Chinese Culture (General)

Chinese weddings become infused with Western traditions, traditional Western wedding gifts are more acceptable than before though the couple will rarely have a registry or release a list of wanted gifts. Be careful when selecting a gift and beware of what not to buy.

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

Thanks. You saved me a third trip to the temple. As I am a Rooster, I will pray on or after the 15th Lunar New Year.

Finally; last Sunday morning at around 7am; finally "caught" this "uncle" again maintaining the altar at this coffee-shop in Hougang Green Shopping Centre. I now have a face to the hardworking "uncle"! For sure, he has a unique set of hair! Hmm reminds me of baby children who constantly sleeps on a pillow. That's why, most likely he shares the same traits; he could have rubbed part of his head against pillow; causing the "baldness" at certain areas!

Sights of CNY 2011, gone past...

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.

Dear Masters Our auspicious dates for moving house based on Ba Zi is 06 Feb 2018 (Tue); 16 Feb 2018 (Fri); 18 Feb 2018 (Sun); 28 Feb 2018 (Wed); 02 Mar 2018 (Fri). Four of the dates fall within the 15 days of the Chinese New Year. Both me and my wife are Singaporean Chinese. Is there any feng shui or cultural taboo to move house during 15 days of Chinese New Year? Pei Hua

Sembawang God of Wealth Temple in Woodlands

This day is also Chinese Valentine’s Day?? (Origin is from Malaysia, Penang)

It’s a CNY ‘funeral’ shirt.

God of Wealth and the 12 Chinese zodiac animals...

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). …

Hi Master, I’ve a few burning questions. I’m collecting keys on 27 April 2020. Does that consider moving in? 28 April 2020 seems to clash with Goat, my partner is goat, can he enter the apartment on 28 April 2020. 29 April 2020 seems to be the best day of moving, can I shift non-personal stuff on 27 and 28 April and leave it at the courtyard? We are buying a new altar for Guan Yin, which item should I shift over first to set up? Am I allowed to remove her lights and etc while Guan Yin is around? I told the company to deliver the altar on 28 April 2020. How to I know how to calculate the auspicious time to move Guan Yin…

Extract from an email post: Can you tell me the meaning of the symbol mentioned below ? Thank you so much for your time and effort.

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.…

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…

Dear Anon, This reminds me of what my mum told me, since young that one should not wear `torn clothings' as it implies that one would become a beggar. As some beggars wear torn clothings. Again, this is a Chinese belief. More modern parents would not `blink an eye' if their children go out and purposely buy torn jeans as they are in fashion sometime back. Maybe these modern parents even actually worn torn jeans. I guess, many of us know that this conference: Chinese culture, there are really no right or wrong answers as it is routed in one's personal beliefs and experiences. Let me elaborate further on another example. Some parents belief that if they young e.g. talks fi…

Dear Anon, To the Chinese people, especially those who know the proper Chinese Tea ceremony will follow the sitting arrangements similar to the concepts found in the Ming Tang Wei. Under this concept, guests should be sitting west and the host should sit facing east. The location facing south is reserved for the king. While the guest of honour or the most eldest guest sit facing the host while the younger guest sits to the left of the eldest left and the next younger sits the right of the eldest. In the original ancient Korean ceremony is actually meant to sit four guests on one table. On the table for the tea ceremony, one would find:- 1. A tea-plate, 2. the tea-pot 3. F…

Dear Anon, 1. Onyx comes in different colors. Some are white, some in green etc... 2. Under Chinese Astrology, for the animal sign " The Ox "; it's lucky gemstone is `White Onyx'. 3. Onyx is been sold by companies dealing with home interiors e.g. kitchen table tops, bath room tops etc... 4. It is also carved into objects e.g. swans and other figurines for display etc... I believe there is a commercial demand for it. 5. In my opinion, based on above, I do not believe that the chinese consider the onyx inauspicious unless, because perhaps could it be that these mines you mentioned are dangerous to work in. This is because some mines have dangerous gases within them. On the …

Dear Anon, In my country, and in my opinion, the statement is no longer true for the following reasons: 1. Good quality inlaid pearl furniture especially if they are `old' are considered `antiques' and very expensive. 2. Many people nowadays (especially the middle class) can only afford `imitation' antique furniture without the pearl inlay. 3. I remember when I was young, my parents used to bring us to my auntie's parents home in Orchard Road (Singapore). Her father is a Chinese physician and I remembered clearly the beautiful pearl inlay set against many dark coloured wooden furniture. I recalled seeing motifs of leaves, flowers etc... They are really lovely. I do recall…

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

Dear Anon, I agree with you on the statement. In the past, this was the case. One reason for this is because, if one is rich or influential, I guess, the genes are considered (I am not sure how to call it but generally) the genes are considered `better' genes and the offsprings are `suppose' to be more intelligent. Well, the above is just a general saying and if it incurs the wrath of anyone here, than I apologise. It is just one of those `theories' I read and kept in my mind...:) In Singapore, it is now no longer possible for Chinese to marry and take on a second wife. The penalty: `Going to Jail'. Therefore, for a `FINE' country like Singapore, this acts as a deterrent…