Thursday, May 28, 2009

Folklore

THE OLD CASTLE OF SHENYANG


The old Shenyang castle that was built by the emperor is very interesting, because of the history.

The old Shenyang palace was located in the centre of the long Shenyang city, the capital of the Liaoning Province, of Tiongkok East Sea. This was the castle of the Qing Dynasty of the beginning period (1616-1911). At the beginning of the 17th age, Emperor Nurhaci from the Dynasty of the Jin made Shenyang the capital city and built the palace there. Karsar Huangtaiji and Emperor Fulin, two emperors of the period were earliest of the Qing Dynasty was crowned as the emperor in the Kuno Shenyang Palace.

The old Shenyang castle the width 6 hectare, where being gotten more 70 building with more than 300 rooms. That was other with the other traditional castle building in Tiongkok was the typical characteristics of the ethnic group nomadik that was thick. Building main the old Shenyang castle was the Dazheng Palace, the workplace emperor and the implementation of the important ceremony. On the other side the Dazheng Palace was gotten 10 small palaces had the shape of the pavilion. Seen from the form the side, the Dazheng Palace in fact was a pavilion. The Dazheng palace and 10 small palaces were the incarnation 11 tents.

The old Shenyang castle was designed according to tradition the Man ethnic group. For example, in front of the Qingning castle, the building in the middle route, was gotten a wood pole be as high as almost 7 metre. According to the Man ethnic tradition, the wood pole was used to give bait to the crow as the prayer statement to sky.

The Old Shenyang palace was build followed the form of the Song Dynasty building (960-1279), the part especially begins to be developed during 1625 and just was finished 10 years afterwards. After that, the emperors Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong carried out the improvement and the increase in the building that took place until more 150 years. It could be said that the old Shenyang castle was the crystallisation of culture of the Tionghoa nation, and the important Tiongkok sign as the unitary state multi the ethnic group.

miscellaneous

China Architecture


Chinese architecture refers to a style of architecture that has taken shape in Asia over many centuries. The structural principles of Chinese architecture have remained largely unchanged, the main changes being only the decorative details. Since the Tang Dynasty, Chinese architecture has had a major influence on the architectural styles of Korea, Vietnam and Japan.

The architecture of China is as old as Chinese civilization. From every source of information - literary, graphic, exemplary - there is strong evidence testifying to the fact that the Chinese have always employed an indigenous system of construction that has retained its principal characteristics from prehistoric times to the present day. Over the vast area from Chinese Turkistan to Japan, from Manchuria to the northern half of French Indochina, the same system of construction is prevalent; and this was the area of Chinese cultural influence. That this system of construction could perpetuate itself for more than four thousand years over such a vast territory and still remain a living architecture, retaining its principal characteristics in spite of repeated foreign invasions - military, intellectual, and spiritual - is a phenomenon comparable only to the continuity of the civilization of which it is an integral part.

The following article gives a cursory explanation of traditional Chinese architecture, before the introduction of Western building methods during the early 20th century. Throughout the 20th Century, however, Western-trained Chinese architects have attempted to combine traditional Chinese designs into modern (usually government) buildings, with only limited success. Moreover, the pressure for urban development throughout contemporary China required higher speed of construction and higher floor area ratio, which means that in the great cities the demand for traditional Chinese buildings, which are normally less than 3 levels, has declined in favor of modern architecture. However, the traditional skills of Chinese architecture, including major carpentry, minor carpentry, masonry, and stone masonry, are still applied to the construction of vernacular architecture in the vast rural area in China.

Bilateral symmetry and the articulation of buildings are found everywhere in Chinese
architecture, from palace complexes to humble farmhouses. When possible, plans for renovation and extension of a house will often try to maintain this symmetry provided that there is enough capital to do so.

In contrast to the buildings, Chinese gardens are a notable exception which tends to be asymmetrical. The principle underlying the garden's composition is to create enduring flow (Sylvia)


China's Geography and Climate

China is composed of a vast variety of highly different landscapes, with mostly plateaus and mountains in the west, and lower lands on the east.

As a result, principal rivers flow from west to east, including the Yangtze (central), the Huang He (central-east), and the Amur (northeast), and sometimes toward the south (including the Pearl River, Mekong River, and Brahmaputra), with most Chinese rivers emptying into the Pacific.

East Asia - Most of China's arable lands lie along the two major rivers, the Yangtze and the Huang He, and each are the centers around which are founded China's major ancient civilizations.

In the east, along the shores of the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea are found extensive and densely populated alluvial plains; the shore of the South China Sea is more mountainous and southern China is dominated by hill country and lower mountain ranges.

To the west, the north has a great alluvial plain, and the south has a vast calcareous tableland traversed by hill ranges of moderate elevation, with the Himalayas, containing the highest point Mount Everest.

The northwest also has high plateaus among more arid desert landscapes such as the Takla-Makan and the Gobi Desert, which has been expanding.

Due to a prolonged drought and perhaps poor agricultural practices, dust storms have become usual in the spring in China. Dust blows all the way to southern China, Taiwan, and has even been measured on the West Coast of the United States.

The Giant Panda is an endangered species native to the bamboo forests of central and southern China.During many dynasties, the southwestern border of China has been the high mountains and deep valleys of Yunnan, which separate modern China from Burma, Laos and Vietnam.

The climate of China varies greatly. The northern zone (within which lies Beijing) has a climate with winters of Arctic severity. The central zone (within which Shanghai is situated) has a generally temperate climate. The southern zone (within which lies Guangzhou) has a generally subtropical climate.

The Palaeozoic formations of China, excepting only the upper part of the Carboniferous system, are marine, while the Mesozoic and Tertiary deposits arne and freshwater or else of terrestrial origin. Groups of volcanic cones occur in the Great Plain of north China.In the Liaodong and Shandong Peninsulas, there are basaltic plateau.(Sylvia)


Chinese Medicine

Ancient studies in biology have been extensive, and historic records are consulted even today, such as pharmacopoeias of medicinal plants. Traditional medicine and surgery were highly advanced at various points in history, and in some fields are still seen as innovative. They continue to play a growing role in the international medical community, and have achieved recognition over the last few decades in the West as alternative and complementary therapies. An example is acupuncture, although it is somewhat controversial in some quarters.

The Chinese had many natural remedies some of which included natural herbs and acupuncture. The discovery of medicine in ancient China started more than 2,000 years ago. In Ancient China, the Chinese's goal to make medicine was to make an elixir of life to make emperors immortal and help them live eternally. Eventually, in their quest to make an elixir of life, they made series of medicines and remedies.

That is how China began the search for medicine. After creating many medicines (such as herbal medicines like an Euryale seed which treated urination problems and animal organs, like the pig's liver, that helped someone's eyesight) which were discovered during the rush to make an elixir of life, Tsou Yen, a pharmacologist, formed a theory on how he thought diseases were caused. He believed two spirit-like life forces called Yin and Yang flowed through the body. He said that diseases were thought to be caused when either Yin or Yang were out of balance. After his belief was spread, many doctors in China tried to make a way to make the Yin and Yang balanced inside the body.

This was when a pretty famous treatment was made, which is still used today. About a century after the discovery of medicine, acupuncture was invented in China. Acupuncture is a treatment, which doesn't involve any drugs. Needles are put in certain parts of the person's body. The Chinese believed that if you put the needles in those specific spots, Yin and Yang would be balanced. When the forces were balanced, it was believed to relieve your pain and you wouldn't get any diseases.

That treatment was the most commonly used one at the time. Not all medicines were herbs. Some of them used animal organs or animal parts. To get the organs, the doctors cut the animal with a bronze knife. They took out the organs that were good for sicknesses, such as a sheep's eye. The organs or parts were cleaned in water, then the parts were given to patients for them to eat so that patient could be cured. The rest of the body of the animal was dried and stretched on a stick. To eat it, the people had to boil it in water.

There were many other medicines that helped the people. If you had skin problems, the medicine the ancient Chinese would give you to eat would be dried sea horse. If you were a man and you thought you needed more energy in your sex life then the ancient Chinese would give you some dried gecko for you to cook and eat. There were many other medicines that had numerous nutrients and minerals such as the cow stomach which has a lot of iron in it, or the sheep's eye which has many vitamins in it.(sylvia)

and this is Acupuntur:


Angpao Traditional

Red Envelopes or Ang Pao are generally handed out in social or family gatherings around or on Chinese New Year. Traditionally, angpao is given from the older generation to children or from married couples to single juniors. It is a taboo for unmarried to give angpao to others.

The red color of angpao is aimed to scare of the devil. People used to put an amount of money in it. This amount of money is always an even amount (even $30 and $50 are not acceptable as “even” also applies to the first digit in the amount) and never has the digit 4 in it, because four sounds like the Chinese character for death. Traditionally the amount has the digit $8 because eight in Chinese sounds like wealth. Odd amounts are generally handed out at funerals. Most common amounts are $8 in $2 bills or one $10 bill. (sylvia)

Terracotta Army


The Terracotta Army (literally "soldier and horse funerary statues") are the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shi Huang the First Emperor of China. The terracotta figures, dating from 210 BCE, were discovered in 1974 by several local farmers near Xi'an, Shanxi province, China near the Mausouleum of the First Qin Emperor. The figures include warriors, chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians. Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried in the pits.

The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the First Emperor of Qin (Qin Shi Huang, Shi Huang means the first emperor) in 210-209 BCE (he declared himself the first emperor of China in 221 BCE to the end of his life in 210 BCE). Their purpose was to help rule another empire with Shi Huang Di in the afterlife. Consequently, they are also sometimes referred to as "Qin's Armies." Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta warriors originated. In addition to the warriors, an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor has been excavated.

First Emperor was buried with palaces, scenic towers, officials, valuable utensils and 'wonderful objects,' with 100 rivers fashioned in mercury and above this heavenly bodies below which he wrote were 'the features of the earth.' Some translations of this passage refer to 'models' or 'imitations' but in fact he does not use those words.

It was also said as a legend that the Terracotta Warriors were real soldiers, buried with Emperor Qin so that they can guard him in the next life.

Construction

The terracotta figures were manufactured both in workshops by government laborers and also by local craftsmen. The head, arms, legs and torsos were created separately and then assembled. Studies show that eight face moulds were most likely used, and then clay was added to provide individual facial features. It is believed that their legs were made in much the same way that terracotta drainage pipes were manufactured at the time. This would make it an assembly line production, with specific parts manufactured and assembled after being fired, as opposed to crafting one solid piece of terracotta and subsequently firing it. In those days, each workshop was required to inscribe its name on items produced to ensure quality control. This has aided modern historians in verifying that workshops that once made tiles and other mundane items were commandeered to work on the terracotta army. Upon completion, the terracotta figures were placed in the pits in precise military formation according to rank and duty.

The Pits

The four pits associated with the dig are about 1.5 km east of the burial ground and are about 7 meters deep. The outside walls of the tomb complex are as if placed there to protect the tomb from the east, where all the conquered states lay. They are solidly built with rammed earth walls and ground layers as hard as concrete. Pit one, 230 meters long, contains the main army, estimated at 8,000 figures. Pit One has 11 corridors, most of which are over 3 meters wide, and paved with small bricks with a wooden ceiling supported by large beams and posts. This design was also used for the tombs of noblemen and would have resembled palace hallways. The wooden ceilings were covered with reed mats and layers of clay for waterproofing, and then mounded with more soil making them, when built about 2 to 3 meters higher than ground level. Pit two has cavalry and infantry units as well as war chariots, and is thought to represent a military guard. Pit three is the command post, with high ranking officers and a war chariot. Pit four is empty, seemingly left unfinished by its builders. (sylvia)

 


Teaching

Sun Tzu

Sun is his family name, and Tzu (spelled Zi in Pinyin) is an honorific in classic Chinese, roughly equivalent to Sir, or the Learned Gentleman. Sun Tzu was born in 400 BC and died in 320 BC. His given name is Wu, which means martial. His polite name is Changqing. Sun Tzu is traditionally believed to be the author of The Art of War, sometimes called the Sun Tzu, an influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy considered to be a prime example of Taoist strategy. Sun has had a significant impact on Chinese and Asian history and culture, both as an author of the Art of War and as a legendary figure. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Sun's The Art of War grew in popularity and saw practical use in Western society, and his work has continued to influence both Asian and Western culture and politics.

Historians have questioned whether or not Sun was an authentic historical figure. Traditional accounts place him in the Spring and Autumn Period of China (722–481 BCE) as a heroic general of the King of Wu who lived c. 544—496 BCE. Scholars accepting his historicity place his writing of The Art of War in the Warring States Period (476–221 BCE), based on the descriptions of warfare in the text. Traditional accounts state that his descendant, Sun Bin, also wrote a master treatise on military tactics.

It is still a big question wheter Sun Tzu is a real figure or not. According to traditional sources, such as the 2nd century BCE biography written by Sima Qian, Sun was born in c. 400 BCE in Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period of China (722–481 BCE) and became a heroic general for the king of Wu, Helü. His victories then inspired him to write The Art of War. Historians place the writing of The Art of War in the Warring States Period (476–221 BCE), based on its description of warfare. The period was a time of constant war between seven nations (Zhao, Qi, Qin, Chu, Han, Wei and Yan) seeking to control all of China. He is thought to have died in c. 320 BCE.

The Art of War is attributed to Sun, and it was originally called the Sun Tzu Ping Fa, or simply the Sun Tzu. It presents a philosophy of war for managing conflicts and winning battles. Contrary to popular belief, it contains not only the writings of the original author, but also commentary and clarifications from later military philosophers, such as Li Quan and Du Mu. It is accepted as a masterpiece on strategy and often referenced by generals and theorists throughout history. Of the texts written before the unification of China in the 2nd century BCE, six major works survived, including The Art of War. During the Song Dynasty in the early 1st millenium CE, the six works were combined with a Tang Dynasty text into a collection called the Seven Military Classics. As a central part of that compilation, The Art of War formed the foundations of orthodox military theory in China. Illustrating this point, the book was required reading to pass the tests needed for imperial appointment to military positions.

Nowadays, the strategics made by Sun Tzu are no only used in war but also in many other fields, such as marketing and selling. No matter he is real or not, but his thought is inspire people in the world. He might be not conscious about it. But we still have to thank him for his The Art of War.


Sun Tzu said:


In a war, army forced by 100,000 people needs 1,000 carriages, 1,000 wagons, and 100,000 armies. Then this force goes to front line for about 1,000 li (1 li = 366.65 m or +/ 0.5 km). Obviously they need cost for the expert and maintenance cost. It costs 1,000 gold coins. If it can be fulfilled, then we can make 100,000 army forced.

The aim of the war is to win it in a short time. If it occurs in long time, it will not work because the knives will be blunt and so does the army. Another reason is it expands much money.
When the knives are blunt, the army is exhausted, and the money is gone, then it will be easier for enemy to attack. No on in that condition, no matter how tricky and smart he is, will win the war. I have heard there was a dumb who wins the war, but I have not heard the brain who wins the long time war. There is no any country which could win or get the advantage from a long time war.

That is why for them who do not know the loss of a war will not know what the advantage of the war is. The expert says do not do more than one mobilization for preparing provisions. If the equipment is from our country and food is from enemy, then our needs could be fulfilled.

Far away the distance from base camp to war field makes the country falls into miserable. War will cause inflation so that citizens have to pay tax. Often the tax is high so citizens will get poor as well. In the other hand, they will get suffer because of compulsory to be army. Expense for a war is 70% from income. Expense for maintenance could reach 60% from the income.

A wise commander will try to rob enemy’s provisions, especially food. 1 zhong (+/ 640 liter) enemy’s food equals to 20 zhong his own self. 1 shi (+/ 60 kg) animal’s food from the enemy equals to 20 shi of his own self.

War spirit of the army is the anger; while what is motivating them to win is money and reward. In war with carriage, give reward to first army who can rob more than 10 carriages that belong to enemy; then change the enemy’s flag into ours. Next use those carriages as ours and treat prisoners well. By doing this strategy, we could win the war and in another side we could have those carriages and prisoners as ours additional army. The most important thing in war is win it in a short time.

We should avoid long time war. A commander who knows the meaning of the war has to know that his army’s fate is in his hand. He is the one who can ascertain about his country’s fortune. (Putri)

Arts

Calligraphy

Calligraphy has remained a potent force in Chinese life up to the present. During the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, calligraphy continued to be a central art of the literati, closely associated both with painting and with the social and cultural life of the educated elite. The Chinese landscape came to reflect the appreciation of calligraphy, as stones inscribed with the calligraphy of admired artists were erected at famous sites. Calligraphy could also be seen on temple name plaques, on shop signs, and on couplets pasted by the doors of even very modest homes. Calligraphy, thus, formed an ever-present part of China's visual culture. During the twentieth century, the use of calligraphy has changed radically. Calligraphy is no longer an art associated primarily with the traditional scholarly elite. It is not only employed as a tool of revolution, but it has become a popular amateur art practiced by people of all walks of life, and artists have found ways to use it to challenge traditions rather than perpetuate them. Today, market of calligraphy is still exist and it is a good news for calligraphers. There are some art schools have professors in calligraphy training of calligrapher-artists. China Calligraphy is more than art, it is a treasure. (Revita)

Mythologies and Fengshui

What Colors are You???

Yin colors are the colors which bring healing and relaxation. There is a relation between colors and Feng Shui, for better understanding, let’s take a look at the examples below.

Blue: Blue color has ‘yin’ energy. It is calm and soothe. This color has great significance in Feng Shui as it reflects love as it heals and relaxes. Blue creates a feeling of peace and trust. Since it is the color of the sea and sky, Feng Shui associates blue with adventure and exploration. Navy blue is the color of intellect and wisdom.

Black: Black symbolizes money and income, black is great for careers, especially when it is combined with metal. It is the Feng Shui color of emotional protection and power.

Purple: Purple, the color that lies at the end of the spectrum, has a great significance in Feng Shui. The color is excellent for physical and mental healing and Feng Shui associates it with spiritual awareness.

White: In Feng Shui the white color represents poise, confidence and purity. Because of its yin energy, Feng Shui uses this color mostly in combination with gold or silver to generate a calm atmosphere.

The other yin colors of Feng Shui are pink and green. These colors also have their individual properties that are used in Feng Shui practice.

Yang Colors and Feng Shui

Yang colors tend to be fire and wood elements. Feng Shui believes that these are the colors that provide you the enthusiasm or the positive energy to do something end to be motivated. Here are the descriptions of colors that Feng Shui provides for your advantages.

Yellow: Yellow color is considered to be as auspicious as red. Yellow represents sunbeam, warmth, motion, cheerfulness and friendliness. However, the exposure to large amounts of intense yellow can cause anxiety.

Orange: With a lot of ‘yang’ energy the orange color has great significance for Feng Shui practice as it strengthens your concentration. You can use this color when your creativity runs to zero level. Orange color in Feng Shui is used to give you a sense of purpose. Orange is the color of organization.

The other ‘yang’ colors of Feng Shui are tan/beige, brown, red, mauve, maroon and lavender and gold. Each color has its significance such as money, luck or romance. These colors can be used in different combinations with Feng Shui elements for balancing the Chi of your Feng Shui home, Feng Shui bed room , or Feng Shui office.

Colors & Feng Shui also have a lot of contributions regarding the direction of your house. There are different colors that Feng Shui defines for the use of exterior facades of your house. Exterior colors of your house in Feng Shui practice can be used for matching or enhancing the basic house type that you have.

For example if your house is facing towards the south, painting its exterior with white, grey or blue enhances the flow of Chi in your house. For houses facing toward East, the colors in earth tones or metal tones are thought to be of much use for enhancing the positive energies of the house.


GODS FROM CHINESE MYTHOLOGY

SAN-XING

(Also known as SAN-HSING, THREE-IMMORTALS)

The Three Gods of Good Fortune, Happiness and Wealth.

Good things come in threes when China gets going. It means 'Three Stars' and then they are the starry-eyed stellar Gods who bring luck and wealth. They are FU-XING (God of Luck), LU-XING (God of Wealth), and SHOU-XING (God of Long Life). If you want to find them, it's easy. Just look for the three stars of ORION's Belt.

The SAN-XING is attended by stags, bats and cranes, which denote their respective qualities symbolically. We will find these on many a calendar at our local Chinese restaurant.

· FU-XING (known as FUK-XING, FU-HSING)

God of Happiness and Good Luck.

He is the Lucky Star member of the SAN-XING team, bright, cheery and full of boundless optimism.

· SHOU-XING (known as SHOU-HSING, SHOU-LAO, NAN-JI-XIAN-WENG)

Picture of SHOU-XING
God of Longevity and Old Age, and the most venerable member of the SAN-XING happiness squad.

It means 'Star Of Long Life'. He is old and bald, and always carries a Golden Peach of Immortality from XI-WANGMU's Holy Peach Garden. These are found only in Heaven and ripen once every three thousand years.

· GUO-ZIYI ( known as GUO-ZI-YI, KUO-TZU-I)

God of Happiness and Riches

It may seem unlikely, but he started out as a soldier in the Tang Dynasty (8th Century A.D.), became a mighty general, rose to become one China's greatest military figures, and ended up as a God having nothing to do with any of that at all.

The modern FENG-SHUI movement has claimed these three Gods for its own. A bewildering array of SAN-XING merchandise is available to cure all known ills, making them also the Three Gods of New Age Gift Stores.



CHINESE NUMEROLOGY



The earliest forms of numerology come from China. The origins of Chinese numerology date back 4000 years ago.

A famous tale is that the first of the five mythical emperors of China, Wu of Hsai, was working on the banks of the Yellow River trying to find a method to prevent the floods.

It was during the course of this work that Wu found a tortoise shell, which at the time was considered to be a very good omen. This shell, however, was extremely rare, unique and special because it had fascinating markings on it: a magic 3x3 square.

This square later became known as the 'Lo Shu Grid'. The 'Lo Shu Grid' is particularly remarkable because every row, column and diagonal on the grid add up to the number '15'.

Chinese numerology is based on mystical traditions, including the I-Ching. The common premise is that certain numbers are associated with 'good' or 'bad'. The element that makes a number 'good' or 'bad' is the punning and word play possible in this many-tone language.

Over time Chinese numerology evolved into three different systems that are being used today. There is the Western version of Chinese numerology, the traditional Chinese numerology and the Ki system. The following presents an introduction to some basic concepts used in Chinese numerology.

Six basic concepts in Chinese numerology!!
1. YANG NUMBERS (odd numbers: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, etc.)
2. YIN NUMBERS (even numbers: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, etc.)
3. LUCKY NUMBERS (6, 8, 9)
4. UNLUCKY NUMBERS (4, 13)
5. FENG SHUI HOUSE NUMBERS:
6. KUA NUMBERS

Chinese numerology & the chinese elements!!

The five Elements are related to the numbers 1 to 9 as follows:

- Wood is associated with the numbers 3 and 4.
- Fire is associated with the numbers 9.
- Earth is associated with the numbers 2, 5 and 8.
- Metal is associated with the numbers 6 and 7.
- Water is associated with the number 1.

Famous People



The Legend of Man

International action superstar, Donnie Yen, who portrays the celebrated kung fu master Yip Man in this biopic set in 1930s Foshan at the height of the Sino-Japanese invasion. He also marks Donnie Yen’s fourth collaboration with director Wilson Yip (after SPL, Dragon Tiger Gate and Flash Point) and his reunion with SPL co-stars Simon Yam and Sammo Hung (who also serves as action choreographer). 

There is a brief biography of the legend of the Man- Ip Man:His Humble Beginnings Ip Gai-Man was born in Foshan City, Guangdong Province.For the first time he began learning Wing Chun in 1906 under the tutelage of Chan Wah-Shun, pupil of renowned Wing Chun master Leung Chun. Due to old age, Wah soon passed away and Ip Man continued his training under Wah’s pupil Ng Chung-sok. At the age of sixteen, Ip Man attended St. Stephen’s College in Hong Kong which was in Hong Kong and where he met Leung Bik, the son of former master Wah’s sifu, Leung Chun. 

Legend has it that when Ip Man first met Leung Bik, he did not know who Leung Bik was and arrogantly demonstrated his kung fu. When Leung Bik was less than impressed, Ip Man was unhappy and challenged Leung Bik to a duel. Ip Man was however easily defeated. Discouraged, he stormed out- only to return the next day when his classmate told him who Leung Bik was. Ip Man trained under Leung Bik for the next five to six years and acquired a complete mastery of the skill of Wing Chun. 

He returned to Foshan at the age of 24. Back at Foshan He became a police officer and taught to several subordinates, friends and relatives. His connections with wushu practitioners and occasional combats in the city however made him a well known figure in Foshan. When Foshan fell to the Japanese during the War, Ip Man remained faithful to his country and refused to join the Japanese militia. Instead, he started teaching Wing Chun in his good friend Chow Ching-yuen’s cotton mill factory. 

Return to Hong Kong Ip Man returned to Hong Kong at the end of 1949 and opened his first martial arts school teaching the art of Wing Chun. Some of famous pupils during this time include Wong Shun-Leung, Chu Shong-Tin and of course Bruce Lee, perhaps his most well known disciple who trained under him from 1954 to 1957. 

One of the unique ways of Ip Man’s style of teaching was his use of sport combats, or “hand talk”. He believed that such friendly sport combats could better help his pupils hone their martial arts expertise. It was through these public displays of “hand talk” that Wing Chun and Ip Man’s school grew in popularity and numbers. Throughout his years of teaching, Ip Man was always humble about his skills and was instrumental in advancing Wing Chun. Many of his accomplished pupils have also established schools overseas, enabling Wing Chun to flourish in other parts of the world. Today it is a martial arts form that has millions of followers, and Ip Man is widely regarded as one of the grates. (Rini Ritti)

 


Tsai Lun 

Written communication has been the center of civilization for centuries and our important records are on paper. Although writing has been around for a long time, paper has not.

Actually putting thoughts down in written form was not always easy or practical. The ancients  discovered simple drawings on th

e walls of caves. The Sumerians did around 4000 B.C. but it still was not practical because of its weight.

The word "paper" is came from the word "papyrus," which a plant was found in Egypt along the lower Nile River. About 5,000 years ago, Egyptians created "sheets" of papyrus by harvesting, peeling and slicing the plant into strips. The strips were then layered, pounded together and smoothed to make a flat, uniform sheet.

For about 3,000 years no changes in writing materials. Ts'ai Lun, a Chinese man who had invented paper. He lived and served as an official at the Chinese Imperial Court at the Han Dynasty in China at about 1800 years ago. In or about the year 105 A.D., he presented Emperor Han Ho Ti with samples of paper.

He took the inner bark of a mulberry tree and bamboo fibers, mixed them with water, and pounded them with a wooden tool. Then he poured this mixture onto a flat piece of coarsely woven cloth and let the water drain through, leaving only the fibers on the cloth. Once dry, Ts'ai Lun discovered that he had created a quality writing surface that was relatively easy to make and lightweight. This knowledge of papermaking was used in China before word was passed along to Korea, Samarkand, Baghdad, and Damascus.

Tsai, Lun was a eunuch. Because he was an officer, he had the access to lots of resources, including money and human resources, for papermaking research. He was promoted by the Emperor for his invention and became wealthy. Later he got involved in palace intrigue, which led to his downfall. Finally he ended his life drinking poison.

It's hard to imagine how the world be like without paper. Today, paper is the most commonly used materials in human life, not just as a medium of communication. Tsai, Lun's contribution to civilization is priceless. (Rini Ritti)


The Biography of Bruce Lee


Birth Name


Bruce Lee Jun Fan Yuen Kam

Date of Birth

27 November 1940, San Francisco, California, USA

Date of Death

20 July 1973, Hong Kong (cerebral edema)

Height

5' 7½" (1.71 m)

 

Trivia

Died of brain edema in Hong Kong at age 32.

He is considered the greatest martial artist of the 20th century.

Personal Quotes

·      Absorb what is useful, Discard what is not, Add what is uniquely your own.

·      Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.

·      A teacher is never a giver of truth - he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself. A good teacher is merely a catalyst.

·      When an opportunity in a fight presents itself, "I" don't hit, "it" hits all by itself.

·      Empty your mind. Become formless and shapeless like water. When water is poured into a cup, it becomes the cup. When water is poured into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Be water, my friend. (Winda)