Chinese emperors of the royal Zhou dynasty traditionally worshiped the harvest moon in autumn. Being an innovative agricultural society, they thought that heavenly worship rituals, especially to the god T’ien, would bring about future and bountiful harvests for the people. (Please click or tap on any thumbnail to view it in full screen and make […]
The Mid-Autumn – Moon Festival Read More »
Living in Asia is not boring. If you’ve been here for a while you most likely have a treasure chest of cross-cultural stories that will leave your listeners shaking their heads in either agreement or disbelief. Whatever the case, shared stories are a big part of our Taiwan overseas experience. Martial law was still in
Ghost Month : Serving the Good Brothers Read More »
A week ago, a male cicada unexpectedly “landed” on my balcony. I was busy puttering at the other end when he arrived. It was only when I began to hear some strange clicking noises that I stopped what I was doing and went to check them out… (Please click or tap on any thumbnail to
The Cicadas’ Loud Songs of Summer Read More »
News travels at lightning speed in Taiwan, especially within the international community. When Heather Lowder announced her family’s plans to return to the United States after living in Taiwan for eleven years, her news was met with noticeable regret. Heather’s upbeat, cheerful presence and active community involvement will be greatly missed. (Please click or tap
Heather Lowder : Respected Taiwan Community Leader Read More »
Asian dragons and myths are inexhaustible topics, especially around the time of the Dragon Boat Festival. In Chinese, the word for dragon is “long,” and is associated with the earth branch of the five elements. The dragon is considered the most powerful of all the creatures within the Chinese zodiac; however, it is ranked number
The Mythical and Powerful Dragons of Asia Read More »
For Patrick Lee, renowned Taiwan artist, the sacred mountain, Mt. Dulan holds great significance. It is a place of tranquil natural beauty, where the rhythms of nature continue undisturbed. This area has long been held as a sacred or holy place by the Amis indigenous peoples. Today, the Amis people continue to live in the plains and along the slope lands of Taitung and Hualien counties. Nestled between Taitung’s southeast Pacific coast and Mt. Dulan are the Amis-revered landscapes of Dulan or A’tolan (in the Amis language). According to Amis mythology, this area is their birthplace, a place where the lush forests and Mt. Dulan are further enhanced by cloud and mist like- effects from ocean winds.
Patrick Lee – Impressions from a sacred mountain Read More »
For today’s contemporary women beauty touches an emotional part of their being. It can remind them of a special occasion, a time of innocence and romance. Isabelle Wen’s designs have been inspired by memories of her own past.
Isabelle Wen : The Soft Power of Romance Read More »
Years ago, while in graduate school, Sri Ram M.Bhagavatula, a lively, endearing classmate introduced me to basic spices of India. His kitchen tutorials whetted not only my interest in Indian cuisine, but also in the rich regional cross-cultural traditions of India.
Holding sticks of lit incense between both his hands, Mr.Wang looked at where his ancestors were resting and bowed to them. Sheets of paper money were removed from their bundles and burned. This money, I was told, will then be transformed as the smoke rises, taking it to their ancestors.
Tomb Sweeping – A Time of Remembrance Read More »
My love of Chinese folk art began many years ago, during our trip to the old Shang dynasty capital city of Zhengzhou in Henan Province. It was the week before the Lunar New Year and city marketplaces were teeming with crowds of gigantic proportions. (Please click or tap on any thumbnail to view it in
A Curious Chinese Folk Art Encounter With A Tiger Read More »
