Archive for category Chinese Customs
Five Rites – Jia Li
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Life Etiquette on December 25, 2010
Jia Li is one of the rites of Five Rite. It refers to the rites for festive occasions, such as a new emperor’s ascending to the throne, emperors’ birthdays, the ceremonies for births, betrothals, capping, wedding, etc. In a word, it was held for enhancing communication.
Coffin in Ancient China
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Life Etiquette on December 14, 2010
In ancient China, the burial custom is a matter taken very seriously. People always prepared their own coffins and burial sites when they were alive. They believed that there was life after death and they wanted to bury in coffins to preserve their bodies. Therefore, they paid much attention on their coffins and for rich families, their coffin were made of rare woods and painted with well paintings. It was also regarded as a welcome gift to parents in ancient times.
It is said that when a death occurs, all the mirrors have to be removed as it is believed that if a person sees the reflection of a coffin in a mirror, there will be a death in his family shortly. In Chinese culture, the higher the status the dead person was, the deeper the coffin would be buried. Read the rest of this entry »
Five Rites – Auspicious Rites
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Life Etiquette on November 24, 2010
Auspicious Rites, also called Ji Li in Chinese, is regarded as the most important one among the Five Rites, namely Ji Li (Auspicious Rites), Xiong Li (Funeral Rites), Bin Li (Reception Ceremonies), Jun Li (Military Rites) and Jia Li (Wedding Ceremonies).
As a formal ritual ceremony, Ji Li was used to worship versatile gods of heaven and Earth. Though the process was not quite the same in different dynasties of Chinese history, the governing class always attached great importance on it. The main content included the following three parts. Read the rest of this entry »
Mid-Autumn Festival
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Festival on September 22, 2010
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festival celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. The moon is regarded as the brightest, the fullest and the roundest one on this day.
It is one of the most important festivals in China and on that day, all the family members will come back home no matter how far away they are. During this traditional festival, the main activities for people are to admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon and eat mooncakes.
On the night of Mid-autumn day, family members and friends will gather to admire the bright moon and eat delicious food, such as moon cakes, grapefruits, pomegranates, walnuts, etc. In some ethnic minority areas in China, varieties of activities will be held, such as “Naoyue”, which is especially popular among Miao ethnic minority (one of the ethnic minorities in China). This is a good chance for young people to look for their lovers and express their affections.
Mooncake is one of the most traditional food of this festival. It was first mentioned during the period of Southern Song Dynasty (1127~1279). It was once used as sacrificial offering for the goddess of the moon. Later, it was regarded as the symbol of reunion of one’s family and eating it on this festival became a custom. There are different mooncakes with different kinds of fillings, such as the sweetened bean paste, crystal sugar, etc. Nowadays, it is also viewed as the gifts sending to relatives and friends.
There also spread different customs in different places. In Nanjing (Jiangsu Province), people must eat a famous dish called Guihua Duck. In Sichuan Province, the red lanterns will be hung outside the door. And setting off kongming lanterns will be another choice for a large number of people on this day.
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Eighteen Oddities in Yunnan
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Life Etiquette on September 2, 2010
Eighteen Oddities in Yunnan, also called Eighteen Wonders of Yunnan, are eighteen unique traits in Yunnan Province.
Eighteen Oddities in Yunnan are generally presented as follows:
1. The eggs are sold tying up with straws.
2. Bamboo hats are used as pot covers, which are of good breathability.
3. Three mosquitoes can make up a dish as the mosquitoes are so large that just three mosquitoes are large enough to compose a dish.
4. Bamboo is used for smoking pipes.
5. Erkuai – a local famous snack made of rice, which is very savory and glutinous. It can be boiled, braised, fried, etc.
6. The same clothes can be worn for all four seasons. You may also see the clothes for all four seasons on a day in Yunnan as the climatic conditions may vary widely. Maybe during the day you are wearing the T-shirt, but at night you have to wear the sweater.
7. Young girls are usually called “Old Lady”. It is expression of intimacy and goodwill, wishing it can bring the girls good health.
8. Automobiles run faster than trains as there are many curves around the high mountains and canyons.
9. Toes are exposed all year round, which can make people feel cool as people often climb mountains.
10. Rain here but sunshine there as the weather in Yunnan is often variable between areas.
11. Girls wearing flowers for all the four seasons.
12. Girls carry tobacco bags as in some regions, girls have the habit of smoking.
13. Green vegetable is called bitter vegetable. It got its name not from its taste but from the old customs.
14. Old women climb mountains faster than monkeys as they are quite diligent and always chop firewood inside mountains. Even at the age of 80 or 90, they still can climb the mountains freely as if they are walking on the flat land.
15. Trains go abroad but not inland. In ancient time, there was only one railway from Kunming to Hanoi of Vietnam but no domestic railway.
16. Monks can have love affairs.
17. Children are raised by men as women are busy with their work, thus most men stay at home to take care of their children.
18. Automobiles are moving in the clouds as roads in Yunnan always wind up along colossal and precipitous mountains and fog spreads all over the mountaintops.
Nowadays, some of the traits already disappeared, while some of them have been retained. However, Eighteen Oddities in Yunnan really reflect the unique location and culture of Yunnan Province.
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