Chinese antiques history has gone through quite a ride even in this past century. For thousands of years China lived in splendid isolation, far from plaques that ravaged the west. The states within China had independence to fight amongst themselves. Often between Mings and others, as in the days of Marco Polo, China was led by an Mongol emperor. When the "Golden Hordes" of Mongols swept terror through to Moscow and Warsaw they were able to wind back out the Teutonic arrows of their silken shirts, while fallen knights in heavy armour found themselves wielding their long heavy sword to their death.



The great irony of this is that the present population of Mongolia is 2.8 million, all living north of the Great Wall of China, south of which live 1,300 million people which these Mongols conquered and ruled, and where Kublai Kahn did build his fabled Zanandu, the greatest pleasure palace the world had ever known. Even reduced Russia has 140 million people, Belarus and Poland both 35 million, and these Golden Hordes sacked Moscow, and made it to the gates of Warsaw, until the death of Kublai caused the Mongols to lose interest and return east. How did they accomplish this when their "hordes" were golden, not not really hordes? By spreading terror ahead of them.

Always some survivors would be allow to watch the slaughter, then be mutilated, then given a head start to make it to the next town to the west. Taking a break, the Mongols would then rage forward again, to find a fairly deserted, or surrendering village or palace, such as Samarkand. But that northern hard heart lives on in Beijing, up very close to the northern Great Wall, with all it's history of blood and bodies buried in the construction of the wall. Now it is happening again, in an entirely new way. China became Socialist in 1949, declared by 1979 it was glorious to get rich, and has rather caught on to our game rather like Japan and Taiwan, and mentor to China for model of capitalist riches, Hong Kong.

Now, as with Japan 40 years ago, except that Japan was well within the democratic orb of western ways after 1945. China has been humiliated for centuries and is showing the world that it's turn has come, and it is still built on the Confucian principles of no after life but all work in harmony for the emperor. And so they are, and so they have now had an old enemy, the Dhali Lhama inserted into this equation. All Chinese have been taught about this terrorist who has masterminded all these spontaneous outbursts of anger by idealistist people in London, Paris, and less and less as more police from China joined the Torch Parade.

Democratic torch of freedom as political farce. How sad yet predictable such a distortion of Buddhish meditators seeking a holy life. Now the Godless person in the street begins to sound like the leaders, and they talk about boycott of French stores in China for the impunity of the people of Paris. And we think that brings up an interesting suggestion: boycott. Slow that CO2 coal stew spew one little bit by skipping the huge buggy line with junk you don't need. Which your card would be far wiser used to buy a Chinese ancient Ming, or thing, clear your mantle, Mickey. And as with Japan, some soon richer Susie Wong will tire of her government monitored cell phone and wonder where her great grand mother's Ming vase is.

Oh, look on the net, and yes, you bet, there is does set. On your mantle, and when she calls, be inscrutable. To kowtow is to bow very deep to the emperor. Marco Polo returned to Venice not with coal, but with riches. He could kowtow like none other; the historical rule is as emperor or princess you are obliged to chop their head off or grant their wish. Even if she speaks Oxford English, only word you understand after you add 3 zeroes to price you paid, is yes. When she says that, your kowtow will cause Marco to deeply kowtow his admiration.

Imagine Chinese antiques prices in a decade, when their billions really start to add up. You will wish you had bought more now.