Chinese Plants and Flowers: Types and Meanings

by: Wong Yee Lee

Plum flowers are fragrant and beautiful. They were once the national flower. On the Chinese 50 cents coins you can see plum flowers on the side. 

Chrysanthemum flowers symbolizes a strong life. It is good to give old people chrysanthemum flowers because it means strong life. However, only red ones would be good because white and light yellow ones are used only at funerals. Lovers do not give chrysanthemum to their loved ones. 

Narcissus, lotus flowers and orchid are flowers which represent high virtues and elegance.

Orchid blossoms in spring and it brings an air of high class respectfulness.

Narcissus blossoms in winter. White flowers of five pedals and yellow stamen grow in pure water. It represents a sense of purity. 

Lotus flowers grow in pond water. Its roots are edible. Its flowers blossom in summer and are either red or white. The seeds are also edible and are often used as medicine. Almost every part of a lotus plant is useful though it grows in muddy pond water. That is also why it is compared to people who manage to achieve successfully in life though come from a less prestige background.

Azalea flowers represents elegance and wealth. You can find azalea on the Chinese one cent coins. 

Peach flowers blossom in spring. It represents beautiful girls. In Chinese tradition at Chinese New Year, people who want to find love will usually buy a whole plant and put it home because this will bring them luck in finding love in the coming year. 

Pomegranate gives very beautiful flowers. Its fruit is sour but contains a lot of seeds inside. In Chinese tradition, people put this fruit on the bed of the newly weds so as to help the newly weds to make many babies. 

Maple trees in China represents old people who don't admit that they are old because these trees blossoms in autumn which is near the end of a year. 

Lilac in China represents modesty, which is one of the virtues that Chinese people value 

Other than the above, there are some flowers which have medicinal values. Plum flowers can cure heat, cough and diarrhea; chrysanthemum can cure cold; orchid can cure lung disease and coughs; lotus flowers can cure sunstroke, insomnia and blood vomiting; azalea can regulate female menstruation; narcissus and Chinese rose can remove bruises; laurel can remove bruises and dissolve phlegm. 

What about giving presents?

 
When birthdays or opening a business, red Chinese rose or pomegranate flowers would be good because this represents prosperous future. 

For old people, plum flowers or tuberose would be appropriate. 

 
For patients, you can buy Orchid or China pink Bamboo.

For moving houses, you can buy Asparagus Fern. 

For wedding, you can buy lily because in China it represents hundred years of love. Lily is also good for friends which means unity. 


However there are also plants which carry derogative meanings. 

 
Poplar flowers can be easily blown broken. It represents a woman who is not faithful. 

Broad-leave epiphyllum flowers are pretty but they open just for one night. It can be easily understood that they represent shortness. 

Duckweed floats on the surface of water. It has no roots and floats anywhere. Since the Chinese nation values family and its unity, things which do not have roots would be pitiful. 

Thistles and thorns bring people pain. They represent difficulties. 
 
Now you know what to bring your date next time you take her out


Text taken from : http://www.chinatownconnection.com/chinese_plants.htm 

Chinese Marriage Traditions

by: Wong Yee Lee

In ancient China, a man could have as many concubines as possible after the first wife. It was possible that the youngest concubine would be a teenager while the husband could be an ancient old man. Poor families sold their young daughters to rich families just because they could get some money from the rich family and also get rid of a useless female in the family.
Since 1950, the Chinese government has promulgated a law which stated that one man can only get married with one woman. It offends the law for anyone who has more than one wife.
In the past, parents arranged marriages were very common. Usually young people would have their spouse decided by their parents. Sometimes young people could only have the first look of their spouse at their wedding. It was also common that sometimes an arranged marriage could be organized even before the child was born as long as parents from both families agreed.
In modern days, things have changed quite a lot. Free love prevails and lovers can choose to get married with whoever they love. Of course, in order to show their respect to their parents, formal agreement has still to be obtained prior to any proper marriage procedure.
Even more modern, matchmakers businesses are all thriving just because sometimes people find it a bit hard to find their true love. 


Before getting married
 
Before getting married, young people have to pay a formal visit to each other's parents. When visiting the girl's parents, the boy has to bring with him the betrothal gifts in order to show sincerity. When the gifts are received, then both the boy and the girl are engaged. When the girl visits the boy's parents, the parents have to prepare a formal gift for the future daughter-in-law.
In China, usually the newly wedded couple will move to live with the boy's family. Sometimes it is not surprising to see that they will live with the girl's family. However, in these modern days, young couples would prefer to live alone without the parents if they can afford to pay for a new flat or house.
One of the wedding procedure is that the bride has to prepare a dowry to be brought to the bridegroom's family on the wedding day. A dowry is things bought by the bride's family, which includes blackest, clothes, accessories, daily necessities and etc.
What comes next is to choose a good day to hold the wedding. It is very important in the Chinese culture. A wedding, being such an important day in a person's life, has to be held on a day which symbolizes goodness. People will choose the best day based on the Chinese Lunar calendar, or on any festival days. 


The wedding ceremony 

A formal Chinese wedding requires the bridegroom to pick up the bride at the bride's home after respectfully greeted the parents-in-law to be. The couple-to-be will then go to the bridegroom's home, where the bride will greet her parents-in-law to be, or to the banquet location. If they choose to go to the bridegroom's home, the young couple will have to greet the parents-in-law to be with a A formal Chinese wedding requires the bridegroom to pick up the bride at the bride's home after respectfully greeted the parents-in-law to be. The couple-to-be will then go to the bridegroom's home, where the bride will greet her parents-in-law to be, or to the banquet location. If they choose to go to the bridegroom's home, the young couple will have to greet the parents-in-law to be with a cup of tea each and the parents will return the daughter-in-law to be with a red packet of money inside. Similar to the western culture, the bride and bridegroom will be accompanied by bridesmaids and best men and they are usually still non-married.

One very important procedure is the banquet. All relatives and friends will be invited and they will wish the new couple with all the best. At the banquet, the newly wed has to drink half glass of wine for a pair of glasses linked by a ribbon. After that the newly wed has to cross-hand and drink the other half of the wine. It is believed that after this ceremony the newly wed will love each other more dearly.

In some parts of China, the fish served in the banquet should not be eaten totally. The head, tail and the whole skeleton of the fish should be left untouched so as to symbolize a good start and end of a marriageAfter the banquet, friends of the new couple will usually continue the night by deliberately disturbing the new couple with a few games. Games will include different quests for some difficult performances or questions. Unfortunately to the newly wed that these games usually last till very late in the night!

However in the modern days, many young people try to skip most of these rituals or ceremonies. They do that either because they think that new generations should not be confined by these old traditions, or some do so just because of economical reasons of trying not to spend as much money as possible.

About the author:

Wong Yee Lee

This article was produced by Asia Dragon. Visit us at www.asiadragon.co.uk where you will find authentic oriental fashion clothing & accessories, kimonos, stylish home furnishings, furniture, beautiful ornaments, Chinese calligraphy plus much, much more!

Originally taken from :

http://www.chinatownconnection.com/chinese_marriage.htm

Plants, Fruits, And Flowers Among Chinese People

Peony

 

Peony is also known as 'Mu Dan' or 'Fu Gui Hua". It represents ‘wealth, prosperity and honour’. When it flowers, it represents ‘good fortune is arriving’.

 Jing Qian Shu

‘Jing Qian Shu’ is another popular plant as its Chinese name literally means ‘Golden Money Plant’. Its shiny angular shaped leaves represent gold ingots. Therefore, having this plant at home symbolises ‘having plenty of wealth in the household’. When it flowers, it is believed that good fortune is arriving for the household. Can you spot the flower above? It looks like a white corn.

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum is well liked for its vibrant and rich colour, especially its yellow flowers. Chrysanthemum signifies ‘great joy and happiness’.

Four Season Lime

‘Four Season Lime’ is known as ‘Si Ji Ju’ in Chinese. This is a very popular plant during Chinese New Year as ‘Ju’ is associated with New Year. It bears many fruits, which is called ‘Kum’ in Cantonese and ‘Kum’ literally means ‘gold’. Therefore, having a ‘Four Season Lime’ plant at home symbolises the ‘abundance of wealth’.

Peach Blossom

Peach blossom symbolises ‘courage and hope’. The blossoms burst forth at the end of winter season on a seemingly lifeless branch.


Keng Huay

 

‘Keng Huay’ is a Hokkien name. Its botanical name is known as Epiphyllum. It is considered as a lucky plant by the Chinese.  When it flowers, it signifies ‘the arrival of good luck’.


Lucky Bamboo

It is known as ‘Kai Yun Zhu’ in Chinese, which means ‘bamboo that invites good fortune’. Lucky Bamboo represents the natural 5 elements of water, earth, wood, metal and fire to balance the flow of energy or ‘chi’ in the house.  A red ribbon is tied around the stalks to represent the fire element. The number of bamboo stalks and layers has its own symbolic meaning:

• 2 for Love & Marriage
• 3 for Happiness
• 5 for Perfection
• 6 for Luck
• 8 for Wealth and Abundance
• 9 for Everlasting Good Fortune and Happiness

Water Narcissus

Water Narcissus signifies ‘good luck and prosperity’. If the narcissus flowers blossom on the first day of the New Year, it indicates good fortune for the rest of the year.

Tangerines and Oranges 

 

Tangerines and Mandarin oranges are commonly displayed in homes and shops. Tangerines symbolises ‘good tidings’ as it sounds like ‘good luck’ in Chinese.  Mandarin Oranges symbolises wealth as it sounds like ‘gold’ in Cantonese.

Guzmania Or 'Ong Lai Huay'

Guzmania is also known as 'Huang Li Hua' in Chinese. It is popular because its Hokkien name 'Ong Lai Huay' signifies the 'arrival of wealth and prosperity'. It is also popularly referred as ‘Pineapple Flower’.




Lotus Flower

Lotus Flower is greatly esteemed and cherished by Buddhist followers. Lotus represents ‘purity of body, speech and mind’, as it floats above the muddy waters of attachment and desire without being stained. It symbolises ‘purity, elegance and peacefulness’.


Fatt Chye Su’

 

‘Fatt Chye Su’ is another sought after plant during Chinese New Year. As the Chinese name suggest, this plant brings ‘wealth and prosperity’. When it flowers, it is believed that the owner will experience ‘good windfall luck

Taken from: Chinese New Year Decoration

The 15th Day of Chinese New Year Festival - The Lantern Festival

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The Lantern Festival ( in English language)

The Lantern Festival is called Yuan-Xiao Festival in China. This is because Chinese eat Yuan-Xiao on this day. Yuan-Xiao just look and taste like Tang-Yuan (See Winter Solstice - Tang-Yuan Day) . The difference is the way they made.

The Lantern Festival is also called San-Yuan (upper period of the year) Festival in Taoism. This day is the birthday of the Heaven Officer who blesses human luck. So many people have a worship ceremony at home and some go to Taoism temple pray for luck.

Yuan-Xiao Festival is a traditional Chinese festival going back to the Han Dynasty of over 2000 years ago. There is a story about the Lantern Festival. A beautiful heavenly bird flew down a village and was killed. The God of Heaven was very anger and wanted to burn down the entire village on the 15th lunar day. One wise guy advised every family hang candle lanterns around the house, carried lantern on the street, burn fire outside to explode the firecracker at the 15th lunar night. The soldiers of the God of Heaven saw the village was on fire from the heaven, and returned back to the heaven. The village survived and people keep the lantern activity on this day every year.

Today, not too many children carry the candle lanterns on the night of 15th lunar day. But lantern displays are shown in the town center square or next to the temple. The most popular lantern is the animal symbol of the Chinese calendar year. The gods, saints and fairy of Taoism or historical figures are popular and common subjects.

 

Besides the lantern display, a traditional riddle games will be held in the temple. The questions are related with to the lantern displays, news or popular persons in town. When the game begins, the person who figures out the answers first, can win a price.

Lantern laser show, flying sky lantern, mass firecrackers, fireworks and music concerts are essential activities. The events continues all night long. After Lantern Festival night, people need to back to the normal life. Students will end of the winter vacation around this day.

More detail of Lantern Festival 

 Taken from :

article

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The Lantern Festival

Chinese Lantern Festival a.k.a. Yuan-Xiao Festival is on the 15th day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar. The Lantern Festival is the last day of Chinese New Year festival.

Year 2010 is on the 2/28/2010 (Late because of  Leap 5th Lunar Month in 2009)
Year 2011 is on the 2/17/2011
Year 2012 is on the 2/06/2012


Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese festival since Han Dynasty more than 2000 years ago. In the early Tan Dynasty (618-907AD), it was called the Shan-Yuan Festival, because of Taoism. in the late Tan Dynasty, it was called the Yuan-Xiao Festival. It was called Lantern Night in the Sun Dynasty (960-1297 A.D.). The Lantern Festival was used in Ching Dynasty (1644-1911 AD). According to Taoism, Shan-Yuan (first period of the year) Festival is the birthday of the Heaven Officer who blesses human luck. On the 15th lunar day of 7th lunar month is Chung-Yuan (middle period of the year) Festival, which is the birthday of the Hell Officer who has right to pardon ghosts. On this day, all the ghosts can leave hell to human world for food. So the 7th lunar month is called Ghost Month. Many Chinese won't get married in this month. The 15th lunar day of 10th lunar month is Xia-Yaun (last period of the year) Festival. This day is the birthday of the Water Officer who can rescue people in trouble.
On the 15th lunar day of the year, some Chinese families worship the Heaven Officer of Taoism and pray for luck at home or temple during the daytime. Traditionally, Chinese should decorate the light lanterns around the house and children carry the candle paper lantern on the street at night. It might the safety concern, not too many follow this custom today. In stead, many people will attend different activities of the Lantern Festival.
The lantern displays can be found in the town center square and temples. Usually. there is the lantern competition at the temple. Traditional lanterns are made by paper. They can make the lantern tuning around by the heat circulation from the candle inside. Today the light of the lantern is from the electricity. People like to design lantern using zodiac animals, historical figures, saint and gods of Taoism or Buddhism. Certainly, the current year's animal symbol of the Chinese calendar is most popular subject. Using the computer tool today, they can design the lantern with different movements, the different colors of light and even using the laser light with special visual and sound effects.


The Lantern Carnival

In Taiwan, the government builds a giant zodiac animal lantern more than 15 kilometer high on the square of a major city every year to promote the touring business since 1990. Around the major lantern, many lanterns from different grade schools, organizations, and foreign countries will be displayed on different sections for competition. There is the parade and traditional art performance beginning at afternoon till the opening light ceremony at night. The laser show will perform with 5 or 6 subjects after open light ceremony. The fireworks will come in the end. The lantern riddle game is usually sponsored by the temple. People give the correct answer for the riddle will received a gift. It's always very crowded when the game begins. Food, store, games, gift shops, performance are available around the lantern displays for people and tourists. This lantern carnival will be held more than a week.

The Sky Lantern

The sky lantern probably was invented before Late Han Dynasty. A prime minister Kung-Ming used sky lantern for military liaison purpose during Three Kingdom epoch (221A.D.). Some people still call the sky lantern as Kung-Ming lantern. During the night of lantern festival, Some people in Taiwan will fly the sky lantern by writing their wishes on the paper lantern and pray their wishes come true. Long time ago, people thought the lantern will fly up to the heaven. The god of heaven will receive their messages and will give them blessing.
There is a story for this custom. Once a village was attacked by the private. When the private ship came, people ran to and hide in the mountain. When private left, some one in the town flew the sky lantern to tell people in the mountain safe to come home. It happened on the 15th lunar day in that year. Now people do the same way to depict their peace, safety and without accident. 


The Multiple Firecracker Launcher

Another special event for young people in Taiwan is the Mass Rocket-Firecracker Artillery. People standing in the open square area, surrounding with many rocket-firecracker launchers and waiting for rocket-firecracker to shoot on them. Therefore people will wear helmet, goggles, face mask, rain coat, gloves, long pants and boots to protect their body. They said to hit by the rocket-firecracker will bring good luck to them.
There is a story for this custom. Once there is a plague among the village, no medicine can stop the disease. Finally, people brought out the idol statue of the god on the sedan chair from the temple and paraded to every street in the village. They exploded the firecrackers and continuously burned the incense as long the statue of the god pass for three days. On the 15th day of the first lunar month, the plague disappeared. People gave the credit to the god. People have their next generations to continue this religious custom by exploding the firecrackers. Once they made a firecrackers for 13 kilometer long, which was more than 200,000 firecrackers. Certainly, it took hours to finish the explosion.

The 8-meter main lantern, which carried the words "Sky Lanterns lighten both sides of the Straits," ascends on Monday evening, February 9, 2009 in Taipei, along with more than 3,000 other lanterns bearing written wishes. Flying "sky lanterns" is a traditional local way to mark the Chinese Lantern Festival. 

See  Lantern Festival in 2009 Taiwan (Video), credit by: clampuna

Taiwan celebrated the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival, which ends the lunar New Year holiday, Monday evening with local people flying "sky lanterns" and wishing peace and prosperity for cross-Straits relations.
More than 3,000 lanterns bearing written wishes flew aloft in Pingxi, Taipei County -- a traditional local way to mark the festival.
The ascension of the 8-meter main lantern, which carried the words "Sky Lanterns lighten both sides of the Straits," drew cheers from the crowds.
Lantern-makers and performers from Sichuan, a mainland province that was hit by a massive earthquake on May 12, were invited to the celebrations.
Wu Jiakui, one of the Sichuan lantern-makers, said he felt quite at home as the customs were basically the same on both sides of the Straits.
"What impressed me most is how well the traditional culture of the Chinese nation has been preserved here in Taiwan, in sky lantern making especially."

It was a rainy night to watch the releasing of large, balloon-shaped lanterns into sky. Hundreds slowly rise into air, creating beautiful, peaceful scene.
this is one of traditional events at "Taiwan Lanterns Festival" since 1990...

 See  Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in Taiwan 2006 (Video), credit to paolothecat

Pingsi is a rural township in the north eastern part of Taiwan. Located in a remote mountain area outside of Taipei and run through by Keelung river, it was a small coal mining town in the early 20th century.

Sky lanterns are traditionally lanterns made of oiled paper with a bamboo frame that contain a small candle or other combustible material (such as the fake prayer's paper money). When lit the candle heats the air and causes the lantern to rise into the air. Ideally the lantern floats back to the ground when the fuel for the flame is exhausted. Sky Lanterns are also known as "Kung Ming lanterns", since some say they were invented by Chu Ke-liang (also known as Kung Ming) during the Three Kingdoms period as way of communication during war time.

During Lantern Festival, all kinds of red and orange sky lanterns light the still night sky over the village of Pinghsi creating a scene of unusual beauty

The Food of Lantern Festival Eve

Lantern Festival is also called. Yuan-Xiao Festival. This is because Chinese eat Yuan-Xiao on this day. This custom originated from the Eastern Jin Dynasty in the fourth century, then became popular during the Tang and Song Dynasty.
Yuan-Xiao just like Tang-Yuan . They are made of sweet rice flour into sticky glutinous balls. They can be filled in with sesame, red-bean or peanut butter paste. Usually, they are severed with sugar water. But some people still  make salty Tang-Yuan.
The difference between Yuan-Xiao and Tang-Yuan is the way they are made and cooked. This is because that Chinese in different geographic area prepare the food in different way. Chinese call the one they eat on Winter Solstice Day is Tang-Yuan. The one they eat on the Lantern festival is called Yuan-Xiao.

Thanks to:

Article: The Lantern Festival, 

Picture1 : Sky Lantern Festival 2009 in Taiwan

Picture2 : Sky Lantern Festival 2006 in Taiwan

Picture3 : Lantern for Lantern Festival in 2009 in Taiwan

Picture4 : Lantern for Lantern Festival in 2006 in Taiwan

Picture5 : Food for Lantern Festival