Dr. Chau has enjoyed Mandarin discussions of each chapter of ECCLESIASTES.
In Mandarin the name of ECCLESIASTES is CHUAN DAO SHU, or DELIVERY OF THE
WORD BOOK. Solomon, the author, reigned from 930-931 BC. He wrote this
book centuries before Confucius was born.
Sept. 19, 2017
CHINESE POEM LEARNED BY GENERATIONS OF CHINESE
FIRST GRADERS
Autumn season is coming;
One group of big geese is flying south:
One moment they formed the "ren" character ("man"),
One moment they formed the "yee" character ("one").
"TO EVERY THING THERE IS A SEASON..." Ecclesiastes 3:1
Jan. 22, 2018
RED AND WHITE CHRISTMAS DESSERTS
None of Vancouver, Washington's Asian food stores sell water chestnut flour.
Lily's, a small Portland store east of I-205, sells it, a key ingredient for a Chinese
gelatin-like dessert. Add pomegranate juice and serve it in white dishes for
a Christmas touch.
Some Chinese children have never tasted a popular U.S. Christmas dessert:
peppermint candy canes. The cane shapes symbolize the canes of the shepherds
who received the angelic announcement of Jesus' birth. The red color symbolizes
Jesus' death on the cross. The white color symbolizes Jesus' purity.
July 11, 2018
SUMMER FOODS
The Chinese words for corn on the cob are "jade rice." Hami is a sweet
melon whose name means "sweet." Watermelons are popular; children may
press them with their fingers to make juice. Honeydew is a delicious bubble
tea flavor.
RODODENDRON AND CUCKOOS
The Chinese words for the rododendron flower and cuckoo bird are the same.
They both live in the same region of China. Chinese think the words
sound like the Chinese words meaning "sow seeds." They also think the cuckoo
call sounds like the words "Go home." A Chinese poem says when a person
cannot return home, he does not want the cuckoo to call those words to him.
May 4, 2020