On January 22 and 23, 2025, which falls on the 23rd and 24th of the twelfth lunar month, Chinese traditional customs celebrate the Kitchen God (灶神), a practice referred to as "sending off the Kitchen God," or "Xie Zao (謝灶)."
In the nineteenth poem of his sequel Twenty Poems written after drinking (飲酒二十首‧十九), Tao Yuanming (陶淵明, 365-427) said, “Stars and the solar terms circulate slowly, and the cycle of twelve years has long gone (冉冉星氣流，亭亭復一紀).”
Obtaining one hundred thousand arrows from the enemy with straw-covered warships (草船借箭) and burning the enemy’s interconnected vessels by the Red Cliff with fire set on magical East wind (火燒赤壁) are the extremely popular scenarios of Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三國演義)
The solar term that immediately follows Greater Snow is the Winter Solstice. Every year, when it comes to Winter Solstice, memories of my hometown will pop up again and again.
“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?
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.
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.
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
I still remember the happy time with my family in Victoria Peak Garden (located near the summit of Victoria Peak) to enjoy the holiday of Chongyang Festival in every ninth day of the ninth lunar month
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).
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...
Chanting by Prof. Chen Yun Feng
Amongst the myriads of festivals celebrated in China, the Mid-Autumn Festival stands out for its profound aesthetic significance. The Chinese have long cherished the autumn moon, a sentiment echoed in ancient texts. The Rites of Zhou states, “Mid-Autumn welcomes the cold qi (氣),”
Dew is often formed during the low temperature period of the night. After dawn, when temperature rises in the sunshine...
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).
Ancient Poetry of The Beginning of Autumn Chanting by Prof. Chen Yun Feng
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.
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).
Scorching Sun, Hot Wind and Green Lotus Turning Red
“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.
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.
Say Farewell to the Flower Fairies, Welcome the Busy Season of Harvesting, Planting and Farming
Lesser Fullness of Grain Ancient Poetry Chanting by Prof. Chen Yun Feng
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).
Time when Pomegranate Flowers shine in front of our Eyes, Time when We become more Energetic
As a widespread saying goes, “Mice can die of chill during Qingming and Grain Rain.”
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.
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.
Jingzhe (驚蟄the Awakening of Insects, also known as Qizhe (啟蟄), is the third solar term in the Chinese 24 Solar Terms. The second month in the lunar calendar generally begins on this day.
The Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year (CNY) or Lunar New Year (LNY), is the most solemn and celebrated among traditional Chinese festivals.
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...
Rain Water (Yushui, 雨水) is the second solar term among the Chinese twenty-four solar terms in a year. First, let’s study the meanings of the two characters “雨水” in Chinese.
“Lo Sahng”, also known as Yusheng, yee sang, or Prosperity Toss, is a Cantonese-style raw fish salad consisting of strips of raw fish...
At the beginning of the new year, wish you an auspicious and spirited year of the Dragon, making a splash in your career.At the beginning of the new year, wish you an auspicious and spirited year of the Dragon, making a splash in your career.
Rain Water, the second solar term in Spring, came on February 19 last year.
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
Spring Festival couplets (春聯, Chunlian) are one of the traditional customs in China, which originated from peach wood charms to drive away evil spirits.
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).
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,
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)...
Qingming ancient poetry Chanting by Prof. Chen Yun Feng
Awakening of Insects in Jia Chen year of the lunar calendar starts from March 5, 2024 and ends on March 19, 2024.
Modern children’s material life is rather rich while most of them can own toys, computers, or mobile phones in their childhood......
The rituals of celebrating traditional Chinese festivals in Malaysian Chinese communities are mostly originated from Southern China
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)
We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By clicking "Accept" or continue using our website, you accept the use of cookies.
