“Perspective is a law of optics... The Chinese did not have a system like it. Indeed, it is said they rejected the idea of the vanishing point in the eleventh century, because it meant the viewer was not there, indeed, had no movement, therefore was not alive.” SaidIdeasLawAliveCenturyMovementPerspectiveChineseRejectedViewersVanishingOpticsVanishing Point Author:David Hockney
“I find Chinese debates about their political system domestically, but also about China's claims in the international system, to be among the most original and surprising and exciting of our time. The starting point is a system that none of us had anticipated, which I call Leninist capitalism, but also obviously because it is the most important emerging power. The question of China's relations with the United States in particular, and the rest of the world in general, is the question of war and peace in the 21st century.” WorldImportantWarStatesPoliticalUnitedUnited StatesCenturyParticularCapitalismExcitingClaimsRelationOriginalsStartingInternationalChinaDebateChineseOur TimeSurprising21st CenturyEmergingPolitical SystemsStarting Point Author:Timothy Garton Ash
“Seeking the Cave is part travelogue, part literary history, and part spiritual journey. James Lenfestey is a lively and entertaining tour guide. Modest, funny, curious, and wide open to the world, he gives us perceptive glimpses of Chinese culture, ancient to contemporary, and into what it means to be a poet, both now and twelve centuries ago. The account of his quest to find Han Shan's cave is a delight from beginning to end.” WorldGivingMeanEndsSpiritualCultureJourneyCenturyPoetAccountsAncientDelightSeekingWideGuidesContemporaryCuriousChineseTwelveEntertainingQuestsModestGlimpseCavesLivelySpiritual JourneyChinese CultureTour Guides Author:Chase Twichell
“President Bush said that American workers will need new skills to get the new jobs in the 21st century. Some of the skills they're going to need are Spanish, Chinese, Korean, because that's where the jobs went. Who better than Bush as an example of what can happen when you take a job without any training.” NeedsSaidHappensJobsPresidentCenturyExampleSkillsTrainingWorkersChinese21st CenturyPresident BushKoreanNew JobAmerican WorkersNew Skills Author:Jay Leno
“If you go to old houses on Long Island you will see painted Chinese wallpaper, which was big in the 18th century. Throughout history, notable, established families have always tried to link to the 18th century.” IfsLongBigsHouseCenturyChineseIslandsLinksNotable18th CenturyLong IslandOld Houses Author:Catherine Martin
“One of my inspirations, Harry Houdini, remains an icon of the art because he defied our primal fears. His demonstrations in the early 20th century, especially his escape from the Chinese water torture cell, represented triumph over suffocation, drowning, disorientation and helplessness.” ArtInspirationWaterCenturyArt IsRemainsCellsChineseTriumphTorture20th CenturyDrowningDemonstrationIconsHelplessnessPrimalDisorientationHoudiniPrimal Fear Author:Criss Angel