Chinese Culture/Chinese Zodiac, Astrology/Chinese Zodiac: Rabbit By: Gail Leino You have undoubtedly heard of a lucky rabbit’s foot and according to the Chinese Zodiac individuals born under the sign of the Rabbit Chinese Zodiac are among the luckiest born. The Rabbit represents people who are kind, quiet, loving individuals who speak gently and have a strong sense of justice and a high appreciation of artistic beauty. Those born under the sign of the Rabbit are refined, cultivated, and often well-educated. Those born of the sign of the Rabbit rarely speak rudely , and in fact are often civil even to those that are considered to be an enemy. The Rabbit Chinese Zodiac is characterized by deliberate actions, a level of seriousness, and the ability to look at situations from many sides with a clear-headed approach. The Rabbit Chinese Zodiac individual will not rush to make a decision, instead they will spend time to gather more information and assess situations carefully from many different perspectives before deciding. Like the animal that acts as their mascot, individuals born under the Rabbit Chinese Zodiac are flexible, clever, and good at finding ways of self-preservation. Individuals born in the Rabbit understand what life really means. They get excited about the good and the bad in their own life and accept the same from others. They are excellent negotiators for themselves and for their organizations. They can be flexible, but never lose their self-confidence or their ability to think on their feet. Individuals born under the sign of the Rabbit Chinese Zodiac know more than they will ever let on, and they have excellent memories. They give credit where it is due and remembers all the good things that people do in addition to the missteps they may take. The Rabbit Chinese Zodiac is the most compatible on a relationship level with the sheep. Professionally the strongest unions with the Rabbit are other Rabbits, Sheep, Rat, and Dog. The Rabbit is said to be the sign of those individuals born in 1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987 and 1999. = By: Gail Leino If you were born under the sign of the Rat in the Chinese Zodiac, chances are you are sentimental and sensitive. You may also be optimistic and cheerful and quite resourceful when it comes to finding a way to get the job done – especially if it directly affects you and those you love. Overall, those born under the Rat Chinese Zodiac are easy to get along with and will often have many friends. They have a genuine appreciate for people and those around them and will do almost anything to keep a friend. If you have a boss born under the sign of the Rat Chinese Zodiac, he more than likely has an innate ability to make money. When it comes to employees, more than likely he will be willing to take care of them in ways to ensure they stay healthy and productive. He will not, however, give raises without very justifiable reasons. The Rat Chinese Zodiac is a master of bargains and getting money from him can prove to be quite difficult if there is any doubt that the money is to be used for an exceptionally good reason. One interesting point about those born under the Rat Chinese Zodiac sign is that they are generally accepted as people who cannot keep secrets. While they enjoy finding secrets, they also have no problem using them to their own advantaged. Rat Chinese Zodiac individuals will be smart, enterprising, clever and quick-witted. The Rat Chinese Zodiac individual is able to accomplish whatever they put their mind to. On a positive side they tend to have very long memories and is able to develop very good relationships with people. On a negative side, they tend to be quick and harsh with their criticism. In addition, they tend to be prone to accumulating things – remember the term pack rat? – even things they really do not need. Women born under the Rat Chinese Zodiac side is thought to make a good housewife because she will dote on her husband and spoil her children. Children born under the sign of the Rat will be considerate, trusting and forgiving toward their parents and elders. Rats are capable of making a great deal of money but must take care not to allow greed to blind their judgment. The best deals to be made by someone born under the Rat Chinese Zodiac will be negotiated during the winter months, and in particularly December. The rat is seen to be the most compatible for purposes of business and/or marriage with the Ox. Years included as the Rat Chinese Zodiac are: 1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984 and 1996, 2008. = By: Gail Leino Individuals born under the sign of the Rooster Chinese Zodiac are often seen as difficult individuals to get along with. Roosters want to be the center of attention. They have their own ideas, and they are not really interested in any ideas anyone else might want to share. They are kind on the inside, if you can get close enough to see past their puffed up over-confidence that makes them appear contentious, obstinate, and just plain stuck-up. The strange thing about the Rooster is that he is totally unaware of just how full of himself he really is. He is optimistic about life yet completely blind to his own faults. This can prove extremely frustrating to anyone who has to deal with him for long periods of time, until they get to know him better. That seemingly bossy persona is not necessarily what it first seems to be. More times than not it is a way to get attention where the Rooster wants it – on himself. Roosters are extravagant spenders but only when it benefits them. Otherwise, they are extremely frugal and excellent at developing plans and budgets to enable savings to grow and money to be spent in responsible and reasonable ways. Roosters will get the job done, but they won’t be creating any new ideas in the process. They are patient, reasonable, and generally speaking will play by the rules. Individuals born under the sign of the Rooster Chinese Zodiac are perfectionists and are willing to help others learn to do things correctly, thus ensuring success for both parties. This makes the Rooster Chinese Zodiac individual and excellent employee. Roosters will often stay and work in the same positions over long periods of time, as they prefer to live in a simple and comfortable way. Roosters will be more than aware of their worth and will remind you of that worth every chance they get. The Rooster Chinese Zodiac, in seeking compatibility in love or business, the Rooster should be paired with the Dragon, Snake or Ox Chinese Zodiac Signs. The Rooster Chinese Zodiac is the sign for individuals who were born in 1909, 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993 and 2005. About the Author = By: Gail Leino People born in the year of the snake are thought of as being charismatic, cunning, and always charming. They often take leadership roles in society as adults including politicians, clergy, professors, and other community leaders because they follow their own thoughts and instincts and rarely follow the views or actions of others. On a negative side of things, individuals born under the sign of the Snake Chinese Zodiac are often controlling and strict. They make no allowance for breaking trust, meaning if someone breaks their trust there is no ability to regain it. On a positive note, however, Individuals born under the Snake Chinese Zodiac appreciate good music, good food, the arts, and of course, good company. They are able to make do with just about any amount of income with little worry or thought to those things they “wish they had.” Individuals born of the Snake Chinese Zodiac sign generally also have a good sense of humor and will maintain a positive environment, especially in an otherwise stressful work environment. They are deep thinkers, careful planners, and they tend to speak only after carefully thinking first. Snakes can be possessive, they like to control, and at times they go from being very talkative and persuasive to almost mute. They like to plan their next move and often plan their life early on and stick to the plan. As with their namesakes, people born of the Snake Chinese Zodiac sign will face life fearlessly and elude those that would harm or capture them. Snakes are the most compatible with those individuals born in under the sign of the Rooster Chinese Zodiac when considering love and interpersonal relationships. Snakes can form strong business and professional ties with both the Ox and the Dragon and the Rat to a lesser extent. The Snake Chinese Zodiac is the sign for individuals who were born in 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989 and 2001. = By: Gail Leino Individuals born under the sign of the Tiger Chinese Zodiac may be at one extreme or he other. Tigers may be gentle, sentimental, and full of sympathy. Others may be controlling, hot-tempered and extremely self-serving. Those who are interacting with an individual born under the Tiger Chinese Zodiac may have a bit of difficulty in determining which of these two personalities they may be dealing with. Regardless of the basic differences between the two types of Tiger Chinese Zodiac personalities, one constant is always applicable. Individuals born under the Tiger Chinese Zodiac is selfish by nature. He is often in a state of self-contradiction between acting rashly without thinking things through and hesitation. It is this state of rashness and hesitation that lessens the individual born under the Tiger Chinese Zodiac from being an effective leader. Instead, the tiger is best suited to working solo or with numbers and figures rather than other individuals. Tigers maintain a level of suspicion that is never entirely erased from their personalities. The tend to show off and like to be seen as being in powerful positions or control. They can be, and often are, extremely jealous. The Tiger Chinese Zodiac is extremely good at taking dreams and self-goals and making them into realities. They do not show fear in the face of diversity, and are persistent, almost tenacious, in achieving goals. Like the cat, they have what seems an endless amount of lives and will recreate themselves until they finally reach the level of success that they feel they are entitled to. The Tiger Chinese Zodiac individual is most productive in the Spring and is best suited to make big changes in their life during the month of February. The Tiger is most compatible with those individuals born under the signs of the Pig or the Dog Chinese Zodiac. They should never try to carry on a relationship with an individual born under the sign of the Snake as there will be too much arrogance and suspicion for the relationship to withstand. The Tiger and Horse make the most successful business partners as both have a strong personality that works until the goals are met. The Tiger Chinese Zodiac is said to be the sign of those individuals born in 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986 and 1998. = By: Gail Leino When one considers that the symbol of the dragon is used to represent the Emperor and power, it is easy to think about what the characteristics of someone born under the sign of the Dragon Chinese Zodiac may possess. People born in the years marked as being Dragon Chinese Zodiac are full of energy, strength and charisma that makes them seem like they are born leaders. They start their ability to become dreamers at a young age and take those lofty ideals with them into adulthood where they make them into realities. The temper of an individual born under the Dragon Chinese Zodiac is volatile and can be full of wrath. The individual of the Dragon can be seen as stubborn and if often one who will not apologize, not because they want to be difficult but more because they simply don’t remember that they caused any problems. Individuals born under in the year of the Dragon Chinese Zodiac are strong and decisive. They do well in jobs that allow them to be successful on their own strengths. They are honest and do not deal well with conspiracy or untruths. They are also very proud and often unwilling to ask for help. For this reason, the individual who is influenced by the Dragon Chinese Zodiac is often a successful entrepreneur. Chinese tradition notes that the weather that was present on the day a child was born under the Dragon Chinese Zodiac will have a strong influence on the life of the child as an adult – especially in the terms of temperament. A stormy day will indicate a life of risks, hardships and dangers, while a gently breezy day will be calm and protected. Dragons are the most compatible with those individuals born in under the sign of the Monkey Chinese Zodiac and even with a Snake Chinese Zodiac. They may also prove to be successful business partners with someone born of under the Rat Chinese Zodiac. The Dragon Chinese Zodiac is said to be the sign of those individuals born in 1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988 and 2000. = Unlike the United States which is 200 plus years old, China is an ancient country and civilization. This has led to long standing rules of conduct in society that are of great interest. China is an ancient country, with thousands of years of history which lay a rich basis for the lives of its inhabitants today. While some of the ancient Chinese myths and cultural traditions have been forgotten or are no longer observed, many of them are still remembered and incorporated into everyday life. Taking a look into the cultural traditions of China can reveal a lot about the way that the people live. One of the most interesting bits of Chinese lore can be found in what is known as the Jade Culture. Jade is a stone that was first identified in the first Chinese dictionary, known as Shuo Wen Jie Zi, in around 100 AD. There are two types of jade: soft jade, known as nephrite, which is native to China, and hard jade (jadeite) which was imported from Burma starting in the 1200's. Jade is important in China not only because of its beauty, but also for its virtue and cultural significance. Confucius said that jade had 11 virtues, some of which include the fact that it stands for beauty, purity and grace. The Chinese character for jade, Yu, is often used in names and sayings to connote beauty. Another of the many Chinese cultural traditions is the bamboo culture. Bamboo is one of four favorite plants seen in China – they are bamboo, Chinese plum, chrysanthemum and orchid. The characters of these plants are highly prized, so much so that Chinese people want to be like the plants in character. Bamboo is grown pretty much everywhere in China, with most people having gardens in which they grow bamboo. Bamboo chopsticks are the most common form of tableware in China, and bamboo is also the material out of which the Chinese flute is made. People often use bamboo paintbrushes, and bamboo culture festivals are even held throughout the year. A final cultural tradition can be seen in the dragon culture. Dragons are an important part of Chinese tradition, so much so that people from China often consider themselves to be “the descendants of the dragon”. China's emperors believed that they truly were dragons, calling the beds they slept on dragon beds, and even their robes dragon robes. Dragons are also seen all over the imperial palaces, and dragon screens are seen as a symbol of the emperor's power. = Chinese people love excitement, and Chinese New Year and other traditional festivals are times of special celebration and joy. Singing and dancing are everywhere. In spite of the heavy influence of Western culture in the increasingly cosmopolitan Taiwan, the various customs and activities accompanying traditional fests and celebrations are still observed with enthusiasm. Many of these folk customs and performances are incorporated into the festival celebrations and competitions held on Chinese New Year and other festivals, and have been passed down from generation to generation. The most common of these are perhaps the dragon dance and lion dance. Children growing up in Taiwan, even ones who have not yet taken their first steps, have all seen one of these performances from their fathers' shoulders or on TV at home. There are innumerable other kinds of festive folk performances, such as "riding in a boat on land," walking on stilts, "carrying a youth piggyback," the clam spirit dance, and so forth. In "carrying a youth piggyback," a young woman straps a head-to-waist wooden mannequin of an old person to the front of her body, giving the appearance that an old person is carrying her piggyback. This portrayal of two persons by one is performed as a burlesque pantomime. In the clam spirit dance, a young woman puts on a clam shell woven out of bamboo strips. In one sketch, the clam spirit opens and closes her shell in response to fisherman casting and pulling in his net, but who each time gets nothing in return for his efforts. In another, a snipe tries to peck out the clam's tasty flesh for a meal, but instead gets his beak stuck in the clamshell. This performance inevitably draws side-splitting laughter and roaring applause from the audience. Popular Chinese folk games that go back thousands of years, such as playing diabolo, kicking a shuttlecock, jumping rope, and spinning tops, challenge and delight youngsters even today. With encouragement and support from the government, games, stage shows, and customs such as these have been brought into the twentieth century in the Taiwan today. Detailed information on their history, development, materials, technique, performance, and so forth, is widely available in cultural centers, bookstores, and craft shops around the island in the form of home videos and books. Elementary school students often get to try their hand at making some of the equipment used in these various folk arts themselves, under the guidance of an experienced teacher. in this way, these ancient cultural treasures are kept vital and new, and a part of contemporary life, so that they may continue to enrich the lives of China's people for generations to come. = By: Ryan Tan Celebrating the Chinese New Year The Chinese legend says that in ancient times there was a strange beast called "nian" with a long head and sharp horn and it was extremely fierce. "Nian" dwelled deep in the sea the whole year, but on every New Year's Eve it would climb onto the shore to devour livestock and harm humans. Because of it, on every New Year's Eve, all the villagers would go deep into the mountains to hide from harm from "nian." On New Year's eve one year, as the people were all busy collecting their possessions in preparation for their retreat to the mountains, a grey haired man appeared (who they later learned was a deity who came to help them). He said he would chase the beast away in one night but no one believed him. When the beast arrived at the village to wreck havoc as usual, it was met with a sudden sound of exploding firecrackers. "Nian" was shivering all over and dared not proceed any further as it was most frightened by red color, flames, and explosive sounds. At that moment the large door opened wide and the old man, wearing red clothes, laughed heartily. "Nian" was startled and fled! The villagers found three precious items the old man used to chase away the beast. Since then on New Year's eve families would hang up red banners, set off fire crackers, and light their lamps, awaiting the New Year. The Lantern Festival Every year on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Chinese people celebrate the traditional Lantern Festival. The first month of the lunar calendar is known as the "yuan" month, and the ancient Chinese people call nights "xiao," so the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is known as the "Yuan Xiao Festival" (also known as the Lantern Festival). That night is the first full moon of the year and that is also the first night when spring returns to the great earth. From historical recordings, it is known that people in the Western Han Dynasty (206 to 6 BC) were already celebrating the "Lantern Festival." During the Lantern Festival, people light lanterns in different colors and designs for others to admire. The Dragon Boat Festival The fifth day of the fifth lunar month is a traditional Chinese holiday known as the Dragon Boat Festival. More than two thousand years ago, during the period of the Spring-Autumn Warring States, the Chinese people celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival. According to historians, the Dragon Boat Festival originated from the totem festival in the state of Wuyue in southern China. But people generally attribute the holiday as a memorial to the Chinese poet Qu Yuan, who was a Minister in the State of Chu during the Spring-Autumn period. The Mid-Autumn Festival (15th day of the eighth lunar month) The Mid-Autumn Festival day is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month annually. It takes place in the middle of autumn and is hence known as "the mid-autumn festival." The moon on that night is said to be the roundest and brightest of the entire year. Hence it is also known as the "Eighth Month Festival." People traditionally gather that night to look at the brilliant moon and think of their relatives far away. Therefore the mid-autumn festival is also known as "the Reunion Festival." The round moon cakes symbolize the fulfillment of their hope for the family reunion. The Winter Solstice The Winter Solstice is a very important day, marking one of the 24 divisions in the Chinese calendar year. There are still many places in China that observe the Winter Solstice or Winter Festival. The Winter Solstice is the day in the whole year where the day is shortest and the night is the longest in the northern hemisphere. The celebration began in the Han Dynasty. = By: S Carter Many interesting and peculiar customs and traditions are an intrinsic part of celebration of the most important festival of the Chinese namely, the Chinese New Year. It is by far an occasion to unite with one's family and dear ones and jubilate in the spirit of togetherness reminiscing and sharing the good old memories of the past year. As the atmosphere is dyed in the festive hue of the season, the color red rules supreme. People are garbed in red clothes, children carry money in red envelopes, even lanterns hung for the purpose of decoration are red in color. It is so because it is commonly believed that red symbolizes fire which according to legend can fend off bad luck. Bright red is considered to be an auspicious color and stands for happiness while gold stands for wealth. The colors black and white are avoided during this time as they represent mourning. There are particular flowers and fruits which are also strongly associated with the celebration of Chinese New Year as each of them radiate their good influence in the life of the people. The Spring Festival that begins one week before the arrival of Chinese New Year will start on 11th of February, 2007. On the occasion of this festival, there is the practice of offering sacrifice to the Kitchen God (Zaowang) who is considered to be the guardian of the family hearth. He is the God sent from heaven to take charge of family affairs and who prepares a report on the past deeds of the family to report the same to Heaven and thus needs to be kept in good humor. The sacrifice to this Kitchen God consists of a lotus root-like sticky cake made of a kind of confection, a typical Chinese traditional candy. The practice of using this sticky cake called Nian Gao is to make sure that it serves the dual purpose of appeasing the appetite of the Kitchen God as well as sticking his mouth so as to prevent him from speaking ill about the family. This tradition is not so much in vogue in the cities, though it is still in rage in some areas of the countryside. Every traditional Chinese home also has the custom of keeping live blooming plants to symbolize rebirth and new growth. There is also the tradition of welcoming guests with sweet treats and that has led to the evolution of serving a circular tray of colorful candies which is compartmentalized into eight slots to display the same. This "Tray of Togetherness" (Cheun Hup) ensures that all witness a sweet beginning. Another significant custom associated with New Year celebration is to spend the New Year's Eve preparing Chinese dumplings (Jiaozi). Sometimes even a coin is hid inside the dumpling and whoever gets it is supposedly presumed to enjoy the grace of luck in the coming years. Even a traditional Buddhist vegetarian delight called "Jai" is prepared on the first day of Chinese New Year using eighteen different ingredients as the Chinese believe eighteen to be a lucky number signifying wealth and prosperity. Many interesting and peculiar customs and traditions are an intrinsic part of celebration of the most important festival of the Chinese namely, the Chinese New Year. It is by far an occasion to unite with one's family and dear ones and jubilate in the spirit of togetherness reminiscing and sharing the good old memories of the past year. As the atmosphere is dyed in the festive hue of the season, the color red rules supreme. People are garbed in red clothes, children carry money in red envelopes, even lanterns hung for the purpose of decoration are red in color. It is so because it is commonly believed that red symbolizes fire which according to legend can fend off bad luck. Bright red is considered to be an auspicious color and stands for happiness while gold stands for wealth. The colors black and white are avoided during this time as they represent mourning. There are particular flowers and fruits which are also strongly associated with the celebration of Chinese New Year as each of them radiate their good influence in the life of the people. As the preparation for the festivity begins in full swing, the first thing to be borne in mind is to clean the mess, to cast away all that is old and dirty to give a fresh, new look to one's home. So initially 20th of the Twelfth Moon was conventionally set aside for the annual housecleaning with symbolic flowers and fruits used as items of house decor and colorful pictures called Nian Hua placed on the walls to commemorate the Chinese New Year. Socializing is of utmost importance during this time, no wonder people feel cheerful and excited as they indulge in various customs associated with the Chinese New Year. The first week of Chinese New Year is of extreme importance as families gather around the table and savor a royal feast cooked for the occasion. All the family members usually assemble to share a family meal on New Year's Eve. If a family member couldn't partake in the grand feasting, his presence is usually symbolized by placing an empty seat at the banquet. It has almost become mandatory to prepare food before the New-Year's Day, so that sharp instruments like knives and scissors could be put away to avoid the 'cutting' effect of these on something as rare as luck on the event of New Year. The elaborate feast that is prepared is also a way to show respect and pay tribute to the departed souls. Among various peculiar customs, 'Hon Bao' is one such, whereby married couples give money-filled red envelopes to children and single adults on New Year's Day. On New Year's Day little children are gifted Red Lai-See Envelopes which are good luck money wrapped in little red envelopes. It is also customary to wish family and friends "Gung Hay Fat Choy" with these red envelopes. Bursting of fireworks as a means to welcome the New Year has seen it genesis in an ancient belief whereby the Chinese people would light bamboo stalks whose crackling flames was believed to frighten the evil spirits. The seventh day of the New Year was called "Everybody's Birthday" as everyone was considered one year older on that date as in traditional China individual birthdays were not as important as the New Year's Date so people conventionally added one year to their age on the New Year's Day instead of on their birthday. In China there was a prevalent custom of putting paintings of the Gate Gods on the gates during the Chinese New Year. The word "Fook" or fortune usually written by a brush on a diamond piece of red paper is often displayed in many homes and stores. 'Spring Couplets' is yet another rite associated with Chinese New Year. They are traditionally couplets in Classical Chinese language written with black ink on a red paper. They are hung in stores in the month before the New Year's Day. They are means to greet each other and forecast one's fortune for the coming year or even adapted to suit a situation. The evening of festivity comes to an end with the famous "Festival of Lanterns" or commonly hailed as the Shang Yuan Festival. It is also sometimes called the Little New Year for a series of jubilation that begins with the Chinese New Year has its grand finale with this festival. During this festival children go out at night carrying brightly lit colorful lanterns as these are considered to be symbolic of hope and good luck. "Lantern Festival" is also celebrated by the custom of eating 'tang yuan', small dumplings made out of glutinous rice flour and eating of which reflects family bond. China with its rich culture and heritage has many unique customs and traditions which adds spice to this all important festival of the Chinese New Year and makes the Orient world seem all the more intriguing and mystical. = The Chinese have a unique calendar system that provides us with information about prevailing elemental influences at any given point in time. It makes use of the five elements - water, wood, fire, earth and metal - and their cycles, to determine the various aspects affecting the world. In Chinese astrology the Pig has many attributes that make up its character. The Pig is honest, simple and reliable. He is also an easy going personality, yet with a strong loyal streak. 2007 is the year of the Fire Pig and it is influenced by two elements - fire and water. This coming year is represented by the image of Yin Water sitting below Yin Fire. In accordance with the destructive cycle of the five elements - Water conquers Fire. Therefore, they are elements in conflict with the Water yielding the most influence as it is in the foundation. This elemental relationship represents a time less peaceful than 2006, with tensions, agitations and unrest. These two elements together can also bring about more accidents involving trains, air travel and shipping. There is also the possibility of fire disasters and explosions. The Yin Fire sitting atop the Water Pig symbolizes a year of struggles. However, the wood hidden within the Pig indicates new beginnings and the possibility of 'something better to come'. The Pig also brings with it, in general, more travel than last year. The Chinese calendar moves in cycles of sixty years. So, the last time we experienced the year of the Fire Pig, was in 1947. The second world war was over and yet, we could see 2007 as a little more turbulent. Whilst history tells us that overall, there was more co-operation in 1947, the Cold war between America and Russia began as did the battles between Pakistan and India. The industries likely to perform well during the year of the Fire Pig are those related to the elements of Earth and Metal. Some of the industries related to the Earth element are Mining, Property, Insurance and the Chemical sector. The Metal industries such as Skincare, Machinery and Hi-tech/Computer businesses ought to see strong activity. The Wood industries; e.g. fashion, textiles, publishing, paper, forestry - will be productive but not as strong as in 2006. In general, the stock market will fare well from about February until June/July. Nevertheless, investors would do well to be cautious after this point. The businesses most challenged during the coming year are those of the Water and Fire elements such as shipping, communications, entertainment, and airlines. Traditional Chinese medicine is also based on the five elements and their cycles. Fire rules the heart whilst Water governs the kidney. However, Yin Fire in particular, also represents the brain, eyes and nervous system. Consequently we may see an increase in health issues relating to anxiety, depression, insomnia and even an increase in obesity. As a result, we need to pay attention to heart and mental health issues this coming year. It is also vital that this year, everyone gives their health greater consideration. Improving the immune system should be a top priority in the event of any widespread epidemic. During 2007 there will be a clash that occurs for people born in the year of the Snake. Therefore these people should wear the symbol of the Tiger for protection. It also means that Snake people may feel restless and want to move house, change career and travel more - however, it is recommended to not travel in the Northwest direction. For those born in the year of the Pig it is also advisable to carry or wear a Tiger pendant or charm. With respect to Feng Shui you will find a troublesome influence coming from the Northeast bringing with it difficulties and obstacles. If this part of your home or business is very active; e.g. entrance, family room, passage or living area then this energy needs to be dealt with by placing an all-metal wind chime or bell in this area particularly during the months of February, August and November. The Centre will require a string of six meta coins to be placed in this area, and this is particularly important if this is the kitchen or a major thoroughfare. Finally, do not sit with your back against due West whilst working. It's also advisable to not carry out large-scale construction work in the Northwest for the coming year, as this is the location of the 'Grand Duke'. Place a Dragon Tortoise to the Northwest should your home face this direction. = There's no doubt learning any foreign language requires effort, time and commitment. This holds true even more, especially when there's a big difference between one's native tongue and learning a new language. On the other side, knowing the tips and techniques of learning a new language can make all the difference on how effective and successful you can achieve. Based on personal learning experiences, along with others (either online or offline), here are some of the learning Chinese language tips and techniques on becoming successful in mastering the Chinese language. By using one, or a combination of these tips and techniques, will maximize your effectiveness, minimize your time, and at the same time, make your learning fun and enjoyable. Step I - Where to start? Start from learning the Chinese pronunciation. Learning Chinese Pinyin should be the first step of learning Chinese language. Pinyin contains all the Chinese phonetic alphabets where they are used in the pronunciation of Chinese characters. To distinguish the different tones, pay close attention to the four types by reading the Pinyin letters, initials, finals, and all possible combinations. The objective of this phase is for you to be able to read any Chinese character with marked in Pinyin and also write a given pronunciation in Pinyin format. Be warned: learn the correct pronunciation from the start, do not build bad habits! Step II - Listen, practice and memorize simple Chinese vocabulary and sentences Tips: Take a local community Chinese class, do the practice drills with your study partner. The more you speak, the easier it will be for you to learn. Get a good dictionary and make sure it has the phonetic spellings of the words. Find a native Chinese speaker to converse with, many Chinese students would like to practice their English as an exchange to teach you Chinese. Visit a Chinese restaurant or Chinese community center where Chinese is spoken natively. Read out loud, listen to and repeat after tape or online radio, watch Chinese movies and TV programs. Listen carefully to the new sounds. Repeat them as accurately as possible, try to forget the sounds of your native language. Sing Chinese songs. Borrow cassette tapes from the local library, review and listen to the tapes frequently until you're able to speak the words and sentences all by yourself. Review older vocabulary every so often to refresh your memory. Step III - Write Chinese Understand Chinese writing strokes and rules Tips: Only way to learn Chinese characters is to memorize them, practice writing a character on paper until you remember it. Start from easy ones, which also include all the strokes, for example, 一(one), 十(ten), 中(middle), 山(mountain), 上(above), 火(fire), 河(river), 入(enter). Rather than writing one word many times before doing the next one, write each word once or twice then go through the whole list again until you've done the required number of repetitions. This will reinforce the new words more firmly in your memory. Read Chinese newspapers, booklets and books found at your local library or Chinese market Watch movies or TV programs with Chinese subtitles, it is a great way to learn Chinese speaking and writing at the same time in a simulated real-life scenario. Use post-it notepaper to write down the characters and stick them on the objects you are about to learn. Write vocabulary words using index or flash cards on one side with the definition on the other side. Use your imagination by linking the shape of the new word by first glancing to something you are familiar with. Play vocabulary by creating a 3-column vocabulary sheet with characters, pinyin, and English definitions. Fold the paper with only one or two columns showing and then take practice written tests. After a while, you will notice that many characters have elements in common, either related to meaning or pronunciation. Note the common elements and use them to help you remember new characters. Take advantage of free learning Chinese resources online. If you can memorize about 1,000 - 2,000 characters, you will feel comfortable with reading and writing modern Chinese. Step IV: Grammar? Learn the basic grammar, but try not to worry and be constrained by the rules. After all, languages are spoken as a way to express meaning. The basic grammar elements are almost identical with different languages; however, the sequence may be different. Pay particular attention to the differences and practice on them. The most important points on learning new foreign languages: Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Being self-conscious can be an obstacle in learning a language. Remember, most people are willing to helping you rather than laughing at you. Don't be discouraged by the difficulties at first attempt. Practice, practice, and practice! you will be amazed by your own progress! Be persistent. Allocate a set time on studying and follow the schedule. Studying a little every day is more effective than studying for a long period at once. = By: Arde Perillo For the Chinese, this 2007 is the Year of the Pig, which effectively starts on the Sunday of February 18. This is the time when millions of overseas Chinese will go back home to their families to spend the holiday and have a wonderful dinner together. This is a time when every Chinatown all over the globe will be filled with much merrymaking, dramatic fireworks, dancing dragons, singing gongs, and happy smiles. No doubt, the Lunar New Year is the most important holiday in history for Chinese, with the celebration taking as long as 15 days. Even people who don't have Chinese blood in them have come to celebrate and respect this holiday. Every year, Chinese spend lavishly on these performance arts in the hopes of bringing good luck and prosperity. And just as the New Year is a time when they spend thousands on food and fireworks, it is also a high time consulting their fate in Chinese horoscopes and astrology. Chinese people, after all, are among the most superstitious people in the world. Chinese Superstitions, in fact, abound during the Chinese New Year itself, both before and during the holiday. On the days before the celebration, Chinese families spend their time cleaning their houses to sweep away the bad luck for the coming new year. On the holiday eve, buying a pair of shoes is considered bad luck, since according to them the word "shoes" is a homophone for the word "rough" in Cantonese. Eating candy, on the other hand, brings good luck in a way that their coming year will become sweet. Now more than ever, people are interested in what Chinese horoscope has to say about their lives for the New Year. And the interest in Chinese astrology isn't limited to just Chinese businesspeople alone. Even foreigners, (i.e. Westerners) are just as willing to delve into Chinese horoscopes, perhaps even more so. Over time, Chinese people have passed on their beliefs to the next generation, continuously sharing them until they have woven a very detailed and comprehensive nexus of beliefs and wisdom. From the Chinese come Feng Shui, and Chinese astrology, and i-ching, and other sources of time-tested knowledge that will always define the Chinese culture. Which is why deep inside everyone, Chinese-blooded or not, there is a vast and unlimited belief in Chinese superstitions and other ancient wisdom, whose only aim is the betterment of people's lives. Hopefully, this Year of the Pig proves to be indeed prosperous and deserving of congratulations for everyone. Kung Hei Fat Choi! = Regardless of the year you were born, there are certain customs and superstitions that many Chinese adhere to during the New Year. Shooting off firecrackers on Chinese New Year's Eve is the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the new. On the stroke of midnight, every door and window in the house has to be opened to allow the old year to go out is one of the Chinese superstition they adhere to. Many people also abstain from eating meat on the first day of Chinese New Year because it is believed that this will ensure a long and happy life. Some may eat a whole fish, that represents togetherness and abundance, or a chicken with its head and feet intact, which symbolizes prosperity. Any noodles in your bowl should be left uncut, as a sign of long life. Plants and flowers also play a significant role in symbolizing rebirth and new growth. A home is thought to be lucky if a plant blooms on New Year's Day, as this foretells the start of a prosperous year. Another Chinese superstition is that the entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Day. On New Year's Eve, all brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and other cleaning equipment are put away. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away, which if you think about it does make some sense. After New Year's Day, the floors may be swept. Beginning at the door, the dust and rubbish are swept to the middle of the parlor, then placed in the corners and not taken or thrown out until the fifth day. At no time should the rubbish in the corners be trampled upon. In sweeping, there is a superstition that if you sweep the dirt out over the threshold, you will sweep one of the family members away. Also, to sweep the dust and dirt out of your house by the front entrance is to sweep away the good fortune of the family; it must always be swept inwards and then carried out, then no harm will follow. All dirt and rubbish must be taken out the back door. All debts had to be paid by this time. Nothing should be lent on this day, as anyone who does so will be lending all the year. Everyone should refrain from using foul language and bad or unlucky words. Negative terms and the word "four", sounding like the word for death, are not to be uttered. Death and dying are never mentioned and ghost stories are totally taboo. References to the past year are also avoided as everything should be turned toward the New Year and a new beginning. If you cry on New Year's Day, you will cry all through the year. Therefore, children are tolerated and are not spanked, even though they are mischievous. On New Year's Day, we are not supposed to wash our hair because it would mean we would have washed away good luck for the New Year. Red clothing is preferred during this festive occasion. Red is considered a bright, happy color, sure to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future. It is believed that appearance and attitude during New Year's sets the tone for the rest of the year. Children and unmarried friends, as well as close relatives are given little red envelopes with crisp one dollar bills inserted, for good fortune. The first person one meets and the first words heard are significant as to what the fortunes would be for the entire year. It is a lucky sign to see or hear songbirds or red-colored birds or swallows. It is considered unlucky to greet anyone in their bedroom so that is why everyone, even the sick, should get dressed and sit in the living room. Do not use knives or scissors on New Year's Day as this may cut off fortune. For those most Chinese superstitious, the Almanac should be consulted to find the best time to do important things. The Almanac would tell you that if the day is a good day or bad day to have a funeral, sweep the graves of ancestors, worship the dead or move an ancestor's grave; start construction, move into a new house, visit friends or even travel north; get a haircut or cultivate plants and so on. The fact: if you follow ALL the "traditions", you will get nowhere! Here is a list of 40 classic Chinese superstitions: When having a baby *If you're pregnant, use of glue will cause a difficult birth. *If you strike an animal during pregnancy, the newborn child will look like that animal and behave like one. *You should never praise a newborn baby because it will invite evil spirits and ghosts. *A concave navel means a prosperous life. *A baby with more than one hair crown will be mischievous and disobedient. *A baby with wide and thick ears will live prosperously. Before you get married *Wedding clothes should be red, yellow and/or white. *Wearing black, blue or gray will bring bad luck to the marriage. *Couples with the same surname cannot marry; even if they are not related, they still belong to the same ancestry. *A boy, preferably born a Dragon, must roll over the newlywed's matrimonial bed to ensure good luck and a baby boy. *Never marry someone who is older or younger by 3 or 6 years. Good Feng Shui *The number of steps in a staircase should be even-numbered. *It is bad luck to have two room doors face each other. *It is bad luck if your door or gate directly faces a road. *Don't build your house facing the north. *The master's bedroom should not be situated right above the garage. *The dining area should not be under a second-floor toilet. Going to funerals *An improper funeral will bring ill fortune and disaster. *Statues of deities must be covered with red cloth of paper. *Mirrors must be hidden; a person who sees the reflection of the coffin will have a death in his/her family. *White cloth must be hung across the doorway of the house. *The deceased's children and grandchildren should not cut their hair for 49 days. *After leaving a wake, do not go straight home lest the ghost of the dead follows you. Lucky and unlucky colors *Red is the color of blood or life and will bring happiness, wealth, fame, and good luck. *Black is the color of feces and is associated with evil, disaster and bad fortune. *White is the color of mother's milk. It symbolizes moderation, purity, honesty and life and balances red and black. Lucky and unlucky numbers *The luckiest number is eight because its Chinese word also means "prosper". *The unluckiest number is four as it sounds like the Chinese word for death. *Seven can also signify death. *The number one means loneliness. *The number "9" is good, because nine in Cantonese sounds like the word "sufficient". About time *Clipping toenails or fingernails at night is bad luck; the person will be visited by a ghost. *If a dog howls continuously at night, this means death. *Hearing a crow cawing between 3 and 7 am means the hearer will receive gifts; hearing a crow caw between 7 and 11am means rain and wind; and between 11am and 1pm means quarrels. *If a man's ears burn between 11pm and 1pm, there will be harmony between him and his wife; if they burn between 1 and 3 in the afternoon, a guest will soon arrive. Things you should never do *Beating a person with a broom will rain bad luck upon that person for years. *Wearing a moustache is considered bad luck. *Never point at the moon or your ears might get chopped off. *Don't sweep the floor on New Year's Day lest you sweep away the good fortune. *Don't keep a pet turtle or it will slow down your business. While many Chinese people today may not believe in these dos and don'ts, these Chinese superstitions (by the name of "traditions" and "customs") are still practiced. They are kept because most families realize that it is these "old stuffs", whether believed or not, that provide continuity with the past and provide the family with an identity. Still, superstitions are an essential part of culture. They give us a peek into the lives of our ancestors and can provide many insights on the practices, attitudes, principles, and religious beliefs of different cultures. A special report on the effect of superstitions on the nation's youth related that 85% of China's middle school students have actually had their fortune told! = By: Carlo Denillo A little history on the Chinese Pregnancy Calendar. One of the most wonderful, and exciting events any woman could ever experience would be her own pregnancy. The sheer joy of knowing that somebody lives inside that growing belly is a great source of unparalleled joy and happiness. This euphoric feeling is not only for the woman who is conceiving, but is shared by the father-to-be as well. Should this be the first child in the couples lives, the pregnancy itself will be one of the biggest celebrations they could ever experience together. Adding to the fun and excitement of preparing for the coming baby, the expectant couple can also enjoy various methods that may help them determine different pregnancy possibilities. One of these methods is the pregnancy calendar. GOING ANCIENT Having the largest population in the world, the Chinese people know a little something about birthing babies. Chinese traditions can be found in almost all aspects of peoples lives just about anywhere in the world. Chinese food, Chinese fashion, and even in pregnancy, Chinese methods are popular because they have proven to be effective over a very long period of time. One of these methods concerns pregnancy, and is referred to as the Chinese Pregnancy Calendar. Also called the "Chinese Pregnancy Chart," "Chinese Conception Chart," or the "Chinese Conception Calendar," the Chinese Pregnancy Calendar is used to determine if the expectant mother will deliver a baby girl, or a baby boy. This ancient method of predicting a baby's gender can be traced from a 700-year old Royal Tomb placed near the city of Peking in China. It is believed that a pregnancy chart was buried in this royal tomb. This original Chinese chart is now on display at the Beijing Institute of Science. Many people, especially the Chinese, believe that the original pregnancy calendar is almost 100 percent accurate. This accuracy is attributed to the use of the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The basis of the Chinese Pregnancy Calendar is on the month of conception, rather than the birth month. In addition to the month of the baby's conception, the Chinese Pregnancy Calendar also involves the age of the mother during her time of conception, and then the adding of nine months to her age in order to adjust the lunar calendar. HOW IT WORKS The Chinese Pregnancy Calendar is dependent on the lunar calendar. If you are researching the Chinese Pregnancy Calendar online, you will find several sites that usually provide charts containing the months and dates in a lunar calendar. These dates usually represent the mothers age during the conception, the month when conception took place, and corresponding boxes labeled "B" for boy, and "G" for girl. This data will be placed in vertical and horizontal positions allowing you to draw coordinates where the points will intersect. Still confused? Here's some step-by-step assistance when using the Chinese Pregnancy Calendar: 1. First, take note of the woman's age during the time of conception. 2. Add 9 months to the age to adjust the calendar. 3. Now, locate this result on the left-hand column of the calendar. 4. Then, locate the month the baby was conceived across the top portion of the calendar. 5. Lastly, follow these two coordinates to the spot where they meet and intersect, and look for the corresponding box labeled "B" for boy, or "G" for girl. Although the Chinese Pregnancy Calendar maintains that it is 99 percent accurate, remember that it is nearly impossible to be that reliable, and today is only used for fun and entertainment. If you really want to know for sure, it is better to opt for an ultrasound during the 7th, or 8th month of the pregnancy for more accurate results, and to not rely solely on the Chinese Pregnancy Calendar. = Mahjong is a classic game that originated back in ancient China. It is one of the most popular games in the world today. The physical game based on actual painted tiles remains wildly popular. In the last decade, computer-based and now internet based iterations of mahjongg have breathed new life into the entire game. As to when Mahjongg first began, you will see varying reports from anywhere from 500 AD to 800 AD. Regardless of precisely when it first became a game, it was a long time ago, and has expanded upon a long-storied tradition. The tools of any mahjongg game are its tile sets. These tiles are intricately detailed with different images and collected into "sets". Some of the common sets include the circle suit, bamboo suit, and character suit. You also have special tiles called wind tiles, dragon tiles and flower tiles. Even the computer versions of mahjongg use graphical representations of tiles. There is no standard number of tiles in a mahjongg set. It entirely depends on the rules and the game set. Some games have 136 tiles, some 144 tiles and in other cases even more tiles are available. These characters on these tile sets closely resemble ancient Chinese money, and help bolster the argument that the history and foundation for mahjongg has always been related to gambling. In the last ten years the China State Sports Commission implemented new rules to try and curb the gambling appeal of the game. Still, though, the game is a very popular gambling game throughout the world. There are as many variations of mahjongg as there are tiles in a mahjongg game. Different countries have their own rule sets, and sub-rule sets. These can include a different number of tiles, different means in which tiles are distributed to start a game, different scoring rules and much more. In a traditional version of the game, four players each draw out 34 tiles, placing them in two stacks of 17 tiles. Each of these walls are placed together in the center to form up a box in the center of the playing area. The dealer then rolls three dice to determine which group of tiles each player is entitled to, once each player has 13 tiles the game begins. The object of the game is to get triple tiles, known as Pong, quadruple tiles, known as Kong, or sequences of three in the same suit, known as Chow. When you have four of the above and a pair in your hand, you have mahjongg and have won the hand. Once a hand has been won, points are awarded based on what tiles are revealed and what tiles are still remaining in the hand. If you like strategy games and puzzle games yet have never played mahjongg; you do not know what you are missing. It is both complex and simple at the same time. You would do yourself a big favor by jumping into one of the many available versions of the game available on the internet and give it a try. = There are so many people on the Internet looking for Chinese Alphabet; we received a lot of inquiries asking about the Chinese alphabet, questions like "Can you publish the Chinese alphabet online?" or "Where can I find the Chinese alphabet?" etc. You can stop your search now because there is no such thing as Chinese alphabet. There is however Mandarin Chinese Phonetics. The English word "alphabet" comes from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet (alpha and beta) because it was the Greeks who adopted this writing system from the Middle East and spread it to the rest of Europe. Every alphabet system consists of a rather small number ( 20 - 50 ) of letters that represent sound values used in spoken language. Each of the letters of the alphabet represents a sound that generally has no particular meaning. Using the letters of the alphabet, one can write down the words of spoken language. There are no letters in Chinese and therefore, there is no alphabet in Chinese writing. The earlier form of characters developed from the graphic representation of certain objects, for example, the shape of a moon was used to write a moon. As time went on, it became much more complex or even possible at all to represent words in graphic. The majority of the symbols today do not have a direct link between shape and meaning. What stays in common is that they all represent a concept and not a sound. Chinese characters represent concepts, ideas or objects. Although there are some relationship between the structures of each symbol and its pronunciation, the symbols can't be broken down into smaller components to construct a new word. |
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