Sinoform

What Is Plant Dyeing? From Plants to Fabric

From roots and flower buds to colored fabric, explore plant dyeing and its place in Chinese textile traditions.

What Is Indigo Dyeing? From Dye Plants to Blue Fabric

From dye plants to blue fabric, explore how indigo dyeing works and its history in China and Japan.

What Is Tie-Dye? How Thread Creates Patterns on Fabric

Explore how tie-dye patterns are made, from Chinese jiaoxie to Japanese shibori and the Bai traditions of Dali.

Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year? The Renaming Campaign

Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year? We examine organized renaming campaigns, the festival’s lunisolar calendar and cultural origins, noting that names can shape beliefs and actions.

Chinese Calendar Explained: Lunisolar, Not Just Lunar

The Chinese calendar follows both the Moon and the Sun. Explore how its months, solar terms and leap months shape festival dates—and why “lunisolar” is a more accurate description.