The Jade Chinese Zodiac Bracelet

From left to right: Snake, Dog, Tiger, Rooster, Dragon, Ox, Monkey

Clockwise: Rabbit, Sheep (goat or ram), Rat, Pig, Horse

Hello, friends! I would like to feature the interesting and well-known stories behind the Chinese Zodiac and how each year is named after the twelve animals. All the animals are featured in a jade bracelet.

 The 12 Zodiac animal signs (生肖 shengxiao) are, in order, the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep (ram or goat), monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. There are many legends to explain the beginning of the zodiac. One of the most popular reads, in summarized form, as follows:

The rat was given the task of inviting the animals to report to the Jade Emperor for a banquet to be selected for the zodiac signs. The cat was a good friend of the rat, but the rat tricked him into believing that the banquet was the next day. The cat slept through the banquet, thinking that it was the next day. When he found out, the cat vowed to be the rat’s natural enemy for ages to come.

Interestingly, the cat does make it into the Vietnamese Zodiac, in place of the rabbit (see below).

Another popular legend has it that a race was used to decide the animals to report to the Jade Emperor.

The cat and the rat were the worst swimmers in the animal kingdom. Although bad swimmers, they were both intelligent. They decided that the best and fastest way to cross the river was to hop on the back of the ox. The ox, being a naïve and good-natured animal, agreed to carry them across. However, overcome with a fierce competitiveness, the rat decided that in order to win, it must do something and promptly pushed the cat into the river. Because of this, the cat has never forgiven the rat, and hates the water as well. After the ox had crossed the river, the rat jumped ahead and reached the shore first, and it claimed first place in the competition.

Following closely behind was the strong ox, and it was named the 2nd animal in the zodiac. After the ox, came the tiger, panting, while explaining to the Emperor just how difficult it was to cross the river with the heavy currents pushing it downstream all the time. But with powerful strength, it made to shore and was named the 3rd animal in the cycle.

Suddenly, from a distance came a thumping sound, and the rabbit arrived. It explained how it crossed the river: by jumping from one stone to another in a nimble fashion. Halfway through, it almost lost the race but the rabbit was lucky enough to grab hold of a floating log that later washed him to shore. For that, it became the 4th animal in the zodiac cycle. Coming in 5th place was the dragon, flying and belching fire into the air. Of course, the Emperor was deeply curious as to why a strong and flying creature such as the dragon should fail to reach first. The mighty dragon explained that he had to stop and make rain to help all the people and creatures of the earth, and therefore he was held back a little. Then, on his way to the finish line, he saw a little helpless rabbit clinging on to a log so he did a good deed and gave a puff of breath to the poor creature so that it could land on the shore. The Emperor was very pleased with the actions of the dragon, and he was added into the zodiac cycle. As soon as he had done so, a galloping sound was heard, and the horse appeared. Hidden on the horse’s hoof is the snake, whose sudden appearance gave the horse a fright, thus making it fall back and gave the snake 6th spot while the horse took the 7th.

Not long after that, a little distance away, the ram, monkey and rooster came to the shore. These three creatures helped each other to get to where they are. The rooster spotted a raft, and took the other two animals with it. Together, the ram and the monkey cleared the weeds, tugged and pulled and finally got the raft to the shore. Because of their combined efforts, the Emperor was very pleased and promptly named the ram as the 8th creature, the monkey as the 9th, and the rooster the 10th.

The 11th animal is the dog. His explanation for being late—although he was supposed to be the best swimmer amongst the rest—was that he needed a good bath after a long spell, and the fresh water from the river was too big a temptation. For that, he almost didn’t make it to finish line. Just as the Emperor was about to call it a day, an oink and squeal was heard from a little pig. The pig got hungry during the race, promptly stopped for a feast and then fell asleep. After the nap, the pig continued the race and was named the 12th and last animal of the zodiac cycle. The cat finished too late (thirteenth) to win any place in the calendar, and vowed to be the enemy of the rat forevermore.

In Buddhism, legend has it that Buddha summoned all of the animals of the earth to come before him before his departure from this earth, but only twelve animals actually came to bid him farewell. To reward the animals who came to him he named a year after each of them, the years were given to them in the order they had arrived.

This jade bracelet is now more meaningful and unique as you can enthrall your friends with the intriguing and mesmerising stories behind it.

The Jade Chinese Zodiac bracelet is available at:

http://www.tmour.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=45_49&products_id=338

Taken from www.wikipedia.org

Hi friends! Based on overwhelming requests, I would like to present to you the Art of sarong tying! The Batik Sarong is actually a very versatile casual wear. Here, I have demonstrated using a cotton Sarong, the same method can be used for a Silk Sarong which will have more dramatic flowing effect and can be used for official functions and cocktail parties.

These cotton Sarong will become much softer after washing. The good news is you can still wear them even you weight fluctuates. For those who have bigger waist you can add a ribbon to connect one end of the Sarong to the other end. 

Hope you don’t laugh at this, we asian wear this to bed, but we sew both sides together to form a wrap-around. It is very “airy” and allow freedom of movement, even acrobatics! Try it!

The useful Sarong Buckle made from coconut shell

All these are available at www.tmour.com. Look under Batik category. Try it!

A short history and great creativity can serve as catchwords for the commercial production of batik in Malaysia. Covering scarcely 100 years, this history has been full of life and movement. We know that Malays on the East Coast of the peninsula experimented with textile prints without wax in the early 1900s. In the 1920s people in the same area started using a technique with screen prints for fast and cheap production of decorated textiles. Around 1930 the ‘real’ batik production started, stamping with wax directly on the fabric. (Source: Arney 1987). Long before this production got started batik, especially from Java, was known and used in the area that is now Malaysia. The Malays learned the techniques and adopted the patterns from the Javanese. Still today elements of patterns from the Javanese textiles are continued and developed in many of the textiles that are produced by block printing as well as screen printing.

Copying and creativity
is another pair of catchwords fit to describe the production of batik in Malaysia. Even though the Javanese heritage is still visible, Malaysian producers have partly liberated themselves from it and developed their craft in new directions. This can be seen in technique and design as well as in the development of new types of products. In particular, the hand-painted batik from the late twentieth century represents an innovation, not least because it differs technically from the Javanese tradition of handdrawing. First, it is a simplification of the production process. Second, it opens up for more individual freedom and creativity; an entirely new design tradition has sprung up, one that is dominated by large motifs drawn freely on a plain-coloured background. A few textile artists emerge as remarkable innovators, and these are soon followed and copied by many others. To take one example, a type of silk scarf with floral motifs has lost its exclusivity, and although the scarves are attractive, they are easily perceived as stereotyped.

The dominant North-East
Two circumstances are vitally important in order to understand many aspects of the batik business in Malaysia. First, there is the dominance of the northeast, and second, the simple technology.

In the Northeastern States Kelantan and Terengganu industrial alternatives have been weakly developed; production and sale of batik have thus meant valuable opportunities for employment. The batik factories are particularly numerous around the major cities Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu.
The Malays make up more than 90 % of the population in these States, and production as well as trade in batik have been a Malay niche in the multiethnic Malaysian society. We see here a unique outlet for Malay enterprise in a society where other groups have tended to dominate trade and industry.

As far as Kelantan is concerned, the proximity to Thailand has been important economically as well as culturally. There has always been a brisk border trade. And in folklore as well as in handicraft traditions there are easily discernible connections. Batik has been exported from the East Coast States to the rest of Malaysia, although a considerable production has also sprung up on the West Coast. It remains to be said that the Malay dominance of batik is now about to dwindle in the West Coast States (se the page on the tourist market).

The strength of low technology
Another feature to be noted is the relatively simple and inexpensive production outfit as well as the organisation of the production process. Flexibility is the underlying strength of low technology. It is relatively easy to get started and easy to decrease the activity in slack periods without having to close down completely.

The factories, or workshops, are usually small family establishments, and part of the batik processing is often farmed out to women in the neighbourhood. In this way both loss and gain are spread. Moreover, a reservoir of skills is developed: a great number of people in the factory’s vicinity have a basic knowledge of batik production. The workshops can draw on this reservoir, and many skilled individuals can also make small amounts of handdrawn batik independently as a part time occupation (see also The tourist market).

State and market
By and large, the batik business has been driven forward by free enterprise and a free market. After Independence the authorities were eager to strengthen economic development, particularly in the Malay population, and these efforts were boosted when the New Economic Policy was launched in 1971. This has also effected the batik sector in several ways. The huge development programme MARA grants support to Malay entrepreneurship, and runs training institutions on nearly every conceivable occupational area.

Many batik artists have been educated at the MARA Institute of Technology. Kraftangan, another important Federal agency, co-ordinates and supports activities within arts and crafts. Kraftangan’s sales organisation is KARYANEKA, with departments and shops in most States. KARYANEKA partly seeks products actively from crafts producers, and partly accepts offers from producers if these pass certain criteria of quality.

But many batik producers and traders operate outside these State institutions, and there are also a number of private schools that train batik artists. Furthermore, a great deal of training still takes place through direct, practical participation in batik production, particularly within the smaller family concerns.

 Another unique product presented by www.tmour.com

Yes, it is all blooms and flowers carved in jade - roses, lotus and many more. Jade is not just for feng shui but the intricate and modern designs makes it attractive even for the young. It exudes the asian charm and makes the jade pieces wearable for all occassions ! You will fall in love with them… And, they make great unique Mother’s day gift!

Hi friends, sorry for the long hiatus, I was busy getting www.tmour.com up and now it is all ready! I would like to present to you some of the interesting jade amulets. So sit back and enjoy….

Below are the symbolic meaning of piyao as an amulet. Wearing piyao gives us protection and brings us prosperity. It is especially more potent when carved in jade, as jade exudes a positive natural vibrations. 

“The Pi Yao is the heaven variation of a particularly powerful and auspicious creature of good fortune. He is said to have the power to assist anyone suffering from bad Feng Shui “

Extracted from wofs.com 

“The PiYao is a mystical creature that is an extremely powerful and auspicious amulet of good fortune, just behind the Dragon. It is said to have a voracious appetite that is infinite. The interesting part is that the PiYao does not have an anus, which means things only go in but never come out. It is therefore a favorite must-have for businessmen and merchants wishing loads of money rolling in without spilling out a dime. It is no wonder that the figurines of Pi Yau can often be seen in banks, casinos, foreign exchange markets and finance companies in Oriental countries.

Besides that, the Chinese adore the PiYao because of its protective, obedient and loyal nature. It is believed that the PiYao will always try its best to fulfill its owner’s wish and safeguard the health and welfare of its owner. “

Extracted from buy-fengshui.com 

You can go to www.tmour.com for more!

Hi friends, as promised,  I have snapped some pictures and compiled the meaning and significance of some popular amulets for Chinese New Year. All these amulets are tastefully designed to cater to today’s modern society.

These auspicious Gold Fish symbolize prosperity, abundance of good fortune and marital bliss. A pair of Gold Fish also ensures joyous unions.

The Pi Yao is a mystical creature which is good as a protection amulet as well as it attracts good luck and wealth. 

 This interesting jade bracelet consists of all 12 animal zodiac in the Chinese Lunar Calendar.  Each year is being represented by an animal and it is believed that the person born in the year would have certain characteristics of the animal. Of course to know more about it, you can refer to Lilian Too.

The Wu Lo is one the most potent symbols of good health & longevity. A perfect gift for someone you care about and whose longevity and good health matters to you!- Lilian Too

Chinese Coins of course means prosperity for the wearer. Hanging Chinese Coins in significant locations are used to enhance money luck, thus wearing these “money” on your wrists definitely will bring you wealth luck this new year!

The Cicada is the most powerful symbol of immortality and an amulet against politics. It is also a symbol of happiness and youthfulness. Carrying an image of a cicada protects you from danger and disloyal friends.-Lilian Too

Any amulets of flowers signifies blooming opportunities!                                 

 The dragon is the ultimate symbol of auspiciousness. It is the most important symbol both in Feng Shui and in Chinese folklore. Double dragons grasping a pearl signifies power and authority.  This powerful symbol of good fortune also works extremely well for your business. - edited from Lilian Too

By ANDREW SIA

Taken from www.thestar.com.my

Around this time every year, a certain animal zodiac sign gets the spotlight. This year is no different: Ladies and gentlemen, we present the Rat.

THE cunning rat, as folklore tells it, made it to become the first animal of the Chinese horoscope by piggy backing on another animal’s efforts.

What happened was the legendary Jade Emperor invited 12 animals to participate in a race across a river to determine their positions on the Chinese calendar.

A Filipino kissing his pet rat in a Manila church during the annual feast of St Francis. Pets are blessed then to promote love for all living things.

However, the rat used brain rather than brawn – he hitched a ride on what it perceived was the mightiest swimmer. Just before the buffalo reached the other bank, the rat jumped off the buffalo’s back and crossed the finish line ahead of the poor puffing beast.

An interesting footnote here, according to chineseastrologyonline.com, is that the cat was one of the original 12 participants. So why is it missing from the Chinese calendar? Well, that ratty fellow told the cat that the race would be held at another time. When the cat failed to show up for the race, the Jade Emperor sent his official to earth to grab the first animal that he saw – which happened to be a pig being carried to market by a farmer. When the cat eventually realised that it had been tricked out of celestial fame, it swore to go rat hunting forever….

This story also reflects the luck of people born in the Year of the Rat. Dr Christopher Lau, an expert lecturer/author from Global Fengshui Net Sdn Bhd, who accurately predicted that our stock market would hit record highs in 2007, says that a rat has “selfless people” around him to help his career along. Does that sound like the buffalo?

The rat is regarded as a symbol of good luck and wealth in China and Japan. According to chinese.astrology.com, it is respected for its quick wits, stylishness and charming exterior.

“However, behind that sweet smile, a rat is a keen and unapologetic promoter of its own agenda,” notes the website. Ahem… that seems like how that rodent got first place in the Chinese calendar!

Monetary greed can become a problem if the rat isn’t careful. But if it often hoards, a rat can also be very generous to those in their pack, namely friends and family members who have proven their loyalty. It can also be quick-tempered and sharp-tongued, something that people will quickly learn to love or hate.

The rat’s keen mind always seeks out new knowledge, to be stored away for future use. If boredom sets in the rat is no fun at all, but then again, it usually knows how to keep itself entertained.

The website adds, “A valuable lesson for the rat is to learn to consider others above themselves, at least sometimes. (In doing so), the rat might well find true happiness.”

Mouse dolls are the rage in Hong Kong as markets sell all sorts of rodent-themed items and souvenirs for the coming Year of the Rat

Global Fengshui’s Lau has similar views. A rat is sociable, makes friends easily and is highly persistent. However, for the coming year, he is advised to “be sincere” in everything he does so that it will be reciprocated.

Now, doesn’t this all sound exactly like Templeton, the rat in the movie Charlotte’s Web, whose mean spirit is in sharp contrast to Wilbur, the piglet with the heart of gold? Yet, in the end, the rat overcomes his own selfishness for the greater happiness of all.

A fascinating piece of Chinese folklore involving the creature is the “Rats’ Wedding Day”. In his book, Rat, Kwok Man-ho recounts that once upon a time in China, on a peaceful night at the Wah Chiu family home, the father suddenly heard strange noises coming from a room that had been locked for years. When he peered in, he saw an amazing sight – a traditional marriage procession of rats, dressed in fine robes.

A few days later, a Taoist priest came by and told the father that the house had an evil spirit and needed to be cleansed. When the priest was done, he told the father that he must leave out food and drink to thank the household god. However, the father ignored the priest’s advice and the very next day, the house was overrun by rats, driving the family out.

In another book, Chinese Creeds and Customs, by V.R. Burkhardt, it is added that the 19th day of the first month of the lunar calendar is thus observed in some Chinese households as the “Rats’ Wedding Day”. Everyone goes to bed early so as not to disturb the revels of their four-footed tenants. An offering is put out to induce the more benevolent rodents to exercise restraint over their more unruly brothers, and to moderate their appetites during the year.

If a very large rat takes up residence in a house, it is treated as an honoured guest, for this is the Money Rat which will attract wealth, more than compensating for his board and lodging.

Paintings of a rat’s wedding procession were traditionally hung up at home during Chinese New Year, notes the book, Mooncakes and Hungry Ghosts: Festivals of China. These would often feature a charming rat bride and groom accompanied by musicians, lantern-bearers, gong-beaters and palanquin carriers. If the rat’s wedding went undisturbed, it was believed that the grateful rats would leave the humans alone for the rest of the year.

What about rats in real life? Are they in any way associated with their Chinese horoscope characteristics?

Take “single-minded get-ahead instincts”. The brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) is, according to the BBC website, the “most widespread terrestrial mammal” on earth. They originated in the grasslands of China, spread to Europe and eventually, via ships, to the Americas. They are now so common that they are found everywhere from sewers, to laboratories and even homes, where they are kept as pets!

Then there is the Polynesian Rat, or Pacific Rat (Rattus exulans). This fellow is incapable of swimming long distances yet it managed to spread from its home in South-East Asia to as far as Hawaii, Fiji and even Easter Island. They accomplished this by hitching rides, no, not on the back of cosmic Chinese buffaloes, but inside the paddle-driven canoes of Polynesians as they migrated eastwards.

While the celestial rat constantly seeks out knowledge to chew on, the earthly rat incessantly seeks out food. Polynesian rats are omnivorous, eating insects, centipedes, spiders, worms, snails, fruit, seeds, leaves, roots and sometimes even lizards and birds. They are considered as pests in this region, as they feed on sugar cane, coconuts, cocoa and other crops.

The global “success story” of the rats has been due to their extraordinary ability to adapt to different environments, and by riding on hard-working “buffaloes” – humans who conquered the earth while throwing away everything from caveman food scraps to half-eaten mee goreng.

Rats aren’t just good at going forth and multiplying. They are really clever – just as the Chinese horoscope make them out to be.

Lab rats, for example, have proved valuable in psychological studies of learning and other mental processes. The researchers, Foote, Allison and Jonathon, noted last year in the journal Current Biology that rats actually possess “metacognition”, a mental ability previously only found in humans and some primates.

For animals, metacognition is a quantum leap in intellectual capabilities as it involves “thinking about thinking”. This means developing a plan before action (“What should I do?”), monitoring the plan during execution (“Am I on the right track?) and even evaluating the plan after (“How can I improve?”).

So the rat is clever. In fact, it has been brilliant in seeking out profitable alliances. But perhaps it’s not all selfishness? After all, thousands of rats have “sacrificed” their lives for medical research. As for live rats, the Chinese horoscope does point out that it is generous to its friends. And that’s precisely why rat lovers think that it makes an ideal pet.
“Rats are extremely social! What does this mean for you? Love, love, and more love! They will absolutely beg to be with you. The more time you spend with them, the closer your bond will grow with them. You will be showered with affection!” advocates the website, rattyrat.com

And due to their intelligence, they can be taught tricks and they love games. They are also adorable in riding on your shoulder, grooming you, yawning, hopping around, playing tag and more.

What about that plague stuff? And their reputation as vermin?

After all, in the West, the rat is reviled as a filthy disease carrier, the worst of which was the bubonic plague or Black Death which wiped out some 50 million Europeans in the 14th century. An anti-rat bias has entered the English language. For example, a high-powered lawyer might be “ratted upon” by his own brother about allegedly buying houses and handphones for judges. And people watching the whole proceedings may even “smell a rat”.

Despite all that, it’s not really the critters’ fault. For one, the poor rats were merely unwitting carriers of plague-causing fleas, and they themselves also succumbed to the disease. Secondly, who asked us humans to leave all that food lying around? Besides, they can be domesticated, litter trained and end up as extremely clean animals, grooming themselves more frequently than cats.

“Rats love to please. They can easily learn your schedule. Many people feel their personality is like that of a dog, and many people refer to their rats as pocket puppies,” enthuses rattyrat.com

So there we have it: Clever, cunning, charming, ambitious, gluttonous, adorable and loyal. That’s the Rat – whether animal or human!.

MAKAN MAKAN
By FARIDAH BEGUM

Taken from www.thestar.com.my

Add some mandarin orange zest to your savoury dishes and enjoy these same dishes with a flavourful festive twist!

THE Chinese New Year festive air comes with the mandarin oranges and even if the oranges appear two months before the actual day, they are reminders of a great festival to come.

Despite the decline in purchasing power of the households, the Chinese New Year is one festival where expense is no issue.

However, while the traditional foodstuffs must make their presence at the annual reunion dinner, some of us may want to make a small difference in the run-up to the festival, especially when relatives begin to gather where the matriarch or patriarch resides.

Then, perhaps a little twist – but one which keeps in tune with the flavour of the festival – can be observed in the dishes that are presented at the dining table.

Early this week, at a cooking demonstration where most of the participants would be celebrating the upcoming Chinese New Year, I decided that a new dish should be specially created for the occasion.

Initially apprehensive of the response, I thought I would just bulldoze through with my idea and see what comes out of it.

(Mind you, I had not even thought of the recipe the day prior to the cooking demonstration.)

So, before the grand audience, I sliced the chicken thinly and poured some of the syrup from the peeled mandarin oranges onto the meat. Next, I added a little corn flour, some white pepper powder and a little oyster sauce and left it to marinate for about half-an-hour.

Well, I must say, the end result was very encouraging, with the whole dish vanishing within minutes.

Faridah Begum is passionate about cooking and stuffing family and friends with food, whether tasty or not.

Mandarin Orange Chicken

Ingredients
300g chicken – sliced thinly
1 can peeled S&W mandarin oranges
2 teaspoons corn flour
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
Salt and Pepper to taste
Spring onions – finely sliced
2 tablespoons cooking oil
5 cloves garlic, chopped finely
50g cashew nuts

Method
1. Drain the oranges but save half the syrup and put it into the chicken. Add the corn flour, oyster sauce, salt and pepper, and mix it well. Keep it marinated for at least half-an-hour.
2. Heat up a wok and put the oil in. Sauté the garlic until it is aromatic. Add the chicken and its sauce together.
3. Stir-fry until the chicken is cooked, with the syrup turning a little brown due to the caramelisation of the marinade.
4. Stir the chicken over very intense heat and make sure the fire is constant if you want the chicken to remain tender.
5. Quickly throw in the spring onions, cashew nuts and the mandarin orange slices.
6. Immediately switch off the fire, mix well and serve with hot rice.

Edited from www.thestar.com.my

Story and pictures by GRACE CHEN
Taken from www.thestar.com.my

The art of knotting serves to bring across messages of well-being, good luck, longevity and harmony.

 
Abundance: Goldfish indicates bountiful incomings

Knot tying goes beyond the functional aspect and takes an ornamental role in conveying messages of goodwill during Chinese New Year.

The 58-year-old Chinese national, who has 20 years of experience in dealing with Chinese folk arts and crafts, says that he has chosen this ‘knotty’ theme for his sixth trade visit to Malaysia because the art of Chinese knotting holds a special charm.

In explaining the functional and practical importance of knotting in Chinese society, Zhou says that it was once the basis for written and symbolic communication.

The Chinese not only employed the use of knots to fasten and secure but also as a method of record keeping and a symbolic representation of meaningful historical events that occurred over time.

A large knot for example, signifies an important event. A small knot may act as a reminder for a minor errand.

Knots are also used to signify feelings of love and longing. Endless and repetitive knot patterns may symbolise the cyclical nature of all existence and incorporated loops are interpreted to symbolise trouble-free transactions.

Safe passage: The replica jade acts as a safety button while the colourful threads signify a full and interesting life.

In essence, the art of knotting serves to bring across messages of well-being, good luck, health, longevity and harmony.

Giving examples of the types of knots used, Zhou says that in addition to the cross knot, ring hitch and the Chinese lanyard knot, the most popular style is the plum blossom knot which is the most widely used in this art form.

“In the basic art of Chinese knotting, there are 10 basic types of different knots used by the artists to create over 100 patterns ranging from flowers, animals and other auspicious shapes.

“Over time, different artists have come up with their own styles of knotting and this is a reflection of their ingenuity in coming up with new knotting styles to suit modern tastes,” says Zhou.

To make the patterns interesting, other ornaments such as bells and replicas of gold ingots are also incorporated into a piece of knot work. This is to signify wealth and prosperity.

The ones with goldfish motifs carry meanings of a bountiful year, while those with replica jade circles are meant to be safety charms.

Colourful designs also ensure the owners of these knot patterns a rich and interesting year ahead and those imbued with gold threads are thought to represent harmony.

These handicrafts can mostly be seen as decorative items at home or where the safety charms are concerned, hanging from the rear-view mirrors of cars.

Speaking from experience, Zhou says that the art of knotting is an exercise of an artist’s dexterity and precision.

Apt gifts: For those not eligible to give out ang pows, these good luck tassels can make up for it.

“The beginning of a rope pattern will always start with a loop and finish with two open ends which are usually capped with a tassel.

“Mind that for one pattern, only one rope is used. So, let’s say if the series of knot work comes to a length of 15cm, the artist will have to work with two sides of a rope, each reaching up to 1m in length. For larger knot patterns, rope lengths may exceed 1km, depending on how intricate the patterns are.

“So, you can imagine all the pulling involved as the artist is weaving the pattern into shape,” says Zhou.

Ironically, while an artist is working the knots into place, he must also deal with the problem of unwanted knots in the slack parts of the rope.

According to Zhou, this is where skill and experience comes in, especially when it comes to estimating how much of rope is needed for a particular pattern.

Of course, there is always a solution in joining more rope to the work but that will spoil the continuity in the pattern, he surmises.

For the superstitious, running out of rope while making a knot pattern may be seen as a bad omen and this means that the goodwill messages conveyed in the pattern may have lost its edge.

Taken from www.thestar.com.my

By CHAN LI LEEN
Photo by LEW YONG KAN
Taken from www.thestar.com.my

The traditional method of making nian gao, or kuih bakul, is in some ways like a “silent movie” that stretches over three whole days and nights.

It is believed that those making the sticky cake, customarily offered to the Kitchen God to seal his mouth from giving any unfavourable reports at Chinese New Year, may accidentally utter offending remarks if they spoke during the process.

“It is best not to say anything in case the nian gao feels ‘offended’ and turns out half-cooked or just totally bad,” explains housewife Ng Siew Lan.

Sweet industry: Ng Siew Lan and her husband, Chen Shu You, stacking up tin cans filled with nian gao mixture into a giant wok to steam at their home in Kampung Tawas, Ipoh.

Having experienced it first hand, this third generation maker of nian gao from Kampung Tawas, Ipoh, swears the belief is true.

“I’ve learnt from my lesson and go through the important steps only in the wee hours of the morning,” says Ng, who as a young girl had acquired the skill of making nian gao from her father and later her mother-in-law.

Unlike many who have since sacrificed tradition for modern processes for the sake of convenience, Ng faithfully abides by each step the old-fashioned way.

“The proof of the cake is in its making. It is more aromatic and far better tasting,” the 56-year-old vouches.

Rather than buy ready-to-use flour from the shops, she makes it from scratch using glutinous rice.

“The glutinous rice has to be soaked for over 10 hours before being grounded into a powdery paste and then left with a heavy object pressing on it for an entire day to drain out the water,” she says.

When ready, Ng patiently kneads the lump of dough with only coarse sugar until it eventually turns into a mixture some three gruelling hours later.

The mixture, with its texture like condensed milk, is poured into tin cans that are lined with smoked banana leaves and then transferred into a giant wok.

“I steam it over slow wood fire for 24 hours until its milky white colour turns golden brown.

“Slowly steaming it helps to draw out the aroma and gives it a more sticky texture,” says Ng.

It is then left to cool and harden for two to three hours.

The auspicious-sounding nian gao signifies one’s status rising year by year and is a must-have for the family altar or as gifts during the lunar festival.

Chinese belief has it that the Kitchen God returns to heaven to report on each family’s behaviour in the previous year.

It has, therefore, become customary to serve nian gao to the Kitchen God who, with his mouth full of the sticky cake, would not be able to give an unfavourable report.

Taken from www.thestar.com.my