Image source: CGTN

What is Xiaonian?

Xiaonian is often called the prologue of the Spring Festival because it kicks off preparations for the upcoming Chinese New Year. It’s also a special day for the Kitchen God, ZaoShen (Chinese: 灶君; pinyin: Zào Jun; literally “stove master).
That’s because today, on 小年 xiǎo nián, the Kitchen God is going to return to “Heaven”. (That’s if you’re in the North of China. For the South of China, that’ll happen tomorrow).

The Kitchen God, Zao Shen. Source: Project Gutenberg

There, he’ll make his report to the other gods that stayed in Heaven, and especially to the Jade Emperor – he’s considered the King of the Taoists deities (Chinese: 玉皇; pinyin: Yù Huáng. Also called 玉帝 Yù Dì).

With the Chinese New Year special course on Ninchanese, start preparing for the Spring Festival too! 

What is The Kitchen God reporting?

The Kitchen God has one specific mission: to report on what happened in each household over the past year. He’ll particularly weigh how good or bad the family was. That way, the Jade Emperor can decide accordingly to reward or punish each household. So if you were good, good fortunes await you in the coming new year of the Tiger, and if you were terrible… well, you won’t be so lucky.

The Sweetest event: Nian Gao cakes and more

Good thing, though: the Kitchen God can easily be bribed… or at least tempted because he’s very partial to sweets. Just rub something sweet on his lips, like a bit of sugar, honey, or the traditional 年糕 (nián gāo) cake. The goal? To make sure he sweet-talks the Jade Emperor! He should also be grateful because he’ll be getting a great homemade scrub at the same time.

Curious to know what a 年糕 is? Watch this!

In addition to sweets, the Kitchen God is often also offered food, in case he gets hungry on the way up. Usually, his heaven-ascending horse is also given water and grass to make the journey. So be considerate and treat them. You want them to put in a good word for you!

The other good news? You get to eat candy too on Xiaonian! Especially the chewy, sticky, sesame kind. Like this maybe. 

The second item of good news: As the Kitchen God is a family’s moral compass, once he’s gone, you’re free of any moral surveillance. Technically. So why not? Go party, drink, and enjoy yourself. Act quick, the kitchen God will be back soon.
Just make sure to stuff your face with candy too, because if your mouth is full of candy, you won’t be able to bad-mouth others! Think of it as the Kitchen God’s parting gift!

And that’s how 小年 is a lesson on the importance of sweets!

Clean your house for the Lunar New Year

The bot so good news? Once the Kitchen God is sent off (usually by burning a paper version of him), cleaning season is officially in full swing.

Spring Cleaning, Spring Festival style. Source: CGTN

The goal is to get your house squeaky clean and to turn Obsessive-Compulsive when it comes to dust, as there can’t be any left at all when the Chinese New Year swings around! This year, there’s a particular focus on making your house fully anti-virus too.

Otherwise, you risk starting the new lunar year on the wrong paw. This is soon, since, on February 1st, we’ll all be ringing in the Year of the Tiger! That’s a little over a week from now.

So, are you planning on bribing the Kitchen God and on cleaning your house to prepare for the New Year? Or are you planning on skipping all this and Just celebrating the fun stuff?? Let us know!

Speaking of fun stuff, here’s something cool for you: a Lunar New Year themed course!

A unique Chinese New Year world on Ninchanese!

Discover the Chinese New Year course. It’s a themed mini-world that’s only available during one special period of the year, and that’s during the Chinese Spring Festival!

36 Stages full of essential words and sentences to learn in Chinese, and meowsome dialogues to teach you all about the pawwsitively fun customs that go hand in hand with the Chinese New Year celebrations. Purrfect to learn all about the Spring Festival and the Year of the Tiger in Chinese. From what to do on New Year’s eve to the Lantern Festival, you’ll be learning a lot and will love doing that!

This special world is only here for the next two weeks until the Lunar New Year ends, so don’t miss out!

And one more thing…

If you want to continue learning Chinese with authentic and entertaining content, then you’ll love Ninchanese.

With Ninchanese, you get a complete method to learn Chinese which has you speaking, reading, writing, and more in Chinese. What’s more, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, there’s content your level on Ninchanese and plenty more! From HSK-based courses to a Chinese Business course, you have your pick of Chinese to learn!

Start using Ninchanese on the web, with your computer or tablet, or, for Chinese learning in your pocket and on the go, download the Ninchanese app from the Google Play Store.

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The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th of the 8th lunar month each year, which happens to be today, September 15th this year. It’s, therefore, finally time to eat yummy 月饼 mooncakes! If you’ve been following us on Facebook or Twitter lately, you know your Chinese teachers here at Ninchanese, especially Master Yocha and Nincha, have been drooling in anticipation over the idea of eating these yummy treats on this day. Why? Because 中秋月饼 mooncakes are customarily eaten on that day to celebrate the festival!

Happy mooncake eating!

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I’ve used Ninchanese daily, and it has helped me a lot!  “

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Just make sure you don’t overdo it, like Nincha did below:

Poor Nincha!

Happy 中秋节!

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In China, as you probably know, education matters a lot. It is a very stressful and labor-intensive experience for Chinese students, who are closely monitored by their parents, anxious to see their prized 宝贝 bǎo bèi (meaning baby)be certified with high honors and go on to holding excellent positions in well-off companies. As such, getting your diploma is quite a big deal in China, both for parents and graduates. So much so the period between June and July is called 毕业季 bì yè jì graduation season in China!

Let’s learn some of the key words and expressions related to the Chinese graduation period and the Chinese school system so you can celebrate the best times you spent at high-school or university with your Chinese classmates.

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The period around Chinese graduations is an occasion to commemorate the best moments spent at the university. But before they can celebrate, students in China must take exams. The GaoKao might be over for high schoolers, but university and college students are most likely still knee-deep in their thesis…

Final ordeal before graduation: the dissertation!

In the Chinese higher education system, to be able to graduate, you need to do a 毕业论文 bì yè lùn wén graduation dissertation. It’s the last step before getting a diploma and being able to put your books away. I’m sure a lot of Chinese students getting ready to be certified are completely focused on their dissertation right now.

At times like these, you often hear people saying:

你的毕业论文写完了吗？ Nǐ de bì yè lùn wén xiě wán le ma? Have you finished your graduation dissertation?

Once they’ve finished their 论文 lùnwén thesis, students have to face the terrible 毕业答辩 bì yè dá biàn graduation dissertation defense. During this defense, you must submit your thesis. After all these tasks, undergraduates and graduates finally get their precious bì yè zhèng diploma.

If you’re around a campus at that time, in China, you’ll hear delighted students exclaim:

我终于拿到我的毕业证啦！ Wǒ zhōng yú ná dào wǒ de bì yè zhèng la! I finally got my diploma!

A pretty cool thing during 毕业季 in China is that students that do a really good job during their entire study year,are awarded an 优秀毕业生 yōu xiù bì yè shēng outstanding graduate title. 优秀 yōuxiù means excellent and 毕业生 bìyè shēng means graduate(s).

After the stressful period of defending a dissertation and obtaining one’s diploma, the degree celebrations in China are the perfect opportunity for the students to let go and celebrate all the hard work they put in. The event is full of special events and activities that grads must take part on, starting with, of course, a ceremony.

How is the Chinese graduation celebrated?

The fun starts with the Chinese graduation ceremony

A Chinese graduation ceremony is the first order of business for many educational institutions, once the exams and dissertations are over. Each university carefully prepares their 毕业典礼 bì yè diǎn lǐ graduation ceremony. It’s a time for congratulatory speeches, to honor the outstanding graduates and to give all the degree holders a chance to shine, as they can put on shows to showcase their talents. 毕业典礼 is also the grads’ chance to thank their teachers and spend one last time with their classmates and professors. It’s a very memorable event for everyone, and you may overhear someone say:

毕业典礼令人十分难忘。 Bì yè diǎn lǐ lìng rén shí fēn nán wàng. The graduation ceremony is very unforgettable.

As unforgettable this event is, everyone wants their little souvenir. What about pictures? Everyone could pin it in their room and remember this graduation ceremony for ages!

Say “cheese”

If there’s one thing every Chinese degree holder can’t wait to do, it’s the 毕业照 bì yè zhào graduation photo. If you check Chinese social networks such as Weibo, Wechat, and QQ right now, you’ll run into all sorts of photos.

Guangzhou University Students Graduate Wearing Qipao

These past few years, the trend for postgraduates in Chinese universities has been to wear 传统服饰 chuáng tǒng fú shì Chinese traditional costumes in their photos, such as 旗袍 Qípáo or 学士服 xué shì fú academic dress.

After the mandatory graduation pictures, graduates and teachers have the opportunity to say goodbye to each other during a delicious farewell meal.

Make sure you have no regrets during the farewell dinner

For some, it’s not only the end of the school year but it’s also the end of their student life and the time to find and embrace a new career. Therefore, before leaving your student life for good, properly celebrating their diplomas is a must! The last thing we want to introduce you to is the famous 散伙饭 sàn huǒ fàn farewell dinner party.

This meal represents the last perk of being a student; it will be their last memory of the school years and marks the end of studies celebrations. The farewell dinner party also the last opportunity for degree holders to exchange email addresses, phone numbers with c before leaving each other. This dinner also represents the last chance to dare to say or to do things before student life ends. If they secretly love someone, don’t you think it’s the right time for them to declare their love before leaving each other?

Icing on the cake: go on a graduation trip!

After all these ceremonies, awards and farewell dinners, some lucky former students go on a well-deserved bì yè lǚ xíng graduation trip before entering the job market. A good way to remember forever your last moments as an undergraduate forever, this trip can also be the occasion for the postgraduates to celebrate all their years of hard work and prepare for a new start! So before going on a trip and leaving the educational institutions forever, don’t forget to say goodbye:

永别了，我的母校！ Yǒngbiéle, wǒ de mǔxiào! Farewell, my college!

Final words:

Whether you’re going to pass your exams or one of your Chinese friends is, you’ve got now all the vocabulary in Chinese you need to talk about the graduation season. After seeing how the students graduate in universities in China, don’t you think it’s really close to the Western way of celebrating the end of the school year?
How do you celebrate it in your country? Let us know below in the comments!

Yanjie, Pauline and 

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You may know that the Chinese created lots of inventions that have changed the world during the Chinese dynasties. Paper, gunpowder, and even the printing block are 2 of the 四大发明 sì the 4 great Chinese inventions. But the Chinese didn’t stop at these fantastic inventions! They also created a lot more things without which your life wouldn’t be the same, and you probably don’t even know it! So we put together for you a list of 10 surprising Chinese inventions you didn’t realize were Chinese, ranked from the least to the most surprising.

Ready to see what was invented in China? Prepare to be amazed!

#1 The most fascinating of all the Chinese inventions: the compass

The first item on our list of ancient Chinese inventions is the compass. It’s one of the 四大发明 sì the 4 great Chinese inventions, but people tend to forget about it.

Long before European navigators roamed the seas, the Chinese invented the compass. How was this navigational instrument invented? The Chinese created the compass around the Qin Dynasty era (255 BC – 206 BC), but not for the reasons you’d expect. Long before Navigators used it for navigation, the compass was used by fortune tellers on their boards to make predictions. Interesting use of the compass, don’t you think? The first compasses were made of a spoon-shaped lodestone, a naturally magnetic stone that naturally indicates the South. Later on, the Chinese improved their first compass to create the magnetic needle compass during the 8th century AD, used on water.

The next Chinese invention on our list has changed the world forever and still very much used nowadays. It’s essential to buy new things. Can you guess what it is?

#2 Paper money, the Chinese creation that changed the world

Paper money! The Chinese introduced the first banknotes under the Tang dynasty (618 – 907). The invention of paper money stems from creating the printing block, which made possible the printing of many banknotes. At that time, carrying coins began to be too heavy, and merchants thus decided to create banknotes as a means of currency instead. The banknotes were meant to record how much money the people had in their pockets. Smart, isn’t it?

Nowadays, we use paper money for everything almost everywhere around the world. Even though credit card use now tends to surpass the use of paper money, banknotes are still rocking! Let’s jump to the third Chinese creation that is going to leave you voiceless!

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#3 The smart Chinese invention: the mechanical clock

What time is it? This question is maybe one of the most frequently asked questions each day! Your wristwatch — or your cellphone — is certainly one of your best friends when it comes to telling time. This wouldn’t be possible without the invention of the first mechanical clock by the Chinese. Under the Song dynasty (916 – 1279), 苏颂 Su Song, a well-known official, built a huge clock tower that could tell the hours of the day, the day of the month, and the moon phase and the position of a few stars and planets. Amazing, don’t you think?! How did he do that? Well, he added a chain-driven mechanism to a water-powered clock, and magic happened!

Let’s explore a little bit further the mechanical skills of the Chinese. The next Chinese invention will most likely make you go “wow,” plus it’s all about dragons.

#4 The earthquake detector: the most brilliant Chinese invention

In China, earthquakes are very frequent. When you’re not prepared for them, they can cause severe damage. Under the Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), some Chinese scientists decided to experiment with ways to predict earthquakes. Under the Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), 張衡 Zhang Heng, a famous Chinese inventor, and scientist, invented the first seismograph to detect an earthquake’s movement. Besides being an ingenious Chinese invention, the earthquake detector is also super cool-looking. It’s a colossal urn adorned with 8 dragons, each holding a copper ball. These 8 dragons represented 8 directions: east, south, west, north, southeast, northeast, southwest, and northwest. These dragons faced 8 frogs on a plate below the urn. Each time a seism was about to happen, the dragon in the direction of the earthquake would spit its copper ball inside the frog’s mouth. Are dragons spitting copper balls? I told you it was a cool invention!

OK, now you know that the Chinese were pretty good at creating mechanical engines. But let’s explore sports in China! Everyone knows China’s popular sport: ping pong, but did you know they invented another popular sport?

#5 The Chinese invention you’d never guessed was Chinese: Football

Were you dying to know why earlier I said soccer was not invented in England, but China? Under the Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), people started to play a game called Cuju. It consisted of two teams kicking a ball around to score goals. The rules forbade using hands. Sounds familiar? The main difference was that the number of players was flexible, and men and women composed teams.

As for England, they did not invent the football game, but they brought a lot to modern soccer. According to FIFA, England organized the new games in 1863.

Technology, sports… Chinese inventions certainly are everywhere! What about in your personal daily life? Do you think ancient Chinese inventions are at play there? The answer is yes. Let me tell you about the most surprising creations the Chinese invented and how these became essential when eating.

#6 The Chinese culinary creation you didn’t suspect: the Restaurant Menu

Once again, the Song dynasty has struck! I’d bet you didn’t know about this one! During the Song era, a premodern economic revolution occurred in China, and there was a significant increase in business and trade with the outside world. Many foreign people in business and travelers came to China during that time, but they did not always speak Chinese. To help them, Chief created the first-ever menus in Chinese restaurants.

Speaking of restaurants, its origins in the world remain shrouded in mystery. Some claim that France created the first restaurants ever in Paris, but, before the Mongol invasion even happened, there were already restaurants in China. The competition is still on, and I suggest you read this fantastic post by Nicholas Kiefer on creating the restaurant to learn more.

Next time you enter a restaurant and someone gives you a restaurant menu to order food, remember that the Chinese invented them!

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#7 The one you were wrong about: the Fork

I can feel your surprise from here! We all know that the Chinese use chopsticks to eat, but don’t be mistaken; they also invented the forks! The oldest known traces of forks were found in the Qijia ethnic group (2400 BC -1900 BC) and under the Xia dynasty (2100 BC – 1600 BC). Did you know forks were so old? At a later period, the Chinese exported forks to Europe thanks to the Silk Road. As for the Chinese, it is said they chose to replace forks and knives with chopsticks. Isn’t that unexpected?

Forks were invented by the Chinese; I bet you didn’t see that coming, huh?! Let’s move on to another product you can (sometimes) find on your table, which is said to have been created by the Chinese. Cheers!

#8 The Chinese invention that will make you feel dizzy: Alcohol

Yi Di, the wife of a Xia dynasty’s king, 大禹 dà yǔ Yu the Great (around 2000 BC), is said to have created the first-ever alcohol beverage and gave it to her husband. It is said to have tasted like beer. The Shang dynasty (1600 BC – 1066 BC) is also said to have used alcohol during sacrifices.

There are lots of legends around the creation of alcohol, but one thing’s sure, it was made in China! Just like the next Chinese inventions that are going to make you rethink your knowledge of China.

#9 The ancestor of your current toothbrush

Up next on our list of ancient Chinese inventions you didn’t know about, the toothbrush! That’s right, during the Tang dynasty (618 – 907 AD), the Chinese invented the first toothbrush. It was mostly made of pig hairs attached to a handle made of bamboo or bones. Amazing, huh? The modern toothbrush has evolved quite a lot since then, and no one uses pig hairs to brush their teeth anymore, at least I hope not!

The next and last invention coming up is undoubtedly the one that had me saying, “no way, they invented that too?!”. The Chinese didn’t use to kid with hygiene! Ready to find out what the latest invention is?

#10 One of the ancient Chinese inventions you don’t want to live without Toilet paper

Chinese inventions can be astounding sometimes! Have you ever thought about how toilet paper came into existence? It all started around the year 851, during the Tang dynasty when the Chinese invented toilet paper. But during the Ming dynasty (1368 – 1644), the use of toilet paper rose! At the time, toilet paper was made of huge soft fabric sheets, which only the Emperors and their family could use. Then the use of toilet paper spread to the people and Europe via the good old Silk Road!

Final words

Chinese inventions have brought a lot to the modern world as we know it today. Each object has a story, and China had a role to play in many of those stories. Who would have guessed that toilet paper, toothbrushes, football, or mechanical clocks were Chinese inventions? The well-known Chinese dynasties have left a lot to the modern era. If you want to know more about these amazing families, check out our post and timeline about the Chinese dynasties.

Which Chinese invention surprised you the most? Do you know other things the Chinese have invented?

Source Images: english.visitbeijing; dramafever; mfa; farfuturehorizons; pbs; history.cultural-china

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In our previous article, Dragon Boat Festival Part 1, you discovered all the customs around the Dragon Boat Festival, from the food typically eaten during that day to the origins of the boat races. In this Part 2, you’ll discover the cities that are the most well-known for their Dragon Boat Festival in the world. Therefore, you won’t miss this amazing event! All you need is a map and choose the city that is the closest to your home!

First things first, let’s start with the cities in China that have the most amazing Dragon Boat Festival!

Where to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival in China

The Dragon Boat Festival is all about boat races. Some races are exceptional! Athletes compete to win the race while Chinese drums are beating. The atmosphere and show are the reasons why you must attend at least one Dragon boat race in your life!
So if you’re currently living or traveling to China, here’s a list of the best places to enjoy the Dragon Boat Festival:

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival

• The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival (On the weekend of June 10–12.)

• Guizhou Dragon Canoe Festival of the Miao Ethnic People (June 9th)

• Hangzhou Dragon Boat Festival (June 9th)

• Yueyang International Dragon Boat Festival (Starting on June 9th and lasts 7 days)

These 4 cities have the most amazing boat races in China according to visitors and spectators. But China is not the only country to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival in Asia. Let me show you other countries that are pretty good at it.

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Attend the boat race all over Asia

The Dragon Boat Festival originates in China and became an official Chinese holiday in 2008. Influenced by China, it is now popular throughout Asia and even across the world. Countries like Canada, Japan, Korea and Singapore also make that day a day of celebration where they each have their own customs.

In Korea

Koreans masquerade during the festival.

In Japan

In Japan, the festival is dedicated to the birth of children and traditionally honored boys. On this day, people will hang up carp flags and models of Japanese Samurai to whisper to their kids a healthy and strong growth.

In Singapore

In Singapore, the Dragon Boat festival is celebrated pretty much like in China: first, they have boat races and they eat 粽子 zòngzi.

Related: Read more about 粽子 Zongzi, the dessert traditionally eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival!

But what about outside Asia? Not to fear, if you’re not in Asia, there are still plenty of places you can go to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival. North America is well-known for its important Asian community. Therefore, you’ll find many Asian celebrations there. But still, I was surprised to find not one or two, but dozens of Dragon Boat Festival celebration both in the USA and in Canada. Let me show you the most popular places to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival outside of Asia.

Go see how this festival is celebrated all over the world

The Dragon Boat Festival has also spread to the Western world and is especially popular in North America, where every opportunity to celebrate this festival is seized. If you live in North America, you’ll be happy to learn that you’re very lucky: there  are plenty of cities across the USA and Canada that celebrate this festival with boat races and music shows! Here are a few good addresses you can head to celebrate the festival.

Nanaimo, Canada

Nanaimo, near Vancouver, is probably the most popular place to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival in Canada according to spectators. Each year, the foundation Save on Foods organizes the 14th annual Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival, from June 8th to June 10th, and all the funds raised proceed to the Nanaimo Hospital Foundation. Besides the traditional dragon boat race, many activities will take place such as the Shriners pancake breakfast, Nanaimo Farmer’s Market, a candle ceremony and Vancouver Island Brewery beer gardens. So if you live close to Vancouver and want to participate in this generous movement and have the best time of your life, don’t hesitate and head to this festival.

Ottawa, Canada

The Canadians in Ottawa also celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, but this year celebrations will be taking place from June 23rd to June 25th. The Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival has a special aim. This festival is launched by the Tim Horton company in order to raise funds for the local charities. On the first day of the festival, there is an opening ceremony which gathers all the Asian communities and some of their prominent Chinese members. As this festival features Chinese ancient celebrations, you’ll get to enjoy the Lion Dance troupes, drums and of course, also see the typical dragon boat race! The following days, you can attend the music festival, with singers performing on different stages but also pass by the exhibitors and artisans to buy awesome creations.

Denver, USA

The Dragon Boat Festival in Denver is one of the most popular across the USA. The festival starts on July 30th and ends on July 31st. During this event, people celebrate the Pacific Asian culture, especially China through authentic cuisine, shows like the Lion dance, drums, a marketplace of unique and hard-to-find arts and of course, the dragon boat race.

Boston, USA

On the weekend of June 11-12 2016, Boston will be hosting its 37th annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival! It’s the second most popular Dragon Boat Festival in the USA. During the festival, Asian arts and crafts are displayed, Chinese food is served and later the dragon boat race starts.

There are many more places to go to celebrate the Dragon Boart Festival in the US and in Canada, check out which city is the closest to you thanks to this calendar.

Where else is the Dragon Boat Festival celebrated?

You’ll find Dragon Boat Festival celebrations in Spain, Dubai, Ireland, Puerto Rico, Great Britain, Germany, the Philippines and more. Most of these countries don’t celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival in June, but on various dates, that can be in April, May, September or even October. So you’d better check the dates before planning to go there. To know all about the dates, head to this page.

Final words

As you see, you don’t need to live in China to attend the Dragon Boat Festival! There are so many other great places in which you can this famous boat race. Check out the dates and don’t miss out on these festivals. Trust me, you’ll have a great experience. This is a good occasion to dive into the Chinese culture and to learn more about the Chinese customs and beliefs. Plus, this is also a good way to practice your Chinese!

If you want to know more about the customs, the type of food the Chinese eat during the Dragon Boat Festival and more, check out the first part in our series of articles on 端午节: Dragon Boat Festival Part 1.

After talking so much about the Dragon Boat Festival,we’re curious: What are your plans for the Dragon Boat Festival? Taste the 粽子and watch the dragon boat competition? And where will you be celebrating it? In all cases, we wish you guys all a Happy Dragon Festival! 端午节快乐!

Pauline and 

The Nincha Team

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As you may know, tomorrow is the Chinese Lantern Festival in Philadelphia. Lantern festivals are popular in a lot of places in the world now, but the Chinese Lantern Festival in Philadelphia is particularly well known. It’s a huge event in which Chinese people and western people gather to celebrate the Chinese culture. If you’re lucky enough to go there, then you’ll see various types of Chinese lanterns created by Chinese artisans. You can also bring your own! Don’t have one? Not to worry, you’re going to learn to make a Chinese lantern today! So, you’ll be able to bring that one!

Let’s start with a bit of history to learn where the Chinese lantern comes from and when its origin. This is the very first step to the process of making your own Chinese lantern.

History of the Chinese Lantern

Chinese Lanterns are a big part of the Chinese culture. The famous Chinese lanterns were invented under the Han dynasty (206 B.C-220 A.D) and were used as lights, in the first place. As Emperor Liu Zhuang was Buddhist, monks started to light lanterns to show their respect to Buddha on the fifteenth day of the Chinese lunar calendar.

Notice the Chinese lanterns hanging?

After this day, Liu Zhuang and the following Emperors of the Han dynasty forced their citizens to light lanterns too and to hang them on their doors during the fifteenth day of the year. At first, they were forced to do so, but people quickly started to think that lanterns brought their owners a peaceful and prosperous life because of the heat they produced.

Under the Song dynasty (960-1279), lantern owners started to hide riddles in the Chinese lanterns to play little games together. Families hung very colorful lanterns on their doorstep and hid riddles inside of them. The riddles came from poems, well-known expressions, the Chinese language or from Chinese culture and legends. People passing by could guess the riddles. If someone had the right answer then they could win a prize.

When is the Chinese lantern festival?

Since the Hans, every fifteenth day of the lunar calendar, the Chinese have celebrated the Chinese Lantern Festival by hanging up lanterns with hidden riddles. The Chinese Lantern Festival is one of the most anticipated events by the Chinese each year as it’s a great time for families to gather, prepare and do many typical lantern festival activities together.

The background is set, you now know everything about the Chinese lantern invention and the Chinese lantern festival history.

Types of Chinese lanterns

It’s time to spot the different kinds of lanterns, so you can choose the shape and color you prefer when you’ll make yours.

If you go to Philadelphia or to China during the Chinese lantern Festival, you’ll see plenty of lanterns hung up. You’ll quickly see that modern Chinese lanterns now come in plenty of different shapes. However, the most traditional type of lantern is definitely a red Chinese lantern. Why red? The red color symbolizes prosperity for Chinese people, so red lanterns were and still are seen as a kind of lucky charms.

The traditional Palace lantern

A Palace lantern’s original shape is oval. The frame of the lantern is made of thin wood and then covered with the smoothest silk or even glass sometimes. Candles are placed inside the structure. Golden dragons and phoenixes are often depicted on the silk. Nowadays, these majestic lanterns are made by expert craftsmen and can be found in Chinese Palaces.

The gauze lantern

Gauze lanterns are less expensive as they are made with cheaper materials such as bamboo for the structure and gauze that covers the whole structure. Contrary to the traditional Palace lanterns, the gauze lanterns are colorful and come in many different shapes. Red is, of course, the most common color for these lanterns.

The shadow paper lanterns

The shadow paper lantern is one of the oldest types of paper lanterns created by the Chinese. A shadow paper lantern looks like the red palace lanterns but it’s covered by two layers, instead of just one. Pictures are drawn on the first layer, and the second layer is left blank. When the lantern is lit, the heat makes a paper wheel inside the lantern rotate and the picture appears on the second layer. Magic!

Modern Chinese lanterns

Today, a few lanterns are still handmade by craftsmen but most of the lanterns you’ll come across are printed on, thanks to modern technology. The advantage is that you can now find lanterns in all the shapes you want. A famous war hero, the Chinese zodiac animals, or even a lantern with Nincha’s shape would be doable!

Guess the Chinese lantern riddles

After learning about the various types of lanterns, let’s move to the second step of what makes a good homemade lantern, the riddles you hide in them!

Ever since the Song, Chinese people love lantern riddles. The Lantern Festival may be the main time for lantern riddles but it’s still a ways away, so let me share some riddles with you now to put in your lantern to trick your friends!
These following riddles are character riddles. You’ll need to guess the Chinese character the riddle is talking about. Post your answers in the comments below!

1.

一人一张口，口下长只手 yīrén yī zhāngkǒu, kǒu xià zhǎng zhī shǒu One person has one mouth, under which there is a hand.

What Chinese character is the riddle about?

2.

摘掉穷帽子，摘掉穷根子 zhāi diào qióng màozi, zhāi diào qióng gēnzi Take off the torn hat, get rid of the root of poverty.

Which Chinese character corresponds to this description?

3.

春节第一日 chūnjié dì yī rì The first day of the Spring Festival

This one is an easy Chinese character, can you guess?

How to make a Chinese lantern

The first Chinese lantern tutorial is by Lia Griffith

Not feeling confident with the glue gun? Not to worry, we have another tutorial to make a Chinese paper lantern for you! This tutorial is also easier to make with children. All you need is sheets of A4 paper and scissors.

Final words

Chinese lanterns have become very popular and representative of China all over the world. We hope this post about the history of the Chinese lanterns helped you see more clearly where Chinese lanterns come from, what meaning Chinese lanterns hold and why they’re so popular across the world.

Be sure to share your lantern pictures with us! We can’t wait to see the beautiful Chinese lanterns you’ve made!

Answers to the lantern riddles: 1. 拿 ná to catch 2. bā eight 3. 夫 fū husband

Source images: modernkiddo; photoshelter; teachercn; yixubuy

Pauline and

The Nincha Team

Stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

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Ready to investigate the twelve Chinese zodiac signs? Let’s explore the twelve zodiac signs, their meanings, their stories and their link with the five elements and see if that helps us discover why cats weren’t invited to join the party.

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I’ve used Ninchanese daily, and it has helped me a lot!  “

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The Five Chinese Elements

The Chinese often like to talk about Chinese Zodiac compatibility, perhaps placing a larger emphasis on the importance of proper compatibility than we do in the West. And it’s not all about the sign! In Western Astrology, you don’t define someone by its astrological sign solely and in China it’s no different, people are characterized by both their zodiac sign but also by their Chinese element.

The twelve Chinese zodiac signs have a great impact on people’s personality. Inside a same zodiac sign, there can be different people with different characteristics as they are may be not from the same element. Let’s take the rat for example, you can find fire rats but also water or wood rats that will have different behaviors.

If you want to know which element you are, this page about the Chinese Zodiac animals and elements will help.

• Water is said to represent wisdom –now you know why lots of dragons love to live in the sea since they’re wise creatures.
• Wood is for benevolence and nobleness.
• Fire represents power, bravery and intensity.
• As for metal, it stands for righteousness.
• Last but not least, the earth element is very representative of honesty.

The five elements are very important in the Chinese zodiac. Now that you know how the Chinese use it, it’s time for you to explore the twelve Chinese zodiac signs. Let’s start with this chart of Chinese zodiac years so you can determine what zodiac sign you are. If you don’t know your sign yet, all you need is your birth year.

Chinese zodiac is everywhere, as If someone asks you in Chinese

你属什么

nǐ shǔ shénme

What is your zodiac sign?

be careful, this might be a disguised question to know your age. The best answer you can give is to tell your zodiac sign without saying the year!

Now that you know which sign you are, let’s explore the different zodiac animals in the official order to tell you more about their characteristics, and what your zodiac sign can tell you about yourself. Let’s start with the first animal in the Chinese zodiac cycle: the smart rat.

#1 Chinese zodiac sign: the Rat 鼠 shǔ

The rat is the first animal of the Chinese zodiac. People born during the year of the rat are said to be clever, smart and can easily adapt in new environments. According to the Chinese zodiac, rats are very intuitive and have a good judgement so they make perfect leaders. For the Chinese, the rat is a symbol of wealth and success. What are their flaws? Rats can’t keep secrets, as they are supposed to love gossip. They also are said to be extremely greedy when it comes to money.

The Rat’s Qualities:

• Clever
• Smart
• Adaptive

The Rat’s Flaws:

• Loves gossips
• Greedy with money

#2 Chinese zodiac sign: the Ox 牛 niú

Oxes are hard-workers, deeply devoted to their work. Oxen people are very serious and make good leaders.  As long as you take care of yourself. See, if you’re born under the Ox sign then you may face stress problems. Tension can lead you to depression. So be careful and take care of yourself, ok?

Your qualities as an Ox:

• Hard workers
• Serious
• Good leaders

Your flaws:

• Stress problems
• Tension, mood swings, leading to depression

#3 Chinese zodiac sign: the Tiger 虎 hǔ

Cousins of the cats, people born under the year of the Tiger are said to be charming, ambitious and very confident. They also make awesome leaders. Good news, if you’re a tiger ,you also make a good life companion. Indeed, Chinese people think that tigers are great protectors for households. Last but not least, tigers are playful beings that love challenges! Any Tiger up for a ninchallenge? Tigers versus cats, the game is on.

Be prepared for a potentially drawn out challenge, tigers are very stubborn. They also have enormous egos that need to be fed. As a tiger, you better watch out for these characteristics, to avoid fights with people.

Tigers’ qualities:

• Charming
• Ambitious
• Confident
• Good leaders and good life companion
• Love challenges

Tigers’ flaws:

• Stubborn
• Enormous egos

#4 Chinese zodiac sign: the Rabbit 兔 tù

So you’re a rabbit, huh? What a lovely companion you make. Rabbits are said to be very comprehensive, polite, compassionate and sincere. Everyone would love to be your friend.

With such qualities, no wonder you also have flaws to watch out for. By being very conservative and not sharing your thoughts with others, you might feel a little lonely and it could happen that you miss out on good opportunities.
Rabbits’ qualities:

• Comprehensive
• Polite
• Compassionate
• Sincere

Your flaws to watch:

• Very conservative
• Miss good opportunities

#5 Chinese zodiac sign: the Dragon 龙 lóng

The dragon is the most prestigious Chinese zodiac sign. Chinese parents love to have a child, a boy particularly, born under the dragon sign, as it is said that these boys will be very lucky and successful in life.

As a dragon, you have a lot of energy! Dragons are very intelligent, confident and strong. They don’t fear challenges and risks. The downside to your qualities is that some dragons may be seen as aggressive, arrogant and irritating. So watch yourself.

Your qualities:

• Lots of energy
• Intelligent
• Smart
• Confident
• Love challenges

Your flaws:

• Aggressive
• Arrogant
• Irritating

#6 Chinese zodiac sign: the Snake 蛇 shé

Snakes are said to be very intelligent and wise. Chinese people think that snakes make great thinkers. They ponder and brood a lot but don’t say much. Snakes are viewed as philosophers of sorts:). Also, according to Chinese beliefs, snakes can born again just by shedding their skin, fascinating, huh?! As they are great thinkers, snakes are believed to be always plotting in the dark. Betrayal is one of the snakes’ main characteristics.

Snakes qualities:

• Intelligent
• Wise
• Great thinkers (Philosophers)

Your snake flaws:

• Plotting in the dark
• Betray the others

#7 Chinese zodiac signs: the Horse 马 mǎ

If you’re born under the sign of a horse, then you must be a real star! Horses are said to be extremely energetic and like shining on stage. Horses want to be noticed. They have also a great sense of humour and are very athletic. However, horses tend to be very self-centered and immature. These characteristics might keep you from achieving your goals.
Your qualities:

• Extremely energetic
• Like to shine on stage
• Great sense of humor
• Athletic

Your flaws:

• Self-centered
• Immature

#8 Chinese zodiac sign: the Sheep 羊 yáng

Just so you know, the sheep zodiac sign might also be called the goat sign or the ram

The sheep is a very creative and delicate person. People born under the sheep sign are said to have an excellent defensive instinct, they can evaluate danger and avoid it. They are very quiet but prefer to stay in groups than being alone. Sheeps are also known to be very docile and naive. So if you’re a sheep, you must watch out not to be too naive. Another characteristic you need to pay attention to is the way sheep like to spend their money into fashion items. So save your money and don’t trust everyone, this is how you’ll be safe.

The sheep qualities:

• Creative
• Delicate
• Excellent defensive instinct, can evaluate danger
• Quiet

The sheep flaws:

• Docile
• Naive
• Like to spend money into fashion items.

#9 Chinese zodiac sign: the Monkey 猴 hóu

2016 is the year of the fire monkey! If you’re born under this sign, stay focused and don’t go monkeying around while I introduce your main characteristics.

Monkeys are said to be geniuses! They are clever, witty and curious about everything. As you are born under the monkey sign, you surely have many interests and hobbies. Monkeys are fast-learners and have many crafty skills.  Monkeys have a very eccentric personality that makes them very special. But the most important flaw of monkeys is that they’re said to be naughty because of their cleverness. They love to prank people but sometimes it hurts them. But most of the time, they’re truly only funny, I swear!

Your qualities:

• Genius
• Clever, witty
• Curious
• Many interests and hobbies
• Crafty skills

Your flaws:

• Eccentric
• Like to prank people and sometimes hurt their feelings

But most of the time, they’re truly only funny, I swear!

#10 Chinese zodiac sign: the Rooster 鸡 jī

A surprising quality for roosters is that they are great storytellers. Indeed the Chinese believe roosters  have good writing and public speaking skills. That’s a really important and useful quality to have in life. Roosters are also said to be loyal, honest and very popular among people! Roosters also have flaws. They like to stay under the spotlight and to show off. Don’t go and burn your wings by getting to close to the light, little roosters!

The roosters’ qualities:

• Great storytellers
• Good writing and public speaking skills
• Honest
• Loyal
• Popular among people

Rooster flaws:

• Like to show off

Don’t go and burn your wings by getting to close to the light little roosters.

#11 Chinese zodiac sign: the Dog 狗 gǒu

Dogs are said to be born with a good nature — and I’m not saying that because I was born under the dog sign– they try to avoid bad things and are interested in having a happy, quiet and peaceful life. Dogs are not selfish, they like to help others, at their expense sometimes.

Dog signs tend to lack communication skills and happen to be very stubborn. They also worry a lot and tend to be pessimistic by thinking the world is bad. So dogs reading this, remember to smile and think positive! Rendez-vous each Saturday to bring motivation and positivity back with our positive quotes on our Facebook page.

Your qualities as dogs:

• Born with good nature — and I’m not saying that because I was born under the dog sign–
• Interested in having a happy and quiet life
• Not selfish, they like to help others

Your flaws:

• Lack of communication skills
• Stubborn
• Pessimistic
• Worry too much

So dogs reading this, remember to smile and think positive! And I know you like positive things, so rendez-vous each Saturday to bring motivation back with our quotes on Ninchanese Facebook page.

#12 last Chinese zodiac sign: the Boar 猪 zhū

Sometimes you’ll come across the “pig” zodiac sign, but this last Zodiac sign is officially called the Boar. People use both boar and pig, so it depends on which you prefer!

The pigs’ greatest quality is that they’re peacemakers. They try everything they can to avoid conflicts between people. Boars are also very loyal, which makes them very good friends.

Because of their peacemaking quality, pigs are said to be weak and to be easily fooled by others. They are naturally innocent. Another flaw is gluttony, pigs are very excessive when it comes to eating, drinking and smoking. Keep your body healthy and avoid all these temptations.

Your qualities:

• Peacemakers
• Avoid conflicts
• Loyal
• Good friends

Pig flaws:

• Weak
• Easily fooled by others
• Innocent
• Gluttonous
• Excessive

Keep your body healthy and avoid all these temptations.

Final words: So what about cats?

As you know, there are twelve months in the lunar calendar, so there are only twelve animals allowed in the Chinese zodiac. During our investigation, we found out that cats originally came from Egypt and only Chinese Emperors owned cats. Cats appeared in China after the creation of the Chinese calendar (with the twelve Chinese zodiac signs), invented under the Yellow Emperor. Remember the Yellow Emperor Huángdì? He is at the origin of the Xia dynasty. Since then, the Chinese calendar has evolved.

There is also a legend that explains how cats got tricked by rats in the Chinese zodiac, which you can read in the link.

Too bad for the cats, anyway, if you’re a cat lover just like the Nincha Team, you can come and play with them here in Ninchanese and learn Chinese!

Cats can still be useful in the Chinese zodiac. Remember the Chinese expression?

你属什么? nǐ shǔ shénme? What is your zodiac sign?

Well, if you don’t want to say what’s your age or sign, try answering: What a coy way of getting out of the “how old are you” question, huh?

我属猫 wǒ shǔ māo My sign is cat

What a coy way of getting out of the “how old are you” question, huh?

Now it’s your turn! Tell us what your Chinese zodiac sign is and your elements are, we’re very curious! Do you think your personality corresponds to what the Chinese believe about your zodiac sign?
Source images: behance

Pauline and

The Nincha Team

Stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

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Check out this timeline that suggests a real insight of dynasties of China. All your questions questions about which dynasty has invented this or that will be answered if you take a look at our Chinese dynasties list.

The most legendary of the Chinese dynasties: The Xia 夏朝 xià cháo

The Xia dynasty is the first Chinese Dynasty in the History of China. They ruled from 2100 BC to 1600 BC and laid the foundations for the next 5000 years of China’s evolution. The Xia dynasty is said to descend from the Yellow Emperor, Huángdì, a ancient tribe leader who won many battles. Huángdì was said to be the son of a dragon who has inherited from its powers. The Xia rulers founded by Yu the Great, descendant of Huángdì who was born in 2059, said they had special powers too. Their powers consisted in stopping floods.

Their accomplishments: The Xia dynasty produced cast bronze and had strong armies. But their number one accomplishment was to be the first dynasty ever in ancient China: they created the dynasty succession policy.

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The most creative of the Chinese Dynasties: The Shang 商朝 shāng cháo

The Shang dynasty ruled during the Bronze Age from 1600 B.C to 1066 B.C. The Shangs were the first dynasty to unite a large part of the current China under one Emperor. This dynasty succeeded in domesticating horses, to help them on a everyday basis. Genius!

Their accomplishments: The Shang’s greatest accomplishment is undoubtedly creating the first Chinese writing system. The writing system they developed was composed of over 2000 symbols written on silk, bamboo sticks, stones bronze items and bones. Researchers also found also writings on “Oracle bones” — Feeling perplexed right now by the term? Oracle bones were ox bones and tortoise shells on which symbols were written for divination. Considering the Chinese characters we are now learning and are used throughout China come from these ancient symbols; the Shang undoubtedly deserve to be awarded the “most creative” title of all the Chinese dynasties.

The most philosophical of the Chinese Dynasties: The Zhou 周朝 zhōu cháo

The Zhou followed The Shang dynasty and also ruled during the Bronze Age, from 1066 B.C to 256 B.C. They’re not very well-known in the Western world, contrary to other more famous dynasties, but they deserve to be more known. It was during the Zhou dynasty that a popular Chinese philosophical movement was created.

Their accomplishment: Chinese philosophies that are still very popular nowadays, such as Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism were developed under the Zhou dynasty. See, the Zhou era was full of conflicts, and many Chinese philosophers therefore emerged during the Zhou era with the aim to restore order and peace to society.

At the origin Confucianism, in its beginning, was all about being committed to one’s family and being filial to one’s family remains a core teaching of the Confucianism movement. Taoism was also about achieving peace, by following the Tao principles.
Legalism, on the other hand, considered people to be born naturally evil and claimed they needed to be punished to restore order and bring piece.
It’s therefore essential to remember the Zhou were fine philosophers in their day. Their teachings are still an essential part of the Chinese way of thinking nowadays.

The builders that unified China: The Qin dynasty 秦朝 qín cháo

The Qin dynasty brought a lot to China. They may have ruled only for a short period, from 255 B.C to 206 B.C, but they still found time to develop and invent many things as well as unify the whole country that was scattered into kingdoms till then. Did you know they built new roads and irrigation systems? These irrigation systems were big improvements, as the Zhengguo Canal and the Lingqu Canal brought lots of water to farms and fields. The Qin dynasty also built an amazing archaeological site you’ve most likely heard of in Xi’an: the famous terracotta army. You can still visit this place nowadays and we strongly recommend it!

Their great accomplishment: The Qin have done a lot for China, but their greatest accomplishment has to be unifying China! After lots of conquests, they finally managed to unify the whole country. How huge and groundbreaking is that!?

The artists: The Han dynasty 汉朝 hàn cháo

Emperor Han Gaozu (256 or 247 – 1 June 195 BC)

The Han dynasty ruled from 206 B.C to 220 A.D. They are one of the best known Chinese dynasties and today yet, the Han Ethnic Group is still the biggest ethnic group in China (92%). Do you want to know why they were most famous for?

Their most amazing accomplishment: You certainly wonder which dynasty has invented paper. Well, it’s the Han dynasty. Don’t be mistaken, this was not the white, thin paper you know today but it was definitely the paper we all use today’ ancestor. At the time, paper was thicker and not particularly white.It was made from pounded and disintegrated hemp fibers. Around 105 A.D, a new kind of paper made of rags, fishnets, wheat stalks and other thick materials was enforced. As it was of a poor quality, it was way cheaper than the first one. The invention of paper made writing a lot easier than have to carve your text on hard surfaces, and led The Han to also invent ink and to write poems. What artists, those Hans!

The most chaotic of the Chinese dynasties: the Jin 晉朝 jìn cháo

Ruling from 265 to 420, many of The Jin rulers were incompetent and plunged the empire in civil wars. The Empire was divided between the members of the family and the civil war between the 9 Princes started. Regicides and abdications marked the decline of this dynasty.

Their accomplishment: There is not much to remember about this dynasty except years and years of chaos and conflicts. Let’s call that, their greatest accomplishment.

The Chinese Gutenbergs: The Sui dynasty 隋朝 suí cháo

The Sui dynasty ruled from 581 to 618 AD. They were known for their love for the arts, poetry and music. Researchers found porcelain pieces dating from the Sui dynasty, so we can easily say they invented porcelain made with jade at that time. The Sui Dynasty wasn’t all about love, poetry and the arts, however. This dynasty also was hugely unpopular because of the taxes they imposed and had to face many discontents and rebellions.

Their greatest accomplishment: The Sui dynasty invented block printing. How smart! The Block printing they invented was used as a mean of typesetting and helped reduce the number of workers. The Sui can easily be dubbed the Chinese Gutenbergs. As you can guess, they used this invention mainly… to print lots of poetry.

The golden Chinese dynasty: The Tang 唐朝 táng cháo

Ruling from 618 to 907, the Tang dynasty is well known for expanding the reach of the Chinese economy through the development of trades routes, especially along the silk road, which was at its peak at that time. They also helped Chinese medicine evolve slowly.

Their two main accomplishments: The Tang dynasty brought a lot to Chinese arts.For example, the first opera troupe appeared under their era. So if you’re a Beijing Opera fan, you have the Tang to thank for.
Another of the Tang’s great accomplishments is the creation of the first Chinese criminal code in 624 AD. The code was was divided into 500 articles dealing with different crimes and penalties such as penal servitude, execution, exile and other punishments. This criminal code served as a basis for later dynastic codes in China but also in all parts of Asia.

The Song dynasty 宋朝 sòng cháo: a dynasty of bankers

The Song dynasty ruled from 960 to 1279. This era was full of conflicts and the Song had to face them all. Two others dynasties were challenging them at that time, but we’ll talk about those later.

Their greatest accomplishment: The Song were the first government in the world to invent and use banknotes. Before banknotes were introduced, the Chinese used a currency made of copper but it lacked practicality. They decided, then, to produce banknotes, which is why they were awarded “the banker” title.

The farmers: The Liao dynasty 辽朝 liáo cháo

The Liao dynasty ruled from 916 to 1125. Yes, that was partly at the same time as the Song. How was that possible? Well, they fought a lot with the Song dynasty and conquered a few lands in the North: once again the country was divided and the Qin’s great achievements a thousand years before were undone. The Liao kingdom was established by the Khitan tribe, a tribe well-known for their farming capacities.

Their accomplishment: Aside from contributing to divide the country, the Liao was a great farming dynasty and contributed a lot to agricultural methods in China. When they started ruling, the Liao established a new way of living, by expanding crops and growing new types of food such as watermelon and chickpea. They also developed animal farms with sheeps and horses.

The unknown Chinese dynasty: The Jin 金朝 jīn cháo

Jin Dynasty was also founded by an ethnic minority, known as the Nuzhen. The Nuzhen came from the Changpai Mountain area. This dynasty ruled from 1115 to 1234 AD and also overlapped with the Song. As you can guess, they also fought with the Song dynasty for lands. Due to Song’s civil wars, the Jin were victorious.

Their accomplishment: There are no particular accomplishments to note during the Jin dynasty. Perhaps, the Chinese people remain thankful to them for winning over the Song and their bad rulers.

The Mongol Chinese Dynasty: The Yuan 元朝 yuán cháo

Who said all the Chinese dynasties were Chinese? Ruling from 1271 to 1368, the Yuan dynasty is mostly known because of its Mongol origins. The Great Mongol ruler, Genghis Khan and his sons founded the Yuan dynasty in China and introduced Mongol customs and traditions into China.

Their biggest accomplishment: Gunpowder bombs were created under the Yuan dynasty, after China failed in invading Japan. At first, Large barrels of gunpowder would be lit with fire, which led to explosions. They then cleverly reduced the shape of the barrels and bam! Gunpowder bombs were created.

The most famous Chinese dynasty: The Ming 明朝 míng cháo

Emperor Xizong Zhu Youxiao (1605-1627) Ming Dynasty

The Ming is probably the most famous Chinese Dynasty that ruled from 1368 to 1644. Have you ever heard of Ming porcelain vases? Of course you have. Then you’ve heard of the Ming. The Ming dynasty invented the famous white and blue porcelain you see in every Chinese shop. These vases were Ming’s signature but not their only notable accomplishments. The Ming era is marked by its many achievements in machinery, inventing in particular cotton and silk looms.

Their greatest achievement: Guess which dynasty built the Grand Canal? The Ming’s greatest achievement has to be the restorations of the Great Wall and the Grand Canal, both major architectural feats that were repaired by the Ming dynasty. If you go to the Great Wall nowadays, what you’ll see was rebuilt by the Ming dynasty and mostly left untouched since that Ming dynasty.

The last and longest Chinese dynasty: The Qing 清朝 qīng cháo

Often called the last dynasty of China, the Qing, who ruled from 1644 to 1912, were also known as great warriors.

Their biggest accomplishments: The Qing greatly improved soldiers’ equipments, and notably found solutions to military problems they had, such as how to make the armor lighter to move faster, and increasing the use of gunpowder. They also used swords with longer blades to stab enemies easily. They also created the first machine gun that could hold up to 28 bullets. Trust men you did not want to be these guys enemies! Their decline was due to many rebellions.

Final words: 14 great Chinese dynasties

As you can see, the 14 major dynasties of China were all pretty great! They all made contributions to build the China we all know today! Considering the first dynasty started in 2100 B.C, that’s pretty fantastic, don’t you think?

Make sure to keep this timeline close to you when going to China. Now you know everything about the Chinese dynasties and how they brought knowledge, science et technology to China. All the dynasties made a contribution to build the China we all know today! Fantastic!
The Nincha team hopes this guide will help you understand Chinese culture and its traditions better. Bookmark the timeline and the guide so you become a Chinese dynasty expert. And, in case you’re afraid you can’t remember all the dynasties of China, you can use this Chinese dynasties song to remember the order of the greatest Chinese dynasties.

Do you have a fave dynasty? Or one you find particularly cool? Let us know in the comments! And if you have any question or remark about the dynasties and the Chinese timeline, we’re happy to read them below in the comments.

The Nincha Team

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But what do you really know about the Chinese dragon? Aside from that, it’s a pretty cool Chinese Zodiac Sign and a popular choice for a tattoo? Do you know what a Chinese dragon means and symbolizes? No? Then you’ve come to the right place. I’m going to tell you the essential things to know about the Chinese dragon. You’ll learn what they look like, what link they have with human beings, cool Chinese dragon facts, their role in Chinese society, and more! Ready to learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the Chinese dragon, the coolest creature to not-roam the earth?

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What’s a Chinese dragon?

You may have heard that Chinese people are fond of dragons, but you may wonder what a Chinese dragon looks like. Since they are quite different from the Western dragon, let’s start by giving you a description of this legendary creature.

Physical aspect

In stories, a Chinese dragon can be composed of many different animal parts. Still, it’s more commonly depicted as having: the tail of a fish, the scales of a carp, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the head of a camel, the claws of an eagle, the paws of a tiger, the ears of a cow, the eyes of a demon, the beard of a goat and the horns of a stag. Quite the beast, huh?

Chinese dragons can be of many colors; they can be blue, yellow, black, white, or red. Depending on the dynasty that was ruling, the “official” Chinese dragon color varied.

Dragons under the Han and Qin Dynasty

Under the Han dynasty (206 B.C.–220 A.D.), for instance, the Chinese dragon symbolizing the Emperor, who was viewed as a god at that time, was turquoise. This turquoise Chinese dragon also symbolized the fifth element in the Chinese five elements, the sun, the East, and the West.
Han dynasty aside, it was mostly the yellow Chinese dragon chosen by the Emperors as their symbol. This was particularly the case during the Qing dynasty (from 1644 to 1912 AD). The Qing’s Emperor Yan, in fact, was said to be the offspring of his mother’s telepathic communications with a mystical Chinese dragon (not unlike the first Emperor of China, as you’ll see later), and claimed that the most powerful Chinese dragon was yellow.

Behavior

Chinese dragons are given many powers in Chinese folklore. They are said to control thunder, floods, and rain. Unlike the western dragon, rumored to be evil and dangerous, the Chinese dragon is said to be kind and noble. He symbolizes divinity, goodness, excellence, power, and energy. Dragons are also very smart. They are not to be afraid of but are mainly considered as protectors that keep people from harm. Chinese dragons typically live in heaven or worshiped places.

The Nine Chinese dragons

In addition to dragons of various colors, the Chinese believe in many different types of dragons. Some of the most well known Chinese dragons are the nine dragons.
According to a very popular legend in China, the Chinese dragon King has nine sons. These nine dragon sons all look different and hold various powers.

– 贔屭 Bì xì is the eldest dragon son. 贔屭 is usually depicted as a hybrid between a dragon and a tortoise. Its shell is so strong and large that it can carry heavy objects such as stones. You’ll often find him portrayed in old temples and on tombstones.

The second son of the Dragon King is 狴犴 Bì àn. 狴犴 looks more like a tiger than a dragon. You’ll find him keeping guard in front of jail gates, but also in courts of justice. Its main characteristic is steadiness. You can definitely trust him when it comes to security and justice!

The third dragon son is 螭吻 Chī wěn. 螭吻 looks like a big lizard because it’s a hybrid between a fish and a dragon. 螭吻 likes to swallow evil spirits to keep them away from humans. As such, people used to make 螭吻 statues and place them on their roofs ridgepole to feel protected (mostly on palaces since ordering custom-made statues was an expensive hobby). You may run into 螭吻 if you go by the sea as this dragon is said to live in the ocean.

Then, 蒲牢 Púláo is the fourth son. Nobody really knows what he looks like; some say he’s a dog combined with a dragon. His power is to scream to warn people if a disaster is coming. His loud cries are so noisy that people often represent him on bells’ handles.

As for 囚牛 Qiú niú who is the fifth son of the Dragon King, there is no clear clue on his physical aspect. But still, according to his name 牛 niú cow, he is said to be a hybrid between a cow and a dragon. Others even claim he is a yellow dragon. One thing everyone agrees on is that 囚牛 loves music and plays it very well. So, you’ll often find him depicted on musical instruments.

The sixth son is 饕餮 Tāotiè. He is a hybrid between a wolf and a dragon and is said to be the guardian of wealth and well-being. We also found that he loves food and is very greedy and gluttonous. There’s not much information about him except that you can find him depicted on ritual bronze vessels. Nowadays, 饕餮 is used to describe people who are fond of good food.

The seventh son of the Chinese dragon King is 狻猊 Suānní. Often depicted as a hybrid between a lion and a dragon, his body is covered with flames. He is viewed as the Chinese dragon of wisdom and knowledge. 狻猊 likes to sit cross-legged and spends his days smelling incense calmly. You’ll find him in Buddhist Temples, depicted on incense burners or on the seats.

The eighth son, 睚眦 Yázì, has a leopard head and the body of a dragon. 睚眦 likes to get into fights all the time and enjoys killing. Unsurprisingly, 睚眦 is viewed as the Chinese dragon god of battles and wars. You’ll find him on sword ornaments.

And finally, 蚣蝮 Gōngfù sometimes called 霸下 Bà xià is the dragon god of the water and the Dragon King’s ninth son. He’s half-snake, half-dragon. 蚣蝮 is said to be an excellent swimmer and to live near bridges.

The 9 Dragon often used in Architecture in China

The 9 Chinese dragons are a symbol you’ll often run into in China, and it’s often used in architecture. For instance, you can check the Nine-dragon Wall in Beijing here.

So that you know, not all sources agree on which were the 9 legendary dragons. Sometimes, you’ll find others listed, and you may run into at least 14 different dragons in stories. And depending on the regions of China, different dragons can be depicted in the local folklore.

Now you know what a Chinese dragon looks like, it’s time for you to understand its origins. In ancient China, the beliefs started with the rise of the great dynasties.

The relationship between Chinese people and Chinese dragons

Dragons have always been related to people since Chinese beliefs are firm. Let’s see how they created this magical relationship and why the dragon is such an important cultural symbol in China.

Descendants of Chinese dragons

According to legends and stories, Chinese people used to believe they descend from dragons. Say what? How is it possible? Don’t worry; we’re going to explain.

To understand why the Chinese hold this belief, you need to look at where dragon lore comes from.

Where does the Chinese dragon come from?

Stories state that a long time ago, around ~2500 BC, tribes fought each other to gain more lands in ancient China. The so-called Yellow Emperor Huang Di allied with another tribe leader named Yan Di to gain an edge in the battle. Yan Di was said to be born thanks to his mother’s telepathic communications with a powerful dragon. Ah, the story goes, that powerful dragon helped him through his quests, and thanks to the dragon’s help, both Huang Di and Yang Di defeated their common enemy the 九黎 Jiǔ lí people led by Chiyou during 涿鹿之戰 Zhuō lù zhī zhàn the Battle of Zhuolu. As Huang Di’s and Yan Di’s tribes united, they picked a dragon as the symbol for their newly-formed tribe’s banner.

Since those prehistoric times, many Chinese people have considered themselves Huang Di and Yan Di’s descendants, and therefore, the descendants of dragons. In Chinese, people say 炎黄子孙 yán huáng zǐsūn the descendants of Huang Di and Yan Di. There is also a well-known song in China that deals with 龙的传人 lóng de chuánrén the descendants of the Chinese dragon.

From Tribes to Emperors

As you see, the Chinese dragon symbol can be traced back to Ancient China. As civilization evolved and tribes gave way to dynasties in China, the dragon’s importance grew even more. Starting in the Han Dynasty, emperors started considering themselves as dragons. It all started with Liu Bang, who later on became the First Emperor of the Han Dynasty.

One day, as his mother was dreaming of meeting a divine spirit, the sky darkened, and when Liu’s father came in, he found a dragon lying next to his wife. Following this divine meeting, she became pregnant and gave birth to Liu Bang. Some people said he had a high nose, whiskers, and a strange beard that made them think of a dragon’s head. Liu Bang went on to become the first Emperor of the Han Dynasty.

The following Emperors did everything they could to keep this divine bond with dragons strong. As heirs of Liu Bang, they claimed they were Chinese dragons’ sons too, and that dragon blood was running through their veins.

The Chinese emperor Suite

From then on, everything in the Emperor’s suite was embossed with Chinese dragons: from clothes to furniture. For example, Only the Emperor was allowed to wear a dragon symbol on his clothes. Dragon claws symbolized ranks in society, and the higher-ranked, the more claws you had. Generals and leaders, therefore, could have up to 4 claws. Only the Emperor could wear a dragon with 5 claws, symbolizing the Emperor‘s actual hands. If someone else wore 5 claws and were not the Emperor, they would be killed.

As explained in Part 1, emperors also chose their Dragon’s color to show their power. The color they choose for their dragon became the most important color in society. No one else was allowed to wear that color, or they were punished.

What about nowadays?

Dragons are still a big part of Chinese culture, even if they are now more used as a mascot than a divine prodigy. The dragon has clearly become a symbol of China, recognizable all over the world.

Chinese people respect the dragon culture, and some still believe in its mystical powers. Nowadays, for instance, you’ll find dragon symbols in every Chinese celebration. The Chinese New Year is the best example to give, with parades, households, and public places are all decorated with dragons.

The Chinese dragon Dance is also very appreciated in every celebration since it wishes good luck and brings prosperity to its viewers. Here’s an example of a Chinese dragon dance, complete with a luminous dragon. It’s spectacular!

As you may know, a special festival is also dedicated to the Chinese dragon in China: the Dragon Boat Festival! You can head here to know more about this awesome festival and see how it is celebrated in China.

Zodiac signs

The Chinese dragon is also part of Chinese astrology. The dragon sign is the fifth sign in the Chinese zodiac signs. In China, people love to have a boy born during the dragon year as they say he will be lucky in life.

Persons born during dragon years are said to be ambitious, decisive, and inspiring but if you’re born under the Chinese dragon zodiac sign – just like Bruce Lee – be also careful not to be too confident and arrogant, as dragon signs are also rumored to have those character traits. Take no offense if you’re a dragon; that’s what your zodiac sign is saying, not me! 🙂

The love for dragons anyway

Chinese dragon’s origins are unclear — the dragon being a mythological creature and all — and we have to rely on stories and legends to understand how dragons appeared in Chinese folklore. But those stories definitely help us see how the dragon became an essential symbol in Chinese society and why Chinese people are still really close to the dragon symbol. Who can blame them? Dragons are fascinating, don’t you think?

If you were thinking of getting a Chinese dragon tattoo, we have an even better suggestion for you: become a dragon yourself! How? By joining Ninchanese, a Chinese learning application where you get to level up your dragon as you learn Chinese. And for those who are already learning Chinese on Ninchanese, you’re ready to beat every single boss in Ninchanese by using the Chinese dragon’s powers! You’ll improve so much now you know everything about Lupishu’s origins 🙂

Did you know any of these facts? What surprised you the most? Let us know what you thought about it!

For more dragon pictures, head to Ninchanese Pinterest Collection; you can also add your favorite ones.

Pauline and

The Nincha Team

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The post Chinese Dragon: How It Became Legendary in China appeared first on Ninchanese.

Many people watch Chinese and Taiwanese dramas, but what about Chinese movies? There are plenty of movies out there to make you appreciate the art of making pictures in China. We went through the most recommended (and searched) Chinese movies and selected 5 classic Chinese oldies but goodies that will make you reconsider Chinese movies. All right, let’s introduce to you a few jewels you’ll love to watch!

TOP 1 Chinese movies: Farewell My Concubine (1993)

What, a movie about old China with concubines in the Forbidden City? Been there, done that, right? Don’t lie, I know that’s what you’re thinking! Well, hold your horses.

Directed by Chen Kaige, Farewell My Concubine is a drama that takes place in the mid 20’s. A prostitute has to abandon her son Dieyi, who had no other choice than training to be an actor in the Beijing Opera. There he meets Xiaolou and they become fast friends. However, the best friends’ fate is about to take a new turn when Xialou gets married to a prostitute and Dieyi gets jealous.

Ha! You must be curious by now; why is the movie called Farewell my Concubine if, there’s no Forbidden City, no Emperors, no concubines to speak of and simply people like us discovering love. Guess how it ends? Well, desperate, Dieyi decides to – wait, go and watch the movie if you want to know! I’m no telling and the movie is well worth the watch.

But the trailer of this movie might help you to find out.

TOP 2 Chinese movies: Devils on the Doorstep (2000)

Directed by Jiang Wen and released in 2000, this Chinese comical movie was awarded the Grand-Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. The scene is set in 1945, when a Chinese village is attacked by Japanese assailants. As you can guess, Devil on the Doorstep is a war movie, but its unique humorous take on the horrors of war make it a Chinese movie must-see and our #2 in our list.

Devil on the Doorstep is just as good as watching an old Hogan’s Heroes episode! Just let yourself go and enjoy this moment of comical craziness and terror.

In case you don’t know Hogan’s Heroes here’s a sneak peek of the funniest moments in the TV show : the best of Hogan’s Heroes. Watch also the trailer of Devils on the Doorstep.

TOP 3 Chinese movies: Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon（2000）

Well, there had to be a Chinese kung-fu movie in this shortlist of awesome Chinese movies! Sorry, not sorry!
Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon is a well-known Chinese action movie directed by An Lee. The action takes place during the Qing Dynasty in the late 1770’s, in Beijing. Jade Fox murders Mu Bai’s fighting master; years later they meet again in strange circumstances and Fox’s apprentice Jen, who also happens to be the Governor Yu’s Daughter, has to marry someone she doesn’t love.

Things are going to happen here between Mu Bai and Jen but we won’t exactly tell you what, of course. Suffice to say this movie is a little like a Chinese fighting version of Romeo and Juliet with many more adventures and secrets.
It’s definitely a must-see Chinese movie! Can you figure out who’s the tiger and who’s the dragon?

And if you liked this movie, well, surpriiise: Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon 2 was released last year! Here’s the trailer for your viewing pleasure!

TOP 4 Chinese movies: Spring in a Small Town (1948)

Doesn’t the title remind you of an American well known movie? It makes me think of Gone with the Wind. Can you feel all the drama out there?

Spring in a Small Town is basically the story of a housewife and her husband, struggling to survive in their everyday life. They both live peacefully in a small town, as you may have guessed from the title. Everything changes, however, the day her husband gets sick. Despite her best efforts to make him feel better, everything the housewife tries fails.

Spring come, (now the title fully makes sense, doesn’t it?) and with it comes a stranger, who arrives in the city by train. It turns this stranger is her husband’s childhood classmate. As luck would have it, he is a doctor in Western medicine. He’s also, however the housewife ex-lover. Trouble, trouble ahead or relief relief for the hubby and the housewife?! Watch to see!

If you’re fond of drama and romantic tangles, this Chinese movie is for you! Watch the trailer.

TOP 5 Chinese movies: Raise of the Red Lantern (1991)

Directed by Zhang Yimou, this movie takes place in the 20’s, in Chen’s family. Chen who has already 3 mistresses decides to take Songlian as his fourth one. Quickly Songlian starts getting all his attention and becomes his favorite one which leads to the other concubines getting very angry and jealous at her. After many misfortunes, with secret pregnancies, affairs and betrayals, can you imagine what Songlian’s fate will be? I’m not telling, hehe~

A beautiful movie to watch, full of adventures to enjoy with the delicate Songlian, especially if you want to know why it is dealing with red lanterns!

And to give you a little taste of how awesome this movie is, you can watch the trailer or Raise of the Red Lantern.

Final Words

With this selection of 5 must-see Chinese movies, you have a great list of movies to binge-watch this weekend! Besides, if you want to improve your Chinese, watching these Chinese classics with subtitles on in Chinese is a good way to mix pleasure and active learning!

Another good thing about watching these movies is that you’ll be totally immersed in Chinese culture, shot and depicted by Chinese people themselves!

Now tell us, have you already seen one of these 5 Chinese movies? And what is your favorite Chinese movie? Did it make the list? Should it have?

We’re all ears.

Pauline and

The Nincha Team

Stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

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The post Chinese Movies: 5 Must-See Oldies but Goodies appeared first on Ninchanese.