Chinese Culture (General)

The infinity knot nowadays is a very common sight. This infinity knot includes the symbol "FU" = Prosperity.

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 …

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. A `popular' painting is an eagle perched on a pine tree. This is considered a suitable gift for an elderly person: 1.1. the eagle represents strength. 1.2. the pine tree represents longevity. 2. Thus the significance of the painting is symbolic of strength and longevity for the elderly. 3. Given the above combined significance, it should not be considered inauspicious to keep `an eagle' inside that house because it is a predatory bird. Thus, with many books comes various opinions and on the final analysis, each of us have to form our own judgements. In my opinion, such a painting, with its combined significiance should not be considered inauspicious. In Eur…

1228HRS in Cantonese sounds like ?easier to be / get prosperous??

Yesterday, went for an appointment, near-by. This food stall (operated by a mainland Chinese) in the Midview Building at Bukit Batok has the signage that says " Everyone OK kitchen".

Is this for real? Sheep Placenta as natural skin food? Who dare to swallow these capsules? Saw this in a local Traditional herbal shop.... .... Vomit..... vomit....

Dear Anon, It is quite common for the Chinese to `replace' the use of Lion statues outside their main gate (of some homes with Elephant statues). Elephants looks solid and `stands firm' on the ground. In Indian culture, elephants are equally `admired'. This is also true particuarly in Thailand. One simple reason is because of its strength and its trunk, elephants have been trained effectively to haul logs and timbers. They are intelligent workhorse. As such, especially the Thailand) or the Thai people, produce cheap Elephant carvings. I believe this gets sold worldwide. Not all Chinese, especially in my region use elephants. More often, those who went to Thailand either …

I can choose which facing direction for my house every second, every minute, every hour and every day. Can your house do so?

Every few months, some Chinese temples releases "life" from birds to...erh.... latest.. cockles???

The Shanghai Commission for Management of Language use has been trying to fix malapropisms in the city's English-language signs and menus. "Gone too, is Racist Park, a cultural attraction that has since been rechristened Minorities Park.

In Singapore, it is very common to find food offerings by hawker vendors (or stall holders). The stall holders would serve a plate (sample) of their food that is for sale on that day to the Gods (deity) in the hope to drum up business. (Location: Coffeshop next to the Kovan Residences (just TOP).

This feature wall showing a procession of a traditional Chinese wedding. The feature wall is part of a restaurant's welcoming mural. Location: Vivo City. Very unique mural. Symbolically; the procession seems auspicious. As it looks like a crowd of people "marching" into the restaurant! Thus, seems meaningful.

Source: The Straits Times, Wednesday January 19, 2005, Page 5 ============================================ Extract: "a red mourning armband is to show respect to an elderly..... In Chinese tradition, red mourning bands are worn by great-grandchildren...."

Despite the Beijing municipal government's two-decade-old push to encourage "green interments", which include so-called tree, burials, only 2 per cent of familes choose these cheaper and purportedly more eco-friendly methods of burial. Tree burials refer to the burying of body ashed under trees, flowers and lawns. "The earliest tree burial was promoted in the Fengtai district in 1990, when the local government held a gropu interment ceremony with tree burials," said Mr Jiang Xiaogang, secretary-general of the Beijing Funeral Association. He said the tree burials now use urns made of biodegradable materials, which turn into soil after several months or years, dependi…

Dear Anon, Usually, the traditional Goldsmith shops have the four types of gold. Actually, it has to do with the mixture of gold and their pureness that gives the gold different colours. Thus the `four types of gold'. This is a common practise of the Teochew dialect group. Warmest Regards, Cecil

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

Dear Anon, 1. In my opinion, this may not be necessary true. (If we only look at the `western violin'). 2. The Chinese have many different `wind instruments' and in my opinion, the violin is more a `western' instruments. There are `Chinese violins' and need not be in the shape of the western violin or the material used. The Chinese also have a keyboard type wind instrument `Qin' with many strings and they use their fingers to play on. Much like a guitar but flat and more strings parallel to each other. Others include `Pipa' instruments. There are quite alot of CDs on music played on these instruments. Others include, instruments with snake skins and animaal hairs (strings…

Dear Anon, 1. In the past, a large percentage of Chinese do not have tatoos. During the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's, tatoos especially elaborate ones are found on Chinese gangsters or secret society members. 2. You can really see lots of tatoos on their bodies, hands and legs. 3. It was not difficult for the Police Secret Society Supression unit to run them up. 4. Even in the 1980's, tatoos on these youths but lesser. With the advent of model `equipment' or status symbols, at one time, many of these youths or secret society members carry instead at one time `expensive' Motorola `brick' handphones of the 80's. Suddenly, handphones, from my personal observation became the st…

Dear Anon, Thus, when one is born, he/she is already 1 year old! In olden days, even now, we still consider ourselves + 1 to our birthday. But due to government reports and Identity cards etc... we have to show our true age (western age). No, this is not true. We are proud to celebrate birthdays. Especially of the elderly. For the elderly, special dishes especially in the restaurant include: 1. "Long noodles". Noodles that are long (uncut) as long as possible to signify longevity. 2. Peach shaped loaves of bread. It is common to find this bread served for an elder's birthday. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Actually, there is no imperial briefcase. What is meant is that the standard Feng Shui foot (around 17inches) is the standard size briefcase made in Asia. It has an auspicious measurement which implies that the document held is surrounded by auspiciousness. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Yes, the foundation of Chinese belief is to take care of their elders. It is also due to `Confucianism' or teachings on respect for the elders. Thus `filial piety' is prevalent in Chinese society. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, The moon is important to the Chinese: 1. If we look carefully, it is the `second' half of the Yin and Yang "symbol". Where the moon represents Yin and the sun Yang. 2. Often in the past, when I was young my mum will say, the 15th day of Lunar month and out of curiosity, I would at the evening peer in the sky and true enough, it is the full moon. Thus, sometimes, when I do not `refer' to the Chinese calendar, one could easily tell when the 15th day of an " X month " roughly is. 3. Again, you are correct to say that the Chinese give a `lot of significance to the moon'. As many members have heard how often the word " Lunar Calendar " has been uttered. 4. The " Lun…