About SinoFolio
A place for curious questions.
What does a character on a doorway mean? Why does a celebration move around the calendar? There is often more to an everyday detail than first meets the eye.
SinoFolio is an independent English-language publication about Chinese culture. It starts with specific questions and follows the stories behind customs, symbols, festivals and ordinary objects.
The name brings together Sino-, meaning Chinese or relating to China, and folio, a leaf or page. Think of it as a growing collection of pages about Chinese life and traditions.
Context makes the story richer.
A festival can feel different from one family to another. A familiar symbol can hold several meanings. Our aim is to explain a useful starting point without turning one practice into a rule for everyone.
Articles link to museums, cultural institutions, reference collections and other relevant sources. You can follow those links, compare perspectives and explore beyond the story.
Read about sources and context
Keep the conversation open.
Questions, corrections and local perspectives are welcome. Get in touch and help add a little more context.