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
Social Dynamics in Ancient India; Multiplicity from Unity
April 28, 2024
Many fans of Indian spiritual traditions admire them for teaching that all is one. All beings are unified. We all came from the source and
The Rigveda’s Endless Continuity; Different Assumptions about Literature in India and the West
April 27, 2024
Before postmodern literary criticism emerged, it was common for Westerners to think that a literary work is a distinct entity, with a beginning, climax, and
The Rigveda; Deep Roots of Indian Culture Compared with the West
April 26, 2024
The Rigveda is one of the world’s most influential texts, since Indian culture has deep roots in it. It’s also one of the most dense