Unveiling the Orient with Hanfugirl

For centuries, turquoise and lapis lazuli have been symbols of power, spirituality, and artistic mastery across civilizations. From Cleopatra’s mesmerizing eyeshadow to the striking turquoise masks of the Mayans, these stones held deep cultural significance. In this episode, we explore how turquoise became a prized gem of Tibetan royalty and played a role in a legendary Tang Dynasty challenge—wher...

Glass—ubiquitous, practical, and often overlooked—was once one of the most prized materials in the ancient world. In this episode of Unveiling the Orient , Hanfugirl and Thory explore the fascinating history of glass, from its origins in Mesopotamia and Egypt to its role in Chinese and European cultures. Discover how glass was once as valuable as gold, how the Chinese imitated jade with glass, and...

From Mikimoto pearls to Cleopatra's pearl drink, this episode will cover pearl history that spanned thousands of years across civilisations. While we casually chat over the obsession over pearls over the millenniums, we also talk about ethical and sustainability issues that have plagued mankind for as long as history itself.

Timekeeping is a universal human need, but did you know that the so-called “Lunar Calendar” isn’t actually lunar? In this episode of Unveiling the Orient , Hanfugirl and co-host Eustacia Tan explore how ancient civilizations, particularly in China and Japan, developed their calendars to balance agriculture, governance, and spirituality. We break down why early societies needed calendars, the surpr...

In this episode, we journey into the fascinating world of emeralds and jades in Chinese history—exploring the rise of jadeite, a gemstone that captivated China yet was never traditionally considered yu (玉). We’ll discuss the historical name for emeralds in China, the origins of feicui (翡翠) and its poetic ties to the kingfisher bird, and how jadeite reshaped the perception of jade in Chinese tra...

In this episode of Unveiling the Orient, host Hanfugirl Pan Pan and co-host Thory explore the fascinating history of sapphires and rubies. The opening segment introduces their global significance, starting with the iconic story of Princess Diana’s sapphire engagement ring, a symbol of love and royal history. Thory shares her personal love for colored gemstones, contrasting Western and Asian cultur...

Today’s episode is a special edition for Chinese New Year, and we’re diving into the fascinating world of the Chinese metaphysics. Every Chinese New  Year, you’ll see malls and organizations packed with zodiac predictions—promising everything from love to career forecasts. But just how accurate are these yearly predictions? And how about the taboos and beliefs surrounding zodiac signs? To help us...

In 1934, news articles started appearing on dragon sightings in northeast China. Within the span of a few months. villagers from several places reported seeing the dragon as depicted in paintings, appearing physically. Villagers rushed to witness what was said to be a dragon carcass and there was even an image published in the local newspaper of the said dragon bones surrounded by the villagers. C...