Introducing...
Chinese Characters
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For the first time visitor to China, the Chinese characters can appear baffling and confusing. On closer look, however, it is possible to recognise the patterns within them, and it is interesting to look behind the layers of meaning.
We'll start with the easy ones first: 一，二，三. Obviously, these represent 1, 2, and 3. Other characters are also pictographs, for example 雨 (yu) for rain, or 山 (shan) for mountain.
人 (ren) is a very simple representation of a person. How do we show how big that fish we caught is? We hold our arms out like this 大 (da), so this means "big". Something even bigger would be the sky over our heads, so here is sky 天 (tian).
Some characters are composites of two or more separate characters. For example, the character for man, 男 (nan), combines the character for "field" at the top, with the character for "strength" at the bottom. The character for woman, 女
(nü), is said to look like a woman sitting at her loom. We see this character as part of the character for peace, 安 (an), which shows one woman under a roof - maybe a comment on a time when it was common for wealthy men to keep concubines? Interestingly, we can also see a woman in the character for wicked - 奸 (jian).
The characters that make up the Chinese word for China also provide an insight into Chinese culture. 中国 (zhong guo) literally means "Middle Kingdom", the first character is obviously "middle", while the second is also a composite. 王 (wang) represents the emperor. If you add a dot it becomes 玉 (yu), which represents jade. Jade has long had significance in China - Confucius said that the eleven virtues are all contained in the precious stone, and it is thought to have mystical properties, and as such is worn to ward off bad luck and promote a prosperous life. In ancient China it was even thought to contain the elixir of eternal youth. The whole character is then enclosed in a square to denote it's a kingdom or country.
We hope to welcome you to China in 2014, and have put together a programme of tours that will cater to any photographic interest. Visit our website here for further inspiration.
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Lying south of Siberia in north-east China, Harbin is the natural home to the largest ice festival in the world. Every January the city hosts a winter extravaganza that attracts ice sculptors from all over the world as they attempt to outdo each other with sculptures extraordinary in scope and design. Cultural landmarks, scenes from European folktales and Chinese classical works, and much more are all recreated from ice sourced from the Songhua river that flows through the city. De-ionised water is also used to make ice blocks that are as transparent as glass for a different artistic effect. For the young (and young at heart!) there are ice slides and playgrounds to explore. By day the sculptures provide an awesome sight, but when night-time comes is when the city really lights up - literally. LED lighting within the scuptures provides a stunning array of colours, transforming the city into a magical wonderland. Ice sculptures aren't the only draw at the festival, and a host of ice and snow related activities are on hand for those daring to brave the -40C degree weather. Ice skating and sledding are obvious activities to enjoy, while ice swimming is recommended as a spectator sport only. The pageantry of the festival is also attractive to couples wishing to tie the knot, so it is not uncommon to see wedding parties making use of the picturesque views for their wedding photos. Besides the Ice Festival, Harbin is an interesting place to visit for its history and cultural influences. Originally founded in 1898 during the building of the Trans-Manchurian Railway (now the Chinese Eastern Railway), Harbin flourished as a centre for trade, and Russian influences prevail today, evident in the city's architecure and cuisine. January 2014 is your chance to experience the festival, and all of the photographic opportunities available, for yourself. We have put together an Explorer style tour to put you in the right places at the right times to capture the carnival. As an added bonus, you will also visit the Great Wall - stunning any time of the year, but providing particulary interesting vistas in the winter light. Visit us here for more details. |
Focus on...Customs
The Tibetan Sky Burial
The sky burial is one of the more mysterious customs of Tibet, and very few outsiders have witnessed one (or would want to). The Tibetan word for the ritual is "bya gtor" which means "alms for the birds", and is an apt description of the ritual. When a person dies, their body will be left for three days and monks will pray and chant over the deceased to guide the soul. The body will then be cleaned and wrapped in a white cloth to be transported to the burial ground, typically located near a monastary or sacred mountain. Incense is lit to summon the vultures, known as Dakini, meaning "sky dancer". It is their job to take the soul of the deceased to heaven. Next it is time for the body breakers, who will dismember the body, allowing the vultures to feast. For the Tibetan people, a person's physical body is merely a vessel for the soul, and a sky burial is considered a virtuous act as by providing food for the vultures the lives of smaller animals will be saved. Finally, the remaining bone and gristle will be ground up, mixed with barley, and fed to the crows and hawks. Although of practical necessity in a land where fuel for funerary fires is scarce and the earth too hard to dig, the sky burial provides a reminder of the impermanence of life, and is a last act of generosity and compassion a person can make - both important values in Buddhist philosophy. This January you have the opportunity to join our Guest Artist Clyde Heppner and discover more about the culture and customs of Tibet. Visit us here for more details.
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Seen around India...
Last month we introduced you to the yak of Tibet, now it is the turn of the cow - sacred to the Hindus of India. The cow has been associated with various deities - Krishna (pictured above) was a cowherd, and the bull is depicted as the vehicle of Shiva, while Indra is associated with a wish-granting cow. The cow is also symbolic of the Mother Goddess and revered for the life-giving products they provide - milk, curds, ghee, butter, urine, and dung. Milk provides nourishment for the family, while dried dung is used as a source of fuel. These products are also used for worship and rites of extreme penance, and drinking cow urine is thought to bring good fortune.
From ancient times, cows were a symbol of wealth, and was considered the appropriate gift for the high-caste priests, the Brahmans. Although the sanctity of all life is respected in Hindu culture, it became particularly taboo to kill a cow as it was considered tantamount to killing a Brahman.
These days it is illegal in many Indian states to kill a cow, and in India's increasingly crowded towns and cities free roaming cattle are causing problems. They pose a traffic hazard and spread rubbish while grazing through the trash piles, which in Delhi has led to an interesting solution. City officials there have enlisted the help of "cowboys", whose job it is to round up the wandering cows and transport them to areas outside the city where they can live safely, though results have been mixed, with some cows returning to their home turf in days.
If you'd like to take a closer look at these holy cows, you can join our Guest Artist Nick Rains who will help you to explore and capture the delights of Jodhpur, see here for details.
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