One could, in fact, get a little indulgent and quote Confucius — “The superior man seeks harmony, not conformity” — or whichever polished line from The Analects that reliably finds its way into a travel magazine. Although his ideas about equilibrium are often invoked whenever a Chinese landscape needs a philosophical footnote, the principle itself, for all its gravitas, is surprisingly practical: a well-lived life — and by extension, a well-thought-out environment — should balance human interaction with the natural realm, lest it offend the universe.
Showcased on Beijing’s former imperial grounds, Cartier’s second chapter of its En Équilibre high jewellery collection treads a fine balance between heritage and contemporary relevance
It is hard to resist a moment of reflection when you are standing in the mist drifting across Beijing’s Kunming Lake, like a silk scarf pulled loose, or watching the sun warm the tiled eaves of Aman Summer Palace until they glow the colour of old lacquer. Places this perfectly composed make it tempting to summon ancient wisdom.
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