.  One way of doing that is to have a Chinese tiger collectible in your home or office.  It will remind you of the special creature whose fate does not appear to be very good.  The tiger is indeed a beautiful and powerful symbol to own with so many ancient stories having been told and re-told about it.  It would make a very wonderful addition to your home.

Harlan Urwiler

For more information, please feel free to check out my website at:  http://www.myorientalgallery.com/.

The Chinese Tiger Collectible

The stories behind the Asian tiger myth are very powerful.  They allure us in personal ways.  We are often seduced by the mystery surrounding this graceful (though dangerous) creature.  People every where are drawn to the symbol which the tiger represents.  So when it comes to the Asian Tiger collectible, the enticement to have one of your very own is almost irresistible.  When you learn even a few of the stories about Asian tigers, it easy to understand this feeling.  You may not be satisfied until you have one in your home or office.

In old Korea, only unmarried, young people would wear brightly colored attire.  This way their youth and beauty would stand out for all to see... especially other young people!  The married people had to wear gray clothing.  The elderly people wore white.  The worship of nature spirits was very commonplace among Asian communities no matter where they were located.  In one story a Korean teenage boy follows a very beautiful, young girl home one day.  However, the boy got much more than he expected.  A tiger was her personal guardian and protector.  The tiger was a powerful ally and capable of fierce retribution, if the boy had decided to take advantage of the young girl.  The girl's innocence was safeguarded by this tiger.  In fact, the tiger may have been a nature spirit in physical form.  No one really knows for sure, but the implication is certainly there.  There is an exquisite painting of this story called "The Tiger Girl."

The ancient symbol for the Chinese tiger is well known.  The emblem itself signifies ferocity, dignity, sternness, courage, and even Yin energy.  Therefore, as symbol of protection, the image is usually worn on clothing.  It can also be placed around one's home.  The idea is that the power of the tiger will help to ward off harm and assure safety.  In fact, the people in some parts of China consider the "Tiger" to be the God of Wealth.  The Tiger symbol is not as dominant as the symbol of the Dragon.  However, considering these myths and the popularity of the creature itself, the Chinese Tiger collectible is a very honored piece to own.

Harlan Urwiler

For more information, please feel free to check out my website at:  http://www.myorientalgallery.com/.

More of The Story Behind Feng Shui

Since the time period of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, some form of ruler has been the main authority figure above all others in China.  It is true that different periods of history have different names for the various positions.  However, the Chinese has almost universally understood that a strong central ruler was necessary.  This is the case because of the vast region and the enormous number of people within their civilization.  Most social values originate with either Confucianism or Taoism.  The teaching of Reincarnation is really a reminder to the Chinese of the connection between this life and the "so-called" next life.  It can also be said that the business culture has been shaped by these ideas too.  In business the concept of "guanxi" has been well established for quite some time.  Guanxi teaches that relationships should take precedence over mere regulations.

Chinese religion was originally devoted to worshipping the supreme god "Shang Di."  This generally took place during the Xia and Shang dynasties.  The emperor and diviners acted as priests in this kind of faith.  The Zhou Dynasty changed this relgions to worhsipping the broader concept of "heaven."  Therefore, a great part of Chinese culture is based on the idea that spiritual world does exist.  Countless methods of this form of divination have helped to answer the questions of people.  In fact, they have even served as an alternative to medicine.  Folklores have aided in filling in the gap for things and events which could not be explained.  For all these reasons, there tends to be a dim line between that which is myth, religion, or unxeplained pehenomenon.  Therefore, many deities of China are part and parcel of the traditons dating back centuries.  Some of the most well known holy figures would include Guan Yi, Jade Emperor, and Buddha.  It is interesting that many of the old stories and myths have even evolved over time to become traditional Chinese holidays!

Feng Shui, as a decorating strategy, is devoted to the proper placement of objects in a particular area.  Therefore, these facts about China's fascination with different emperors, deities, historical figures, and myths relating to them suggest understandable reasons for this kind of scheme.  So choosing to decorate your home or office in the Feng Shui way firmly tells others that you are sympathetic with the "Chinese" school of thought.  Learning as much as you can about Feng Shui is always helpful to prepare your home for the atmosphere you want to create.  Good luck in your plans!

Harlan Urwiler

For more information, please feel free to check out my website at:  http://www.myorientalgallery.com/.

Feng Shui Culture

China is very old.  Its culture is one of the most complex cultures in the world today.  People naturally have a lot of questions about it.  This is also true when it comes to the subject of Asian collectibles and home decor.  I would like to share some general facts with you about China's culture to help you comprehend the idea which are so distincitly "Chinese."  In doing this, you will hopefully gain a better understanding of the subject of Feng Shi home decor.

Let's start with the location of China.  The area in which China exists and is dominant covers a huge geogprahical region... unlike Japan.  It is a known fact that the customs and traditions vary greatly in this particular region of East Asia.  This is especially true between the towns, cities, and provinces.  So China is a large country with many distinctive traditions which date back thousands of years.  Chinese people are vey aware of their rich and deep history.  The sheer fact that China itself is such a large area with a common political heritage explains some of the pride that Chinese people share with each other.  Since customs are so different throughout China, it is nearly impossible to define a single, precise scheme to decoration or art.

Chinese is also a Sinitic language in a family of languages in East Asia.  It is distinguished by its high level or internal distinctions.  All varieties of the Chinese language family are tonal and analytic.  The official and standard language of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (Taiwan) is Mandarin.  In addition, today there are 57 different recgonized ethnic groups in mainland China.  The pre-eminent group is the Han Chinese.  One must realize that throughout China's history many people groups have been assimilated into other ethnicities, particuarly the neighboring ones.  Therefore, many people within the Han identification have maintained their own linguistic and regional traditions.  The term "Zhongua Minzu" has been used to describe the idea of Chinese nationalism.  This was necessary when so many ethnic groups all merged together into the "New China" we see today.  Many languages are spoken in China, but the nationalistic unity is preserved by the uniformity of the Mandarin official language.

So, China's large area with its shared political and cultural heritage combined with the standardization of Mandarin has helped to create a "Chinese" art culture that is loosely known as "Feng Shui."  This school of thought places objects (collectibles, for instance) within a home or office for practical and spiritual purposes.  Other decorating considerations cannot be described in further detail here because of the great diversity which is prevalent throughout China.  This reality is part of the Chinese experience.  It is very interesting to learn more about.  However, there is even more to know about China to gain a deeper insight!

Harlan Urwiler

For more information, please feel free to check out my website at:  http://www.myorientalgallery.com/.

A Short History of Japanese Vintage Art, Part 2

The earliest complex art in Japan was produced in the 7th and 8th centuries A.D.  There was a definite connection to Buddhism in this trend.  In the 9th century the Japanese slowly started to turn away from the influence coming from China.  They began to develop more indigenous kinds of art and expression.  In this period secular arts became more and more important.  However, until the latter 15th century both religious and secular art forms flourished.  It was after the Onin War (1467-1477) that Japan entered a period of political disruption.  This disruption deeply influenced their social and economic systems, and it lasted for more than a century!

Since Japan began to limit foreign influence early in its history, China's art trends were allowed to have only a limited effect on its art and culture.  Japan successfully created it own identity and has maintained it consistently over time.  In Japan, painting is practiced by both amateurs and professionals alike.  Its ceramics are considered to be among the best in the world.  This is equally true of the earliest artifacts known in Japanese culture.  Japan seems to have always taken great pride in the way their art was crafted.  So in the the related field of architecture Japan prefers natural materials along with an interaction of interior and exterior space.  The way this interaction is designed often displays the distinctly "Japanese" origin.

The result for today, as far as the society is concerned, is that Japan rivals all other modern countries in its contributions to modern art.  It can rightfully boast of its added contributions to modern fashion and architecture.  Their unique creations have a profoundly modern, globabl, and even multi-cultural appeal.  Modern home deocration products are plentiful on the internet today.  Japanese Haiku designs offer an excellent collection of platform beds, shoji screens, rice paper lamps, and silk scrolls.  Japanese garden fountains are genuinely attractive in any Asian home.  Tatami floor mats, meditation gongs/chimes, cotton kimonos, hanging scrolls, and tapestry are all more options to create a truly Japanese culture in your own house.  The way that you would go about arranging the decor of your Asian home would be unique from other designs if you were to use a Japanese strategy.  It is good to know that there are many options in Japanese decor since the choices, products, and services are very plentiful!

Harlan Urwiler

For more information, please feel free to check out my website at:  http://www.myorientalgallery.com/.