Facts and Dreams about Ancient Sukhothai; Thai Art Perfected, Part One
May 10, 2024
Thailand’s artistic heritage in Sukhothai enchanted me the first time I went there, in 2007. It impressed me as much as Angkor Wat, which I
Khmer Art Transforming into Thai Art at Sukhothai
May 9, 2024
Thais and Cambodians share a long border, but like French and Germans, their cultures have dramatically different traits. Some of Sukhothai’s temples blend both. Wat
The Climax and Decline of Khmer Glory
May 8, 2024
King Jayavarman VII, the most prolific builder in the Khmer Empire’s history, added even more luster to Angkor by constructing two goliaths next to its
The Ancient Khmers in Their Glory Days; Angkor’s Royal Palace
May 6, 2024
Angkor was one of the world’s largest cities in the Middle Ages, and its center was as lively as you’d expect such a place to
The Ancient Egyptian Obelisk; One of the World’s Most Influential Art Forms
May 4, 2024
To this day historians aren’t sure how ancient Egyptians raised obelisks. There are well-educated surmises though. The most plausible ways required an enormous amount
The Dragon Pillars in the Confucian Temple in Qufu; The Most Beautiful Pillars in China?
May 2, 2024
Many people in China consider the columns of Qufu’s Confucian temple’s main hall (the Palace of Great Establishment) to be the most beautiful in the
A World in a Note Part Two; How to Hear Music in China Today
May 2, 2024
If you play a portable musical instrument, carry it as meticulously as your passport if you travel in China. Strangers often sat with me to listen.
A World in a Note; Uniquely Chinese Assumptions about Music
April 30, 2024
People in ancient China typically thought of musical notes in more holistic ways than Westerners have. The five notes (C, D, E, G, and
The Many Rivers that Flow through Swahili Culture
April 29, 2024
Swahilis have an ancient heritage of blending East African Bantu cultures with Arabic and Persian influences. Their fascinating society has about two million members. It’s