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Health, to me, means that an individual is free from illness, injury, or disease. Feeling pain-free physically and emotionally and can function normally in daily life. Having a positive physical, mental, and social attribute that contributes to a high quality of life is the most important in health.

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Special Initiative for Action on the Social Determinants of Health for Advancing Health Equality. Cited on World Health Organization. 

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Social determinants of health refer to social, economic, political, and environmental conditions an individual lives with, such as income and social protection, education and housing. These determinants can significantly impact the health and well-being of migrants and refugees in Australia.

Income and Social Protection:

Many migrants and refugees arrive in Australia with limited financial resources. Language barriers, different qualifications recognition, and unfamiliarity with the job market can often result in lower-paying jobs or unemployment. This lack of financial security can lead to poverty, stress, and difficulty accessing healthcare.

Insufficient income can reduce access to healthy food, safe housing, and healthcare. Migrants and refugees facing financial hardship may delay seeking medical care or skip necessary treatments, worsening health outcomes.

Education:

Educational attainment is a significant factor in employment opportunities and socioeconomic status. Refugees and migrants may face challenges recognising their qualifications or need additional training or education to meet Australian standards. Limited educational opportunities can hinder access to well-paying jobs with good working conditions. This, in turn, affects an individual's ability to afford healthcare, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and access preventative healthcare services.

Housing:

Migrants and refugees often face challenges finding safe and affordable housing, especially in major Australian cities with high housing costs. They may also encounter discrimination in the housing market. Inadequate housing can lead to overcrowding, substandard living conditions, and increased exposure to environmental health risks. These conditions can contribute to the spread of infectious diseases and negatively impact mental health, particularly among families.

WHO. (2023). Social Determinants of Health. https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1

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The social determinants of health (SDH) are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. These forces and systems include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies and political systems.

The SDH have an important influence on health inequities - the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries. In countries at all levels of income, health and illness follow a social gradient: the lower the socioeconomic position, the worse the health.

The following list provides examples of the social determinants of health, which can influence health equity in positive and negative ways:

Income and social protection

Education

Unemployment and job insecurity

Working life conditions

Food insecurity

Housing, basic amenities and the environment

Early childhood development

Social inclusion and non-discrimination

Structural conflict

Access to affordable health services of decent quality.

Research shows that the social determinants can be more important than health care or lifestyle choices in influencing health. For example, numerous studies suggest that SDH account for between 30-55% of health outcomes. In addition, estimates show that the contribution of sectors outside health to population health outcomes exceeds the contribution from the health sector.

Addressing SDH appropriately is fundamental for improving health and reducing longstanding inequities in health, which requires action by all sectors and civil society.

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WHO's work on social determinants of health

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Many Iraqi refugees arrived in Australia due to ongoing conflict and instability in Iraq. This includes the Iraq War of 2003, sectarian violence, and the rise of extremist groups like ISIS. These conflicts have led to displacement, violence, and persecution, prompting many Iraqis to seek safety aboard. Australia has accepted Iraqi refugees through various humanitarian programs, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) resettlement program. The three common health concerns that Iraqi refugees may experience upon arrival are mental health issues, infectious diseases, nutritional deficiencies, and malnutrition.

Mental health issues:
Many Iraqi refugees have experienced traumatic events, including exposure to violence, conflict, and displacement. This can lead to mental health issues such as PTSD, depression and anxiety. Treatment may include individual or group counselling and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Infectious diseases:
Iraqi refugees may be at risk of various infectious diseases due to crowded living conditions, limited access to healthcare in their home country, and the stress of displacement. Common concerns include tuberculosis (TB), hepatitis, and parasitic infections. Treatment options may include antibiotics, antiviral medications, and antiparasitic drugs.

Nutritional deficiencies & malnutrition:
Displacement and limited access to food resources can lead to nutritional deficiencies and malnutrition, especially among vulnerable populations like children and pregnant women. Common deficiencies include iron, vitamin D, and calcium. Treatment may involve dietary counselling, supplementation with vitamins and minerals, and support for breastfeeding mothers.

Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide. (2023). Common Health Concerns. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/hepatitis-c/

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Competency standard 12.3 reflection. Cited on Migrant and Refugee Women's Health Partnership. 

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For me, the most relevant aspect of competency standard 12.3 is "Effective Communication" when providing care to migrant and refugee backgrounds. This competency is essential in upholding the principles of person-centered and family-focused care access and equality, quality and respect, all of which are integral to culturally responsive health care.

Effective communication involves the exchange of information and the ability to establish rapport, understand cultural nuances, and ensure that patients and their families feel heard and respected. I will apply this competency standard by using active listening, cultural competence, language assistance (interpreter) and non-verbal communication.

Migrant and Refugee Women's Health Partnership. (2019). Culturally Responsive Clinical Practice: working with people from Migrant and Refugee Backgrounds. Competency Standards Framework for Clinicians. https://moodleprod.murdoch.edu.au/pluginfile.php/3573073/mod_resource/content/1/Culturally-responsive-clinical-practice-Working-with-people-from-migrant-and-refugee-backgrounds-Jan2019.pdf

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Astragalus, known as "Huang Qi" in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is a popular herb with a long history of medicinal use in China. The root of Astragalus is the part most commonly used for medicinal purposes.

Astragalus is rich in iron, zinc, folic acid and choline. Its roots contain polysaccharides, triterpenoids, isoflavones, glycosides, malonates and saponins, which are all favourable properties to improve health.

Benefits of Astragalus roots:

Anti-inflammatory:

Help with colds and Flu

Adaptogen properties

Toxin removal

McFarland Elisha. (n.d.) 17 Remarkable Science Backed Benefits of Astragalus Root. My Health Maven. https://myhealthmaven.com/17-remarkable-science-backed-benefits-astragalus-root/

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Kung Pao Chicken. Cited on Reciptineats. 

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Kung Pao Chicken originated from Sichuan China, featuring diced chicken stir-fried with peanuts, vegetables, and chilli peppers. It has a sweet and spicy flavour. Kung Pao chicken was trendy in Sichuan and eventually spread to other parts of China and the world. Today, it is one of the most famous and beloved dishes in Chinese cuisine, known for its bold and spicy flavours.

Nagi. (2018). Kung Pao Chicken. RecipeTin Eats. https://padlet.com/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.recipetineats.com%2Fkung-pao-chicken%2F

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Take out style Kung Pao Chicken with marinated chicken, the signature sweet-sour-salty Kung Pao sauce with the addictive tingling heat from sichuan pepper.
It's an explosion of big, BIG flavours - and it's a really quick and easy recipe.

Kung Pao Chicken

Kung Pao Chicken is a Chinese takeout favourite that is mouthwateringly good and highly addictive - so it's a good thing it's easy to make at home so we don't need to order takeout every time we crave it!! We love the strong flavoured sweet-sour-savoury sauce with the signature tingle of numbing heat from the Sichuan pepper!

If you're wondering whether Kung Pao Chicken is authentic Chinese, the dish as we know it outside of China is a slightly westernised version of an authentic Chinese Sichuan dish.

Traditionally in China, Kung Pao Chicken is a dry stir fry. Which means, unlike 99% of other Asian stir fries on my site like Chop Suey and Cashew Chicken, it's not swimming in loads of sauce.

But with Kung Pao Chicken, the sauce is very intense flavoured so you don't need loads of it. When it mixes in with the rice, just a bit of sauce goes a long way.

What goes in Kung Pao Chicken

Most of these ingredients are pretty mainstream Asian cooking ingredients. I've provided substitutes for the Chinese cooking wine in the recipe.

The ingredients I describe in a little more detail below are:

I like to use chicken thigh because it's juicier than breast and tenderloin. If I make this with chicken breast, I always tenderise it using a Chinese restaurant technique using baking soda (bi-carb). It's super simple, see directions here: How to Velvet Chicken.

Sichuan Pepper

This is the ingredient in Kung Pao sauce that makes it Kung Pao and not just any type of stir fry sauce. I describe it as a little bit lemony with a numbing spiciness, rather than hot spiciness like almost every other chilli.

I used to use whole peppercorns but nowadays I tend to use pre ground both for the convenience and also because it's finely ground. In contrast, if you grind your own, there tends to be little gritty bits in it - albeit the flavour is a bit better.

Best substitute for Sichuan pepper is white pepper.

Dried Chillies

Not all dried chillies are created equal and in fact, the same type of chillies can vary in spiciness throughout the year. So for dried chillies, always taste them and make a judgement call on how much you can handle! Most of the heat is in the seeds which are removed.

If you really don't think you can handle any chilli at all, use them when cooking but don't eat them. The chillies add flavour to to sauce so don't skip them.

What does Kung Pao Sauce taste like?

Kung Pao sauce has a strong flavour that is sweet, sour, savoury and with the signature tingle of heat from Sichuan pepper. It's glossy and thickened with cornstarch / cornflour, and because it has such a strong flavour, this stir fry has less sauce than other Chinese favourites like Cashew Chicken and Beef and Broccoli.

Here's what goes in Kung Pao Sauce:

Sichuan Pepper - described above

Chinese Black Vinegar - described below

Cornstarch / cornflour - to thicken the sauce

- subs available

Soy sauce, sugar and water

Chinese Black Vinegar

Looks like balsamic vinegar and, surprisingly, tastes vaguely like it. Available in Asian stores and costs only a couple of dollars for a big bottle. Be sure not to get Taiwanese or another Asian black vinegar (some taste completely different), make sure you get Chinese black vinegar (read the label!).
If you can't find it, don't worry, you can use rice wine vinegar, plain white vinegar or even balsamic vinegar. I've made Kung Pao Sauce so many times and tried it with each of these, and it's actually quite similar.
Quick to cook

As with most stir fries, once you start cooking, things move quickly! It takes about 6 minutes to cook. So make sure you have all ingredients prepared and ready to toss in.

Key Tip: Cook the Kung Pao sauce down until it reduces to a syrupy consistency with quite an intense flavour. That's the Kung Pao way!!

Phew! I don't usually end up writing so much stuff about ingredients in a post! So I'm signing off here and handing over the recipe. Don't forget the recipe video below! I think it's especially useful to see the consistency of the sauce at the end - it should be thick and syrupy, and intense dark brown colour. Enjoy! - Nagi x

More Chinese takeout favourites

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Kung Pao Chicken

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats

Recipe video above. Kung Pao chicken - done right! The flavour of this sauce is very similar to proper restaurant versions, with a great balance of savoury-sweet and sour with the numbing tingle from Sichuan pepper. Use whole Sichuan peppercorns if you have them, otherwise ground is fine (which is what I use).

Sauce & Marinade Chicken:

Mix cornflour and soy sauce in a small bowl until cornflour is dissolved. Then mix in remaining Sauce ingredients EXCEPT water.

Pour 1.5 tbsp Sauce over chicken. Toss to coat, set aside for 10 - 20 minutes.

Stir Fry:

Heat oil in wok over high heat. Add garlic, ginger and chillies. Cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant.

Add chicken, cook until it turns white, then add the white part of the green onions. Cook until chicken is cooked through - about 2 minutes.

Add Sauce and Sichuan pepper. Bring to simmer, mixing constantly, until almost all the sauce reduces to a thick syrup.

Just before the end, mix through peanuts and green part of the green onions. Also check spiciness - add more Sichuan pepper if you can handle the heat!

Serve immediately with rice - or for a low carb, low cal option, try Cauliflower Rice!

1. Chicken - I prefer making this with thigh because it's juicier, but it can be made with breast or tenderloin. If using breast, option to tenderise using the Chinese method so it's super tender and juicy like you get at Chinese restaurants - see How to tenderise chicken the Chinese way (Velveting)

2. Light Soy Sauce is saltier and lighter in colour than all purpose soy sauce (like Kikkoman). The bottle will have "light soy sauce" written on it. It's available in large supermarkets - e.g. Coles and Woolworths in Australia. It can be substituted with all purpose soy sauce - like Kikkoman.

3. Dark Soy Sauce is much darker in colour than Light Soy Sauce has has more flavour. The bottle has "dark soy sauce" written on the label. This is mainly to darken the colour of the sauce so if you don't have it, you can substitute with all purpose soy sauce or even with light soy sauce.

4. Chinese black vinegar for the sour is the authentic way of making it. It looks like balsamic vinegar, tastes like it too but with a slight savoury edge. It's available at Asian stores and some large supermarkets. Substitute with 1.5 tbsp of rice wine vinegar, or 1 tbsp white vinegar or even a mild balsamic vinegar (plain one).

Do not use Taiwanese black vinegar (which is also sold at some Asian grocery stores), it tastes like sour Worcestershire sauce and it changes the flavour of this recipe. Bottle label will say "made in Taiwan".

5. Chinese Cooking Wine is also called shaosing / shoaxing wine, see here for more information. It's the ingredient that makes recipes truly taste like what you get at Chinese restaurants.

Substitutions: dry sherry or mirin (if using mirin, skip the sugar) or Japanese cooking sake (rice wine). If you can't consume alcohol, then skip it but use chicken broth in place of water.

6. Sichuan peppercorns are not that spicy, they sort of make your mouth numb. In a pleasant way! I used to grind my own but nowadays I just buy ground. If you grind your own, toast them in a dry pan first then grind - it will have slightly better flavour but you get grittiness.

Taste first for spiciness as I find that the spiciness varies. Add more at the end if you want more heat.

They can be purchased at Asian grocery stores, fruit & veg stores that stock spices and some supermarkets. In Australia, they can be purchased at Harris Farms. In America, I am told that sichuan pepper is sold at Wholefoods!

7. Dried chillies: I find that the spiciness of dried chillies drastically differs from brand to brand! So adjust this to taste. Cut off a tiny bit of the chilli and check how hot it is, then decide how many to use. I typically use 6 dried chillies that are around 6 - 7cm/ 2.5" long, deseeded.

8. Nutrition per serving, Kung Pao Chicken only assuming chicken thigh is used. 150 calories of this is attributable to the peanuts.

9. Republished recipe - This Kung Pao Chicken recipe was original posted in April 2016. Recipe has been slightly modified so there's a touch more sauce - by reader demand! 🙂

Keywords: Kung Pao Chicken

I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @RecipeTinEats.

Lucky 8: Eight more Chinese takeout favourites

Re-united. Life is back to as it should be!

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Take out style Kung Pao Chicken with marinated chicken, the signature sweet-sour-salty Kung Pao sauce with the addictive tingling heat from sichuan pepper. It's an explosion of big, BIG flavours - and it's a really quick and easy recipe.

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The 12 Chinese Astrology Signs and What They Mean for You. Cited on Readers Digest. 

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The Chinese Zodiac, also known as Shengxiao, is a astrology system used for centuries in China and other East Asian Countries. It is based on a 12-year cycle, where each year is associated with an animal sign. These animal signs are believed to influence a person's personality, characteristics, and destiny.

Markarian Taylor .(2023) The 12 Chinese Astrology Signs and What They Mean for You. Readers Digest .https://www.rd.com/article/what-is-my-chinese-zodiac-sign/

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What's your Chinese zodiac sign? The animal associated with your birth year reveals a lot about your personality and the year ahead.

For more than 2,000 years, the Chinese zodiac has played an integral role in Chinese culture. You may have heard that 2022 is the Year of the Tiger, but if you're not familiar with Chinese traditions, you might not understand the significance ofChinese New Yearand the Chinese zodiac system. While Western astrology is detailed, Chinese astrology is even more complex and nuanced, incorporating not just the 12 Chinese astrology signs but also the five Chinese zodiac elements-earth, metal, water, wood, and fire-and yin and yang energy. But let's begin with the basics: What are the 12 Chinese astrology signs, how did they come to be, and what do they mean for your personality? And if you're looking to learn more than just your animal sign, read up on the Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year food, and Chinese New Year traditions.

What is the Chinese zodiac?

The Chinese zodiac, also known as Shengxiao ("born resembling"), is a repeating cycle of 12 years, and each year is represented by a different animal. In order, the 12 animals are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The order of the Chinese astrology signs is related to the most commonly accepted legend of the Chinese zodiac: the Jade Emperor's Race. As the story goes, the Chinese emperor held a race to determine which lucky animals would have the honor of being added to the calendar. The first-place winner-who ended up being the rat-would claim the first year of the 12-year cycle, and so on.

What is my Chinese astrology sign, and what does it mean?

Juleen (Zhuqing) Wang, Student Services Advisor for Montclair State University's School of Business, grew up in Hangzhou, China. She loves to share Chinese culture and history with her students, and she also sometimes teaches Chinese language classes. As a native of China, she and her family always clung to the superstition of the Chinese zodiac. "Nowadays," she says, "[fewer] people care about it, but it's still in people's minds." For example, zodiac traits and compatibility are often cited as reasons for why two people don't get along. ("They're a Tiger and an Ox-of course they're fighting!")

While that may sound a lot like Western astrology, Wang notes that the very natures of Western and Eastern astrology are inherently different. "In Western astrology, horoscopes change," she explains. "Chinese astrology is pretty set in stone." Unlike Western astrology, which is governed by the constant planetary movements, Chinese astrology is predetermined by birth year; an Ox is an Ox, and that never changes (though the personality of a Water Ox will be somewhat different from a Fire Ox's). So, what does your animal sign say about you?

Tiger

Birth years of the Tiger: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010

Next year of the Tiger: 2022

"Tiger is very adventurous," explains Wang. "[The Chinese] consider people in that year very lucky. The negative side is that Tigers can be kind of dramatic and cocky." Interestingly, Forbes once did a study of the 400 richest Americans and found a disproportionately large number of them were Tiger babies! Tiger goes well with Dragon, Horse, and Pig.

Rabbit

Birth years of the Rabbit: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011

Next year of the Rabbit: 2023

Following the Tiger is the Rabbit. People born in Rabbit years are described as smart, kind, and docile. Rabbits do not get along with Snakes, which Wang knows from personal experience. "My dad was an Ox," she reminisces. "I'm a daddy's girl. My mom is a Rabbit and she said I bullied her!" Rabbits are said to get along famously with Dogs, Goats, Monkeys, and Pigs.

Dragon

Birth years of the Dragon: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012

Next year of the Dragon: 2024

Dragons are incredibly important to Chinese culture, so naturally, the Dragon is a very popular Chinese astrology sign. "Dragon is warmhearted and enthusiastic. The birth rate will actually even increase during that year because everyone wants a Dragon baby," Wang reveals. "There is such a huge competition when Dragon babies need to go to college, because [they] are facing more competitors." She also notes that Jack Ma, owner of Alibaba and one of the richest men in China, is a Dragon. Dragons pair best with Roosters, Rats, and Monkeys.

Snake

Birth years of the Snake: 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013

Next year of the Snake: 2025

Next up: the Snake. "We say that Snake is like the mini Dragon, so that is very popular as well," says Wang. "They're very curious and wise, but they can also be jealous and greedy. Snake goes really well with Ox-and I actually married an Ox!" Dragons and Roosters are optimal matches for a Snake.

Horse

Birth years of the Horse: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014

Next year of the Horse: 2026

The horse has been one of the most influential animals in all of human history, which is why, Wang says, the Horse "is a leader and very generous as well." People born in Horse years are also said to be talented and energetic. This Chinese astrology sign matches well with Tigers, Goats, and Rabbits.

Goat

Birth years of the Goat: 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015

Next year of the Goat: 2027

Often seen as being followers and not leaders, people born in Goat years are gentle, decent, and a little timid. "Goat is actually an animal that a lot of people try to avoid, because Goat always has a hard life," says Wang, adding that the birth rate tends to decrease in Goat years. If you're a Goat, you'd be wise to make a match with a Horse, Rabbit, or Pig. Even if you're not the biggest on astrology, these zodiac memes will still probably make you chuckle.

Monkey

Birth years of the Monkey: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016

Next year of the Monkey: 2028

Pretty much everyone loves a Monkey, likely because this is the animal most genetically linked to humans. "Monkey has really good social skills and is very humorous," Wang says. Those two personality traits also make Monkeys playful and even sometimes mischievous. Ox, who is patient, and Rabbit, who is kind, are ideal matches for this sign.

Rooster

Birth years of the Rooster: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017

Next year of the Rooster: 2029

One can literally and figuratively set their clock by the Rooster, a sign that's defined by reliability and consistency. For this reason, Roosters tend to do very well in Ox years. "They are also very brave and very entertaining," Wang says. Ox and Snake are the best matches for a Rooster. When it comes to compatibility, you may want to cross-reference your zodiacs. According to Western astrology, these are the zodiac signs that should never date each other.

Dog

Birth years of the Dog: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018

Next year of the Dog: 2030

"Dog sign is exactly what you think about dogs," Wang says of man's best friend. "Dog is very loyal, playful, and selfless." This sign is also considered practical, much like how the real animal is used for protection or bred by humans for specific purposes. Dog's best bet for a partner is a Rabbit-someone who is as kind and loving as they are.

Pig

Birth years of the Pig: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

Next year of the Pig: 2031

"The last one is Pig, who is loving, happy, direct, and persuasive," says Wang. The Pig may have come in last in the emperor's race, but this animal sign is no slouch. 2019 was the year of the Earth Pig, which was predicted to bring steadiness, wealth, and opportunity. (How was it for you?) Tigers, Rabbits, and Goats will make a Pig happy.

Rat

Birth years of the Rat: 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020

Next year of the Rat: 2032

"We normally say Rat is smart, charming, and imaginative," Wang says. "That's how he got first place." The Rat secured first place in the emperor's legendary race by riding on the back of the Ox and jumping off just in time to cross the finish line. This enviable wit is a source of pride for people of this Chinese astrology sign. As it happens, Rat is most compatible with Ox, as well as with Dragon and Monkey.

Ox

Birth years of the Ox: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021

Next year of the Ox: 2033

Duped by the Rat, the Ox came in second place. "Ox is very determined and generous and patient," Wang says. "Ox is also considered very hardworking." Those virtues may have helped people born in Ox years through 2021, the year of the Metal Ox-because in Chinese astrology, your own year is actually considered unlucky. That's because being born is said to antagonize a Chinese god of fortune named Tai Sui, earning you his curse. "He's going to be against you," Wang explains. "You're trying to fight that monster." One way to ward off the evils of your birth year is to wear red, an auspicious color in Chinese culture. Snakes, Rats, and Roosters are the best matches for an Ox.
Sources:

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The 12 Chinese Astrology Signs and What They Mean for You

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What's your Chinese zodiac sign? The animal associated with your birth year reveals a lot about your personality and the year ahead. For more than 2,000 years, the Chinese zodiac has played an integral role in Chinese culture.

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Chinese Calendar. Cited on TravelChinaGuide. 

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The Lunar Calendar, also known as the "Lunisolar Calendar", is a calendar system based on the cycles of the Moon's phases, specifically its synodic month, approximately 29.53 days long. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is widely used in most of the world and is based on the Earth's orbit around the sun, the lunar calendar uses' the Moon's cycles as the basis for timekeeping.

Various cultures have used the Lunar calendar throughout history, and they often play a significant role in religious, agricultural, and cultural practices. The Chinese lunar calendar determines traditional festivals like the Chinese New Year.

TravelChinaGuide.(2019). Chinese Calendar. https://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/focus/calendar.htm

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Chinese calendar, a lunisolar calendar, is formed on the movement of the moon and the sun. It is also called the Lunar calendar, Yin calendar, Xia calendar or the old Chinese calendar. Each Chinese calendar year has a zodiac sign, 12 or 13 months and each month has 29 or 30 days. If there are 12 months, there will be 354 or 355 days in a year; if 13 months, there will be 383 or 384 days. Although China has adopted the Gregorian calendar for official and business occasions, the traditional Chinese calendar is widely used to define 24 solar terms, traditional holidays and helps to choose a lucky day before important activities such as wedding, moving into a new house.

How Does the Chinese Lunar Calendar Work

Each time the moon moves into a line with the earth and the sun, a new month begins and this is called 'Chu Yi' or 'Shuo Ri', meaning the first day of a lunar month. When the full moon appears, it is the middle of the month. The time of a full moon circle is a little more than 29 days, so one month has 29 days or 30 days.

There are 12 - 13months in a lunar year. The month with its first day nearest the Beginning of Spring (the first solar term) is the first lunar month, and on that day the Spring Festival is held and this varies between January 20th and February 20th.

Just as the Gregorian calendar has a leap year in order to compensate for the fact that the earth does not travel around the sun in exactly 365 days, the Chinese calendar is adjusted so as to ensure that it bears a proper relationship with the apparent movement of the sun between the northern and southern tropics. People in ancient times concluded that there is a 19 year cycle. And within this cycle, certain days will equate with the lunar day. For example, in 1963, 1982, and 2001, May 28th coincided with the sixth day of the fourth month in lunar year.

To decide when a leap month needs to be added to bring the lunar calendar in accordance to the earth's movement around the sun, the 24 solar terms are considered. Most months will have more than one solar term but in those instances where a month has only one, it will be repeated with 29 or 30 days the same as a normal month which means there are 13 months in some years. This phenomenon can occur every two or three years.

Chinese Lunar Calendar 2023

According to Chinese calendar, 2023 is Gui Mao Year. It lasts from January 22, 2023 to February 9, 2024 in Gregorian calendar. The zodiac sign is Rabbit.

Chinese Calendar Year 2022 - 2031

What are the Uses of Chinese Calendar？

All traditional Chinese festivals are decided according to the lunar calendar. For example, Spring Festival is the first day of a lunar year, Dragon Boat Festival is on May 5th and Mid-Autumn Festival is on August 15th in lunar calendar.

A zodiac year is from the first day to the last day of a lunar year. Every lunar year has a representative zodiac. And it has a 12-year cycle with the order as Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.

After observing the sun's movement, ancients have found the longest day and the shortest day of a year, respectively Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice. Using these two annual events, a Chinese calendar year was divided into 24 equal parts, each forming a solar term. 24 solar terms show people's understanding of four seasons, climate and the agriculture. For instance, the Beginning of Spring (Li Chun) symbolizes the coming of spring; Grain in Beard (Mang Zhong) means it is time to harvest wheat and Greater Cold (Da Han) signifies the coldest time of a year.
See more Customs Concerning the 24 Solar Terms

Choose a Lucky Date

In daily life, Chinese people usually choose a lucky day in Chinese calendar before important activities such as marriage proposal, wedding, praying for pregnancy, and traveling.

Based on Chinese lunar calendar, Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches is developed which is used to calculate years. The 10 heavenly stems are Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui and the 12 earthly branches are Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai. Every lunar year has a name combined by 1 heavenly stem and 1 earthly branch. For example, 2022 is Ren Yin year and 2023 is Gui Mao year. When every lunar new year comes, the heavenly stems and earthly branches turn to next one and combine a new name. And it has a 60-year cycle.

Ancient Chinese believed the universe was composed of five elements, namely metal, wood, water, fire and earth. Chinese like to find out their element using their birth date in lunar calendar and predict their life horoscope, like what career they are suitable for and what kind of people they are supposed to marry.

Over 4,000 Years' History of Chinese Lunar Calendar

The lunar calendar has a very long history going back to the Xia (21st century BC - 16th century BC) and Shang Dynasty (16th century BC - 11th century BC). Roughly speaking, it has existed for more than 4,000 years. It is based on a unique combination of astronomy and geography through observation and exploration.

Following its creation in the Xia Dynasty, succeeding reigns continued to use the calendar but modified it from time to time. The Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD) rulers instituted the Taichu calendar, while during Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD) the Huangji calendar was introduced and it was adopted by Japan, Korea and Vietnam.

Differences between Chinese Calendar and Gregorian Calendar

Chinese calendar is lunisolar calendar which is calculated according to the movement of the moon and the sun. Gregorian calendar is calculated by the movement of sun; when the earth goes around the sun for one circle, it is one year. Generally speaking, lunar calendar is 20 - 50 days later than Gregorian calendar.

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Chinese calendar is lunisolar calendar and it is formed on the movement of the moon. It defines 24 solar terms, traditional holidays and helps to choose a lucky day.

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How Chinese Tea Became Art, Philosophy, Religion & Tradition. Cited on Teasenz.

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Chinese tea culture is a centuries-old tradition deeply rooted in the country's history, philosophy, and daily life. It encompasses a wide range of practices and rituals associated with tea cultivation, preparation, and consumption.

Teasenz. (2021). How Chinese Tea Become Art, Philosophy, Religion & Tradition. https://www.teasenz.com/chinese-tea/chinese-tea-art-philosophy-tradition.html

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How Chinese Tea Became Art, Philosophy, Religion & Tradition

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How tea became a form of art, philosophy and religion from a historical perspective. What’s the meaning and philosophy behind tea as a form of art? How is tea related to other art forms such as poetry, paintings and literature?

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How do people celebrate Chinese New Year? cited from Royal Museums Greenwich. 

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Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival (Chun Jie), is China's most significant and widely celebrated traditional festival. It begins the lunar new year and typically falls on the Gregorian calendar between January 21 and February 20. Chinese New Year festivities last about 15 days, each filled with unique customs and traditions.

Royal Museum Greenwich. (n.d.) How do people celebrate Chinese New Year? https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/how-do-people-celebrate-chinese-new-year#:~:text=It%20is%20the%20most%20solemn,the%20new%20and%20the%20good.

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What happens during Chinese New Year? Members of the Newham Chinese Association explain some of the traditions, festivals and customs that take place when Chinese New Year is celebrated. From folk stories and traditions to food, drink and costumes, discover facts about Chinese New Year and how it is celebrated both in China and the UK.
How do people celebrate Chinese New Year?

The Chinese New Year (新年) is also known as the Spring Festival (春节). It is the most solemn festival of the year for every Chinese and has been celebrated in China for thousands of years, with various forms of activities among the diverse regions of China.

The New Year celebration is centred around removing the bad and the old, and welcoming the new and the good. It's a time to worship ancestors, exorcise evil spirits and pray for good harvest.

Today it's celebrated also by Chinese communities outside the country. Lion dance, dragon dance, temple fairs, flower market shopping and so on are just a few of these rich and colourful activities.

In the run-up to the new year people will clean their houses to get rid of dirt, rubbish and other unwanted items. They will redecorate them with red couplets, lanterns, new flowerpots and furniture, and will shop for foodstuffs for banquet specialities.

The New Year is an important family reunion occasion, so those who are living or working far away would return home prior to the holiday. In China this is now known as Chun Yun (春运 Moving in the Spring): tens of millions of people travel on the country's vast public transport systems or via private means, coming home to be with their loved ones.

How do you celebrate Chinese New Year with friends and family?

As an important family reunion occasion, food and drink are a crucial part of the New Year celebration. Members of the family sit around a big table to have a New Year's Eve dinner. This is known as Nian Ye Fan (年夜饭).

Families burn incense to worship their ancestors. Older and senior members of the family give the younger ones good luck pocket money known as Ya Sui Qian (压岁钱) contained in a red envelop (Hong Bao 红包).

Children join in with Chinese New Year craft activities at the National Maritime Museum

Everyone would have a thorough bath to cleanse themselves and wash away the bad luck before the end of the year. Children and adults would change into new clothes, new shoes, new outfits for the festive period.

At midnight on New Year's Eve, noisy firecrackers would be set off to usher in the New Year. On New Year's Day and the few days that follow, friends would visit each other's homes and offer good luck wishes to each other, exchange seasonal greetings (拜年), where they make a bow with hands folded in front (作揖).

How do you say 'happy new year' in Chinese?

In northern China, it is common to say "Xinnian Kuaile" (Happy New Year in Mandarin) when greeting someone. Whereas in Guangdong and Hong Kong, the Cantonese version of the greeting is "Gong Hey Fat Choi" (wishing you a prosperous year).

What Chinese New Year decorations do you make?

Decoration is a big part of Chinese New Year celebration. People spend substantial time and effort to uplift their houses and the immediate surroundings in order to welcome the Gods of Wealth (财神). There are said to be two Gods of Wealth: one God of Civil (文神) and one God of Military (武神).

People fix up paper-cuts (窗花) on windows and folk paintings on walls, hang red lanterns in and outside their houses, display couplets (春联) on doors, hang a big Chinese character LUCK (福) on the main entrance and so on.

In some parts of northern China this Chinese character is often hung upside down, because the term "upside down" sounds like "arriving" in Mandarin Chinese. Thus an upside-down LUCK would mean LUCK arriving there.

Streets, city squares and other public places are also decorated with banners, flags, flowerpots, orange trees and so on in order to boost the festive atmosphere. Peach, plum and daffodils are mostly seen because they are thought to bring good luck.

What stories and myths are told on Chinese New Year?

There are various mythical stories about the Chinese New Year, popular in different regions of the country.

According to one story, once upon a time there was a world of ghosts. In it there was a mountain with a big peach tree expanding over a vast landscape. On top of this tree nestled a golden rooster. Each morning when the rooster crowed, all the ghosts would hurriedly return from their night out. At the entrance to the ghost world sat two Door Gods (门神) on each side of the gate. If a returning ghost was found to have done harm or evil the night before, it would be punished by the Door Gods. This is the origin of the couplets that people display during the Spring Festival: they are believed to have the power of stopping evils and bad luck.

Another story tells of a unicorn beast in ancient times in China. The unicorn was called Nian and was fiercely aggressive. It lived on the sea bottom but would go ashore to loot livestock and hurt people. Every year when it was near the New Year's Eve the villagers, young and old, would escape into the bushes and hide themselves from the beast.

Once, there came an elderly man, who declared he had the magical power of fending off this beast. So one night when the beast appeared again, intending to loot the village, firecrackers suddenly went off from nowhere, explosive and noisy. Then came the elder in a red robe, laughing out loud.

Seeing this the beast became frightened and fled in embarrassment. From then on, every year the villagers would set off fireworks and decorate their homes with red materials. Gradually this has become a tradition to celebrate the New Year with noisy sounds and red decor.

What is considered bad luck during Chinese New Year?

There are different practices for cleaning the house over the New Year period. Largely speaking, people would not sweep the floor on New Year's Day; or if they do, they would not dump rubbish or throw water outside the house.

Anything collected from the broom should be kept inside the house, as throwing it out would mean parting with wealth for the coming year.

It's also important that when sweeping the floor, one must not sweep in to someone's feet, because it would bring bad luck to them in times to come.

People would not leave the house through the back door on New Year's Day, either; older family members would not scold kids, even if they do not behave themselves as they should.

Why do people have Lion and Dragon dances on Chinese New Year?

Traditionally if anyone happened to see any of the 'Lucky Mascots' (吉祥物) on New Year's Day, they'd be very lucky for the year to come. The four 'Lucky Mascots' are Dragon, Phoenix, Unicorn and Dragon Turtle (龍龟). They are fictional animals either living in the sea or flying in the sky. This explains why people perform Lion and Dragon dances to celebrate the New Year.
Watch a traditional Lion Dance performance recorded at the National Maritime Museum
What other things can bring good luck during Chinese New Year?

On New Year's Eve, traditionally people would light candles or oil lamps to keep vigil all night: this is known as Shou Sui (守岁). In this way, they drive away all evil plagues and look forward to the good luck of the New Year.

There are various activities for Shou Sui, such as eating food, having tea and Nian Gao (年糕 New Year's Cake), Tang-Yuan (汤圆), snacks, and playing mahjong, chess or card games or simply chatting around the stove.

What Chinese New Year food do people eat?

Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is a family reunion occasion, and the most important dinner for the entire year. The New Year's Eve banquet is exquisite; however harsh life might have been over the year, everyone would always try to have the best dishes on the table.

China is a vast country, so the food customs and favourite dishes vary in different regions. In many parts of Northern China, people eat "Jiaozi" (饺子dumplings) as the most favoured dish for the New Year's Eve dinner. There are different flavours of Jiaozi with different types of fillings, such as meat, seafood and vegetables.

In Southern China, in particular in the coastal provinces such as Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang and so on, the dishes for the New Year's Eve dinner are even more diverse and colourful.

Overall though, notwithstanding North or South, amongst the many delicacies, most families would have a fish dish for the banquet, because the character "Fish" (鱼) reads exactly the same as the character "Plenty"(余). Having a fish for the Year End dinner symbolises "Niannian Youyu" (年年有余 plenty of wealth every year).

In the Beijing region and some other Northern parts of China, people also eat Laba Congee (腊八粥). This dish is cooked with rice, beans, peanuts, dried fruit, lotus seeds, nuts, sugar and so on, traditionally symbolising harvest of the past year.

Instead of Laba Congee, most people in the south eat Nian Gao (年糕 New Year's cake). Nian Gao is cake steamed with sticky glutinous rice and cane sugar. It is considered good luck to eat Nian Gao during this time because it is a homonym for "Year High": the Chinese character 粘 (nian), meaning "sticky", is identical in sound to 年, meaning "year". The word 糕 (gāo) meanwhile, meaning "cake", is identical in sound to 高, meaning "high or tall". The term Niao Gao therefore can be interpreted as "Getting higher, or taller, or better or more promising for the year to come".

Tang Yuan (汤圆) is a ping-pong shaped "cake" made from glutinous rice flour. The fillings are often bean or nut powder with sugar, cooked and eaten with soup (汤). Tang Yuan (汤圆) in Chinese sounds like Tuan Yuan (团圆) or reunion; so eating glutinous rice balls means family happiness and reunion in the new year.

Are there other regional differences for Chinese New Year celebrations?

In Northern China, shou Sui (守岁) is a more common practice for most people on New Year's Eve. The whole family stays together to make Jiaozi with fillings of peanuts, dates, chestnuts, and meat stuffing into dumplings and sometimes coins (to symbolise luck). In the morning and on the days that follow, people would visit the temple fairs, watch colourful street performances and so on.

In Southern China, traditionally the family sits around the stove after New Year's Eve dinner, eating sunflower seeds, watching TV, and chatting away the night. In some places like Hong Kong, people eat vegetarian food on the first day of the New Year. Vegetables (菜) in Cantonese sounds like Wealth (财 cai), so eating vegetables symbolises a clean beginning of new money for the year to come. Street performances such as Lion and Dragon dances are more popular in South China, whereas visiting temples (逛庙会) are favoured in the north.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about Chinese New Year?

Chinese communities in the UK and other Western countries normally hold a big celebration of the Chinese New Year on the first weekend after the proper New Year's Day. This is because people often have to work on New Year's Day, unless it falls on a weekend.

Even if it falls on a weekend, most people would stay at home to have a big dinner with their family instead of going out. Unlike in China and Hong Kong and the Far East in general, it is not so easy for people living in the West to gather from small towns villages where they work and live. Therefore holding a public event on the weekend nearest to the proper New Year's Day after it has just gone past is the best choice.

Traditionally Chinese New Year celebrations would last until mid-January in the Chinese calendar. But recently in China and Hong Kong, instead of staying at home for the whole period, some people choose to travel elsewhere from the second or the third day of the New Year. Countries in Southeast Asia are often the most popular destinations for this New Year short break.

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How do people celebrate Chinese New Year?

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What happens during Chinese New Year? The Newham Chinese Association explain some of the traditions, festivals and customs that take place when Chinese New Year is celebrated.