Olympic Games 2008

The Legend of Chinese Valentine’s Day by Jane Roseen

Chinese Valentine’s Day is on the Seventh Day of the Seventh Month on the Chinese calendar, which falls on August 4th this year. Legend has it that the seventh daughter of the Emperor of Heaven, a weaving maid, fell in love and married a cowherd. They were so much in love that they forgot everything else in their lives and didn’t complete their farming and weaving duties, which angered the Jade Emperor. He exiled them to opposite banks of the River (Milky Way),and only allows them to meet each other once a year on the night of the seventh day of the seventh month. This legend has been handed down for nearly two millennia. The Chinese people believe that the star, Vega, east of the Milky Way, is Zhi Nu, and that Altair, on the western side of the Milky Way is Niu Lang waiting for his wife. The seventh day of the seventh lunar month is the only Chinese festival devoted to love in the lunar calendar. Chinese Valentine’s Day traditions abound and this special day is celebrated differently depending on the Chinese province.

Some of the many traditions include Chinese girls preparing fruits, melons, and incense as offerings to Zhi Nu, the weaving maiden, praying to acquire high skills in needlecraft, as well as hoping to find satisfactory husbands. Girls place sewing needles on water. If the needle doesn’t sink, it’s a sign of the girl’s maturity and intelligence and she is ready and eligible to find a husband.

People in some Chinese provinces believe that decorating the horns of oxen with flowers will save them from catastrophe. Another tradition is for women to wash their hair to make it look fresh and shining.

On Chinese Valentine’s Day, young lovers go to the temple of the Matchmaker and pray for their love and happiness, and their possible marriage in China.

In the evening, people sit outside to observe the stars. On this night, Vega and Altair are closer together than at any other time of year. Chinese grannies say that if you stand under a grapevine, you can probably overhear what Zhi Nu and Niu Lang are saying to one another.

Jane S. Roseen is the Owner and President of Harmony Sweets, an international gourmet chocolate shop. Harmony Sweets’ mission focuses on individual consumers purchasing gourmet chocolates from around the world for their friends and relatives, as well as corporate gift giving. Gourmet chocolate gift baskets and personalized chocolates are also available.

Website: http://www.harmonysweets.com

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Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Basic Understanding by Evelyn Lim

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a system of healing from China. While TCM is regarded as an alternative medicine system in the West, in China and other Asian countries, it is practiced widely by the locals. Medical practitioners are trained in the diagnostic and healing techniques with centuries of tradition and philosophy. Like naturopathy, TCM is holistic. It considers all aspects of the person including physical, nutritional, emotional, mental and spiritual for diagnosis.

TCM is based on the balance of opposing elements (the yin and yang) in the body, as well as their harmony with the environment around it. The two main forces of yin and yang combine to form the “qi” (pronounced as “chee”) or universal life force. When qi is in harmony, health is not only enhanced but also the capacity for fufilment, happiness and well being. Disease and illness arise from imbalances of yin and yang that block the proper flow of qi. Therapies to treat disease are aimed at restoring the balance and unblocking the flow to restore health.

TCM is primarily non-invasive. TCM treatments include the use of Chinese herbs, acupuncture, meditation, Chinese massage therapy, mental and physical disciplines such as Tai Chi and Qigong and nutritional therapy. Practitioners will attempt to realign the body’s balance using a combination of treatments before suggesting surgery by a Western Doctor.

Most research into the effectiveness of TCM has been conducted on acupuncture. Although it has been difficult to conclusively prove the benefits of acupunture, the results of large-scale studies are sufficiently convincing enough for FDA to consider the tradition “promising” and worthy of further study.

In addition, it has been proven that many herbs used in Chinese medicine have therapeutic benefits. For instance, ginseng and Echinacea are both powerful herbs with strong medicinal actions. More recently, there has been some acknowledgement that Chinese massage therapies do help to manipulate muscles, nerves and tendons.

There are many criticisms of TCM as a form of healing. Most TCM methodologies have no research basis and remain largely unproven. Also, some of the TCM beliefs have been mixed with Eastern mythology. For instance, tiger penis is used as an energy supplement as tigers are considered energetic animals. Whether it really helps to boost energy levels remain unsubstantiated by proper research. Most of the Chinese herbs are also not regulated. This makes it more important to consult with a reputable and reliable TCM practitioner.

However, aside from the criticisms, there is much merit in the philosophy of TCM. healing. If more research can be done into TCM, then the mythology can be separated from the facts and perhaps, more people will embrace TCM more readily as a form of healing.

Evelyn Lim owns a health and wellness article directory site. Her site has a growing database of health articles on more than 100 topics such as alternative healing, disease and fitness. Check out
http://www.HealthandWellnessCentral.com Now!

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A-Little-History-on-Kung-Fu by Robert Jones

More on Chinese Kung Fu

Kung Fu a generic label used to describe the martial arts that come from China. Chinese kung fu is not only about fighting but about self discipline, self respect, humbleness and patience. What makes the Chinese martial arts unique is the use of meditation as part of their art. Also the many weapons they have to master is another unique benefit of kung fu. Kung fu really took off in China when they added mind training to their workouts. They were the first to combine mental exercises with physical. The results were the most effective martial arts system around. When the figured out how to train the mind correctly they were able to push the body way beyond its normal limits. One form of meditation they used was Chan meditation.

Chan or Zen was introduced to the Shaolin monks by an Indian priest by the name of Bodhidharma. Bodhidharma would catch the monks falling asleep while in meditation. In order to help them with their meditation he introduced breathing exercises for health, meditation, self-development, and self-defense. Chinese monks still live and practice Chan meditation as well as Shaolin Kung Fu.

Kung fu has more variety of movements, systems, weapons and traditions compared to most of the other martial arts. There are soft and hard types of martial arts in china. Both styles include the use of weapons. Some of the weapons include the broadsword, staff, kwan do, butterfly knives and three section staff. It’s estimated that there are over 200 styles of kung fu. Compare that to Karate or Judo. However, this isn’t always a good thing. It causes much argument and confusion in the kung fu community. You see everyone studying a system believes their system is the best and was the original style. The good thing about this is that there should be a style to suit every body type out there.

Chinese kung fu is a deeply-rooted part of the country’s 5000-year-old civilization. This art is as much of the culture of China as is tea. It’s said that Chinese Kung Fu is the oldest method of combat training from which all other styles and methods derived. In the late 6th century, Chinese Kung Fu is thought to have been introduced to the Okinawan people as Karate. Chinese Kung Fu is arguably one of the oldest styles of martial arts. Their knowledge was passed down and preserved in forms or sets.

A good martial arts system combines the mind and the body. As well as practical self defense. The movements are combined in the styles sets or forms. These forms are like living dictionaries of all the movements. This is how the old masters would pass down their arts to the next generations. As complex as most martial arts systems are the Chinese kung fu systems can take a lifetime to master and understand.

For more information on this article or others go to Articles on Martial Arts

Robert Jones runs three successful martial arts schools located in Bellevue, Lynnwood, and Federal Way, Washington. He has been helping families make positive changes in their lives through martial arts for over 20 years. He has also written A Guide on How to Pick a Martial Arts School. He can be reached at the Academy of Kempo Martial Arts. 800-508-6141. His schools can be found on the web at Bellevue Martial Arts and Kung Fu.

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Find-Fang-Lijun-Biography-and-artwork-at-saatchi-gallery by Saatchi gallery

Fang Lijun is known to be one of the main forerunners of the early 1990’s movement known as Cynical Realism. This artistic trendevolved as a result of the aftermath of the 1989 student demonstrations in Tiananmen and the closing of the “China Avant-Garde” exhibition at the China national Gallery in Beijing.Fang Lijun born in 1963 in Handan, Hebei province is one of the leading and most influential contemporary artists in china.

The exhibition of their works at the China National Gallery was the culmination of that decade and signalled to the artists that they had been recognised. The dramatic closure of the exhibition soon after it’s opening marked the destruction of those goals. The 1990s were characterised by a loss of idealism, a more ironical, a more personal viewpoint and a greater detachment from any regeneration of culture and society - a cold, realistic view of changing Chinese society

Fang Lijun’s work has been exhibited at:

1) The Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
2) Pompidou Museum, Paris
3_ Museum of Modern Art, New York
4) National Gallery of Art, Beijing
5) Venice Biennials, Kwangju Biennials, Sao Paulo Biennale
6) every significant exhibition of Contemporary Chinese Art since 1990

Fang Lijun painting owned by the Ludwig Museum, Cologne, Series 2 - Number 2, 1992. The main figure, a friend of the artist, could be yawning or yelling while the mute, menacing figures in the background bring to mind mindless, manipulated masses. Fang Lijun’s famous figure, have already become well known icons in the world of Chinese contemporary art. Fang Lijun’s bald man with his ambiguous expression and dreamlike background of unlimited space and freedom became a symbol of the subtle mockery that one can detect in the works of the Cynical Realism artists.

CONCLUSION:
Fang Lijun’s practice exhibits a rarefied technical skill rigorously studied through his Social Realist training; his combination of this aesthetic with references to contemporary comics, folk art, and dynastic painting characterise a national identity in flux, distilling a position of integrity from tradition and the modern world.

Find More about Fang Lijun Paintings and Exhibitions at Saatchi-Gallery
http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/fang_lijun.htm

View more information about Fang Lijun paintings, biography and Exhibitions at The Saatchi Gallery - London contemporary art gallery. Fang Lijun

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The-Green-Tea-Manifesto by Dr Wei Feng

The health benefits of green tea are now so well documented that they cannot be ignored. The research has been confirmed by scientists and research establishments the world over. If you are serious about your health, it is really important that you incorporate this important beverage into your life.

1. First you should learn how to prepare green tea properly. Use clear and pure water. The water must be between 85 and 90 degrees, never use boiling water. The second brew is reputed to taste even better then the first if the green tea has been prepared properly.

2. Enjoy the experience of drinking green tea with all of your senses. Use your eyes - see the leaves blossom when the water is added. Hold the cup to feel the warmth. Your nose will reveal the subtle fragrance, whilst your sense of taste will reveal the beauty of the flavour. Above all, sense the the brief moment of inner peace with each sip.

3. You should drink at least 4 cups of green tea per day in order to feel the medicinal benefits of this amazing beverage.

4. Green teas should be drunk during the day as they contain the stimulant caffeine.

5. Teas were first cultivated in China, so Chinese green teas are still the best source of the product. It is a 5000 years old tradition, producing the very best leaves.

6. Avoid substitutes and non-natural forms such as extracts, tea bags, or green tea mixed with other tea. To feel the benefit it is essential to use pure loose teas, the original form. The substitutes have fewer natural and nutritional elements of the original loose leaf green tea.

7. It is essential to realise, that despite the myriad health benefits such as weight loss, stress reduction, cancer prevention etc, green tea is not a cure, it is a preventative measure. The polyphenols, flavonoids and anti-oxidants will not reverse already existing conditions.

8. When you buy green tea, make sure you buy top quality if you wish to feel any benefit. The leaves must be picked young, the tea infusion should be taken without milk or sugar, simply,drink pure green tea in the loose form , directly from the mountains to your cup.

9. There are many forms of green teas such as, Long Jing, Pi Luo Chun, Mao Jian and white teas with similar properties. The differences are the region of production and forms of cultivation.

10. The long-term positive effect of green teas are based on important factors such as: purity, origin, cultivation method and care …. Remember this next time you buy your pure green tea.

All the teas in China? Not quite but we have a wide selection of green tea, oolong tea and other Chinese teas for sale securely on line.

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FAQs-for-Acupuncture by Hotoko Suttoon

Historically, the Western medicine establishment has shown a stiff shoulder to Eastern medical techniques. Given the utter failure of Western medicine when it comes to pain management, this attitude has changed. This is particularly true for acupuncture.

If history is a factor in credibility, then acupuncture certainly has a lot of credibility. The practice originated over 2,000 years ago in China. It is now practiced throughout Asia with many of the countries adding their own twists to the technique.

Despite this extensive history, acupuncture has only recently seen the light of day with the medical establishment in the West. After years of people returning from Asia and raving about it, the FDA issued regulations in the 1990s.

Acupuncture is based on the concept of Yin and Yang. These forces are balanced in a well adjusted body. Disease and pain arises when they are not in balance. The goal of acupuncture is to correct any imbalance.

To bring the body into balance, acupuncture use those thin needles you have seen in the movies. Drama aside, the needles are designed to access energy focal points under the skin. These points are then treated by manipulating the needles.

Many people blanch at the mere mention of needles. It is important to understand that the needles used in acupuncture are hair thin, not the monsters you see in a doctor’s office. They cause no pain. Even the most sensitive of people feel only a minor prick.

Where needles are involved, there needs to be a discussion of safety. Needles can transfer all types of nasty things. Not in acupuncture. All acupuncture needles are sterile. They come in one use packaging. After their use, they are thrown out.

Now that we have the basics of acupuncture, there is still one big question. Does it work? Well, it has been around for 2,000 years! That being said, it is better for certain health issues than others. Let’s take a look.

If you have pain management issues, you are going to mark down the day you first undergo acupuncture as a special one. Acupuncture is extremely beneficial when it comes to most pain. You can often jettison most or all of your pain medication after a month.

In addition to pain management, acupuncture has been shown to be helpful in other areas. These areas include, but are not limited to, treatment of addiction, headaches, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting to mention a few.

If the pill approach of Western medicine is often ineffective and can leave you feeling worse than the original medical problem. Alternatives are available to you and acupuncture is one of them. There is no risk in try it, so why not give it one?

Read free acupuncture articles at AlternativeHealthCompanies.com.
This and other unique content acupuncture articles are available with free reprint rights.

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Choosing-Teaware-What-To-Look-For by Joyce Boulan

Teaware is the entire spectrum of equipment used in the production of tea. Thanks to the internet, finding teaware online that suits your particular taste and needs, is a snap. The reason is simple: there is more variety in teapots, infusers, strainers, and cups than you can imagine.

A teapot is central to the set and you will find yourself simultaneously frustrated and delighted at the options. You could consume a week just cataloging all the different choices.

Everything from chrome and plastic to ceramic to clay to glass is available and each has its pros and cons. There are teapots with in-built timers and thermometers, detachable base plates and handles… the list is endless.

Some look very much like ordinary traditional coffee pots. But even those have all sorts of extra, modern conveniences like a detachable pot from the heating base for example. Very handy for preparation and pouring.

Others have the look of a much older tradition - the look of ancient China. Yixing clay teapots, of the sort that have been made by fine craftsmen in China for centuries, are both functional and beautiful. Today they have the added advantage of being prepared in modern clay ovens with extraordinary quality control. They represent the best of art and technology combined.

Traditional porcelain teapots from Japan are both works of art and utilitarian objects. Strong, yet with delicate designs, these shining white and blue containers look great and function perfectly even in the most modern of kitchens.

Many American designs now emulate the best of Scandinavia, where tea drinking is an art done with the practical sense of the Danes or Finns. One elegant glass design has an oversized cup with a plate that sits on top and holds a strainer. The assembly on top makes it easy to prepare the tea to perfection, then lift off the upper components and carry the cup to your favorite easy chair for drinking.

The tea devotee will find an equally abundant array of choices for other teaware. Strainers or infusers, which are used to strain hot water through tea leaves, are essential for those who want to expand their choices beyond tea bags. Strainers usually fit into the top of the cup and hold the leaves as the tea is poured through them, when you brew in a pot. Tea strainers of this kind are usually either sterling silver or china. Most strainers come in a set, with the strainer part and a small saucer for it to sit in between cups.

While you’re buying, don’t forget to look for that unique cup that fits your hand and tastes. Some collectors acquire numerous one-of-a-kind cups with matching saucers. Better teacups typically are of fine white translucent porcelain and often decorated with floral patterns. They may also memorialize a location, person, or event.

After all that shopping and decision making, sit down, brew a cup and relax.

Joyce Boulan is the owner of a website devoted to teas and teaware, with a large selection of both available.
Visit: http://www.myteaparlor.com

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Feng-Shui-Giving-Your-Life-A-Nudge-In-the-Right-Direction by Aazdak Alisimo

We seek happiness in our lives in the West by acquiring more and more things, yet we don’t find it. Feng Shui represents an Eastern approach to the issue of happiness and contentment, but approaches it from another direction entirely.

Feng Shui is the creation of harmony through the strategic placement of physical items to create a flow of energy and harmony. Originiating long ago in China, the basic idea is your environment influences your life, so you should influence it first.

At its outset, Feng Shui was actually known as Kan You, which mean the Laws of Heaven and Earth. As it evolved into the name Feng Shui, pronounced fung shway, it became more about placement of things and harmony with the environment.

In its earliest incarnations, Feng Shui was much fuller than today. It was an astrological methodology with placement being based on harmony with celestial bodies. This, in turn, was tied into political fortunes, much as the Mayans did half way around the world.

This political dominance ran from roughly 5,000 to 3,000 BC. Feng Shui was so highly regarded that all of the major cities in the various Chinese states were created in a layout based on Feng Shui as it related to the Northern axis from an astronomical aspect.

Today, Feng Shui doesn’t set for the political aspects of cultures nor the layout of cities and population centers. Given the state of the world and urban sprawl one sees everywhere, that might be a bad thing.

These days, Feng Shui does not influence nations. Its biggest audiences are really businesses, who seek out opinions on plots with the best energy flow and building designs that further the goal of harmony and positive energy in the workplace.

On a person level, Feng Shui can be implemented in and around your personal spaces at home and work to create harmony with the immediate environment. This, in turn, creates positive energy which attracts harmony in the rest of your life as well.

Ironically, Feng Shui is forbidden in China these days under the Communist rule. It is practiced in the West under two divergent schools, the Black Sect of America and the Shen Dao Feng Shui school of the United Kingdom.

So, is Feng Shui a passing fringe trend or something more? Given the fact it has existed longer than Christianity and makes the Chinese Communist Government nervous enough to ban it, it would seem to be here to stay.

Aazdak Alisimo provides free feng shui tips and other information at FengShuiMonk.com.

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Author: Jason Huang

The erhu, sometimes known in the West as the Chinese violin or Chinese two string fiddle, is a two-stringed bowed musical instrument.

I felt touched but unable to express myself in words. It seemed like listening to a story that moved every parts of my heart. I even wanted to ask, what happened after that? when the music finished.

That’s how I felt when Ms. Qi Xiaochun played her instrument, the erhu, at a Chinese New Year Show sponsored by New Tang Dynasty Televison (NTDTV) last January.

The erhu, sometimes known in the West as the Chinese violin or Chinese two string fiddle, is a two-stringed bowed musical instrument. The instrument looks so simple that I even tried to build an Erhu when I was about 12 years old. Of course, the sound quality was not good at all, but I really loved it for a while.

The erhu can be traced back to instruments introduced into China more than a thousand years ago. It started to be popular in Southern China during the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD), where it was called “Nan-hu”, Nan meaning south in Chinese.

Nowadays the erhu often plays an important role in national orchestras. In smaller orchestras, there are usually two to six erhu players, in larger ones, 10 to 12. In fact, in Chinese orchestras the erhu plays the part the violin does in Western orchestras. Like the Western violin, the erhu is renowned for its expressiveness and is often said to echo the human voice.

Growing up in Shanghai, Ms. Qi began learning to play this difficult instrument at the age of six, taught by a friend of her father’s. She was later accepted to the Shanghai Music Conservatory and won an award at the Chinese National Erhu Competition. She has also played at the Hollywood Bowl, but her most memorable performances have been at the New Tang Dynasty television network’s (NTDTV) Chinese New Year spectaculars.

In addition to performing, Ms. Qi also teaches the erhu. “When learning to play the erhu,” she says, “people must develop basic skills first. The music, however, comes from the person’s character. People carry their own things into the music. What they want to express, and also the person as a whole, is expressed through the music. As an artist, your moral character will also determine your skill.”

This idea is reflected throughout ancient Chinese culture, whether in painting, martial arts, or poetry—in order to cultivate talent, one must cultivate the whole person. Ms. Qi finds this philosophy is also also present in NTDTV’s performances. She hopes that when people see the show, they will not only be entertained, but will also experience something about the deeper qualities these ancient Chinese arts can bring to people. In Ms. Qi’s opinion, it is simple: “pure compassion, pure beauty.”

About Author
Jason Huang is an independent writer as well as a cultural activist who strives to promote the Chinese traditional culture.
http://shows.ntdtv.com/

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By: Timothy Green

Many Chinese customs are centered around the belief in the power of certain numbers, and the superstitions surrounding digits in Chinese culture only takes second fiddle to the role of specific foods. The pronunciation of these numbers also reflects the Chinese’s affinity with homonyms, where many digits are considered lucky or unlucky based on words that sound similar. This in turn, affects the entire Chinese economy, since folks here will not buy anything without careful consideration of the numerals involved.

Because of the auspiciousness of certain numbers, Chinese will often pay large sums for phone numbers, street addresses, residence floors, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers and bank account digits. For example, a personal license plate with the number eight can cost millions of dollars.

Lucky Numbers

The number 2 (ar in phonetic English) is a positive number to Chinese people. There’s a Chinese saying: “Good things come in pairs.” It’s common throughout the Middle Kingdom to see double symbols in product brand names, which means double happiness and double value. When Chinese exchange oranges during the Lunar New Year, they exchange two, four, or eight at a time.

The number 6, pronounced leo, sounds like the word used for “slippery,” which implies that everything will go smoothly. 666 is considered one of the luckiest numbers of all; it’s displayed prominently in shop windows across the entire country, and people often pay extra to get a mobile phone number including this string of digits. In Guangzhou, a motorcycle license plate numbered AW666 was sold for 270,000. RMB, (roughly $34,000. USD)!

The number 8 in Mandarin is pronounced bah, which sounds similar to fah, meaning prosperity and good fortune. If you’ve been to China, you’ve probably noticed the unusual frequency of this esteemed digit used in the phone numbers of hotels, airlines and most major businesses. Telecommunication companies and car registration authorities charge extra for each number 8. For example, the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza in Shanghai has the phone number 6252-8888. Northwest Airline’s number is 6279-8088; China Travel Services is 6247-8888.

In Chengdu, China, the telephone number 8888-8888 was sold for $270,000. USD. The Summer Olympics in Beijing are scheduled to open 8/8/08, at 8 P.M.

The number 9, pronounce jeo, is also a homonym for the word “everlasting.” To the Chinese, it signifies friendship, love, and long life.

The Unluckiest Number

Number 4 (sih) sounds like the word “death,” and is therefore considered a bad omen. Many numbered product lines skip the 4, e.g. Nokia cell phones do not have a series beginning with a 4, and most residential buildings skip all numbers with 4, e.g. 4, 14, 24, 34, and 40 - 49 floors. The airlines, trains and buses all bypass this unfortunate number.

Number 14, pronounced shir sih, sounds like “ten die.” But it can also be said as ee sih, literally “one-four.” Another common way to say one, is yaow. Thus, 14 can be said as yaow sih, literally meaning: “want to die.” Not a favorite!

Lastly, research has revealed that more Chinese are likely to die from heart attacks or heart disease on the fourth of the month, obviously due to the superstition related stress evoked by the unlucky number, which in turn, triggers cardiac deaths.

Well, I’ve covered the basics in lucky and unlucky numbers, but like most things in China, numbers and their meanings are extremely deep-rooted, with many nuances and complexities involved. Consider this a quick crash course. Chinese numerology dates back to the first century A.D. when Emperor Fu His discovered a tortoise shell said to contain a magic number square, which led to the development of I Ching, Feng Shui, Nine Star Ki, geomancy, and Chinese astrology and numerology. Volumes could be written on the subject, and I’ll leave that to the mystics and academies.

Author Resource:-> Timothy Green is the co-author of SPEAK E-Z CHINESE In Phonetic English. You can find fun and easy Mandarin lessons, as well as travel and culture tips about China at The Cathay Cafe.

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