Category: Chinese Culture

Fujian Tulou Fujian Tulou Fujian Tulou is a type of Chinese rural dwellings of the Hakka and Minnan people in Fujian. Because Hakka people like to live together in remote mountainous and forested regions, they built fortified houses to defend themselves against fierce animals and thieves. Built on a stone base, the Tulou's thick walls were packed with dirt and internally fortified with wood. The first Tulou appeared during the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279), and the building style developed over the following dynasties until reaching its current form as found during the period of the Republic of China (1912 – 1949). Its design incorporates the traditions of Feng shui, showing a perfect combination of unique traditional architecture with picturesque scenery.

In the Western world, New Year’s celebrations take place on January 1st—we make half-hearted resolutions over glasses of champagne. Through most of China, they’re celebrated in the middle of April, with firecrackers are dancing lions.?The Dai ethnic group of southwestern Yunnan Province, meanwhile, has their own three-day New Year’s celebration in April. Their festivities culminate not with spraying champagne or popping explosives, but with a raucous water-fight. This Dai festival begins with two days of Dragon Boat racing. On the third day, head to the local temple to “Bathe the Buddha.” Most people will have on their freshest, nicest clothes as they gather at the temple to ritually purify a statue of the Buddha, tossing pans of water over the effigy.

Tomb Sweeping Day (清明节 qīngmíng jiē) is a time for families to celebrate life, and to pay respects to their ancestors. It’s a time of mixed emotions: sadness over lost loved ones and joy for the return of spring.?Start the day right, by commemorating your ancestors and other loved ones who’ve passed on. In China, it’s especially important to look after departed members of the family, as their spirits protect the living descendents (i.e. you). April 5th is a day to visit their graves, pull weeds, and sweep the grounds. Offerings of food, rice wine, and paper money will all help ensure the spirits are smiling. If you’re unable to visit their graves, one popular way to pay respect is to burn paper money on a street corner at night, which is a regular sight around China. (Be careful to keep your distance from others who are memorializing in this way—not only out of respect, but also because the ghosts they’re calling might follow you home!)