China

Door Blessings

Everyone is hanging up door signs asking for good things in the coming year. They remain up until next year’s festival. Ours says ‘Blessings’!😂What would yours ask for?

No photo description available.

Fishes and Peppers!

#Chinese New Year’s is upon us! I know because there are fish with red pepers being hung!

#Fish around the new years represents “nián nián yǒu yú (年年有鱼)” which means ‘May you have Fish every year.’  Apparently it is pronounced the same as ‘May you have extra each year.  Also the word for fish is similar to the Chinese word for ‘enough’

Apparently the red peppers repesent good luck and income (I’ve had different responses).  

So the picture means – ‘May you have enough of everything you need in the New Year!

Chinese Country Life

This sight will always remind me of my life here in #China.  One of the #values important to the Chinese is making sure everyone has access to a #job so they can survive.  So instead of using big machines to sweep the highways and streets, they pay the older people a small amount to do the job.  It’s not ideal, but it’s enough to live on.  They are very proud of the parts they clean. And the street sweepers are able to use empty plots of land by the roads to grow Food and Vegetables.  

So every day in my small village (Ok, 600,000 people- but That’s a Farming village here. . . .) you see the elderly driving by on these  tuk-tuks with brooms they made by hand.  Really sweet picture in my memory bank!

#Art I Love ~ The Goddess of Mercy

Obtained from ThaiYogaUp.com. Original Artist – I’m Not Sure

The Goddess of Mercy in Chinese Buddhism is named Guanshiyin  (观世音菩萨 — Guān shì Yīn Pú Sà) or Guanyin for short.  The name means “one who always hears the cries of the world. While many of the Buddhist deities are rather frightening (as seen in their paintings and depictions), Guanyin is actually very highly respected for being merciful to her followers.  (more…)

Visiting Gongyi Grottos

​

Gongyi Grottos – one of 4 Famous grottos in China.  These are places where loyal monks have carefully carved out thousands and millions of buddhas and religious statues into the walls of nearby caves over CENTURIES! An amazing, awe-inspiring sight! Well worth the trip!  Thanks to the #Henan Provincial Government Tourism Bureau for sponsoring us. It was a great day!