The willow in the Confucian garden represents a soft form of strength. While its branches are flowy and its leaves sway in the wind like long locks of hair, it is a symbol of resilience and bending flexibility. Just as …
Do you know another symbol of resilience in the Chinese garden? Part 2 of 3
Pines are very meaningful in Japanese and Chinese gardens, or the Confucian garden. (Check last blog for the definition of the Confucian garden.) Commonly interpreted as a sign of longevity, the Asian pine represents not only a triumphant energy over …
Do you know the symbols of resilience in the Chinese Garden? Part I of 3
The Chinese Garden and the Japanese Garden can sometimes be grouped together as the Confucian garden. There are precise elements of beauty defined by Confucian philosophy that are striking and simple to observe. For example, it must show the balance …
Does Confucius Institute teach Confucius philosophy?
Confucius philosophy has been used rather effectively by several dynasties for the benefit of many Chinese governments that have come and went in Chinese history. It is not a new idea. Similarly, Confucius teachings have been massaged to represent selective …
See you on Zoom…
Zoom was founded by Chinese-born engineer Eric S. Yuan in 2011. Zoom has proven to be incredibly robust as we transitioned quickly to communicate on this platform. According to The New Yorker article, Naomi Fry’s “Almost There: Embracing the chaotic …
When this is all over, I will….
In the US, we have already spent many church services without the exchange of peace, an Easter without a huggable Easter Bunny, and Passover without touching. What will social interactions look like when this is all over? In a low …
How Covid19 Changes Chinese Memorial Day…
Tomb Sweeping Day in China, or 清明节(Qing Ming Festival) fell on April 4th this year. To reduce crowds, the Chinese government has pushed for virtual grave-visiting options. This practical change goes against the culture of annual Tomb Sweeping trips and …
Do You Wear a Face Mask Regularly?
Efficacy of face masks is heavily debated on social media as a preventive measure. South China Morning Post article “Face masks and coronavirus: how culture affects your decision to wear one”, asserts “whatever the opinions on efficacy, experts say cultural …
Which country has scored the best in grappling with Covid19?
Which East Asian country would you guess? Korea? Japan? Of many of China’s neighbors, Taiwan has the fewest cases per capita of 23 million. As of March 10th, Taiwan has only 50 cases for an island just 81 miles off …
Reduced face to face meetings means increased videoconferencing
Businesses rely on meetings and keeping up of relationships. With so many trade shows canceling all over the world across industries, videoconferencing are increasing. Body language speaks even louder via video than in person. People recall negative details from a …