ChinaSnap! Traditional Chinese Scroll Painting with a Twist in Liulichang

This is... A man painting a peony on a hanging scroll using traditional Chinese technique.

At the time I took this ChinaSnap! I was... on Liulichang (琉璃厂) Street, which houses a large market for Chinese arts and Antiques in Beijing. The street is southwest of Tian’anmen Square. 

I remember... wandering the streets of Liulichang to find just the perfect piece to remind me of Beijing once I moved back to the U.S. I found one scroll with yellow flowers that I liked in this littlel shop. I liked it because it mixed an ancient art form with a new perspective: unlike most scrolls where the painting is only in the center on the paper, this artist's flowers stretched on to the silk. The mix of old and new, and the artist's inclination to balk convention ever-so-slightly, really spoke to me. The artist asked if I would like for him to paint me one on the spot, and I had to agree. For my piece, I requested blue flowers. (Of course, I remember I had to bargain a bit on price as well!) 

This qualifies as a ChinaSnap! because... It portrays a Chinese traditional art form with a modern twist, one instance of many in China where old ways are tweaked by new ideas. 

Submit a ChinaSnap! of your own by emailing chinafulblog@gmail.com and we'll post it with your answers to the bolded sentence-starters.

Fu Dogs for Everyone

Ever seen a pair of lions outside a Chinese restaurant or temple, and wondered about the significance? Those guardian lions, or "Fu Dogs," trace their roots to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) as the protectors of Chinese homes, temples, and other establishments. Fu Dogs always come in pairs, often with a male and female to represent the balance of yin and yang. My favorite Fu Dogs have "pearls" in their mouth that roll around, but cannot be removed.

While the Fu Dogs were originally believed to protect their dwellings from bad spirits, nowadays they serve primarily as art. A few years ago, I picked up a pair of one-of-a-kind turquoise Fu Dogs at the Beijing Dirt Market--I was surprised to find on my return to the US that my purchase was not so unique. Like garden stools, Fu Dogs are increasingly finding their way to into Western design, usually as Chinoiserie or vintage elements. The many colors they are available can make them both modern or traditional, depending on your taste. If you visit China, you can also find them in various shades of jade. 

I recently picked up another Fu Dog for my collection. Shih-Tzus, which means "Lion" in Chinese, are the descendants of Chinese imperial pets. They are believed to be a mix of Pekingese and Tibetan Lhasa Apso breeds. These little dogs were actually bred for the purpose of warming the Emperor's hands during cold winters in China. As such, they are calm and enjoy constant companionship. When you compare the face of my little Tzu to the Fu Dogs, you can see the resemblance. Now, I just have to get his pair...

The Chinaphiles: Interview with Peter Anthony, Author and Collector of Chinese Coins

Today marks a new series for Chinaful: The Chinaphiles. In this series, I'll interview Chinaphiles (also known as Sinophiles, those who demonstrate a strong interest and love for Chinese culture or its people) that study and work in various fields, all with a focus on China. 

For this first interview, Chinaful features Chinese coin collector and author, Peter Anthony. Anthony is an expert on Modern Chinese coins, covering 1979 to the present. Author of Gold and Silver Panda Coin Buyer’s Guide and the monthly China Pricepedia price guide, Anthony’s research is the gold standard on all aspects of collecting, from accurate pricing to spotting counterfeits.

Peter Anthony, autor and Chinese coin collector

You can also access a wealth of information on Anthony’s website, www.pandacollector.com, which gives an introduction and news about Chinese coins. Having the opportunity to speak with Anthony, I wanted to learn what drew him to Chinese coins initially and lessons he’s learned while collecting and researching in China. 

Click to read more ...

Hong Kong's Goods of Desire

I've spent the last few weeks packing up our apartment and plotting out how to decorate our new place.  Despite the hoards of art, pictures and trinkets I have from Asia, I'm still hankering for more. (Who doesn't need another pair of Foo Dogs?) Chinoiserie has always been a mainstay of home design, referencing bamboo, lacquer, ceramics and of course, buddhas. My favorite place to hunt for Asian home goods will always be dirt markets in China - similar to flea markets, there is no end to what you might find and for quite a deal. But if I'm looking for something shiny and new, I love to visit Hong Kong's Goods of Desire.   

Goods of Desire is more than just a store, it's really a design house. It has souvenirs, sure, but they're much cooler than what you might pick up anywhere else. T-shirts with exclusive designs, travel and culture books, and even some provocative underwear (see picture above!) is available.  

But my favorite wares are upstairs at the Soho location - all of the home goods and art.  Now those are my goods of desire! Lacquer furniture, unique tableware and accessories, accessories, accessories. Everything is modern but with Chinese sensibility. Bright red candles shaped like the characters for "double happiness" (囍) are one of my favorites, the detail and creativity are uncommon and add a touch of excitement to an everyday homeware.  

Like what you see?  Check out Goods of Desire's website for a selection of their store offerings at http://www.god.com.hk/.  

Want something for free?  Keep reading Chinaful for how to enter a great giveaway and you can win a little goodie from Goods of Desire all for yourself.  

Shanghai Dreaming

There's a feeling I get when I'm heading back to China - a mix of excitement for the foods I'll try, anticipation for the experiences that I will have, and a little anxiety about getting my Chinese back up to speed.  (The ride from the airport with the taxi driver is usually the first test!)  

For part of my next trip, I'll head to Hong Kong and Shanghai for a few days of vacation.  I've lived in Hong Kong before, but despite all of the time I've spent in the PRC, I've only ever spent a weekend in Shanghai.  So I'm preparing for my trip by reading Lisa See's "Shanghai Girls" and dreaming about all of the beautiful things at Shanghai Tang.  Shanghai Tang is a high-end retail store with stores throughout Asia that carries everything from home goods to custom-made qipao, mandarin-style silk dresses. It's an excellent stop for gifts for your spouse, kids, or business contacts, and with locations popping up in airports and even in the US, it's convenient as well.  {All images below and their original sources can be found on my Pinterest.}