What are the things that reflect everyday Chinese aesthetics, and how can they influence the world?
Believing that each man-made object reflects a society’s technological skills and ideological aspects during a certain period, Wu Xuefu and his dedicated team have been seeking the answer for many years.
About Author
Wu Xuefu, a professor of art and design at Communication University of China
Table of Contents
Shoe-pad
Cupping Jar
Pot for Preparing Chinese Medicine
Thimble
Rolling Pin
Ornamental Walnut
Bean Curd
Shuttlecock
Chopsticks
Jiaozi Dumpling
Guan Yu
Pixiu
Amulet
Cabbage
Folding Stool
Cloth Tiger
Chinese Prickly Ash
Candied Haws on a Stick
Buddhism Beads
Mandarin Duck Quilt
Bamboo Mat
Clothes Scrubbing Board
Fermented Bean Curd
Human Acupuncture Point Model
Itch Scratcher
Lunar Almanac
Palm-leaf Fan
Piggy Bank
Liuwei Dihuang Pill
Long-life Lock
Huarongdao Puzzle
Red Envelope
Sponge Gourd Brush
Mahjong
Erguotou
Glass Ball
Iron Pan
Purple Clay Teapot
Honeycomb Briquette
Pillow Cover
Abacus
Preserved Egg
Red Lantern
Xinhua Dictionary
Thermos
Double Happiness Papercut
Toilet Water
Official Seal
Liberation Shoes
Brown Envelope
Scraper
Mosquito Incense
Red Scarf
Chunghwa Cigarette
Red Sleeve Badge
Mutton Hotpot0
Tiger Balm
Embroidered Banner
Small Electric Oven
Exercises Books with Checked Paper
Sandbag
Three-line Badge
Mat outside the Door
Writing Exercises Book
Cotton/Plastic Portière
Certificate of Merit for “Three-Good Student”
Hotel Slippers
Glue Roller
Spittoon
Red-blue-white Bag
Glass Bottles for Tea
Red Underwear
Split Pants
Plastic Flower
Red Cordon
Quick Tie
Bicycle
Disposable Cigarette Lighter
Chinese Lazy Susan Table
Banlangen
Scrubbing Bath Towel
Amulets Featuring Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou
Suction Pump
Hot Water Bottle
Moon Cake
Bird’s Nest Ashtray
Pulled School Bag
White Cat Washing-up Liquid
Dish Cover
Fuwa
Seat Belt Buckle
Electric Mosquito Swatter
Vegetable Scrubber
Business Calendar
100-yuan Note
Banknote Verification Machine
Electronic Painting
Commemorative Coins for the High-speed Railway
Yutu-2 Moon Rover Model
Motor Tricycle Taxi
Dabao SOD Lotion
Peking Chicken Roll
Invoice
‘Chinese Dream’ Liquor
Sun Hat with a Face Cover
Safety Helmet
Electronic Foot Bathing Tub
QR Code-based Payment Card
Electronic Firecrackers
Shower Heater
Eight Treasures Porridge
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Preface
Ordinary articles in common use in China by the largest population in the world have already become symbolized objects. But how many people, to be exact, have ever noticed their cultural values? If every article has its objective denotation and connotation, then tens of thousands of Chinese stuff must have cohered into a unique cultural system beyond their own physical properties, a system of objects which is infused with psychic energy and possesses cultural properties.