Feng Shui from Ancient China is So Magical
Feng Shui (pronounced “phung schwee” and meaning literally “wind water”) is part of an ancient Chinese philosophy of nature. Feng Shui is often identified as a form of geomancy, divination by geographic features, but it is mainly concerned with understanding the relationships between nature and ourselves so that we might live in harmony within our environment.
Feng Shui is related to the very sensible notion that living with rather than against nature benefits both humans and our environment. It is also related to the equally sensible notion that our lives are deeply affected by our physical and emotional environs. If we surround ourselves with symbols of death, contempt and indifference toward life and nature, with noise and various forms of ugliness, we will corrupt ourselves in the process. If we surround ourselves with beauty, gentleness, kindness, sympathy, music and various expressions of the sweetness of life, we ennoble ourselves as well as our environment.
Alleged masters of Feng Shui, those who understand the five elements and the two energies such as chi and sha (hard energy, the opposite of chi), are supposed to be able to detect metaphysical energies and give directions for their optimal flow. Feng Shui has become a kind of architectural acupuncture: wizards and magi insert themselves into buildings or landscapes and use their metaphysical sensors to detect the flow of good and bad “energy.” These masters for hire declare where bathrooms should go, which way doorways should face, where mirrors should hang, which room needs green plants and which one needs red flowers, which direction the head of the bed should face, etc. They decide these things on the basis of their feel for the flow of chi, electromagnetic fields or whatever other form of energy the client will worry about. (If you and your lover are having trouble in the bedroom, call a Feng Shui master. You probably need to move a few things around to get the bedroom chi flowing properly. Only a person with special metaphysical sensors, however, can tell what really needs to be done.)
Tags: China culture, Feng ShuiWhich Animal Zodiac Do You Belong to?
Chinese Zodiac is better well known in Chinese as Sheng Xiao (Chinese: 生肖) which is a scheme that relates each year to an animal and its reputed attributes, according to a 12-year cycle and these animals are the “rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig” in order. The Zodiac have deeply influence of Chinese since ancient time.
Rat - People who were born in the year of 1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 appear to be rat zodiac.
Ox – People who were born in the year of 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 appear to be ox zodiac.
Tiger – People who were born in the year of 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 appear to be tiger zodiac.
Rabbit - People who were born or will born in the year of 1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 appear to be rabbit zodiac.
Dragon - People who were born or will born in the year of 1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 appear to be dragon zodiac.
Snake – People who were born or will born in the year of 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 appear to be snake zodiac.
Horse - People who were born or will born in the year of 1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 appear to be horse zodiac.
Goat - People who were born or will born in the year of 1907, 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 appear to be goat zodiac.
Monkey - People who were born or will born in the year of 1908, 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 appear to be monkey zodiac.
Rooster – People who were born or will born in the year of 1909, 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 appear to be rooster zodiac.
Dog - People who were born or will born in the year of 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 appear to be dog zodiac.
Pig – People who were born or will born in the year of 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 appear to be pig zodiac.
Tags: China culture, Chinese ZodiacNew and Necessary Information on Chinese Paper Cutting
Chinese paper cutting is one of the most popular folk art in China. According to archaeological record, its history could date back to the sixth century AD, but people believed that the actually start time of it may be earlier hundreds years than the record. China has already paid more attention on protecting those non-material cultural heritages, and Paper Cutting was approved to the first batch of national non-material cultural heritage list by Chinese State Council for its deep culture on May 20, 2006.
What is Paper Cutting? It is a hollow-out art, which could give people a hollow feeling and artistic enjoyment from visual. Paper Cutting commonly used in religious ceremonies, decoration, art and other aspects. In the past time, people often like to make various patterns and figures with paper to burn them during funeral or bury with the death people. Beside, Paper Cutting is also one part of ceremony, and it was usually used for worship of ancestors and gods. Now, Paper Cutting is more used for decoration, such as walls, windows, doors, pillars, mirrors, lamps and lanterns decoration, etc.
Paper Cutting is popular among people, may because its materials are easy to get (paper, scissors or carvers), low cost, effective result and wide adaptation. While it is the most suitable for rural women to produce in leisure time both for practical things and beautify the life. Actually, Paper Cutting is usually made by rural women, but we see the professional Paper Cutting artists are mostly men.
Paper cutting in the early time is all hand-made, but now, some places use machines instead. And there are two common methods to make it, one is cut the patterns with scissors, and the other is engraved with carver. Compared with the first method, the second has an obvious advantage that could engrave many papers one time.
Paper Cutting could be widely seen in China, even it has already formed different styles. Paper Cutting not only shows the people’s aesthetic interest, but contains the deep psychology of the nation. The particular features of this Chinese folk art is worthy for people to study.
Tags: China culture, Chinese Paper CuttingShadow Puppets Is the Great Handicrafts & Arts in China
According to the historical record and the actual circulating situation of the contemporary folk art-shadow puppet, we can infer and confirm that Chinese shadow puppet art originates from the Western Han Dynasty, 2000 years ago, Shanxi province of China, and mature in the Tang and Song Dynasty of Shanxi(陕西), Shanxi(山西), and Henan(河南) Province, prevalent in the Qing Dynasty of Hebei Province.
From the beginning to the end of Qing Dynasty, Chinese shadow puppet reaches its peak. Many shadow puppet artists inherit his fathers’ business, for several generations and more sophisticated. Ether the modeling of the puppet, acting skill, singing tune, or the pop area,
Chinese shadow puppet has reached the historical peak. Many wealthy and decent families take proud in asking skillful artists to carve puppet, colleting refined shadow box, raising shadow puppet troupe. In the county, you can also find large or small shadow puppet troupe everywhere. On holidays or festival, joyous harvests, praying to the Gods, marriage banquet, birthday, etc, people like to have shadow puppet playing, the lively and royal scenes is beyond imagination.
The style and creation of the figure and science in shadow play, as a matter of fact, belong to the scope of Chinese folk art. Its artistic style is also unique in the Centre stage.
In order to meet the screen principle of shadow play, folk artists have combined the abstraction and reality and carried out graphic-oriented, artistic, cartoony, drama and integrated treatment to the figures and scenes. The marks and dress style of the shadow puppet are very lively and vivid, exaggerated and humorous, some may be plain and rough while some may be delicate and romantic. Coupled with the excellent fabrication of smooth carving, gorgeous coloring, aerial body and flexible limbs, the shadow play is really fun to watch and hardly be put down.
Shadow puppet figures are not only used in shadow puppet performances, but everyone can play them, because it’s really simple. You can also put the shadow puppet in front of windows or white wall as indoor decoration. As the shape of shadow is plain and elegant, rich in national characteristics, having the artistic appreciation as well as the value of collection, many domestic and foreign museums, collectors, artists and puppet-lovings like to collect Chinese shadow puppet. Chinese shadow puppet even often is presented to international friends as superior presents.
Tags: Arts of China, China culture, Shadow PuppetsChinese Zodiac can Reflect people’s Character
The “rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig” combine to form the Chinese Zodiac which relates each year to an animal and its reputed attributes, according to a 12-year cycle. Chinese Zodiac is similar with the Western Zodiac the twelve constellations. Nevertheless, there are major differences: the 12 parts cycle of Chinese Zodiac is divided into years rather than months.
Chinese Zodiac is very important for Chinese since ancient time, and people also like to count the years with them. If we walk along the Chinese markets, we could find variety types of things are decorated with Chinese Zodiac, such as toys, clothing, personal goods and some traditional Chinese Handicraft (the most one is may be Chinese Cutting).
People also like to buy the animal sign that they were born under, and this is a label for them. For example, 2010, according to Chinese calendar, is the year of tiger. So tiger related things are more popular than others. We can find Tiger Pillows, Tiger Shoes, Tiger Paintings, Tiger Toys, Mini Tiger Hangings and so on near around us. The people who were born under the tiger year will prefer to own some tiger related things for their body (The people who were born in the year of 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 appear to be tiger zodiac). The same as other people, different kind of people will choose their animal sign goods, like the people who were born under rabbit year will buy the things which related with the lovely rabbit for themselves or other friends as auspicious goods.
In another word, 2010 is also their (the people who were born in the year of tiger zodiac) year of birth considered in relation to the 12 Terrestrial Branches. This means that they have already experienced one or more 12 cycles and they are now 13-year-old, 25-year-old, 37-year-old, 49-year-old, 61-year-old, 73-year-old, 85-year-old or 97-year-old. People will wear red cloth, red vest, red pants or red sash, etc. to wish good luck for them when this year coming, especially during the days of New Year.
Tags: Character, Chinese culture, Chinese ZodiacEnjoyable Legend Story about Chinese Zodiac
Maybe you have known that Chinese Zodiac in order contains “rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig”, but do you know why the animals order like this?
There are many legends about the origins of the animals’ order and the most popular and interesting reads as follows: It is said that the Jade Emperor (the legendary ancestor of the Chinese people) decided to hold a competition (some said the banquet) to select twelve animals to serve as zodiac signs. When the news was noticed, it caused a great storm throughout the animal kingdom.
At that time, the rat and the cat are the best friends and the cat who has a habit of sleep had asked the rat to wake him up when the day of race. The rat agreed but he did not carry out his promise to wake the cat on that day. So when the cat finally found that he had missed the race, he was so angry and swore enemy for ages to come.
During the race of other animals, there also happened many interesting stories. At first, the animals were announced that they must go through a river so that they could reach the end. But the rat was bad swimmers among them, and he knew the best and fastest way to cross the river was to hop on the back of the ox who was the strongest and fastest animal. The ox is a kindhearted animal that he agreed the rat’s request to allow him sit on his back. However, when the ox would cross the river, the rat jumped ahead and reached the shore first that was unexpected for the ox, and the rat got the first place in the competition and the ox after.
Following closely behind was the tiger as his powerful strength and he was named the 3rd animal in the Chinese Zodiac and the king of animal kingdom.
Latter, the rabbit arrived at the shore through jumping from one stone to another stone at first, unexpected lost the race halfway, but he did not give up and was lucky to grab a log which drifted him to shore. So the rabbit became the 4th animal in the zodiac.The 5th coming is the dragon. Actually, the dragon was strong and flying, but he last fail to reach first because he had to help all the lives of the earth to make rain and give a hand of a little rabbit who grab a log during he was race. Therefore, he was hold back a little.
Suddenly, the horse appeared after the dragon, but a snake hidden on its hoof. At last, the snake arrived at the shore before the horse as he made a fright to the horse, and the snake was named the 6th zodiac animal and the horse became the 7th one.
Then, the goat, monkey and rooster arrived at the shore through helped each other. They combined their efforts to make a raft so as to cross the river. Therefore, the goat became the 8th, the monkey as the 9th and the rooster was the 10th.
Coming the 11th zodiac is the dog for he was addict to playing the water and the last one is the pig for he was lazy and had a nap during the race.
Tags: China culture, Chinese ZodiacChinese Embroidery: A Chinese Traditional Handicraft Art
The so-called embroidery art is a traditional outstanding handicraft in China. And now, the Yangzhou embroidery has been already approved to the provincial non-material cultural heritage protection list in 2006 by the local government.
Embroidery is actually a decorative fabric which should thread the silk or other fiber with a needle to the embroidery material (the basic cloth) in accordance with a certain pattern and color. It looks very simple, but a good embroidery product should take long time on embroidering it with people’s hands.
In some Chinese folk places, embroidery is very popular among people. Different areas have different embroidery styles, and some tend to dainty, elegant and strict, but some show simple and nature. We usually see this art mainly from cloth, decoration or some other sacrifice goods.
There will be embroidered with different patterns in different part of cloth, such as the cuff of shirt are usually decorated with the safe, lucky or RuYi patterns; collar is mostly embroidered lucky cloud or floral patterns. People also like to embroider patterns on bellyband, shoes, bib, hat or insole. With the development of the people’s imagination, embroidery has already developed more. It has not only used for clothing, but more items be founded on decoration goods, for example, sachets, cosmetic boxes, even some Chinese knot are adorned with embroidery patterns or some others. Browse more information or pictures about embroidery, you can move to Chinese handicraft store where has variety embroidered products and makes people feel dazzling. Let you know what a great art of embroidery!
Chinese people like to embroider different things to show their best wishes, such as tiger hats are usually presented to boys and the lotus hats are for girls, two butterflies are usually symbolized romantic love and peaches means longevity, coins are the symbol of wealth and so on.
This art will be one of the best gifts for people with its special quality. People could see the endeavor and wisdom from it. Embroidery has a long history, whether people buy the materials to embroider themselves or buy the finished products, embroidery will take people to enjoy this high value art deeply.
Tags: China culture, Chinese Embroidery, Chinese Hand Embroidery, Chinese handicraftBasic Knowledge about Chinese Medicine
Visiting a Chinese pharmacy to get Chinese medicine in Taiwan is much like being inside a miniature museum of natural science. Tucked away in row after row of tidy drawers are animal, plant, and mineral products, each with a particular purpose of making Chinese medicine. Among the assortment of curiosities is amber, to relax the nerves; peach pits and safflower, to improve blood circulation; Chinese ephedra (mahuang) to induce perspiration; and ginseng to strengthen cardiac function.
The filling of a prescription ordered by a Chinese doctor is a fascinating process to watch. The pharmacist selects a few particular ingredients from the hundreds on his shelf. Chinese medicine are taken home by the patient, boiled into a “soup”, and drunk. Confronted with such a steaming brew, you might ask yourself just what the basis of this ancient medical art is.
The theoretical framework of Chinese medicine was established more than two millennia ago. A great deal of ancient medical knowledge is preserved in the pre-Chin (221-207 B.C.) Inner Cannon (Nei Ching), a comprehensive record of Chinese medicine and medical theories up to that time. The Han dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.) produced an authoritative and valuable practical guide–even to the present day–to the treatment of illness, the Treatise on Diseases Caused by Cold Factors (Shang Han Lun) by Chang Chung-ching.
One of the best-known Chinese medical works is the Materia Medica(Pen Ts’ao Kang Mu), compiled in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.) by Li Shih-chen. This encyclopedic work heralded a new era in the world history of pharmacology; it includes descriptions of 1,892 different kinds of Chinese medicines. These works have all been translated into several foreign languages, and have exercised a profound influence on East Asian and European countries.
The Chinese have a unique system of categorizing illnesses that is widely divergent from its Western counterpart. The philosophy behind Chinese medicine is that man lives between heaven and earth, and comprises a miniature universe in himself. The material of which living things are made is considered to belong to the “yin”, or female, passive, receding aspect of nature. The life functions of living things, on the other hand, are considered to belong to the “yang”, or masculine, active, advancing aspect. The functions of living beings are described in terms of the following five centers of the body: 1.”heart” or “mind” (hsin); this refers to the “command center” of the body, which manifests itself as consciousness and intelligence; 2.”lungs” or “respiratory system” (fei); this system regulates various intrinsic functions of the body, and maintains cybernetic balance; 3.”liver” (kan); this term includes the limbs and trunk, the mechanism for emotional response to the external environment, and the action of organs; 4.”spleen” (p’i); this organ system regulates the distribution of nutrition throughout the body, and the metabolism, bringing strength and vigor to the physical body; and 5.”kidneys” (shen); this refers to the system for regulating the storage of nutrition and the use of energy; the human life force depends on this system. This theory is used to describe the system of body functions, and as a whole is referred to as the “latent phenomena” ( ts’ang hsiang).
The passage of the seasons and changes in the weather can have an influence on the human body. Those having the most pronounced effect are wind (feng), cold (han), heat (shu), moisture (shih), dryness (tsao), and internal heat (huo “fire”). Excessive or extraordinary changes in the weather harm the body, and are referred to as the “six external disease-causing factors” (liu yin). On the other hand, if mood changes within the individual, such as happiness(hsi), anger(nu), worry(yu), pensiveness(szu), grief(pei), fear(k’ung), and surprise(ching) are too extreme, they will also harm the health. These emotions are called the “seven emotions”(ch’i ch’ing). In Chinese medicine, the six external disease-causing factors, interacting with the seven emotions, form the theoretical foundation of disease pathology. These theoretical models, coupled with the “theory of latent phenomena,” are used to analyze the patient’s constitution and his illness, and diagnose the exact nature of his overall physical and psychological loss of balance. Based on this analysis, the doctor can prescribe a method to correct the imbalance. The object of Chinese medicine is the person, not just the illness. In Chinese medical thinking, illness is only one manifestation of an imbalance that exists in the entire person.
Tags: Chinese culture, Chinese Health, Chinese Medicine, Chinese treatmentTop Five Chinese Recipes You Should Know
Chinese food is a delicious way to expand your personal cookbook, especially if you love to use simple, fresh ingredients with short cooking time. These top ten dishes are favorites around the world, and are must-haves in your collection of Chinese cooking recipes.
Fried Rice (炒饭) – A staple in Chinese restaurants, fried rice is the ultimate Chinese food, and can be one of the most flexible in your cookbook because you can use leftover rice and ingredients to make it. Of course, you can use fresh ingredients. Ingredients usually used in fried rice are eggs, spring onions, diced meat of either chicken, pork or beef, ham, shrimps and vegetables such as celery, peas, carrots, bean sprouts and corn. There are many types of fried rice but the more well-known ones are the Yongchow and Fukien fried rice. One of my American friends like to eat fried rice very much. I ask him why, he told me it was easy and convenient to do, meanwhile it was delicious.
Kung Pao Chicken (宫保鸡丁) – Kung Pao chicken or Kung Po chicken is a Chinese dish from Sichuan cooking and is considered to be a delicacy. The recipe for this yummy dish commonly calls for diced chicken that is pre-seasoned and briefly stir-fried with red bell peppers, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce, rice wine or sherry, chilli peppers and unsalted roasted peanuts. Alternatively, you can use scallops, prawn, pork or beef in place of the chicken.
Moo Shu Pork (木须肉) – This is a dish of northern Chinese origin and a favorite of many. Ingredients in a Mu Xu pork recipe usually involve green cabbage, carrots, wood ear mushrooms, bean sprouts, scallions, scrambled eggs and day lily buds. Shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, snow pea pods, bell peppers, onions, and celery are occasionally used. The vegetables are cut into thin and long strips before cooking, with the exception for bean sprouts and day lily buds. Fried Mu Xu pork is then wrapped in moo shu pancakes that is brushed with hoisin sauce and eaten by hand. Moo shu pancakes are thin wrappers made of flour that is easily available in supermarkets and steamed right before eating.
Mapo Dofu (麻婆豆腐) – Mapo doufu or Mapo tofu is a popular Chinese dish from the Sichuan province. Ingredients used for this recipe include beancurd or tofu, and minced beef or pork cooked in a bright red spicy sauce based on chili.
Chop Suey (炒杂碎) – Chop suey or “za sui” or “shap sui” literally means ‘mixed pieces’ is an American-Chinese dish usually made up of leftover meats and vegetables stir fried quickly in a starch-thickened sauce. It is a great dish when you need to use up the last of yesterday’s pork roast of chicken and can incorporate meats of any kind such as pork, shrimp, beef, fish or chicken and various vegetables from cabbage to celery and bean sprouts. Chop Suey is often eaten with rice.
Tags: Chinese food, Chinese recipes, Chop Suey, Fried Rice, Kung Pao Chicken, Mapo Dofu, Moo Shu PorkAn Introduction about Chinese Music History
A Flower Moon Night on Spring River puts the listener in a happy mood, as though he were looking at a graceful Oriental landscape painting; Mournful Autumn makes one feel the inner sorrow of a bleak autumn day; Ambushed From Ten Sides deposits the listener on a thunderous ancient battleground; All the World Rejoices stirs up a joy of celebration in whoever happens to get caught up in its festive rhythms. These are famous examples of traditional Chinese musical compositions, all of which can transport the listener into a whole new sensory world.
The origins of Chinese music or traditional Chinese music can be traced back to distant antiquity. Around 3,000 years ago, when European music was just experiencing its first rustlings of life, a complete musical theory and sophisticated musical instruments began appearing in China, owing largely to the orthodox ritual music advocated by Confucius. By the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.), the imperial court set up a Music Bureau, which was in charge of collecting and editing ancient tunes and folk songs. Because of commercial contacts with Central Asia, foreign music entered China in the form, for example, of the p’i-p’a, or lute, and the hu-ch’in , a vertically-held violin. Influenced by this foreign-originating music, composers of the time modified and improved Chinese music. By the time of Emperor Shaun Tsung (r. 713-755 A.D.) of the T’ang Dynasty, the court organized the Pear Garden Academy song and dance troupe, cultivating a large number of musicians, and thus laying a firm foundation for Chinese music.
The variations of rhythm, beat, tone quality, and embellishments in traditional Chinese music are highly distinctive and unlike their Western counterparts. This is mainly due to the unique sounds and playing styles of traditional Chinese musical instruments.
Chinese musical instruments can be divided into four basic categories based on the method by which they are played:” blown,” “bowed,” “plucked,” and “struck” (i.e. percussion) instruments.
The development of traditional Chinese music in the Taiwan on Taiwan can generally be divided into two categories. The first developed from the traditional music played by folk performing groups, usually composed of three to five or at most ten people. The performers are generally of advanced age, and they play mostly folk tunes or themes from traditional Chinese operas. This kind of music gives the listener a good feel for the rhythms of day-to-day Chinese rural life. The modern version of the Chinese “orchestra,” comprised of dozens of different types of Chinese instruments, developed in response to changes in society. Besides performing traditional Chinese music, the Chinese orchestra plays adapted versions of folk songs along with classical and modern symphonic compositions. It is widely favored by young music lovers.
There are currently three professional orchestras in the Taiwan on Taiwan that give frequent public performances of Chinese music: the Taipei Municipal Orchestra, the Chinese Music Orchestra of the Broadcasting Corporation of China (BCC), and the Experimental Chinese Orchestra of the National Taiwan Academy of the Arts. Most of the members of these orchestras were trained in departments of traditional Chinese music of local universities and colleges. In addition to the technical music training they receive, they also study traditional music under the guidance of elderly folk performers. In this way, they preserve and pass on tradition while carrying out musical research and development. Outside of the three professional orchestras, there are over 200 amateur and school orchestras. And classes on traditional Chinese musical instruments are held in elementary, junior high, and senior high schools, a further reflection of the popularity of Chinese music in Taiwan today.
In the area of composition, musicians are experimenting with incorporating elements from other musical systems and introducing creative innovations while preserving the spirit of traditional music, thus infusing Chinese music with a whole new vitality.
Tags: Chinese culture, Chinese Music, Chinese Music History, the History of Chinese Music