Monthly Archives: July 2025

Yearning: Love, Loss, and Redemption in 1980s China

Ke Wang

Introduction: “渴望” (Ke Wang), also known as “Yearning,” is a 1990 Chinese television series directed by Lu Xiaowei and headlined by Zhang Kaili, Sun Song, and Zhao Na. Set in the fictional city of Xiangcheng, this evocative series unravels the lives of three young individuals navigating the tumultuous waters of love and happiness against the […]

Did Martial Arts Sects Exist?

Did Martial Arts Sects Exist

Historical Truth vs. Modern Mythmaking The image is iconic: secluded mountaintop monasteries echoing with the clash of wooden training weapons, venerable masters imparting secret techniques to chosen disciples bound by solemn oaths, and fierce rivalries between distinct combat lineages each boasting unique philosophies and deadly skills. This is the pervasive popular conception of historical Chinese martial arts […]