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Great job! Everybody at a 4.

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In one of the chapters, Jing-mei Woo was forced to learn how to play the piano in order to become a child prodigy. She did not appreciate this to say the least and embarrassed herself at the local talent show. I showcase these songs to clarify how bad her playing was.

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Asian music was based on the pentatonic scale.

This was true for Chinese music, at least.

I spent hours copying characters in Chinese school, and although the same pen strokes require more effort now, I can look back to that time of utter dedication for filling the square boxes with unending characters. It was like drilling music.

On Chinese New Years' Eve, I'd booked a string of meetings by mistake and my family waited waited for me, to start dinner at 10pm. Which was kind of sweet, because the family doesn't believe in "wasting time."

Here are 12 pretty Chinese piano solos- composed by Chinese musicians, or best interpreted by Chinese performers.

Sunflowers by Wang
Sheet Music
Played by Yundi Li. This piece sounds more advanced than it really is, I think.

Piano Battle from The Secret
Sheet Music
This is my favourite piano movie, ever. The battle always strikes me how there's always something new to add to your music. Also, it's an advanced mashup of a Variation on Chopin's Black Key Etude Op. 10 No. 5 and a Variation on Chopin's Waltz, not your traditional chinese movie piece.

Secret by Jay Chou (周杰倫)
Sheet Music
A modern piece composed in Bach's style for the above movie, Secret. The composer also directed the movie, so it fits perfectly.

Can't Let Go by Huang An (黃安)
Sheet Music
This song will always be about butterflies to me, as the lyrics suggest.

Beautiful Fresh Flower arr. Percy Grainger
Sheet Music
I have a hunch that the title was misinterpreted, but it's based on a traditional Chinese melody called the Jasmine Flower (茉莉花). The playing in the video could be improved (is there a mute filter for the left hand?) but the arrangement speaks for itself.

Longing for Spring Breeze

I can't find the sheet music for piano, for this traditional taiwanese melody. Lang Lang has a recording and Tyzen Hsiao has an arrangement for piano and violin.

Yellow River Piano Concerto
Sheet Music
Not a solo, but a classic- there are probably solo transcriptions out there.

Eight Memories in Watercolour by Tan Dun
Sheet Music
Girl's Lament arr. Joseph Johnson
Sheet Music
There are 24 pieces in this collection and all of them are short and oriental-sounding.

Sad Rainy Day arr. Joseph Johnson
Sheet Music
Another piece from the Chinese Folk Song Collection, above.

Butterfly Lovers (梁祝)
Sheet Music
One of the more modern Chinese pieces, but you can still hear the pentatonics. (This is based on a violin concerto; although I've found a piano arrangement, I haven't seen the sheet music and can't comment on the edition. There's also a duet piano arrangement for four hands.)

Autumn Moon Over the Calm Lake (平湖秋月) by Lü Wencheng
Sheet Music
Composed in the 1930s on a visit to the West Lake. How do I know this? There's a Wikipedia page for this piece.

Here are 16 Beautiful Contemporary Piano Solos.

What's your favourite piece of piano music, these days? Leave a comment below to join the conversation!

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Asian music was based on the pentatonic scale. This was true for Chinese music, at least. I spent hours copying characters in Chinese school, and although the same pen strokes require more effort now, I can look back to that time of utter dedication for filling the square boxes with unending characters.

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In the book, One of the girls becomes a chess tournament player. Because of this, I thought it would be interesting to add the Chinese version of chess. Also the book mentions how the Americans changed the rules of chess.

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How to Play Chinese Chess : Defensive Strategy For Chinese Chess

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In the novel, Jing-Mei Woo is given a jade necklace by her mother. In China, to give Jade is to give protection, it is a stone for healing of the heart and the stone of unconditional love. Her mother feels the need to comfort her after she is put down by Waverly.

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Jade is one of the most favorite materials in carvings used in various feng shui cures, and it is also much loved as a medium for various jewelry pieces-from beads to bracelets and rings. It is especially popular in ancient and modern Asian arts and crafts but is also popular with artisans from all over the world. The term jade applies to two different minerals-nephrite and jadeite-and most of the world's commercial supply of jade comes from China, Russia, and the U.S., though the mineral is found all over the world.

While the beautiful translucent color and the ease with which jade can be shaped and carved certainly accounts for much of its popularity, jade resonates on a deeper spiritual level in many of the world's traditions. It is one of the most important of minerals in the practice of feng shui, for example.

For followers of alternative healing practices, jade carries a sweet, light and nourishing energy that can feel very healing. It has a soothing purity about it, and it goes about purifying your energy field in a manner that is accepting, loving, and wise.

One obvious meaning of the jade stone is or purification. And because jade is regarded as a stone that protects and supports loving heart energy, jade also symbolizes gentleness and nourishment. For some users of jade, the stone may have the feeling of an ancient sage that is so centered that merely being in its presence creates a feeling of being elevated and nurtured.

Unlike some other minerals, jade creates no strong rush of energy. This makes its energy very different from other popular feng shui stones, such as pyrite or hematite. The message of jade is "Love and Accept Yourself," and its powerful healing effects begin by helping you align yourself with balanced, harmonious energy. So, yet another meaning of jade is and .

In feng shui, jade has been used for centuries for its abilities to create a serene feeling of harmony and balance. Jade is also used as for protection and for good luck feng shui stones. You can find endless good luck feng shui charms made of jade, employed for various purposes-from creating wealth to attracting more friends. Jade jewelry is also a popular feng shui application for the body energy, which is no less important than your home feng shui!

Of course, another reason why jade has been extensively used in feng shui is that jade is widely available in China, the birthplace of feng shui. Jade comes in many colors-from green-blue to white, and you can choose your jade stone correctly by better understanding the energy of specific colors.

As jade belongs to the earth feng shui element, it is best to place it as a feng shui cure in the areas that are either governed or nourished by the earth element. All bagua areas except the north and the south can benefit from the soothing energy of jade.

You can choose either a jade carving in a specific symbol that speaks to you personally or a simple tumbled and polished jade stone. Explore the meaning of various feng shui symbols to help you make a better choice for your home or office.

For example, you can choose jade Mandarin ducks for love energy (placed in the southwest bagua area) or a jade Pi Yao for wealth (placed in the southeast area). Carvings of flowers, especially peonies, are popular in jade because of the way flower energy seems to flow through this gentle stone.

You can also find jade used in Fu dogs, Wu Lou (Chinese gourd), various mystic knot designs, as well as numerous animal carvings, such as dragons, elephants, turtles, dogs, fish, and much more.

A jade Buddha may be an excellent feng shui decor/cure for your home, as the soothing and wise energy of jade is perhaps the best match for Buddha energy, whether it is the Laughing Buddha or the Medicine Buddha. Another popular Buddhist deity figurine is the Green Tara carved in green jade stone.

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The Meaning of Jade in Feng Shui and Alternative Healing

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Jade is one of the most favorite materials in carvings used in various feng shui cures, and it is also much loved as a medium for various jewelry pieces-from beads to bracelets and rings. It is especially popular in ancient and modern Asian arts and crafts but is also popular with artisans from all over the world.

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In the novel, the Chinese Zodiacs are brought up a number of times as a way for the author to describe the narrator's personality. Below is a guide to understanding each zodiac, the years corresponding with each, and the personalities that go along with each of them.

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Chinese Zodiac Sign

Years

Rat

...1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020...

Ox

...1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021...

Tiger

...1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022...

Rabbit

... 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 ...

Dragon

... 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 ...

Snake

... 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 ...

Horse

... 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 ...

Goat

... 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 ...

Monkey

... 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 ...

Rooster

... 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 ...

Dog

... 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 ...

Pig

... 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 ...

Chinese New Year, day 1 of the Chinese lunar year, falls somewhere in the period January 21st to February 20th.

The Start of Spring is the 1st of the 24 Solar Terms, beginning on February 3rd or 4th.

What is the Chinese zodiac, and how many animal signs does it have?

The Chinese zodiac is a system that assigns an animal to each year in a repeating 12-year cycle. Each animal sign is believed to represent different personality traits, fortunes, and prospects for the people born in that year. The 12 animals in the zodiac cycle are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each animal has its unique characteristics, symbolism, and cultural significance, which have been passed down through generations.

The Chinese zodiac is based on a combination of astronomy, astrology, and mythology. It dates back to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) and has been used in China for thousands of years as a tool for fortune-telling, matchmaking, and personal and social guidance. The zodiac signs are also associated with the five elements - Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, which further add to the complexity of the system.

Today, the Chinese zodiac is widely recognized and celebrated worldwide, and many people follow its predictions and customs. It is an essential part of Chinese culture and serves as a bridge between the past and the present, connecting generations and promoting cultural exchange and understanding.

Which animal is associated with the current year according to the Chinese zodiac?

The current year (2023) is the year of the Water Rabbit according to the Chinese zodiac. The Rabbit is the fourth animal sign in the zodiac cycle and is associated with good fortune, happiness, and peacefulness. People born in the year of the Rabbit are believed to be gentle, compassionate, and creative, with a strong sense of family and community.

The Rabbit is also associated with the Wood element, which is believed to symbolize growth, prosperity, and optimism. In Chinese astrology, the combination of the animal sign and the element can provide more specific predictions and insights into a person's personality and destiny.

The year of the Rabbit is considered an auspicious year for many things, such as starting a new business, getting married, or having a child. It is also a time to focus on building and strengthening relationships, pursuing personal growth and development, and enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

What are the characteristics and personality traits associated with people born in the year of the Dragon?

People born in the year of the Dragon are often seen as confident, ambitious, and adventurous. They are also known to be passionate, strong-willed, and have excellent leadership qualities. Dragons are the fifth animal sign in the Chinese zodiac and are associated with the Fire element, which is believed to symbolize energy, creativity, and transformation.

Dragons are highly respected and revered in Chinese culture and are often associated with the emperor, power, and authority. People born in the year of the Dragon are believed to possess some of these characteristics and are often successful in their careers and personal lives. They are also said to be charismatic, imaginative, and have a strong sense of justice and fairness.

Despite their many positive traits, Dragons can also be impulsive, stubborn, and prone to anger. They can sometimes struggle with their emotions and may find it challenging to work with others who do not share their vision or passion. However, with their determination and perseverance, Dragons can overcome most obstacles and achieve their goals.

How do people in China use the Chinese zodiac in their daily lives?

The Chinese zodiac is deeply embedded in Chinese culture and is often used in daily life to predict fortune and compatibility. Many people in China consult their zodiac sign when making important decisions, such as choosing a career, getting married, or starting a business. They may also use their zodiac sign to gain insight into their personality traits and tendencies.

In addition to personal use, the Chinese zodiac is also incorporated into various public events and festivals throughout the year. For example, during Chinese New Year celebrations, people often exchange gifts and greetings based on their zodiac sign. They may also attend special events and performances that feature the animals of the zodiac.

Overall, the Chinese zodiac serves as a cultural symbol of unity and connection in China. It is an integral part of daily life and remains a powerful tool for self-discovery and social interaction.

How has the Chinese zodiac influenced other cultures around the world?

The Chinese zodiac has a significant influence on many cultures around the world, particularly those in East Asia. Countries such as Japan, Korea, and Vietnam have adapted the Chinese zodiac into their own culture and often incorporate it into their daily lives.

In addition, the Chinese zodiac has also gained popularity in Western cultures, particularly in the United States and Europe. Many people in these regions are fascinated by the mystique and symbolism of the zodiac and use it as a tool for self-discovery and personal growth.

Overall, the Chinese zodiac has served as a powerful cultural bridge, connecting people across continents and promoting cross-cultural understanding and appreciation. Its influence continues to grow and evolve as people around the world embrace its timeless wisdom and enduring appeal.

Choose your date of birth and find out about your Chinese zodiac sign. Find Your Zodiac Sign

Snake: enigmatic, intelligent, wise.

Horse: animated, active, energetic.

Goat: calm, gentle, sympathetic.

Monkey: sharp, smart, curious.

Dog: lovely, honest, prudent.

Chinese Zodiac Sign

Lucky Numbers

Lucky Colors

Lucky Flowers

Lucky Directions

Chinese Zodiac Sign

Unlucky Numbers

Unlucky Colors

Unlucky Directions

Chinese Zodiac Compatibility - Is He/She Right for You?

Best Matches for the 12 Chinese Zodiac Signs

An important use of the Chinese zodiac is to determine if two people are compatible in a romantic relationship... or any kind of relationship. Zodiac compatibility is usually checked before getting married in China.

People born in a certain zodiac animal year are believed to have attributes of that animal, which determines their personality traits and could either help or hinder a relationship.

Chinese Zodiac Compatibility Calculator

Enter date of birth and test now

Best Matches for the 12 Zodiac Signs

Rat: Rat, Ox, Dragon, or Monkey

Ox: Rat, Snake, or Rooster

Tiger: Horse, Dog, or Pig

Rabbit: Goat, Dog, or Pig

Dragon: Rat, Monkey, or Rooster

Snake: Ox or Rooster

Horse: Tiger, Goat, or Dog

Goat: Rabbit, Horse, Goat, or Pig

Monkey: Rat, Dragon, or Dog

Rooster: Ox, Dragon, or Snake

Dog: Tiger, Rabbit, Horse, or Monkey

Pig: Tiger, Rabbit, or Goat

Rat

OX

Tiger

Rabbit

Dragon

Snake

Horse

Goat

Monkey

Rooster

Dog

Pig

Rats' Horoscope in 2023:

Entering 2023, the fortune of you Rat people is generally good, but due to being in tangential opposition to Tai Sui (the age star), you will encounter some obstacles and your overall horoscope will be one of ups and downs. Be cautious and not impulsive in your actions during this year.

Read more on Monthly Horoscope for Rats in 2023.

Rat and Ox got up very early. On the way to the Gate, Rat jumped onto the back of the Ox to cross the river. He won first place by suddenly jumping down from Ox's back and dashed to the feet of the Emperor when they're near to the Heavenly Gate. Ox was second.

Tiger and Rabbit came third and fourth because both are fast and competitive, butTiger was faster.

Good-looking Dragon was fifth and was immediately noticed by the Jade Emperor, who said Dragon's son could be sixth. Just then, Snake came forward and said Dragon was his adoptive father; so Snake ranked sixth.

Horse and Goat arrived. They were very kind and modest and each let the other go first. They were ranked seventh and eighth.

Monkey had fallen well behind. But he jumped between trees and stones, and caught up to be ninth. Last were Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

What is the luckiest/unluckiest Chinese zodiac sign?

In Chinese culture, the top 5 luckiest/most popular zodiac signs are Dragon, Snake, Pig, Rat, and Tiger conventionally.

There is a popular Chinese folk saying that 9/10 Goats are inadequate (十羊九不全 '10 Goats 9 incomplete'), which implies that most people born in a year of the Goat are destined for bad luck. Most Chinese people also believe that people born in a Goat year will grow up to be followers rather than leaders. Although this is an outdated superstition, it has a real effect on Chinese society.

Conversely, the Dragon is the most coveted zodiac sign, with Chinese births peaking in Dragon years.

Rationally, it's hard to identify the luckiest or unluckiest zodiac signs, as each sign has its own advantages and disadvantages. Socially, different combinations of zodiac signs cause different relational dynamics, which may affect someone's life more, as we don't live in isolation.

What are the differences between Chinese zodiac and western astrology?

The main similarity between the two systems is that both systems are based on time periods of birth, and they both have 12 symbols or signs with associated personalities and fortunes.

However, there are big differences in their origins and astrological theory.

With the Chinese zodiac, the 12 signs are derived from the ancients' musings about archetypal animals, people's personalities and fortunes, and their relationships with one another and years of birth. A myth about a celestial race was later developed to explain the Chinese zodiac sequence.

This differs from Western astrology, where the 12 zodiac signs are based on constellations' positions relative to the earth. The constellations were named according to Greek mythology and astrological theory was developed based on the stars supposed influence on human personalities and lives.

In addition, the Chinese zodiac is calculated on a year-by-year base while the Western zodiac corresponds with " months".

Read more on Differences between the Chinese Zodiac and Western Astrology.

The 12 Japanese zodiac animals in order are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar.

The 12 Vietnamese zodiac animals in order are: Rat, Buffalo, Tiger, Cat, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

The 12 Thai zodiac animals in order are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Naga (a mythical half-human-half-snake spirit), Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

The 8 Burmese zodiac animals are: Garuda (a mythical bird), Tiger, Lion, Elephant (with tusks), Rat, Guinea Pig, and Dragon.

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The 12 Chinese Zodiac signs in order are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. Check what your zodiac sign is.

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In the very beginning of the novel, the game of Mah Jongg was very important to the original members of Joy Luck. When they would get together in the meetings, they would always have a feast and then play a game, making it very important to them. Below is tips, tricks, and basics of how to play and what is important to the players.

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The Chinese set of tiles consists of 144 tiles. There are NO Roman letters or Arabic numerals the set is marked in Chinese only. The red and green dragons are marked with the Chinese characters for those tiles rather than the dragon image itself. The white dragon tile is frequently a blank white tile.
Concentration, patience, and quickness of play make the good player.
Before you begin to play Chinese Mah Jongg, it is important to understand a few of the basic terms.

Terms Frequently Used

PUNG - An exposed Pung is any 3 of a kind (same suit and same number or same wind or same dragon)that is obtained by having a pair already in your hand first and the third is obtained from a player's discard immediately when it is thrown away by the player. The Pung is now placed face up on the table as it is now exposed. A concealed Pung occurs when a player has the pair already in their hand and drawing the third tile directly from the wall. It is not declared and is kept concealed in the hand. This is worth twice the number of points as the exposed Pung.

KONG - A Kong is any 4 of a kind and is obtained by forming either an exposed Pung or concealed Pung first. An exposed Kong can be formed in two ways. First the payer has a concealed pung in their hand and another player discards the fourth tile and this player claims it and exposes it immediately. The second way a player can declare an exposed Kong is if they have already exposed a Pung and they draw the fourth tile from the wall themselves then they can declare the Kong placing the tile on the table. Once a Pung is exposed the fourth tile can not be claimed from anyone else to make the Kong. A concealed Kong is four of a kind drawn by the player and it is in their hand. They must declare the concealed Kong which allows them to draw a tile from the loose wall. If this step is skipped then they will be a tile short as a Pung and a Kong are counted the same in obtaining a winning Mah Jongg hand.

CHOW - A chow is a sequence of 3 tiles in the same suit. You may only claim a discarded tile for a chow from the player on your left and you must have the other two tiles already in your hand. This exposed chow must be set out on the table. Should a player be waiting for one tile to complete their whole hand for Mah Jongg and this tile is required to complete a chow it may be claimed from any player at the table.

PAIR - Every completed hand must have one pair of matching tiles. The pair is also known as the sparrow's head.

FLOWERS and SEASONS - There are four Flower tiles numbered 1-4 and four Season tiles also numbered 1-4. Each corresponds to a seating position. East and the number 1 are important to the person in the first position or East chair. South and number 2 are next. West and number 3 follow and North and number 4 are in the last position. Should a player draw a complete set of flowers or seasons (1-4 of the same color - red or blue), it is known as a "bouquet". This adds to the player's score if they win the hand, doubling the score for each of their own flowers or seasons.

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Some Chinese Mah Jongg Basics The Chinese set of tiles consists of 144 tiles. There are NO Roman letters or Arabic numerals the set is marked in Chinese only. The red and green dragons are marked with the Chinese characters for those tiles rather than the dragon image itself.

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In the fourth chapter, an important ceremony that occurs is the moon festival. This festival is meant to reunite families and create a completeness. This painting depicts Chang'e the moon lady and the archer of the skies Hou Yi that are the people from the moon lady legend.

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The fourth chapter, "The Moon Lady," is about a flashback from when Ying-ying was at the moon festival (Mid-Autumn Festival) when she was young. This festival is said to commemorate Chang E, who in order to protect her beloved husband’s elixir, ate it herself and flew to the moon. This is an important Chinese tradition celebrated every year.

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English:

Mid-Autumn Day, Moon Festival, Mooncake Festival, Autumn Moon Festival

Chinese:

中秋节 zhōng qiū jié

Date:

15th day of 8th lunar month; Sep. 29, 2023; Sep. 17, 2024

Holiday:

3 days, or 8 days if close to China National Day on Oct.1

Observed by:

All Chinese people; people in some other Asian countries like Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia & Singapore.

Mid-Autumn Festival, or Mid-autumn Day, is the second grandest festival in China after the Chinese New Year. It is named so for that it is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, which is always in the middle of the autumn season in China.

Chinese Moon Festival

The day is also known as the Moon Festival, as at that time of the year the moon is believed to be at its fullest and brightest and Chinese always worship the moon and appreciate the full moon on that day.

Time for Family Reunion

In Chinese culture, full moon symbolizes reunion, so that they reunite with their families for celebrations. They worship the moon together, appreciate the moon together, enjoy reunion dinner and even share one mooncake to celebrate the reunion.

Read more:
11 Mid-Autumn Festival Facts You Should Know
10 Unexpected Fun Facts about Mid-Autumn Festival You don't Know

Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of 8th month in Chinese lunar calendar. In Gregorian calendar, it usually falls in September or early October.

People in mainland China enjoy one day off on the festival day which is usually connected with the weekend to be a 3-day holiday. If it falls adjacent to China National Day on October 1st, the holiday will be 8 days long, celebrated together.

In Hong Kong and Macau, people also enjoy one day off. However, it is not scheduled on the festival day, but the following day and it is usually not connected with the weekend. In Taiwan, the one day holiday falls on the festival day.

How do Chinese celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival? - Top Activities & Traditions

This is the most popular Mid-Autumn Festival activity. Mooncakes are cookies with various fillings like nuts, read bean paste, lotus root paste, egg yolk, meat, and fruit, etc. They are usually round to symbolize the full moon and family reunion.

Read more:

Appreciate the Full Moon

In traditional Chinese culture, the moon on the festival night is believed to be the fullest and brightest of the whole year, symbolizing family reunion. Even a family member is not home, he or she is appreciating the same moon with other families, seeming like they are together.

Read more Chinese Moon Festivals to Celebrate the Full Moon

Worship the Moon

This tradition has been 3,000 years old. On the night, people set a table with mooncakes and other sacrifices towards the moon, make wishes, offer incense and kowtow to the moon. Afterwards, the families will share the sacrifices.

Enjoy family reunion dinner

During the festival, all families try their best to go home and enjoy a big feast. In addition to mooncakes, other popular dishes for the reunion dinner include osmanthus cake, osmanthus wine, crab, duck, taro, and pumpkin.

Read more: Mid-Autumn Festival Food in China - Top 10 Dishes You Must Try

Drink Osmanthus Wine

Around the festival, the Osmanthus is always in full blossom, making it a good time to make and drink osmanthus wine. It is light yellow with strong osmanthus fragrance and grape similar flavor, tasting sweet, sour and soft.

Make and Hang Festival Lanterns

This is an activity popular in Guangdong and Hong Kong areas, favored especially by kids. In other places of China, people also set Kongming lanterns to make best wishes.

Read more: Why Chinese make Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns?

Other traditions to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival include fire dragon dance popular in Hong Kong, playing Lord Rabbit in Beijing, and watching Qiantang River Tide in Hangzhou, etc.

Read more:

The top places are usually the best sites to appreciate the full moon, like waterside Shichahai and Beihai Park in Beijing, and West Lake in Hangzhou, where the full moon reflects clearly over the water; and high places such as World Financial Center and Jinmao Tower in Shanghai, and the top of Yellow Mountain, where one can gets closest to the moon. The ancient sites like City Wall in Xi'an are also great places to go, where many traditional ways of celebration are held.

How to Greet Each Other for Mid-Autumn Festival

Send Mid-autumn Festival Greeting Cards

Why do we celebrate the Moon Festival? The festival was originated from the moon worship to celebrate the harvest in autumn season about 3,000 years ago. About 1,800 to 2,200 years ago, the word "Mid-autumn" was started to be used to record the festival. Since 1,100 to 1,400 years ago, mooncake has been widely eaten on the festival date. In the Northern Song Dynasty about 900 to 1,000 years ago, the 15th day of 8th lunar month was finally set as the official festival date. Later, the festival became more and more popular and was celebrated national wide.

Story & Legend

As the Mid-Autumn Festival was originally derived from the worship of the moon god, many interesting stories and legends are told and spread among folklore explaining the purpose of the worship. The most famous one is the ' Chang E Flying to the Moon'. The legend goes like this:

Chang E's husband, Hou Yi was rewarded the elixir of immortality for shooting down the extra nine suns which tortured people a lot. But he would not like become immortal alone and left his wife to live in the heaven, so he gave the elixir to Chang E to keep it well. Unfortunately, one of Hou Yi's followers got to know it. One a 15th day of the 8th lunar month when Hou Yi went out hunting, that follower sneaked into Hou Yi and Cheng E's home and forced Chang E to handed over the elixir. Unhelpfully, Chang E ate the elixir, became an immortal and uncontrollably left the earth for the heaven. As she didn't want to leave her husband, she flew to the moon, the closest place to the earth in the heaven. Hou Yi, in hope of reunion, presented the mooncakes on every 15th day of the 8th lunar month since then.

Read more: 6 Most Well-Known Legends about Mid-Autumn Festival

Where is the Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrated outside China?

Due to frequent communications with China and migrations of Chinese people, Mid-Autumn Festival has become popular in other parts of the world, especially neighboring Asian countries. In addition to some shared customs, they add their own ways of celebration. For instance, in Korea, families also reunite, but their representative festival food is Songpyeon, a kind of stuffed rice cake instead of moon cake; in Japan, in addition to worshipping the moon and appreciating the full moon, house wives like to decorate their homes with flowers and pampas grass; in Vietnam, it is more like children's day in spite of eating mooncakes.

Read more: Mid-Autumn Festival in other Asian Countries: Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam...

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Mid-Autumn Festival in China, 2023 Moon Cake Day

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Held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, the Mid-Autumn Festival, aka Moon Cake Festival, is the second grandest festival after the Chinese New Year in China.

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The Chinese moon cake is a desert that is made during the Moon Lady festival which usually takes place on the 15th day of the 8th month. It changes accordingly to the Chinese lunar calendar.

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Mooncake recipe is a traditional Chinese dessert, usually eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

for the dough | Mooncake recipe

To prepare the Chinese mooncake dough use a large bowl, mix the golden syrup, alkaline water and oil well. Sift in the flour. Use a spatula to combine all the ingredients. Don't over-stir. Knead into a dough. Cover with film wrap and rest for 40 minutes.

Mix egg yolks with wine. If the salted egg yolks are homemade and freshly broken from the shells, you'll see the egg whites turn opaque after mixing with the wine a few minutes later. Wipe the yolks dry with kitchen paper. Cut each into two halves. Set aside. Roll the lotus paste into a long tube.

Cut into 12 equal portions of 35 grams.

Roll each portion into a ball shape. Set aside and preheat the oven to 180°C.

For the egg wash | Mooncake recipe

Whisk the egg yolk with the egg white. Sift through a fine sieve.

For the filling | Mooncake recipe

Divide the dough into 12 equal portions. Roll each portion into a small ball shape. Cover a dough portion with a plastic film and roll into a thin disc. Then take a lotus paste ball and poke a hole in the middle with your finger.

Place the egg yolk inside and roll and shape into a ball. Wrap and seal the lotus paste ball with the dough disc.

Spray the mooncake mould and place the stuffed mooncake into the mould. Lightly press the mould handle, then remove the mooncake from the mould. Transfer the stuffed mooncake onto a lined baking tray.

Repeat this step to finish the remaining dough and lotus paste.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 to 12 minutes. Brush the mooncakes with egg wash, at about five minutes, before removing from the oven. Continue to bake until the pastry turns golden brown. Remove from oven and leave to cool on a wire rack. Store in an air-tight container. The pastry will become soft and shiny in one or two days: the mooncake recipe is ready to be enjoyed.

Thanks to Christine's Recipe for this courtesy recipe

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Mooncake recipe is a traditional Chinese dessert, usually eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival. To prepare the Chinese mooncake dough use a large bowl, mix the golden syrup, alkaline water and oil well. Sift in the flour. Use a spatula to combine all the ingredients. Don't over-stir. Knead into a dough.

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In the second and third chapter, Chinese parables play a large part. You can tell how important morals and respect for ancestors is to the people of China.

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Many Chinese fables tell an entertaining story to illustrate a moral lesson. Here are a few such stories.

In the Warring States Period, in the state of Wei lived a man called Leyangtsi. His wife was very angelic and virtuous, who was loved and respected dearly by the husband.

One day, Leyangtsi found a piece of gold on his way home, and he was so delighted that he ran home as fast as he could to tell his wife. Looking at the gold, his wife said calmly and gently, "As you know, it is usually said that a true man never drinks the stolen water. How can you take such a piece of gold home which is not yours?" Leyangtsi was greatly moved by the words, and he immediately replaced it where it was.

The next year, Leyangtsi went to a distant place to study classics with a talented teacher, leaving his wife home alone. One day, his wife was weaving on the loom, when Leyangtsi entered. At his coming, the wife seemed to be worried, and she at once asked the reason why he came back so soon. The husband explained how he missed her. The wife got angry with what the husband did. Advising her husband to have fortitude and not be too indulged in the love, the wife took up a pair of scissors and cut down what she had woven on the loom, which made Leyangtsi very puzzled. His wife declared, "If something is stopped halfway, it is just like the cut cloth on the loom. The cloth will only be useful if finished. But now, it has been nothing but a mess, and so it is with your study."

Leyangtsi was greatly moved by his wife. He left home resolutely and went on with his study. He didn't return home to see his beloved wife until gaining great achievements.

Afterward, the story was often used as a model to inspire those who would back out in competitions.

Long ago, there lived a young man, called Lisheng, who had just married a beauty. The bride was very willful. One day, she had an idea that a coat of fox fur would look pretty on her. So she asked her husband to get her one. But the coat was rare and too expensive. The helpless husband was forced to walk around on the hillside. Just at the moment, a fox was walking by. He lost no time to catch it by the tail. "Well, dear fox, let's make an agreement. Could you offer me a sheet of your skin? That isn't a big deal, is it?"

The fox was shocked at the request, but she replied calmly, "Well, my dear, that's easy. But let my tail go so that I can pull off the skin for you." So the delighted man let her free and waited for the skin. But the moment the fox got free, she ran away as quickly as she could into the forest.

The story can be well used for reference that it is hard to ask someone to act against his own will, even though only a little sometimes.

In the Spring and Autumn Period, Bian Heh in the Chu state got a rough jade on Mount Chu. He decided to present the valuable jade to the emperor to show his official loyalty to his sovereign, Chuli. Unluckily, the jade was judged as a common stone by the court jaders, which made Emperor Chuli very angry and had Bian Heh's left foot cut down cruelly.

After the enthronement of the new emperor Chuwu, Bian Heh decided to submit the jade to Chuwu to clarify matters. Emperor Chuwu also had it checked by the jaders in the court. And the conclusion resulted in the same fact that Bian Heh lost the other foot.

After the death of Emperor Chuwu, the prince Chuwen was enthroned, that gave the poor Bian Heh a gleam of light of proving his clear conscience. However, the moment he thought of what he had incurred, he couldn't help crying beside a hill. He could not stop crying for several days and nights; he almost wept his heart out and even blood was dropping from his eyes. And it happened to be heard by the emperor in the court. He ordered his men to find out why he was so sad. Bian Heh sobbed out "Call a spade a spade. Why was a real jade mistaken as a plain stone again and again? Why was a loyal man thought faithless time and time?" Emperor Chuwen was touched by Bian Heh's deep grief and ordered the jaders to open the jade to have a close look. To their astonishment, in the rough coat, the pure content was sparkling and translucent. Then it was carefully cut and polished fine and at last, the jade became a rare treasure of the state of Chu. In memory of the faithful man Bian Heh, the Emperor named the jade by Bian Heh.

And so the term "Bian's Jade" came into being.

People usually describe something extremely precious in its value with Bian's Jade.

Thousands of years ago, donkeys were not found in Guizhou province. But meddlers were always allured by anything. So they shipped one into this area.

One day, a tiger was walking around to find something to eat, when he saw the strange animal. The huge newcomer frightened him quite a bit. He hid between the bushes to study the donkey watchfully. It seemed all right. So the tiger came near to the donkey to have a close look. "Hawhee¡" a loud noise burst upon, which sent the tiger running away as fast as he could. He could not have any time to think before he settled himself home. The humiliation stung in him. He must come back to that strange thing to see it clear though he was still haunted by the terrible noise.

The donkey was enraged when the tiger got too close. So the donkey brought his unique skill to bear on the offender ---- to kick with his hooves. After several bouts, it became very clear that what the donkey had was so much. The tiger jumped upon the donkey in time and cut its throat.

People are always told the story to speak of one's limited tricks.

In the Jin Dynasty, there lived a man named Le Guang, who had a bold and uninhibited character and was very friendly. One day Le Guang sent for one of his close friends since the friend had not turned out for long.

At the first sight of his friend, Le Guang realized that something must have happened to his friend for his friend has no peace of mind all the time. So he asked his friend what was the matter. "It was all because of that banquet held at your home. At the banquet, you proposed a toast to me and just when we raised the glasses, I noticed that there was a little snake lying in the wine and I felt particularly sick. Since then, I lay in bed unable to do anything."

Le Guang was very puzzled at the matter. He looked around and then saw a bow with a painted snake hung on the wall of his room.

So Le Guang laid the table at the original place and asked his friend again to have a drink. When the glass was filled with wine, he pointed to the shade of the bow in the glass and asked his friend to see. His friend observed nervously, "Well, well, that is what I saw last time. It is the same snake." Le Guang laughed and took off the bow on the wall. "Could you see the snake anymore?" he asked. His friend was surprised to find that the snake was no longer in the wine. Since the whole truth had come out, his friend recovered from his prolonged illness right away.

For thousands of years, the story has been told to advise people not to be too suspicious unnecessarily.

It is said that in antiquity a god named KuaFu determined to have a race with the Sun and catch up with Him. So he rushed in the direction of the Sun. Finally, he almost ran neck and neck with the Sun, when he was too thirsty and hot to continue. Where could he find some water? Just then the Yellow River and Wei River came into sight, roaring on. He swooped upon them earnestly and drank the whole river. But he still felt thirsty and hot, thereupon, he marched northward for the lakes in the north of China. Unfortunately, he fell down and died halfway because of thirst. With his fall, down dropped his cane. Then the cane became a stretch of peach, green and lush.

And so comes the idiom, KuaFu chased the Sun, which becomes the trope of man's determination and volition against nature.

One evening, the clever man, Huojia went to fetch some water from the well. To his surprise, when he looked into the well, he found the moon sunk in the well shining. "Oh, good Heavens, what a pity! The beautiful moon has dropped into the well!" so he dashed home for a hook, and tied it with the rope for his bucket, then put it into the well to fish for the moon.

After some time of hunting for the moon, Haojia was pleased to find that something was caught by the hook. He must have thought it was the moon. He pulled hard on the rope. Due to the excessive pulling, the rope broke into apart and Haojia fell flat on his back. Taking the advantage of that post, Haojia saw the moon again high in the sky. He sighed with emotion, "Aha, it finally came back to its place! What a good job! He felt very happy and told whomever he met with about the wonderment proudly without knowing what he did was something impractical.

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Chinese Fable Stories With Memorable Morals

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Many Chinese fables tell an entertaining story to illustrate a moral lesson. Here are a few such stories. In the Warring States Period, in the state of Wei lived a man called Leyangtsi. His wife was very angelic and virtuous, who was loved and respected dearly by the husband.

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In the third chapter, The Red Candle, Lindo Jong is chosen a husband by a matchmaker and is married to Tyan-yu.

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The Fen River is a major factor of the third chapter of the Joy Luck Club. The river caused hills to be made and home to be destroyed, so I thought it would be interesting to find out what caused this river to become this powerful.

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Shanxi (山西) and its fertile loess-covered landscapes are also known as the cradle of China's civilization. The 716-km-long Fen River (汾河) or Mother River (母亲河) drains most of the province via the basin of Taiyuan. The river's stunning scenery, once the subject of poetry during the Jin (金朝, 1125-1234) and Yuan (元朝, 1279-1368) dynasties, quickly deteriorated after industrialization in the late 1950s. The construction of dams, extensive irrigation of farmland, and wastewater discharge severely impacted the river's ecosystem. From 1956 to 2013, the average surface runoff fell from 2.65 billion m³ to 1.33 m³. Moreover, overexploitation of groundwater dropped the groundwater level in the Fen River basin by 81.4 meters.

Today, Taiyuan (太原), the prospering capital of the Shanxi province, is home to almost three million people. However, only about 15 years ago, the city's mother river was nothing more than a dry riverbed. It was not until the late 1990s that the municipal government issued the construction of four rubber dams to achieve a step-by-step artificial replenishment of the city's major body of water accompanied by landscape greening along the urban riverbed. Further park and wetland constructions extended Taiyuan's waterfront landscape to its current length of 20 km. Though environmental beautification boosted both Taiyuan's national appearance and its real-estate business, in most of the rest of the province, the Fen River still remained an ecologically dead and nearly dried-up waterway.

Since 2007, the Fen River Governance (汾河治理), led by the provincial government, has pursued an integrated, inter-municipal, and multi-objective approach to restoring the river's ecosystem: The Yellow River Diversion Project slowly replenishes its body of water; massive afforestation programs increase water retention and mitigate soil erosion, whilst water conservation policies and the modernization of Shanxi's irrigation network actively curtail extensive water use. Groundwater levels have increased by up to nine meters since the project started, but it will still take decades to restore the river's natural water flow. Moreover, six wetland parks have been created along the Fen River, including the reclamation of industrial wasteland. Latter projects are backed by an annual budget of 1.8 billion yuan from the Coal Sustainable Development Fund (煤炭可持续发展基金, CSDF), which levied a surcharge averaging 3.5 yuan per metric ton of coal mined.

Nevertheless, water pollution remains serious. Though according to Chinese national standards the Fen River Reservoir features good quality water equivalent to grade II (good; suitable for drinking water), the overall water quality of the Fen River and its tributaries only matches the lowest grade of V (very bad, unfit for human contact). Major pollutants monitored in 2014 include sulfate, chloride, and volatile phenol, as well as nitrate and petroleum, with ammonia nitrate and petroleum exceeding national limit values by 4 times and 5 times respectively. Though water policies and corresponding laws for environmental protection have been actively promulgated and a lot of polluting industries and coal mines have been modernized, consolidated, or closed according to province-level politicians, reports still reveal numerous cases of non-compliance and shirking by local officials.

These polluting coal mining cities are often located in the mountainous upper reaches of the Fen River and its tributaries. Until China's reform and opening up in the 1990s, they were among China's most deprived areas. Rich in coal resources, however, they flourished when China encouraged artisanal mining to fuel its growing economy, often accounting for up to 80% of the local GDP. Thus, when coal prices plummeted starting in 2011, it not only led to a drastic shortage of local fiscal revenue in Shanxi and heavily constrained ongoing environmental efforts, but also intensified industrial lock-ins. Furthermore, the CSDF was no longer feasible and was ultimately disbanded in 2014.

Consequently, in 2014 the provincial government issued the Fen River Watershed Ecological Restoration Plan (汾河流域生态修复规划纲要, 2015-2030). As the long time horizon indicates, there is still a long march ahead. Investments total 130 billion yuan in six fields of action: water conservation; restoration of groundwater and surface water; modernization of water systems; control of groundwater exploitation; protection of spring water areas; and control of water pollution and sewage treatment. At the same time, vocational training centers and reemployment projects financed by the national and implemented by the provincial government are to facilitate Shanxi's socioeconomic transformation.

This case study depicts the difficulties and obstacles for regional environmental governance caused by industrial development paths, vested interests among different economic stakeholders, and the lack of compliance from local political leaders. Contrary to concepts of environmental consciousness and civil society movements encountered in the West, it can be noted that in China environmental remediation efforts are mainly promulgated and carried out by provincial government leaders. Though there is a growingly emancipated and environmentally aware urban Chinese population, their influence and role still remains a passive and indirect one. US economist Eric Heikkila describes this phenomenon as "environmentalism with Chinese characteristics." Nevertheless, the Fen River has again regained its constitutive status as a symbol for human well-being, as the Mother River of Shanxi.

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The Fen River in Taiyuan, China: Ecology, Revitalization, and Urban Culture

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Shanxi (山西) and its fertile loess-covered landscapes are also known as the cradle of China's civilization. The 716-km-long Fen River (汾河) or Mother River (母亲河) drains most of the province via the basin of Taiyuan. The river's stunning scenery, once the subject of poetry during the Jin (金朝, 1125-1234) and Yuan (元朝, 1279-1368) dynasties, quickly deteriorated after industrialization in the late 1950s.

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Within the novel, several ceremonies take place. Although they describe how the hair looks, it's difficult to picture. Traditional women's ceremonial hairstyle includes many intertwined braids coming up into a bun.