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Happy (Unofficial) Durian Day! 10 Funky Fun Facts About This Prickly Fruit

While June 26 isn’t officially Durian Day, we agree with Fly FM, an English-language radio station based in Malaysia, that it should be. That’s why we’re celebrating with 10 funky fun facts about this king of the fruits.

Posted on June 24, 2020

Tagged: asian culture, food

The Ancient Art of Chinese Calligraphy: Four Treasured Tidbits

Chinese calligraphy has long been viewed as the supreme visual art form. But how did it originate and what makes it so special?

Posted on May 04, 2020

Tagged: asian culture

Out of the Blue: Five Fun Facts About Classic Blue and White

Blue is already one of our favorite colors (after red of course). The only thing that makes it better is putting it on white.

Posted on April 27, 2020

Tagged: asian culture, decor & fashion

Peaceful white figurine of Guan Yin against a bright background

Six Serene Things You Might Not Know About the Goddess of Mercy

The Goddess of Mercy, also known as Guan Yin, is a peaceful figure that you’ll see in parks, temples, and homes around the world. But what does she represent exactly?

Posted on April 20, 2020

Tagged: asian culture, feng shui

The King of Flowers: Six Things You Might Not Know About the Precious Peony

Spring is finally in the air, which means flowering seasons have begun! Here are six blossoming bits about the pulchritudinous peony.

Posted on March 12, 2020

Tagged: asian culture

Beautiful blue dragon decoration hanging from ceiling

Benevolent Creatures of the Sea: 6 Things You Didn’t Know About Dragons in Chinese Culture

The Blue Dragon or Longtaitou Festival is almost here, which has gotten us thinking about dragons. While in Western culture, they're usually depicted as ferocious fire-breathers, in Chinese culture they're quite different. Here are six things you might not know about these important, mythical beings.

Posted on February 19, 2020

Tagged: animals, asian culture

The Laughing ‘Buddha’: 6 Playful Pieces of Trivia About Budai

You might know this jolly, corpulent fellow as the “fat” or “laughing Buddha,” but did you know he's not a Buddha at all? Learn more about this delightful deity.

Posted on February 02, 2020

Tagged: asian culture, feng shui

Little girl and her mother playing with a Chinese lion puppet

Lunar New Year Activities: 8 Festive DIY Ways to Ring in the Year of the Rat

Sure, lion dancing, firecracker displays, and other Lunar New Year festivities are lots of fun, but what do you do on the days there are none? You make your own of course!

Posted on January 13, 2020

Tagged: asian culture, lunar new year

Your Guide to Daruma Dolls: Helping You Set Your Goals Since the 19th Century

We could all use some encouragement as we strive to achieve our goals and resolutions in the New Year. A cute Japanese daruma doll might help!

Posted on January 08, 2020

Tagged: asian culture

Artist-in-Residence Jerry Ma: A Comic Book Odyssey

In our newest exhibition, A CHINATOWN ODYSSEY, Jerry Ma modernizes the classic Chinese tale of the Monkey King. We had the chance to speak to the graphic novel artist about his exhibition, experiences with Comic Con, and love for a Chinatown gone by.

Posted on January 06, 2020

Tagged: art, artist interview, asian culture

Multi-colored zodiac animal brocade ornaments

The Year of the Rat: Everything You Need to Know

While last year was positively piggy, this year starting Jan. 25, we’re raving about the rat. Here’s everything you need to know about this resourceful rodent.

Posted on January 02, 2020

Tagged: animals, asian culture, lunar new year, zodiac animals

Three Japanese tea cups with red sea bream

From Abundance to Victory: Five Ways Fish Swim in Significance in Asian Culture

If you’ve ever perused our aisles or website, you might have noticed that fish are a big theme in everything from ceramics to parasols to lanterns. That’s because the aquatic creature plays an important role in various Asian cultures. Here are five ways our finned friends swim in significance.

Posted on November 12, 2019

Tagged: animals, asian culture, feng shui

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