the joy luck club understanding chinese culture and history

The Joy Luck Club

Understanding Chinese Culture and History

Yin-Yang: the symbol of balance. Yin is the dark half and Yang is the light half.

•Symbol goes back to as early as the 4th Century BC.

•Everything in the universe is some combination of these

two elements.•One cannot exists without the other, hence the dot of each

color inside the other.

•They must be in balance for social and political

harmony.

Happy Chinese New Year!

The year of the Rooster, beginning February 8, 2005.

The Year of the Fire DogJanuary 29, 2006 to Feb. 17, 2007

Lunar Calendar

Coincides with moon phases.

•Days in a year vary from about 355 to 385

•Leap year is extra month

•Different date for New Year’s Day

The Chinese Zodiac

Born between Feb. 16 to Feb. 5, 1989:

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Born between Jan.29,1987 to Feb.16,1988 :

The Rabbit: Jan.29,1987 to Feb.16,1988

Sociable, Discreet, Refined, Shrewd, Perceptive, Sensitive, Aloof.

People born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind. Rabbit people seldom lose their temper. They are clever at business and being conscientious, never back out of a contract. They would make good gamblers for they have the uncanny gift of choosing the right thing. However, they seldom gamble, as they are conservative and wise. They are most compatible with those born in the years of the Sheep, Pig, and Dog.

The Dragon: Feb. 16 to Feb. 5, 1989

People born in the Year of the Dragon are healthy, energetic, excitable, short-tempered, and stubborn. They are also honest, sensitive, brave, and they inspire confidence and trust. Dragon people are the most eccentric of any in the eastern zodiac. They neither borrow money nor make flowery speeches, but they tend to be soft-hearted which sometimes gives others an advantage over them. They are compatible with Rats, Snakes, Monkeys, and Roosters.

WOOD

FIRE        

EARTH

METAL

WATER

To find your element, take into account the last figure of your year of birth. ( For example, If you were born in 1971, your element would be Metal.)

0 to 1: Metal = strong feelings which conduct electricity, a taste for power (color: white)

2 to 3: Water= silent & constant, influences others' thoughts (color: black)

4 to 5: Wood = value ethics, cooperative & generous nature (color: blue/green)

6 to 7: Fire = attractive & impulsive, strong leadershipqualities (color: red)

8 to 9: Earth = deductive powers, prefers solid & reliable pursuits (color: yellow)

p. 44, “The Red Candle”

“The matchmaker bragged about me: ‘An earth horse for an earth sheep. This is the best marriage combination.’”

Horse-elegant, charming, honest, straightforward (1918)

Sheep-easy-going, perfectionist, artistic, persuasive (1919)

Earth- deductive powers, prefers solid and reliable pursuits, nourishing, supportive

Hey Baby-What’s your sign?

Most sets have tiles of three colors:

•Red signifies blood and therefore Mankind and more generally Life.

•Blue signifies the sky, the Heavens and therefore dignity and purity.

•Green symbolizes the Earth and nature, fertility and natural riches.

Circles Wan Bamboo

East Wind The Red Dragon