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Chinese Festival and Solar Term
Articles
Greater Snow: The frozen earth cannot keep inspirations from flying high

“Things remain silent until the spring returns (一葉驚心夜初涼)” was adopted as the subheadings of my article on “The Beginning of Winter (〈立冬〉)”. One may wonder why one has to wait for the “returning of the spring (待春歸)” when the winter just begins?

Lesser Snow: With the help of the nature, the preserved meat helps us survive the cold winter

In 2021, the lunar eve of the year with the Heavenly Stem of Xin and the Earthly Branch of Chou (辛丑年), the COVID-19 pandemic was still not yet over, and lockdown was still at force.
The Beginning of Winter: All living things remain silent until the spring returns

In Book of Rites: Chapter of Miscellaneous Notes (《禮記·雜記》) finds the following quotation: Zi-gong (子貢，520-446 B.C., student of Confucius) participated in the end of the year celebration and worshipping rituals. Confucius (551-479 B.C.) asked him if he thought that people were happy or not.
Frost's Descent: The time when farmers are still working, and the whole mountain becomes red.

Water is the origin of life. Therefore, the symbol of water brings inspirations to ancient Chinese thoughts on life. For example, “the ultimate virtue is like water” (上善若水) said by Lao Tsz (老子, circa 571-471 BC) and “Time pass like water” (逝者如斯) said by Confucius (孔子, 551-479 BC) are well-known among Chinese families. Among the twenty-four solar te
Chong Yang: Climbing and Nine Emperor Gods

Wang Wei (王維，692-761) ’s poem Thinking of my Brothers on Mountain Climbing Day (〈九月九日憶山東兄弟〉) is well known among Malaysian Chinese,
Cold Dew: The period when grasses and trees turn yellow while Chrysanthemums blossom

Wang Xianzhi (王獻之, 344-386) was known for his enormous talent. His calligraphy was regarded as comparable with his father, the most famous Chinese calligraphist Wang Xizhi (王羲之, 344-386).
The Autumn Equinox: The time when dew is cold, the time for worshipping the moon

When I drafted the article for the Beginning of the Autumn (立秋), I adopted “My heart was thrilled with falling leaves, and the weather is getting cooler” as the subheading...
“White” dew: The moisture of the night condenses into droplets, the time when wild gooses are heading to the South.

Dew is often formed during the low temperature period of the night. After dawn, when temperature rises in the sunshine...
Yu Lan Cultural Festival

Many Chinese people think that the fourteenth day of the seventh lunar month (usually around mid-August) is the "Yu Lan Festival" (盂蘭節)...
End of Heat: The Scorching Heat of July Brings a Solemn Atmosphere

Late Tang literature master Li Shangyin (李商隱，812-858) was a knowledgeable and talented individual, skilled in poetry and prose, and particularly fond of using allusions. For this, he was often likened to the sight of " otters hunting fish "(獺祭鱼).
The Beginning of Autumn : A Falling Leaf startles our Heart when Nights begin to cool down

Time flies, when I finished the last article on the Greater Heat, the middle of the year passed. This is the twelveth of the twenty four solar terms, which is just the middle among them.

Greater Heat :The world is like a melting pot, accompanied by glittering lights from the fireflies

Anicent Chinese referred “Great” in Greater Heat to the extreme heat. It is the law of the nature that everything goes up must go down. After the Greater Heat, it is followed by the solar term of The Beginning of Autumn (立秋).

Lesser Heat

Scorching Sun, Hot Wind and Green Lotus Turning Red
Cultural Connotation and the Origin of Dragon Boat Festival

As Dragon Boat Festival approaches, my memories are stirred once again. During my childhood, while my elders were making rice dumplings, I used to ask them about the origins and significance of the festival.

Summer Solstice

“Set up a pole and a shadow is formed immediately” (立竿見影), a proverb that remains popular through the test of time, is a metaphor to describe an action immediately brings good results.
Grain in Beard

Say Farewell to the Flower Fairies, Welcome the Busy Season of Harvesting, Planting and Farming
Lesser Fullness of Grain Ancient Poetry

Lesser Fullness of Grain Ancient Poetry Chanting by Prof. Chen Yun Feng
Solar term of Lesser Fullness of Grain (小滿) : When wheat on the ridge and furrow ripes, shedding the red pedals

Northern Song Dynasty prime minister Kou Zhun (寇准, 961-1023) wrote in his poem Summertime (夏日), “weather is cooling down a little bit, it is dizzling and wheats are riping.” (輕寒微雨麥秋時).

Summer Commences

Time when Pomegranate Flowers shine in front of our Eyes, Time when We become more Energetic

Grain Rain: Sow in Chirps and Full Blossom

As a widespread saying goes, “Mice can die of chill during Qingming and Grain Rain.”
Qingming ancient poetry

Qingming ancient poetry Chanting by Prof. Chen Yun Feng

Qingming: Ancestor Veneration & Hiking

Every year when Qingming (清明) approaches, I can’t help missing Bobo kuih (波波粿，粿kuih is a type of minnan snack which made from rice flour and water) in my hometown.

Spring Equinox: Balanced Yin and Yang in Joy

Equality is given great attention to in traditional Chinese culture. In Annotations to I-Ching, it’s advocated to act according to timing. Confucius thought overdoing is no better than underdoing. Both of them emphasized opportune behaviors.

Awakening of Insects: Spring Melody Co-chanted by Thunderstorm, Birds & Insects

Awakening of Insects in Guimao year of the lunar calendar starts from March 6, 2023 and ends on March 20, 2023.

Rain Water: Moisturize Gently in Breeze

Rain Water, the second solar term in Spring, came on February 19 last year.

Spring Begins: East Breeze Refreshes Willows

In retrospect, childhood memories on spring are the most impressive, such as the reunion dinner and lucky money on New Year’s Eve, the percussion and festive lanterns on Lantern Festival, as well as the spring pancakes on Spring Begins (alias the Beginning of Spring).

Traditional Chinese Folk Customs

Modern children’s material life is rather rich while most of them can own toys, computers, or mobile phones in their childhood......
Lo Sahng

“Lo Sahng”, also known as Yusheng, yee sang, or Prosperity Toss, is a Cantonese-style raw fish salad consisting of strips of raw fish...
Tanglong Festival

The festival of 元宵Yuanxiao, also called the Lantern Festival, on the fifteenth of the first lunar calendar is the peak of the Chinese New Year...
Mid-Autumn Festival

The rituals of celebrating traditional Chinese festivals in Malaysian Chinese communities are mostly originated from Southern China
Not Spring Festival, But Nian

Most Chinese in Malaysia came from the south of China, mainly during the period from the nineteenth century to the middle of the twentieth century
Double Seventh Festival

Speaking of famous love story of ancient China, it is impossible to miss out the story of Niulang and Zhinu (The cattle boy and the sewing girl, 牛郎織女)