Chinese Culture (General)

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

Dear Anon, The 5th day of the 5th month in the lunar calendar is regarded as the most perilous day. This month, known as the Dragon Month, necessitates heightened vigilance against illnesses and diseases. The Dragon Boat Festival aims to repel malevolent forces and marks the onset of summer. In the year 2000, the Dragon Boat Festival is observed on June 6. The narrative dates back to around 300 BC, featuring Qu Yuan, a loyal advisor to the King. His position incited jealousy in another advisor, Zi Lan, who resented the King's preference for Qu Yuan's counsel. Following the King's capture and subsequent death in prison, his eldest son ascended to the throne …

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, 1. Please find pictures of a `small version' of the Chinese Abacus:- 2. The above is a small, abacus. There are larger ones. 3. Usually, they are made of wood. 4. What is the Chinese Abacus? It is a calculator. Where beads are moved up and down and by feel and looking at the beads, complex calculations are made. 6. An expert abacus user can easily calculate numbers faster than one can key in to a modern liquid display calculator. 7. Generally, one can say that the movement of the beads like the computer `bits' and `bytes' i.e. On and off system. 8. In fact, Singapore, introduced the abacus to the schools and this enable students to `fair' better at mathemat…

Dear Anon, Follow this interesting link to Introduction to Falun Gong (Falun Dafa):- http://www.mindspring.com/~falun/home1.html For a balanced view of the site, you can also visit China's website site which is titled - "Further Expose and Critize the Cult:- China.com, a different perspective Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Check out this link to view the pictures of the God of Wealth (commonly also known as God of Fortune). http://www.geomancy.net/pics/teacups/index.htm For those who are new here, if you have the time, feel free to browse thru the pictures under: http://www.geomancy.net/slideshow/index.htm Warmest Regards, Cecil

A comical look at Chinese Names and their `meaning'/`significance':- Anne Chang (in Mandarin) - dirty Anne Chin (in Mandarin) - keep quiet Faye Chen (in Mandarin) - dusty Carl Chng (in Hokkien) - buttock Monica Cheng (in Hokkien) - touching your buttocks Michael Tan (in Cantonese) - selling eggs Tommy Huang (in Mandarin) - Tang Ming Huang : Ming Dynasty's emperor Lucy Liaw (in Hokkien) - you are dead Judy Soo (in Malay) - lost in gamble Jane Tan (in Mandarin) - fried egg Suzie Leow (in Hokkien) - lost till death Henry Tan (in Hokkien) - let you wait Henry Mah (in Mandarin) - hate your mum=20 Corrine Tai (in Hokkien) - poor fellow Paul Chan (in Mandarin) - bankrupt Nelson …

How many have seen the recent movie title: Gangs of New York? In my opinion, in this film, the only interesting scene is a short segment of Chinese immigrants to New York. In one of these scenes, despite the gang war going on around the Chinese immigrants, they were busy doing business. We can use this as a case study: 1. For most Chinese, it is most important for them to see if they can on the basic level try to bring food to the table of family, first. 2. If they are living in subsistence or on basic necessities, many Chinese would divert most of their resources on their next generation. 3. For example, Singapore is a wonderful place because it exercise meritrocity or …

Dear Anon, In the course of this year, will post a history or story of each of the immortals. So look out! Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. In my opinion, it is indeed very disappointing to reflect on the achievement of Chinese in China. Other than bringing `stability' to the country, I believe not much achievement is made especially since the Communist take-over. 2. However, if one objectively look at some of the achievements made by overseas Chinese, many overseas Chinese have contributed to the development of their `adopted' country abeit some of them (in my opinion) being discriminated in some of their adopted countries. In my opinion, these overseas Chinese have either contributed to scientific field and many are good in commerce. In commerce, many Chinese hold prominent positions and earn…

Dear Anon, Nowadays, figurines of " Kuan Kung " are displayed (usually) in the living room. Since most houses have only one living room, perhaps this is why it was mentioned that they be kept `close' to the Fu Lu Shou figurines. It is considered `not auspicious' for such figurines to be kept in the bedroom or even the study room. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, There is a saying that Chinese eat anything with four legs. (And more!) The more expensive delicacies are: 1. abalone 2. broiled sharks fins 3. drunken prawns (life prawns placed in a covered bowl and VSOP poured into it. The prawns got `drunk' in the VSOP). 4. Scallops (at one time) 5. Oysters. (more Westernized Chinese) 6. Peking duck lots more.... Exotic dishes that combined various goodies include " Buddha Jumps over the Wall", suckling pig and lots lots more. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, It is a common practice for Chinese to place figurines of Gods and deities facing `outwards' rather than inwards into a home. The rationale is the belief that e.g. it would not be appropriate for a altar to face a bedroom or a toilet or other `rooms'. This is because, e.g. bedrooms are considered `dirty' locations e.g. the place where some of us change our clothes... marriage couples induldge in intimacies etc... It is thus considered not appropriate for these figurines to face `inwards' into the home. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, This is an interesting question. I believe, today, we do live longer thanks to modern science. Not only for the Chinese but mankind all over the world. If we talk specifically about useful Chinese practises that help one to prolong life, these include:- 1. Using a pair of Chop sticks Hey! What has Chop sticks got to do with health? One comment is that because one use a chop stick to pick food and eat it, one is thus forced to eat smaller pieces of food. I believe this has been `documented' or highlighted as a good practice. 2. Traditionally, Chinese food is very healthy It depends on the region one is in but overall traditional Chinese food is healthy. Not lik…

Dear Anon, 1. Many of the bones come from dead animals. Bones range from elephants to buffalo and other animals. 2. Bone carvings are intricate carvings and a unique art. In my opinion, thus there is relatively no specific reason other than creating `art' on the bones. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Most couples are happy with the coming of the Dragon year. To the Chinese, it is considered auspicious to have a child born under the Dragon Year. I mentioned earlier that since this will be a popular year, there will be stiff competition when the child goes to School. Some schools even have to arrange to expand their classes or add an additional class room. One thing about Zi Wei Dou Shu or Chinese Astrology is like it's cousin the Western version of Astrology, it can try to `paint' the story for what is coming but it does not have the ability to provide a solution or cure for an individual. For example, under Pillars of Destiny, if under next year's luck pil…

Oh Boy! Do you really need a hair cut on this specific date? A cut of good luck This little boy doesn't look like he is enjoying getting his hair trimmed. But he is too young to understand that this aunty fussing over his hair in eastern Qingdao city is actually giving him a cut - for luck. Yesterday was the second day of the second month in the lunar calendar. Getting one's hair cut on this day is supposed to bring good luck. Source & Credit: The Straits Times, Singapore

Dear Anon, It is quite difficult for me to answer this question. This is because, there are many Chinese who have been educated in the West or some has even lost touch with their roots e.g. unable to read Mandarin or speak the tongue or language. Furthermore, good quality `antiques' or such collectables are not cheap. I personally been to lots of `Chinese' houses for visits and there are a wide range of `tastes'. Usually, the younger families have display shelves that are quite similiar as `Westerners'. Those who `pray' are buddhists, taoists or ancestor worship usually have altars in their living room. Occassionaly, they have a `Fu' or Good Luck symbol in their homes.…

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 Caz, To find out more about the best or worst place for a water feature, please click on the following URLs:- http://www.geomancy.net/fs/wcourse.htm http://www.geomancy.net/fs/four.htm Under the four symbolic animals concept the best place is the frontage of the house. Warmest Regards, Cecil

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). …

Today, this simple gesture of a white flag and oil lamp is to signal the dead or lead the way to the funeral wake. In the past, these white flags were placed as markers to guide the recent deceased and an oil lamp lit up at the end-point.

Dear Anon, Again, this is a recollection and has to be verified. Last year, if I am not mistaken there was a film/movie on the three `Soong' sisters. One of the Soong sisters, (I hope I got it correctly) married Dr. Sun Yat Sen, who was credited as the founder of modern China. He also had lived in Singapore and the bungalow that he stayed had I believed turned into a `museum' or a landmark here. I believe the movie was based on a book on the three `Soong' sisters. Well, I hope I got the above correct as I am more familiar with Feng Shui rather than Chinese history. Perhaps, you can go to www.britannica.com to find out more about Sun Yat Sen and see if there is any mention…