Chinese Culture (General)

Dear Anon, Qigong is very popular nowadays. It is usually practised in the morning where it is cooler. The movements are slow and `controlled'. Do not be confused with the Falingong. Which also does excercises also. I believe you can try to do a search for sites or books on Qigong. One must have discipline i.e. I remembered when my grandmother was in Singapore, she used to wake up as early as 5.00am to do these excercises. Don't worry, it can be done later in the day. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Woman in China are the same as any other country. They do sometime or other serve in the army. The most popular Lady Chinese `warrior' is the story of Mulan. The most recent is the film by Walt Disney. The cover of the VCD is shown under the " Photo Tours of Interest " Topic: Mulan, the Lady Chinese `warrior'. I believe there should be Chinese women pilots. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Like the Western astrology, Chinese has a long history of Chinese astrology. Feng Shui is more earthly based while Chinese astrology is based more of `heavens' and stars. For example, Animal sign/planet Rat = Jupiter Ox = Saturn Rabbit = Uranus etc... As mentioned in the Photo Tours of interest, star constellations are vital part of Chinese Astrology. In addition, with so many Chinese `gods' and Chinese look up to the sky (Heaven) and pray to the `stars' which "Heaven" is at. The agenda or `terms of reference' of this website is focus more on Feng Shui rather than Chinese Astrology. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Bamboo is a natural `product' grown widely in China. It has four main uses: 1. It is used as building materials and scaffoldings. 2. It was the material used to make paper. 3. It is used to hold firecrackers. 4. The shoots of bamboo are edible. From the above, one can understand why, it is an important plant to the Chinese. No other plant has more uses than this. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, This is a `difficult' question to answer. Because, there are quite alot of Chinese scattered all over China and in the world. For those who live in rural China, and poorer, they are closer to nature so, they most likely live off the land. For those who are in cities and overseas Chinese, I believe, it is the same as any other cities elsewhere. But if your definition of recyling means having separate bins for can drinks, papers etc.. I personally do not see this happening around even in my country. I recently saw a TV documentary where even in an English school, the students were told to separate their garbage i.e. place into different waste bins. The students…

Dear Anon, Like any country, land has been gradually been `converted' into built up areas. However, the good news is that China is one of the four countries with an ancient civilzation lasting for more than 5,000 years old. With such a history, there are many (many) historical buildings and landscapes like the Guilin, the site where Shapes and Form School was said to have originated. Many of these locations have become tourist attractions. Because of the tourism, it has helped to preserve monuments e.g. Chinese Temples, Tombs, the Great Wall etc.. Many Chinese had the idea that when they grow old, they would like to visit China. But contrary to this, it would be better if…

Dear Anon, In a recent documentary on Chinese law being carried out on TV, I was trying to see if there were any Chinese Judge or Lawyer. So far, I was not able to sight a woman as a Judge or a lawyer in the episode. In this episode, I saw cases of Chinese citizens been tried. For example, this person who stole a notebook computer from his multinational company. He later confessed and pleaded guilty. He was sent to three years jail for the offence. I believe, looking thru the episode, and did not recall seeing a women in such a prominent role as a Judge or Lawyer. But Chinese women do play a significant influence (some include) the notorious Chinese Empress Dowager. Eve…

Dear Anon, China is one of the four countries with an ancient history which started at least 5,000 years ago, there are many famous poets. In fact, there is an ancient "Book of Songs" besides other ancient books. Chinese scholars in the past are both skilled at poetry and calligraphy. Some of the works and poetry verses are still available today. As for comedy, I am not too sure, but I believe the recent spin off of the term `double talk' is part of this comedy plays in ancient times. This is where two persons talk in `harmony' and create laughter with the audience. As for communist China, during this period of the `cultural revolution' unfortunately, I believe, this is i…

Dear Anon, In the past, countries especially in South East Asia banned their citizens from travelling to China and other communist states. For example our passports (Singapore) were chopped with a list of countries that we were not allowed to visit. The passport that I am holding issued in August 1991 had this statement printed: "This passport is valid for all countries except the following unless otherwise endorsed: Peoples Republic of China, North Korea, Democartic Kampuchea, Laos, Socialist Republic of Vietnam ". Not long after (1992) onwards, Singaporeans no longer need `approval' to visit China. In the past, our government `feared' the influence of communism and sinc…

Dear Anon, For the Chinese (local - China) and overseas Chinese, there is the pressure not so much of just having a baby but rather a baby son. Chinese value highly a baby son because only a son can carry their family name through to the next generation. For example, Mr Tan would like his surname to be `carried' to his next generation. Only if he has a son, his surname Tan can be `happy' as his son will also adopt his surname Tan. If he has a daughter, and if his daughter marrys a man, if the man's surname is Wong, she comes Mrs Wong. There are many situations where Chinese man were `forced' to take up a second wife or due to family pressure, marry another in the hope tha…

Dear Anon, Since we are on this topic, I took the opportunity to scan a recent article that there is an estimated 53 million one child family in China today. The article narrate and called these one child `little emperors'. You can read about this article under the conference: Photo tours of Interest. As for your question below, if the couple gets pregnant, they would usually have to go for an abortion. Usually, they would first practise contraception first. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, Off-hand, this is just a recollection of what I read. So do not take this as reference but just comments. In the past, the Chinese were conquered by the Mongolians or Manchus. Naturally, they were asked to cut away their `pride' which was their pony tails. I believe the pony tails as you mentioned was their `pride and ego' of being a Chinese. But again, the conquerors of China, the Manchus were not happy and thus forced these Chinese to cut away their pony tails. I believe, some Chinese skilled in Kung Fu had used their hair for self-defence e.g. as a weapon just like a knife. Pony tails can inflict a wound just like a whip. This last part is what I have seen i…

Dear Anon, In the past, Chinese fear an eclipse. This was because, it means that the sun has been `swallowed up'. And the `world' became dark. During the eclipse, they would use musical instruments and make sounds like clangs, beat the drums in the hope that the sun would `rise' again. This was before Chinese astrologers had predicted and advised the Emperors of the forthcoming eclipse. Once, it was known that the eclipse could be calculated and predicted, this `fear' of the sun got eaten up no longer worried the people. Warmest Regards, Cecil