Archive for January, 2012
Sū zhōu aka “Venice of the Far East” (苏州) Posted by Stephen on Jan 31, 2012
Suzhou or 苏州 (Sūzhōu) is a major Chinese city located in the southeast quadrant of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part of the Yangtze River Delta region. Suzhou is…
Harnessing your Inner Qi: Traditional Medicine Theory Posted by Stephen on Jan 28, 2012
Now that we’ve introduced traditional forms of) Chinese medicine, it’s time to take a look at the theory behind these timeless practices. Traditional Chinese Medicine (中医) is based on Yinyangism (later absorbed by Daoism).From this follows the belief that all parts of the universe (including the human body) are interconnected by correspondence of “qi”, blood, bodily fluids, zang-fu…
Spring Festival Superstitions and Traditions Posted by sasha on Jan 21, 2012
When the Spring Festival rolls around, there’s a lot to be done. As this festival lasts for 15 days, there’s something different for each day, and preparations for the celebration begin weeks before the actual festival. Let’s learn about some of the superstitions and traditions associated with the most important Chinese holiday. Superstitions Leading up…
Cupping (拔罐) Posted by Stephen on Jan 19, 2012
Cupping or 拔罐 (báguànr) is a type of Chinese massage that consists of attaching several hollowed-out glass “cups” to the body. These cups work to massage soft tissue, by pulling and stretching the skin. This occurs through a vacuuming process in which these cups literally adhere to the persons body, “sucking” skin up into the…
Chinese Herbal Medicine (中药) Posted by Stephen on Jan 17, 2012
A cornerstone to Chinese traditional medicine is herbal medicine or 中药 (Zhōng yào). Chinese herbal medicines are made from plants, herbs, and occasionally from the organ meats of a wide range of exotic (and strange) animalia. Medicines are typically constructed from ingredients found in the natural world, and are mixed in accordance Traditional Medicine Theory to stimulate…
Beijing (北京) Posted by sasha on Jan 17, 2012
The capital city of China, Beijing has a history dating back thousands of years. Every day, hordes of tourists flock to this ancient city to visit its many landmarks. Take a short video tour of Beijing in this video. 北京是中国的首都 – běi jīng shì zhōng guó de shǒu dū Beijing is China’s capital 天安门广场 –…
Acupuncture (针灸) Posted by Stephen on Jan 15, 2012
Acupuncture or 针灸 (zhēnjiǔ) is one of the the most popular forms of Chinese Traditional Medicine in the mainland, and is well recognized and practiced abroad (even by Western doctors). Acupuncture treats patients by the insertion and manipulation of needles in the body, in an attempt to balance the body’s qi. Acupuncture proponents claim that…