Culture & Society - Facts About Latin Dancing

Facts About Latin Dancing

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Latin dancing is considered one of the liveliest and most enthusiastic type of dancing in the world, both in terms of music and choreography. It plays a major role in Latin American culture, mainly because Latin dancing exists not only as a form of entertainment, but as a metaphor for social unity and identity.

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   "El mariachi" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: Armando Maynez (Armando Maynez) under the Creative Commons Attribution license. 
   
   

   History

2. Latin dance combines a blend of various influences that arrived in America over the past two centuries. Among the popular cultures that helped develop Latin dance and music are the African, Spanish and Portuguese---cultures that settled mostly in South America. Africans, who lived in the countries of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti and some parts of Brazil, used their musical influence to tell stories of their own culture, while the Spanish-influenced countries of Mexico and Peru depicted dance as a medium for entertainment.

Instruments

3. Dancing the Latino way is never complete without the music. Latin music is usually lively and backed by an uptempo beat. Traditional Latin musical instruments include the maracas, bongos, marimba and conga drums. These instruments are used in unison and combined with stringed instruments such as guitars and bass guitars along with horns such as trumpets and trombones.

Choreography

4. The movements and steps that make up the choreography of the Salsa, which is a Latin ballroom dance, are made distinct by dancing in accordance with the progression of beats in the music. Weight changes (steps) are made throughout that define the dance, with three weight changes taking place in every four beat measure. The Rhumba, another Latin ballroom dance, is composed of basic syllabus figures. These figures are easily recognized by onlookers and allow them to judge the technical performance of the dancers. Foot movement in the Cha Cha, still another Latin ballroom dance, is led by a male dancer, who takes his female companion through forward basic movements and backward basic movements to a 4/4 beat.

Fashion

5. Latin dances are known for being flamboyant. Latin dancers often wear colorful costumes with lots of frills and ruffles. The Latin dance fashion also requires the use of lightweight fabric that can easily be controlled by body movements, as the costumes add the illusion of grace and flexibility while on the dance floor.

Influence

6. Latin dancing is considered an essential component of ballroom dancing, and its varieties such as Cha Cha, Salsa and Rhumba have been included in dance sport competitions. Latin dancing has also been included in pop culture, being the subject of the movie "Dirty Dancing" and the celebrity dance show "Dancing with the Stars."

Culture & Society - African-American Dance History

African-American Dance History

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The history of African-American dance has played a critical role in forming many of the dance styles we know today. Modern dance, jazz, tap, swing, Lindy Hop, Charleston, hip-hop and even the waltz have all been influenced by African-American culture. From the days of slavery, to minstrel shows, the Harlem renaissance and modern dance pioneers, the African-American dance movement has changed dance around the world.

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   "Blue Dancer (Yemaya)_Cuba 060" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: hoyasmeg (James Emery) under the Creative Commons Attribution license. 
   Blue Dancer

Slavery

2. In Africa, dance played a very important role in everyday life. Africans used dance to celebrate special occasions such as birth, marriage and other rites of passage. They also use it to emulate everyday events such as planting and harvesting crops. When slave traders brought Africans to the Americas, the slaves danced in order to stay close to their roots. Slave owners banned the dancing. Because the definition of dancing was to lift your feet, the slaves adapted and began using shuffling movements, waving their arms and moving their torsos.

Minstrel Shows

3. The plantation dances soon began to show up on stage through minstrel shows. For the first time, African-American dance was introduced to white audiences in large numbers. Black and white performers made up the minstrel shows. They were often making fun of the black population, depicting them as lazy and ignorant. The white performers wore blackface when playing the role of an African-American. Although they were making fun of themselves, the black performers were drawing from their culture and displaying their original dance styles. Vaudeville eventually replaced minstrel shows, and as African-Americans gained freedom and equal rights, the minstrel shows disappeared completely.

Harlem Renaissance

4. Success in the theater continued and played an important role in legitimizing black dance and its performers. The success raised the bar for black and white performers alike. For the first time, the white population began to imitate the dances they saw. "The Creole Show" introduced a widespread white audience to the dance called the cakewalk.
   
   Along with the theater revival, African-American dance moved into the clubs, and Harlem was the center of the action. In the 1920s and '30s, art, music, literature, and dance were enjoying a rebirth in the African American culture. Famous clubs like the Cotton Club were the center of the dance movement where the African-American community experimented with dance styles such as swing, Lindy Hop and the Charleston.

Modern Dance

5. In the 1940s and '50s, African-Americans began to participate in ballet and modern dance. Dancers and anthropologists Katherine Duncan and Pearl Primus studied dance in Africa and the Caribbean and brought the techniques they learned back to America and to the modern dance classroom. These techniques influenced many modern dance styles. Also playing a contributing role to the development of modern dance were the Lester Horton Dance Theater and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. White and black choreographers used the African-inspired movements and cast African-American dancers in their performances.

Urban Dance

6. A different dance movement became popular outside the theater and dance classes. Break dancing emerged from the streets of the Bronx in the 1970s, and hit the big screen in the 1980s with "Breakin'" and "Breakin' 2." Although breaking and hip-hop dancing originated on the streets, classes in both dance styles are offered in dance studios across the world today. They have also taken to the stage with dance ensembles specializing in hip-hop and break dancing.

Culture & Society - How to Perform a Native American Rain Dance

How to Perform a Native American Rain Dance

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Perform a Native American Rain Dance

How to Perform a Native American Rain Dance

Rain dances are one of the most famous dances among the Native American culture. The purpose of the rain dance is to invoke the Gods to bless the Earth with much-needed rain showers. The rain dance ritual and ceremony varies from tribe to tribe, and the intricate steps involved in the rain dance vary among tribes as well. However, one common factor amongst all of them is that the rain dance is performed in ceremonial headdress and is danced spinning clockwise. You can perform a simple Native American rain dance once you understand the basic concept and procedure.

 

 

 

Difficulty: Easy

 Instructions

1. Locate a large open area outdoors to perform your Native American rain dance. Choose an inspiring place where you are surrounded and inspired by nature to achieve the best mood and setting in which to dance.
   
   
2. Form your Native American rain chant. Your chant should be rhythmical and easy to say quickly and can be anything as simple as repeating "Rain" over and over again.
   
   
3. Raise your hands to the sky and begin to spin in clockwise circles while chanting softly. Close your eyes, and become one with nature; gain inspiration from the breeze on your cheek and the smell of the outdoor air.
   
   
4. Spin faster gradually while increasing the volume of your Native American chant, until you are spinning as fast as you can and yelling your chant as loud as you can.
   
   
5. Continue dancing and chanting simultaneously as long as you wish before abruptly stopping and dropping to your knees.

Culture & Society - Traditional Dress For Chinese Women

Traditional Dress For Chinese Women

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Traditional Chinese garments have bright, intricate embroidery.

 

chinese fashion image by Liu xiang from Fotolia.com

Chinese culture is thousands of years old, and so there is a rich history to draw from when talking about traditional Chinese clothing for women. Throughout different time periods and dynasties, Chinese clothing has evolved with the technology of their construction and the introduction of new fabrics.

Ancient History

1. Very early in Chinese culture sewing and ornamentation existed. Clothing production dates back many thousands of years. Archeological finds that have been dated 18,000 years ago include sewing needles made of bone, shells and beads made of stone. Fast forwarding to the second century A.D., the first emperor of the Qin dynasty put in place laws that dictated what people could wear to indicate their rank in society. Throughout the millenia clothing continued to develop and change. The Qing dynasty (1644 to 1911) produced types and styles of clothing that are the most recognizable today.

Types

2. The pienfu and chenogasm are types of traditional clothing for women. The pienfu has two pieces, a tunic top that is usually a robe and is tied about the body, with a long skirt that extends to the floor. This type of dress is still presented in opera and Chinese stage productions. The chenogasm is still worn in modern versions today. This dress has centuries old roots, but became especially popular in the 1930s. This is a long, one-piece gown with a mandarin collar and three buttons on the right shoulder. It can be sleeveless, short-sleeved or long-sleeved. It is fitted at the waist (and sometimes at the chest) and extends to the floor with slits on the side. This dress is meant to show the Chinese female form. Today, chenogasm dresses are worn around the world, and short versions of the dress are available in many stores.

Features

3. Chinese clothing was often beautifully and painstakingly adorned with embroidery, silk screening and sashes. Coloring was important in Chinese dress, and different colors represented different things, as did images of different animals. Dark colors with bright embroidery were worn for special occasions. Light-colored clothes were worn by common people for everyday use. Green represents spring; red symbolizes summer; white represents fall; and black symbolizes winter. Red also symbolizes good luck for the Chinese and has therefore been a popular color as well.

Wedding Attire

4. Red is worn by many brides in China. The Northern Chinese wear a dress called a quipao, which is a version of the chenogasm. It is often elaborately embroidered with sliver and gold thread. Southern brides where a dress that has two pieces called Qungua or kwa. This dress is adorned with a gold dragon and phoenix. A red veil covers the face of the Chinese bride until the ceremony is over and all of the guests have left. Only when they are alone is the groom allowed to take off the veil. The groom is the only person who is allowed to do this.

Empress Attire

5. As royalty the empress' attire was richly adorned and different garments were worn for different occasions. Clothing was only made from the most beautiful fabrics such as silk, brocade and damask. The empress had certain robes for court and also different hats for different seasons and occasions. These hats had fur in winter and were decorated with pearl, pheasant feather patterns and jade. The hat also had a protective train made from yellow ribbons that ran down the back. Jewelry was part of empress attire too. Three sets of necklaces were worn over court robes. During festivals there was always a necklace of pearl, one of jade and another of high grade material.

Culture & Society - Malaysian Theatre

Perhaps the best known Malaysian theater event is the wayang kulit. Before the encroachment of television, the wayang kulit, or shadow puppet play, was the favorite after-dark entertainment. The enang, as the puppeteer was called, directed the puppets' intricate movements while singing dozens of parts in a performance which often lasted several hours. The wayang kulit draws its inspiration from the Ramayana, the Hindi epic comprised of a potpourri of immortal tales. The wayang kulit throws in a handful of Javanese and Malay characters for good measure and then pits good against evil in a classic plot. Warrior animals, giants, ghouls, princes, and priests battle it out to the finish in this rousing epic.

Culture & Society - Malaysian Sarongs

About Malay Sarongs

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About Malay Sarongs

 

Wikimedia Commons

Although it comes in many forms, the sarong is a common garment across Asia and the Pacific, and is even found as far afield as East Africa. Despite the many names and ubiquitous nature, it is sarong of Malaysia that is usually imagined, sometimes more so than the virtually identical sarongs from the Indonesian islands of Bali or Java. A traditional garment that is now usually saved for formal occasions in modern Malaysia, the sarong remains an iconic article of clothing in Malay culture.

Identification

1. The sarong is the lower article of clothing commonly worn by both men and women in Malaysia. There it is often called the "kain sarung" or "kain pelikat." A typical sarong is a yard wide and 2 1/2 yards long, and worn like a skirt.

Geography

2. Malaysia is a large Southeast Asian country that consists of two major areas: mainland Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo (the states of Sabah and Sarawak). Most of the people thought of as Malays live on the mainland, while Malaysian Borneo's native peoples are mostly non-Malay and made up of various tribes. Despite this diversity, the sarong is a common garment throughout the country, due to shared culture and the garment's virtues of being light and loose in a hot, humid, tropical climate.

Time Frame

3. It is common for women's sarongs in Malaysia to be an example of batik. This is a method of dying that uses layers of wax designs placed on top of the cloth to block the areas that the batik artist does not want dyed. These wax designs are then added and/or removed for each dip in a particular dye, until the intended design is produced.

Function

4. The traditional way to tie a sarong is: 1) hold out length-ways and step into the sarong, and then wrap it around the waist, with the bottom about the ankles and the top slightly above the navel; 2) hold on to the upper starting corner while doing this; 3) wrap around your waist until it is snug, and then tie a knot above the hip with the upper corners.
   
   Malaysians wear sarongs either about the house or out at the mosque for Friday prayers. It is uncommon to see a Malaysian man wearing a sarong in public and for everyday use.

Considerations

5. Sarong-type garments are common in Asia and Polynesia, with many regional variations that make them distinct from the sort found in Malaysia. Good examples include the Khmer sampot or Indian dhoti. However, Malay and Indonesian sarongs are for all practical purposes identical, due to shared cultural features. Consider, for example, that both countries share batik crafts across a wide area. The national language of Indonesia is Bahsa Indonesian, which is a derivative of Malay. And, they even share ownership of the island of Borneo (along with Brunei).

Culture & Society - Malaysian Cuisine

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 Taste the Fruits of Malaysia!

Malaysia's gastronomic heritage has drawn from each of the constituent cultures of Malaysia as well as from neighbouring states to produce what many people consider to be the most delicious cuisine in the entire world. The internationally-renowned cuisine of China's Canton and that of southern India are significant sources of Malaysia's culinary heritage, as is the sublime cuisine of Thailand. Fresh tropical fruits and succulent Malaysian seafood are featured ingredients, and the chilies and curries of India and Thailand form the basis of spicy preparations. Coconut milk is ubiquitous in Malaysia, imparting a delicious smoothness to curries and other dishes.

The mainstay of every Malaysian meal is rice. At each meal, a generous helping accompanies a selection of dishes, including fish, seafood, vegetables, and poultry. Beef is conspicuously absent, as it is across much of Asia. Individual recipes vary widely from state to state. Basic ingredients may be the same, but the method of cooking and accompanying dishes changes with each state's own tastes and special produce. The perennial Malaysian favorite nasi lemak is completely different in Kedah, for example, than that tasted in Johor or Selangor. One has to savor both to truly appreciate the diversity of preparation.

Breakfast is a major meal of the day, not a neglected snack. Dine on fragrant nasi kandar, fish curry served with meat in chili sauce and boiled eggs. Or try the nasi dagang, glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk, served with fish curry, coconut sambal, and cucumber pickle.

Excellent and inexpensive food can be obtained virtually anywhere in Malaysia, largely because of the strength and ubiquity of food stalls. Whether it be in villages, small towns, or big cities, visitors can find stalls offering mouth-watering treats. Dining at a cart or streetside stand may sound plain and piecemeal, but in Malaysia eating food at the roadside stalls is a much-loved practice. The best stalls are as popular and as crowded as any permanent restaurant--VWs and BMWs are equally likely to be parked close by, and their owners rubbing shoulders in the long line. Some stalls are open from morning to evening, while others are open from evening to dawn. Others are open around the clock, seven days a week.

Here is a small sampling of Malaysian cuisine; many of these dishes are available at stalls. The stalls will come to you; if you see something that looks good, chances are it is. And you may not see that particular stall again for the rest of your stay--seize the day.

Satay: The most popular dish of Malaysia. Bite-sized pieces of beef, mutton or chicken are marinated in spices, then skewered through thin bamboo strips, and barbecued over charcoal fire. Satay is served with ketupat (rice cake) and a raw salad of cucumber, pineapple, and onions. Sweet, spicy peanut sauce accompanies the dish.

Nasi Lemak: A rice dish cooked in coconut milk. It is served with ikan bilis (anchovies), sambal, boiled egg, fried peanuts and cucumber slices. This is also a popular breakfast dish.

Roti Canai: The all-time breakfast favorite of Malaysians. Made from wheat-flour dough, roti canai sometimes incorporates beaten egg and diced onions for a crispier pancake.

Nasi Dagang: A popular breakfast dish in the country provinces of Kelantan and Trengganu. Brastari rice and fish curry are the simple but delicious elements of this dish.

Nasi Goreng (Fried Rice): A complete dish in itself with bits of meat, prawns, egg and vegetables.

Rojak: A salad of pineapple, cucumber, bean curd, prawn fritters and boiled egg, is served with peanut sauce.

Char Kway Teow: Flat rice noodles stir-fried with minced garlic, fresh prawns, bean sprouts, cockles and eggs, seasoned with soy sauce and chili paste.

Chicken Rice: There are several variations of chicken rice, but the most popular is the Hainanese version. The chicken is served with rice which has been cooked in chicken stock. Garlic, chili sauce, cucumber slices and coriander leaves impart a fresh texture and irresistible flavor to this dish.

Curry Laksa: A noodle dish served in curry, blends boiled chicken, cockles, tofu and bean sprouts for a surprisingly good treat.

Rendang: A type of meat dish preparation which takes hours to prepare. Meat, coconut milk, chilies onions and spices such as cinnamon, cloves, coriander and nutmeg are cooked over low heat. The result is a moist, tender dish with subtle and complex flavors. Eaten with rice ketupat (rice cake) or lemang (glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk).

A Steamboat: An in-house dish. Diners sit round a table which has a soup tureen in the middle of the table. A fire below keeps it boiling hot. One then places prepared raw pieces of prawns, chicken, quails' eggs, sea cucumber and liver in the boiling soup.

Tantalizing meat-free dishes can be found in Buddhist vegetarian restaurants or in South Indian banana-leaf restaurants. Instead of plates and cutlery, you will be served your food on a banana leaf; use your hand to eat.

 

Culture & Society - Malay Traditional Wedding Attire

Malay Traditional Wedding Attire

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The bride and groom's hands are decorated with henna.

 

henna hands image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com

A Malay wedding is a very regal affair. It is divided into two parts: the akad nikah, which is the marriage contract, and the family celebration, which is called the bersanding or the enthronement ceremony. The bride and groom sit like king and queen, dressed in richly decorated attire, feeding each other yellow rice with their hands decorated with henna while their guests join them in celebrating their happy day. Various royal customs are performed for them, including musicians playing court music. The Malay ceremony is based on traditions dating back centuries.

Culture

1. The Malay are Malaysia's largest ethnic group, accounting for more than 1/2 the population and the national language, but the country consists of a wealth of cultures, including Indian, Chinese and Portuguese. The customs of a Malay wedding ceremony reflect that diversity.

Groom

2. The groom wears the traditional Malay costume of Baju Melayu, which translates as "Malay shirt" and consists of a long-sleeved shirt and trousers. He wears head wear known as tanjak; it is commonly made from a type of woven silk fabric. He also wears a dagger known as a keris, which is indigenous to Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. As he walks with family members to the home of his bride, it is common for the best man to shade him with a gold-colored umbrella accompanied by palm blossom carriers.

Bride

3. The bride, who stands outside her home to wait for her husband-to-be, wears an embroidered baju kurung, the traditional Malay dress for women. This dress, which is a long-sleeved blouse over a matching sarong, often is well-coordinated with her husband's outfit. The modern version of this dress is the baju kebaya. She also wears a tudung, which is a hijab or headscarf to cover her hair and a selendang, or embroidered and beaded shawl over the tudung. A crown placed on top of the shawl signifies her importance for the day. With flower girls behind her, she walks from her house to meet the groom a few yards from her home.

Henna

4. The bride's palms and feet are decorated using dye from henna leaves to signify fertility and love. The groom's hands are decorated, too. Hands and feet are chosen for decoration because it is thought that the dye will last longer there. This marriage custom is also common in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Morocco. Following this ritual, the bride and groom change attire for photographs.

Guests

5. It is Malay tradition to have a lot of guests at the wedding. If the ceremony takes place in a village, the whole village is invited. According to an e-Borneo.com article," "the more the merrier" is one of the most "important concepts" at a Malay wedding.
   
   
   
   It is appropriate for women guests to wear a long-sleeved dress, and many women cover their head. Men often wear either a business suit or long-sleeved shirt with trousers.

Culture & Society - Malaysian Dance Steps

Malaysian Dance Steps

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Malaysian dances run the gambit. Some are danced individually, while some are done in groups, and some are slow and graceful, while others have lightning-fast moves. The rich dance culture of Malaysia includes skipping folk dances, martial arts-based movements, and even a costumed lion dance.

Types of Malaysian Dance

1. Malaysian dances come in many different forms---some are fast and incorporate jumps and skips, others are slow and feature graceful, arcing movements. Some are group dances, while couples perform others, and still others are dances individuals can do on their own. Silat and joget are two of the most popular Malaysian dances, yet their movements are almost entirely different from one another---silat is a sinuous, aggressive dance, while joget is a happy, skipping dance.
   
   The joget, which is Malaysia's favorite folk dance, is quick and energetic. Couples perform joget, but often the genders dance as groups rather than in male-female pairs.
   
   Silat can be done in groups or alone---it's based on a weaponless martial art, and features smooth, extremely fast combative movements.

Joget Dance Steps

2. Typically, a group of men and women dance the joget. The men begin the dance first, moving to the center of the stage with short kick-steps. If you're a man dancing joget, you'll hold your arms out to the sides, keeping your elbows slightly bent. First, your wrists are turned so your fingers point down. As you move, rotate your arms at the elbows so your fingers point up. Alternate between these two hand positions. The women move onstage as a group. If you're a woman dancing joget, shuffle your feet so that one foot slides forward and the other slides up to meet it before you take your next step. Hold your arms straight down and slightly in front of you, with your hands flexed so that your palms face the floor and your fingers point forward.

Silat Dance Steps

3. Silat is a dance form of an ancient Malay martial art. It's often performed at weddings, specifically for the groom, who sits on a chair. If you are dancing silat at a wedding, first bow to the crowd and the drummers. Then approach the groom, bow to him and shake his hands. In silat, arm movements are fluid, consisting of graceful blocking and striking motions. When you perform striking moves, arch your wrists slightly downward and bring your fingers together into points, making them into weapons. Stand with your feet about three feet apart, and bend your knees deeply. As you move your arms, sit back onto one knee, stretching your other leg out without taking your foot off the floor. Come back up into bent-knee position. You can also drop down onto one knee, stretching your other leg out to the side.

Culture & Society - The History of Chinese Games

The History of Chinese Games

 

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The History of Chinese Games

historyforkids.org, chinatownconnection.com, sewickleygo.com

For centuries, the Chinese have had a rich tradition of games, some of which they invented.

Martial Arts

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   Shaolin monks practicing fight moves
   Historians believe the martial arts were invented in about 2600 B.C. Sun Tzu wrote about it in "The Art of War" in about 550 B.C.
   

   Kites

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   A dragon kite
   Some of the earliest kites were invented in China around 800 B.C. They were of elaborate design, made of bamboo and silk.
   

   Chess Games

3. 
   
    
   
   
   A Go game board
   The ancient Chinese have various board games. The most popular is called Go, which first appeared in 2000 B.C. A variation of Go called Xiang Qi (Chinese chess) bares more of a resemblance to the modern American chess game.
   

   Cards

4. The earliest known account of Chinese playing cards is from 1294, when two men were caught gambling and were believed to have had cards in their possession. Another account is from a 15th-century scholar who noted that he was the recipient of contempt from fellow students for not knowing how to play cards.

More Than Just Games

5. People used kites to measure distances and test the wind's strength. Chess games were highly valued in ancient Chinese society as a barometer of one's intellect; legend has it that a Chinese ruler had invented chess to educate his son. Martial arts in ancient China developed out of self-defense needs and military training; by the seventh century A.D., Chinese monks had adopted the art form--particularly kung fu--to defend their monastery and their country.

Culture & Society - Chinese Culture Gifts

Chinese Culture Gifts

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1. 
   
   chinese red lanterns image by Paul O'Hearn from Fotolia.com 
   
   
   Red is a lucky color in China.
   Purchasing gifts can be a daunting and seemingly impossible task. It's hard to gauge what someone loves and then there's always the fear that they own it already. These Chinese-themed gifts will inject culture into the recipient's everyday life, particularly someone who is interested in China or history.
   

   Chopsticks

2. 
   
   two wood chopsticks image by Arkady Chubykin from Fotolia.com 
   
   
   Several sets of chopsticks are useful for a family
   Nothing is more practical for a China enthusiast than chopsticks. This gift can be used every day for meals, brought out only on special occasions or displayed for decoration. Chopsticks can be intricately decorated with etchings or writing. Select a character with special significance to write on the chopsticks to make the gift even more meaningful.
   

   Coins

3. 
   
   chinese gold coins image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com 
   
   
   Gold Chinese coins are rare.
   China has been producing coins since the Zhou Dynasty, more than 2,500 years ago. Even if the coin is not that old, it will be appreciated by history buffs. Most Chinese coins are round with a square hole in the middle to symbolize heaven and earth. Stringing a few coins together with a red ribbon and placing them in your wallet or cash register is said to attract prosperity.
   

   Wall Scrolls

4. 
   
   Anicent Chinese Calligraphy image by Da Vynci from Fotolia.com 
   
   
   Chinese scrolls can tell an intricate story.
   Chinese scrolls are an easy way to transport a piece of art that may later grace an entire wall. Today, scrolls are usually painted on rice paper and display a brush painting of Chinese landscape or calligraphy. Some scrolls come in sets that explain philosophy or a proverb.
   

   Jade Jewelry

5. 
   
   Display Window of Merry Buddha Statues image by nextrecord from Fotolia.com 
   
   
   Buddha statues come in all varieties, including jade.
   In China, jade is believed to bring love, loyalty, friendship and good fortune. All types of jewelry are made with jade, from pendants to hair combs to bracelets. Buddha statues are often created from jade. Folklore suggests that rubbing the Buddha's belly brings good luck.
   

   Fu Dogs

6. 
   
   chinese lion image by Luisafer from Fotolia.com 
   
   
   The male Fu dog has a ball under his hand representing the flower of life.
   Also spelled Foo dogs, these statues are placed at the front door of a building to guard against evil spirits and people with bad intentions. They come in pairs, one male and one female, and are half lion and half dragon. If placed facing outwards of the building and with the male on the left and female on the right, Fu dogs will offer protection from bad energy.
   

   Tea

7. 
   
   Chinese tea with mint image by lefebvre_jonathan from Fotolia.com 
   
   
   Teaware can accompany a gift of tea.
   China is known for its wide array of delicate teas. Among the 10 most popular Chinese teas are varieties with names such as "Iron Goddess" and "Spring Snail." Green tea, another popular type, is full of antioxidants and kills harmful bacteria in your body. A full tea set can round out your gift.

Culture & Society - History of Chinese Costume Clothing

History of Chinese Costume Clothing

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History of Chinese Costume Clothing

Jakob Montrasio: Flickr.com, Fattylai:flicker.com

Only the wealthy and powerful could wear the elaborate costumes favored by the rulers of Chinese dynasties of the past. But in today's China, her people have taken old fashions and turned them into gorgeous flowing garments that are appealing to the eye and flattering to the body. The Chinese costumes of today are for those men and women who like style as well as tradition.

Clothing of Early China

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   Garments for the Wealthy
   In China in the 1400s, the only people permitted to wear silk and fine clothing were members of the upper class. Everyone else wore common clothes. For the ordinary woman, ankle-length tunics were the norm, and men would wear knee-length tunics. It used to be only the elite could wear clothing rich in color while the less fortunate were forced to wear clothes colored blue and black.
   

   Costumes of the Ming Dynasty

2. China had many dynasties that set the fashion for its people. One of those dynasties was the Ming Dynasty. Its costumes, though still fashioned in the tunic style, included buttons instead of the band knots that fastened in the front. For the woman, she wore a pleated long skirt beneath her tunic and an embroidered cape to wrap around her shoulders. The woman's clothing would also be adorned with expensive jewelry such as gold, jade and pearls.

Costumes of the Qing Dynasty

3. Qing is another dynasty of China. It was the queen who set the dress code for women. There were three ways a woman was permitted to dress. She either wore court, ceremonial or a casual costume. Lay people such as servants or laborers could not wear such garments on any occasion. If you were a lower-grade person according to the queen, your costume would be made out of sheepskin, raccoon or dog fur, or tatting cloth. However, you would still dress in the style of long tunics and skirts.

The Modern Costume

4. With the Ming and Qing dynasties no longer in existence, there is no rule stating what one can and cannot wear as a costume. For instance, a man can wear a mandarin jacket over a long traditional gown. He can wear a sleeveless waist coat. Women can wear a costume called a cheongsam that has been updated from its regular appearance of a big, baggy robe. Now she has the choice of wearing a slim-fitting and modern cheongsam dress showing off her figure. Some women wear fur coats with this silk dress or decorate it with a scarf.

Dressing for the Chinese New Year

5. When it comes to dressing up for special occasions, Chinese New Year tops them all. Some women wear traditional garments, but some others wear cheongsams, qipaos, Mandarin blouses and jackets with pants for the occasion. The men step out in kung fu suits, Chinese coats and dragon shirts

Culture & Society - The History of Chinese Culture

The History of Chinese Culture

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The Chinese invented ink in 2697 BC.

bottle of ink image by Alfonso d'Agostino from Fotolia.com

China is one of the world's oldest civilizations. Its roots can be firmly traced back to early Neolithic societies. China has been through a number of different political dynasties and structures throughout its existence.

Neolithic China

1. The Yangshao and the Lungshan tribes dominated China's Neolithic period beginning around 4,000 BC. The Yangshao lived in the mountains of northern and western China, while the Lungshan lived in eastern China. Silk production began with the Yangshao. The Yangshao also created kiln-fired painted pottery embellished with geometric designs, while the Lungshan created polished, unpainted black pottery.

Dynastic Period

2. A succession of dynasties ruled China for most of its recorded history. The Xia dynasty came to power around 2200 BC, while Qing, the last dynasty, ended in 1911. The Chinese implemented standardized measurements, expanded their territories, built the Great Wall of China, invented printing and paper money, and developed many important technological advances during the dynastic period.

Modern China

3. China descended into political chaos after its involvement in the first and second World Wars, according to PBS. In 1949 Mao Zedong established communism in China. The Chinese system as of 2010 is a blend of communist philosophies and leanings toward western capitalism

Culture & Society - Traditional Chinese Costumes for Men

Traditional Chinese Costumes for Men

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1. 
   
   chinese fashion image by Liu xiang from Fotolia.com 
   
   
   Silk has been used as a fabric in China for thousands of years.
   Hanfu is the name given to the historical dress of the Han Chinese people. It was worn for thousands of years before the establishment of the Qing Dynasty in 1644. There is archaeological evidence that the art of sewing and ornamentation existed in China at least 18,000 years ago. Men wore three main types of traditional Chinese costume: the pien-fu, the ch'ang-p'ao, and the shen-i. They are now only worn in historical reenactments, coming-of-age and rite-of-passage ceremonies, cultural exercises, and in religious observances.
   
   
   
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   Pien-fu

2. Pien-fu is a ceremonial costume that gets its name from a pien, a cylindrical cap. Eventually it came to refer to the entire suit of ceremonial clothes. In the Shang Dynasty (sixteenth to eleventh centuries B.C.E.) a style emerged that consisted of a narrow-cuffed, knee-length tunic with a sash, and a narrow, ankle-length skirt. Later versions were worn with trousers, but on certain occasions a skirt had to be worn in order for the man to be considered properly dressed.

Ch'ang-p'ao

3. The ch'ang-p'ao was a one-piece shoulder-to-heels garment. Like the other two types it featured wide sleeves and a very loose fit. During the Western Zhou Dynasty (eleventh to eighth centuries BCE), a strict hierarchical society was established and clothing as was used a status meridian. One's rank in society was evident by such things as the ornateness of a costume, the length of a skirt, and the wideness of a sleeve. In modern times ch'ang-p'ao is more often worn by women, though traditionally it had been worn by both men and women.

Shen-i

4. The Shen-i can be described as a cross between the pien-fu and the ch'ang-p'ao. This style first appeared in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (eighth to third centuries B.C.E.). Though it looks to be a two-piece roomy, deeply folded tunic and trousers or skirt similar to the pien-fu, the upper and lower parts are cut separately and sewn together into a single robe. This was the most widely worn of the three and became very popular with the masses. It also gained prominence in government offices and among scholars. The shen-i used a very minimum number of stitches for the amount of material in the garment. With the popularity of this type came a change in the shaping of the left side of the costume into a corner, fastened on the chest.