Day Seventeen

Today, Mrs Shi gave us a lesson with the Chinese culture again. She taught us how beautifully the Chinese words are. Chinese words are actually transformed from the shape of the real objects.

Then, she taught us the most common/character for most culture. Way of learning, way of Sharing, symbols, and adaptability. For example, China is not very adaptive. The Chinese still cannot accept tattoo. In working life, when you apply for official job, the most important thing is there must not have any tattoo on the body. The Chinese are very particular with tattoos. However, take a look back to our Singapore, tattoos actually represents the culture. Singapore becomes more acceptable for it. For the Chinese to represents their own culture, they can wear a blouse, a shirt, which has special words with special meaning on it. For example, words with longevity, prosperity, blessing, and etc.

There are a few symbols which symbolize the Chinese culture. Particularly the Colors, plants, Animals, and numbers.

Colors
Red represents good luck, positive. In Chinese new year, people wear reds, paint their house red, to wipe away bad things, and hoping for a good years ahead.
Yellow represents noble. In the ancient times, the emperor wear yellow blouse.
Purple represents good future.
White represents sad, and it is related to death. People who attends funeral, would normally wear white, to show respect to the family.

Plant
Pine- longevity
Lotus- Perseverance and honesty
Bamboo- fairness and honesty
Plum Blooms- High hearted

Animal
Black Bird- Bad Luck (However it represents good luck for Japanese.)
Magpie- Good luck (Talkative in English.)
Owl- Evil (English says owl are wise.)
Cuckoo- Represents Sadness, homesickness.
Monkey- Swift minded, smart. When you say a kid is like a monkey, you are actually praising him a smart and intelligence boy.
Ox- Hardworking, strong
Horse- Hardworking, bright future
Mouse- Mean, coward
Tiger- Power, strength, king of beasts
Rabbit- tamed, coward.

Lucky Number
Two(2) - A good united couple, good marriage, balance life, reproductively.
Three(3) – Strength and friendship
Four(4) – Reproductive,
Six(6) – Means things go smooth
Eight(8) – Good fortune
Nine(9) – longevity, lasting
Ten(10) – Perfect, complete.

Today, I also learnt how to reject the Chinese from drinking from Mrs. Shi. She taught us that the best way to reject people is to tell them that you are allergic to alcohol. Otherwise, people would think that you are not sincere and may be offensive.

Today, we learnt about the Chinese culture, the interesting things that they do. Well Done.