The story behind the idiom: A broken mirror joined together
During the Southern and Northern dynasties (420-589), in the state of Chen, there lived a beautiful, intelligent princess named Lechang. She and her husband, Xu Deyan, loved each other dearly. But before long, their country was in danger of being invaded by troops from the Sui Dynasty (581-618). Princess Lechang ...
Where angels tread in Western culture
From ancient times, angels have been present in most religions and beliefs in Western culture. Stories of angels were passed down from generation to generation. They were believed to be the missionaries of God who were sent on missions to assist God in taking care of humans and punishing sinners. ...
The Real Sword in the Stone
Inside Montesiepi chapel located in a small village in the province of Siena in beautiful central Tuscany, there is one of the strangest relics ever discovered. In this little round building, is embedded the sword of Saint Galgano, seemingly thrust into the bedrock up to the hilt.
Tolerance in the midst of terror
Born in turmoil, just over a month before the breakout of the chaotic and bloodthirsty French Revolution, Dauphin (Crown Prince) Louis XVII was surely the unluckiest of France’s kings. During his short life-span of ten years, little Louis Charles suffered immense pain along with mental and physical torture. Yet the venerable ...
The Monkey king – The super hero very distinct from the others (Video)
The Monkey king or Sun Wukong-from the classic book Journey to the West is a kind of "superhero" representative of traditional Chinese culture. However, it is very different from Western superheroes like Spiderman or Superman. Western superheroes seem vulnerable to human weaknesses. The Monkey King, on the other hand, not ...
An angel’s journey to earth in search of answers
One freezing night during the dead of winter, a poor shoemaker trudged home feeling as dark inside as it was outside. No customers had come to his shop for several days. On his way home, he thought to himself: “There must be little bread left at home.”
The young man who split a mountain to rescue his mother
On the western slope of Mount Hua in Shaanxi Province in China, visitors can see the strange sight of a gigantic rock split perfectly into three parts. According to an ancient legend passed down over the centuries, these cuts are the results of the efforts of demi-god Chen Xiang to ...
Searching for Noah’s ark: A story of scientific importance
Many people who have faith are not surprised by the confirmation of stories and narratives from sacred texts by scientific research. When the content of these stories, which have been passed down through their faith are verified, it brings believers a great sense of confidence. Many scientific endeavors have focused ...
The enigmatic Count of Saint-Germain: is he the first immortal in history?
This mysterious eighteenth-century figure keeps intriguing historians and onlookers alike, as there are multiple records of his presence throughout history. At the same time, nobody really knows anything about the circumstances of his birth, and there are several different stories and dates attributed to his death. Some people are even ...
Did Jesus of Nazareth travel to the Far East?
It is a mistake to think there wasn’t international travel during Jesus’ time. As this map of ancient merchant routes shows, the known world was linked by land and sea. Perhaps with some helpful knowledge and influence from Joseph of Arimathea, it would have been easy for Jesus to join ...
A story that threads the line between life and death
This compelling Buddhist story about a monk's decision that would determine whether he lived or died will make you reflect on what is truly important in life. In ancient India, there once was a young man who decided to escape from society and become a monk out of annoyance. Although physically ...
‘It’s more blessed to give than to take…’
People that live in Western countries tend to believe in the concept of ‘cycle of kindness,’ while people living in Eastern countries believe in the ‘Causal Principle’ – they share the belief that when someone does good deeds, they will be rewarded, but when someone does bad deeds, they will ...
The red string of destiny: true love is predetermined
It was the ancient sages’ belief that every human being’s life and fate had already been pre-arranged in a divine realm, intangible and invisible to the human eye. They understood that every single event that occurs in a person’s existence has been planned and predetermined. According to an ancient East Asian ...
American Gods: Rituals & sacrifices to the all-powerful solar Gods
The ancients knew him well. He was as powerful as a god, as dangerous as a demon. He generously gave life – and he ruthlessly took it away. He appeared to all, from the darkest and most bone-chilling conditions of the north to the parched and shimmering-hot deserts of the south. ...
Udumbara, the prophetic flower that blooms every 3000 years (Video)
Recently, an enigmatic flower has been spotted in different parts of the world, awakening everyone’s curiosity on what wonders it might be prophesizing. The flower that has been enchanting the world is the mystical Udumbara flower. These delicate white flowers are as small as 3 millimeters and can bloom on any ...
Vestal Virgins: The pious maidens of ancient Rome
In the Res Gestae Divi Augustus (‘The Deeds of the Divine Augustus’), Augustus demonstrates his piety by stating that he was a member of all four major priesthoods in Rome – the Pontifices, Augures, Quindecemviri and Septemviri. There was, however, one Roman religious college that was off-limits to men, even to the ...
