Category Archive:China and Taiwan

By Kadia Kwok

The Ghost Festival is a traditional Chinese festival, which is celebrated by Chinese in many

countries. This festival is on the Chinese calendar (lunar Calendar)14th night of the month of

seventh. The seventh of the Lunar calendar is called Ghost Month.

In the Chinese culture, people believe that hungry ghosts and spirits rise from the gates of hell,

which remain open this month. The spirits seek food and revenge, as well as visit their

descendants. The Ghost Festival is the height of the Ghost Month Celebrations, and descendants

remember their ancestors by preparing a meal for the ghosts. It is widely believed that the ghosts

must be satisfied in order for there to be peace, harmony and good fortune in the family.

The last activity of the Ghost Festival is to distribute “Blessing Rice”. In the past, rough, low

quality rice was distributed to seniors and to the poor as an act of charity and penance to dispel

any ghosts that sought revenge. There would be thousands of seniors who lined up at the

community centre, waiting to receive some rice.

Originally, rice was offered to the ghosts. But after being offered, it was no longer a desirable

food since it had been touched by the ghosts. In order to prevent waste of edible food, the rich

would distribute it to the poor in an act of philanthropy.

Rice has great importance in the Chinese culture, the most important source of carbohydrates in

the diet. It is consumed at a rate which is comparable only to the amount of bread eaten in the

Western Culture. Historically, during a period of famine, rice was the only food available and

saved many lives. As well, many immigrants from Chiu Chau, south part of China, to Hong

Kong made a living from growing and selling rice, a business that was carried on by future

generations. Hence, rice is a source of food security and had symbolic importance to the people

of China.

However, today, the meaning of rice has evolved in Hong Kong. Instead of being blessed by rice,

people eat it as a commodity and do not appreciate its value. During rice distribution at the end

of the Ghost Festival today, high quality rice is given out in bags of 5 kg each, along with

packages of amenities and lucky money packages. Although philanthropic, it is also distributed

to those who do not appreciate its sole meaning and do not need the money, rice, or amenities.

However, those who are in need no doubt benefit from this evolving tradition.

Alternatively, those from Chiu Chau distribute rice to give relief to the poor, but also as an act of

charity from their ancestors who sold rice. This offers peace to those who sell it as well as those

who receive it, and in this way has a doubled positive effect.

Works Cited:

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedi. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Festival

Festivals. Retrieved from http://www.chinavoc.com/festivals/ghost.htm

Religion Facts. Retrieved from http://www.religionfacts.com/chinese_religion/holidays/ghost_festival.htm

Lbrown 7617’s blog. Retrieved from http://lbrown7617.wordpress.com/english-3/why-is-rice-so-important-

to-chinese- civilization

By: Andrea Russett

Individual philanthropic actions are deeply rooted in personal experience and ones

own system of beliefs. This statement proves true throughout history in both

Western and Eastern culture and resonates largely with 88-year-old real estate

magnate Yu Pengnian.

On Thursday April 22, 2010, the entrepreneurial giant of the hotel industry became

China’s first billion-dollar philanthropist by announcing the donation of his

remaining fortune – worth $3.2 billion Yuan to the Yu Pengnian Foundation. With

this announcement, the Hong Kong-registered fund that donates to education,

health and disaster relief is now valued at over $1.2 billion.

Ranked as the most generous donor in China for the fifth consecutive year in 2010,

Pengnian marks the 2008 Sichuan and 2010 Yushu earthquakes as the catalyst for

the latest wave in Chinese philanthropy. Shortly after this announcement in late

April 2010, along with three other Chinese entrepreneurs, the pooled funds of more

than $10 million were donated to disaster relief for the Yushu earthquake.

Optimistic that this wave of philanthropy will encourage other Chinese billionaires

to increase their giving capacity Pengnian states, “My fortune is just a drop in the

bucket compared to [others] but I have a point of view that is very different from

others, I will not leave my fortune to my children.” After his Foundation

announcement on April 22, he told reporters, “this will be my last donation. I have

nothing more to give away. It will all be for charity, no part of it will be inherited by

anyone, no part will be used to do business or for investments.”

The man who has been referred to as China’s version of American industry tycoon

Andrew Carnegie says that his actions are rooted in Confucianism. “For me, money

is only something external,” he said. “Traditional Confucianism always calls for us to

help others. Giving a hand to the people who need it is a source of happiness.”

In addition to his recent efforts for disaster relief, another and more personal focus

of the Foundation lies within the health sector. Pengnian has made special donations

to patients with cataracts because he once suffered from the same disease. “I like to

support the poor because I used to be poor and I understand the misery of the poor

people,” he said. (5). Of all the causes to support within the parameters of healthcare,

Yu has funded over 150,000 cataract removal operations across China since 2003

due to his personal experience.

His belief in the Chinese philosophical practice that stems from the teachings of

Chinese philosopher Confucius seems to have made these philanthropic decisions

easy for him. Being able to relate to others in need also makes the process of giving

and enjoyable action. Pengnian states, “providing timely help to the really poor and

making them live better are my aim and wish.”

Cited works:

China Daily – English http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/6960387.html

Shanghai Star http://app1.chinadaily.com.cn/star/2005/0512/fo5-1.html

China Daily – English http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/6960387.html

By: Eric Li

Chinese New Year is the most important and popular of all the Chinese holidays. It is

held annually, it will be held next year on January 23, 2012. It is a holiday

celebrated all throughout in countries with significant Asian populations like

Mainland China Hong Kong, Indonesia Tibet, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines,

Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and even in Canada. In China it is known as the “Spring

Festival”. Chinese New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year, days in which Chinese

families gather for their annual reunion dinner (Chiu, 2011).

During Chinese New Year, there are many different customs and traditions which

consist of sharing wealth through buying presents, decorating the house, buying

new clothes, and cleaning the house as a sign off sweeping away any ill-fortune in

hopes of bringing in new luck during the new year (Chiu, 2011). Based on my

personal experience, families get together on Chinese New Years Eve and have a

feast consisting of food which celebrates are culture and it is a time of sharing love

and forgetting past conflicts and wishing everyone happiness, well-being, health,

and wealth. The most recognizable, and significant tradition that occurs during

Chinese New Year is the passing of the Red Envelope. This is the most exciting time

for youth, and unmarried individuals as we receive numerous red packets from the

elderly, and married (Mack, 2011).

The red envelope is a long, red envelope with money inside. Traditional envelopes

have gold writing on them, which usually have Chinese characters like happiness or

wealth (Mack, 2011). Unlike western traditions, the red envelope is usually given

unsigned. The envelope is red because in Chinese tradition it is a colour, which

resembles luck and is supposed to ward of evil spirits (Mack, 2011).

The red envelope always contain money, usually varying from a couple dollars to

several hundred depending on how close you are to the elderly. The closer the

bloodline, the more you are likely to receive. Money received in an envelope is

usually even numbers as it is seem as a sign of luck (Mack, 2011). When I receive

envelopes from my elder’s the money inside usually contains eight dollars or six.

Eight is commonly found because it is a homophone for wealth in Chinese and six is

also popular because it sounds like smooth when translated to Chinese (Mack,

2011). Four is always avoided as because it is the homophone for death when

translated to Chinese. When asking for a red envelope, a married person, or elderly

would not turn down the request as it would bring them no luck in the coming year

Mack, 2011).

Red envelopes are also given during weddings, and white envelopes are given

during funerals in that case you would insert an odd number into the envelope.

When receiving a red envelope during Chinese New Year, or on your birthday don’t

open it in front of the giver as it is deemed disrespectful and always use both hands

when receiving or distributing a red envelope as it represents a solemn act and a

sign of respect between the two (Mack, 2011).

Remember when you want to receive a red envelope during Chinese New Year all

you have to say is Gong Hey Fat Choy !

Works Cited

Mack, L (2011). Chinese New Year: Red Envelope: About.com.

Guide

Chiu, Lisa (2011). The History of Chinese New Year: About.com.

Guide