TRAVEL AND BREATH IN CHINA

You will be well-awared that confucianism is actually very well-preserved and popular in Taiwan (Republic of China), as compared to mainland China (People’s Republic of China). There is special festival date in Taiwan to honor, commemorate and celebrate the birth of Confucius (孔子诞辰节日 , sorry can’t remember when it is). In fact, the descendent of [...]

Dong Zhi is the thanksgiving of the Chinese calendar. “Dong Zhi” literally means “arrival of winter”. Coinciding with the winter solstice, it is an occasion for the family to get together to celebrate the good year they have had. Tang Yuan (汤圆) is cooked and eaten to symbolise unity and harmony within the family. Dong [...]

The double nine festival falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. According to Chinese custom (I-Ching), “nine” is a number belonging to the positive principle “yang (阳)” thus the day is also known as Chong Yang or “Double Yang” Festival. The ancient chinese regarded this day as an auspicious day and thus [...]

The mooncake festival (Zhong Qiu Jie) falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. It is an occasion for family members to get together over mooncakes, fruits and fine tea and have “moon appreciation” (赏月) sessions. With its association with mooncakes and lanterns, Zhong Qiu Jie is also called Mooncake Festival or Lantern [...]

Just as the west has Halloween for ghost and ghouls, so does the chinese have a holiday to fete the departed spirits of the underworld. Ghost festival, a popular occasion celebrated throughout China on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. Historically, families offer sacrifices of then ewly harvested grain to depart ancestors on [...]

Celebrated on the 7th night of the seventh lunar month, Qi Xi Jie is one of the more romantic Chinese festivals. This is also called “Qi Qiao Jie” (乞巧节) or “Nu Er Jie” (女儿节) in chinese. This is considered the chinese’s valentine’s day. It commemorates the annual reunion of the cowherd (Niu Lang /牛郎 ) [...]

Dragon Boat Festival (’Duan Wu Jie’ 端午节)
Dragon Boat Festival (Duan Wu Jie) is a day to commemorate the Chinese patriot and poet, Qu Yuan (屈原). Falling on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, it is a day to remind oneself of one’s duties and obligations to the nation. Other than eating rice dumplings [...]

All Soul’s day (’Qing Ming Jie” 清明节)
Qing Ming Jie is a period to remember, honour and pay respect to one’s deceased ancestors and family members. It reinforces filial piety in the Chinese community by letting them make special effort to visit the grave, columbarium or temple to pay their respects.
Qing Ming literally meaning clear and [...]

After the chinese new year, the next festival to be celebrated is the ‘1st Night Festival’ or Yuanxiao Jie on the 15th of January Lunar Calendar. The 1st Night day also happens to be the night of 1st full moon in the beginning of the year. It is an extension of the chinese new year.
According [...]

The chinese new year is the most important festivals celebrated by all chinese around the world. It’s also called Lunar New Year or “Chun Jie” (Spring Festival) in chinese.
The celebration lasted for 15 days starting from 1st of January till 15th of January on the Lunar Calendar.
Chun Jie symbolises the beginning of the year, a [...]