Honolulu Star Bulletin. Wednesday, February 20, 1957 - Tales about Hawaii, Clarice B. Taylor
Chinese Grandpa probably thought of each year as good or bad according to its name. For instance, he would have said that 1956, being the year of Monkey, was bad and that 1957, the year of Rooster, would be good.
Chinese scholars say there is no such thing as a good or bad year - all depends upon whether the year will be good for the individual according to his birthdate.
A good year for one person may not be a good year for another.
This is due to the fact that Chinese horoscopes are based upon a complicated system in which the yellow 60 year cycle revolves about the lunar system of months and days. The horoscope takes into account the hour, date and month in which the child is born.
In revolving about the inner timetable, the omens of the 60-year cycle often "collide" with the omens of the inner circle and the result is bad for the individual.
There is often a daily omen which reads "do not attend a funeral" or "avoid holding a funeral." That is a general omen that applies to everyone.
If the omen says "do not attend a funeral," the Chinese will send flowers or go to the funeral parlor with a sympathetic message but will not enter the room where the corpse lies.
Such omens are for all, but the individual will sometimes learn that the omens for the general public are not good for him.
It is a general practice of Honolulu funeral parlors to post a notice on a screen in front of the room in which the corpse is lying.
The notice will read "all those born in the year ___ enter this room at your own hazard."
The reason for this is that the year "collides with the mourning date for the dead individual. Those born in that year should avoid looking at the corpse, otherwise something bad may happen.
The funeral parlors post this notice because few in Honolulu know their own horoscopes or are aware of these omens.
Next: Creation
Showing posts with label 60-year cycle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 60-year cycle. Show all posts
Friday, March 15, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
► Chinese Lore for Chinese-Hawaiians - 2: Chinese Almanac
Honolulu Star Bulletin. Tuesday, February 5, 1957 - Tales about Hawaii, Clarice B. Taylor
The Almanac which Chinese grandpa used was published for the benefit of the common people, to keep the exact date of religious festivals.
The first European Almanacs were published for the same purpose - to remind people of the saint's days and religious festivals.
Chinese grandpa and his forebears needed a reminder because there were thousands of gods in the Chinese pantheon - each has its own memorial day to be worship[p]ed.
The old gods are commonly referred to as T'aoist gods and in addition there are the deities and saints brought into China by the Buddhists.
METHOD OF RECKONING
The Chinese Almanac is a calendar which keeps a record of the days and months by the complicated ancient Chinese method of reckoning in two cycles, one by the moon month and one by a 60-year cycle of years.
Each hour, day, month and year has certain omens - so the Almanac devotes pages to an account of the omens.
The omens are ages old and are a result in learning about nature.
Since family life is the center of Chinese thought and action, a great deal of the Almanac is devoted to family wisdom. Parents are advised how to raise their children with homely stories which illustrate right conduct.
FUNDAMENTALS
Since the common Chinese is not expected to be an educated man and able to read Mandarin, an attempt to educate him in the fundamentals of Chinese literature is included in the Almanac.
Short sketches of the lives of men of learning poets, philosophers and the great Emperors are given.
Other sketches deal with legendary and deified persons.
Lengthy details are not given. The sketches only identify the person. The scholar is presumed to know where and how to find the details of the person identified in Chinese literature.
NEXT: Religion
The Almanac which Chinese grandpa used was published for the benefit of the common people, to keep the exact date of religious festivals.
The first European Almanacs were published for the same purpose - to remind people of the saint's days and religious festivals.
Chinese grandpa and his forebears needed a reminder because there were thousands of gods in the Chinese pantheon - each has its own memorial day to be worship[p]ed.
The old gods are commonly referred to as T'aoist gods and in addition there are the deities and saints brought into China by the Buddhists.
METHOD OF RECKONING
The Chinese Almanac is a calendar which keeps a record of the days and months by the complicated ancient Chinese method of reckoning in two cycles, one by the moon month and one by a 60-year cycle of years.
Each hour, day, month and year has certain omens - so the Almanac devotes pages to an account of the omens.
The omens are ages old and are a result in learning about nature.
Since family life is the center of Chinese thought and action, a great deal of the Almanac is devoted to family wisdom. Parents are advised how to raise their children with homely stories which illustrate right conduct.
FUNDAMENTALS
Since the common Chinese is not expected to be an educated man and able to read Mandarin, an attempt to educate him in the fundamentals of Chinese literature is included in the Almanac.
Short sketches of the lives of men of learning poets, philosophers and the great Emperors are given.
Other sketches deal with legendary and deified persons.
Lengthy details are not given. The sketches only identify the person. The scholar is presumed to know where and how to find the details of the person identified in Chinese literature.
NEXT: Religion
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