My China Musings

This blog is my thoughts on many things and about my adventures of living and traveling in China.

Learning Taiji Chuan

Learning Tai Chi (Taiji Chuan)  in China should be very easy. After all, China is the birthplace of martial arts. Many foreigners try to find a tai chi school upon arriving only to be disappointed. He or she soon learns to go to  the nearest public park or open space and join in with a group of players. Tai Chi is learned by following a group until he or she knows the moves. More experienced players will show the new person how to do the harder moves. Many forms are done from start to finish in the course of two hours. Some of the harder forms such as Chen style or weapons Tai Chi are not always taught. Push hands, sparring aspect of Tai Chi, is very rarely seen.  

Most new comers don't realize that Tai Chi was originally used for self defense. Some of the forms clearly show  defense, such as the sword. Using fans in  Tai Chi came about because swords were not allowed near the emperor.  Sharpened bamboo is as deadly as a knife. Fans made of bamboo were beautiful, useful and dangerous. The graceful form belies the fact that fans can kill.

Listen to your body, quiet the mind, and move softly are just a few important points. Tai Chi is considered to be an internal martial art  meaning  that all the energy and power are channeled inward. Meditation is a big part of this practice.  Standing meditation is a standard procedure in the west.  Most Chinese players just stretch out a little and begin moving.  Along with meditation, breath is very important. Breathing is given some importance in China.  Western schools are much more disciplined than the groups in the parks.  Students wear some sort of Tai Chi uniform in formal schools while in the park you see everything from sweat pants and t-shirts to formal tai chi dress. Most western students do not carry on much conversation with fellow learners. However, in China, some people just show up for social hour and throw in a few moves just for the fun of it.   

My advice to you if you want to learn Tai Chi in China, is show up. Learn from the players in the park. The main thing is to start moving. You can learn the finer points on your own. Sometimes when you show the other players you are serious, someone comes along that can help you with things not openly taught in the park. I learned Tai Chi in the U. S. before coming here. I go to the park and practice. It is fun just to be there and see all the players. Join me soon. Till next time. 

 

posted by: CarolenChina at 23:04 | link | comments (6) |
china, tai chi, living in china

Lion Dance Celebration

Drumbeats on the air signaled that lion dancers were somewhere close. Eight o'clock in the morning seemed a bit early for performing, must be practice. Another drumbeat joined in, it had to be practice. Getting closer to the source, a cymbal clash could be heard and cadence was definitely lion dance. Walking through an inflatable arch announcing celebration, we were greeted by magical colors everywhere. Reds, blacks, greens and yellows were swirling around with gold and silver mixing in.  Mythical lion heads were lined up on the side walk looking fierce but helpless. Young men were flipping and leaping to the rhythm of the drums. Banners were being carried along side dipping and coiling dragons. Yes, practice. Time for the grand entrance. Lions happily trotted into the stadium. Young people in colorful martial art uniforms marched in behind the dragon dancers. Old men in tai chi dress and not so old men in kung fu attire followed. Excitement builds only to be dashed by many dull speakers. Let the show begin! Finally the men quit speaking and the drums start sounding. An apparatus has been moved to the center of the floor. It consists of many poles and taut wires. A magical creature trots to the center of the floor and moves around the strange thing in the middle of its path, every step in unison with the drum's cadence. Eyes blink, head sways, looking up and down at the tree like poles as if sizing up the enemy.  Cymbals crash, the creature rears up on its hind legs. A loud beat,  another clash, and the head dips, the front foot paws the floor. Clash again and the lion leaps on top of the closest poles. Balancing, the animal leaps from pole to pole. Now and then cymbals sound and the lion rears. He dances back and forth, occasionally walking on wires. Leaping to the end poles, front feet paw the air. Bending over to check out the distance to the ground, clash again and the beast rears up. He makes a huge leap, audience gasps as it seems the lion over shot the end. Another big beat and cymbal crash and the lion makes a graceful jump to the ground, hitting the floor with the sound a gong. The lion dances around the poles proudly, as if to announce his victory over an fallen foe. Another gong and cymbal sound is heard, another rear to paw the air. Proudly trotting away to drumbeats, the lion leaves the floor. 

In Guangdong, China,  lion dancing is considered a traditional art form used in celebrations.  Steps are carefully choreographed. Drums, cymbals and gongs the only music. Practiced much the same way as martial arts, the young performers learn to leap from pole to pole with grace and drama.  Extraordinary balance is required. Strength is a requirement as there are times when the young man in the tail of the costume must hold the head boy in the rearing position while dancing or leaping.  The head of the lion is not heavy, it is quite bulky. Head dancers must learn to sway, trot, and blink eyelashes at the same time. Watching them dance, one forgets just how much those boys must practice. If they show up in your neighborhood, be sure and watch them. Till next time.

posted by: CarolenChina at 13:15 | link | comments (3) |
china, living in china, guangzhou, guangdong

Streets

Guangzhou has many interesting street markets, hutongs and the like. For those of you who do not know, hutongs are neighborhoods that are connected by narrow passageways. Hutong comes from the Mongolian word for well. Indeed, back in the olden days, hutongs were built around wells.  I have a friend that lives in the area of Guangzhou made up of these magical passages.  He took me on a tour through them. You can go for long ways maybe miles and never see a car.  They are far to narrow for cars, so one doesnt have to dodge traffic.  Bicycles still reek havoc, but no cars.  Guangzhou street markets come in every size, from a few vegetable/fruit sellers tucked in corners to huge, huge markets selling most anything. For instance, there is a big, big, past big actually on the way to enormous cloth market. It is mostly outdoor. It takes in an area bigger than any mega store in the states.  Tea has its own market, bigger than the cloth market. One building alone took up at least 4 city blocks and there must be 3 or 4 building plus a couple of streets. Tea of every kind grown along with the paraphenalia  such as baskets and fine china cups are available. Some teas sell there for more than $1500 per pound, yes, I said $1500 per pound.  No, I havent bought any, my beverage is much cheaper.  There is a market for selling  jade in all stages from the stone to the elaborate carvings.  Goldfish and tropical fish have their own street. You can get the fish, aquariums, plants or whatever for your underwater garden. If you want a dog or cat, go to the street that has just dogs or cats. And these dogs are not for eating, just petting. Traditional Chinese medicine components have an mega store. Sea horses, ginseng, plants beyond description are available, along with ground antler, bear paws and who knows what else.  Antiques and figurines were on a street together. Another interesting street sold just guts from slaughtered animals. You may want to avoid that street if you havent had lunch.  Want a pirated cd or dvd, they are available everywhere. Ready made clothing has two or three streets, maybe more where you can get copies of designer clothes or cheap t-shirts.  Even the world's oldest profession has a few streets just for the world's oldest profession.  They come complete with signs that read SEX.  That about takes in all the streets and markets that I have run across. Given time I am sure I will find more or different specialities.  Till next time.

posted by: CarolenChina at 11:10 | link | comments (2) |
china, living in china, guangzhou

My wallet didn't make it home with me on Tuesday morning. You would think that losing it would just be a glitch in the day. Instead it was a major event.  My passport was in my wallet. Chinese authorities are checking foreigners for expired visas. I didnt want to be among the 6000 plus being fined so I was carrying mine to prove that I am legal. When I realized that my passport was missing, I panicked. My passport had been stolen in Wuhan a couple of years ago and was an expensive undertaking to get a new one. Dread of dealing with the US Embassy was seeping into my thinking. Treatment of US citizens by embassy personnel is not what one would call polite or even respectful. Condescending might fit. Anyway, the first step in getting a new passport is a visit to the local police station. Fill out the appropriate forms, should only take15 minutes max....not! Two and one half hours later my Chinese translator and I walked out. Next, call the Consulate office to make sure every document was present and accounted for. Results were, one piece was missing. Now a trip to the Public Safety Bureau's main office on the other side of the city was needed to get a copy of the report that was filed at the local station. No, the local station could not give that to me. It was after 11 and China shuts down at lunch time. Nothing could be accomplished from 12 noon to 2:30 p.m.  We arrived at main office right at 2:30 and took a number. At ten minutes to 4, my number was called and I finally had police report in hand twenty minutes later. Time had ran out to make to the Consulate. It closes at 4:30 p. m. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise. As I was leaving to go to the Consulate the next morning, I received a phone call from the Foreign Affairs Office at the school. My wallet had been found by the taxi driver and he was bringing to the back gate of the school. You have no idea at the relief that flooded through my body. My knees went weak. Taxi drivers are  known as rip off artists around here. This driver turned out to be an exception. Finding my wallet was a small miracle. It was between the seat and the door. Anyone climbing into or out of the car could have seen it. Everything was still in my wallet, the money, the passport, bank, and subway card. Two miracles happened in one day. I gave the driver the money that was still there. This is one of those times I wish I had the language to tell him exactly how grateful I felt. My Chinese speaking ability is not up to that level. I had Zhao Hai call him and tell him for me, just how thankful I was for his time and caring. I wish I could say this saga ended there, but wait. I had to go back to the same police stations and file a found report. Only about an hour in the first office and a little over an hour in the main office were needed to close this out.  Now, I no longer carry my passport. Instead I have copies of it and my current visa in my wallet. And I am being much more careful where I put my wallet, making sure it is inside the bag or pocket. This adventure has a good ending and I know I am very lucky.  

Till next time.

posted by: CarolenChina at 22:49 | link | comments (1) |
china, living in china

Life is better....

Life in Panyu just got better. Crisp mornings and autumn smelling air are making things much better than life in the hot summer. Humidity has dropped, considerably. Oh yes, life is much better.  Going out to do tai chi is a joy.  Mornings are so cool that I am back to wearing  tai chi dress...with high collar and long sleeves. Would not  have considered wearing it a couple weeks ago.   Zhao Hai and I join others in a huge stadium early in the mornings and do tai chi. Lots of players are there doing various forms of exercise. Some of the people do various forms of tai chi. A couple of groups do traditional dances, one group does yoga and of course, walkers and runners. 

Shiqiao is the area of Panyu where we have an apartment.  Being an older part, Shiqiao doesnt have the newer and taller buildings. If I were to fault China's builders for anything, it would be that they like to make all the newer buildings look alike. At least this area has personality. Hotels and banks are the biggest buildings around here.

Guangzhou is like any other big city anywhere with lots of people, tall buildings and traffic. This city could pass for Los Angeles or Phoenix except for the Chinese characters on the buildings. People here are like big city people everywhere always on the go and very busy. Life in Shiqiao is a little more laid back and not so intense. Guangzhou does have a good subway system and buses go everywhere making it easy to get around. Panyu will soon be linked to Guangzhou by subway. For now, it is an hour bus ride away.

I am teaching at a college that trains flight attendants and airline employees. Students come from all over China to this school. Most of them are 17 and 18 years old. Most do not want to be here and teaching them has been a stretch of my so called talents. I have one class that is a pure joy to teach... and one class that is hell to teach and one in the middle. Doubtful that I will be here more than this school year.

 I spend 4 days in the city and then come to Shiqiao for the weekends and the quiet.   Twenty minutes away by bus is a very beautiful park. It comes complete with a couple of small lakes, lots of walking paths and flowers. Black swans grace one of the lakes. Have you ever seen a black swan?  I am very fascinated by them. I guess that is because all I had ever seen before was white ones. Black swans are inky black and shiny, with greenish yellow eyes. They look almost mythical.

Haven't gone anywhere exciting so cannot tell you about anything new. Next time I will take you on some explorations of  Guangzhou. Check back in a couple of days, I will try to put some pictures that Zhao Hai took of Shiqiao on this blog site. I am new to blogging and  I am just learning how to use it. So be patient.  

Till next time.

posted by: CarolenChina at 16:44 | link | comments |

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