Enjo kosai is a practice originated in Japan where older men give gifts and compensation to younger women for companionship (not necessarily sex) and sexual favors.
Here's a frank account of a high school teen who participated in such a practice.
In Shanghai, it's the other way around. As Jane Zhu purrs, "It's wonderful being a modern Chinese woman, isn't it?"
It's like a sexual revolution out there.
Congratulations! You Are The 3 Millionth Visitor!
Have you been annoyed by those pop-ups that announce you are the 100th visitor to their site? Well, there's one person that actually won something for just showing up as the nth tourist in Taiwan.
Kim In-Tae is one lucky guy.
On October 15, after going through customs regulations in Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, the South Korean was welcomed by media and loud band music and much fanfare as he became the 3 millionth tourist to visit Taiwan this year.
He felt pleasantly surprised and "unreal" when he was presented with a debit card with NT$300,000.00 inside for his spending money while in Taiwan.
Kim also received hand-made necklaces worn by Taiwan's indigenous Paiwan and Rukai peoples, and a bottle of "Malasun Millet Wine" which was made famous with the release of the local film "Cape No. 7."
The 4 millionth tourist is next!
Kim In-Tae is one lucky guy.
On October 15, after going through customs regulations in Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, the South Korean was welcomed by media and loud band music and much fanfare as he became the 3 millionth tourist to visit Taiwan this year.
Kim also received hand-made necklaces worn by Taiwan's indigenous Paiwan and Rukai peoples, and a bottle of "Malasun Millet Wine" which was made famous with the release of the local film "Cape No. 7."
The 4 millionth tourist is next!
Where Am I From???
While waiting for our really late flight back home from Hong Kong, my mum, sister, and I were discussing the faces and looks of different nationalities.
[See, we were really tired and sleepy. What better way to pass the time and keep awake than to people-watch?]
Hong Kong's international airport is incredibly busy. There are Europeans, Asians, Americans, basically all kinds of color and size imaginable in the world.
My mum professes that she can tell accurately if someone is Canadian or American. Or Japanese, mainland Chinese, Korean, Singaporean, Malaysian, Thai, Korean, or Filipino. By just looking at their faces and fashion-style.
Ok, I said. Let's try then.
1. Among Canadians and Americans and the rest of the Europeans.
It's very easy to say that someone white or Caucasian-looking is American. Until you hear them speak. English may be the language easily understood by the majority. But the mother tongue is still the first language learned.
French people will speak French. Germans will speak their language. And so on and so forth.
Between Canadians and Americans, the latter are more rowdy in actions. Both men and women. Americans are loud people, contrary to Canadians.
2. What about the rest of the Asian population?
It's easy to spot a Filipino. Filipinos and Thais look alike. But Filipinos love to gather in groups. Some prefer to speak in their "American English." But the accent is distinctly Filipino. I can't explain it. You have to hear it to know what the Filipino accent is when speaking English. When I'm abroad, and I hear this person speaking in this distinct accent (English or Hokkien), I'm so sure they're Filipinos.
And Filipinos have this LOOK too. [Maybe I'll explain this more in a future post--also the Filipino accent.]
Japanese men look feminine (or ummm...gay as my sister puts it). But before the Japanese out there protest, I think effeminate guys are cute. So being feminine-looking is ok.
Japanese women and Hong Kong women have really trendy and stylish fashion sense. It's the fur and the boots and the short skirts. I can't honestly pull-off a similar look.
Singaporeans have an air in them.
I think the Taiwanese are really cool. It's the hair. Definitely the hair. [Oh, Leng Lie!]
Mainland Chinese girls are a varied group. Some look so porcelain-like. Like dolls. Others are just cho chang. But they're all really beautiful too.
Malaysian--they're a bit difficult. Some can be mistaken for Taiwanese or Singaporean. Until we hear them speak too.
Korean girls are so fragile. And they all look the same! Both men and women! It's the big, doe eyes.
Ok, these are all personal opinions. I think it would be more fun to have pictures here and let you guys guess their nationalities.
Asian people are much more fun to guess and check! :P
That's one of the reasons why I love this region. :)
[See, we were really tired and sleepy. What better way to pass the time and keep awake than to people-watch?]
Hong Kong's international airport is incredibly busy. There are Europeans, Asians, Americans, basically all kinds of color and size imaginable in the world.
My mum professes that she can tell accurately if someone is Canadian or American. Or Japanese, mainland Chinese, Korean, Singaporean, Malaysian, Thai, Korean, or Filipino. By just looking at their faces and fashion-style.
Ok, I said. Let's try then.
1. Among Canadians and Americans and the rest of the Europeans.
It's very easy to say that someone white or Caucasian-looking is American. Until you hear them speak. English may be the language easily understood by the majority. But the mother tongue is still the first language learned.
French people will speak French. Germans will speak their language. And so on and so forth.
Between Canadians and Americans, the latter are more rowdy in actions. Both men and women. Americans are loud people, contrary to Canadians.
2. What about the rest of the Asian population?
It's easy to spot a Filipino. Filipinos and Thais look alike. But Filipinos love to gather in groups. Some prefer to speak in their "American English." But the accent is distinctly Filipino. I can't explain it. You have to hear it to know what the Filipino accent is when speaking English. When I'm abroad, and I hear this person speaking in this distinct accent (English or Hokkien), I'm so sure they're Filipinos.
And Filipinos have this LOOK too. [Maybe I'll explain this more in a future post--also the Filipino accent.]
Japanese men look feminine (or ummm...gay as my sister puts it). But before the Japanese out there protest, I think effeminate guys are cute. So being feminine-looking is ok.
Japanese women and Hong Kong women have really trendy and stylish fashion sense. It's the fur and the boots and the short skirts. I can't honestly pull-off a similar look.
Singaporeans have an air in them.
I think the Taiwanese are really cool. It's the hair. Definitely the hair. [Oh, Leng Lie!]
Mainland Chinese girls are a varied group. Some look so porcelain-like. Like dolls. Others are just cho chang. But they're all really beautiful too.
Malaysian--they're a bit difficult. Some can be mistaken for Taiwanese or Singaporean. Until we hear them speak too.
Korean girls are so fragile. And they all look the same! Both men and women! It's the big, doe eyes.
Ok, these are all personal opinions. I think it would be more fun to have pictures here and let you guys guess their nationalities.
Asian people are much more fun to guess and check! :P
That's one of the reasons why I love this region. :)
What's In A Name?
Names are very important things to people. I think it was Shakespeare who said, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose."
Anyway, Pinoys are a funny lot. We seem to have a penchant for the letter "H" when it comes to our names. I say this as generally. Not all Pinoys.
There are 2 places where the letter "H" can go in Pinoy names:
1. Second letter (from left to right), as in Bhoy.
2. Or last letter, as in Mylah.
Kate Filipinized becomes Khate. Jon will be Jhon. Anna transformed is Annah. Jun is Jhun. And Jimmy is Jhimmy.
We have a random H situation here.
Among fellow Chinese Filipinos, I've noticed that a lot of second generation love attaching -son at the end of their son's names.
Like Johnson. Or Jameson. Or Bryanson. Or Kendrickson.
Combine that with the random H situation, we have Jhameson and Khendrickson. Or Bhernardson. That's Filipinization for you.
Filipino names can go beyond the -son and the random H.
Do you have a friend whose name is Len Len? (It can also be Len2 which means Len squared.) Or Mae Mae? No make that Mhae Mhae. Add to that doorbell names like Bhing Bhing. Or Bhong Bhong. (Don't forget the random H!!!)
I'm 99% sure that friend is Filipino. 1% for safety tolerance.
What about the baby names like Lovie, Honey Pie, Apple Pie, Cherry Pie, or Babes (!!!) I'm just glad my parents are very traditional.
Still, "traditional names" can be Filipinized. I'm living in the Philippines after all. We love our initials very much. Who doesn't know anyone who has nicknames like AJ or JR or KC or PJ?
We Filipinos are very creative people. It shows in the way we name our kids.
Remember that 1% safety tolerance? I'll make it 0% when it comes to the random H.
Anyway, Pinoys are a funny lot. We seem to have a penchant for the letter "H" when it comes to our names. I say this as generally. Not all Pinoys.
There are 2 places where the letter "H" can go in Pinoy names:
1. Second letter (from left to right), as in Bhoy.
2. Or last letter, as in Mylah.
Kate Filipinized becomes Khate. Jon will be Jhon. Anna transformed is Annah. Jun is Jhun. And Jimmy is Jhimmy.
We have a random H situation here.
Among fellow Chinese Filipinos, I've noticed that a lot of second generation love attaching -son at the end of their son's names.
Like Johnson. Or Jameson. Or Bryanson. Or Kendrickson.
Combine that with the random H situation, we have Jhameson and Khendrickson. Or Bhernardson. That's Filipinization for you.
Filipino names can go beyond the -son and the random H.
Do you have a friend whose name is Len Len? (It can also be Len2 which means Len squared.) Or Mae Mae? No make that Mhae Mhae. Add to that doorbell names like Bhing Bhing. Or Bhong Bhong. (Don't forget the random H!!!)
I'm 99% sure that friend is Filipino. 1% for safety tolerance.
What about the baby names like Lovie, Honey Pie, Apple Pie, Cherry Pie, or Babes (!!!) I'm just glad my parents are very traditional.
Still, "traditional names" can be Filipinized. I'm living in the Philippines after all. We love our initials very much. Who doesn't know anyone who has nicknames like AJ or JR or KC or PJ?
We Filipinos are very creative people. It shows in the way we name our kids.
Remember that 1% safety tolerance? I'll make it 0% when it comes to the random H.
Fiesta At Binondo
One of the quaint things about some Chinese Filipinos in the Philippines is having 2 beliefs, namely: Buddhism and Catholicism.
Buddhism because it's more of a cultural thing. And Catholicism because the Philippines is predominantly a Catholic country.
If you ask me how the same Chinese Filipino can say "God bless you" and burn incense at the same time, I really won't have a concrete answer.
Anyway, there was a fiesta last Sunday in Binondo, Manila. I was in Starbucks that time viewing from the second floor.
(Now, don't get me started on Starbucks. I am not really a Starbucks fan. I still think the coffees there taste like Milo. But I won gift certificates from last time's Pua Tiong Chiu, remember? :P)
I think Binondo Church is having a celebration that day. Unless you go there, you probably would not know what that fiesta is all about. Even the Starbucks' guard and baristas were surprised that a procession suddenly started.
Here are some pictures we took from above--
Binondo street scene with Scouts and CAT students helping out
Lots of costumed people
Knights of Columbus
Buddhism because it's more of a cultural thing. And Catholicism because the Philippines is predominantly a Catholic country.
If you ask me how the same Chinese Filipino can say "God bless you" and burn incense at the same time, I really won't have a concrete answer.
Anyway, there was a fiesta last Sunday in Binondo, Manila. I was in Starbucks that time viewing from the second floor.
(Now, don't get me started on Starbucks. I am not really a Starbucks fan. I still think the coffees there taste like Milo. But I won gift certificates from last time's Pua Tiong Chiu, remember? :P)
I think Binondo Church is having a celebration that day. Unless you go there, you probably would not know what that fiesta is all about. Even the Starbucks' guard and baristas were surprised that a procession suddenly started.
Here are some pictures we took from above--
Binondo street scene with Scouts and CAT students helping out
Lots of costumed people
Knights of Columbus
Peking Rock
Indie Chinese rocker Xie Tianxiao and his acid/grunge rock band Cold Blooded Animal shows what it means to rock the Peking Opera in his song, "Grandfather."
XTX has been trained in the traditional Chinese theater way before, so this is like art meets rock.
The band formed last 1994 and has been consistently billed as China's symbol of alternative rock. The media has described them as "an amazing beautiful flower blooming in China's rock soil."
Rock on!
XTX has been trained in the traditional Chinese theater way before, so this is like art meets rock.
The band formed last 1994 and has been consistently billed as China's symbol of alternative rock. The media has described them as "an amazing beautiful flower blooming in China's rock soil."
Rock on!
Intsik
I cringe whenever someone refers to me as "Intsik."
Technically, "intsik" is just the Filipino term for Chinese or those of the Han descent.
I'm not sure with other Filipino-Chinese, but I just feel that there's a description attached to "intsik." Like someone who can't speak straight Filipino or English. Like "intsik beho tulo laway." Meaning some old Chinese guy who talks with saliva dripping.
According to UP professor (and one of my favorite columnists) Michael Tan, the term "intsik" is of Hokkien origin. "Din chiek" or "your uncle". Then somewhere along the way, it became "in chiek" or "their uncle". Then "intsik."
Maybe it's the way people pronounce "intsik" that makes me hate the word. It just sounds so discriminatory like labeling me as some foreign object.
Just this morning, I heard someone refer to a Chinese as "intsik." I could have sworn time froze.
That person was differentiating betweent two women who have the same names. It just so happens that one is "intsik" and the other is "pinay."
["Pinay" is a slang term for a Filipino woman which in my opinion does not sound derogatory, unlike "intsik."]
Terms are just terms, I know. But hey, I am Filipino too.
Just so you guys know, I am proud of both my Chinese and Filipino heritage.
Technically, "intsik" is just the Filipino term for Chinese or those of the Han descent.
I'm not sure with other Filipino-Chinese, but I just feel that there's a description attached to "intsik." Like someone who can't speak straight Filipino or English. Like "intsik beho tulo laway." Meaning some old Chinese guy who talks with saliva dripping.
According to UP professor (and one of my favorite columnists) Michael Tan, the term "intsik" is of Hokkien origin. "Din chiek" or "your uncle". Then somewhere along the way, it became "in chiek" or "their uncle". Then "intsik."
Maybe it's the way people pronounce "intsik" that makes me hate the word. It just sounds so discriminatory like labeling me as some foreign object.
Just this morning, I heard someone refer to a Chinese as "intsik." I could have sworn time froze.
That person was differentiating betweent two women who have the same names. It just so happens that one is "intsik" and the other is "pinay."
["Pinay" is a slang term for a Filipino woman which in my opinion does not sound derogatory, unlike "intsik."]
Terms are just terms, I know. But hey, I am Filipino too.
Just so you guys know, I am proud of both my Chinese and Filipino heritage.
Feng Shui Museum At Xian
I have a tiger's eye as one of my cellphone charms. I never really took much notice of it until my trip to Xian last time.
We had a very enterprising tour guide who tried selling us feng shui stuff at the Feng Shui Museum at the Xian city wall.
Xian is one of China's ancient cities. Home to the Terra Cotta Warriors.
Anyway, the tiger's eye is a gem that also has feng shui roots. It is said to protect the wearer against jealousy. After that, I never looked at my charm the same way again.
Before leaving, we rubbed the belly of the dragon horse for good luck and lots of money.
The tour guide was telling us that feng shui is a big part of China's culture. I'm not discriminating or anything, but I think Taiwan and Hong Kong are more inclined to the practice of feng shui. The 101 is proof of the Taiwanese's obsession with the art.
China is a communist country with a majority of financially-needy people. Who's got time for feng shui?
We had a very enterprising tour guide who tried selling us feng shui stuff at the Feng Shui Museum at the Xian city wall.
Xian is one of China's ancient cities. Home to the Terra Cotta Warriors.
Anyway, the tiger's eye is a gem that also has feng shui roots. It is said to protect the wearer against jealousy. After that, I never looked at my charm the same way again.
Before leaving, we rubbed the belly of the dragon horse for good luck and lots of money.
The tour guide was telling us that feng shui is a big part of China's culture. I'm not discriminating or anything, but I think Taiwan and Hong Kong are more inclined to the practice of feng shui. The 101 is proof of the Taiwanese's obsession with the art.
China is a communist country with a majority of financially-needy people. Who's got time for feng shui?
Got Taiwanese License? Can Drive In Japan
ROC celebrated their national day yesterday, the Double Ten Celebration, just nine days after PRC's.
I guess it's just fitting that the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Transportation and Communication, and the Japanese Interchange Association announced that holders of Taiwanese drivers' licenses can apply for Japanese drivers' license too effective October 1.
Taiwan was under Japanese rule many years ago, but this agreement, according to MoFA deputy minister Hsia, is a demonstration of the "strong friendship between Taiwan and Japan".
Well, good for them.
I think the ASEAN should follow their example and enact something among their member countries. Imagine, I've got a Philippine DL but can drive in Singapore!
But of course, things like the Pinoys' "manic" driving might be an issue to other "disciplined" countries.
And the right-hand-left-hand-drive rule might be a problem too.
Messy, messy.
Still, we can learn.
I guess it's just fitting that the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Transportation and Communication, and the Japanese Interchange Association announced that holders of Taiwanese drivers' licenses can apply for Japanese drivers' license too effective October 1.
Taiwan was under Japanese rule many years ago, but this agreement, according to MoFA deputy minister Hsia, is a demonstration of the "strong friendship between Taiwan and Japan".
Well, good for them.
I think the ASEAN should follow their example and enact something among their member countries. Imagine, I've got a Philippine DL but can drive in Singapore!
But of course, things like the Pinoys' "manic" driving might be an issue to other "disciplined" countries.
And the right-hand-left-hand-drive rule might be a problem too.
Messy, messy.
Still, we can learn.
Don't Want Your Soft Toilet Paper
What kind of toilet paper do you prefer? You'd be surprised to learn that there are lots.
Have you heard of 草纸 or literally grass paper? Before the soft 2-ply tissue papers, there was the lowly yet useful grass paper.
We all know that the Chinese invented the paper. Before toilet paper, what do you think people used before? Stones, leaves, etc. And you thought you had it tough!
So grass paper is actually an improvement!
But then we have the soft to touch Kleenex now. Would you ever think of going back to the prehistoric paper to rub your...?
Here's a funny narrative that talks about toilet paper culture and serious preferences to the rough grass paper--
If you think that's weird, read the rest of the story here.
Have you heard of 草纸 or literally grass paper? Before the soft 2-ply tissue papers, there was the lowly yet useful grass paper.
We all know that the Chinese invented the paper. Before toilet paper, what do you think people used before? Stones, leaves, etc. And you thought you had it tough!
So grass paper is actually an improvement!
But then we have the soft to touch Kleenex now. Would you ever think of going back to the prehistoric paper to rub your...?
Here's a funny narrative that talks about toilet paper culture and serious preferences to the rough grass paper--
"By the time the night was finishing up and the massage was over, it was quite late, around 10:30pm. The parents live in a slightly remote part of Shanghai, only accessible by bus or taxi, and they always refuse to take a taxi because its too expensive (even if I offer to pay). I told JJ to tell them to just stay the night at our house, that made the most sense and it was totally fine by me (and of course by JJ). We do have an extra room and I did buy this couch bed for this very reason. So it only made sense for them to stay, especially since it was holiday and JJ was not working.
Here comes the kicker. They were at first totally against it. Why, you might ask? Well it was not for the normal reasons you might imagine, such as ‘we don’t want to intrude’, ‘we have plans tomorrow morning’, we simply want to get home’, ‘we don’t like the couch bed’. None of these things mattered to them. Instead, the issue at hand was literally:
We don’t know if we want to stay because the toilet paper I buy is too soft for them and they really don’t like using it.
Now lets get the facts straight. I am not a freak or anything. I buy what I consider to be normal toilet paper, you know the middle-of-the-road priced roll you buy in packs at the store. I don’t even go top of the line (because I’m too cheap). So what in the world could be wrong with my toilet paper?
Well, it turns out they really cannot use the ‘Western’ style toilet paper. They only use the toilet paper sheets that are a darker shade of brown, more rough and stacked on top of each other."If you think that's weird, read the rest of the story here.
How To Tell If The Baby Is A Boy Or Girl
My mum was reading the entertainment pages yesterday.
Mum: Wah~ Jennylyn Mercado gave birth already??
Me: [Couldn't care less.] Ummm...I know she's pregnant. Gave birth...not sure.
Mum: [Not really noticing me.] I wonder if the baby's a boy or a girl?
Me: If she became prettier--girl. If not, boy. [But I didn't say that out loud. Mum answered her own question.]
Mum: Oh...boy! [And the baby's name is Alex Jazz.]
Have you heard of that old wives' tale before? If the mother during the course of her pregnancy bloomed or became more beautiful, then the baby inside is definitely a girl.
And if the mum became, well, not really ugly but probably has a different face, then the baby is a boy.
There's another way to tell the gender of the baby--
Presenting the Chinese Gender Chart!
It's very easy to use. Just look at the age and month when the mum conceived her baby, and you can see if the baby is a boy or a girl!
Some claim this is very accurate. The Chinese Gender Chart was supposedly unearthed from a royal tomb hundreds of years ago.
But of course the only way you can know for sure the real gender of the baby is to consult the doctor.
On the bright side, there can only be 2 choices; so at least the one who guesses the gender has a 50-50 chance of stating the correct answer.
Mum: Wah~ Jennylyn Mercado gave birth already??
Me: [Couldn't care less.] Ummm...I know she's pregnant. Gave birth...not sure.
Mum: [Not really noticing me.] I wonder if the baby's a boy or a girl?
Me: If she became prettier--girl. If not, boy. [But I didn't say that out loud. Mum answered her own question.]
Mum: Oh...boy! [And the baby's name is Alex Jazz.]
Have you heard of that old wives' tale before? If the mother during the course of her pregnancy bloomed or became more beautiful, then the baby inside is definitely a girl.
And if the mum became, well, not really ugly but probably has a different face, then the baby is a boy.
There's another way to tell the gender of the baby--
Presenting the Chinese Gender Chart!
It's very easy to use. Just look at the age and month when the mum conceived her baby, and you can see if the baby is a boy or a girl!Some claim this is very accurate. The Chinese Gender Chart was supposedly unearthed from a royal tomb hundreds of years ago.
But of course the only way you can know for sure the real gender of the baby is to consult the doctor.
On the bright side, there can only be 2 choices; so at least the one who guesses the gender has a 50-50 chance of stating the correct answer.
Chong Yang Or The Double Male Festival
Today marks a rather obscure holiday in Hong Kong.
It's the 9th day of the 9th month in the Lunar calendar, and the holiday is called the Double Male or Double Nine or Chong Yang or Chung Yeung Festival.
According to the classical Chinese text I Ching or 易经 (Book of Changes), 9 is the yang number (as opposed to 6 being the yin number). Yang is for the male. Thus 重阳 became known as the Double Male Festival too.
Just for trivia--
9 is the yang number, because odd numbers are associated with males (even numbers associated with females); and 9 is the largest odd number.
Some traditions associated with the Chong Yang Festival are climbing mountains, eating cakes, appreciating the chrysanthemum flower (the 9th month is also the chrysanthemum month), and having parties of course.
Quite obscure traditions really. We mostly know Chinese Festivals like the Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The following legend that dates back to the Han Dynasty helps explain the background of the festival:
"It is said long ago there appeared a devil of plague in the Ruhe River. People lay down and died wherever it came up.
A boy named Heng Jing swore to help his neighbors and fellow people to get rid of it. He visited many famous mountains to seek a powerful master. Finally an old Taoist took him in and taught him how to defeat the devil. Heng Jing put his whole heart into study and practice.
One day, the Taoist called him up and said, 'Heng Jing, tomorrow is the 9th day of September and the devil will reappear. It is time for you to go home and stop the devil.'
The master also gave him a pack of leaves of Cornus and a jar of liquor soaked with chrysanthemums. Riding a crane, Heng Jing went a great distance back home in a day. As instructed by his master, he told his fellow villagers to climb up the nearby mountain with a Cornus leaf pinned on their clothes and a glass of chrysanthemum liquor in hand.
When the devil of plague came up from under the water, it got dizzy by the scent of Cornus and chrysanthemums. Heng Jing fought with his master's sword and killed the devil in a few rounds.
People held parties, drank chrysanthemum liquor to celebrate it. And the next year, the custom of mountain climbing became popular among the villagers."
I don't think the males climb the mountains especially for this date. But there are still parties and eating chrysanthemum cakes.
This holiday is not quite known in the Mainland already, but Hong Kongers still celebrate it. The Taiwanese made today sort of a Grandparents' Day or Senior Citizens' Day, because the number 9 is also associated with longetivity.
So I guess it's Happy Chong Yang for now!
It's the 9th day of the 9th month in the Lunar calendar, and the holiday is called the Double Male or Double Nine or Chong Yang or Chung Yeung Festival.
According to the classical Chinese text I Ching or 易经 (Book of Changes), 9 is the yang number (as opposed to 6 being the yin number). Yang is for the male. Thus 重阳 became known as the Double Male Festival too.
Just for trivia--
9 is the yang number, because odd numbers are associated with males (even numbers associated with females); and 9 is the largest odd number.
Some traditions associated with the Chong Yang Festival are climbing mountains, eating cakes, appreciating the chrysanthemum flower (the 9th month is also the chrysanthemum month), and having parties of course.
Quite obscure traditions really. We mostly know Chinese Festivals like the Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The following legend that dates back to the Han Dynasty helps explain the background of the festival:
"It is said long ago there appeared a devil of plague in the Ruhe River. People lay down and died wherever it came up.
A boy named Heng Jing swore to help his neighbors and fellow people to get rid of it. He visited many famous mountains to seek a powerful master. Finally an old Taoist took him in and taught him how to defeat the devil. Heng Jing put his whole heart into study and practice.
One day, the Taoist called him up and said, 'Heng Jing, tomorrow is the 9th day of September and the devil will reappear. It is time for you to go home and stop the devil.'
The master also gave him a pack of leaves of Cornus and a jar of liquor soaked with chrysanthemums. Riding a crane, Heng Jing went a great distance back home in a day. As instructed by his master, he told his fellow villagers to climb up the nearby mountain with a Cornus leaf pinned on their clothes and a glass of chrysanthemum liquor in hand.
When the devil of plague came up from under the water, it got dizzy by the scent of Cornus and chrysanthemums. Heng Jing fought with his master's sword and killed the devil in a few rounds.
People held parties, drank chrysanthemum liquor to celebrate it. And the next year, the custom of mountain climbing became popular among the villagers."
I don't think the males climb the mountains especially for this date. But there are still parties and eating chrysanthemum cakes.
This holiday is not quite known in the Mainland already, but Hong Kongers still celebrate it. The Taiwanese made today sort of a Grandparents' Day or Senior Citizens' Day, because the number 9 is also associated with longetivity.
So I guess it's Happy Chong Yang for now!
Beijinghua
After posting the Pinyin Pirate, I remembered that Beijingers have this special retroflex sound also.
I find Beijinghua really cool. It's about rolling the -er sound after some words. Like 一会儿, 汤儿, etc. Of course, you can not just put the -er sound after everything and pull it off as Beijinghua.
Here's a story our tour guide in Xian shared to us which totally reminded me of Beijinghua (but it's not really)--
"Everytime this tour leader boards the bus, he always says 2 things:
One dollar. Two dollar.
So I finally asked him why he keeps saying 'one dollar, two dollar'. Did he lost money or something?
[GUESS, GUESS, what is the tour leader trying to say?]
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Apparently this tour leader is practicing his Putonghua, and he's really saying
我到了！ 都到了！
(I'm here. Everyone's here.)
to inform me that all his companions are complete and inside the bus already."
Not Beijinghua.
The Pinyin Pirate
Chinese is a tricky language. But when there's the Two Chinese Characters to help you out, learning is a breeze!
From the 2CC--
From the 2CC--
"On the occasion of the 59th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the Two Chinese Characters are pleased to present our latest edu-taining video to usher you into autumn and the new academic year.
In the Tale of the Pinyin Pirate 拼音海盗人, the 2CC teach the proper pronunciation of the Mandarin Chinese retroflex sounds 卷舌音, represented in the Pinyin Romanization system as: zh- (zhi), ch- (chi), sh- (shi), r- (ri) & -r (er).
Jiayou 加油！"
We dedicate this video to all the beginner level Chinese language learners everywhere in the world (and their teachers, too!). We admire your tenacity and stand united with you in your struggle to master (and teach) the Pinyin Romanization system and those tricky retroflex sounds.
So curl back your tongues and practice those pirate sounds! Er!
Noodles Anyone?
Errr, tired of hearing all those China milk scandals?
Why not try this safe-before-expiration noodles on for size. Found in a Mongkok restaurant.
Photo by Nick Frisch.
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