Chinese Culture (General)

Nevermind even if it is not the year of the pig. Someone still is born in that year, right?

Pictures taken in November 2007, Shanghai, China

Thank God! We do not have to squeeze ourselves ..... like these Chinese in their swimming pools...

Bear meat is darker and fattier than beef, although similar in flavor. The problem with the comparison, though, is that an animal?s diet greatly affects the flavor of its own flesh. Bears that dine mainly on salmon, for example, taste worse than those with a more varied diet.

Past resources:

Wishing well

Dear Anon, 1. The most famous legend of the peach is its association with immortality. Here, the story is that the immortality peach ripens only every 1,000 years. Here, this tree stood in the famous Kun Lun mountains. On this day that the fruit ripened, the Goddess of Heavn invited immortals to her palace for a feast. On this day, the Monkey called Sun, wondered into the garden and ate the peach. He later became an immortal because of this. Thus, the peach is associated with longeivity. 2. The colour of the skin of the peach also brings to mind `peach blossom spring'. Here, it is compared to the skin of a young girl. Some people associate it with a flirting or easy to b…

Dear Anon, Apologise for the late response. The peacock symbolises beauty and dignity. Its feathers were used as decorations ofr meritous deeds. Often, the picture of a peacock with a full spread of its tail is part of a congratulation message on the opening of a shop. Under the Manchu rule in China, peacock features were used as an insignia denoting a rank. In paintings it is denotes an official of the court. To both the Chinese and Christians, it is said to be able to drive away evil spirits. It was later that the peacock with wrongly asociated with pride through its beautiful plume and love for displaying it. Warmest Regards, Cecil Christians

These set of walking steps: Location Cantonment Drive estate, Singapore

Made a trip to Penang, Malaysia recently. Penang, has a predominant Chinese population. And I must say, their hawker food is both cheap and wow! nice! These are some of the sample food.....

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:

Dear Anon, 1. Yes there is some truth in not keeping the ancestor pictures facing the dinning room. 2. In my opinion, it is more a belief. One rationale is that it is being disrespectful if we do not offer food. But instead gobble it up. 3. The alternative is that (as a last resort) if some houses are really small, like those found in Hong Kong (very small houses), they may just do that. But here, food or fruits are offered at the altar to "applease the ancestor". The above would help in such circumstances. 4. For your point on SW (Earth element location) and NW (Metal element), there is not much logic in mentioning the two locations. 5. Even if we analyse further, SW is …

In the past; some Chinese do pray to the Jade Emperor. And on that altar; and on each side of the two front legs of the altar table; they would tie a tall sugar-cane plant on each side of the leg - for luck. Similarly, this Katong Antique house follows another tradition of placing a sugar-cane plant on each side of their main entrance door. Please see photo. Again, this is for "luck".

How to earn pocket change during Chinese New Year! 1. The ingredients:- 1.1. Fixed assets: a Chinese drum and several other musical instruments. 1.2. A full Lion head and costume and some flags 1.3. Gather a group of family members and friends: usually 5 to 6 persons 1.4. Provide them standard co-ordinated performing uniform (prior to this : best that they are all Chinese (or Chinese look); two members must know how to do a lion dance or the motion of the lion dance. Two or three members must know how to play the drum and other nosiy instruments 1.4. Loan or rent a panel van. 2. Go around Singapore e.g. Dry and Wet Markets (to each individual stalls) by getting t…

Hi Shi Fu. I'm interested in this property. I'm standing inside on the second floor. The roof from opposite building is shooting to the car garage or property building. Is there any cure, or should I go and shop for other property. Also there is a utility pole in the picture. Please help. Thank you Vic

You agree? YES or NO? Such taboos are not cast in stone. If you feel strongly with the above statement, please check the YES Box else, NO! The POLL is for this THREAD:

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.

The Mee sua when uncooked is very brittle and thin. It is made of rice flour. Some offer it in a "tower-form" during their offerings to the GOD.

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.