The teacher and the student

What's your favourite period in terms of Chinese dynasties and aesthetic inspiration?

I think every dynasty left behind something that inspired people. Some periods encouraged and inspired others to act upon them. For example, Laozi [Lao Tzu] has a book named Daode Jing [Tao Te Ching]. There are only a few words in it, but it's been an inspiration to a lot of people; it's like a reference for wisdom. And then there's [Chinese philosopher] Zhuangzi from the Eastern Wave dynasty and the Buddhist statue, which people looked up to for wisdom as well. And then there's the Ming Emperor… I think they were all an inspiration. Over the 5,000 years of Chinese culture and history, one dynasty happened after another, one culture was passed down and got mixed – so eventually they've all appeared in our daily lives, if only in some small way.