Chinese Culture

The Chinese writing system uses characters instead of a phonetic alphabet, so a concept such as "love" is represented in Chinese using a single character. Chinese characters can also be written...

Many cultures are rich in superstition and the paranormal; and are very open to the belief of a spirit world. In fact, many cultures believe that the living are always surrounded by spirits. With...

Though vegetarians are sometimes snubbed in the American media, other cultures around the world have embraced the concept of a predominantly vegetarian diet. The people of rural China are a case...

Less than 1% of the population of China practices a Christian religion. Although, Christmas celebrations are becoming increasingly popular, December 25th is not a considered a legal holiday. For...

August Moon refers to the fifteenth night of the eighth month in the Chinese calender. It is the center of a Chinese celebration, which is often referred to as the August Moon Festival or the...

Feng shui is almost 3000 years old. The practices of feng shui began in China centuries ago and today these practices are followed all over the world. The principle of feng shui is to use the...

Feng Shui is the art of creating harmony by balancing the yin and yang energies, as noted in Chinese medicine. Though feng shui relates to many aspects of life, most people only know of feng shui...

If you have positive energy flowing around your business then you are sure to have good luck and prosper in your business. There are many practices in feng shui that help you to create or increase...

As I approach Chinese temples in China, Hong Kong and Macau, one of the first to greet me is the smell of incense. Visitors simply cannot get away from the aroma of fresh spring as the incense...

The I Ching -- “The Book of Changes” -- is essentially a book of general wisdom -- albeit deep and profound. In the words of Richard Wilhelm, “...it may safely be said that the seasoned wisdom...

give your family and your friends a special Christmas gift from china, give them a surprise!

A Katana sword is a type of samurai sword that is often worn with a smaller, shorter sword called a Wakizashi. When these swords are worn together, it is referred to as a Daisho. The samurai sword...

Tea drinking continues to be a tradition for many members of my family, being from Macau, where the population is largely Chinese. Chinese tea goes back some 4,000 years, and started out as...

When first created 3,000 years ago, Chinese fans were simply used to block the sun and keep cool. But over the years, they evolved into works of art, status symbols, props for theater and dance,...

Feng shui practices have existed in Asian culture for thousands of years. After post war mainland China turned away from her long held traditions feng shui began to work its way westward. Since...

You have probably always wanted to Feng Shui your home and maybe your bedroom. While there are so many different tips and rules, there are a few easy steps you can take to bring some good energy...

We often associate setting a traditional Chinese table with the rather grand way tables can be laid out in Chinese restaurants. In these settings, sometimes plates are laid out with chopsticks...

Ever seen someone with a Tattoo that is supposedly written in Japanese "Kanji"? Ever been to a Chinatown, and wondered if the sign you see is written in Korean or Chinese? Using these...

Yan Xin Qigong is part of a traditional Chinese practice that incorporates slow movement and controlled, practiced breathing techniques to promote meditation, circulation of qi (life energy) and...

Chinese youth have more money today to spend on fashion than ever before. According to China's National Bureau of Statistics, the annual per capita disposable income of urban dwellers increased by...

There is no doubt that a proportionally high number of people who live to be older than 100 years of age live in China. The interest in Chinese centenarians has increased as more studies focus on...

My daughter and son just returned from China, visiting the Wall of China. This takes me back to my visits to the wall, learning about its history. The wall was built for the defense of seven...

I learned and practiced Tai Chi when I lived in Hong Kong. I still remember the very first lessons, standing with my feet about shoulder width apart, my arms hanging loose at the sides, unlocking...

The Tao Te Ching is a Chinese classic text and a fundamental part of Taoism. If you're interested in reading the Tao Te Ching and learning about Taoism my article is for you. I'll show you how to...

Two of my aunts were in the “Fine China” business. I used to spend a lot of time with them as a teenager, completely fascinated by its history and the considerable demand by collectors from all...

One of my best memories growing up in Macau is to ride on “rickshaws” and “pedicabs”, My parents contracted them to take me around, to / from school, and around the city. The Macau in those days...

It is important to know how to bargain with the Chinese when you go to China for business or leisure. If you don't know how to barter, you will end up paying a lot more! The following tips will...

As the population in Macau and Hong Kong is predominantly Chinese, I was exposed to the Chinese traditions as a youngster. I used to love the Chinese New Year, as this is the time that I go about...

My favorite Chinese dishes are the vegetarian ones prepared by Buddhists monks. The Buddhists believe that they should not kill in order to eat. On this basis, the Buddhists do not eat dairy...

The Chinese Lantern Festival has many names. It is also known as Shang Yuan Festival, or the Little New Year, as it marks the end of the celebrations stemming from the Chinese New Year. The...

Palmprint Reading is always fun, and what you need to do is to pay attention and know what needs to be read.

As you approach any of the temples that I wrote about, the fragrance of incense is the first to welcome you. I believe that the Buddhists are the first to burn incense, dating back some 2500...

It is interesting how the Chinese look upon the preparation of food as an art, and not simply a craft. I am told that Chinese cooking is influenced by Confucianism, which calls for a high level of...

I am told that the belief by the Chinese in numerology actually dates back to the first century A.D. The Chinese believe that there is power in numbers, and this reflects their affinity to...

I am sure that most of you are familiar with the use of chopsticks. The chopsticks will always remain an important element of the Asian culture. Its popularity has spread across Asia , and is in...

In Chinese culture, specific types of dress and colors are worn at specific times. There are three main types of Chinese traditional clothing: the pien-fu, the ch'ang-p'ao, and the shen-i.

As a kid growing up in Macau, I passed by many locations where the Chinese consulted palm readers on a regular basis, and this aroused my curiosity as a teenager to learn more about this....

The Chinese renminbi, RMB, is the official currency of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The word "renminbi" means "the people's currency." Just as the U.S. dollar has coins and smaller...

Unfortunately, infant mortality rates have been very high at times in humanity's history. Typically, however, an infant who lived to be one-month-old would survive. To mark this occasion, the...

The eating of moon cakes continues to be a family tradition for the Chinese. This tradition goes back to the Yuan Dynasty in the 1200s to 1300s A.D. I am told that the Chinese made use of moon...

Fortune telling continues to fascinate me. Growing up in Macau, where the population is predominantly Chinese, I was exposed to fortune telling at an early age. I remember going with my maid when...

The color red represents a complex number of meanings in Chinese culture, depending strongly on the context in which it is used. It always carries a positive message, whether it refers to loyalty...

Gift-giving is an important part of Chinese culture, and traditional gifts occupy an important place in social exchanges. Picking traditional gifts can help build harmonious relationships with...

I was born in Macau, with a largely Chinese population. I was therefore exposed to Chinese culture from an early age, celebrating as well all the traditional festivals, inclusive of the Chinese...

The country of China and the Micronesian archipelago are distinctly different places. China and Micronesia have different land areas, climates and populations. The history, art and cultures of...

Giving a general overview of Chinese culture to foreigners can be difficult because its scope is so large. In addition, regional variations in many beliefs and practices can be a source of...

Chinese culture is full of different customs and etiquette in regards to business, giving greetings, dining, giving gifts, keeping distances, gestures and facial expressions. It's important to...

Ear cleaning in China is an ancient practice which has since been adopted by the rest of the world. However, the Chinese way of cleaning ears is much different then our more modern way of cleaning...

China's rapid growth as a world economic and political power has been accompanied by growing nationalism among the country's population. Contemporary expressions of nationalism, however, have...

The Cheong Sam is the national dress for Chinese women. It dates back to the Qing dynasty in 1844, survived the 1911 Revolution. Before it was renamed cheong sam, it was called qipao.It features...