Chinese new year snake dance

                                                   Bok Kai Festival

                                                 Bok Kai Festival

 

 Swan Tea House

 white snake dance

Pei shin and me

 My  White Snake dance video:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKHLa9cF5x4&feature=youtu.be

The Legend of the White Snake (Xu Xian and Lady White Story)

The West Lake Scenic Area as one representative of Chinese Culture Centers, and for thousands of years, it has been enchanting for one touching love story, The Legend of The White Snake(白蛇传, or named Xu Xian and Lady White Story). This story is quite old and well known in folk society. Boasting one of four top Chinese folk stories (the other three folk stories are Liang Zhu, Meng Jiangnv as well as Niulang and Zhinv), the Legend of The White Snake has been ranked into the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage List. This story has been made into TV series, cartoons and movies.

On the Tomb Sweeping Day, lots of travelers visited to The Broken Bridge when the West Lake was in spring and painting as well as its most beautiful time. It was an unforgettable scene. Suddenly, two considerably beautiful girls appeared out of water area of the West Lake. What's up? Why can human come out underwater? The reason is they are both the snake fairies who cultivated themselves to be the shape of humankind. But they were indeed kind-hearted and benevolent. They adored the colorful life of human and then became two pretty ladies named Bai Suzhen(白素贞) and Xiao Qing(小青, a green-colored snake or carp fairy) respectively. They used to prefer playing around the West Lake Scenic Area. Why did she like wandering around the West Lake of Hangzhou? The reason is mentioned below: When the Lady White still was a snake living in Emei Mountain, a monk named Fa Hai(法海) found and captured it. A little shepherd begged him to set it free at the cost of something special, and the monk agreed and released it. This snake remembered this boy and cultivated itself in the caves of Emei Mountain for thousands of years. After its success in cultivating to be a human being and being qualified to be a fairy, Bodhisattva Kwan-Yin implied that she must repay the little shepherd's help before becoming a fairy and told her where she could find him---The West Lake of Hangzhou. Hence she came to Hangzhou and met her young sister Xiao Qing. But they could not find that man for a long time, which made her feel disappointed. However, she still kept looking for him with her superpower.

One day, Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing took a rest in the pavilion on the lakeside of the West Lake and unexpectedly found a handsome young man standing on the Broken Bridge near to where they seated. She felt too extraordinary and checked him with her superpower. She excitedly confirmed he was the figure she looked for a long time! This man's full name was Xu Xian(许仙)! When they followed him to Qing Bo Men(清波门, Clean Wave Gate), it rained heavily suddenly. The rain unpreparedly showered over them. When they were worried, unexpectedly an umbrella appeared above their heads. They turned around and found an elegant and scholarly young man holding the umbrella for them. He was Xu Xian! This was their first meeting.

They came into being the adoration when they saw each other. Xiao Qing asked Xu Xian for his name. Xu Xian answered:"My name is Xu Xian and live nearby The Broken Bridge". Xiao Qing and Lady White introduced themselves as well. Since then, they used to met one another and later, they got married and opened a medicine shop, which is today's widely-famous Bao He Tang(保和堂, Harmony Preservation Hall). They led a happy life. They cured a lot of patients with the unknown and intractable cases, besides they never charged the poor patients, so their business became better and better. More and more patients believed and were willing to see the doctors in Bao He Tang. The local citizens called Bai Suzhen Lady White respectfully. However, their better life together with their welcomed operation of medicine shop made a person annoyed. He was Monk Fa Hai, the born opponent of Lady White who used to attack Lady White in the name of Buddha and Kwan-yin for many generations. Monk Fa Hai lived in Jin Shan Si(金山寺, Jinshan Buddhist Temple, which is located in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province). Due to the effectiveness of Lady White's perfect treatment, less and less pilgrims went to temple for praying.

One Day, he got to Bao He Tang and saw Lady White treating the patients. This led Monk Fa Hai to being angry. After his careful check, he surprisedly found this Lady White was not a common figure but a White Snake Fairy. Monk Fa Hai had some magic, but he was not kind-hearted. Since he knew the real identity of Lady White, he all the day made efforts to break up this couple and undermine Bao He Tang. Therefore, he secretly invited Xu Xian to Jinshan Buddhist Temple, and he told Xu Xian:"Your wife is a snake monster, and you must break up from him right away. Otherwise, she will eat you!". Hearing this, Xu Xian was fairly furious and said:"My wife was merciful and kind, and she loves me so much. She would not hurt me even if she is the snake fairy indeed. Furthermore, now she is pregnant, and I never leave her at all!". Monk Fa Hai found Xu Xian did not believe him and became angry. He imprisoned Xu Xian in temple. In Bao He Tang, Lady White anxiously waited for Xu Xian's returning. After several days, Lady White heard of that Xu Xian was forcefully stayed in Jinshan Temple by Monk Fa Hai. Lady White and Xiao Qing ran to Jinshan Temple and begged Fa Hai to set Xu Xian free. Monk Fa Hai sneered and said:"You, a monster of snake, I suggest you get away from the earthly world at once, or I will punish you seriously!". Lady White was treated arrogantly and unjustly. She had no choice but use her superpower to save Xu Xian from Jinshan Temple. She pulled out her Gold Hairpin and repeated some mysterious abracadabra. In a flash, the whole Jinshan Temple was flooded and the huge waves hit the Jinshan Mountain again and again. Monk Fa Hai quickly took off his cassock and made it become a long high bank situating before the Gate of Jinshan Temple. The flood raised one more inch and the bank rose up as well. At the time, Lady White was pregnant and could not defeat Monk Fa Hai. Finally, Lady White was also captured by Monk Fa Hai by a magic bowl. From then on, Lady White was imprisoned under Leifeng Pagoda. This couple was broken up. But Xiao Qing fled away from Jinshan Temple and practiced the magic in Deep Mountain for many years and finally defeated Monk Fa Hai. She compelled Monk Fa Hai to hide into abdomen of the crab. Lady White and Xu Xian lived together once again. They met on the Broken Bridge again and lived a happy life again!

This is a kind of conclusion of story. There is another result that like this: due to the harmful result from the flood created by Lady White. Bodhisattva Kwan-yin showed her mercy to the common people and ordered Monk Fa Hai to make Lady White under house arrest of Leifeng Pagoda where today is located on the lakeside of the West Lake, after she gave birth to her son. Xu Xian was too sad and became a monk in Jinshan Temple. Their son was brought up by his old sister. Before the house arrest of Lady White, Kwan-yin told her that she would be living under the Leifeng Pagoda until his son became Zhuang Yuan(状元, the top winner in National Imperial Examination, who was said the earthly Ziweixing of the heaven as well as the leader of scholarly people and readers). Later, their son succeeded in imperial examination and saved his mother from Leifeng Pagoda. This is a touching story actually. The relevant short stories available in literature are duverse, and the representative is the article named Lady White Suppressed Under Leifeng Pagada Eternally in book titled Jing Shi Tong Yan(警世通言, written by Feng Menglong, a famous writer and playwright in Ming Dynasty), also, there are a large amount of operas themed with the Lady White. By the way, this story became an important part of Lei Feng Xi Zhao(雷峰夕照, The Sunset Glow at Leifeng Pagoda) one of top ten scenic spots of The West Lake. In 1924, the Leifeng Pagoda was broken down and Lu Xun, the greatest writer of Chinese modern literature, once wrote a special article to highly talk about its collapse and said it was the success of Lady White, isn't it?



The Related Audio-Visual Show

The most representative video was played Zhao Yazhi(赵雅芝, The Actress of Lady White) and Ye Tong(叶童, The Actress of Xu Xian) in 1992. It was widely influential for generations. Thanks to this TV series made by Hong Kong and Taiwan, this story has been more popular and welcome among people. In 2006, a newly-played TV series acted by Liu Tao is another known edition of TV series in mainland China. But, all in all, the former one is the most classical.

The video shows a scene of Lady White met Xu Xian at Qing Bo Men and successfully checked the whole identity of Xu Xian over the past thousands of years. Lady White was in great pleasure and happiness for their first meeting after lots of centuries. She was eager to tell Xu Xian how hard she was to find him and how happy she was to meet him accidentally. She wanted to tell Xu Xian the real identity of hers and her love to him, but she was an graceful lady who was too shy to speak it out. Her young sister, Xiao Qing, was quite straightforward and directly sang out the personal information of Lady White on the rented boat to Xu Xian. What's more, Xiao Qing representing Lady White also asked the exact information of Xu Xian. This singing-style dialogue featured of Chinese folk song and happened in the rain of the charming West Lake, naturally gives the audiences a sense of romance and wonderful impression. And surely, this scene also perfectly publicizes the fascination of West Lake Scenic Area of Hangzhou. In particular, the words of song sung by the old boatman and Xiao Qing vividly portray the beauty of The West Lake and Lady White as well as express the philosophy of love and life. It is the quintessential representative of Chinese TV series development history. By the way, Xu Xian was deeply captivated by Lady White when they met on the boat going slowly in West Lake. In fact, this rain was made purposedly by Lady White for facilitating their meeting. Under the circumstances, their first meeting becomes the classic romantic scene in the memory of several generations of Chinese people. The video below is a short highlights of the whole series. It is worthwhile for watching and appreciating indeed.

----the story from  online.  And pictures from Lily Zhi Emmolo

 

Lao zi is traditionally regarded as the founder of Taoism

Laozi (Chinese: 老子; pinyin: Lǎozǐ; Wade–Giles: Lao Tzu; also romanized as Lao Tse, Lao Tu, Lao-Tsu, Laotze, Laosi, Laocius, and other variations) (fl. 6th century BCE) was a philosopher of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching (often simply referred to as Laozi).[1] His association with the Tào Té Chīng has led him to be traditionally considered the founder of philosophical Taoism (pronounced as "Daoism"). He is also revered as a deity in most religious forms of Taoist philosophy, which often refers to Laozi as Taishang Laojun, or "One of the Three Pure Ones".

According to Chinese traditions, Laozi lived in the 6th century BCE. Some historians contend that he actually lived in the 5th–4th century BCE, concurrent with the Hundred Schools of Thought and Warring States Period, while some others argue that Laozi is a synthesis of multiple historical figures or that he is a mythical figure.

A central figure in Chinese culture, both nobility and common people claim Laozi in their lineage. He was honored as an ancestor of the Tang imperial family, and was granted the title Táishāng xuānyuán huángdì, meaning "Supreme Mysterious and Primordial Emperor". Throughout history, Laozi's work has been embraced by various anti-authoritarian movements.


Tao Te Ching
See also: Tao Te Ching, Tao, and Wu wei

Laozi is traditionally regarded as the author of the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching), though the identity of its author(s) and/or compiler(s) has been debated throughout history.[23][24] It is one of the most significant treatises in Chinese cosmogony. As with most other ancient Chinese philosophers, Laozi often explains his ideas by way of paradox, analogy, appropriation of ancient sayings, repetition, symmetry, rhyme, and rhythm. In fact, the whole book can be read as an analogy - the ruler is the awareness, or self, in meditation and the myriad creatures or empire is the experience of the body, senses and desires. Passages such as "Block the openings, shut the doors" and "the sage who does nothing never ruins anything" refer to sitting in meditation. "Keep the people ignorant" means do not pay attention to the senses and thoughts.

The Tao Te Ching, often called simply Laozi after its reputed author, describes the Dao (or Tao) as the source and ideal of all existence: it is unseen, but not transcendent, immensely powerful yet supremely humble, being the root of all things. According to the Daodejing, humans have no special place within the Dao, being just one of its many ("ten thousand") manifestations. People have desires and free will (and thus are able to alter their own nature). Many act "unnaturally", upsetting the natural balance of the Dao. The Daodejing intends to lead students to a "return" to their natural state, in harmony with Dao.[25] Language and conventional wisdom are critically assessed. Taoism views them as inherently biased and artificial, widely using paradoxes to sharpen the point.

Livia Kohn provides an example of how Laozi encouraged a change in approach, or return to "nature", rather than action. Technology may bring about a false sense of progress. The answer provided by Laozi is not the rejection of technology, but instead seeking the calm state of wu wei, free from desires. This relates to many statements by Laozi encouraging rulers to keep their people in "ignorance", or "simple-minded". Some scholars insist this explanation ignores the religious context, and others question it as an apologetic of the philosophical coherence of the text. It would not be unusual political advice if Laozi literally intended to tell rulers to keep their people ignorant. However, some terms in the text, such as "valley spirit" (gushen) and "soul" (po), bear a metaphysical context and cannot be easily reconciled with a purely ethical reading of the work.

Wu wei (無爲), literally "non-action" or "not acting", is a central concept of the Daodejing. The concept of wu wei is multifaceted, and reflected in the words' multiple meanings, even in English translation; it can mean "not doing anything", "not forcing", "not acting" in the theatrical sense, "creating nothingness", "acting spontaneously", and "flowing with the moment."

It is a concept used to explain ziran (自然), or harmony with the Dao. It includes the concepts that value distinctions are ideological and seeing ambition of all sorts as originating from the same source. Laozi used the term broadly with simplicity and humility as key virtues, often in contrast to selfish action. On a political level, it means avoiding such circumstances as war, harsh laws and heavy taxes. Some Taoists see a connection between wu wei and esoteric practices, such as zuowang "sitting in oblivion" (emptying the mind of bodily awareness and thought) found in the Zhuangzi.


Historical views
The earliest reliable reference (circa 100 BCE) to Laozi is found in the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji) by Chinese historian Sima Qian (ca. 145-86 BCE), which combines a number of stories. In the first, Laozi was said to be a contemporary of Confucius (551-479 BCE). His surname was Li (李 "plum"), and his personal name was Er (耳 "ear") or Dan (聃 "long ear"). He was an official in the imperial archives, and wrote a book in two parts before departing to the West. In the second, Laozi was Lao Laizi (老莱子 "Old Master"), also a contemporary of Confucius, who wrote a book in 15 parts. In the third, Laozi was the Grand Historian and astrologer Lao Dan (老聃 "Old Long-ears"), who lived during the reign (384-362 BCE) of Duke Xiàn (獻公) of Qin.

The oldest known text of the Tao Te Ching that has been excavated was written on bamboo tablets and dates back to the late 4th century BC.

By the mid-twentieth century a consensus had emerged among scholars that the historicity of Laozi was doubtful or unprovable and that the Tao Te Ching was "a compilation of Taoist sayings by many hands." Alan Watts (1975) held that this view was part of an academic fashion for skepticism about historical spiritual and religious figures, arguing that not enough would be known for years, or possibly ever, to make a firm judgment.

According to popular traditional biographies, Laozi worked as the Keeper of the Archives for the royal court of Zhou, and was a scholar (shown in many Lao Zi paintings). This reportedly allowed him broad access to the works of the Yellow Emperor and other classics of the time. The stories assert that Laozi never opened a formal school, but he nonetheless attracted a large number of students and loyal disciples. There are numerous variations of a story depicting Confucius consulting Laozi about rituals and the story is related in Zhuangzi (though the author of Zhuangzi may have invented both the story and the character of Laozi).

Popular legends tell of his conception when his mother gazed upon a falling star, how he stayed in the womb for 62 years, and was born when his mother leaned against a plum tree. He accordingly emerged a grown man with a full grey beard and long earlobes, which are a symbol of wisdom and long life.[12][13] In other versions he was reborn in some thirteen incarnations since the days of Fuxi; in his last incarnation as Laozi he lived to nine hundred and ninety years, and spent his life traveling to reveal the Dao.
According to legends, Laozi leaves China on his water buffalo.

Many of the popular accounts say that Laozi was married and had a son named Zong, who became a celebrated soldier. A large number of people trace their lineage back to Laozi, as did the emperors of the Tang Dynasty.[16] According to Simpkins & Simpkins, while many (if not all) of the lineages are inaccurate, they provide a testament to the impact of Laozi on Chinese culture.
Laozi meets Yinxi

The third story Sima Qian drew on states that Laozi grew weary of the moral decay of city life and noted the kingdom's decline. According to these legends, he ventured west to live as a hermit in the unsettled frontier at the age of 160. At the western gate of the city, or kingdom, he was recognized by a guard, Yinxi (Wade Giles Yin Hse).

The sentry asked the old master to produce a record of his wisdom. This is the legendary origin of the Daodejing. In some versions of the tale, the sentry is so touched by the work that he leaves with Laozi, never to be seen again. Some legends elaborate further that the "Old Master" was the teacher of the Siddartha Gautama, better known as the Buddha, or was even the Buddha himself.

Laozi's relationship with Yinxi is the subject of numerous legends. It is Yinxi who asked Laozi to write down his wisdom in the traditional account of the Daodejing's creation. The story of Laozi transmitting the Daodejing to Yinxi is part of a broader theme involving Laozi the deity delivering salvific truth to a suffering humanity. Regardless, the deliverance of the Daodejing was the ultimate purpose of his human incarnation. Folklore developed around Laozi and Yinxi to demonstrate the ideal interaction of Taoist master and disciple.
Depiction of Laozi in Edward Theodore Chalmers Werner's Myths and Legends of China

A seventh century work, Sandong zhunang ("Pearly Bag of the Three Caverns"), provides one account of their relationship. Laozi pretended to be a farmer when reaching the western gate, but was recognized by Yinxi, who asked to be taught by the great master. Laozi was not satisfied by simply being noticed by the guard and demanded an explanation. Yinxi expressed his deep desire to find the Tao and explained that his long study of astrology allowed him to recognize Laozi's approach. Yinxi was accepted by Laozi as a disciple. This is considered an exemplary interaction between Daoist master and disciple, reflecting the testing a seeker must undergo before being accepted. A would-be adherent is expected to prove his determination and talent, clearly expressing his wishes and showing that he had made progress on his own towards realizing the Tao.

The Pearly Bag of the Three Caverns continues the parallel of an adherent's quest. Yinxi received his ordination when Laozi transmitted the Daodejing, along with other texts and precepts, just as Taoist adherents receive a number of methods, teachings and scriptures at ordination. This is only an initial ordination and Yinxi still needed an additional period to perfect his faith, thus Laozi gave him three years to perfect his Dao. Yinxi gave himself over to a full-time devotional life. After the appointed time, Yinxi again demonstrates determination and perfect trust, sending out a black sheep to market as the agreed sign. He eventually meets again with Laozi, who announces that Yinxi's immortal name is listed in the heavens and calls down a heavenly procession to clothe Yinxi in the garb of immortals. The story continues that Laozi bestowed a number of titles upon Yinxi and took him on a journey throughout the universe, even into the nine heavens. After this fantastic journey, the two sages set out to western lands of the barbarians. The training period, reuniting and travels represent the attainment of the highest religious rank in medieval Taoism called "Preceptor of the Three Caverns". In this legend, Laozi is the perfect Daoist master and Yinxi is the ideal Taoist student. Laozi is presented as the Tao personified, giving his teaching to humanity for their salvation. Yinxi follows the formal sequence of preparation, testing, training and attainment.

The story of Laozi has taken on strong religious overtones since the Han dynasty. As Daoism took root, Laozi was recognized as a god. Belief in the revelation of the Dao from the divine Laozi resulted in the formation of the Way of the Celestial Master, the first organized religious Daoist sect. In later mature Daoist tradition, Laozi came to be seen as a personification of Dao. He is said to have undergone numerous "transformations", or taken on various guises in various incarnations throughout history to initiate the faithful in the Way. Religious Daoism often holds that the "Old Master" did not disappear after writing the Daodejing, but rather spent his life traveling to reveal the Dao.

Lao Tzu was born in the village of Chu Jen in the Kingdom of Ch'u. (He may have been born sometime in the sixth century B.C.E. [Before the Common Era]. Traditionally, he is said to have lived at the same time as Confucius, but recent scholars place him about two centuries later.) Lao Tzu spent most of his life as an archivist in the library of the Zhou Dynasty court, a boring job that gave him lots of time to think. He quit when he saw things were getting corrupt, and then went into exile. Lao Tzu became disturbed by the corruption he saw everywhere around him and decided to take the easy way out- literally, and leave the country. He traveled west on a water buffalo to reach the great desert. At the westernmost gate, a guard who recognized him, demanded that he write down his teachings, unrecorded until this point. The collected teachings became the Tao Te Ching.

This is all from  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laozi

Old Chinese Daoism Tea ceremony

Today I find a Surprise......

                             Two boy serve Old Taoist of Tea

 

    One Boy holding Bowl with Cover Cup serve tea to the Old Taoist, another boy use old stove to boiling water.

    Lao zi----a Old Taoist with porcelain, he is very special and only one, this is Lao zi

                             on a old Chinese porcelain pot

Enter Japanese Tea Ceremony