Hobbies And Interests
Nesting Boxes
Chinese nesting boxes are a series of boxes that fit one inside the other. Russian matryoshka dolls, also known as babushka dolls, are a more modern interpretation of the same idea. The boxes have been popular for hundreds of years among children and for storage.
Takeout Boxes
The most recent and widespread version of the Chinese box is the ubiquitous paper takeout box with a thin metal handle, usually available in a variety of sizes. These can be either simple or ornate, white or multicolored, and are often used by individuals for storage or gift packaging, as well as by Asian diners and restaurants.
Plant Species
The plant species Murraya exotica, also known as Chinese box or orange jessamine, is a flowering shrub that grows well in humid environments; in the United States it is most successfully grown in Florida. The extensive online database Dave's Garden associates the name Chinese box with a different species in the same genus, Murraya paniculata. Murraya paniculata is said to grow in Texas, southern California and Louisiana.
The Movie
"Chinese Box" is also a 1997 movie based in Hong Kong. In 1997, the British government relinquished Hong Kong, turning rule over to the People's Republic of China. The story follows English photojournalist John (Jeremy Irons), who has lived in Hong Kong for 10 years and has just discovered he has leukemia. He roams the streets of Hong Kong to document "the real Hong Kong," not expecting to live long enough to see the city taken over by the Chinese. As of publication "Chinese Box" gets 6 of 10 stars on IMDb's review database and 3 of 5 stars on Blockbuster's.
Episode of "Numb3rs"
"Chinese Box" is also a 2007 episode of the TV series "Numb3rs," where an FBI mathematician uses an obscure thought experiment known as the "Chinese Box" to defray a hostage situation in an elevator. The "Chinese Box" theory in the episode is actually a reference to Searle's "Chinese Room" argument.
Narrative Style
The term "Chinese box" refers to a literary style that involves a narrative positioned within another narrative, sometimes continuing through multiple layers. This recursive technique allows an author to give different points of view for the same events. Examples include Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and Jostein Gaarder's "The Solitaire Mystery."