So, all the Chinese dumped on this pathetic 'humungous rock' believes that the coming few days marks the beginning of New Year according to ‘Xia’ calendar, celebrating the beginning of Spring .
Well, I guess the Chinese scholars had a strong reason to mark this day because in ancient China, (around 500 BC), spring is something they would wait especially the mountain dwellers of Hainan and the Five Sacred Mountains.
It would be a time for them to come down and celebrate the first sunray, needed for agriculture civilisations such as ancient China.
It amazes me just to imagine, of an era where hundreds of powerful Chinese clans lived harmoniously, sworn loyalty to one reigning emperor. Of course, this can only be achieved when the Emperor himself is a man worth of such respect.
Chinese traditional calendar is one unique piece, its know as ‘lunasonic’ calendar, means the calendar not only shows the movements of the moon like all other civilisation’s traditional calendar, but it also tracks the movement of the sun.
That simply means the year is calculated as time frame between spring solstice or in this case, Chinese adapted the time frame from between two winter solstice to another (another method to record spring solstice).
Thus, by having all these distinct and arguably one of the most perfectly recorded civilisations this world ever saw, why then my Chinese friends don’t even know how to appreciate his roots?
Not being biased, but unfortunately my Indian and Malay friends have the same tendency to ‘throw’ away their root and grasp the western culture of secular livinghood.
Spring Solstice has been my second most admired time of the year, first of course the beginning of Winter Solstice (third week of June every year).
Easters and Asian culture worship Spring solstice as this would be the time their crops will be bountiful.
While Western, with originating roots from Normandic and fabled Vikings, they worship beginning of Winter Solstice since being a maritime based civilisation, they celebrate and thank the ‘Gods of the Sea’ – Odin/Poseidon etc for bringing back food and their men home safely.
Lucky Japanese, they have reason to celebrate both spring and winter solstice!
What does it means to me then, to celebrate a mythological celebration on an ‘auspicious’ day for Mother Nature?
How do I take advantage of these celebrations for my personal growth? Isn’t that the real meaning of these celebrations in the first place?
‘It is a pickle, no doubt about it!’
One thing certain, I believe everyday is special and I shall live holding to that belief since, not one day of my life will ever be repeated, ever.
Earth repeats its cycle every ‘year’ but we humans can’t, that’s the biggest drawback living in this Cursed Earth!
Nihil sin nefas.
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