Writings

What Ru Shi Writes

Whatever comes to mind. Sometimes a story I read, sometimes something that came to me while holding my mala beads.

All Writings

Why I Pour Out the First Cup of Tea: A Friend Thought I Was Wasting Money
Tea Time

Why I Pour Out the First Cup of Tea: A Friend Thought I Was Wasting Money

My friend watched me pour tea and dump the first steep. He looked horrified. Then an old man in a signless tea house in Chaozhou said one sentence that changed everything.

6/29/20267 min
Why the Whole World Is Practicing Ba Duan Jin: A Lazy Person's Honest 30-Day Account
wellness

Why the Whole World Is Practicing Ba Duan Jin: A Lazy Person's Honest 30-Day Account

I never thought I'd become a morning exercise person. Then I saw the whole world doing Ba Duan Jin on TikTok. A Chinese practitioner rediscovering their own culture through foreigners. After 30 days, my shoulders loosened, my neck stopped cracking, even meditation felt more grounded.

6/13/20268 min
A Bowl of Clear Water: Sen no Rikyu's Tea Was Never for Tea Experts
Tea Time

A Bowl of Clear Water: Sen no Rikyu's Tea Was Never for Tea Experts

The great tea master Sen no Rikyu said tea is nothing more than boiling water, whisking tea, and drinking it. Yet he spent a whole winter preparing for just that. What hides in a bowl of clear water?

4/25/202610 min
Cultural Confidence: Contemporary Life Through Eastern Aesthetics
What I See

Cultural Confidence: Contemporary Life Through Eastern Aesthetics

Cultural confidence is not blind pride but deep understanding and identification with one's own culture. Eastern aesthetics offers unique wisdom for modern life.

4/7/20267 min
Tea Ceremony: Heaven and Earth in a Cup
What I See

Tea Ceremony: Heaven and Earth in a Cup

A cup of tea contains heaven and earth. From the tea leaf to the boiling water, from the teapot to the teacup, everything is Dao.

4/7/20268 min
Incense Culture: Healing Body and Mind Through Millennia
What I See

Incense Culture: Healing Body and Mind Through Millennia

Chinese incense culture has a long history, from ancient sacrificial rituals to modern life aesthetics. Incense is not only a fragrance but also a healing for body and mind.

4/7/20269 min
The Sword Forged from Grinding: Modern Inheritance of Traditional Craftsmanship
What I See

The Sword Forged from Grinding: Modern Inheritance of Traditional Craftsmanship

Good swords are forged through grinding. Traditional craftsmanship also needs the sharpening of time to shine with new brilliance in modern society.

4/7/20268 min
History of Chinese Incense Culture: From Rituals to Lifestyle Aesthetics
What I See

History of Chinese Incense Culture: From Rituals to Lifestyle Aesthetics

Chinese incense culture spans thousands of years. From ancient rituals to modern lifestyle aesthetics, incense has always been an important part of Chinese culture. Understanding incense is understanding the Chinese spiritual world.

4/7/202615 min
Tea Ceremony: Zen and Life in a Cup
What I See

Tea Ceremony: Zen and Life in a Cup

Tea is not merely a beverage, but an attitude toward life. In the gestures of pouring water, adding tea, and serving, we discover the essence of Eastern culture and the serenity of existence.

4/7/202612 min
Amulets - A Spiritual Journey Through Culture
What I See

Amulets - A Spiritual Journey Through Culture

# Amulets: A Spiritual Journey Through Culture > "Every amulet is a vessel of blessings, a witness to history." ## Introduction Amulets, these small objects, carry cultural memories spanning thous

4/7/202610 min
Ji Xianlin: Life Wisdom of an Oriental Studies Master
Insights

Ji Xianlin: Life Wisdom of an Oriental Studies Master

Ji Xianlin devoted his life to researching Eastern culture, with countless publications. He taught us: True scholarship requires sitting on a cold bench; be sincere in life; the meaning of life lies in contribution.

4/7/202617 min
The Secret of Mala Beads: The Meaning of 108
What I See

The Secret of Mala Beads: The Meaning of 108

Why are mala beads usually 108? What does each bead represent? Understand the deep meaning behind mala bead counts and choose the right prayer beads for yourself.

4/7/202612 min
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