Chinese Culture (General)

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Dear Master, Thanks for your prompt reply... really appreciated it Regards, Mystic Dragon

Questions: a. My Grandmother (mum’s mom) just passed away yesterday. From a Feng Shui angle, how will this affect - our wedding on (this date that is more than 100 days.) Can the family members still attend our wedding? b. Our proposed house warming on (within 100 days). Can we still go ahead with that? My condolences. c. Move in is no issue since it is within the 100 days. d. As to family member's attendance: traditionally is NO. Since it is out of the 100 days reprieve. d. However in modern times: do check with both partner's parents. Some parents are very flexible while others adhere to strict Chinese Traditional Guidelines. 1. The Tra…

Dear Anon, 1.1. The deities are known as Fu, Lu, and Shou in Chinese/Mandarin, representing the Three Stars. 1.2. Each deity symbolizes a specific attribute: Fu = Prosperity Lu = Status Shou = Longevity. 1.3. The concept of Fu Lu Shou originated in the Ming Dynasty, embodying the ideals of Prosperity, Status, and Longevity. 1.4. In the Hokkien dialect group, they are referred to as Hock, Lock, and Siew. 1.5. In Cantonese style, it is said as LUK FUK and SAU. 2. Another important point to consider is that traditional Chinese (Mandarin) books are written from right to left. Based on this information, the correct order to position the 3 st…

Chinese Legend of the Eighteen levels of Hell with King Yama as their Supreme Governor 1. This legend is based on Diyu 地獄 a Buddhist concept of the ream of hell known as Naraka. 1.1. Naraka is an underground maze with many levels of chambers where the souls of the dead are taken to atone for their sins committed when they were alive. 1.2. One Legend says that there are two main chambers: The East and The West Chambers of Hell. 2. Here, sinners are perpetually subjected to gruesome tortuers until infinity. 3. The East Chamber of Hell 3.1 Tongue Extraction Chamber: Still want to Gossip? Stop it! 3.2 Scissors Chamber: Finger torture, snip, …

Lee Sifu, Traditionally, Chinese of Hokkien heritage revere the sugarcane, most likely a during the Lunar New Year. As it symbolizes sweetness as it goes on the top, there is a legend that the ancestors of the Hokkien people were saved by the sugarcane field by hiding inside (the field) as their enemies burned their village...they found no one's in the village so the attackers left the place without killing someone.

Dear Anon, As most of us are aware, Chinese who migrated overseas to escape the communist rule are considered more affluent than those on mainland China. These group of Chinese (those who had migrated overseas) have been exposed to food from other culture. A very good example is in my country and even neigbouring countries. As we have a diverse mix of race e.g. Chinese, Malays, Bugis people, Indians, Eurasians and others.. you will find lots of type of food available. The Chinese is `known' to eat anything even exotic food if given the opportunity. Depending on where one is born, some prefer spicy and hot food i.e. lots of chillies, chilli padies etc.. while others eat m…

Dear Users, I have received multiple emails requesting an explanation of the importance of Kong Teck. Chinese Traditions: What does "Kong Teck (Gong De) 功德 Funeral Memorial" signify? 1. It is believed that this ritual brings blessings to the departed soul. 2. In the traditional sense, it is preferred that an individual passes away peacefully, free from suffering, rather than through a tragic or painful event. 3. It is believed that the guardians of the underworld are compassionate beings who come silently to escort the soul of the deceased to the afterlife. 4. Kong Teck, also referred to as 功德 " Gong De " in Mandarin, is a traditional r…

Dear Susan, 1. In Chinese culture, the toad and frog are symbols of the moon. 2. Generally, the Chinese do not distinguish between the toad and the frog, as they are typically regarded as the same. 3. Since the Chinese cultivate rice in wet fields, toads and frogs are commonly found in these areas as they thrive in such environments. 4. Due to their slippery texture, the Chinese refer to frogs as 'Heavenly dew' and consider them to be the heavenly chicken or celestial cock. 5. According to ancient Chinese lore, rulers and scholars found the croaking of frogs and toads to be 'irritating,' and legend has it that if they instructed the frogs or toads to be silen…

2025 (C) Geomancy.net Once upon a time, when plastics were hard to come by or not as sturdy as a wooden stool; many homes used them. These wooden stools can withstand rain or water or can be used in the bath rooms. I remembered, clearly when I was young, back then in the 1960's a servant seating on such a stool to wash clothes or holding a life chicken seated on it with a knife to slice the neck of that chicken.

Dear Anon, The closet equivalent, I believe is `cheese'. For example, cheddar cheese is not smelly while some other cheese is quite `smelly'. I believe is the `baterial' (edible kind) that makes some cheese smelly. I am not familar with the names of cheese but the kind that is sprinkled on pizza's can be `quite smelly' (or to some, a lovely smelly smell). There is something like `blue' cheese etc... Similarly, the smelly doufu, is because of its interaction with `edible baterial'. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Chinese culture holds the belief that sweeping the floor on the first day of the lunar new year brings bad luck. This notion is rooted in the desire to begin the new year on a positive note. Additionally, the significance of avoiding negative remarks is acknowledged, as it aligns with the intention of starting the new year afresh. The celebration of Chinese New Year spans a total of 15 days. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. Based on my personal observations, this holds particularly true during the 15 days of the Chinese New Year. 2. It is essential to comprehend that according to Chinese beliefs, items should be given in pairs, not singularly. 2.1. For instance, when presenting an 'Ang Pow' or red packet containing money in a red envelope during Chinese New Year or special occasions like an elderly person's birthday, the amount should be in pairs like $2, $4, $6, $10, and so on. 2.2. This practice is rooted in the belief that odd numbers like 1, 3, 5, 7 symbolize "loneliness." 2.3. In Feng Shui, this principle extends to the arrangement of chairs at a d…

Spring water and China - Laoshan Oldenlandia Water Dear Anon, I took the opportunity to take a picture of what the `green' mineral water looks like. By the way, the correct `English' spelling on the bottle is: Oldenlandia Water. This is the description on the label: OLENLANDIA WATER Make of the abstracted fragrant essense of oldeniadia with Laoshan mineral water rich in mineral elements and it is indeed a refreshing drink for all seasons around the year with a tradition of quality sinces 1962. It is bottled by Qindao Laoshan Oldenlandia Water Co Ltd, China. It is the addition of oldeniadia to Laoshan mineral water that gives it a unique flavour. I …

Dim Sum Facts Dim Sum originated with the Cantonese in Southern China. While it started as a snack, it has now become a stable of Chinese dining culture. It is treated as a meal where friends and families gather together to have a relaxing and happy dining experience. The serving sizes of dim sum are small and often come in 3 and 4 pieces. Because of the small serving sizes, one can try a huge variety of food. Eating dim sum ar a restaurant is usually known in Cantonese as going To "drink Tea" (yum Cha), as tea is typically served with dim sum. Traditionally dim sum includes various types of steam buns such …

Phoh Teck Siang Tng Temple At 106 Pasir Panjang Road. Also the Blue Cross Charitable Institution. Strange to find a variant of the Knight’s Templar emblem on it’s wrought iron gate. No wonder... it is called the Blue Cross Usually a "pure temple" uses the Swastica Buddhist symbol is used, instead. This temple was built around the early 1990’s thus is considered pretty new. The 1995 streetmap of The temple:

Further to what I mentioned below, this link will show the charm against the Five poisonous animals: http://www.geomancy.net/mypictures/cgi-bin/imagesearch.cgi?search=charm&img=8&cat=all There is also a charm to ward off evil for boys (left picture). Warmest Regards, Cecil

1st October 2020

Major Chinese Festivals All Major & Minor Chinese Festivals are based on the Lunar or Moon Calendar System. The most significant days are always the 1st & 15th lunar days of any month = days of Full Moon. One of the most popular gods in many Chinese homes is the Goddess of Mercy. And offerings often coincide with the above days of Full Moon. Compiled by Master Cecil Lee, Copyright (C), Geomancy.net, January 2000 Chinese history is over 5,000 years old. This page is specially created for Overseas Chinese and anyone interested in understanding the roots. Dates are also provided for major Chinese festivals (see below). …

Some Chinese belief that spirits can reside (or built) a home inside a reasonable large tree trunk. Five oranges were offered I suppose to the Five Spirits. A common theme in many "praying rituals" is to respect the Five spirits: North, South, East, West and Central. What is unique here is the entire tree trunk is wrapped in the "worship" YELLOW coloured cloth. Kind of remind me of the winter "clothing" that some trees in cold countries are wrapped in... during my wintervisits to countries such as Korea...

The idea of praying to the Five (5) spirits: The God of the North, South, East, West and Center god.. by offering five cups of tea.

Finally; last Sunday morning at around 7am; finally "caught" this "uncle" again maintaining the altar at this coffee-shop in Hougang Green Shopping Centre. I now have a face to the hardworking "uncle"! For sure, he has a unique set of hair! Hmm reminds me of baby children who constantly sleeps on a pillow. That's why, most likely he shares the same traits; he could have rubbed part of his head against pillow; causing the "baldness" at certain areas!

Hi Master, I’ve a few burning questions. I’m collecting keys on 27 April 2020. Does that consider moving in? 28 April 2020 seems to clash with Goat, my partner is goat, can he enter the apartment on 28 April 2020. 29 April 2020 seems to be the best day of moving, can I shift non-personal stuff on 27 and 28 April and leave it at the courtyard? We are buying a new altar for Guan Yin, which item should I shift over first to set up? Am I allowed to remove her lights and etc while Guan Yin is around? I told the company to deliver the altar on 28 April 2020. How to I know how to calculate the auspicious time to move Guan Yin…

This altar is located in a coffee shop in an industrial zone (Tampines Industrial Park off Safra Tampines). What makes this altar "unique" is a beautiful back-wall laminated mural that reflects light off it. It also has a typical roof following many traditional altars. Nowadays, such altars are less common in Singapore homes especially those that have a roof above the deity's head.