Yin and Yang in Chinese Cooking
Yin and yang. Hot and cold. Male and female. The philosophy of yin and yang lies at the heart of Chinese culture. The first references to yin and yang come from the I Ching, the five classic works compiled and edited by Confucius. Taken literally, yin and yang mean the dark side and sunny side of a hill. People commonly think of yin and yang as opposing forces. However, it is really more appropriate to view them as complementary pairs. The Chinese believe problems arise not when the two forces are battling, but when there is an imbalance between them in the environment. Floods, divorce, or even a fire in the kitchen – all can be attributed to disharmony in the forces of yin and yang.
Write 栗 (lì)(chestnut) in Chinese character
栗 (lì) Origin: 一棵树上长着很多带刺的果子，这就是“栗”树。后来假借为因恐惧或寒冷发抖的意思。
A chestnut tree full of barbed chestnuts is known as a “栗” tree. This word later was used to express “to tremble due to fear or coldness.”
Ceramics & Celadon
A Brief History of Ceramics 陶瓷史简介 Ceramics began in China 6,000 years ago during the New Stone Age, whose advent was marked, among other things, by the invention of pottery. The earliest earthenware was moulded by hand; the potter's wheel came much later. At the beginning the clay was fired at a temperature of some 500-600 c. Painted pottery began to be known during the period of Yangshao and Longshan cultures(仰韶和龙山文化Yǎngsháo hé Lóngshān wénhuà).
Myths and Misconceptions about Food & Eating in China
Food and eating probably brings up the most questions and the most misconceptions when talking about China. There's the issue of "Chinese" food abroad and what we think that is. There's the issue of what Chinese people eat in China – and how good or bad that is. Here's my take on some of these points in hopes it brings clarity and reality to the topic.
The Twenty-four Filial Exemplars: Zi Lu 二十四孝：子路
As one of the cores of Chinese culture, "filiality" is not only the moral code for maintaining family relationships in Chinese society for thousands of years, but also the traditional virtue of Chinese Nation. A Yuan-dynasty(元朝Yuáncháo) writer Guo Jujing(郭居敬Guō Jūjìng) compiled the stories of 24 filial exemplars in ancient times and finished the Stories of Filiality. Let me introduce the fifth story to you.
Write 旁(páng)(side) in Chinese character
旁 (páng) Origin: “旁”的本义是“四面八方”。字的下部“方”表示“地方”，也表声；上部原是“凡”，表示“所有”、“一切”。
The original meaning of “旁” was “all directions.” The lower part is “方,” which means “place,” indicates pronunciation. The upper part used to be written as “凡,” which means “all” or “everything.”
Meaning:
Top Chinese Food Stories
Chinese food products made news for all the wrong reasons. However, throughout the years, Chinese cuisine has grabbed a few more upbeat headlines. Here are some of my favorite fun Chinese food stories.
Dragon & Phoenix
The dragon and the phoenix are the principal motifs for decorative designs on the buildings, clothing and articles of daily use in the imperial palace. The throne hall is supported by columns entwined by gilded dragons, the central ramps on marble steps were paved with huge slabs carved in relief with the dragon and phoenix, and the screen walls display dragons in brilliant colours . The names in the Chinese language for nearly all the things connected with the emperor or the empress were preceded by the epithet "dragon" or "phoenix"; thus, "dragon seat(龙椅lóngyǐ)" for the throne, "dragon robe(龙袍lóngpáo)" for the emperor's ceremonial dress, "dragon bed(龙床lóngchuáng)" for him to sleep on, and "phoenix carriage", "phoenix canopies" and so on for the imperial processions. The national flag of China under the Qing Dynasty was emblazoned with a big dragon. The earliest postage stamps put out by China were called "dragon-heads" because they showed a dragon in their designs. Even today the dragon is sometimes adopted as the symbol of Chinese exhibitions held abroad or the cover designs of books on China printed by foreign publishers. "The Giant Dragon of the East" is becoming a sobriquet for the country.
Chinese grammar:Yes-no questions with “ma”
The question particle 吗 (ma) is a very simple way to form questions in Chinese. By placing 吗 on the end of a statement, you convert it into a yes/no question. Surprisingly enough, these are questions that could be answered with yes or no in English. They're also known as polar questions or binary questions.
Chinese food: Chang’s Zodiac Noodles
From P.F.Chang’s "Flavors of Yunnan” menu, Zodiac Noodles combines rice noodles with pork loin, ham, cabbage and shiitake mushrooms in a spicy Kung Pao-style sauce. Rice vermicelli noodles are available at Asian markets, or you can substitute spaghetti.
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