Yeren: The Wild Man Of China

Article by Robert Benjamin

The debate on the link between humans and apes has not yet been completely resolved, according to many experts. Neanderthals who were evidenced to have existed in Central and Northern Asia 350,000 years ago, provided the scientific community with information on human evolution.

Compared to the famous Bigfoot and sasquatch of North America, China has its own version of the creature, called yeren in the native tongue, which translates as wild man. Paleontologists claim that possibly 1,000 to 2,000 of the yeren live in Central China, particularly in Shennongjia Nature Reserve, in Hubei province. Variants of the name are xueren, yiren and yeh ren, which more accurately means wild man of Shennongjia.

The yeren is described as a large animal, appearing much like the orangutans of Southeast Asia, but are bipedal and can walk upright. The height of the creature is estimated between five to seven feet, with the entire body covered with red to dark brown fur. The yeren has a large belly, but is reported to be able to move quickly and run fast. The facial region resembles a cross between an ape's and a human's. The yeren can leave a large footprint, about 16 inches long, displaying five toes like humans, but with a structure closer to that of apes.

Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have gathered evidences for the existence of the yeren, which is claimed to have been seen by many tourists in the Shennongjia Nature Reserve. These experts have been able to uncover footprints, and have even made plaster moldings for further examination. Most scientists theorize that the yeren may have been a species of giant ape, called Gigantopithecus blacki, which lived in Asia but was declared to have been extinct for over 500,000 years.

Many of the locals believe that the yeren is a carnivore and preys on humans. Their tales narrate stories of giant beasts that grab captive humans by the arms and eat their flesh after. Though the Chinese scientific community continues to send expedition! s to the nature reserve in search of the yeren, many of their assumptions remain as theories. However, the stories of the yeren continue to be part of Chinese folklore and myths.

According to the journal of Cryptozoology, some more detailed descriptions of the Chinese wild man are: the hairs covering its body are about three to four centimeters long, the male genitalia resembles that of humans, the female yeren has prominent breasts, and the creature gives a distinctive yell as part of its language.

Combined theories from accounts and observations of yeren stories claim that these creatures don't live in communities, but males and females move about in pairs. Though they walk on two hind legs, the yeren can use all four limbs when running fast or when climbing. As old tales regard the yeren as man-eaters, most accounts claim that they eat fruits such as berries and nuts, sometimes insects, and empty corn cobs have been located in areas where the footprints were sighted.

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The Dynasties of China: A History

Shang, Chou, Han, T'ang, Sung, Yuan, Ming, Ch'ing — for most Westerners, they stand only as adjectives to describe a lacquer, a bronze, a silk, a watercolor. And for all the familiarity a blue and white porcelain vase from the Ming dynasty or the bright and sturdy pottery figures of horses and grooms from the T'ang may now have acquired, the history of the civilization that produced them remains obscure. So do the names of the potters and artists and philosophers and emperors and generals — except perhaps for those of Kublai Khan, who was not Chinese, and K'ung Fu Tzu — known as Confucius — who flourished a century before Socrates. Focusing upon the incidents and personalities that epitomize most vividly each of the dynasties, this lucidly narrated volume, beautifully illustrated by a lavish selection of color photographs, places in their historical context the images that came to define imperial China from its origins in 1600 B.C. to the revolution of Sun Yat-sen in October 1911. It provides a background to China's turbulent twentieth century, which is surveyed in an informative postscript, highlighting such events as the troubled presidency of Chiang Kai-shek, Mao Tse-tung's ruthless Cultural Revolution, and the 1989 student protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

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Yuan Mei: Eighteenth Century Chinese Poet (China: History, Philosophy, Economics)

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Chinese Classical Furniture (Images of Asia)

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Art in China (Oxford History of Art)

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China boasts a history of art spanning 5,000 years and embracing a wide diversity of images and objects--from jade tablets, painted silk handscrolls and fans to ink and lacquer painting, porcelain-ware, sculpture, and calligraphy. But this rich tradition has not, until now, been fully appreciated in the West where scholars have focused their attention on sculpture, while largely ignoring those art forms most highly prized by the Chinese themselves, such as calligraphy. Now, in Art in China, Craig Clunas marks a breakt! hrough i n the study of the subject. Taking into account all the arts practiced in China, and drawing on recent innovative scholarship, this rich text examines the production and consumption of art in its appropriate contexts. From art found in tombs to the state-controlled art of the Mao Zedong era, Art in China offers a novel look and comprehensive examination of all aspects of Chinese art.

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The Flower Phoenix is an ancient handscroll which has been created through generations of women artists. The original page of the handscroll was created by China's Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai. The Tang Dynasty is considered by many to be the height of Chinese artistic culture, and Li Bai is China's most renowned ancient poet. Li Bai was inspired by the beauty of Yang Mei. Yang Mei inspires the master painter Wu Daozi. Wu Daozi creates the second page of the Flower Phoenix handscroll. Legends say that Wu Daozi was a mystical painter, who at the end of his life painted a doorway in the side of a mountain, opened the door and disappeared forever.
Each generation creates panels in the book. By telling the story, the storyteller creates a portal into the Realm of the Flower Phoenix. The "storybearer" reads the story and summons the power of the energy of all the generations.
The story opens with Mable "Peach Blossom" Yang's one hundredth birthday celebration. She is going to pass the book on to the next generation. Mable is the most potent storybearer in the family line.
Hand scroll paintings were rolled from one side to the other and as each painted section was revealed, the story of the imagery was viewed and discussed. The book unfolds over many generations and the lives of the long line of women artists who created the Flower Phoenix are brought to life by the telling.The Flower Phoenix is an ancient handscroll which has been created through generations of women artists. The original page of the handscroll was created by China's Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai. The Tang Dynasty is considered by many to be the height of Chinese artistic culture, and Li Bai is China's most renowned ancient poet. Li Bai was inspired by the beauty of Yang Mei. Yang Mei inspires the master painter Wu Daozi. Wu Daozi creates the second page of the Flower Phoenix handscroll. Legends say that Wu Daozi was a mystical painter, who at the end of his life painted a doorway in the side of a mountain, opened the door and disappe! ared for ever.
Each generation creates panels in the book. By telling the story, the storyteller creates a portal into the Realm of the Flower Phoenix. The "storybearer" reads the story and summons the power of the energy of all the generations.
The story opens with Mable "Peach Blossom" Yang's one hundredth birthday celebration. She is going to pass the book on to the next generation. Mable is the most potent storybearer in the family line.
Hand scroll paintings were rolled from one side to the other and as each painted section was revealed, the story of the imagery was viewed and discussed. The book unfolds over many generations and the lives of the long line of women artists who created the Flower Phoenix are brought to life by the telling.

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BK0271Y-Chinese Painted Fancy Basket , Vintage, China, Wood (Mu), Antique Asian Decor: Chinese Paint

  • Vintage
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  • Red / Gold
  • 13" wide x 13" deep x 16.5" high
Chinese painted fancy food basket with carved images of bats of happiness and deer on lid and other Chinese symbols on the bottom rim. Reed handles and red lacquered finish.

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Chinese calligraphy writing and brush painting / sumi set

  • Great starter set
  • 5 brushes, ink well / stone, ink stick, signing ink, stone chop, brush rest, & water well
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  • Size: 8.5" x 6"
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Chinese character writing is a highly evolved discipline that relies as much on artistic craftsmanship, as it does on literary composition. Our basic writing set comes with two brushes, a black ink stick, ink stone and red ink for the "chop" or signature stamp. The ink is made by gently rubbing the ink stick in a small pool of water in the ink stone. This ancient method allows for very little waste. The same bushes and inks may be used both for writing and painting, as the two art forms are so closely linked. Our writing set comes from Shanghai, the literary capital of China. Also available on Amazon from REORIENT, is the traditional rice paper used for painting and writing.

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Myths and Legends of China (Illustrated)

Myths and Legends of China (Illustrated)
- more than 50 unique color illustrations relevant to the book
- designed for your reading enjoyment.
- active Table of Contents

"Myths and Legends of China" explores ancient myths of traditional
Chinese folklore.
It is a great reference text and wonderful collection of rarely translated stories.
You can learn more and have fun with this detailed, beautifully and richly
illustrated book.

This timeless work includes:

- "How the Monkey Became a God"
- "Dragons"
- "Dragon Gods"
- "Fox Legends"
- "A Battle of Gods"
- "The Goddess of Mercy"
- "The Guardian of the Gate of Heaven"
- "The Eight Immortals"
-"The Gods of China"
- "Myths of the Stars"
.....and many, many more
Myths and Legends of China (Illustrated)
- more than 50 unique color illustrations relevant to the book
- designed for your reading enjoyment.
- active Table of Contents

"Myths and Legends of China" explores ancient myths of traditional
Chinese folklore.
It is a great reference text and wonderful collection of rarely translated stories.
You can learn more and have fun with this detailed, beautifully and richly
illustrated book.

This timeless work includes:

- "How the Monkey Became a God"
- "Dragons"
- "Dragon Gods"
- "Fox Legends"
- "A Battle of Gods"
- "The Goddess of Mercy"
- "The Guardian of the Gate of Heaven"
- "The Eight Immortals"
-"The Gods of China"
- "Myths of the Stars"
.....and many, many more

Price:

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