Chinese Culture (General)
Chinese Culture (General)
430 topics in this forum
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Questions: a. My Grandmother (mum’s mom) just passed away yesterday. From a Feng Shui angle, how will this affect - our wedding on (this date that is more than 100 days.) Can the family members still attend our wedding? b. Our proposed house warming on (within 100 days). Can we still go ahead with that? My condolences. c. Moving in is not an issue since it falls within the 100-day period. d. Regarding family members’ attendance: traditionally, this is not allowed, as it is beyond the 100-day reprieve. e. However, in modern times, it’s best to check with both partners’ parents. Some parents are quite flexible, while others follow strict Chin…
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Dear Anon, 1.1 Fu, Lu, and Shou are gods in Chinese culture, known as the Three Stars. 1.2 Each one stands for something important: Fu means Prosperity Lu means Status Shou means Longevity 1.3 The idea of Fu Lu Shou started in the Ming Dynasty and represents Prosperity, Status, and Longevity. 1.4 In the Hokkien dialect, they are called Hock, Lock, and Siew. 1.5 In Cantonese, the names are Luk, Fuk, and Sau. 2. Traditional Chinese books are read from right to left. So, the statues should be arranged from right to left when you face them. 3. This means Fu is on the far right, Lu is in the middle, and Shou is on the left. I hope …
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Source & Credit: In Shaanxi, a man was caring for his critically ill mother. He fell asleep by her side. When he woke up... she was gone. But when he checked the CCTV, he saw: In her final moments, she saw her son wasn't properly covered... So she used the last of her strength to pull the blanket over him. Then she closed her eyes-forever. She tucked him in the day he was born. She tucked him in the day she died. That was her final act of love.
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Inviting Kuan Yin (Guan Yin) to New House + what is binding elements to select the best colour of Guan Yin
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Dear Master, Thanks for your prompt reply... really appreciated it Regards, Mystic Dragon
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Chinese Legend of the Eighteen levels of Hell with King Yama as their Supreme Governor 1. This legend is based on Diyu 地獄 a Buddhist concept of the ream of hell known as Naraka. 1.1. Naraka is an underground maze with many levels of chambers where the souls of the dead are taken to atone for their sins committed when they were alive. 1.2. One Legend says that there are two main chambers: The East and The West Chambers of Hell. 2. Here, sinners are perpetually subjected to gruesome tortuers until infinity. 3. The East Chamber of Hell 3.1 Tongue Extraction Chamber: Still want to Gossip? Stop it! 3.2 Scissors Chamber: Finger torture, snip, …
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Hi Cecil Wanted to seek your advice. My elderly uncle is moving house (downsizing) and he has a Guanyin statue, an ancestral tablet and 3 to 4 small amulets which he received from Thai Buddhist temples placed on the praying altar. He will be selling his house first and then source for a new flat. During this period, we are wondering what can we do with the items mentioned above? 1) Can we temporary place the ancestral tablet at my house? He is my maternal uncle i.e. different surname. Or must the ancestral tablet be placed in a household of same surname? if not can we place at a temple? (you have any recommendations for such holding places?) 2…
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Spring water and China - Laoshan Oldenlandia Water Dear Anon, I took the opportunity to take a picture of what the `green' mineral water looks like. By the way, the correct `English' spelling on the bottle is: Oldenlandia Water. This is the description on the label: OLENLANDIA WATER Make of the abstracted fragrant essense of oldeniadia with Laoshan mineral water rich in mineral elements and it is indeed a refreshing drink for all seasons around the year with a tradition of quality sinces 1962. It is bottled by Qindao Laoshan Oldenlandia Water Co Ltd, China. It is the addition of oldeniadia to Laoshan mineral water that gives it a unique flavour. I …
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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…
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I wear a baby jade nickle around my neck. My mum tells me the jade is best when it's tied using a red string. It's known to protect you from harm. you can restore the jades power once and a while by giving it a little bath in the sea water. the jade shaped into a buddah and if blessed, it will protect you from the evil spirits. Only the real jade from the mountains has this kind of power. my jade is worth about $300 - and it's only very little! i wonder what the big jades are worth!! -Daniel
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The Temple of Heaven, Beijing, China. Built during the Ming Dynasty in the early 15th century
by Cecil Lee-
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The Temple of Heaven is a famous historical complex located in Beijing, China. Built during the Ming Dynasty in the early 15th century, it was used by emperors for annual ceremonies to pray for good harvests. The site is much more than a single temple; it consists of several buildings set in a large park, with key structures including: 1. Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests: This iconic, circular building with a blue-tiled roof is where emperors prayed for an abundant harvest. It’s built entirely from wood and is known for its elegant construction without using nails. 2. Imperial Vault of Heaven: A smaller circular building, surrounded by the Echo Wall, which is fa…
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Dear Anon, 1. Based on my personal observations, this holds particularly true during the 15 days of the Chinese New Year. 2. It is essential to comprehend that according to Chinese beliefs, items should be given in pairs, not singularly. 2.1. For instance, when presenting an 'Ang Pow' or red packet containing money in a red envelope during Chinese New Year or special occasions like an elderly person's birthday, the amount should be in pairs like $2, $4, $6, $10, and so on. 2.2. This practice is rooted in the belief that odd numbers like 1, 3, 5, 7 symbolize "loneliness." 2.3. In Feng Shui, this principle extends to the arrangement of chairs at a d…
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1st October 2020
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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Dear Anon, In China, briefcases are often designed to match the standard Feng Shui foot, which is approximately 17 inches. This measurement is considered auspicious in Feng Shui principles, suggesting that anything kept inside—such as important documents—is surrounded by positive energy and good fortune. The use of this size reflects a belief in harmonious proportions and the idea of attracting success and luck through thoughtfully chosen dimensions. Warmest Regards, Cecil
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Lee Sifu, Traditionally, Chinese of Hokkien heritage revere the sugarcane, most likely a during the Lunar New Year. As it symbolizes sweetness as it goes on the top, there is a legend that the ancestors of the Hokkien people were saved by the sugarcane field by hiding inside (the field) as their enemies burned their village...they found no one's in the village so the attackers left the place without killing someone.
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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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…
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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Dear Users, I have received several emails asking about the significance of Kong Teck. Chinese Traditions: What does "Kong Teck (Gong De) 功德 Funeral Memorial" mean? 1. This ritual is believed to bring blessings and merit to the departed soul. 2. Traditionally, it is preferred for a person to pass away peacefully, without suffering, rather than through a tragic or painful event. 3. It is also believed that the guardians of the underworld are compassionate beings who come quietly to escort the soul to the afterlife. 4. Kong Teck, also called 功德 "Gong De" in Mandarin, is a traditional ritual intended to help the deceased transition smoothly into…
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Dear Susan, 1. In Chinese culture, the toad and frog are symbols of the moon. 2. Generally, the Chinese do not distinguish between the toad and the frog, as they are typically regarded as the same. 3. Since the Chinese cultivate rice in wet fields, toads and frogs are commonly found in these areas as they thrive in such environments. 4. Due to their slippery texture, the Chinese refer to frogs as 'Heavenly dew' and consider them to be the heavenly chicken or celestial cock. 5. According to ancient Chinese lore, rulers and scholars found the croaking of frogs and toads to be 'irritating,' and legend has it that if they instructed the frogs or toads to be silen…
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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.
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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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
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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Dear Anon, Chinese culture holds the belief that sweeping the floor on the first day of the lunar new year brings bad luck. This notion is rooted in the desire to begin the new year on a positive note. Additionally, the significance of avoiding negative remarks is acknowledged, as it aligns with the intention of starting the new year afresh. The celebration of Chinese New Year spans a total of 15 days. Warmest Regards, Cecil
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Dim Sum Facts Dim Sum originated with the Cantonese in Southern China. While it started as a snack, it has now become a stable of Chinese dining culture. It is treated as a meal where friends and families gather together to have a relaxing and happy dining experience. The serving sizes of dim sum are small and often come in 3 and 4 pieces. Because of the small serving sizes, one can try a huge variety of food. Eating dim sum ar a restaurant is usually known in Cantonese as going To "drink Tea" (yum Cha), as tea is typically served with dim sum. Traditionally dim sum includes various types of steam buns such …
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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Phoh Teck Siang Tng Temple also the Blue Cross Charitable Institution at 106 Pasir Panjang Road
by Cecil Lee-
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Phoh Teck Siang Tng Temple At 106 Pasir Panjang Road. Also the Blue Cross Charitable Institution. Strange to find a variant of the Knight’s Templar emblem on it’s wrought iron gate. No wonder... it is called the Blue Cross Usually a "pure temple" uses the Swastica Buddhist symbol is used, instead. This temple was built around the early 1990’s thus is considered pretty new. The 1995 streetmap of The temple:
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Further to what I mentioned below, this link will show the charm against the Five poisonous animals: http://www.geomancy.net/mypictures/cgi-bin/imagesearch.cgi?search=charm&img=8&cat=all There is also a charm to ward off evil for boys (left picture). Warmest Regards, Cecil
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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). …
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