“To be away from women” is a known Buddhist discipline. But in Yunnan province, there is a minor group—Dai Group, mainly in the state of Dehong, they have a tradition different. Young monks may flirt with girls passerby. Almost each young man should go to the temple to be a monk for a certain period […]
There is an allusion that goes, Xi Shi, known for her peerless beauty, was beset by some sort of heart trouble, so she was often seen knitting her brow with hand on her chest. Now there was an ugly woman in the neighborhood, who one day saw Xi Shi in the village. In admiration, she […]
Before the wedding, a “good lick woman” who has a nice family will arrange the bridal bed and scatter symbolic fruits on the bed. Nobody can touch the bed until the couple enters the bridal chamber after the wedding ceremony, except the children who are invited onto the bed to bless the couple with fertility. […]
When offered a gift, a Chinese person will usually say “No, no, I can’t take it.” Even after he takes it, he does not always open it. It is because Chinese people often use precious or expensive items as gifts. During the Mid Autumn Festival, people will buy well-packaged, high quality moon cakes for gifts […]
In traditional Chinese philosophy, natural phenomena can be categorized into 5 elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. In human body, all five elements are represented because they correspond to the five major organs: kidneys, liver, heart, stomach and lungs. As for diet, there is a useful relationship between the colors of food, the five […]
Unlike Greek architecture, which is an organic combination of blocks, Chinese traditional architecture emphasized unobstructedness and tone, and displays the rich variance and connotation of the tone with innumerable flowing lines. Large, solid walls not only function as a protective surrounding defense, they also embody tranquility. Secluding the residence from the outside world, the thick, […]
Chinese liquor is one of the six world-famous varieties of liquors. Nearly all important occasions are celebrated with alcohol, especially on the auspicious moments. Drinking alcohol becomes a kind of ceremony on many occasions. Chinese New Year, which is a favorite time for family reunions, is probably one of the most significant occasions when rejoicing […]
China has a long history of music and dance. In ancient times, along with the creation of production tools, people also made simple percussion instruments and wing instruments such as chimes, wood drums and bone whistles and so on. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), music and dance developed to a new height. With the […]
To represent years, China uses 12 different animals, each of which corresponds to one of the Earthy Branches. These animals are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Collectively, these twelve animals are known as the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Every Chinese person has a zodiac […]
Four (si, “四”) It is interesting that the Chinese character for “four” was originally written in 4 horizontal lines, like “one two three”. Only later it was written in this way—“四”. Comparatively speaking, the number “four” is a relatively unpopular number for the Chinese people. For example, the number “four” is often avoided (and replaced […]