Old Wisdom, New Insights
Dettagli canale
Old Wisdom, New Insights
This podcast provides you with inspirational ancient wisdom that still applies today. We share stories of our ancestors and explain in-depth the meanings behind those savvy and motivating quotes. We dig deep so that you'll know exactly how to use it! Let the old wisdom guide your way!
Episodi recenti
40 episodi
Bonus episode: The key to running a country is to first enrich the people
In the traditional Chinese philosophy of governance, the people are considered the foundation of the country. Only when the people prosper can the cou...
Bonus episode: As long as the fundamental principles are upheld, all work will fall into place
This saying captures the logic behind China's political system today and explains why the country can accomplish megaprojects like the South-to-North...
Bonus Episode: Talk with Professor Steve Roddy on Old Wisdom New Insights Season 3
Surprise! One more episode! In this show, Niuniu talks with Professor Steve Roddy from University of San Francisco about all of the five historical fi...
The most incorruptible official in China's Qing Dynasty
What do you think are the most important qualities of a good government official? Competence? Foresight? Integrity? As for the star of this show, he h...
Bonus Episode: Q&A with Professor Steve Roddy on Author of China's 'A Thousand and One Nights'
In this episode, Niuniu continues her conversation with Professor Steve Roddy from University of San Francisco about Feng Menglong. Did you know that...
Author of China's 'A Thousand and One Nights' Part 2
What do you consider as the most decisive factor for success? Ability? Timing? Resources? Or outside support? All of the above are certainly important...
Author of China's 'A Thousand and One Nights' Part 1
Feng Menglong from the late Ming Dynasty was all of the following: a famous historian, an exceptional novelist and poet. His Sanyan trilogy of vernacu...
A great reformer with a controversial personality Part 2
How would you define success? Become rich? Famous? Or powerful? For our ancient friend Wang Anshi, none of these counted. How did he define success? L...
A great reformer with a controversial personality Part 1
We all know there are different facets to everyone's personality. Someone could be extremely intelligent, funny, ambitious and totally warmhearted and...
Bonus Episode: Q&A with Professor Steve Roddy on China's No.1 bamboo painter
A special episode just for you! In this show, Niuniu talks to Professor Steve Roddy from University of San Francisco. As someone who has been studying...
China's No.1 bamboo painter Part 2
In this episode, Zheng Banqiao's story continues. On top of being a great artist, the man was also a diligent official, the kind that would use his ow...
China's No.1 bamboo painter Part 1
What would a rustling and beautiful bamboo forest remind you of? Adorable pandas? Or the Oscar-winning martial arts epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Drago...
Northern Song Dynasty's top KOL Part 3
What is your understanding of inner peace? In Chinese, there is a saying "不以物喜, 不以己悲," which means "not to be affected emotionally by the mate...
Northern Song Dynasty's top KOL Part 2
One of Fan Zhongyan's most famous sayings is "先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐, which means "to be the first to bear the world's hardship, and the last...
Northern Song Dynasty's top KOL Part 1
What makes an influencer truly influential? Different people might have different answers. But one thing is for sure - if someone's article can turn a...
Season 3 trailer
Same podcast, same high quality of content!
This season, we'll bring to you cool Chinese sayings, thought-provoking old wisdom and shar...
A cool father, great educator and history-making revolutionary Part 2
What makes a good parent? Showing loving care? Being patient? Playing an exemplary role? Or all the above and much more? It is impressive enough to ra...
A cool father, great educator and history-making revolutionary Part 1
In your culture, what is the most well-known metaphor for youth? The one in Chinese would be a rising sun. For instance, "the red rising sun will ligh...
China's first patriotic poet Part 4
Have you ever played in a dragon boat race? Or have you tried sticky rice dumplings? Both of these can be experienced during China's Dragon Boat Festi...
China's first patriotic poet Part 3
Qu Yuan's story continues in this episode. Why was he considered the first poet ever? Why was his patriotism especially rare and valuable at the time?...
China's first patriotic poet Part 2
Do you have a dream that you'd be willing to do anything to realize or a goal that you’d pursue regardless of the immense challenges and obstacles? If...
China's first patriotic poet Part 1
Qu Yuan was a famous patriotic poet in ancient China. If you enjoy dragon boat racing or have a good appetite for sticky rice dumplings, you have this...
The legendary Chinese detective Part 2
Now let's switch gear from fantasy to reality! There are many sayings about the role of laws and regulations in a society. Author Austin O'Malley said...
The legendary Chinese detective Part 1
To most Chinese people, Bao Zheng is no doubt the best detective in Chinese history. The man stars many legends and is widely favored by fiction write...
A significant master in Chinese history Part 3
China has had a "people-centered philosophy" for a very long time. In prehistorical times, it was believed that a huge man named Pangu created the uni...
A significant master in Chinese history Part 2
The saying "you're never too old to learn" emphasizes the importance of continuous learning. Now it's time to put that concept into elegant Chinese wo...
A significant master in Chinese history Part 1
Zhu Xi was an influential neo-Confucian scholar, writer, and philosopher during China’s Song Dynasty. His contribution to Chinese culture is so signif...
The first Chinese to open his eyes and see the world Part 2
“Saving for a rainy day” doesn't mean you have to adopt a doom-and-gloom, disaster-prepper's mentality. But being alert to danger in times of peace mi...
The first Chinese to open his eyes and see the world Part 1
Wei Yuan, a famous thinker of China’s Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1912), is regarded as one of the first to help Chinese people see and learn from the world....
Season 2 Promo
Coming soon — The second season of Old Wisdom New Insights.
In this season, I'll continue to discuss classical Chinese sayings that are...
The ocean is big thanks to all the rivers flowing in
There is great value and strength in diversity. You can’t have a beautiful garden with only one variety of plant, just like you can’t paint a wonderfu...
Be friend with the nature
The human race once believed that we are and should be the master of nature and can take whatever we want from the planet. However, it turned out that...
Love your neighbors
Chinese people say, “better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away”(远亲不如近邻). It illustrates how much we value the relationships we have with...
Time and tide wait for no man
“Work hard, play hard” is a familiar motto for many people, but working hard is certainly more challenging than playing hard. If you want to motivate...
Sail in the same boat
Have you ever cooperated with an adversary because you faced mutual challenges together? Niuniu has, and they ended up becoming good friends afterward...
Match the medicine to the disease
In life, we all need to learn how to find effective solutions to complex problems. The hardest step is identifying the root cause and applies the best...
Lead by example
Imagine a chain composed of heavy metal links. If you wish to move the chain, you won’t “push it,” since the links might hit one another, clinking lef...
There is strength in numbers
Chinese people believe in the power of collective effort. We enjoy a good superhero story, but we also believe that even Superman needs a team like th...
Every rose has its thorn
It’s said that “he who wants a rose must respect the thorn,” which tells us that even the best situations have their downsides. There’s a Chinese equi...
Agree to disagree
Have you ever met somebody who is completely different to you but is still likeable? If you want to agree to disagree and still get along with them, h...