The Awakening Beyond the System: Why I Founded XUN·Selections, Curating Only the Unique

Hello everyone, I'm Xun(迅).This is the very first blog post since I launched my independent store. I want to share the journey, the choices, and the philosophy behind creating XUN·Selections with you.

▶Floating in the System, Searching for Meaning

I grew up in Guangzhou, a thriving city in Guangdong, China. I majored in Social Work in university.

After graduating in 2015, my career path was tethered to what many consider "stability." I worked for a government unit, responsible for elderly care service supervision. Despite role changes, my non-permanent employee status meant my actual income was always lower than those with formal positions.

The discomfort grew. Starting in April 2024, the third-party company responsible for my payroll repeatedly delayed wages, sometimes by up to three months.

In China, government work is often seen as the ultimate safe harbor. Yet, for me, this "stability" felt like a slow erosion of time. The fixed routine and predictable paycheck only fueled my inner restlessness. I was stuck in a rut, waiting for a true awakening.

▶The Awakening: A Call to Unique Beauty

In January 2025, I made a pivotal decision: I officially resigned.

Soon after, my family and I embarked on an extensive journey across over ten cities, including Hangzhou, Chengdu, Jinan,and Xiamen. We immersed ourselves in the beauty and local customs of our country.

My most profound experience was visiting numerous provincial and municipal museums.

Standing before those treasured relics, the ancient wisdom and spiritual aura captivated me. Each artifact was a story, silently whispering the glory and vicissitudes of the past.

I became deeply fascinated by the museums' cultural and creative products. Their exquisite details were breathtaking. What truly excited me was that these were not mass-produced replicas, but unique, rarely-seen cultural carriers.

I have a natural resistance to the commonplace and the trending. If a product or style suddenly becomes a massive, ubiquitous hit, my aesthetic intuition sends an immediate warning, and I instantly lose interest. I know my innate aesthetic talent only vibrates for items that are genuine, possess enduring beauty, and carry a profound story. This unwavering commitment to true excellence made me realize that what I yearned to share was a unique beauty that would never be cheapened by fleeting trends. My favorites remain the Sun and Immortal Birds Ornament from the Jinsha Site Museum and the Han Dynasty Money Tree from the Sichuan Museum. 

This passion for unique, story-filled objects planted the seed for the next chapter of my life.▶Failed Attempts and a Return to Core Values

After the journey, I launched my first entrepreneurial endeavor—a cross-border e-commerce business on TikTok focused on pet supplies. Despite efforts in sourcing, logistics, and marketing, the sales were poor, and I closed the business in October.

I refused, however, to simply liquidate the remaining stock. My university courses in Social Work taught me to believe that business must align with social responsibility and the spirit of altruism. I decided to donate all remaining pet supplies to a local animal rescue shelter, redirecting dormant resources to where they were most needed. This closed that chapter on a positive, meaningful note.

It was during the TikTok experiment that I discovered the world of the Independent Website. Seeing others realize their dreams through their own platforms made me realize this was the path for me.

The answer was always clear: Cultural Products were my true passion. I realized I could use my trusted eye to handpick those enchanting, story-filled objects and, as a first step, share them through my own platform with others who share my unique taste.

▶The Birth of XUN·Selections: A Promise of Curation

XUN·Selections was born from this realization.
“Selections” means Curation: It is not just a store, but a window to Culture, Stories, and Uniqueness. I aim to deliver the beauty of Chinese Heritage, the finesse of Oriental Art, and every beautiful object that brings a sense of Eastern living ritual into your home.

My selection logic is clear and firm: We don't chase fast fashion or mainstream trends (Beyond Mainstream). We only curate items that possess deep cultural roots and can become a unique, timeless imprint of your personal taste.

This commitment to connect, share, and empower perfectly aligns with the principles I learned:

• Connect: Bridging ancient culture with modern life; Oriental Aesthetics with a global perspective.
• Share: Sharing profound cultural stories and philosophies of life.
• Empower: Allowing a small, curated selection to elevate your enhance spiritual enjoyment, and serve as the most thoughtful, unique story-carrier you can give.

I know running an independent store is a long, challenging journey. But I'd rather fight for this genuine passion and belief than languish in bureaucratic stability.

Oriental Aesthetics is my personal expression of unique taste and spiritual enrichment.

▶Conclusion: Let's Explore Aesthetic Living

If you, like me, are tired of the mundane, seeking a unique, story-driven item to elevate your life; if you struggle to find unique gifts rich in cultural significance; if you yearn for a cultural connection from afar...

Then welcome. I invite you to join me in this exploration of culture and Aesthetic Living at XUN·Selections.

Let us bring the charm of history into the present, curating a unique beauty for every discerning soul.

Explore More and Infuse Your Life with Timeless Art. ACQUIRE YOUR TREASURE to Begin Your Aesthetic Journey.