Chinese Culture (General)

Dear Anon, This is a really good observation. 1. Ever since you posted this message, I was thinking hard and when I take my lunch or dinner, try to see if the food contains milk. 2. The only food, I recalled selling at Food Courts in Singapore is `Fish head bee hoon' or bits of fishes with noodles. This dish is `milky' and from what I understand, milk was added to the soup. This is why it becomes `white' and milky. As I lived all this while in Singapore and familar with Malaysia, from my observation, correct me if I am wrong, we I believe a `better' alternative i.e. coconut milk. Recent years, coconut milk is considered bad for health or the heart and one should cut dow…

This ayam bua keluk dish is eaten with a plate of rice. The gravy of this dish is "soaked" into the rice, giving it a "nutty" flavour. The alkaline of the bua keluk seed or nut (fruit) is balanced by adding assam to give it more "acidity".

1. This lady warrior is wearing a majestic Dragon Chinese Opera Costume. 2. Can you see the dragon's face near her lower abdomen area? 3. This photo was taken sometime in the 1950's in Penang, West Malaysia. 4. What a pity if the photo was in colour! Wow... Truly majestic .... and beautiful handcrafted piece!

Dear All, 1. It is interesting to note that in China, a nunnery (for nuns) and a monastry (for monks) cannot be situated too close. These nuns and monks live a life of celebracy (singlehood) 2. This is due to the Yin and Yang concept. Furthermore, commonsense tells us that situating both too close may lead to temptation. 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, 1. In ancient China, camels were used as `workhorse' mainly to transport salt between China and Central Asia especially through the harsh Gobi desert. 2. Actually, the Chinese do not have a good impression of the camels as they considered it a lazy animal. 3. Only during one of the dynasties i.e. Tang that art and artwork on camels arise. Otherwise, it has always been an `uninteresting' animal as compared to the Dragon etc... Warmest Regards, Cecil

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

1. This is a healthy "fast food" meal. 2. The fillings used is the same used for making the "popiah". 3. Pictures show the "cup" holding the fillings. The pictures shows the "Kueh pai-ti".Usually the Kueh Pai-Ti is garnished with prawns and more.. but the picture shows it isgarnished only with chilli.

Dear Anon, As most of us are aware, Chinese who migrated overseas to escape the communist rule are considered more affluent than those on mainland China. These group of Chinese (those who had migrated overseas) have been exposed to food from other culture. A very good example is in my country and even neigbouring countries. As we have a diverse mix of race e.g. Chinese, Malays, Bugis people, Indians, Eurasians and others.. you will find lots of type of food available. The Chinese is `known' to eat anything even exotic food if given the opportunity. Depending on where one is born, some prefer spicy and hot food i.e. lots of chillies, chilli padies etc.. while others eat m…

SOURCE & CREDIT: THE STRAITS TIMES, MONDAY, MARCH 21 2011 Honouring Lao Tzu Taoist priests attending a memorial ceremony for the 2,582nd anniversary of the birth of Taoism founder Lao Tzu at Tianjing Palace, or the Heavenly Peace Palance, in Woyang county, in eastern China's Anhui province, last Saturday. Lao Tzu is best known as the authoer of the classical Taoist text; the Tao Te CHing. The Heavenly Peace Palace in Woyang was the birthplace of the Chinese philosopher. PHOTO XINHUA

Dear Anon, I believe the older generation of Chinese, arranged marriages are very common. My parents have arranged marriages. There's is not the arrange marriage where it is determined from birth but rather later years of their life where my grandfather saw the `need' for my father to get married. I believed, he asked a matchmaker to find a match for my dad. When I was young, my parents used to bring us to visit relatives and close friends. I recalled one close friend of my family who said that she was invited to her prospective in-laws home. She was viewed from top to toe. The in-laws also looked at the type of `bone structure' and the `shape' of her legs. In a `crude w…

Source & Credit: The Sunday Times APRIL 10, 2011 GRAVE TOURS BUKIT BROWN CEMETERY (LORNIE ROAD) Bukit Brown holds the remains of many Singapore pioneers including Chew Boon Lay, Lim Chong Pang and Lim Nee Soon as well as Tan Kim CHing, eldest son of Tan Tock Seng. It also includes what may be the oldest grave in Singapore - the final resting place of a certain Fang Shan who died in 1833. CHUA CHU KANG CHINESE CEMETRY Many graves here are built in the shape of animals such as fish or snakes, in accordance with feng shui principles. In the night, it also attracts many mediums and their followers, who conduct regular seances there. JAPANESE CEMETRY PARK…

Dear Anon, In my opinion, this is not true. On the contrary, many Chinese party officials remarry after the demise of their wife. For example: The late Chairman Mao remarried Mdm Jiang Jing (who later tried to take power) after he died. His earlier wife died and he then married Mdm Jiang The most recent President Jiang, also has a wife. Many other party officials have a family also. It is the belief that to be `respected' one must not be a `bachelor'. Therefore, in my opinion, it is not that girls are afraid to marry them but rather, usually their wife's play a low key position (or seemed to play a low key). Warmest Regards, Cecil

Chop sticks vs the Western Fork and Spoon Chop sticks force one to take small portions of food into the mouth... this is the mother of all secret weapon of "eating less"... Dear cecil, Since chinese people give so much importance to health and longevity and live to a ripe old age. Does that mean there is lack of deadly diseases among chinese people. Thanks.

Dear Anon, Please see below:- It certainly made sense for babies to wear old clothes especially their own siblings clothes. I remembered at the time when pampers were not `invented' yet. Once upon a time, we use to use cotton nappies. It does make sense to `re-use' those that were purchased for an earlier sibling. Or even those given by relatives. In my personal opinion, this makes practical sense. As an adult, if you were to ask me, I would prefer to wear those that I bought because, we are not growing so do not need to buy clothes so often. Anyway, the only belief is that one should not wear torn clothes even if it is one's personal clothings. Frankly, being s…

Dear Anon, In the past, before the communist rule in China, arranged marriages are common. But for the Chinese, arranged marriages are usually between young children and not to elderly grand fathers. The exception is during the dynasty periods e.g. Ching, Ming dyansties where the emperor has many concubines. Today, there are fewer arranged marriages in China. And more parents have taken a modern approach in letting their children choose a partner. One interesting thing to note is that if one looks at the population profile of China especially those below 25 years old, one can see a noticable imbalance i.e. that there are more Males than Females in the population. This is…

Sembawang God of Wealth Temple in Woodlands

Dear Anon, Apologise for the late response. The peacock symbolises beauty and dignity. Its feathers were used as decorations ofr meritous deeds. Often, the picture of a peacock with a full spread of its tail is part of a congratulation message on the opening of a shop. Under the Manchu rule in China, peacock features were used as an insignia denoting a rank. In paintings it is denotes an official of the court. To both the Chinese and Christians, it is said to be able to drive away evil spirits. It was later that the peacock with wrongly asociated with pride through its beautiful plume and love for displaying it. Warmest Regards, Cecil Christians

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, In my opinion, this is not true. This is because, for one reason, especially in China, as houses are to live in and not often houses are sold. It is difficult to find alternative housing. One interesting thing is that trees are grown if they can thrive in a particular region. It would be interesting to know that in my country, if you do drive around in an estate, it is common to see an alternate house growing mango tree. Mango trees thrive in my region. For larger houses, especially in the past e.g. where houses (were) around 8,000 sq feet or more, you can see both Mango and rambutan trees planted. But because of land scarcity and smaller landed properties, Man…

Source: Today, Friday February 10, 2012 New York ... The ancient Chinese...

Dear Anon, There is truth in what you mentioned as one seldom if ever come across anyone printing red background business cards. 1. Most likely also because red background with black letterings is difficult to read. Red background with white letterings is considered not auspicious. White represents mourning or death to the Chinese. Maybe gold letterings can be used. So far, I have yet to receive or be given a red background business card. It is ok if the company logo e.g. is in red etc... and majority of the time, business cards are mostly white background or shades of white/grey/off-white/beige etc... Warmest Regards Cecil

Dear Anon, In my opinion, I tend to agree with you on this. One reason is due to the problem caused by the `one child' policy adopted in China. One should understand that China had no choice but to curb a baby boom. Thus the `one child' policy was adopted. Traditionally, Chinese have always belief that a married couple must give birth to a `heir' or a male child. This is because, only a male child can continue with the family line. For example, when a couple gets married: The husband's surname is TAN The wife's surname is LIM When the wife marries the husband, if here name is LIM Mei Ling, she becomes TAN Mei Ling. Thus, only when one has a MALE child then can one conti…

In one of Bruce Lee's film... he was outside a building and he kicked and destroyed a sign that says " Dogs and Chinese"....