Chinese Culture (General)
Chinese Culture (General)
430 topics in this forum
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Dear Anon, No, this is not true. China, does have its own commercial airlines. Like in the US, there are domestic, regional and international airlines. A few Chinese commercial airlines have offices in Singapore. In the past, it is quite `scary' to take their domestic flights because of the poor reputation of maintenance. Especially the poor safety. But things have improved today. For international flights, these are generaly safe as they conform to the International safety standards. Warmest Regards, Cecil
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Dear Anon, Again, this is a recollection and has to be verified. Last year, if I am not mistaken there was a film/movie on the three `Soong' sisters. One of the Soong sisters, (I hope I got it correctly) married Dr. Sun Yat Sen, who was credited as the founder of modern China. He also had lived in Singapore and the bungalow that he stayed had I believed turned into a `museum' or a landmark here. I believe the movie was based on a book on the three `Soong' sisters. Well, I hope I got the above correct as I am more familiar with Feng Shui rather than Chinese history. Perhaps, you can go to www.britannica.com to find out more about Sun Yat Sen and see if there is any mention…
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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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…
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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Dear Anon, Currently, China is practising one country `two systems' and the governor of Hong Kong is given autonomy to run it. So far, there are no restrictions in the practise of Feng Shui in Hong Kong. Feng Shui is practised much the same as it was prior to China's taking over. You will be surprised to learn that even during the older communist rule, it was rumoured that top communist party members do use Feng Shui. Evidence abound where poor quality Luo Pans were made in mass quantities in certain cities in China during the communist rule i.e. either they were used by the Chinese themselves or exported overseas. But since they are of inferior, poorer quality, most lik…
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Dear Anon, The best example would be Taiwan. Many Chinese fled to Taiwan from mainland China after the near defeat of Nationalist Army defeat is a good example. For other overseas Chinese, in the past, prior to the Communist rule i.e. many Chinese wanted to seek better pastures overseas. Thus, many Chinese immigrated to neighbouring countries like Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia in the hope of making money. Many Chinese, the poorer ones would make money and remit it to their loved ones in China especially in the 1800s to 1940s. Many Chinese are thus very successful in their adopted country. Majority of them control vast empires of commerce and the wholesale, middlema…
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This article on the use of traditional medicine to combat ageing is interesting... Warmest Regards, Cecil
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Dear Anon, 1. Sharks fin soup is indeed a delicacy amongst the Chinese. 2. It is a tedious task to boil the sharks fins in broth until it becomes soft, yet `cruncy' (I hope I said this correctly). Sometimes, crap meat is added to the soup. 3. On other occassions, it comes concentrated with a `lump' of sharks fins. Depending on the quantity and restaurant, it can costs as much as US$30 or more for one small plate of this delicacy. 4. Usually, the restaurants buy the sharks fins in bulk and as they can easily be `kept' e.g. dried, they can be boiled whenever needed. Contrast this with the meat of sharks. Shark meat like other fish meat, need proper storage. 5. Sharks meat …
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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Dear Anon, Whether `red soil' is considered auspicious or inauspicious has more to do with a person's belief than Feng Shui. Most of us would have guessed that red soil if `wrongly' interpreted could mean that `bad blood' has been spilled on the ground. In Singapore, we previously have a location or hill that has this type of soil. Today, the estate is known as ` Redhill ' which literally means that there was indeed a hill with red soil at this location. Many government housing block flats were built on top of this region. I believe there are no inherent effects for the residents living there. In Feng Shui, a Traditional Master would instead look at the grain of sand on …
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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Dear Anon, Fortunately or unfortunately, Chinese Valentine day is seldom known by the Chinese. I believe many Chinese are not aware that there is such a date especially the young. Often than not, if their parents do not celebrate an event, the child, from a young age to courtship age would have never known of it nor its existence. Thus, only commercialisation can create such an awareness. In Singapore, because of western influence and many of us study English, (ENGLISH) Valentine day is commercialised to the extent that restaurants, boutiques etc.. publish it widely. And fortunately, they will try to get a pie of the business. So, if one day, many companies start to pu…
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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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
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Spotted: A figurine at the Food court in Ion Orchard. An elderly scholar (book). He is enjoying a cup of tea.
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Dear Anon, 1. Many of the bones come from dead animals. Bones range from elephants to buffalo and other animals. 2. Bone carvings are intricate carvings and a unique art. In my opinion, thus there is relatively no specific reason other than creating `art' on the bones. Warmest Regards, Cecil
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Dear Anon, 1. The most common colour associated with Jade is green. 2. Many people believe that the darker the colour of jade, the more valuable it is. 3. In the past, it is common for a lady to wear a jade bracelet around their wrist. 4. Sometimes when they grow `fatter', it is difficult for the jade to come off. But usually soap does the trick. 5. Many believe that the longer the jade is worn, it turns a `darker' colour. Perhaps, it is due to the jade being porous and absorbing the contaminants surround it? 6. For those who have noticed, the Free resources on the website, (under Chinese tombs, The Landscape Feng Shui) there is a body covered entirely with green jade. To…
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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Dear Anon, Chinese food can be classified under Yin or Yang. This can even be further classified into one of the five elements based on taste. Generally, Yin foods are `softer' such as through boiling, steaming etc... Yang foods are fried etc... Chinese food especially in the rural areas are often preserved. For example, lettuce or cabbage is preserved for winter time. As food cannot be kept for too long without spoilage. Thus Chinese do have lots of preserved food such as Chinese susage, pork etc.... But this is not much a choice as food is scarce especially in the country side. This does not mean that they eat `preserved' food all the time. Only during the cold seasons…
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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Dear Anon, Thanks for bringing this up. Actually, I had in mind, at that time for those who worship e.g. Buddha and Goddess of Mercy etc.. Therefore, for those who worship or pray to them, should `separate' the figurines. Otherwise, if one purchased them for `display' then it is still OK to keep them together. Warmest Regards, Cecil
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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Dear Anon, Most couples are happy with the coming of the Dragon year. To the Chinese, it is considered auspicious to have a child born under the Dragon Year. I mentioned earlier that since this will be a popular year, there will be stiff competition when the child goes to School. Some schools even have to arrange to expand their classes or add an additional class room. One thing about Zi Wei Dou Shu or Chinese Astrology is like it's cousin the Western version of Astrology, it can try to `paint' the story for what is coming but it does not have the ability to provide a solution or cure for an individual. For example, under Pillars of Destiny, if under next year's luck pil…
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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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
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Dear Anon, The official Chinese site is: http://english.china.com/cdc/en/travel/0,1020,0,00.html Yes, tourists are allowed to visit China. In fact, China which has a 5,000 year culture is worth the visit if one is `young'. This is because, it is more advantages to visit China on `two feet' (or legs) than on a wheel chair as walking is part of the `thrill'. The only major complaint is the toilet facilites or `lack of it'. If one is interested one can visit Guilin, the beautiful landscapes where the Shapes and Form Feng Shui was said to have originated. There are many many more cultural and historical sites available... Warmest Regards, Cecil
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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Dear Anon, 1. The Chinese are very particular about phonetics or `sound like.. '. 2. For example, the Chinese dialect group: Cantonese, do not like number 4 because, to them it is `die'. 3. While number 8 to that is `Fatt' or prospher. 4. Unfortunately, the Chinese phonetic meaning for butterfly implies a person in his seventies. Which means `old age' or about to die. Warmest Regards, Cecil
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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Dear Anon, In traditional China, tea is the favoured drink. Coffee, is in my opinion a more recent development. Chinese is famous for the cultivation of tea and some are considered `vintage' or kept for many years. As mentioned above, coffee is more an `import'. If one get a chance to see the various varieties of tea and even tea for `slimming' are available. Popular tea include oolong, jasmine, iron buddha etc... Warmest Regards, Cecil
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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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
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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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
Last reply by Cecil Lee, -
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Dear Anon, The original purpose of real firecrackers was to `drive' away evil/bad luck. But because, in most countries real firecrackers were banned because due to many incidence where fire started e.g. in communities such as villages and even house caught fire. Many people therefore, symbollically, hang decorative `fake' fire crackers on thier main door. Warmest Regards, Cecil Lee
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The Hiang Foo Siang Temple (First photo) and Teng Siang San Hock Temple at Serangoon North Avenue 1
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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
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