Chinese Culture: What's Hot Now: Chinese Gift-Giving: What Not to Buy

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Chinese Gift-Giving: What Not to Buy Aug 31st 2011, 10:02 Clocks and watches are not good gifts to give in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Lauren Mack / About.com While giving a gift is much appreciated and it’s the thought that counts, there are some gifts that are absolute no-no’s in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Avoid these Chinese gift-giving blunders. 1. Clocks Clocks of any type should be avoided because 送鐘 (sòng zhōng, send clock) sounds like 送終 (sòng zhōng, the funeral ritual). Clocks also symbolize time is running out; therefore, the end of relationships and life are the messages that are sent when a clock is given as a gift. 2. Handkerchief To give handkerchiefs (送巾, sòng jÄ«n) sounds like æ–·æ ¹ (duàngÄ"n), a farewell greeting. This gift is especially inappropriate for a boyfriend or girlfriend unless you want to break up. 3. Towels Towels are usually given out at funerals, so avoid this gift because it brings sad memories of funerals and death. 4. Umbrella Offering your friend an umbrella may seem an innocent gesture. However, it means you want to end your friendship with him or her. If it is raining and you are worried he or she will get wet, it’s better for both of you to huddle under your umbrella until you reach your friend’s destination. Then, take the umbrella back home with you. 5. Sharp Objects Like Knives and Scissors Giving sharp objects that are used to cut things symbolize that you want to sever a friendship or relationship. 6. Cut Flowers Particularly Yellow Chrysanthemums/White Flowers White flowers are used at funerals, so giving white flowers is synonymous with death. 7. Gifts in Sets of Four Gifts in sets of four are not good because å›› (sì, four) sounds like æ­» (sǐ, death). 8. Shoes, Particularly Straw Sandals Giving shoes 送鞋子 (sòng xiézi, give shoes) sounds similar to break up. Also giving two shoes sends the message that you want the person to go his or her separate way; thus, ending your friendship. 9. Green Hat A green hat refers to the phrase in Chinese 帶綠帽 (dài lÇœ mào, with green hat) which implies that a man’s wife is unfaithful. Why green? A turtle is green and turtles hide their heads in their shells, so calling someone a ‘turtle’ will get you in trouble because it like calling the person a coward. 10. Anything in White or Black These colors are often used during funerals so presents, wrapping paper and envelopes in these colors should be avoided. Suggested Reading Chinese New Year: Red Envelope Chinese Gift-Giving Etiquette Chinese Gifts for All Occasions Suggested Reading Chinese Hostess Gifts Chinese Gifts for Him Chinese Gifts for Her Suggested Reading Chinese Gifts for Children Chinese Etiquette Tips Chinese Etiquette for Visiting a Chinese Home Related Articles Death at a Funeral Cast and Director Neil LaBute Press Conference Entombed Profile - Entombed Discography - Biography Of Entombed 5 High-End iPod Gifts Over $1,000 - Holiday Buying Guide 2007 - Gold iPod -... Severe Torture Slaughtered Review - Review of Slaughtered by Severe Torture Fenomenon - Hourglass Lauren Mack Chinese Culture Guide Sign up for My Newsletter

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Chinese Culture: What's Hot Now: Chinese Character liang4 -- Meanings Will Be Added

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Chinese Character liang4 -- Meanings Will Be Added Aug 31st 2011, 10:02 Fascinating Chinese Characters Chinese Characters >  L Pronunciation: liang4 Meaning: Meanings will be added Pronunciation: liang2 Meaning: Chinese Character T-shirts, Caps, Mugs, Buttons, and more. Copyright © Jun Shan. All rights reserved.

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Chinese Food: What's Hot Now: Chinese Christmas Celebrations

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Chinese Christmas Celebrations Aug 28th 2011, 10:02 "Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." How do the Chinese celebrate Christmas? Readers frequently ask this question as winter approaches. Although many traditions - such as kissing under the mistletoe - have their origins in pre-Christian pagan celebrations, Christmas is a Christian holiday honoring the birth of Christ. With baptized Christians comprising approximately only one percent of the Chinese population, it seems safe to assume that Christmas is not a major holiday. Christmas: Less Important Than Chinese New Year, But Still Sometimes Celebrated Chinese New Year is the foremost winter holiday in Chinese culture. Still, that doesn't mean that Christmas is ignored altogether. My friend Judy and her family are a good example. She is a first-generation Canadian, as her Chinese parents emigrated from Hong Kong in the 1950's. When the children were small, her parents put up an artificial Christmas tree each year. Presents were exchanged on Christmas morning - unfortunately, she missed out on having a Christmas stocking, since her parents were unfamiliar with that particular custom! Food and Family As in western culture, Christmas day was a time to spend with family. Judy recalls sitting down with relatives to a large meal on Christmas day, but it could be served at either lunch or dinner. Instead of turkey, her father would prepare foods such as roast barbecued pork, chicken, and soup with wood ears. Reminiscing, she says the meal had more in common with a Chinese New Year's banquet than a traditional Christmas dinner. Now that there are no children in the house, the artificial tree has been relegated to the garage, and the family often skips the large meal, although everyone still exchanges gifts. Chinese New Year has returned to being the major winter holiday. Christmas Celebrations in China and Hong Kong While Christmas Day is not a public holiday, Christmas celebrations are becoming more popular in China itself. Particularly in urban areas, you'll find Christmas trees, lights, and other decorations on the streets and in department stores. Children hang up muslin stockings in the hope that Dun Che Lao Ren, the Chinese version of Santa Claus, will visit and leave gifts. Attendance at Christmas Eve mass has also become more popular in recent years. (A similar trend can be found in Japan, where store owners have discovered the commercial potential of celebrating the Yuletide season. Ta Chiu, a Taoist festival,takes place on December 27th in Hong Kong. One of the more interesting traditions of this festival comes near the end, when the priests read the names of everyone who lives in the area. When the priest has finished reading the list, the names are attached to a paper horse and burned, the hope being that they will rise to heaven. Read on to learn more about Christmas celebrations in Asia and try some festive recipes: Recipes: Peking Duck Cantonese Roast Duck Almond Cookies Bow Ties Sesame Seed Balls Steamed Sponge Cake Five Spice Peanuts Sweet Red Bean Paste Tea Eggs Walnut Cookies More Christmas Articles.... Christmas - From your Guide, a directory of all my articles related to the holiday season. Christmas in Japan - Shizuko Mishima, About.com's Guide to Japan for Visitors, talks about Japanese Christmas celebrations. Christmas in Singapore - From Michael Aquino, About's Guide to Southeast Asia Travel. Holiday Cookie Baking - Diane Rattray, About.com's Guide to Southern U.S. Cuisine, has a great index for baking holiday cookies, including recipes, tips on decorating and freezing, and more.

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Chinese Food: What's Hot Now: Chinese Sweet and Sour Cabbage

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Chinese Sweet and Sour Cabbage Aug 28th 2011, 10:02 Napa cabbage has a sweet flavor and is loaded with vitamins and minerals. Traditionally, this spicy cabbage dish is served cold, with the sauce mixture heated and poured over the vegetables and ginger just before serving. Here it is turned into an easy stir-fry. The hot chili oil is optional. Ingredients: 1 pound Napa cabbage (Peking cabbage) 1 red bell pepper 5 teaspoons white wine vinegar 1 1/2 teaspoons light soy sauce 1 teaspoon Chinese rice wine or dry sherry 4 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon hot chili oil, or to taste, optional 2 tablespoons vegetable or peanut oil, for stir-frying 2 tablespoons finely chopped ginger Pinch of salt, optional Preparation: Directions for Sweet and Sour Cabbage: 1. Remove the leaves from the Chinese cabbage, discard any wilted leaves or ones with browned spots. Lay several of the leaves on top of one another, and cut crosswise into thin strips. 2. Remove the stem from the bell pepper. Cut the bell pepper in half and remove the seeds and white pith from the middle. Cut the bell pepper lengthwise into thin strips. 3. In a small bowl, combine the white wine vinegar, rice wine or dry sherry, soy sauce, sugar and hot chili oil. Set aside. 4. Heat the wok and add oil. When the oil is hot, add the chopped ginger. Stir-fry for about 10 seconds, until the ginger just starts to become aromatic. Add the cabbage. Stir-fry for a minute, then add the red bell pepper. Stir-fry for another minute, or until the cabbage is tender but still crisp. Add a pinch of salt to the cabbage during stir-frying if desired. 5. Give the sauce a quick re-stir and swirl it into the wok. Cook, stirring to mix everything together. Serve immediately.

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Chinese Food: What's Hot Now: Deep-fried Chicken

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Deep-fried Chicken Aug 28th 2011, 10:02 This recipe is quick and easy to make - the sauce can be heated while you're deep-frying the chicken. For a less spicy version, reduce the chile paste to 1 teaspoon. Serves 4 to 6. Ingredients: 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 lbs chicken thighs, boneless, skinless Marinade: 2 tablespoons light soy sauce 1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine or dry sherry Sauce: 1 cup water 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce 2 tablespoons sugar 4 teaspoons dark soy sauce 2 teaspoons chile paste 2 teaspoons vegetable oil 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 green onion, washed and diced Other: cornstarch, for dredging chicken 3 1/2 - 4 cups oil for deep-frying, or as needed 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds, optional Preparation: Deep-fried Chicken directions: Cut the chicken into small, approximately 1-inch cubes. Add the marinade ingredients and marinate the chicken for 20 minutes. While the chicken is marinating, prepare the sauce. Combine all the sauce ingredients except for the green onions, whisking in the 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Bring the sauce to boil on medium heat in a small saucepan. Turn the heat down to low and keep warm while you are deep-frying the chicken. In a wok or deep-fryer, heat the oil to 365 degrees Fahrenheit. Have a small bowl with the cornstarch for dredging the chicken ready near the stove. When the oil is hot, dredge the marinated chicken pieces in the cornstarch and add them to the wok, taking care not to overcrowd the wok. Deep-fry until golden brown. Remove the cooked chicken pieces from the wok and drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remainder of the chicken. Just before you are finished deep-frying, bring the sauce back up to a boil. Stir in the green onion. Place the chicken on a large platter and pour the sauce over. Garnish with sesame seeds if using. Serve with rice.

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Chinese Culture: What's Hot Now: Questions About Chinese Names

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Questions About Chinese Names Aug 27th 2011, 10:02 Questions About Chinese Names We have over 6,000 names on the Chinese Name list. If you have a popular name, it should be already on the list. Simplified or traditional characters? All the names listed here are in the simplified form used in China. For more info about this, check out the page here. Can I put a Chinese name vertically? Yes, you can. See the Chinese name for Angel as an example below. Just have the leftmost character on the top. How many Chinese characters? There are over 80,000 Chinese characters, but most of them are seldom used today. So how many Chinese characters do you need to know? For basic reading and writing of modern Chinese, you only need a few thousands. Here are the coverage rates of the most frequently used Chinese characters: Most frequently used 1,000 characters: ~90% (Coverage rate) Most frequently used 2,500 characters: 98.0% (Coverage rate) Most frequently used 3,500 characters: 99.5% (Coverage rate) If two names have the same pronunciation, do they have the same Chinese name? Yes, they will be the same in general. For example, Kelly and Kelli have the same Chinese name. Therefore, if you don't see your name on the list, but find one with the same pronunciation, you can just use it for your name. This is not saying we can't make the translations slightly different. In fact, we did differentiate them in a few cases even they have the same pronunciation. How accurate are the translations? There is no standard for the translation so we will try to get the name translation as close as possible and also to use more meaningful characters. It is quite possible that you may see different translations from different places. The difference is some are good, some are bad, or some are better. Can I get the Chinese characters from a pinyin name? No. Usually a pinyin corresponds to many Chinese characters. For example, ming (a pinyin) can represent the Chinese characters for bright, famous, inscription, etc. Thus it will be hard to guess the right Chinese character from a pinyin. So please don't send me pinyin names for translations. For more info about pinyin, click here. Is the name for Cantonese or Mandarin? Chinese characters (or Hanzi) are the same for different Chinese dialects, though there are some particular characters used in some dialects. Thus the names are the same in both Cantonese and Mandarin. Can I submit a name to be added to the list? Yes, please use the Submit A Name form. The name will be added to the list in about two weeks. Japanese Kanji or Chinese characters? Japanese Kanji are originally from China so most of them are the same as their corresponding Chinese characters, but Japanese kanji only contain a small collection of Chinese characters. There are a lot more Chinese characters not included in Japanese Kanji. Actually kanji mean Chinese characters. Kanji are used less and less now in Japan. You don't see a lot of Kanji in a modern Japanese book anymore. If you need more info about Kanji, check out our Japanese Language site. Origin of Chinese Characters The Basics About Chinese Characters Frequently Asked Chinese Characters Back to the Chinese Name List

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Chinese Food: What's Hot Now: Scrambled Eggs With Chives

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Scrambled Eggs With Chives Aug 27th 2011, 10:02 Chinese flowering chives add a delicate flavor to this recipe for scrambled eggs with sour cream. Serves 2. You can use regular chives if flowering chives are unavailable. This is a fun fusion recipe. If you're looking for something a little more authentic, try Scrambled Eggs With Chinese Chives, made with lots of Chinese chives and minus the sour cream. Ingredients: 2 tablespoons Chinese flowering chives (about 2 1/2 chives) 4 large eggs 1 1/2 teaspoons light soy sauce or ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vegetable oil freshly ground black or white pepper, to taste 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil, or as needed 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon sour cream, or as desired Preparation: Wash, drain, and finely chop the flowering chives (the yellow buds are edible). Lightly beat the eggs. Add the soy sauce or salt, 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and the pepper. Heat a heavy skillet on medium-high heat. Add the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, lifting the frying pan so that the oil covers the bottom of the pan. When the oil is hot, add the chives. Stir-fry for a few seconds, then add the beaten egg mixture. Reduce the heat to medium and gently scramble the eggs with a spatula. When they are beginning to become firm but are still moist, add the sour cream. Remove the scrambled eggs from the heat when they are done. Serve hot.

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Chinese Food: What's Hot Now: Durian Ice Cream

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Durian Ice Cream Aug 26th 2011, 10:02 While durian is not native to China, both China and Hong Kong are major import markets for this distinctive looking fruit. The sweet flavor and thick texture of durian makes it perfect for ice cream. Use fresh durian if possible. Ingredients: 4 to 6 segments fresh, frozen or canned durian, as needed to make 4 ounces durian paste 2 large egg yolks 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, or to taste 1 teaspoon vanilla essence 1 cup light cream 1 cup whole milk Preparation: Remove the seeds from the durian. Use an electric mixer to mix the flesh into a paste. Press the paste through a fine sieve. You should have 4 ounces durian paste at this point. (If not, use more durian). Chill the durian paste until ready to use. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs with the vanilla essence and sugar. Bring the milk and cream to a near boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low. Pour in the egg mixture, stirring constantly to thicken. Take care not to let the mixture boil, or the milk will curdle (if you see bubbles forming at the edge of the saucepan, take it off the stove element). Allow the custard to cool. Chill the custard in the freezer for 30 to 45 minutes, until it is just beginning to harden. Gradually stir in the durian paste, a tablespoon at a time. Either continue freezing, stirring several times throughout, or finish the ice cream in an ice cream maker. How to Choose and Open a Durian - step by step photo instructions from Dennis Sim, Guide to Southeast Asian Food More Ice Cream Recipes: Coconut Ice Cream Ginger Ice Cream Mango Ice Cream

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Chinese Food: What's Hot Now: Kung Pao Shrimp

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Kung Pao Shrimp Aug 26th 2011, 10:02 Serves 4 Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 5 minutes Total Time: 25 minutes Ingredients: 1 pound shrimp 1 egg white 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons cornstarch 3 tablespoons chicken broth 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar or rice vinegar 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar 1 1/2 cups oil, or as needed 6 to 8 small red chilies, or 2 teaspoons chile paste 1 teaspoon minced ginger 1/2 cup cashews Preparation: Shell and devein the shrimp. Cut in half lengthwise. Lightly beat the egg white. Marinate the shrimp in the salt, egg white and cornstarch for 15 minutes. In a small bowl, combine the chicken broth, vinegar, soy sauce and sugar. Set aside. Heat the oil. When the oil is hot, add the shrimp. Cook briefly until the shrimp turns pink. Remove from the wok. Remove all but 2 tablespoons oil from the wok. Add the chile peppers or chile paste. Stir-fry for a minute, then add the minced ginger and stir-fry until it is aromatic (about 15 seconds). Stir in the cashews. Stir-fry for about 1 minute, taking care not to burn. Make a space in the middle of the wok. Add the sauce. Heat briefly, then mix in with the cashews. Add the shrimp back into the pan. Cook for 1 more minute and serve hot. Kung Pao Chicken Kung Pao Chicken Stir-fry

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Chinese Food: What's Hot Now: Mango Chicken

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Mango Chicken Aug 26th 2011, 10:02 Author Stephen Wong writes: This is a good example of new-style Chinese cooking which incorporates different fresh fruits as flavorings. Ingredients: 3/4 lb (375 g) boneless, skinless chicken breast, sliced 1 1/2 teaspoons (7 mL) soy sauce 1/4 teaspoon (1 mL) salt pinch white pepper 1 teaspoon (5 mL) cornstarch 2 teaspoons (10 mL) cider vinegar 1 1/2 teaspoons (7 mL) ketchup 1 1/2 teaspoons (7 mL) sugar 2 tablespoons (25 mL) water 1 star anise 1 tablespoon (15 mL) canola oil 1/2 medium green bell pepper, sliced 1/2 medium red bell pepper, sliced 1 tablespoon (15 mL) grated ginger 1 teaspoon (5 mL) garlic 1 large shallot, chopped 2 large mangoes, peeled, pitted, thinly sliced 16 toasted pecan halves 2 sprigs cilantro Preparation: Combine chicken and marinade ingredients (1 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce, 1/4 teaspoon salt, pinch white pepper, and 1 teaspoon cornstarch) and marinate for 30 minutes.   Combine sauce ingredients (2 teaspoons cider vinegar, 1 1/2 teaspoons ketchup, 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar, 2 tablespoons water) and set aside.   Break off radial pieces of star anise and discard woody centre. Gently press with knife to crack lightly.   In non-stick skillet or wok, heat oil and star anise over high heat. Add chicken and stir-fry for 3 minutes or until chicken just turns opaque. Add peppers, ginger, garlic and shallots and stir-fry for 1 minute.  Add sauce ingredients and stir to mix until sauce is slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Add mangoes and mix gently for 1 minute until heated through.   Garnish with pecans and cilantro and serve.   Each serving (not including toasted pecan halves) includes:  Calories 269, 26 g Carbohydrates, 21 g Protein, 10 g Fat, 1 g Saturated Fat, 50 mg Cholesterol, 4 g Fibre, 330 mg Sodium, 420 mg Potassium. An excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and niacin. A good source of fibre, vitamin E, vitamin B-6 and folacin. This recipe is reprinted with permission from a sample recipe from HeartSmart Chinese Cooking by Stephen Wong, one of the books in the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Heart Smart Library. Recipe reprinted courtesy of Douglas & McIntyre). How to Peel and Slice a Mango Top 10 Chicken Stir-fry Recipes/link]

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Chinese Food: What's Hot Now: Chinese Lantern Festival

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Chinese Lantern Festival Aug 26th 2011, 10:02 February is the month for love. In days gone by, people celebrated Valentine's Day by wearing the name of their beloved on their sleeve. Today, we exchange Valentine's Day cards, and flowers and chocolates are popular gifts. In Japan, the women give chocolate to men as a token of their affection, while the men have their turn on March 14th, known as "White Day." Of course, things are a little different in China, where the Chinese New Year season is traditionally a time for families. Nonetheless, along with the banquets, family dinners, and other celebrations, couples find time for a little romance. Falling on February 17th in 2011, the Lantern Festival marks the last day of the Chinese New Year season. Traditionally, the Lantern Festival is a day for lovers. In the past, it was the one day of the year when a woman could come out - chaperoned, of course! - and be seen by eligible single men. In the days when women's feet were bound, it was often the one time when she could appear in public with unbound feet. Of course, these restrictions no longer exist, but there is still a hint of romance in the air at the Lantern Festival celebrations. Numerous theories surround the festival's origins. It's possible that it was originally meant to honor Buddha. Another story attributes its creation to a homesick palace maid named Yuanxiao. This maid told the Emperor that the God of Fire would set fire to the city unless he was appeased with a scene of burning. Accordingly, the Emperor ordered that firecrackers be set off and bright red lanterns hung throughout the streets. The ensuing noise and confusion allowed Yuanxiao to slip home unnoticed for a brief family reunion.   The traditional food for the Lantern Festival is Yuanxiao dumplings, named after the lonely palace maid of long ago. (Some versions of the story have her preparing stuffed dumplings for the God of Fire, as this was one of his favorite foods). Yuanxiao are made with sticky rice flour. They can be sweet or savory; filled with everything from sugar, walnuts, and dried tangerine peel to meat and vegetables.     If possible, you'll also want to visit Chinatown to enjoy the Lantern Day festivities. Traditionally, these include music, dancing, acrobats, and of course, the sight of brightly decorated lanterns everywhere. People play the Lantern Riddle game, trying to guess the answers to the mysterious riddles stuck on the lanterns. And of course, you'll want to snack on dumplings! Yuanxiao Dumpling Recipe Learn more about Chinese cuisine by signing up for my free bi-weekly About Chinese Cuisine newsletter

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Chinese Food: What's Hot Now: Eggs With Chives

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Eggs With Chives Aug 26th 2011, 10:02 This recipe for Chinese scrambled eggs is made with Chinese garlic chives. These go very nicely with egg, but you can use regular chives as well. This dish typically calls for a large quantity of chives - feel free to reduce the amount to 2 or 3 tablespoons and add other seasonings if desired. Serves 2 to 4 At the bottom of the recipe directions you'll find a link to a western-style recipe for Scrambled eggs with Chinese chives and sour cream. Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 5 minutes Total Time: 10 minutes Ingredients: 1 1/2 - 2 ounces Chinese garlic chives (to make 1/3 cup chopped) 4 large eggs 1 1/2 teaspoons light soy sauce or up to 1/2 teaspoon salt freshly ground black or white pepper, to taste 1 teaspoon vegetable oil 2 tablespoons vegetable or peanut oil Preparation: Chinese Scrambled Eggs directions: Wash and drain the garlic chives. Remove the hard ends and any wilted green leaves at the top and chop into 1-inch lengths until you have 1/3 cup (5 tablespoons). Lightly beat the eggs. Add the soy sauce or salt, 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and pepper. Heat a heavy skillet on medium high heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil, lifting the frying pan so that the oil covers the bottom of the pan. When the oil is hot, add the chives. Stir-fry briefly, then add the beaten egg mixture. Reduce the heat to medium and gently scramble the eggs. Remove them from the heat when they are just done but still moist. Serve hot. More Chives Recipes Scrambled Eggs With Chinese Chives and Sour Cream - a fusion recipe Cantonese Spring Rolls With Pork and Shrimp[/link"> - Delicate spring rolls filled with shredded pork, shrimp, black mushrooms and garlic chives. Chinese Chives and Bean Sprouts - a light colored dish, with slices of fried egg on top. Flowering Chives Stir-fry - flowering chives are considered to be a delicacy in China.

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Chinese Culture: What's Hot Now: Oracle Bone Inscriptions

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Oracle Bone Inscriptions Aug 26th 2011, 10:02  Related Resources • Chinese Writing • Chinese Characters • Chinese Names • Dictionary • Food & Recipes • Dragon & Phoenix • Chinese Story • Articles by Topic   Oracle bone inscriptions (or Jia Gu Wen in Chinese Pinyin), the earliest Chinese writing scripts, are the ancient Chinese characters carved on tortoise shells and animal scapulas. The oracle bone inscriptions were mainly used for divination and keeping records of events happened in the late Shang Dynasty (1300 BC - 1046 BC). The bones are invaluable for us to understand the Shang Dynasty. Discovery A scholar, Wang Yirong, first found the oracle bone inscriptions in 1899. Some unknown characters on the 'dragon bones,' one of the ingredients of his medicine, caught his attention. The bones were then traced to Anyang in Henan province, the capital of the late Shang Dynasty, where there have been over 150,000 oracle bone inscriptions excavated till today. Studies A great deal of knowledge of the Shang Dynasty has been learned from the studies of the oracle bone inscriptions. Many books about the inscriptions were published. The first book by Liu E was published in 1903. A good collection of the inscriptions was published in a book called 'Jiaguwen Heji' by Guo Moruo et al. It includes 41,956 inscriptions selected from the oracle bone inscriptions found before 1973. The total 13 volumes of the book were published during 1978 and 1982. From the studies of many scholars, about 2,000 characters among the more than 4,500 different characters found on the bones have been identified. The remaining unidentified characters are mainly places, names, etc. So experts can basically read the inscriptions now. Contents of the inscriptions The inscriptions were mainly used for divination during the Shang Dynasty. The rulers of the Shang Dynasty were very superstitious so divination was basically a daily activity for almost everything, such as weather, health, farming and fortune. The bones not only were used in divination as a tool, but also in recording the activities and results on them. The inscriptions were classified into four categories in the book 'Jiaguwen Heji,' i.e., classes and country, society and production, cultures, and other. The oracle bone inscriptions are the earliest written records discovered in China. Next page > Chinese Characters

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Chinese Culture: What's Hot Now: Chinese Birth Chart

Chinese Culture: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week // via fulltextrssfeed.com

Chinese Birth Chart Aug 26th 2011, 10:02 Many couples expecting a baby use the Chinese Birth Chart to predict the sex of their baby. Where Does the Chinese Birth Chart Come From? Invented during the Qing Dynasty, the Chinese birth chart has been used for over 300 years. The chart was kept by royal eunichs and only used my nobles and concubines. When the Eight Nation Alliance entered China in the late Qing Dynasty, military forces took the chart. The Chinese birth chart was taken to England where it was translated into English for the King’s sole use until it was later disclosed to the public. How Accurate Is the Chinese Birth Chart? The Chinese birth chart is based on factors such as the Five Elements and yin and yang. The Chinese birth chart is based on the lunar calendar. The Chinese birth chart is considered quite accurate. How Do Use the Chinese Birth Chart to Predict the Gender of My Baby? 1. Locate the lunar month of conception. Convert Western calendar months to lunar calendar months. 2. Locate the mother’s age at the time of conception. 3. The intersection of the month of conception and the mother’s age at the time of conception is the predicted sex of the baby. For example, a 30 year-old woman who conceived in lunar January 2011 (February 2011 in the Western calendar) is predicted to have a boy.Girl Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 18 Girl Boy Girl Boy Boy Boy Boy Boy Boy Boy Boy Boy 19 Boy Girl Boy Girl Girl Boy Boy Boy Boy Boy Girl Girl 20 Girl Boy Girl Boy Boy Boy Boy Boy Boy Girl Boy Boy 21 Boy Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl 22 Girl Boy Boy Girl Girl Girl Girl Boy Girl Girl Girl Girl 23 Boy Boy Girl Boy Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Boy Boy Girl 24 Boy Girl Boy Boy Girl Boy Boy Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl 25 Girl Boy Boy Girl Girl Boy Girl Boy Boy Boy Boy Boy 26 Boy Girl Boy Girl Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl Girl Girl Girl 27 Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl Girl Boy Boy Boy Boy Girl Girl 28 Boy Girl Boy Girl Girl Girl Boy Boy Boy Boy Girl Girl 29 Girl Boy Girl Girl Boy Boy Boy Boy Boy Girl Girl Girl 30 Boy Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Boy Boy 31 Boy Girl Boy Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Boy 32 Boy Girl Boy Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Boy 33 Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl Girl Girl Boy Girl Girl Girl Boy 34 Boy Girl Boy Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Girl Boy Boy 35 Boy Boy Girl Boy Girl Girl Girl Boy Girl Girl Boy Boy 36 Girl Boy Boy Girl Boy Girl Girl Girl Boy Boy Boy Boy 37 Boy Girl Boy Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy 38 Girl Boy Girl Boy Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl 39 Boy Girl Boy Boy Boy Girl Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl Girl 40 Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl 41 Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy 42 Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Boy Girl Boy Girl 43 Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Boy Boy Boy 44 Boy Boy Girl Boy Boy Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl Girl 45 Girl Boy Boy Girl Girl Girl Boy Girl Boy Girl Boy Boy

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Chinese Culture: What's Hot Now: Loan Words

Chinese Culture: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week // via fulltextrssfeed.com

Loan Words Aug 26th 2011, 10:02 Words taken completely or in part from another language are known as loanwords. In the English language, there are many loanwords that have been borrowed from Chinese languages and dialects. A loanword is not the same as calque, which is an expression from one language that has been introduced into another language as a direct translation. Many English-language calques also have origins in Chinese. Loanwords and calques are useful to linguists in examining when and how one culture processed its interaction with another. Here are ten common English words that are borrowed from Chinese. 1. Coolie: While some claim that this term has its origins in Hindi, it’s been argued that it could also have origins in the Chinese term for hard work or 苦力 (kÇ" lì) which is literally translated as “bitter labor.” 2. Gung Ho: The term has its origins in the Chinese word 工合 (gōng hé) that can either mean to work together, or as an adjective to describe someone that is overly excited or too enthusiastic. The term gong he is a shortened word for industrial cooperatives which were created in China in the 1930s. During that time U.S. Marines adopted the term to mean someone with a can-do attitude. 3. Kowtow: From the Chinese 叩头 (kòu tóu) describing the ancient practice performed when anyone greeted a superior â€" such as an elder, leader, or emperor. The person had to kneel and bow down to the superior, making sure that their foreheads hit the ground. “Kou tou” is literally translated as “knock your head.” 4. Tycoon: The origins of this word comes from the Japanese term taikun, which was what foreigners called the shogun of Japan. A shogun was known to be someone who took over the throne and is not related to the emperor. Thus the meaning is typically used for someone who obtained power through might or hard work, rather than inheriting it. In Chinese, the Japanese term “taikun” is 大王 (dà wáng) which means “big prince.” There are other words in Chinese that also describe a tycoon including 财阀 (cái fá) and 巨头 (jù tóu). 5. Yen: This term comes from the Chinese word æ„¿ (yuàn) which means a hope, desire or wish. Someone who has a strong urge for oily fast food can be said to have a yen for pizza. 6. Ketchup: The origins of this word are debated. But many believe that its origins are from either the Fujianese dialect for the fish sauce 鮭汁 (guÄ« zhÄ« ) or the Chinese word for eggplant sauce 茄汁 (qié zhÄ«). 7. Chop Chop: This term is said to originate from the Cantonese dialect for the word å¿«å¿« (kuài kuài) which is said to urge someone to hurry up. Kuai means hurry in Chinese. “Chop Chop” appeared in English-language newspapers printed in China by foreign settlers as early as the 1800s. 8. Typhoon: This is probably the most direct loanword. In Chinese, a hurricane or typhoon is called 台风 (tái fÄ"ng). 9. Chow: Allow me to clarify some erroneous explanations circulating about this word. While chow is a breed of dog, the term did not come to mean 'food' because the Chinese hold the stereotype of being dog-eaters. I suspect that 'chow' as a term for food comes from the word 菜 (cài) which can mean food, a dish (to eat), or vegetables. 10. Koan: Originating in Zen Buddhism, a koan is a riddle without a solution, which is supposed to highlight the inadequacy of logic reasoning. A common one is “What is the sound of one hand clapping.” (If you were Bart Simpson, you would just fold one hand until you made a clapping noise.) Koan comes from the Japanese which comes from the Chinese for 公案 (gōng àn). Literally translated it means 'common case'.

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Chinese Culture: What's Hot Now: Dragon Culture

Chinese Culture: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week // via fulltextrssfeed.com

Dragon Culture Aug 24th 2011, 10:02 Chinese Dragon Culture Dragon cultures exit in both the Eastern and Western world. Dragons are deeply rooted in Chinese culture, so Chinese often consider themselves, 'the descendants of the dragon.' In the Western, dragons can be found in many literatures and they look significantly different from the Chinese dragon. We will focus on the Chinese dragon here. Nobody really knows where the dragon comes from. The dragon looks like a combination of many animals, such as a reptile, a snake, an alligator, and a lizard. Or it may be just a product from the imagination of Chinese people. Chinese emperors think they are the real dragons and the sons of the heaven. Thus the beds they sleep on are called the dragon beds, the throne called the dragon seat, and the emperor's ceremonial dresses called the dragon robes. Also dragons can be seen on the buildings in the imperial palace. Dragon screens are an important part of this dragon culture. The dragon is a symbol of imperial power. Traditionally the dragons are considered as the governors of rain falls in Chinese culture. They have the power to decide where and when to have rain falls. The kings of the water dragons live in the dragon palaces under the oceans. The dragon also plays an important part in Chinese Festivals. The dragon dance has a long history, which was already a popular event during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). The Dragon Boat Festival is almost purely dragon-related festival, which becomes popular international events now. There are many Chinese stories about the dragon. There is even a very famous Chinese idiom, 'Lord Ye's Love of Dragons,' which means professed love of what one really fears. Here is the story behind the idiom. Lord Ye loved dragons deeply. He had dragons everywhere and he was thinking about dragons all the time. His love of dragons moved a real dragon, so the dragon came to visit him one day. When he saw the real dragon, he was frightened to death. For more info about dragons, check out the Dragon Page here.

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