My heart goes cold when I read this article - Say NO to United Nations' abolishment of Traditional Chinese in 2008 This petition was written by Jennifer Ping and is hosted free of charge at GoPetition in 2006. Chinese culture are written in Traditional Chinese and passed on thru Traditional Chinese. The beauty of art and sense and meaning, can't be replaced by Simplified Chinese.

"In Mandarin, there are two present types of writings: Traditional and Simplified Chinese characters. Traditional Chinese has been the official form of writing for thousands of years. And from it, the Simplified form was born.

In recent decades, China's effort in trying to make Chinese easier for both her youth and foreigners resulted in this push of Simplified Chinese. However, at the same time, Traditional Chinese is still studied and widely recognized.

The purpose of Simplified Chinese was meant for an easier reading (with less characters) and less pen-strokes in writing characters. It is the attempt of making Chinese more phonetic rather than having many words pronounced the same.

The two forms of Chinese have always co-existed peacefully for many years. The importance of Traditional Chinese lies in the fact that each character represents a very specific meaning. This is of extreme importance because it allows the reader to understand a written word even without the word being in context.

Simplified Chinese, although convenient, fails to incorporate meaning into its characters. Many words of same phonetic sounds are replaced by a single character that possesses the same sound but lacks in meaning. The major downfall of Simplified Chinese is that it lacks meaning. Currently, historical texts are in Traditional Chinese, (simply because one can read and understand based on the author's choice of words) however, if Traditional Chinese is to be replaced by Simplified Chinese, one would not be able to understand these texts/writings because words have lost their meanings, they simply represent a way of pronouncing the texts. As time progresses, this would result in the loss of history and culture.

UN's action to "unify" the Chinese characters and recognize ONLY Simplified Chinese will have devastating impact upon the Chinese language, culture, history. Internationally, Traditional Chinese would be forgotten and neglected, it would only be a matter of time before Traditional Chinese becomes the next "Latin". (the dead language) Along with this loss of language, would be a culture and history lost forever. Although Simplified Chinese is an easier way to learn Chinese, but it should not be the only form of Chinese written language. It should be a convenience, not an absolute. By allowing it to become the "official" writing, the Chinese language would be in regression.

------------------

Example of Simplified VS Traditional (provided by a
fellow supporter)

The word Noodle in ChineseTraditional: 麵 = 麥 + 面 (wheat +
surface)

Simplified: 面 (surface/face/noodle)

*meaning in brackets

The Traditional form has two parts which helps to identify it as noodles. Simplified character only provides the pronouciation so the reader would be unable todetermine the meaning without it's context.

-------------------

The above has been confirmed that the UN never used both Chinese forms. IN FACT, Traditional Chinese does not even exist in the UN anymore (except prior to early 1970's).In truth, I am uncertain what will become of this petition. After all, it is a few decades late. Although, what saddens me, is the fact that Traditional Chinese has already lost its ground. People signed this petition to fight against Traditional Chinese being abolished. YET, now that we know it's a fact, why should we not fight harder.Some have claimed this to be a hoax. Others have supported and sent emails. I personally thank everyone of you who took time to come here regardless of your positions."

Here, VL is asking you to click in and press on sign the petition and giving Traditional Chinese a chance, giving TW an oppotunity to guard the language. PLEASE

Happy Lantern Festival! It's a good day and not too cold. We go to Love River for a walk. Grandpa loves to have fresh air and Grandma likes to see Festival. Kids are excited to see those beautiful creative lanterns.

Happy Valentine's Day! See what my baby gave me, it tastes so good, but not the fruit. It's the 8th day of New Year, we go to local temple to pray for our wellness whole year round. We have big event tonight, the 9th is the God's birthday, temple will pray for everybody who write down their name. We call this - Pacifying Taisui. Taisui is the title of the God who's constellation is designated as monarch for the year and Chinese has 60-yr cycle based on combinations of the ten heavenly stems and twelve earthly branches. Of course, we also paid the deposit, as on 2nd pic. Some ppl hire TW opera for weeks, they perform in front of temple, put on show, one after one.

How do we relax? We go to foot massage. Chinese foot massage is well known for its therapeutic effects, with results including elimination of fatigue, promotion of metabolism, and an improvement in blood circulation. According to the traditional Chinese medical practice of foot reflexology, the entire body and all its parts are represented with pressure points in one's feet. Therefore, when pressure is added during a massage, pain in a certain pressure point of the foot can indicate the weakness of a specific organ or system in the body. Foot massagers claim to be able to cure migraines, sinus problems, digestive problems, aches and pains and much more, just by massaging the area of the foot that parallels whatever is ailing.

When visiting a foot massage parlor, a worker will soak one's feet in a solution of warm water often mixed with herbal medicine. After a few minutes, the feet are wiped clean and the actual massage process beings. Sessions last from 30 minutes to an hour, and cost around NT$500. And then you walk as light as a feather. This time, the master doesn't say anything about my kidney but my sleeping quality - good sign! It looks like my kidney stone is gone.

Daneil has a big trick - trying to swallow his fist. Nap, it was 80% dark chocolate, he just gives his fingers a lick. Chris & Mia come back to see Dad. Chris & Mia are going to Japan for honeymoon. Mia has seem different Chris with Daniel and Duncan, I guess they will love to have their own one soon. Therefore, they are looking for a place to stay too. Duncan is nearly 10 days old, one size bigger, baby grows so fast... On the 12th day, we are going to prepare knucle & noodles for grandparents to inform Duncan's arrival.

Here, we inform ancestry about Mia joining us from now on and we pray for their happiness life & smooth marriage. 4th Uncle-in-law knows more about how to offer sacrifices to Gods or ancestors. Afterward, you can see Daniel can't wait to go to Dung-Kang. He picks up the key and says: "Let's go!"... Look at that face!

This National Center for Traditional Arts will take 1-2 days if you look into it. I have to say it's the most completed collection I have been visited. I am surprised on those boutiquet shops which they must spend a while to select those designers. Of course, I did a bit X'mas shopping. Well, those stuff are hard to find in TPE or KHH. However, I adore those red brick or tile architecture.

The pics on the top: Chinese glove puppet on the left and Shadow show puppet on the right. Both are kind of traditional arts in Taiwan. "Pili Wulin Warriors" is new style of glove puppetry and it was on Cartoon Network. In my time, I'm used to watch "Shi-Yan-Wen" glove puppetry on TV sometimes and most of time in temple square. Oh, I miss that time. I had to carry my chair and drink from home. Those unofficial history made it easy on memorized dynasties... I remember I was so close to make my history teacher got a heart attack by mess up chronological dynasties.
The pic in the middle right: The theater is build in front of Wen-Chang temple. The roof is Simple eaves beam and based with sapphirine stone. There are 8 posts and a dozen of octangle baskets at the edges. There is a fine workmanship carved sculptured retable in the middle hidding the stair in the back to basement as back office. It's the "Tianguan Cifu (Heavenly official who confers blessings" in front and the "Two cranes toward to sun with Pine, Bamboo and Peony" in the back. That fine workmanship deserves some time to look at in details.
The pic at the bottow: The temple serves Wen-Chang-Jun who was specialized in study and examination. I remembered my parents would take my student ID to its desk and prayed for good grade. Also I had a symbol in my pencil case during study period. It seemed to me that good grade meant world peace. Well, for the time being.

Intercalary July

Watch out! See where the rainbow end? That's a perfect shot! The off licence...

Today is the 1st of intercalary July. Normally, ppl offer sacrifices to ancestors or ghosts on 1st, 15th and 30th. Therefore, right after yesterday's ceremony, another ceremony is on for the 1st of intercalary July. So, we are still in July, better not to travel / move house and better to stay at home.

In a typical lunisolar calendar, most years are lunar years of 12 months, but some years have an extra month, known as an intercalary or embolismic month. There are 7 of these intercalary months in the 19 years of a Metonic cycle.

The Chinese (Lunisolar) calendar date indicates both the moon phase and the time of the solar year. If the solary year is defined as a tropical year then a lunar calendar will give an indication of the season; if it is taken as a sidereal year then the calendar will predict the constellation near which the full moon may occur. It is based on exact astronomical observations of the longitude of the sun and the phases of the moon. The average length of the synodic month is 29.530589 days.

The mean time between between two successive vernal equinoxes is called a tropical year and it's about 365.2422 days. This means that it takes 365.242 days from the earth to make one revolution around the sun (the time is takes to orbit the sun). There are 12 new moons in a year, but it's 29.530589*12=354.367068 days. It is desirable to aligh the calendar with the seasons, and make the difference as small as possible.

Daniel's homework

When we were little, we memoried this "Sanzijing" before we went to kindergarten. I could image myself reading the paragraph before meal time. Wow, it was a tough summer holiday for me and other cousins. 3rd uncle is in charged of our Chinese class and this is the beginning. Wait until he starts to teach us Calligraphy, you will see the evil part of 3rd uncle. However, I do appreciate what he tough me and it's in my skill list forever... Now, it's Daniel's turn. Ha,ha,ha, I can be the evil aunt to teach him. Ha,ha,ha....

人之初 Men at their birth,
性本善 are naturally good.
性相近 Their natures are much the same;
習相遠 their habits become widely different.

苟不教 If foolishly there is no teaching,
性乃遷 the nature will deteriorate.
教之道 The right way in teaching,
貴以專 is to attach the utmost importance in thoroughness.

昔孟母 Of the old time, the mother of Mencius
擇鄰處 chose a neighbourhood
子不學 and when her child would not learn,
斷機杼 she broke the shuttle from the loom.

竇燕山 Tou of the Swallow Hills
有義方 had the right method
教五子 He taught five sons,
名俱揚 each of whom raised the family reputation.

養不教 To feed without teaching,
父之過 is the father's fault.
教不嚴 To teach without severity,
師之惰 is the teacher's laziness.

子不學 If the child does not learn,
非所宜 this is not as it should be.
幼不學 If he does not learn while young,
老何為 what will he be when old ?

玉不琢 If jade is not polished,
不成器 it cannot become a thing of use.
人不學 If a man does not learn,
不知義 he cannot know his duty towards his neighbour.

為人子 He who is the son of a man,
方少時 when he is young,
親師友 should attach himself to his teachers and friends;
習禮儀 and practise ceremonial usages.

香九齡 Hsiang, at nine years of age,
能溫席 could warm (his parent's) bed.
孝於親 Filial piety towards parents,
所當執 is that to which we should hold fast.

融四歲 Jung, at four years of age,
能讓梨 could yield the (bigger) pears.
弟於長 To behave as a younger brother towards elders,
宜先知 is one of the first things to know.

首孝弟 Begin with filial piety and fraternal love,
次見聞 and then see and hear .
知某數 Learn to count,
識某文 and learn to read.

一而十 units and tens,
十而百 then tens and hundreds,
百而千 hundreds and thousands,
千而萬 thousands and then tens of thousands.

三才者 The three forces,
天地人 are heaven, earth and man.
三光者 The three luminaries,
日月星 are the sun, the moon and the stars.

三綱者 The three bonds,
君臣義 are the obligation between sovereigns and subject,
父子親 the love between father and child,
夫婦順 the harmony between husband and wife.

曰春夏 We speak of spring and summer,
曰秋冬 we speak of autumn and winter,
此四時 These four seasons,
運不窮 revolve without ceasing.

曰南北 We speak of North and South,
曰西東 we speak of East and West,
此四方 These four points,
應乎中 respond to the requirements of the centre.

曰火水 We speak of water, fire,
木金土 wood, metal and earth.
此五行 These five elements,
本乎數 have their origin in number.

曰仁義 We speak of charity, and of duty towards one' neighbour
禮智信 of propriety, of wisdom, and of truth.
此五常 These five virtues,
不容紊 admit of no compromise.

稻粱菽 Rice , spike, millet, pulse
麥黍稷 wheat, glutinous millet and common millet,
此六穀 These six grains,
人所食 are those which men eat.

馬牛羊 The horse, the ox, the sheep,
雞犬豕 the fowl, the dog, the pig.
此六畜 These six animals,
人所飼 are those which men keep.

曰喜怒 We speak of joy, of anger,
曰哀懼 we speak of pity, of fear,
愛惡欲 of love , of hate and of desire.
七情具 These are the seven passions.

匏土革 The gourd, earthenware, leather skin
木石金 wood, stone metal,
與絲竹 silk and bamboo,
乃八音 yield the eight musical sounds.

高曾祖 Great-great-grandfather, Great-grandfather, grandfather,
父而身 father and self,
身而子 self and son,
子而孫 son and grandson,

自子孫 from son and grandson,
至玄曾 on to great grandson and great-great grandson.
乃九族 These are the nine agnates,
人之倫 constituting the kinships of man.

父子恩 Affection between father and child,
夫婦從 harmony between husband and wife,
兄則友 friendliness on the part of elder brothers,
弟則恭 respectfulness on the part of younger brothers,

長幼序 Precedence between elder and younger,
友與朋 as between friend and friend.
君則敬 Respect on the part of the sovereign,
臣則忠 loyalty on the part of the subject.

此十義 These ten obligations,
人所同 are common to all men.
當順敘 It should be followed by order
勿違背 do not transgress.

凡訓蒙 In the education of the young,
須講究 there should be explanation and elucidation,
詳訓詁 careful teaching of the interpretations of commentators,
名句讀 and due attention to paragraphs and sentences.

為學者 Those who are learners,
必有初 must have a beginning.
小學終 The "little learning" finished,
至四書 they proceed to the four books.

論語者 There is the Lun Yu (discourse or Analects),
二十篇 in twenty sections.
群弟子 In this, the various disciples,
記善言 have recorded the wise sayings of Confucious.

孟子者 The works of Mencius,
七篇止 have comprised in seven section.
講道德 These explain the way and exemplifications thereof,
說仁義 and expound clarity and duty towards one's neighbour.

作中庸 The Chung Yung (the doctrine of the mean),
子思筆 by the pen of Tzu-su;
中不偏 Chung (the middle) being that which odes not lean towards any side,
庸不易 Yung( the course) being that which cannot be changed.

作大學 He who wrote the "Great Learning"
乃曾子 was the philosopher Tseng.
自修齊 Beginning with cultivation of the individual and ordering of the family,
至平治 It goes on to government of one's own State and ordering of the family.

孝經通 When the "Classic of Filial Piety" is mastered,
四書熟 and the "Four books" are known by heart.
如六經 The next step is to the "Six classics",
始可讀 which may now be studied.

詩書易 The Books of Poetry, of History and of Changes.
禮春秋 The "Rites of Chou Dynasty, the book of Tites, and the "Spring and Autum Annals"
號六經 are the six classics
當講求 which should be carefully explained and analysed.

有連山 There is the Lien Shan System,
有歸藏 there is the Kuei Tsang
有周易 And there is the system of Changes of the Chou Dynasty,
三易詳 such are the 3 systems which elucidate the changes.

有典謨 There are the Regulations and the Counsels,
有訓誥 The Instruction, The Announcements,
有誓命 The Oaths, The Charges,
書之奧 These are the profundities of the Book of History.

我周公 Our Duke of Chou,
作周禮 drew up the Ritual of the Chou Dynasty,
著六官 in which he set forth the duties of the six classes of officials;
存治體 and thus gave a settled form to the government.

大小戴 The Elder and the Younger Tai,
注禮記 wrote commentaries on the Book of Rites.
述聖言 They publish the holy words,
禮樂備 and Ceremonies and Music were set in order.

曰國風 We speak of the Kuo Feng,
曰雅頌 we speak of the Ya and the Sung.
號四詩 These are the four sections of the Book of poetry,
當諷詠 which should be hummed over and over.

詩既亡 When odes ceased to be made,
春秋作 the Spring and Autumn Annals were produced.
寓褒貶 These Annals contain praise and blame,
別善惡 and distinguish the good from the bad.

三傳者 The three commentaries upon the above,
有公羊 include that of Kung-Yang,
有左氏 that of Tso
有彀梁 and that of Ku-Liang.

經既明 When the classics were understood,
方讀子 then the writings of the various philosophers should be read.
撮其要 Pick out the important points in each,
記其事 and take a note of the facts.

五子者 The five chief philosophers
有荀楊 are Haun, Yang,
文中子 Wen Chung Tzu
及老莊 Lao Tzu and Chung Tzu.

經子通 When the classics and the philosophers are mastered,
讀諸史 the various histories should then be read,
考世系 and the genealogical connections should be examined,
知終始 so that the end of one dynasty and the beginning of the next be known

自羲農 From Fu Hsi and Shen Nung.
至黃帝 to the Yellow Emperor,
號三皇 these are called the three rulers.
居上世 who lived in the early ages.

唐有虞 Tang and Yu
號二帝 are called the two emperors.
相揖遜 They abdicated, one after the other,
稱盛世 and their was called the Golden Age.

夏有禹 The Hsia dynasty has Yu
商有湯 and the Shang dynasty has T'ang'
周文武 The Chou dynasty had Wen and Wu;
稱三王 these are called the Three Kings

夏傳子 Under the Hsia dynasty the throne was transmitted from father to son,
家天下 making a family possession of the empire.
四百載 After four hundred years,
遷夏社 the imperial sacrifice passed from the house of Hsia.

湯伐夏 T'ang the completer destroyed the Hsia Dynasty,
國號商 and the Dynastic title became Shang.
六百載 The line lasted for six hundred years,
至紂亡 ending with Chou Hsin.

周武王 King Wu of the Chou Dynasty
始誅紂 finally slew Chou Hsin
八百載 His own line lasted for eight hundred years;
最長久 the longest dynasty of all.

周轍東 When the Chous made tracks eastwards,
王綱墮 the feudal bond was slackened;
逞干戈 the arbitrament of spear and shields prevailed;
尚遊說 and peripatetic politicians were held in high esteem.

始春秋 This period began with the Spring and Autumn Epoch
終戰國 and ended with that of the Warring States.
五霸強 Next, the Five Chieftains domineered,
七雄出 and Seven Martial States came to the front.

嬴秦氏 Then the House of Chin, descended from the Ying clan,
始兼并 finally united all the states under one sway.
傳二世 The thrown was transmitted to Erh Shih,
楚漢爭 upon which followed the struggle between the Ch'u and the Han states.

高祖興 Then Kao Tsu arose,
漢業建 and the House of Han was established.
至孝平 When we come to the reign of Hsiao P'ing,
王莽篡 Wang Mang usurped the throne.

光武興 Then Kuang Wu arose,
為東漢 and founded the Eastern Han Dynasty.
四百年 It lasted four hundred years,
終於獻 and ended with the Emperor Hsien.

魏蜀吳 Wei, Shu and Wu,
爭漢鼎 fought for the sovereignty of the Hans.
號三國 They were called the Three Kingdom s,
迄兩晉 and existed until the two Chin Dynasties.

宋齊繼 Then followed the Sung and the Ch'i dynasties,
梁陳承 and after them the Liang and Ch'en dynasties
為南朝 These are the Southen dynasties,
都金陵 with their capital at Nanking.

北元魏 The northern dynasties are the Wei dynasty and the Yuan family
分東西 which split into Eastern and Western Wei.
宇文周 The Chou dynasty and the Yuwen family,
興高齊 with the Ch'i dynasty of the Kao family.

迨至隋 At length, under the Sui dynasty,
一土宇 the empire was united under one ruler.
不再傳 The throne was not transmitted twice,
失統緒 succession to power being lost

唐高祖 The first emperor of the T'ang dynasty
起義師 raised volunteer troops.
除隋亂 He put an end to the disorder of the House of Sui,
創國基 and established the foundation of his line.

二十傳 Twenty times the thrown was transmitted,
三百載 in a period of 300 years.
梁滅之 The Liang State destroyed it,
國乃改 and the dynastic title was changed.

梁唐晉 The Liang, the T'ang, the Chin
及漢周 the Han and the Chou
稱五代 are called the five dynasties,
皆有由 and there was a reason for the establishment of each.

炎宋興 Then the fire-led house of Sung arose,
受周禪 and received the resignation of the house of Chou.
十八傳 Eighteen times the throne was transmitted,
南北混 and then the north and the south were reunited.

<<此段為宋版所無>>
遼與金 皆稱帝

太祖興 國大明 號洪武 都金陵

迨成祖 遷燕京 十六世 至崇禎

閹亂後 寇內訌 闖逆變 神器終

清順治　據神京　至十傳　宣統遜

舉總統　共和成　復漢土　民國興

廿二史　全在茲　載治亂　知興衰

<<此段為宋版所無>>

十七史 The Seventeen Dynastic Histories,
全在茲 are all embraced in the above.
載治亂 They contain examples of good and bad government,
知興衰 whence may be learnt the principles of prosperity and decay.

讀史書 Ye who read history
考實錄 must study the Annals,
通古今 whereby you will understand ancient and modern events,
若親目 as though having seen them with your own eyes.

口而誦 Recite them with the mouth,
心而惟 and ponder over them in your hearts.
朝於斯 Do this in the morning;
夕於斯 do this in the evening.

昔仲尼 Of old, Confucius,
師項橐 took Hsiang T'o for his teacher.
古聖賢 The inspired men and sages of old,
尚勤學 studied diligently nevertheless.

趙中令 Chao, president of the Council,
讀魯論 studied the Lu Test of the Analects.
彼既仕 He, when already an official,
學且勤 studied and moreover, with diligence.

披蒲編 One opened out rushes and plaited them together,
削竹簡 another scraped tablets of bamboo.
彼無書 These men had no books,
且知勉 but they knew how to make an effort.

頭懸梁 One tied his head to the beam above him;
錐刺股 another pricked his thigh with an awl.
彼不教 They were not taught,
自勤苦 but toiled hard of their own accord.

如囊螢 Then we have one who put fireflies in a bag.
如映雪 and again another who used the white glare from snow.
家雖貧 Although their families were poor,
學不輟 these men studied unceasingly.

如負薪 Again, there was one who carried fuel,
如掛角 and another who used horns and pegs.
身雖勞 Although they toiled with their bodies,
猶苦卓 they were nevertheless remarkable for their application.

蘇老泉 Shu Lao-Chuan,
二十七 at the age of twenty-seven
始發憤 at last began to show his ability,
讀書籍 and devote himself to the study of books.

彼既老 Then when already past the age,
猶悔遲 he deeply regretted his delay.
爾小生 You little boys,
宜早思 should take the thought betimes.

若梁灝 Then there were Liang Hao,
八十二 who at the age of eighty-two,
對大廷 made his replies to the great hall,
魁多士 and came out first among many scholars.

彼既成 When thus late he had succeeded,
眾稱異 all men pronounced him a prodigy.
爾小生 You little boys,
宜立志 should make up your minds to work.

瑩八歲 Jung at eight of age,
能詠詩 could compose poetry.
泌七歲 Pi, at seven years of age,
能賦棋 could make an epigram on wei-qi (Go)

彼穎悟 These youths were quick of apprehension,
人稱奇 and people declared them to be prodigies.
爾幼學 You young learners,
當效之 ought to imitate them.

蔡文姬 Ts'ai Wen-chi,
能辨琴 was able to judge from the sound of a psaltery
謝道韞 Hsieh Tao-yun,
能詠吟 was able to compose verses.

彼女子 They were only girls,
且聰敏 yet they were quick and clever.
爾男子 You boys ought to
當自警 rouse yourselves.

唐劉晏 Liu Yen of the Tang dynasty
方七歲 when only seven years of age,
舉神童 was ranked as a child prodigy (whiz kid)
作正字 and was appointed a Corrector of Texts.

彼雖幼 He, although a child,
身己仕 was already in an official post.
爾幼學 You young learners
勉而致 strive to bring about a like result.

有為者 Those who work,
亦若是 will also succeed as he did.

犬守夜 The dog keep guard by night;
雞司晨 the cock proclaims the dawn.
苟不學 If foolishly you do not study,
曷為人 how can you become men ?

蠶吐絲 The silkworm produced silk,
蜂釀蜜 the bee makes honey.
人不學 If man does not learn,
不如物 he is not equal to the brutes

幼而學 Learn while young,
壯而行 and when grown up apply what you have learn;
上致君 influencing the soverign above,
下澤民 benefiting the people below.

揚名聲 Make a name for yourselves,
顯父母 and glorify you father and mother
光於前 shed lustre on your ancestors,
裕於後 enrich your posterity.

人遺子 Men bequeath to their children,
金滿嬴 coffers of gold
我教子 I teach you children,
惟一經 only this book.

勤有功 Diligence has its reward;
戲無益 play has no advantages,
戒之哉 Oh, be on your guard,
宜勉力 and put forth your strength

Travellers

In Mia's concert, she sang one of Tyzen Hsiao's songs - "Traveller" which made many ppl's nose runing all the time. He is a world class composer as well as a performer. He created "Traveller", "Snack stand" etc while he resided in USA. He focused on the productions that propelled Taiwanese music advanced to different level. He made tremendous effort to organize and perform a series of large scale and very successful concerts in N. Amercia and Southeast Asia, and encouraged the younger generation to appreciated and upgrade Taiawnese music. Traditional Taiwanese folk music, poetry and religious music have provided thematic inspiration for him, and he has been called the "Taiwanese Rachmaninov" because much of his music is so romantic.

Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, and together with Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival forms one of the three major Chinese holidays. Since the summer is a time when diseases most easily spread, Dragon Boat Festival began as an occasion for driving off evil spirits and pestilence and for finding peace in one's life. The festival was later enriched by the legend of the patriot Chu Yuan.

Dragon Boat Festival is highlighted by the dragon boat races, in which competing teams drive their boats forward rowing to the rhythm of pounding drums. This lively and colorful tradition has continued unbroken for centuries to the present day.

The festival's significance as a time for warding off evil and disease is symbolized by a number of customary practices such as hanging calamus and moxa on the front door, and pasting up pictures of Chung Kuei (a nemesis of evil spirits). Adults drink hsiung huang wine and children are given fragrant sachets, both of which are said to possess qualities for preventing evil and bringing peace. Another custom practiced in Taiwan is "fetching noon water," in which people draw well water on the afternoon of the festival in the belief that it will cure illness. And if you can successfully stand an egg on its end exactly at 12:00 noon, then the coming year will be a lucky one.

The most popular dish during Dragon Boat Festival is tzung tzu, originally eaten in memory of the patriot Chu Yuan, but gradually evolving into a snack eaten during normal occasions as well.
Of all the major holidays celebrated in China, Dragon Boat Festival has the longest history. Occurring at the beginning of summer when insects thrive, the festival was distinguished from other occasions in earlier days as a time for reminding family members to take care of their health. The Chinese continue to heed this wisdom, however, by replacing the traditional customs of hanging calamus and moxa, drinking hsiung huang wine, and giving sachets, with more advanced methods for protecting one's health.

Tomb Sweeping Day

Today is the day for Taiwanese takes the day off work, get whole family back to visit the graveyard. We called it - Ching Ming Festival. Mark and Joan would sacrifice food at home altar before noon. My parents are not going back to Tainan for the celemony which clean the gravesite in order to show our respect to our departed forebears; my Mom was sick whole night.The food offered on Tomb Sweeping Day is Jun Ping which is like unfired spring roll. Jun ping are made by placing a bean sprouts, shredded carrots, bamboo, meat, and dried tofu on a thin flour wrapper, sprinkling a little peanut powder and sugar on top, and then rolled up. Grave cakes are part of the rites during ancestor worship and cleaning of the ancestral tombs. The three most commonly used kinds of grave cakes are hung kuei cakes, fa cakes, and shu chu cakes. After celemony, we share the cakes with neighbours' kids. It meant honor past ancestors.

• Hung kuei cakes, used during deity worship, consist of an outer layer made of glutinous rice dough dyed red and imprinted by using molds with the design of a peach or a tortoise. They are filled with red bean paste or peanut powder. The most widely used type of grave cake, they may be used during many different occasions. It's Chris's favourite dessert. It also provided during new year time.
• Fa cake, on the other hand, are made by squeezing the water from Penglai rice milk, kneading the remaining dough together with baking powder, and steaming for three to four hours. The fa cakes symbolize burgeoning wealth and thus it is extremely important that the cakes sufficiently "rise." Cakes considered to be well-risen have a bulging appearance and the lines of the turtle imprinted on its surface will be deep. Also people like to have this Fa cake during new year time, to symbolize another peak of professional life or promotion or get better in any aspects.
• Tsao Tsai cakes are also commonly used as offerings during deity worship. Their greatest distinguishing mark is that the outside of the cake is kneaded with an herb . These cakes come in both sweet and salty flavors. It is DC's favourite one. I don't eat sticky or chewy food, no matter how hard my parents tried to make me eat it.

And yes, during Tomb Sweeping Day, we don't serve food hot. So food will be prepared on the previous night and we avoid to use cook or make fire during the day. When there is a new member in family, today is the day to attend the trip to gravesite. After the celemony, coloured boiled eggs would be broken to symbolize the opening of life.

In lunar calendar, there are 24 solar terms. Ching Ming is one of them, in the early Lunar March which is 106 days after the winter solstice and the 15th day after the vernal equinox (Chun Fan). Ching Ming literally means "clear brightness", hinting at its importance as a celebration of Spring. It celebrates the rebirth of nature, while marking the beginning of the planting season asn other outdoor activities. Well, following are 24 solar terms for future reference.

立春Spring begins. 　　雨水The rains. 　　惊?Insects awaken. 　　春分Vernal Equinox 　　清明Clear and bright. 　　谷雨Grain rain. 　　立夏Summer begins. 　　小?Grain buds. 　　芒种Grain in ear. 　　夏至Summer solstice. 　　小暑Slight heat. 　　大暑Great heat. 　　立秋Autumn begins. 　　?暑Stopping the heat. 　　白露White dews. 　　秋分Autumn Equinox. 　　寒露Cold dews. 　　霜降Hoar-frost falls. 　　立冬Winter begins. 　　小雪Light snow. 　　大雪Heavy snow. 　　冬至Winter Solstice. 　　小寒Slight cold. 　　大寒Great cold.

In the meanwhile, I am back on paperwork for some last minute request and DC is prepared for his trip to Canada on next week. I gonna work on making some more soaps. It's super hot in KHH, everyday nearly 30 degrees with bleeze. Lucky us!

Happy White Valentine's Day!

Ha, I just finished the 2nd part of part time work. It's half way through. Another 10 days, I should be done with them. By the way, we are going to Mia's teacher's concert tomorrow night. I believe it will be a great night. As usual, my Dad is not going, he just said it in last minute... What can I do with his ticket? Today is White Valentine's Day. It is Japanese Valentine's day for boy to reply wiht chocolate. Yes, I got my KitKat!

Daniel is getting taller, summer pants became mid-capris, kind of funny on him now. In the afternoon, we will have a 15-minute dancing party everyday. His arms still can't reach above his head, so it was so cute to see him work out in some positions.

My Dad's nose is still with problem, but he won't go near hospital. We can't get him in for any check up. So, we are still in planning "HOW" to get him in first. But he snores, my goodness, my Irish Dad gets competitor. Sometimes, I will jump out of my bed if I don't hear my Dad snoring. For my own sleeping quality, I better figure out how to send my Dad in.

Tomorrow, Mia's coming to KHH after the concert. We are going to make some soaps. I'll take some pics in processing. There is a soap maker master in KHH - G's life. My Mom and I plan to visit her after our first try on making soap. Click on G's life to see her work. It's beautiful!

Valentine's Day

On the side of Love river, there are 3 coffee/tea shops providing live music from 6PM-2AM. Yes, on Valentine's Day, I took DC over for a walk and a treat with 3 women (my Ma, Joan and I) plus Daniel. After Lantern Festival, the light-up show is still on from 6:30PM-7PM until this Friday, including lighting up the waterlily light in the middle of river and water dance and 10 minutes fireworks. It's beautiful, but Daniel didn't like the fireworks' sound. We were in coffee shop for the first show and that singer has a good voice, he's nice to sing for Daniel.

I guess, after wedding, Valentine's Day will be away. Coz marriage life is about reality, but DC is so sweet to coperate. I feel sorry to drop him away from work for couple hours to share the moment, even with my Ma and sis-in-law and a nephew. Nowadays, Daniel will be jelous if we hug each other. Whever Daniel sees we hug each other, he'll try his best to take DC away or crys until DC picks him up. Little monster! But also he's sweet. When we go for a walk, Daniel wants to hold DC's finger on one side and mine on the other side. In that moment, I believe he's happy!

It's been 2 weeks, we are back to summer clothes and all heavy blanket are back to storage. It's so HOT - 25-28 degrees, especially the wind from South, my goodness, HOT! There is no cloud around, completely clear blue sky, every single day! Many elder people say there is a super cold wind will come after this wind from South. I really look forward to it. Otherwise, I don't know what to expect this summer, too hot for February!

The Lantern Festival

The 15th day of the 1st lunar month is the Chinese Lantern Festival, also it is widely celebrated as "Second New Year", plus it is Hakka people's New Year and the first full moon in the year. According to the Chinese tradition, at the very beginning of a new year, when there is a bright full moon hanging in the sky, there should be thousands of colourful lanterns hung out for people to appreciate. At this time, people will try to solve the puzzles on the lanterns and eat yuanxiao (glutinous rice ball) and get all their families united in teh joyful atmosphere. This lantern festival appeared around Tang Dynasty in the 7th century.. KHH city has build a waterlili kind of lantern in love river, and also many snacks on riverside to remind us the childhood and pass on the traditions.
This cookie with melt sugar is the only sweet can get my Da's approve. Maltose is my New year symbol since I was very little. I love to see the sugar design, such as dragon & tiger or Doraemon. The skill to make a drawing in 30 seconds with melting sugar is difficult, it needs to be very fast and right on the point.

Beside the river on Chung Chang road is the court house where DC and I got married. On the river side, the walk path is well designed and coffee shop beside with music on. It's hard to image this love river in 10 years ago was so smelly and dirty.

I guess there is no more Sky lantern next year, since last night a sky lantern burn down CKS runway grass and coz 20 international flights delay. Many people like to keep this tradition - sky lantern, but I do think those people who put it on should be responsible to take its consequence. 1.5 million's fine is too little for what it created. I meant make a fire on a bunch of paper which dip in petrol and then let it fly, this is not right. Of course, I did light up a sky lantern, but I run after it until I was sure it completed its journey. Light it up was fun, run after it was fun and no one hurt was good!

Chinese New Year - Day 7/8/9

The 7th day from New Year is the birthday of human being. In antient Chinese saying, God made chicken first, and then dogs, pigs, sheeps, cows, horses, people and then grain. So the 7th Jan is the birthday of human.

There is nothing on for the 8th day, but food shopping is necessary. Be course, market runs as usual, time for shopping after a week stucking at home and tonight is important for Chinese - The brithday of God 天公生. People start to offer sacrifices to the God (top one) after midnight. Some people will start from 11PM - count on Chinese time which only has 12 hours a day. On the 9th day, female underwear is banned to be under sky / in public, even laundry. It depends on variety of meat was provided to prepare number of glass for rice wine or cup for tea/birthday noodles. After this ceremony is done, time fore fireworks again but short, to send God off.

Daniel is eating Chinese Date (棗子 Jujube) after dinner. It was from India since 1944. Nowaday, TW can collect 3 times per year. We prefer to take it during winter, like the old time. It is used to mean making good thing happen earlier, such like having a baby; people like to take this date in wedding or New Year. I don't like to see my Ma's look when she hangs this fruit over this time.

Chinese New Year - Day 6

The 6th day is back to normal life. Shop open and people are back to work. The fireworks will be on like on New Year Eve, as long as possible or in big quantity. In some places, people will pick up their grandaunt back to her family for lunch, same rule as on 2nd day, return home before sunset.

Today, Daniel is in baseball dress. People are back to work, so department store will be less crowdy. Of course, he is the cutest baby there. Finally, I make DC walk a bit this afternoon - go to laundry shop and get lunch (stir fried lamb with fried rice, one of DC's favourities). I don't agree with DC's idea to stay in front of PC for 14 hours per day. The longest distant he walk these 2 days was from his office to living room for a cup of coffee which is less than 12m. Maybe DC should do part time day care for Daniel, he can keep him busy for a while, at least, tracing behind Daniel could be a sport.

Today is a good day to do laundry. It's so warm - 26 degrees and still many people wear jacket. When we went out for lunch box, we were in short T-shirt. Of course, people were looking at us, but it's 26 degrees with strong sunshine. My laundry dried in 3 hours, what does it tell you? It's VERY WARM!!! So stop looking at us!!!

Surprisely, when Daniel sees Ma, he won't let any of us (including Mark) get near him and Ma has to carry him all the time. Alright, gonna go, coz Daniel is having nightmare! We gonna do something! Well, next time, I will remember not to make him too excite in the afternoon then.

Chinese New Year - Day 5

The 5th day is kind of early ending for New Year. It's the day to start business, to remove New Year decoration from altar. But the tangerine tower would be removed after 15th Jan. In the old day, today is the day to throw garbage, nowaday, garbage track started from yesterday already, good for us. Meanwhile, today, people prepare five kinds of sacrifices to welcome the God of wealth (like Plutus in Greek) back to family or business in order to get its blessing.

My parents go to stay with grandparents in TNN coz uncle wants to visit his 2nd son in Taichung. Grandma is so stubborn to reject our invitation to stay in KHH with us. So, my parents have to go to stay in TNN with them while uncle is away. Grandda has fallen 3 times in last 6 months, we can't take any more accident. But funny thing is, Grandma is still up to her offer - to pay her salary to take care of Grandda. Sometimes, I do wonder what is in her mind. Tonight will be the first time for Mark and Joan to handle Daniel alone. They take Daniel to window shopping, taking tour in car, so I think, it should be a quiet night. We will see!

Chinese New Year - Day 4

All the God would have annual leaves back to heaven on 24th Dec in Lunar calendar and they would return on 4th Jan. After noon, people start to put on sacrified and burn paper money or paper horse, put on fireworks to welcome God return to earth.

After all the busy celemories, we took a day off. Of course, laundry day would be a good idea. Also the gabage track start to pick up by tonight which saved us on time...

Chinese New Year - Day 3

The 3rd day of Lunar New Year is called - Red Dog Day. Red Dog was the God of anger, people stay at home avoiding bad luck.
Today, is 2nd Uncle's 70th birthday. We went to Taichung to attend his birthday party, family members only, so only 7 tables. It's Daniel and DC's first time to take the train. It took us 2.5 hours from KHH to Taichung by Express railway and it shaked big time!!! Due to jetlog, we couldn't sleep in previous night and run to train station at very early morning. On the train, it shaked so badly, we couldn't sleep at all. We were glad that we were the first one arrived for party, so parents could have more time to chat with the others.

Most of family members turn out and including the 3rd generations. Time flys, some of them are in primary school or even in university now. After lunch and birthday cake, as TW trend, it's time for KTV!!! I'll try to put them on Castpost, but still trying due to tech problem! Be patient! Daniel is very talktive and handful, we have to keep an eye on him by shift. He is so cute, every uncles or aunts love him, also cousins...

Chinese New Year - Day 2

Today is the day for married woman return their families, also it was called "the day to welcome son-in-law". Of course, the traffic will be heavy the whole day long. After breakfast,the couple start to dress up and return to her family with presents, in the old time, she would need to wait for her brother's oral invitation. The couple will join her family for lunch and return home before sunset. The married woman should return her family on 2nd or 3rd day of New Year only, otherwise, it meant to "bring her family down".

Mark and Joan bring Daniel back to her family. So, we take my parents out to Fisherman's Wharf for a walk. KHH habour has less ships than previous years. We do hope KHH can become one of the top 5 international habours. Meanwhile, hopefully, Frank Hsieh can keep his promise to improve KHH's tourism. The fisherman's wharf is a good start, we look forward to see the next one come true.