Herbert Rosendorfer

There is no splendour in this city. We always assume that a great city radiates splendour, that those who live in a great city, in Kai-feng, in Hang-chou, in Fu-chon, or in Kuangchou, absorb and reflect something of the splendour of the great city, that the splendour and glory of our Exceedingly Gracious arid Celestial Ruler is increased by a great city, and that the Imperial Splendour is then reflected back on the city and its inhabitants.More ...

I assumed there were no public festivities for the bignoses, but there are and, I can tell you, they are worse than their sullen moods. Some time ago, before my last letter to you, Mr Shi-shmi took me to one such public festivity...More ...

Next to the tower is a building, if one can call it that, which was a complete enigma to me. Even Yii-Ien-tzu, who in most things is a man of intellect and discernment, was as proud as if he had cast it himself. The building has virtually no roof at all, just part of it is covered with with a grubby thing that vaguely recalls a huge tent...More ...

Our conversation touched on various subjects and eventually came round to the art of painting. Mr Te-cho soon realised that I knew very little at all about painting in his world and very kindly offered to show me some the very next day -yesterday that was -since, as he said, he happened to have the time. More ...