The land of Jingchu boasts a long history and profound cultural heritage, with numerous idioms and allusions. These idioms serve as mirrors reflecting the unique charm and profound depth of Jingchu culture.

Recently, the book «Following Idioms to Discover Jingchu Treasures» has been officially published. This book uses idioms as unique cultural symbols to guide readers into the treasure house of Jingchu culture and explore those cultural relics hidden by time.

Linguistic Essence and Cultural Treasures Complement Each Other

Hubei, this ancient and magical land, has nurtured countless well-known idioms. Statistics show that there are over five hundred idioms related to the Jingchu region. From «blazing the trail» describing arduous beginnings to «turning weapons into plowshares» embodying peace concepts; from «keeping the casket and giving back the pearls» mocking misplaced priorities to «mistaking the reflection of a bow in the cup for a snake» satirizing excessive suspicion — these idioms have endured for millennia, still circulating in people’s conversations with enduring vitality. As the essence of language, idioms contain rich historical and cultural connotations and profound life philosophies, offering important enlightenment through both positive inspiration and negative warnings. Meanwhile, from human evolution sites dating back millions of years to the tremendous changes in modern society, the ancestors of Jingchu created abundant material wealth on this land, leaving behind countless cultural relics. These precious idioms and cultural artifacts shine like brilliant pearls embedded in the land of Jingchu, illuminating each other.

The preface eloquently states: «Understanding both Jingchu culture and Chinese civilization requires transmitted texts and archaeological discoveries. Idioms, as the essence of transmitted texts, carry historical memories; while cultural relics, as treasures of archaeological discoveries, embody cultural essence. Together they witness historical changes and civilizational evolution, and when they intersect, they inevitably spark brilliant insights.»

This book carefully selects 50 familiar idioms from numerous options and matches them with over a hundred exquisite cultural relics that complement and enhance each other. This approach not only visually demonstrates the richness of Jingchu culture but also confirms its important position in Chinese civilization history. Through the dual perspectives of cultural relics and idioms, readers can glimpse the unique charm of Jingchu culture and appreciate the profound depth of Chinese civilization.

A Beneficial Attempt to «Make Cultural Relics Shine with New Brilliance»

The idiom «blazing the trail» born in the Chu region — what historical connection does it have with the State of Chu? This book selects a Western Zhou bronze ding unearthed from Tomb No. 2 at Yejiashan in Suizhou, Hubei, comparing bronze inscriptions with historical records to let the artifact «speak» about the hardships during Chu’s founding — the Chu monarch held a low noble rank initially, only a viscount, excluded from formal ceremonies during royal gatherings and relegated to guarding sacrificial fires, suffering much neglect.

Bronze Ding, Western Zhou, Hubei Provincial Museum

The interpretation of cultural relics’ value doesn’t stop there. Through in-depth interviews with authoritative experts on Chu culture, the extended reading sections vividly recount how Xiong Yi, the founding monarch of Chu, endured humiliation while driving simple firewood carts and wearing ragged clothes to lead his people in reclaiming wasteland and farming diligently in the Jing Mountains. It also traces Chu’s development from a territory of less than a hundred li to «five thousand li of land,» creating a highly developed and uniquely styled regional culture. The enduring idiom «blazing the trail» and the cultural treasures preserved in the Chu region serve as powerful witnesses spanning millennia.

Painted Se, Early Warring States Period, Hubei Provincial Museum

Throughout this book, familiar idioms like «blazing the trail» paired with star cultural artifacts abound everywhere — the Tiger Stand Bird Frame Drum represents the aesthetic pinnacle of Chu culture, with its long-legged, high-headed phoenix birds singing triumphantly, evoking the Chu-born idiom «amazing the world with a single brilliant feat»; the simultaneous discovery of guqin and guse in the Marquis Yi of Zeng’s tomb, with decades of restoration research allowing us to hear the ancient harmony of «perfect harmony» today; Hubei’s only excavated gong-type bronze vessel serves as the perfect representation of «wine cups and mora chips lying about in disorder» described by Ouyang Xiu.

Animal Mask Pattern Gong, Early Western Zhou, Suizhou Museum

Currently, while publications about Chu idiom stories, Hubei idiom stories, and Hubei cultural relic introductions exist in the market, books that combine Jingchu cultural relics with idiom interpretations remain extremely rare. «Making cultural relics radiate new vitality and shine with new brilliance» — this book represents a beneficial attempt in this regard. Simult

Western Zhou bronze ding

The Western Zhou bronze ding is a ceremonial food vessel cast during the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 1046–771 BCE) in ancient China. These intricately decorated bronze tripods were used in ancestral rituals and symbolized political power and social status. Many surviving examples feature inscriptions that provide valuable historical records of the period’s events and social structure.

Painted Se

The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina, Romania, are a group of Orthodox churches built in the 15th and 16th centuries, renowned for their vibrant and well-preserved exterior frescoes. Commissioned by Moldavian rulers like Stephen the Great, these UNESCO World Heritage sites feature elaborate biblical scenes intended to educate the illiterate. Their unique artistic value and historical significance make them outstanding examples of Byzantine art and Moldavian cultural heritage.

Tiger Stand Bird Frame Drum

«Tiger Stand Bird Frame Drum» is a type of ancient Chinese bronze drum, a ceremonial and musical instrument originating from the Dian Kingdom during the Warring States period (475–221 BCE). It is renowned for its intricate design, typically featuring a tiger-shaped base, a drum body decorated with birds, and elaborate patterns depicting scenes of Dian culture and rituals. These drums were symbols of power and wealth, often used in important ceremonies and as burial objects for the elite.

guqin

The guqin is a traditional Chinese string instrument with a history spanning over 3,000 years, revered as a symbol of Chinese literati culture. Often associated with scholars and philosophers like Confucius, it was traditionally played for meditation and self-cultivation. Its subtle, meditative sounds and refined playing technique led to its UNESCO recognition as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003.

guse

I am unable to provide a summary for «guse» as it is not a clearly identifiable place or cultural site. The term could be a misspelling, a very local name, or an acronym. If you meant the «Gusev Crater» on Mars, named after Russian astronomer Matvey Gusev, I would be happy to provide information on that.

Marquis Yi of Zeng’s tomb

The tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng, discovered in 1977 in China’s Hubei province, dates back to the Warring States period (around 433 BCE). It is most famous for the incredible burial goods unearthed there, most notably a complete and remarkably sophisticated set of 65 bianzhong (bronze ritual bells). This find has provided invaluable insight into the musical sophistication, ritual practices, and bronze-casting technology of ancient China.

Animal Mask Pattern Gong

The Animal Mask Pattern Gong is a significant bronze artifact from the ancient Dian Kingdom of China, dating to the Warring States period (c. 5th-3rd centuries BCE). It is renowned for its intricate three-dimensional decoration, featuring a central boss surrounded by a ring of sculpted animal masks, often depicting tigers or bovine creatures. This ceremonial drum exemplifies the advanced bronze-casting techniques and unique animist-influenced artistic style of the Dian culture in the Yunnan region.

gong-type bronze vessel

A gong-type bronze vessel is a ritual food container from ancient China, primarily used during the Shang and Zhou dynasties (c. 1600–256 BCE). These vessels were cast using sophisticated piece-mold techniques and often featured intricate taotie (monster mask) designs. They played a central role in ancestral worship ceremonies and symbolized the owner’s power and social status.