Chinese Culture (General)

Dear Users, We have created this conference so that users who are also interested in learning more about Chinese culture can post their queries here. Often many Chinese believes are often mistaken or linked to Feng Shui. Thus, we have decided to put a separate conference to help identify and separate issues. Warmest Regards Cecil Lee

Mother of all Jade: Pure white Jade or known as "Imperial Gem"

Dear Users, 1. Did you watch Discover Channel's series on Chinese Inventions? (cable TV) 2. As China is one of the 4 oldest civilsations spanning over 5,000 years, it actually had contributed lots of inventions. 3. It is interesting to note that in one of the series, a Professor highlighted that although China had a head start or first user advantage she did not manage to benefit from it. 4. It is good to understand why? The explanation was that most of the inventions were in the hands of the few who jeaously guard them. 5. Unlike in the west, many of the Chinese discoveries were shared amongst intellects and thinkers who share and refine these theories. 6. We can draw a …

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…

They say you can bottle-train just anything! Check this out....

The days of sending traditional Chinese postcards are nearing it's end... From now onwards, on Chinese New Year (CNY); I will continue to document a collection of auspicious CNY SMS-greetings...

1. For dining tables and dining chairs, the Chinese favour even numbers. 2. For example, this antique table has four supporting legs. And for all dining areas, chairs must be even numbers e.g. 4 chairs, 6 chairs or 8 chairs (excluding baby chairs).

Attached please find a sample page (month) of a typical Calendar, found in most Chinese homes. This calendar, is useful because, it has the `western' calendar, holidays and more importantly, the Lunar calendar date. Very often, the elderly Chinese are more acustomed to their birthdates in Chinese. For example, if one's birthday is on the 15th day, of the 4th Lunar month. He/She checks on the Mandarin wordings. It is cross referenced to the English date i.e. 18 May 2000. It so happens that it takes the moon to revolve one full cycle, and if one peers into the sky, in the evening on every 15th day, you will see a full moon. It so happens that the 15th day of the 4th Lunar M…

Vocabulary for English to Chinese (Mandarin) and Chinese (Mandarin)to English is different. And it is very easy for lots of signs in China to have very poor gramma mistakes.... This sign at the Beijing airport; Starbucks cafe shows: " PERMISSION TO WISH" Huh? Where or how do we get permission ot wish? This is a mystery.. indeed Hahahaha

I believe some of us have read about the claims on the health giving =properties of drinking green tea. I find this article interesting. WORK HARD BUT DO TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH. According to increasing research worldwide, each cup of green tea is more than just a comforting brew. It could very well be your cup of good health. 1. FRESHEN UP For starters, tea enhances your environment. New research points to used tea bags to help fight sick-house syndrome. According to Tokyo Metropolitan Comprehensive Consumer Centre, formaldehyde, usually found in bonding agents, emits an unpleasant odour sometimes causing allergies and other health pro…

1. For those who are not familar with this delicacy, when uncooked, it looks and feels like strands of fine hair. 2. Some of us, usually add `facai' to a dish during Chinese New Year for `luck'. Read on...

Name: Lu Dong Bin Key figure of the Eight Immortals 1. Lu Dong Bin's birthday is the 14th day of the fourth lunar month. 2. He was born in the Tang Dynasty. His father and grandfather were Court Officials. 3. He is said to have a tiger body, cheeks of a dragon and eyes of a phoenix. The lines on his feet were like the profile of a tortise. 4. Since young he was very clever and intelligent. 5. At the Lu Shan Mountain, he met the Fire Dragon Immortal. The Fire Dragon Immortal taught him advanced swords fighting skills. 6. Later on, he met his new master Zong Li Quan. Zong Li Quan placed several tests for him. The tests include tests on his attitude towards the poor, wealth…

This pictures shows some items that are brought into a new house: 1. Usually, an auspicious date (and time) is chosen. 2. On the auspicious day and time, the owner of the home brings some auspicious items into the home: 2.1 A packet of salt, rice and sugar. 2.2 Some of the items shown in the picture are: - A red charcoal stove - A red container containing coal (representing gold) - A `huat' quay or self-raising cake (symbolic of a `raise') - For the Hokkien (Chinese dialect group), a pineapple is rolled from the main entrance door into the house. A `pineapple' represent luck. - Some sweets etc... Take a look at the picture Besides the above, water is boiled immediately af…

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 …

This interesting article shares some light into the `history' or invention of the toilet bowl...

A touching story........ One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the Chinese countryside with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people can be. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be = considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the = trip?" "It was great, Dad." "Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked. "Oh yeah" said the son. "So what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father. The son answered, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four." "We have = a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that = has …

1. Yesterday Tuesday 21 July 2009; I was at a client's new apartment on their procedures. 2. A friendly family. And her mum passed me her business card. She specialises in Traditional Chinese Customary Wedding Preparation Needs. 3. As such specific services are harder to find; you, your friends or relatives might want to find out more from the attachment.

To satisfy the Chinese consumers during CNY... a whole duck is common place for some families during tonight's reunion dinner.. Erh... forget about the dirty floor...

Source & Credit: MyPaper, Singapore Monday, January 17, 2011 Extracts: ONE: "Education thrives in China and the rest of Asia because it is a top priority - and the US has plenty to learn from that." TWO: "Americans think of China's strategic challenge in terms of, say, the new Chinese stealth fighter jet. But the real challenge is the rise of China's education system and the passion for learning that underlies it. We are not going to become Confucians, but we can elevate education on our list of priorities without relinquishing creativity and independent thought. That's what we did in 1957 after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik. "

This is article about a ghost and trees. I hope you find it interesting.