thyrotropin-releasing hormone, simplest of the hypothalamic neurohormones, consisting of three amino acids in the sequence glutamic acid–histidine–proline. The structural simplicity of thyrotropin-releasing hormone is deceiving because this hormone actually has many functions. It stimulates the

thyrotropin-releasing hormone, simplest of the hypothalamic neurohormones, consisting of three amino acids in the sequence glutamic acid–histidine–proline. The structural simplicity of thyrotropin-releasing hormone is deceiving because this hormone actually has many functions. It stimulates the

thyroxine, one of the two major hormones secreted by the thyroid gland (the other is triiodothyronine). Thyroxine’s principal function is to stimulate the consumption of oxygen and thus the metabolism of all cells and tissues in the body. Thyroxine is formed by the molecular addition of iodine to

Thyrsis, elegiac poem by Matthew Arnold, first published in Macmillan’s Magazine in 1866. It was included in Arnold’s New Poems in 1867. It is considered one of Arnold’s finest poems. In Thyrsis Arnold mastered an intricate 10-line stanza form. The 24-stanza poem eulogizes his friend, poet Arthur

moray: …(5 feet), but one species, Thyrsoidea macrurus of the Pacific, is known to grow about 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) long. Morays are eaten in some areas of the world, but their flesh is sometimes toxic and can cause illness or death. One species of moray, Muraena helena, found in the…

fern: Annotated classification: Family Thyrsopteridaceae Stems erect and trunklike or sprawling, hairy and with a mantle of roots, often producing slender runners; leaves large (up to 3.5 metres [11.5 feet]), 3 to 5 times pinnately compound, the axes grooved on the upper surface, the fertile portions with reduced laminar…

thyrsus, in Greek religion, staff carried by Dionysus, the wine god, and his votaries (Bacchae, Maenads). In early Greek art the Bacchae were usually depicted as holding branches of vine or ivy, but after 530 bc the staff to which the name thyrsus properly applied began to be shown as a stalk of

Tirso River, river in central Sardinia, Italy, the chief stream of that island. It rises on a plateau near Buddusò and flows about 90 miles (150 km) southwest through Lake Omodeo and across the marshy plain of Oristano to enter the Gulf of Oristano. It is used for hydropower and

gastropod: Classification: …plus a Neotropical group (Thysanophoridae) and a relict group of Asia (Corillidae). Superfamily Oleacinacea Carnivorous (Oleaciniidae) and herbivorous (Sagdidae) snails of the Neotropical region. Superfamily Helicacea

thrips, (order Thysanoptera), any of approximately 5,000 species of insects that are among the smallest of the winged insects and are abundant in the tropical and temperate regions of the world. Thrips are economically important since some species transmit plant viruses. Feeding by thrips may

cephalopod: Locomotion: Some squids (Onychoteuthis, Thysanoteuthis) are able to “fly” for several hundred feet, driven into the air by powerful thrusts from their jets and gliding on their expanded fins and arm keels. This normally occurs when the squids are pursued by predatory fishes and dolphins. When the squid jets…

cephalopod: Ecology: …of the large oceanic squid Thysanoteuthis rhombis have been reported at Madeira. Although there is no proof that numbers constitute gregariousness, octopus colonies have been reported.

apterygote: …Archaeognatha, and Monura (formerly the thysanurans).

Thysdrus, ancient Roman city south of Hadrumetum (modern Sousse) in what is now Tunisia. Although it was originally a native community influenced by Carthaginian civilization, Thysdrus probably received Julius Caesar’s veterans as settlers in 45 bce. Thysdrus did not become a municipium (settlement

sacrifice: Ancient Greece: …of two types: rites (thysia) addressed to the Olympian deities, which included burning part of a victim and then participating in a joyful meal offered to the gods during the daytime primarily to serve and establish communion with the gods; and rites (sphagia) addressed to the infernal or chthonic…

Thyssen family: …he established the firm of Thyssen & Co. KG at Mülheim. Recognizing the vast natural resources of the Ruhr for iron and steel production, he literally transformed the region. By the outbreak of World War I he was employing 50,000 workers and producing one million tons of steel and iron…

Thyssen AG, former German corporation that, prior to its 1999 merger with Krupp AG, was the largest steel producer in Europe. It operated ironworks, steelmaking plants, and rolling mills; made building materials, automotive parts, and machinery; and engaged in trading and financial services. Its

Thyssen AG, former German corporation that, prior to its 1999 merger with Krupp AG, was the largest steel producer in Europe. It operated ironworks, steelmaking plants, and rolling mills; made building materials, automotive parts, and machinery; and engaged in trading and financial services. Its

Thyssen family, one of the world’s wealthiest families, its fortune based on a vast iron and steel empire established in the late 19th century. August Thyssen (b. May 17, 1842, Eschweiler, Westphalia [Germany]—d. April 4, 1926, Kettwig, Ger.), variously called “King” and “Rockefeller of the Ruhr,”

Thyssen AG: …in a new joint venture, Thyssen Krupp Stahl AG, that represented the third-largest steelmaker in the world. In 1999 Thyssen and Krupp combined all of their remaining businesses to create ThyssenKrupp AG, a metals and mining company with additional interests in areas such as the automotive industry, elevator design and…

Thyssen family: Amelia zur Helle Thyssen (b. 1878?—d. Aug. 25, 1965, Puchhof, Bavaria, W.Ger.) inherited the Thyssen steel and coal empire upon the death of her husband, Fritz, in 1951. During World War II she had voluntarily joined her husband at the Dachau concentration camp and later…

Thyssen family: August Thyssen (b. May 17, 1842, Eschweiler, Westphalia [Germany]—d. April 4, 1926, Kettwig, Ger.), variously called “King” and “Rockefeller of the Ruhr,” was a self-made millionaire. Born to a poor family in the Rhineland, Thyssen nonetheless managed to save 20,000 marks by his early 20s…

Fritz Thyssen was a German industrial magnate, head of the great Vereinigte Stahlwerke (United Steel Works) combine, and an early and lavish financial supporter of the National Socialist movement. The son of a German iron and steel pioneer, Thyssen succeeded to his father’s industrial empire in

ThyssenKrupp AG, leading German metals, engineering, and manufacturing company founded in 1999 through the merger of Krupp (Fried. Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp) and Thyssen (Thyssen Industrie AG). The two companies combined at a time of consolidation among many steel companies in Europe and the United

China: Confucianism and philosophical Daoism: …for a permanent substratum (called ti, “substance”) behind the world of change (called yong, “function”). It started from the assumption that all temporally and spatially limited phenomena—anything “nameable”; all movement, change, and diversity; in short, all “being”—is produced and sustained by one impersonal principle, which is unlimited, unnameable, unmoving, unchanging,…

ti, (genus Cordyline), genus of tropical trees and shrubs in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), native to Asia, Australia, and some Pacific islands. Many are grown as ornamental plants. The underground stems of some species are used for food and the long leaves for roofing material and clothing.

Egyptian art and architecture: Relief sculpture and painting: …the tombs of Ptahhotep and Ti at Ṣaqqārah.

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI), American manufacturer of calculators, microprocessors, and digital signal processors with its headquarters in Dallas, Texas. The direct antecedent to the company was founded May 16, 1930, by John Clarence (“Doc”) Karcher and Eugene McDermott to provide

Transparency International (TI), a nonpartisan, nonprofit nongovernmental organization (NGO) founded in Berlin in 1993 to expose corruption and reduce its harmful effects around the world, especially on the poor and underprivileged. TI consists of a global network of approximately 100 national

titanium (Ti), chemical element, a silvery gray metal of Group 4 (IVb) of the periodic table. Titanium is a lightweight, high-strength, low-corrosion structural metal and is used in alloy form for parts in high-speed aircraft. A compound of titanium and oxygen was discovered (1791) by the English

di, in music, transverse (or side-blown) bamboo flute of the Han Chinese. Traditional di have a membrane of bamboo or reed tissue covering the hole that is located between the mouth hole and the six finger holes. This membrane creates a distinctive sound characteristic of much Chinese flute music.

Italian literature: Other writings: …and Ti con zero [1968; t zero]). Paolo Volponi’s province is the human consequences of Italy’s rapid postwar industrialization (Memoriale [1962], La macchina mondiale [1965; The Worldwide Machine], and Corporale [1974]). Leonardo Sciascia’s sphere is his native Sicily, whose present

ti: Ti, or ti tree (Cordyline australis), is a common ornamental. In the wild it is a tree up to about 12 metres (40 feet) tall with a crown of long leaves, but it is much shorter when grown as a houseplant. It has green or white flowers…

Derek Walcott: …his identity and his heritage; Ti-Jean and His Brothers (1958), based on a West Indian folktale about brothers who seek to overpower the Devil; and Pantomime (1978), an exploration of colonial relationships through the Robinson Crusoe story. The Odyssey: A Stage Version appeared in 1993. Many of Walcott’s plays make…

Triratna, in Buddhism the Triratna comprises the Buddha, the dharma (doctrine, or teaching), and the sangha (the monastic order, or community). One becomes a Buddhist by saying the words “I go to the Buddha for refuge, I go to the Doctrine for refuge, I go to the Order for refuge.” In Jainism the

triśikṣā, in Buddhism, the three types of learning required of those who seek to attain enlightenment. The threefold training comprises all aspects of Buddhist practices. Arranged in a progressive order, the three are: (1) śīla (“moral conduct”), which makes one’s body and mind fit for

Dizang, in Chinese Buddhism, bodhisattva (buddha-to-be) who is especially committed to delivering the dead from the torments of hell. His name is a translation of the Sanskrit Kshitigarbha (“Womb of the Earth”). Dizang seeks to deliver the souls of the dead from the punishments inflicted by the 10

di, in music, transverse (or side-blown) bamboo flute of the Han Chinese. Traditional di have a membrane of bamboo or reed tissue covering the hole that is located between the mouth hole and the six finger holes. This membrane creates a distinctive sound characteristic of much Chinese flute music.

mobile telephone: Development of cellular systems: …by a committee of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) in 1988, employed digital modulation and digital voice compression in conjunction with a time-division multiple access (TDMA) method; this also permitted three new voice channels in place of one AMPS channel. Finally, in 1994 there surfaced a third approach, developed originally…

nervous system disease: Occlusive strokes: …divided into four groups: (1) Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are the mildest occlusive strokes; symptoms last for minutes or hours. TIAs are usually caused by small emboli, such as fragments composed of blood cells or cholesterol, that are swept into the circulation of the brain from the arteries of the…

Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter, comic novel by Mario Vargas Llosa, published as La tía Julia y el escribidor in 1977. Vargas Llosa uses counterpoint, paradox, and satire to explore the creative process of writing and its relation to the daily lives of writers. One half of the story is an

fasciolopsiasis: …effective include levamisole, mebendazole,  and thiabendazole. In India and Thailand and in China and other parts of East Asia, infection in humans is usually contracted following ingestion of uncooked aquatic plants containing cysts of the worm larvae. A simple but effective preventive measure is the immersion of aquatic foods in…

Tiwanaku, major pre-Columbian civilization known from ruins of the same name that are situated near the southern shore of Lake Titicaca in Bolivia. The main Tiwanaku site was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2000. Some scholars date the earliest remains found at the site to the early part

Tiamat, in ancient Mesopotamian mythology, the primordial goddess who was the personification of the salt sea and the mother of the gods. She also was associated with the chaos of creation. Tiamat and Apsu (also spelled Abzu), the personification of the fresh water beneath the earth, are the source

tian, in indigenous Chinese religion, the supreme power reigning over lesser gods and human beings. The term tian may refer to a deity, to impersonal nature, or to both. As a god, tian is sometimes perceived to be an impersonal power in contrast to Shangdi (“Supreme Ruler”), but the two are closely

Tian Han was a Chinese playwright and poet known for his expressive and powerful one-act plays. Tian wrote librettos for traditional Chinese opera when he was a teenager. He studied for several years in Japan, where he developed a lasting interest in modern drama. Under the influence of the May

Yalu River: The Yalu rises in Tian Lake (known in Korean as Ch’ŏn Lake), a body of water of indeterminate depth on top of Mount Baitou (Mount Paektu), on the Chinese–North Korean border, at an elevation of about 9,000 feet (2,700 meters) above sea level. Winding southward as far as Hyesan,…

Wendi: …a female servant, one called Tian Long (Heavenly Deaf One), the other Di Ya (Earthly Mute). The names suggest that Wendi must turn a deaf ear to those who inquire about the secrets of literature, for such a topic necessarily leaves one speechless.

Tien Shan, great mountain system of Central Asia. Its name is Chinese for “Celestial Mountains.” Stretching about 1,500 miles (2,500 km) from west-southwest to east-northeast, it mainly straddles the border between China and Kyrgyzstan and bisects the ancient territory of Turkistan. It is about 300

Tian Han was a Chinese playwright and poet known for his expressive and powerful one-act plays. Tian wrote librettos for traditional Chinese opera when he was a teenager. He studied for several years in Japan, where he developed a lasting interest in modern drama. Under the influence of the May

Zhu Shijie: …the northern Chinese technique of tian yuan (“method of the celestial unknown”), a kind of algebraic computation performed with counting rods to solve problems. This method, also contained in books written by Li Ye (1192–1279), was developed primarily to calculate the dimensions of simple geometric figures, given their volume or…

Beijing: City layout: …on either side of the Tiananmen (Tian’anmen; “Gate of Heavenly Peace”), the southern, and main, entrance to the Imperial City that stands at the northern end of Tiananmen Square. Within the Imperial City, in turn, was the moated Forbidden City, with walls 2.25 miles (3.6 km) long. The Forbidden City…

Tiananmen Square, open square in the centre of Beijing, China, one of the largest public squares in the world. Tiananmen Square was originally designed and built in 1651. It was enlarged to four times its original size and cemented over in 1958. It covers an area of 100 acres (40.5 hectares), and

Tiananmen Square, open square in the centre of Beijing, China, one of the largest public squares in the world. Tiananmen Square was originally designed and built in 1651. It was enlarged to four times its original size and cemented over in 1958. It covers an area of 100 acres (40.5 hectares), and

Tiananmen Square incident, series of protests and demonstrations in China in the spring of 1989 that culminated on the night of June 3–4 with a government crackdown on the demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Although the demonstrations and their subsequent repression occurred in cities

Tiananmen Square incident, series of protests and demonstrations in China in the spring of 1989 that culminated on the night of June 3–4 with a government crackdown on the demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Although the demonstrations and their subsequent repression occurred in cities

Abahai was a Manchurian tribal leader who in 1636 became emperor of the Manchu, Mongols, and Chinese in Manchuria (Northeast China). In addition, for his family he adopted the name of Qing (“Pure”), which also became the name of the Chinese dynasty (1644–1911/12) ruled by the Manchu. Abahai was the

Tiangong, any of a series of three Chinese space stations, the first of which was launched on September 29, 2011. The first two Tiangongs were each an 8,500-kg (18,700-pound) cylinder that was 3.4 metres (11.2 feet) in diameter. They had two sections: a forward pressurized module that contained the

Shenzhou: …2013, carried three astronauts to Tiangong 1 for a two-week mission. The next Chinese space station, Tiangong 2, was visited only by Shenzhou 11 in late 2016. Two astronauts spent more than 32 days in orbit.

Shenzhou: The next Chinese space station, Tiangong 2, was visited only by Shenzhou 11 in late 2016. Two astronauts spent more than 32 days in orbit.

China: Literature and scholarship: …organization, and war tactics; and Tiangong kaiwu (1637; “Creations of Heaven and Human Labor”), on industrial technology. Ming scholars also produced numerous valuable geographical treatises and historical studies. Among the creative milestones of Ming scholarship, which pointed the way for the development of modern critical scholarship in early Qing times,…

Sanguan: …Chinese Daoism, the Three Officials: Tianguan, official of heaven who bestows happiness; Diguan, official of earth who grants remission of sins; and Shuiguan, official of water who averts misfortune. The Chinese theatre did much to popularize Tianguan by introducing a skit before each play called “The Official of Heaven Brings…

Guangzhou: Other districts: Tianhe district, east of the Dongshan area, was created in 1985 from parts of the former eastern suburbs, and it is now considered to be one of the core districts of the central municipality. Its mixed urban and suburban landscapes now include business and shopping…

Tianqi was the reign name (niaohao) of the 16th and penultimate emperor (reigned 1620–27) of the Ming dynasty, under whose rule the infamous eunuch Wei Zhongxian (1568–1627) dominated the government while the dynasty disintegrated. Ascending the throne at the age of 15, the Tianqi emperor preferred

Huainan, prefecture-level industrial city, north-central Anhui sheng (province), China. Until the 20th century Huainan was a minor town called Tianjia’an, under the jurisdiction of Shouxian, some 18 miles (30 km) to the west. Its development began with the discovery of coal deposits in the locality

Tianjin, city and province-level shi (municipality), northern China. It is located to the east of Hebei province, at the northeastern extremity of the North China Plain. After Shanghai and Beijing, it is the third largest municipality of China. It is also the most important manufacturing centre and

bridge: Tianjin Grand Bridge: The Tianjin Grand Bridge extends 113.7 km (70.6 miles) between Langfang and Qingxian and serves as a railway viaduct for the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway. The bridge opened in 2011 and is the third longest bridge in the world.

China: Industrialization for self-strengthening: …(Jiangnan) Arsenal in Shanghai, the Tianjin Machine Factory, and the Fuzhou Navy Yard; there were many other smaller ones. However, the output was disappointing—the shipyard at Fuzhou, for example, built 15 vessels during the half decade after 1869 as scheduled, but thereafter it declined and was destroyed in 1884 during…

Tianjin Massacre, (June 21, 1870), in Tianjin (Tientsin), China, violent outbreak of Chinese xenophobic sentiment that nearly precipitated international warfare and signaled the end of the “cooperative policy” between China and the Western treaty powers. Before the incident, rumours circulated in

China: The anti-foreign movement and the second Opium War (Arrow War): During June four Tianjin treaties were concluded that provided for, among other measures, the residence of foreign diplomats in Beijing and the freedom of Christian missionaries to evangelize their faith.

Confucianism: The Song masters: …To him the presence of tianli (“heavenly principle”) in all things as well as in human nature enables the human mind to purify itself in a spirit of reverence. Cheng Yi, following his brother’s lead, formulated the famous dictum, “Self-cultivation requires reverence; the extension of knowledge consists in the investigation…

long: …dragons: the Celestial Dragon (Tianlong), who guards the heavenly dwellings of the gods; the Dragon of Hidden Treasure (Fuzanglong); the Earth Dragon (Dilong), who controls the waterways; and the Spiritual Dragon (Shenlong), who controls the rain and winds. In popular belief only the latter two were significant; they were…

Tianlong Shan, site in central Shanxi province in China containing a series of Buddhist cave temples dating from the mid-6th century. The sculptures in these temples represent the Tang dynasty style of the late 7th and 8th centuries. Many intact and fragmentary examples of these famous Tang

Nurhachi was a chieftain of the Jianzhou Juchen, a Manchurian tribe, and one of the founders of the Manchu, or Qing, dynasty. His first attack on China (1618) presaged his son Dorgon’s conquest of the Chinese empire. The Juchen (Chinese: Nüzhen, or Ruzhen) were a Tungus people who belonged to those

tianming, in Chinese Confucian thought, the notion that heaven (tian) conferred directly upon an emperor, the son of heaven (tianzi), the right to rule. The doctrine had its beginnings in the early Zhou dynasty (c. 1046–256 bce). The continuation of the mandate was believed to be conditioned by the

Tianqi was the reign name (niaohao) of the 16th and penultimate emperor (reigned 1620–27) of the Ming dynasty, under whose rule the infamous eunuch Wei Zhongxian (1568–1627) dominated the government while the dynasty disintegrated. Ascending the throne at the age of 15, the Tianqi emperor preferred

Taoism: The Way of the Celestial Masters: …have received the title of tianshi, and by the latter part of the 2nd century, under the leadership of his descendants, the Tianshidao constituted an independent religio-political organization with authority throughout the region, a “Taocracy” (rule of Tao), in which temporal and spiritual powers converged. For ceremonial and administrative purposes,…

Tianshidao, great popular Daoist movement that occurred near the end of China’s Han dynasty (206 bce–220 ce) and greatly weakened the government. The Tianshidao movement became a prototype of the religiously inspired popular rebellions that were to erupt periodically throughout China for the next

Tianshui, city, southeastern Gansu sheng (province), north-central China. It is situated along the Wei River and was historically an important place along the Silk Road, the great route westward from Chang’an (present-day Xi’an, Shaanxi province) to Central Asia and Europe. This route is today

Zhengtong was the reign name (nianhao) of the sixth and eighth emperor of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), whose court was dominated by eunuchs who weakened the dynasty by a disastrous war with Mongol tribes. In 1435 Zhu Qizhen ascended the throne and became known as the Zhengtong emperor, with his

Luis Tiant was a professional baseball player who was one of the outstanding pitchers of the 1970s and won more games than any other Cuban-born player, compiling a record of 229 victories and 172 losses, with an earned run average (ERA) of 3.30 in 19 major league seasons. His 2,416 strikeouts are

Luis Tiant was a professional baseball player who was one of the outstanding pitchers of the 1970s and won more games than any other Cuban-born player, compiling a record of 229 victories and 172 losses, with an earned run average (ERA) of 3.30 in 19 major league seasons. His 2,416 strikeouts are

Tiantai, rationalist school of Buddhist thought that takes its name from the mountain in southeastern China where its founder and greatest exponent, Zhiyi, lived and taught in the 6th century. The school was introduced into Japan in 806 by Saichō, known posthumously as Dengyō Daishi. The chief

Tiantai Mountains, mountain chain in eastern Zhejiang province, eastern China. Tiantai is also the name of a mountain in the chain. The range forms the northeastern extension of the great Xianxia Mountains in southern Zhejiang, which form the watershed between the Ling River and the Ou River,

Tiantai Mountains, mountain chain in eastern Zhejiang province, eastern China. Tiantai is also the name of a mountain in the chain. The range forms the northeastern extension of the great Xianxia Mountains in southern Zhejiang, which form the watershed between the Ling River and the Ou River,

Temple of Heaven, large religious complex in the old outer city of Beijing, considered the supreme achievement of traditional Chinese architecture. Its layout symbolizes the belief that heaven is round and earth square. The three buildings are built in a straight line. The Hall of Prayer for Good

Mo Yan: …Tiantang suantai zhi ge (The Garlic Ballads) was published, followed in 1995 by the collection Mo Yan wenji (“Collected Works of Mo Yan”). Of the stories contained in the latter book, Mo himself was most satisfied with Jiuguo (1992; The Republic of Wine). The novel Fengru feitun (1995; Big…

Chanthakuman was the ruler of the Lao kingdom of Luang Prabang who was confronted by increasingly serious local, regional, and international threats to his state’s survival. Chanthakuman was the second son of King Mangthaturat, and succeeded his elder brother Suk Soem (Souka-Seum) in 1852 as a

Chinese painting: Zhou dynasty (1046–256 bce): …questions or riddles in the Tianwen (“Questions to Heaven”), attributed to the poet Chu Yuan, are traditionally thought to have been inspired by wall paintings.

Mars: Spacecraft exploration: The Chinese mission Tianwen-1 consisted of an orbiter and a small rover, Zhurong, which landed on Mars on May 14. The American Mars 2020 mission carried the Perseverance rover, which had a drill designed to collect core samples that could be taken to Earth for analysis. Perseverance landed…

Tang was the reign name of the Chinese emperor who overthrew the Xia dynasty (c. 2070–c. 1600 bc) and founded the Shang, the first historical dynasty ( c. 1600–1046 bc, though the dating of the Shang—and hence also of the Tang emperor’s founding of it—have long been the subject of much debate). As

Ningbo: The contemporary city: …oldest library building in China, Tianyige, is in the western part of the city. Its collection of rare books and documents dates to the 11th century and includes many unique local chronicles of the Ming dynasty.

Tao Qian: …the first great poet of tianyuan (“fields and gardens”), landscape poetry inspired by pastoral scenes (as opposed to the then-fashionable shanshui [“mountains and rivers”] poetry). Essentially a Daoist in his philosophical outlook on life and death, he also freely adopted the elements of Confucianism and Buddhism that most appealed to…

Tiangong: An uncrewed cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou 1, performed docking and refueling maneuvers with the station in 2017. Tiangong 2 reentered Earth’s atmosphere in July 2019.

tian: …as Son of Heaven (tianzi), and their authority was believed to emanate from tian. Beginning in the Zhou dynasty, sovereignty was explained by the concept of the mandate of heaven (tianming). This was a grant of authority that depended not on divine right but on virtue. Indeed, this authority…

Taoism: The Lingbao scriptures and liturgies: …series of “celestial worthies” (tianzun), its primordial and uncreated manifestations. These in turn were worshipped by means of a group of liturgies, which, during the 5th century, became supreme in Taoist practice, completely absorbing the older, simpler rites of the Way of the Celestial Masters. As each celestial worthy…

Kaifeng Jew, member of a former religious community in Henan province, China, whose careful observance of Jewish precepts over many centuries has long intrigued scholars. Matteo Ricci, the famous Jesuit missionary, was apparently the first Westerner to learn of the existence of Chinese Jews. In

taj: …developed out of the ancient tiaras (see tiara) worn in the Mesopotamian valley. A hat of notability and prestige, the taj is often made of rich fabrics, brocaded, and bejeweled. Most, however, are made of felt or leather.

Saxifragaceae: Heartleaf foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) of North America is used in folk medicine as a diuretic and tonic. Creeping saxifrage (Saxifraga stolonifera), native to China and Japan, is used in Java, Vietnam, and various parts of China for earaches and other ear problems. It is also…

Tiaret, city, northern Algeria. It lies at the southern end of Ouarsenis Massif (in the Tell Atlas Mountains) on the slopes of Mount Guezoul (4,510 feet [1,375 metres]) at the edge of the High Plateau (Hauts Plateaux). Wadi Tiaret flows through the city to join Wadi Mîna. Tiaret’s citadel stands on