Chinese Culture (General)

Dear Anon, 1. Pearls signify pure and precious. 2. Chinese learned to cultivate pearls long before the Japanese cultivated them. 3. Chinese associate `tears' as beads of small pearls and it is common to place a pearl in the mouth of a dead person. 4. If one has seen mother-of-pearl inlay in an antique furniture, one will be amazed by the `glitter' of the inlay. It is like ebony and ivory, where the ivory gleams and `glows' in different shapes. Simply lovely! Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear cecil, The plums are purple in color and they do not look like gold. ( I am referring to plum like in plum sauce). Thanks.

Dear Anon, Horse racing is a passion of quite alot of Chinese. Although one cannot say that all Chinese behave this way, there is a certain percentage of Chinese visit the `Turf clubs on weekends to see horse racing'. In the most recent enhancement to this site, I had added a calendar module and there is also a God of Horses (birthday). http://www.geomancy.net/calendar/index.htm Therefore, displaying a horse racing perhaps could be an aspriation that the horse one bets on wins and make the person wealthly. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. The lotus root is a `root' grown underground. It is equivalent to potatoes where it grows underground and `harvested' by digging it out. 2. Like all food, it is much `respected' because of its cooling properties. For example, if one has a sore throat, some Chinese steam it with water and pork or peanuts or other ingredients. The soup is usally drank and the lotus root slices are eaten or thrown away after the soup is made. (Some people like eating it while others obtain the soup). The tea-pot in one of the links is a replica of how the lotus root looks like. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. In Singapore and Malaysia (which are close neigbhours), majority of the time the air is clean. On the government intervention: Most of the industries are highly regulated to ensure that they do not pollute the air or waterways. In Malaysia, `pollution' is isolated to factories or industrial areas. Malaysia is one of the largest rubber producers and if one smell latex before, it is pretty smelly. But the smell is confined to within a small radius within the factory or warehouse. 2. For Malaysia and Singapore, unfortunately because the two countries are close to its neighbour Indonesia, Indonesia is considered the biggest culprit. Its farmers do `slash and bu…

Dear Anon, As there are many Chinese, there are many points of view. The Chrysanthemum plant phonetically called `Ju' or sounds like the number 9 in Mandarin. 9 is represented by Autumn or the 9th month. This plant is thus an `autumn' plant. I guess some people would not like having `autumn' but rather `spring or summer' plants. I believe to some of these people, autumn is like `sun set' or closer to winter. While spring and summer is bright and `alive'. Warmest Regards, Cecil

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, I agree with your statement that it takes lot of time and extensive research and the hardest part in translation is to interpret what was said correctly. The key essence is to complete all the translations and interpretation before one should apply the theories. Sometimes the information is no longer relevant and how does one differentiate these. In the past, a Chinese Emperor was said to have kept Feng Shui theories to himself and got his officials to plant `false' works on Feng Shui. There was even the suggestion that at one time, the Imperial Palace was constructed on `false' Feng Shui. You would have guessed, it burned down. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. Yes, the circular incense is quite huge. 2. There are several sizes available. The `smaller' ones burn for an hour or so. For the larger ones as seen in the picture, they burn around several hours. The time taken to burn depends also on the atmosphere. If it is hung outside and quite windy, it would burn much faster. 3. Usually, the temple guardians burn these candles. As they can be quite smoky, for this temple, it is burned outside the temple. Furthermore, this temple has quite a small and congested interior and not possible to burn so many incense inside the temple. It can become quite `smoky'. Actually, when I wrote the earlier message, I mentioned `lon…

Dear Anon, There is quite a diverse Chinese both in China and many overseas Chinese. Frankly, so far, I did not recall any or many Chinese displaying a picture of an Emperor and Empress. In China, it is `illegal' during the Communist period to display such pictures other than leaders like Mao or Chou Eng Lai. Perhaps, you could have seen pictures of Chinese Gods e.g. God of Wealth. The most popular Gods are the three figures of Fu Lu Shou or Luck, Prosperity and Longevity Gods. A picture of the three Gods are available under the conference: "Photo Tours with Interest." Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, The Chinese do not differentiate between the frog and the toad. Toads and frogs are commonly found in agricultural locations in China e.g. in padi fields. Chinese use the frog as medicine and for dieting. The rational is because of the shiny surface of the frog which the Chinese call it the dew of heaven. The frog is also called the heavenly chicken. (Toads are left out of this picture because they are poisonous. I am glad that you asked for the `story' of the Three-legged toad. It will help many users understand why the Three-legged toad became a `commercial object'. There are two versions to the story:- 1. A Chinese Immortal Lui Hai was said to live in the er…

Dear Anon, 1. From what I can understand, when I was young, my house used to have an urn i.e. collecting water and we used to rear turles. 2. I believe their bite can be quite nasty. 3. I have also seen large pools of turles e.g. in a public garden. 4. It is my belief that if they are not properly `fed' may tend to eat fishes. Apologise if what I said may be `silly' or whether, it is the truth... erh.. I am really guessing it could be because of the above reason. If I am wrong, please accept my sincere apologies as I have little knowledge of this. Have anyone any experience in this? Would love to hear from you:) Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, In Chinese sword play, some swords are considered Yang (Male) while others are Yin (Female). Therefore, there is some truth in the above statement as I believe, the seven star sword is Yang. In Chinese sword play, sword fighting methods differ for a woman and a man. Some sword fighting methods utilize a Male and Female (in harmonious interaction) and this pair (under a skillful pair) is difficult to beat. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, You will be `surprised' to learn that there are lots of books on Chinese culture. Especially before the communists take over but unfortunately, many are in Mandarin. This is why, they are hard to find. If one were to walk into a Chinese book shop, there are lots of titles and topics (Mandarin books). In Singapore, there are several good Chinese book stores devoted to selling Mandarin books on a wide range of topics. Many Chinese classics such as the Four Scholars etc... have been interpreted in English .... Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, You will be surprised to learn that there are equal amounts of Chinese women priests. These priests (depending on their denomination) some wear greyish or `pastel sky blue' clothings. They have their own temples and live a life of celebracy similiar to (the Catholics: Fathers and Sisters). Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, I believe you have brought up an interesting question:) Case 1 1. Let me share with you a recent case (showing the `non-importance' of unforuntately `women' ... on another issue.. 2. Recently, there is this case where this wealthy Chinese died. 3. In his will he asked that only after his last wife died and after 20 years later can then his wealth be distributed amongst his decendants. (Usually, this are his grand-children or later..). 4. In his will he specifically asked that none of his wealth can be distributed to the `daughters' of his children. As he felt that they `do not' belong to his family. (The assumption that `girls' would get married and later belo…

Dear Anon, Yes, I agree with you. It is quite true that the traditional Chinese cuisine does not include turkey. More commonly, the Chinese rear goose, ducks and chickens. Perphaps, the turkey was less well known thus not popular with the Chinese. (My personal guess). I believe, the turkey is less well known and personally, the meat is coarse as compared to those of other smaller birds. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Happy Winter Solstice.. everyone is considered a year older...

Dear Anon, Under the Chinese Astrology website: www.geomancy.net/love/amenu1.htm The above link has a short write-up of a convent in Singapore that `accepts' Chinese girls born in the year of the Tiger. These children were abandoned by their parents. The key essence for the Tiger `girl' child is that they are suppose to bring `bad' luck. Even today, where the son and his wife does not stay with their parents but by themselves, the parents of their son especially in a `traditional' family discourages their son to marry a `tiger' wife. From what I read, it is not so much of tiger eat small creatures but rather the above. However, you are still right to say it since in the…

Clogs are used worldwide and although the form may vary by culture, within a culture the form often remained unchanged for centuries. Clogs are also used in several different styles of dance. When worn for dancing an important feature is the sound of the clog against the floor.

In my opinion, once a person is cremated e.g. and placed into an urn; this is "pretty" safe i.e. "ashes to ashes". Usually, slight caution is especially when a grave was exhumed and best not to touch or be given any items from such a site e.g. a button or someitems that was left in that coffin. How about, someone has just died recently; a wake and sent to be cremated. This is generally pretty safe especially after the body has been cremated. Frankly, in any line of "business", there are sometimes hazards that one may face. For example, even usfor geomancers; once a while; during our course of work; we do encounter homes and premises that are not "clean". If one goes abou…

Dear Anon, As far as I can recall, China has not hosted such a festival or a World Trade Fair. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Young & moist water bamboo shoots from Taiwan These are a “cheap” delicacy popular with elderly Hokkiens. The outer covering are discarded and sliced ... Older generation Hokkiens call this “ Kar POH Soon”