Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái

Singapore's Buddha Tooth-Relic Temple

The Chinese Lunar Calendar is more that two thousand five hundred years older than our Roman Calendar. It never begins on January 1st, nor does it begin on the same date each year. It can begin any time between January 21st and February 18th, depending on the date of the New Moon in Aquarius. Each year is named for an animal and every twelve years this cycle begins again. The Chinese say that the animal ruling the year you were born will influence your life. In 2012, Chinese New Year begins January 23rd and will be the year of the Dragon. As the Dragon is the only mythical animal amongst the twelve, many believe that this will be a grand and magnificent year for everyone.

Here are some photos from my travels with Chinese influences on it. I have included some well-known Chinese Proverbs to go with them. Again, Happy New Year to everyone.

Baguio City's Bell Church

"Walking ten thousand miles of the world is better than reading ten thousand scrolls."

读(dú)万(wàn)卷(juàn)书(shū)不(bù)如(rú)行(xíng)万(wàn)里(lǐ)路(lù)。

Thailand's Ayutthaya Temple

A candle illuminates others and exterminates itself.

蜡(là)烛(zhú)照(zhào)亮(liàng)别(bié)人(rén)毁(huǐ)灭(miè)了(le)自(zì)己(jǐ)。

Cebu City's Taoist Temple

New things are good; old friends are intimate.

东(dōng)西(xī)是(shì)新(xīn)的(de)好(hǎo)，朋(péng)友(yǒu)是(shì)老(lǎo)的(de)亲(qīn).

Binondo Chinese Temple

Adversity produces human ability, not necessarily wealth.

逆(nì)境(jìng)出(chū)人(rén)才(cái)。

Macau's Prayer Shrine

Reading enriches a man; conversation makes a man shrewd.

读(dú)书(shū)使(shǐ)人(rén)充(chōng)实(shí)，交(jiāo)谈(tán)使(shǐ)人(rén)精(jīng)明(míng)。

Sources: Apples For The Teacher and China Highlights.