Chinese Funeral Etiquette

"Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides." - Lao Tzu

There are different customs and traditions in countries around the globe but some occasions or situations are the same. In case of death for example, there is a set of rules or rites to follow, which are different for various communities of the world. Proper funeral etiquette specifies the code of conduct to be followed at the ceremony of a deceased person. In this article, learn about the proper Chinese funeral etiquette, which is followed during a traditional Chinese funeral ceremony.

Chinese Funeral Etiquette

♦ The ceremony or customs that have to be carried out at a Chinese funeral are very important. According to Chinese customs and beliefs, if a person is not buried with the proper respect and traditions at his/hers funeral, then the family of the deceased will be cursed with bad luck and further tragedy.

♦ A traditional Chinese funeral has a duration of 49 days. But considering the financial condition of the family, the ceremony can be shortened to a period of 3 days. The first 7 days of the funeral ceremony are considered the most important, with the first day being the most religiously significant. There are prayer ceremonies held every 10 days from the date of the death. The head of the family should be present for the burial or cremating ceremony. At the different prayer ceremonies, he should at least appear for the first and possibly the second.

♦ The traditions or rite to be followed depend on certain factors like:

    * Age of the deceased
    * How did he/she die?
    * Whether he/she was single or married?
    * What was his/hers standing in society?

♦ Out of these, age is a key factor. The young should show respect to the old, not the other way around. So even at a funeral, if the deceased is younger than those who will come to his funeral, how can they show him respect? Keeping this rule in mind, if the deceased is a child or infant, then no funeral rites are performed, as no elders can show respect to him. The child is buried in silence. For young adults who are single and have no children, his body must remain at the funeral home and even his parents cannot perform any rites for him, as he is younger than them. When the individual is gravely ill or on his deathbed, his family starts the funeral preparation with the ordering of a traditional wooden coffin.

Chinese Funeral Traditions

♦ Different customs and rules are followed in different areas and among different ethnic groups of China. The body can be cremated or placed directly in a coffin. In rural areas or places where a particular community has settled, then burial is the norm. In towns and cities, cremation is more common. If cremated, then the ashes are stored in an ash box or a gu hui xiang, a small wooden box with a matching pedestal to hold it. Until the date for burial is chosen, the gu hui xiang should remain in the funeral home.

♦ The funeral ceremony is called zang li. The house must be prepared first, prior to the actual ceremony. All statues or physical representations of Chinese gods and holy objects, must be covered with red paper. This is so that they do not "see" the body or the coffin. Also any mirrors in the house are removed for the duration of the entire ceremony. It is believed that he who sees the reflection of a coffin in a mirror will soon lose someone in his family. The household main entrance or doorway is covered with a white cloth. Based on gender of the deceased, a gong is hung over the entrance. If the deceased is a man, the gong is on the left of the doorway. For a woman, the gong is hung on the right.

♦ Then the body of the deceased is prepared for the funeral. A damp cloth, lightly dusted with talcum powder is used to clean the corpse and he/she is dressed in good clothes and shoes. White, brown, blue or black are permitted clothing colors. Red is completely taboo as it is believed, a corpse in red clothing will turn into a ghost. The face is covered with a yellow cloth, the body with a light blue cloth and it is placed in the coffin.

♦ The coffin is placed in the courtyard on 2 small stools, if the person died outside of his/hers home. Otherwise it is placed in the house. The deceased photograph is placed at the head of the coffin, a wreath is also placed on the coffin. Any gifts to the deceased family must be placed on the coffin. Guests at such ceremonies can present wreaths as offerings of condolence to the family.

♦ Chinese funeral attire rules dictate that during this part of the funeral or the wake, the family must not wear jewelery or the color red. An ancient custom is that for the next 49 days, no children or grandchildren of the deceased should cut their hair. The immediate family must position themselves around the coffin according to their familial rank. There is even a specific color for each member. Children and daughters-in-law should wear black and must wear a sackcloth hood as well, grandchildren and great grandchildren blue clothing. Sons-in-law must wear bright colors like white. Relatives who come later and are not immediate, must crawl on their knees towards the coffin.

♦ An altar is made at the foot of the coffin, where incense is burnt and a white candle is lit. Guests must light incense at this altar and make a small bow to the family as a sign of respect. A donation box is also placed here, where money should be offered as a sign of respect. Throughout the wake, joss paper and paper money are burnt, so the deceased will have some money in his afterlife. The blood relatives and daughters-in-law must wail and cry as a sign of their grief and loyalty to the deceased. Monks will chant prayers at night to ease the passage of the dead into the afterlife. Music is played on the gong or flute in the background.

♦ When the prayers are done, the wake is over and the coffin is sealed shut. The family sticks yellow and white paper over the coffin to protect it from evil spirits. The coffin is carried outside the house, onto the road by using a piece of wood tied over the coffin. The family and funeral guests then make their way to the mu chang or graveyard for the burial.

That was an extensive look at traditional Chinese funeral etiquette that is followed during a burial ceremony.

Han Dynasty: China

The story of the Han regime began in 206 B.C, when the valley of Wei in China, witnessed the fall of the Qin army and the rise of the Han prince, Liu Bang. He defeated his rival Xiang Yu, and laid the foundation of the Han empire. The Han era is divided into two periods: the Western Han Dynasty, which was from 206 BC to 9 AD and the Eastern Han Dynasty which lasted from 25 AD to 220 AD. There was a brief interruption in the rule by usurping of power by a revolting Xin ruler, only to be won back by the Han power. The 24 Han emperors who ruled this period, led Chinese society into a new era of prosperity. They were connoisseurs of art, literature and technology. The Han rule was largely peaceful and had a significant impact on the Chinese culture. A major ethnic group of China still refers to itself as the 'Han population'.

The new ruler established his capital Chang'an, in the present day Shaanxi province of China. The empire was very systematically administered by local rulers, under the direct authority of the central government. The famed 'Silk Route' across difficult terrains and a cruel desert, was created under this regime. Trade with the Roman empire flourished, mainly due to this passage which exposed the western culture and traditions, to the eastern world. The careful administration led to a greater bonding and mutual cooperation amongst the people of China. There was uniformity and method to the way of living under the Han dynasty.

Emperor Wu, who reigned from 141 BC to 87 BC is considered one of the greatest Han rulers. He successfully defended the empire from frequent invasions by Central Asian tribes and provided excellent support to technological advances and economic reforms. The empire had the greatest expanse during his reign. It extended to the Tarim basin in the west, ensuring a safe trading route to Baghdad, Antioch and Alexandria. Parts of Vietnam and Korea, in the south and east respectively, were also invaded and annexed by the Han army. The Han rulers respected local powers and established cordial relations with small Chinese powers in exchange of their acceptance of the Han suzerainty. Confucianism was made the state doctrine and responsible people were selected for administration through civil services examinations.

The exquisite collection of clay furniture, lamps, ancient tombs and various articles, which were unearthed during archaeological excavations are a testimony to the rich heritage of the Han period. Confucianism was advocated and gained popularity in the society, especially after its suppression for a long period by the Qin dynasty. Craftsmen, artisans and skilled labor reaped huge benefits in those days. The medical advances, acupuncture techniques and invention of paper and porcelain articles, were a gift to the future generations by the Han civilization. There were even earthquake detectors in place, so that the king could dispatch troops or emergency assistance to the affected area. The cultural ties with neighboring India and the Middle East, along with the spread of Buddhism can also be credited to this rule. The Han dynasty marked the beginning of an organized public schooling in China, though only boys were allowed, in accordance with the principles of Confucius.

Factionalism, greater say of palace concubines in administration coupled with the jealous attitude of senior officials caused a brief fall of the empire. It was reinstated by the next Han king, Guang Wudi, who shifted the capital to Loyang, a city in the present day Henan province. The new fortified and lavish capital also liberalized trade, boosting frequent caravans traveling back and forth from the West, right into the new capital. The latter period of the Han rule established diplomatic relations with Japanese and Central Asian powers. Envoys from far off Rome reached China in 126 AD, carrying along more goods and manpower.

The centralization of power had augmented an enormous growth, which brought along rivalries and many financial problems. The increasing population and growth of corruption in the expanding political institutions finally led to the fall of the Han Dynasty in 220 AD.

Women in the Ancient Chinese Culture

The women in ancient Chinese culture lived according to the rules set by Confucius in his analects. According to Confucius, women were not equal to men and were not worthy to have literary and education. For almost two thousand years, the life of the Chinese woman was unbearable. During the years of growing up, a Chinese woman had to listen to her father and other male members in the family. A woman in ancient China was not given a name; instead she was called as "daughter no1", "daughter no2" and so on.

After marriage, an ancient Chinese woman would serve her husband like a slave and could not raise her voice. It is said that in ancient China, men were allowed to have more than one wife. If the husband of a young Chinese woman died, she was not allowed to remarry. Death penalty was given, if she remarried. The main job of a woman in ancient China was to bear sons. Here we look at a few famous women in the ancient Chinese culture.

Famous Women in the Ancient Chinese Culture

Here are a few famous women who lived in ancient China.

Empress Wu - Remember, the women in ancient Chinese culture had no right to express their thoughts and feelings. Empress Wu challenged the rules of Confucius when she became the Empress to rule China. During her reign, she elevated the position of women. The court scholars were asked to write biographies of famous women of China and rest of the world. She established matriarchal rule in ancient China. According to her, an ideal ruler is one who rules his empire like a mother who dotes on her children.

Chinese Buddhism attained its glory under the reign of Empress Wu. She replaced Daoism with Buddhism. Many gifted scholars from around the world were invited to China. Many Buddhists temples and cave sculptures were built during her period of rule. She died at the age of eighty, due to natural causes.

Xi Shi - This legendary beauty of ancient China was the daughter of a tea merchant in China. She became popular because she was responsible for the fall of the kingdom of Wu. Prince Fuchai of State of Wu humiliated the King of Yue, Gou Jian. The king was forced to serve the prince for couple of years, before he was released from the bondage. On returning, he asked his court to summon the most beautiful woman in his kingdom. The king approved the beauty of Xi Shi. She was taught royal etiquette and sent to entice the prince of Wu. The prince was enchanted by her beauty and spent most of his time with her, neglecting his responsibilities. In the meantime, King of Yue attacked the State of Wu and annexed it to his kingdom. Xi Shi disappeared from public life to lead a secluded life. She is one of the women of the ancient Chinese culture, who is remembered even today.

Women in ancient Chinese culture were humiliated. If a baby girl was born, there were some humiliating customs that were practiced. On the third day of her birth, she was place under the cot and given a piece of broken pottery to play with, and her birth was announced by giving an offering to her ancestors. Placing the baby child under the cot denoted that she is weak and she should humble herself before men. The broken pottery meant she must be laborious, while giving an offering to the ancestors denoted that one of her primary duties is to worship her elders.

Chinese Temples

China is a land of interesting traditions and cultures. This region also has one of the oldest civilizations and cultures. The Chinese architecture has a particular style in terms of design, which has had influences over other styles as well. There is an emphasis on the horizontal axis in the design along with the use of symmetry. Religion in China is diverse and this can be seen in the various Chinese temples that are a part of the landscape belonging to different religions. Chinese folk religion is also a part of the Chinese culture and this comprises of many old concepts that are based on Chinese mythology.

There were many Chinese temples that were unfortunately damaged in the early years during the Cultural Revolution. In China, such Chinese temples represent the three main religions of China, which are Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. These temples represent the rich history and culture of China. But, the temples of these various religions differ in terms of their structure.

Basically, Chinese temples are red in color and are decorated extensively. Sometimes, these Chinese temples are also a shade of gold. One can find interesting Chinese sculptures or even Chinese paintings used as means of decoration. A temple can have three main shrines inside. Temples that are of a larger size always have a compound.

The basics of Chinese temples are aimed to bring about integration between heaven and humanity. This can also be cited to be the reason why a majority of Chinese temples are located in the mountains or amidst green forests. Various forms and styles of pillars are used to create an interesting architectural style. The temples are designed to create a harmonious feeling amongst all the devotees. Lighting an incense stick by the devotee is generally a way of making an offering to the various Gods. At times, candles are also used for the same.

Thus we see how Chinese temples are distinct in their own way. After all, this is one place where a person comes filled with hope in search of the ultimate connection with God.

Ancient Chinese Clothing

The Chinese people are a fashionable kind and have set many trends since ancient times. The Chinese clothing has seen immense variations and influences from the olden days. Today, the modern Chinese people have adopted various fashions from all over the world. Even then, there are many designs that still draw inspiration from the ancient Chinese culture. The ancient Chinese clothing has its own beauty and grace. Therefore, we can see that there are many ancient Chinese styles prevalent even today. These are popular not only in China, but around the globe as well.

Ancient Chinese Clothing:
There are various dynasties that influenced the styles of the ancient Chinese clothing. From long robes to wide sleeves, each had their own distinct pattern, which made its mark.

The pre 17th century ancient Chinese clothing or the Han Chinese clothing has a long history in terms of the clothing worn. The Han Chinese clothing or the Hanfu covered all the traditional Chinese clothing worn by people in that era. The Hanfu was considered to be very important by the Han Chinese as far as their culture was concerned. It was also known that one has to follow the rules of dressing that belonged to the Hanfu styles, as a mark of respect. The basic style and design of the Hanfu were developed to a great extent in the Shang Dynasty. The Shang dynasty saw 2 basic styles-The Yi and the Shang. The Yi is the coat worn on top and the Shang is the skirt that is worn beneath. There was a major use of sash instead of buttons and the sleeve cuffs were styled narrow. The colors of the fabrics were basically in warm tones.

The western Zhou Dynasty also followed similar styles and designs of the Shang dynasty. This is where one saw the variations in the sleeves-narrow as well as broad. The lengths of the skirts saw different levels, from the knee to the ankle. Here, the different styles that were worn also created a distinction between the people.

It was during the Sui and the Tang dynasty, one saw the acceptance of more ideas. The ancient Chinese dress was divided into 2 patterns-The Pien-fu and the Shen-I. The ancient Chinese clothing also used minimal stitches on the fabric. The structure was plain and there was a wide use of embroidery and silk sashes to add to the design of the dress.

Ancient Chinese clothing saw a lot of robes that are popular even today. These robes were used by emperors and very heavily embroidered with various patterns. The dragon robe was one such popular robe that had patterns of dragons embroidered all over. This was actually seen first in the Zhou Dynasty. These robes consist of nine yellow dragons and five cloud patterns that are considered to be auspicious for the wearer. The dragon robe derived its name in the Qing Dynasty.

The clouds on the robes further incorporate 12 patterns. These also have a symbolic meaning to express. The nine and five combinations were deliberately calculated when designing the robe, as it symbolized the dignity of the throne. These dragons are embroidered on the front, back, knee areas or even the shoulders.

Yet another kind of ancient Chinese clothing is the cheongsam. This is very popular even on the international market. Also known as the qipao, the cheongsam was actually a one-piece dress. The ancient Chinese Manchu women mainly wore this in the olden days. These were easy to adorn and maintain and complemented the figure of a Chinese woman. The basic style of the cheongsam consists of a high neck with a closed collar and sleeves that are either short or medium. The cheongsam is buttoned on the right side and has a fitted waist. It also has slits that go up from the sides. Today, we can see many variations of the cheongsam available, to suit the modern tastes.

The ancient Chinese also saw a dominance of the tunic suit. The Chinese also know this as the ‘Zhongshan Zhuang’ or the ‘Zhongshan suit’. This consisted of a tunic that had 4 pockets and a turned down collar. This style also found an acceptance and went through few modifications along the way.

The ancient Chinese clothing often used patches of embroidery, which were mainly animal prints. This kind of embroidery was called the Buzi and was seen in the Ming and Qing Dynasty. These embroideries are very intricate and beautiful in its appearance. The various animals that were used also symbolized the rank of the officers who wore them on their garments.

The ancient Chinese clothing showcases a rich and cultural tradition that has influenced its design. These continue to be a major form of inspiration to young designers even today.

Chinese Inventions - Famous Inventions of Ancient China

In this world of fast food and fast cars, have you ever given a thought to those who have probably enabled you to have an easy life? With the advancement of technology in every sphere of our life, there are probably many things one could never do without however seemingly small they may sound to be! Ancient China has played a significant part in many famous inventions that have had a major role to play in our lives. Ancient Chinese inventions have helped us in many ways then we can ever think of! Many famous inventions that we can recount today belong to ancient China. Let us check out the famous inventions of ancient China and know some details about the same.

Chinese Inventions: Famous Inventions of Ancient China
The Compass:
The earliest version of the compass was invented in China in the year 1044. Mariners use the compass to find directions on Earth. Such a compass is used to calculate the latitude and the longitude as well. This famous Chinese invention has seen many advanced changes along the way. Basically, a compass is used to find the magnetic North Pole of the Earth. Generally, such a compass has either a needle or a magnetic bar that points towards the direction of the bar and such a needle or bar is placed either in floating liquid or upon a pivot. Today, the basic Chinese invention is modified and one can see many more advanced versions being used by professions across the globe. One of the earliest known mentions of the compass has been recorded in the ancient Chinese literature. This was also seen in a book that goes back to 1040-44 AD. The earliest concept of a compass was glimpsed in the use of a needle that was kept in a bowl of water.

Paper and Papermaking:
This is also one of the most famous inventions of Ancient China. Paper is also one of the Chinese inventions, which is something we can’t probably do without now. The process of papermaking was first developed in China. In the earlier years, during the Shang and the Zhou dynasty, any form of documentation was done with the help of bamboo. Recent findings showcase that paper was being used in China much before the invention by Cai Lun. Cai Lun is regarded to have invented the paper and also the entire process of papermaking, about 105 AD. Cai Lun is also considered to be the one who played a major role in the improvisation of the process. Some findings have also revealed paper was used in Ancient China to wrap objects that needed some kind of a protection.

Printing:
The method of printing and the invention of Woodblock printing are also considered to be an ancient Chinese invention. This ancient Chinese invention was seen before the first dated book in 868. Woodblock printing was first seen in China in 220. Thereon, it spread to other areas of the world. The method of printing saw higher advancements by the 11th century. The first example of the movable type method was invented in China, which was around 1040 AD. Clay types were used, but these were not suitable to be used for printing on a large scale. Bi Sheng was credited for having invented the ceramic movable type of method for printing. This movable type printing proved to be quite cumbersome at times but was useful when the number of books to be printed was on the higher side.

Gunpowder:
This is another famous invention of ancient China. The discovery of gunpowder has been credited to certain Chinese alchemists around 9th century. This was the result of many scientific experiments. There were various Chinese formulas that were used and these contained different proportions of nitrate. The first recorded reference of the gunpowder was found in a passage of Taosism text. This was dated to the mid 800s. The gunpowder was used not only for fireworks but instances were found in the Chinese military treatise as well.

According to the British scholar Joseph Needham, the compass, gunpowder, the process of papermaking and the printing process remain to be the four great inventions of ancient China. Apart from these, there were other famous Chinese inventions as well!

Chopsticks:
The Chinese can be considered to be experts when it comes to the usage of chopsticks. It is no surprise therefore, the chopstick first originated during the Shang dynasty in ancient China. Early findings of chopsticks at the Mediggo site in Israel reveal about the kind of trade that may have existed between the Middle East and Asia.

Bristle Toothbrush:
Oral hygiene was perhaps very important to the Chinese and thus we see yet another Chinese invention that proved to be important for people worldwide. Prior to the bristle toothbrush, one can cite references that showed other means of oral hygiene such as certain tree twigs or bird feathers, which were used to keep one’s teeth clean. The first idea of a toothbrush was first seen in China in the late 1400’s.

These famous inventions of ancient China will probably have you thinking about the importance of every insignificant thing in our lives! These famous inventions surely have proven to be a boon to us in many ways.

Chinese People Celebrating Moon Festival

Call it the moon festival or the mid-autumn festival or the lantern festival but this festival that takes places on the fifteenth day of the eight lunar month is one of light, tradition, color and lets not forget food. It normally occurs on any day between mid September to mid October.

So what is this moon festival that the Chinese people celebrate every year? The moon festival more often than not coincides with the date of the autumn equinox and is the day when the moon is the furthest from the earth and appears bright and round.

The legend behind the Chinese moon festival

As legend goes the festival revolves around Chang’e and Hou-yi who was the divine archer. This is how the legend goes…Hou-yi had managed to shoot down nine of the ten Suns that were problematic for the Earth. The Goddess Xiwangmu, as a reward gave Hou-yi the herb of immortality, which was his wife Chang’e found and consumed. This was a mistake and when she realized her folly and not wanting face her husband’s wrath she fled to the moon to cough up the herb, which was turned into the Jade Rabbit.

Till today you will see children looking for the Jade Rabbit on the moon’s surface on the day on the moon festival. The festival is full of colorful lanterns made of paper with motifs of rabbits, phoenix, fish and other auspicious animals. This Moon festival or the mid-autumn festival has been celebrated to thank the Gods for food and harvest and has been celebrated since the first century and is also considered the Harvest festival for the same reason.

How the Chinese people celebrate the moon festival?

The Chinese moon festival is about food and celebration. As we know, this festival is also called the Harvest festival, this is because of the fact that the vegetables and grains have been harvested and it is not the time for celebration and relaxation.

The festival is celebrated by following some traditions that have been prominent since the first century. Fruits and vegetables are put up on an alter in courtyards. Some of the more prominent fruits are pears, apples, peaches, grapes, pomelos, pomegranates and melons. Some typical traditional foods like moon cakes, cooked taro, edible snails and water caltrope are must in ever house celebrating the Chinese moon festival.

Lets talk about the moon cakes. These moon cakes look like small fruitcakes of the West. They are made of various things…it can be melon seeds, lotus seeds, almonds or orange peels. Some moon cakes are made with minced meats or bean paste. Each moon cake was then decorated with a golden yolk from a salted duck egg placed in the center. Symbols of the festival like rabbits or phoenix motifs are used to decorate the crusts of the cakes. These moon cakes are placed in a certain manner. Thirteen moon cakes are placed in the shape of a pyramid on a table, this signifies a complete year with 12 moons and one intercalary moon.

Customs followed by the Chinese during the Chinese moon festival

The Chinese celebrate a lot of festivals, but one of the biggest other than the Chinese Lunar New Year is the Chinese Moon festival. On this day people not only gather together but they also have certain customs that give this festival a traditional feel.

One of the most important things for them to do is eat moon cakes under the moon…after all the festival is about the Moon! They also put pomelo rinds on their heads and carry bright lanterns. No Chinese tradition is complete without burning incense, incense sticks are burned and respect is given to the deity of Chang’e.

Since it is also the Harvest festival, some people, mostly farmers will plant mid-autumn trees. Dandelion leaves are collected and distributed among family members. And lets not forget the colorful fire dragon dances on streets.

What better way to celebrate a festival than with color and food…and if you want to learn to celebrate the Chinese way, find your way to a Chinese family’s home on the Chinese Moon festival day.

Chinese People: Men and Women Clothings

The key fashion trends in modern China incorporate a lot of changes in the silhouettes compared to the ancient clothing worn by the Chinese people. Today, the men and women’s clothing’s have seen a major metamorphosis in terms of designs patterns and textures used. With influences from all over the world, the modern styles incorporate a lot of looks and patterns from the modern palette.

The ancient Chinese clothing saw the dress system being brought into the social circuit by the Xia and the Shang Dynasties. For the Chinese people, the Chinese clothing meant not only an expression of elegance but also an internal symbolism. Prior to this, the ancient Stone Age saw the invention of the bone needle, which was then used to sew winter dresses. (Leaves and animal skin). The archaeological Chinese artifacts unearthed, have produced items such as stoned beads and shells that have holes bored into them. This itself shows the existence of sewing in the ancient Chinese civilization. The sophistication of the Shang Dynasty was further seen in the remains of certain articles that reflected the refinement of clothing in that era.

It was during the Sui and the Tang Dynasties that the economy of China flourished. This also brought about new ideas and thoughts and one saw a whole of changes in the fashion scenario. The Chinese people also saw a major influence by the culture of middle Asia.

The traditional Chinese clothing is the ch'ang-p'ao (One piece garment that extends from the shoulders to the heels), pien-fu (Two-piece ceremonial garment) and Shen-I (Combines the first two). The Shen-I consists of a tunic with a skirt or trousers. Here, the tunics and the skirt or trouser are sewed together.

Chinese clothing is known for its varied design. The Chinese man and woman always wore clothes that were plain and structured. Wide sleeves and loose flowing fabrics characterized the clothing. Also, one saw a lot of add on’s such as detailed embroidery, elaborate sashes, bands that were used as decoration and the use of silk. This later became a very exclusive feature of the Chinese clothing.

One also saw loads of geometrical patterns being adopted and also the use of pictures of plants and animals being infused into the designs. Till the Shang and the Zhou dynasty, the patterns were pretty primitive. Post this era; one can see a neater look and balanced designs and compositions. The plant and the animal forms took a realistic turn on the garments during the Ming and the Qing Dynasties.

The Chinese clothing also saw a major use of darker colors in the early days. The Chinese woman generally wore lighter colored clothing at home. The Chinese people are also known to have strong belief in the fact that certain colors are associated with specific seasons. For example, White is said to represent the autumn season.

Today, the traditional Chinese dress is back in vogue. Fashion designers are always thinking of new fashion ideas to amalgamate the use of ancient clothing basics in order to churn out some of the most versatile designs. A lot of stores today display fashions that incorporate religious motifs and masks that are based on ancient Chinese opera characters. The Chinese man is now seen adorning the traditional Chinese gown. The Chinese woman is often seen wearing the ch’i-p’ao, which is a modern version of the designs that were prevalent in the Ching Dynasty. This garment has stand-up collars and wide sleeves. Decorative borders used in the late Qing period and are popular even today.

Traditional Chinese designs have also gained impetus today. The Chinese people are known to scour various boutiques, malls and shops in pursuit of that ultimate design that is required. Perhaps this is the prime reason why one can see traditional styled garments flooding the markets. Most of them have been modified under the influence of Western clothing. The Chinese woman can take her pick from short-sleeved clothes that have thigh high splits.

In the present day, the Chinese have adapted themselves to embrace all the influences and have learned to play around with various colors and fabrics to suit different occasions. The traditional Chinese dress lays the strong base for modern fashion today.

Chinese Lunar Calendar: Gender Predictor Chart

As in all patriarchal societies, the Chinese throughout history have always preferred the birth of a baby boy to a girl. China has traditionally been an agricultural society, hence, in the past, having more boys meant that there would be more hands to work on the fields, which, of course brought in more money. Whereas the girls just stayed at home until they reached marriageable age – sixteen or seventeen – during which time they were considered to be just an expense on the family. In addition, according to Chinese custom, it was only boys that could inherit the ancestral property, and carry on the family business or farm. Hence, it is hardly surprising that the ancient Chinese devised a method of being able to predict the gender of the unborn child.

The Chinese Gender Predictor Chart, also known as the Chinese Lunar Calendar or The Chinese Birth Chart, is therefore considered one of the oldest methods of predicting the sex of a child before its birth. This 7,000-year-old chart, which is said to have been devised by an ancient Chinese scientist, was apparently discovered buried in a tomb near Beijing about 700 years back. At present, the original chart is in the Institute of Science in Beijing.

In recent times, the Chinese Gender Chart has also come into increasing use by the Chinese because of government policies that require couples to limit reproduction to a single child.

The surprising thing about the Chinese Gender Predictor Chart is that it is supposed to predict the sex of the child long before a woman even conceives, and its accuracy rate is said to be above 90 percent. Although that figure is in dispute, with some saying that it’s just 75 percent accurate, while skeptics pooh-pooh it as being more in the 50 percent range of accuracy, which would be the case in any random method of gender prediction.

Basically, the Chinese Gender Predictor Chart is based on the Lunar Calendar. This calendar indicates dates according to the phases of the moon. A lunar month is determined by the period of time it takes the moon to complete its full cycle comprising of 291/2 days, which makes the lunar year 11 days shorter than the solar year.

The Chinese Gender Chart is thought to be able to predict the gender of a child by cross-referencing the age of the mother and the month in which she conceived. The chart has been devised on the basis of the observation that women of the same age seem to be more likely to have children of the same gender. For instance, according to the Chinese Gender Chart, a 20-year-old woman has 75 percent chance of having a boy, whereas a 21-year-old woman has 91 percent chance of getting a girl.

Even though the accuracy of the Chinese Gender Predictor Chart may be disputed, nevertheless it can be quite fun to use if you are pregnant or are thinking of adding to your family. You can find various versions of the Chinese Lunar Calendar online these days.

However, it is important to keep in mind that you need to use the Chinese lunar month and your lunar age when you check to find out if your unborn child is going to be a girl or boy. If you fail to convert the month of conception and your age, you will not get accurate results. Another usual error while using the chart is miscalculating the conception date of your child. According to the Chinese Birth Chart, a newborn child is already a year old.

China - Spring Dragon Festival

China covers a large area and consists of a number of ethnic groups. Different areas and ethnic groups have formed different customs concerning food, clothing, shelter and transport, festivals, courtesies, sacrifices and religion, wedding and funerals. All of these customs have lasted for hundreds of years and have become part of the culture or different areas and ethnic groups. At the same time, some of them become the festivals and customs shared by all the Chinese people and merged into the traditional Chinese culture.

The generation and development of festivals is a course of their shaping, perfecting and their gradual integrating with the social life. It is the result of the social development, which has reached a certain stage. The increasing productive force of the society, the - ever improving conditions of people’s life, the emerge and the frequency of the religious activities have all provided a stage for the emerging and developing of festivals.

Spring Dragon Festival (the dragon lifts its head on the second day of the second lunar month) and of course the second day of the second lunar month is the very date of the festival.

The folklore says that every second day of the second lunar month is the time when the dragon in charge of the rain lifts its head. From that day on, rainfall will gradually increase, so it is called the ‘Spring Dragon Festival’ or ‘Dragon Head Festival’

On every occasion of the Spring Dragon Festival, families in most of the areas in the northern China will go to wells or rivers to fetch water with their lanterns on, in the morning. Then they will come back home and turn the light, burn joss sticks and offer up sacrifices. This ceremony was called ‘attracting the dragon in the field’ in the old times. On this festival, every family should eat noodles, which means ‘lifting the dragon’s head’; fry cakes, which means ‘eating the dragon’s gallbladder’ (the Chinese believe that this holds the courage); and pop corn so that ‘golden beans can blossom; dragon god can return to heaven and distribute the rain to the earth and crops can grow well.’

A story about the origin of the Spring Dragon Festival prevails among people. In the Tang Dynasty, Wu Zetian the queen came to power and became the empress, which irritated Yuhuang Dadi in the heaven. He ordered the four dragons gods who are in charge of the rain not to rain a single drop in three years. However, the dragon god who is in charge of the heaven river couldn’t bear to see people being driven to death, so broke Yuhuang Dadi’s rule and secretly rained once. Yuhuang Dadi became so angry that he kept the dragon god under the mountains as a kind of torture, and the stele on the mountain read as follows:

"The dragon king violates the heavenly rules by dropping rain
And is subject to thousands of years of punishment on earth
If ever he wishes to go back to the heavenly palace
It’s only when golden beans give birth to flowers."

To save the kindhearted dragon god, people went everywhere to find the golden beans. On the second day of the second lunar month the next year, people found the secret of golden beans when they were tedding the seeds of corn: since the corn is just like golden beans, isn’t that the golden beans blossom when the corn is popped? So every family began to pop the corn and set up the altar to offer the blossomed ‘golden beans’ as sacrifices. The dragon lifted his head and saw all this. Knowing that people are trying to rescue him, he cried to Yuhuang Dadi: ‘The golden beans have blossomed, so please set me free!’ Yuhuang Dadi had no choice but to call the dragon god back to heaven and give back his job. From then on, it became a habit that people pop corn on the second day of the second lunar month.

Actually, it is just the characteristic of North China Monsoon that the rainfalls begin to grow after the second day of the second lunar month. However, seen from another perspective, the festival also shows people’s wishes for fine weather and a better harvest.