19 minute read
EDUCATION
CNY MYTHS AND LEGENDS
Ever wondered why we celebrate Chinese New Year the way we do? Samantha Wong goes back in time to find out
First up, a few facts. Based on the lunar rather than the Gregorian calendar, Chinese New Year (CNY) begins on the first day of the new moon, which appears any time between January 21 and February 20 each year. Also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, this celebration dates back thousands of years and it is steeped in myth, legend and folklore.
Chinese communities all over the globe celebrate CNY and it’s a major holiday here in Hong Kong (February 12 to 15 this year). During the festivities, we get together and welcome the new year through ancient customs that are believed to bring good fortune, prosperity and happiness.
The Jade Emperor’s race
If you’re familiar with the Chinese zodiac calendar, you’ll know that it has a cycle of 12 years, and each year has an animal as its symbol – and you’ll know the folk tale that explains how these animals came to be. It goes like this… Once upon a time the Jade Emperor called a race, decreeing that the first 12 animals to swim across a fast-flowing river would each have a year named in their honour. Thirteen animals lined up on the riverbank – the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig and Cat. The Cat was pushed into the water by the Rat, and excluded from the race. The Rat reached the opposite bank first, by riding on the Ox’s back, which is why he is the first of the 12-year cycle of animals in the Chinese zodiac.
The animals always come in the same order – Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. So, 2021 is the Year of the Ox, 2020 was the Year of the Rat and 2022 will be the Year of the Tiger. The last Ox years were 2009 and 1997.
Soft skills include the ability to communicate well with others
Lion dancing originates in a dream the Emperor had before going into battle
What can we expect of 2021, the Year of the Ox? Importantly, the Ox is strong and robust, he is considered one of the most naturally healthy animals in the Chinese zodiac, so we should be in a good place to combat COVID-19. The Ox is hardworking, methodical and self-disciplined – if we follow his lead, we can expect good things. The Ox brings stability to relationships and casts a favourable eye on long-term financial investments.
Monsters and demons
Have you ever wondered why on Lunar New Year’s Eve, we decorate our homes in red and wear new and festive red clothing? Well… it all goes back to ancient times when there was a monster named Nián, who lived at the bottom of the sea.
Nián walked the land once a year, on Lunar New Year’s Eve, to terrorise villages and feast on animals and humans. One year, a beggar came to seek shelter when everyone was hurrying away to hide out in the mountains. An old woman took the beggar in and, in return, he promised to chase Nián away. While the villagers fled, the beggar decorated their front doors with red paper scrolls.
At midnight, Nián lumbered into the village but stopped short when he saw the bright red decorations. He was afraid, and when the beggar started setting off firecrackers, he became even more afraid. When he saw the beggar, jumping up and down, dressed in red, laughing at him, Nián became so terrified, he ran away.
The villagers came back the next day to find their homes intact and Nián vanquished. Since then, it’s become traditional to decorate our homes and doors in red on Lunar New Year’s Eve and to set off firecrackers (or attend firework displays). Over time the custom of hanging red paper scrolls at CNY spread since they were believed to provide protection not just against Nián but also from the many other demons who wander the Earth at night. These demons must return to the underworld at dawn, the entrance to which is under a giant peach tree. Two gods guard the entrance, and it is their job to feed any demons who have harmed humans during the night to the tigers.
To safeguard their homes, people began to carve the gods’ names into peach-wood tablets. Placing them outside their doors was enough to scare the demons away. Nowadays, you can see these scrolls on the doors of nearly every household during CNY.
Gifts from the gods
Hanging scrolls emblazoned with the 福 character [fú], meaning happiness or good fortune, is another important tradition at CNY.
Lucky red packets
The origin of lai see giving harks back to a time when an evil spirit named Sui would appear at children’s bedsides on Lunar New Year’s Eve. If Sui patted the heads of sleeping children three times, the children would get a terrible, often terminal fever.
Fortunately, one couple happened upon a remedy. On Lunar New Year’s Eve, their daughter had been playing with some gold coins and when she fell asleep, they placed the coins on red paper and left them by her pillow. When Sui appeared, the coins flashed and frightened him away. This is why we give money wrapped in red paper (lai see) to children on Lunar New Year’s Eve.
But you’ll rarely see the character hung upright. Why? Well, here’s another story for you… One CNY a very long time ago, the Emperor ordered every household to decorate their homes by pasting the character 福 on their doors. On Lunar New Year’s Day, he sent his soldiers to check that he had been obeyed. The soldiers found that one illiterate family had hung the character upside down.
The Emperor ordered that the family be put to death, which is when the Empress stepped in. The Empress realised that hanging the character 福 upside down was in fact highly auspicious. This is because the character for ‘upside down,’ 倒 [dào] is a homonym of the character for ‘to arrive,’ 到 [dào]. So, by hanging the character 福 (good fortune) upside down, we are saying that good fortune is arriving.
The explanation made sense to the Emperor and he set the family free. From then on, it’s become customary to hang the character 福 upside down at CNY, both for good fortune and in remembrance of the clever Empress. Another way that we attract good fortune at CNY is, of course, through the lion dance ceremony. The lion dance brings good fortune for the coming year to everyone who watches or takes part in it. But have you ever wondered why?
Well, it all goes back to a dream the Emperor had one night after a day in battle. He dreamt of a fierce, strange-looking beast, playing. It was larger than a dog but smaller than a horse. The next day, the Emperor sent for his advisers and asked them about the beast. They told him it was a lion.
That very evening, after another victorious battle, the Emperor had the same dream again. In the morning, he went to his most experienced advisors and asked them what the dream meant. They explained that the lion was a gift from the gods. Since there were no lions in China, the gods had given one to the Emperor – they wanted him to have everything.
Believing that the lion empowered his army, the Emperor ordered his advisors to make a replica of the beast out of paper, cloth and bamboo. It was so big that two men could fit inside it, making it appear to walk. When the Emperor next went into battle, the lion came too and the army was again victorious. The lion was seen to bring good fortune, and this is why it remains a symbol of happiness and prosperity to this day. Kung Hei Fat Choy!
Decorative red scrolls were first used to frighten the sea monster Nián
Financial advice for migrant domestic workers from the team at Enrich HK!
With Valentine’s Day following hot on the heels of Chinese New Year (CNY), February can be a busy time for migrant domestic workers. This month, we’re going to take a look at some of the challenges that can come up around each of these celebrations. As always, our aim is to ensure that as a domestic worker, you are able to protect your finances, and plan and save for your future.
Making the most of lai-see
You will be receiving lai-see (red money packets) during CNY. You really need the extra money right now, but you don’t want to spend all of it immediately, like you’ve done before. What’s the best way to use it?
Whenever you receive any extra money, your options are always either to spend it, save it or invest it. Let’s explore each one! Spend it: Spending this money on CNY treats isn’t the answer, but you could use it to pay off any outstanding debts. Your bonus could also cover several smaller but necessary expenses, like the service fee for your mobile phone or remittance cable charge costs for when you send money home.
Save it: Could you save this money for your long-term goals, such as your children’s education or a large purchase for your home?
Or could you put it towards an emergency fund? We’ve talked a lot about how crucial it is to have an emergency fund, so that you can bounce back if you lose your job, or have urgent medical needs.
Invest it: Why not make your lai see work for you by investing it? Research and carefully consider investment options available, or simply invest in your own future by taking a course to learn some new skills.
And one thing to remember: While you may have received a good amount of lai-see in the past, this year may be different – given the current situation, you may receive less. So if you’ve ear-marked this money towards a certain goal, make sure you have a backup plan.
Avoiding love scams
You’re single on Valentine’s Day this year, and you’ve been thinking of signing up to an online dating app to try and meet someone. You’re a little nervous as you’ve heard about ‘love scams.’ How can you tell if someone is a scammer?
Online dating is becoming an increasingly popular way to meet new people, and there’s nothing wrong with trying something new. It can be scary at first, but it’s great that you’re putting yourself out there. Having said that, you’re absolutely right to be a little bit wary. There are many people who try to take advantage of others on dating apps, and if you’re not careful, you can land yourself in serious trouble, potentially losing your hard-earned money or even your job. Love scammers can target anybody, and many Hong Kong residents have fallen victim to these scams. Firstly, what does a love scam look like? Typically, scammers find their target on social media platforms and dating sites. They get to know the victim and quickly establish an online relationship, even though they might never meet in real life. They then use different excuses to swindle money from the victim.
Scammers usually try to portray themselves as someone who is quite attractive (often using a fake profile picture), with a good job and income. They might say they have a job outside of Hong Kong, or very far away from your area – or one which has odd hours so they’re not available to meet easily. They might also immediately claim to be looking for a serious, longterm relationship.
A big red flag to watch out for is if someone professes love for you sooner than you would expect, especially without meeting you in person first. They might also quickly try to lure you off the dating app or social site (for example, to chat on WhatsApp), to minimise the record of their conversations. They might offer to send you more photographs in exchange for your contact information, or even claim to be leaving the dating app/ cancelling their subscription. Their reason for this? They’ll say they don’t need to date anyone other than you. Scammers ultimately want to get access to your money – they might claim to urgently need money for emergencies, hospital bills or travel.
When using online dating apps, always remember to protect yourself. For example, keep your personal information (your phone number, address and work location) confidential. Limit your discussions to the dating site, especially until you meet the person face to face. Do not send them photos or videos of friends or family, or which reveal your location. Never, ever send money to someone you’ve met online.
If you feel you’ve encountered a scammer, there are several things you can do. Firstly, stop communicating with the person immediately. Secondly, report any evidence to the police, including monetary losses. (Contact the Hong Kong Police’s AntiDeception Coordination Centre – its Anti-Scam Helpline (18222) is a free consultation line, available 24 hours a day.) Lastly, consider reporting the scammer’s profile to the app or social media site.
You certainly shouldn’t be afraid of everyone you meet online, and you’ll be just fine if you look out for these key warning signs. Just keep a good head on your shoulders, and protect yourself and your hardearned money.
Enrich HK is an award-winning Hong Kong charity providing financial and empowerment education to migrant domestic workers. For a free, confidential one-to-one financial counselling session and to learn about the courses on offer, visit www.enrichhk.org. If you have a question you would like to have answered on this page, email info@enrichhk.org.
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FENG SHUI: Flowers
Fresh from the market, painted on porcelain or embroidered on silk, flowers are a sure-fire feng shui cure. Samantha Wong reports
Feng shui says that flowers do much more than adorn a room, they stimulate the flow of sheng chi (positive energy), the life force that amplifies luck and protects against negative outcomes. Flowers bring the energy of blossoming, heart-opening joy; they are alive and sensual. They also teach us to live in the moment, as their fragile beauty is transient – it transforms with the passing of time.
Real flowers are always the first choice for your home as they bring a strong healing energy, but floral patterns (on upholstery and tableware) or floral artwork can work feng shui magic too.
Feng shui is all about balance and placement, and the good news is that you can display as many flowers as you want, anywhere you want. If you are familiar with the bagua, the feng shui map that indicates which areas of the home have the greatest effect on your wealth, relationships, creativity, career, health etc., you can get specific about which flowers you display where, but well-cared for flowers of any type will boost the sheng chi in any room.
Dos and don’ts
When choosing and maintaining flowers and plants for feng shui, you should, however, keep the following tips in mind. Potted plants are more auspicious than cut blooms, since they bring ‘live’ growing chi into your home. If you lack a green thumb, choose quality artificial flowers (silk) over dried flowers. Dried flowers are lifeless, while a beautiful silk flower captures the living spirit of the flower it represents. Know that larger plants and floral arrangements attract greater amounts of energy. Choose plants with upwards foliage growth patterns as opposed to those that droop.
Be sure to throw away any flowers that are past their prime. Brown, dying, dried-up or damaged blooms are repositories for stagnant si chi (negative energy), so you need to prune and replace any dead flowers promptly. Likewise, trim thorns off flowers, such as roses, before arranging them in a vase. Thorns can snag and trap chi, impeding its harmonious flow in a space.
Certain plants bring less fortuitous energy than others, and are therefore best avoided. Bonsai, for instance, represent stunted growth
Miniature kumquat plants symbolise wealth Red peonies represent riches, honour and love White orchids promote clarity and calm
and are not considered good feng shui plants, even if they are miniature flowering trees. Thorny plants like cacti are also thought to bring si chi, as are superspiky plants, such as mother-inlaw’s tongue. Choose plants with rounded leaves.
The language of flowers
In feng shui, attention is often paid to colours and numbers as well as the symbolism of specific flowers. The most celebrated blooms are more than decorative – they are deliberately chosen for their ‘special powers.’
Take the orchid as an example. Generally speaking, orchids symbolise wealth, luxury, good fortune and abundance, but delve a little deeper and you can put them to more specific uses. Red and pale pink orchids signify love and romance, while coralcoloured orchids ignite creativity. White orchids provide a sense of clarity and calm, peach-coloured orchids represent comfort and stability, and yellow orchids bring hope into your life, nourishing the spirit.
The type of flower you choose is as significant as its colour. For example, any orchid will boost fertility but a moth orchid will also improve concentration, enhance your productivity and reduce anxiety.
As with all things feng shui, working with flowers relies a lot on common sense. If you want a romantic partner, arrange your flowers in pairs – never solo. Remember that eight is a lucky feng shui number, so make a habit of arranging flowers in bunches of eight. (A display of eight bamboo stems will improve your financial situation).
Want to cover all the bases? Mass a bank of multicoloured blooms together for a powerful boost of happy, life-giving energy.
Gift flowers at CNY
For prosperity: Any flower that blossoms over Chinese New Year (CNY) bestows a blessing but a plant that blooms on Lunar New Year’s Day brings 12 months of prosperity to the family that homes it. This is particularly true of the white narcissus. Miniature kumquat plants are popular wealth-enhancers, with the fruits’ golden colour symbolising money, as are red gladioli and yellow chrysanthemums. Bright red peonies (the flower of riches and honour) are another auspicious choice at CNY. Over the holiday, business people spend a lot of money on bouquets of peonies to ensure that they will have a prosperous year. For love: As well as bringing with them the promise of material success, red (and pink) peonies are also associated with romance, since they are a symbol of feminine beauty. Blossoming fruit branches, particularly peach and cherry, are another love and marriage cure. Walk around a branch three times, clockwise, on Lunar New Year’s Eve to secure yourself a romance-filled year to come. Gift the one you love a red amaryllis. For long life: Peach blossom is considered one of the most auspicious of all plants at this time of year. Its significance lies in the symbolic importance of the peach, which, in Chinese culture, signifies long life. The lotus flower is another propitious gift at CNY. It’s a popular health cure because all parts of the lotus – from the root to the flower and seeds – have medicinal uses.
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