Dumplins

Dumpling and the Chinese Culture

Originated from the northern part of China, Chinese dumpling, jiaozi (in Mandarin Chinese, 餃子), is one of the most famous Chinese dishes around the world today. It is served year round in most Chinese families, especially during the Chinese New Year. As a tradition, the Chinese families would gather to make jiaozi in the Chinese New Year to signify the value of togetherness , or Tuanyuan ( in Mandarin Chinese, 團圓) .

Different Dumpling

Jiaozi generally consists of minced meat and chopped vegetables wrapped in a piece of dough. Based on personal preferences, choices of meat for stuffing can range from grinded pork, beef, chicken, lamb, shrimp, to fish; and the choices for vegetables may include Chinese cabbage, Chinese lettuce, chives, and tomatoes.

Dumpling is also given different names according to the different methods it is prepared in. Boiled dumpling is called Shuijiao or jiaozi (in Mandarin Chinese, 水餃 or 餃子); steamed dumpling is called zhengjiao (in Mandarin Chinese, 蒸餃); and shallow fried dumpling is called guotie or jianjiao(in Mandarin Chinese, 鍋貼 or 煎餃).

Shuijiao or jiazi is also named Yuanbao (in Mandarin Chinese, 元寶) when served in the Chinese New Year for its resemblance of ancient Chinese money, and additional ingredients like jujube, or even coins, would be added as a mean to attract good luck for an entire year.

Dipping

Chinese cuisine is famous for its use of sauce, and so is to its dipping for dumplings. Hence, Chinese would use specific dipping to go with dumplings cooked in different ways.
For instance, the authentic dipping for Sjuijiao or jiaozi (in Mandarin Chinese, 水餃 or 餃子) should include soy sauce, vinegar and sesame oil. As for Zhengjia or Guotie (in Mandarin Chinese, 煎餃or鍋貼), the appropriate dipping should be a combination of Zhenjiang vinegar (in Mandarin Chinese, 鎮江醋) and diced ginger.

Dumpling and the Chinese Language

Chinese culture is recognized as a culture of chow. As such, there are many sayings and proverbs derived from their cuisine.

For example, ”the skin of a dumpling is torn” is a commonly used phrase which means secrets are revealed.

Usually, the stuffing of a dumpling is well wrapped in a piece of dough like a well kept secret. When the dough is torn, the stuffing would therefore be exposed just as if the cover for a secret is unraveled.

Isn’t this an interesting and vivid symbolism?

Chinese New Year

Generally referred to as “Chūn Jié” (春節), meaning “spring festival” in Mandarin Chinese, Lunar New Year is the most festive and lavish gala among Chinese traditional holidays.

While most assume that Lunar New Year commences on the big feast of New Year’s Eve, the earliest activities for Lunar New Year actually begins on the 23rd or 24th day of December on Lunar calendar, and the celebration would usually continue until the 15th of January.

Following is a list of activities and celebrations held over the Lunar New Year:

December 23rd or 24th – On this day, people would make offerings to the god of kitchen, or “Zào Shén” (灶神) in Mandarin Chinese, before he returns to heaven for an annual report to the Jade Emperor. This ceremony is known as “Jì Zào” (祭灶). Some may refer to this day as “Xiǎo Nián” (小年), meaning “pre new year” in Mandarin Chinese. In addition to “Jì Zào”, people would also pay tributes to their ancestors, which is a ceremony called “Jì Zǔ” (祭祖).

December 24th to December 31st – House cleaning period, or “Dà Sǎo Chú” (大掃除) in Mandarin Chinese. Since it is considered bad luck by the Chinese to cleanup in the beginning of a year, people generally start their house cleaning after “Xiǎo Nián” so they can be ready to welcome a new year.

December 31st – The most enjoyable night in the Lunar New Year celebrations, which is known as “Chú Xì” (除夕). On this night, families would gather to enjoy a big feast called “Nián Yè Fàn” (年夜飯). Elders would distribute red envelopes known as “Hóng Bāo” (紅包) to youngsters as a wish of good luck. Most importantly, they would stay up until past mid-night, welcoming the arrival of a new year together. This tradition is called “Shǒu Suì” (守歲).

January 1st – “Nián Chū Yī” (年初一), meaning the first day of a new year. On this day, people would dress up to greet their elders, families and friends, wishing them a happy new year. The traditional dragon and lion’s dance would usually be performed on this day. Many would also hold the ceremony of “Jì Zǔ” (祭祖), making offerings to their ancestors.

January 2nd – “Nián Chū Èr” (年初二), the second day of a new year, is also known as the day of “Guēi Níng” (歸寧). This is the day for married daughters to return homes of their parents’. In the Chinese traditions, newly wedded couples would usually make the trip together.

January 3rd – “Nián Chū Sān” (年初三) is believed to be the day that mice usher in their brides. In the old days, people would go to bed early on this day, turning off all lights so the mice can hold their weddings.

January 4th – “Nián Chū Sì” (年初四), also known as the day of “Jiē Shén” (接神), is more of a calming and quiet day. This is the day when people welcome back the deities who traveled to heaven for an annual report to the Jade Emperor. Offerings are usually made as greetings to these deities.

January 5th – “Nián Chū Wǔ” (年初五) is referred to as the day of “Kāi Shì” (開市), meaning “opening markets” in Mandarin Chinese. On this day, people would go back to work, and business would be reopened. Firecrackers would be set off as a mean to boost good luck for business. From this day onwards, people would return to their everyday lives.

January 9th – This is believed to be the birthday of the Jade Emperor, or “Yù Huáng Dà Dì” (玉皇大帝). The Chinese generally refer to this day as “Tiān Gōng Shēng” (天公生). Ceremonies would be held and offerings would be made to celebrate the birthday of this monarch of heaven.

January 15th – The day of the lantern festival, also known as “Yuán Xiāo Jié” (元宵節) or “Shàng Yuán Jié” (上元節), usually marks the end of the Luna New Year celebration. On this day, people would hang lanterns and eat rice balls. Some refer to this day as “Xiǎo Gùo Nián” (小過年), meaning minor new year in Mandarin Chinese.

Chinese characters and its six principles of character formation

The origins of Chinese Characters

Chinese character is a form of pictogram. Its origin was first discovered on turtle-shells and bones of livestock. According to the research, most of the civilization had gone through this pictograph period when ancient people transmitted their ideas by drawing. As time goes by, the development of these civilization has transformed their writing from pictogram into phonetic letters.

However, among these ancient civilization, only the Chinese based their character development on hieroglyph and other six principles of character formation. These six principles of character formation are:

pictograms (in Mandarin Chinese, 象形 xiàngxíng )
simple indicatives (in Mandarin Chinese, 指事 zhǐshì)
compound indicatives (in Mandarin Chinese會意 huìyì)
phono-semantic compounds (in Mandarin Chinese 形聲 xíngshēng)
borrowed characters (in Mandarin Chinese 假借 jiǎjiè)
derived characters ( in Mandarin Chinese 轉注 zhuǎnzhù).

Although the Chinese character has gone through several transformation, it was still able to maintain its pictographic forms, pronunciation and meanings.

Pò Jìng Chóng Yuán (破鏡重圓 / 破镜重圆)

Meaning: A broken mirror is reunited
Usage: Mostly used as an adjective to describe a separated couple being reunited.

In the Era of Southern and Northern Dynasties (魏晉南北朝 / 魏晋南北朝 A.D. 420-588), there was a small and frail kingdom named Chén (陳國 / 陈国)in the southern part of China. In this kingdom was a beautiful princess who was happily married to a scholar named Xú Dé Yán (徐德言).

Foreseeing the annihilation of their kingdom, Xú Dé Yán (徐德言) said to his wife: We might be separated in the chaos once our country is eradicated, so let’s find something to keep as a token of our love. If we are lucky enough to survive the turmoil, we may use this token to find each other.

Xú Dé Yán (徐德言) and the princess then broke a copper mirror into two pieces and each person took a piece. The princess promised to send her half of the mirror to the market for sale on the 15th of January after the eradication so her husband can find her if they were ever parted.

This loving couple was finally separated in the war, and the princess was taken by a powerful warlord for her beauty and talents. On the 15th of January, Xú Dé Yán (徐德言) wondered to the market, trying to find his wife. Instead, he found a servant-looking old man selling a half copper mirror. Xú Dé Yán (徐德言) therefore invited this old man home and gave him the other half of the mirror with a poem written in the back.

The old servant brought the two pieces of mirror back to the princess, and the princess became so sad that she could not stop crying. Her cry finally startled the warlord. Yet, rather than being enraged or jealous, the warlord was actually quite moved after hearing the story of this devoted couple, so he released the princess and allowed her to reunite with her husband.

Nán Kē Yī Mèng (南柯一夢 / 南柯一梦)

Meaning: A dream of the Nán Kē County (南柯郡)
Usage: Mostly used as an adjective to describe a situation or event as an illusion or dream.

Once upon a time, there was a man named Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) who enjoyed drinking very much. One day, he over drank at a party and fell asleep under a pagoda tree, or Huái Shù (槐樹) in Mandarin Chinese. While he was sleeping, he heard someone calling his name, so he woke up and found two men standing by him.

These men alleged themselves to be representatives from Huái Ān kingdom (槐安國 / 国) in search of scholars and wise men to serve as officials for their king. Although Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) never heard of this kingdom, he decided to take the chance and followed these men to their country.

Once arrived, Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) took the imperial exam and came out first place, so the king of Huái Ān (槐安國王 / 国王) appointed him the governor of Nán Kē County (南柯郡)in the kingdom. The king even ordered a marriage between Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) and the princess. So Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) settled down in the kingdom for a successful and happy life as the Nán Kē governor (南柯郡守).

Not long after, however, the kingdom was invaded by an army from another country, and no one in the Huái Ān kingdom (槐安國 / 国) could defeat them. The king then thought of Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) and appointed him as the general to expel the intruders.

As a scholar, Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) knew nothing of fighting wars. After several lost battles, the king became furious with Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) and ordered an ouster upon him.

At the gate of the imperial court, Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) was so depressed that he bellowed an angry cry, and at this moment, he found himself back under the pagoda tree, or Huái Shù (槐樹), still bearing a hangover from too much drinks.

Chún Yú Fēn (淳于棼) realized that everything about him being the governor of Nán Kē (南柯郡守) in the Huái Ān kingdom (槐安國 / 国) was only a dream. Nonetheless, he started to see fame and fortune as a delusion ever since.

Yì Míng Jīng Rén ( 一鳴驚人 / 一鸣惊人)

Meaning: To amaze the world with a single brilliant sing as a bird does.
Usage: Mostly used as an adjective to praise someone’s performance as outstanding.

In the Spring and Autumn Period (春秋時代 / 春秋时代 770-476 B.C.), there was a king who enjoyed guessing riddles so much that he completely neglected his responsibilities for three years. Many of his liegemen tried to dissuade him from such laxity but were all ordered death by the king, and no one knew what to do with the situation. Finally, a liegeman named Chún Yú Kūn (淳于髡) came up with a plausible solution, which was to employ riddles as a mean to exhort the king.

One day, Chún Yú Kūn (淳于髡) said to the king: My lord, there is a special bird in our imperial court that has not been flying nor singing for three long years. Can you guess what kind of bird this is?

Recognizing the intention of Chún Yú Kūn (淳于髡), the king answered: Once flies, this bird will fly high into the sky; and once sings, it will amaze and startle everyone.

After this conversation, the king resumed to his duties and brought his kingdom back to prosperity and strength.

About Classical Chinese Idiom (成語 / 成语)

Classical Chinese Idiom, or “Chéng Yǔ” (成語), is an important element in the Chinese language. Although many idioms can only be seen in classical Chinese literature today, some of them are still widely used in both speaking and writing of modern Chinese language, and most Chinese people are quite familiar with the stories behind these phrases.

Usually consisted of 4 words or characters, classical Chinese idioms are mostly derived from historical events or traditional folklores. The grammar and sentence structure of the idioms are somewhat different from that of modern Chinese language, and the use of words are more concise.