RSS Feed
History
The Historic Flags Of China
Flags are immensely significant symbols. They express the shared image of the country, organization or community they signify, and can excite very strong emotions. As the Law of the People's Republic of China on the National Flag puts it regarding the current PRC fl ag, the aim is "enhancing citizens' consciousness of the State and promoting the spirit of patriotism". If you live or work in China, you will have seen the Chinese fl ag fl ying regularly from public buildings and elsewhere, especially around National Day, Labour Day last month and other major events. You will also be aware of the sensitivities surrounding the fl ags of other neighbouring countries and regions. The study of flags - known as "vexillology" from the Latin vexillum meaning flag or banner - can be a fascinating way to explore a country's history. In this article, we have brought together a selection of the fl ags used in last two hundred years in Imperial China, the Republican period, and the modern PRC, as well as some related topics. In this we have been greatly assisted by an excellent website, Flags of the World' http://fl agspot.net/flags.), whose China page is at http://www.crwfl ags.com/fotw/fl ags/cn-l0001.html. Many of the descriptions are based on commentary on this site, and we appreciate the permission from Mr. Rob Raeside, Director of ‘Flags of the World', to reproduce these here.
Introduction
The primary historical purpose of fl ags has always been military, used either by national forces or by lords and other lesser leaders in olden times. Flags were used to coordinate the actions of combatants during the confusion of battle, and to tell soldiers where to march, and where to rally. In addition, they were used for communication, at sea for example. In both cases, it makes sense that they are colourful and easy to recognize. Now, of course, fl ags typically represent a country, part of a country, an armed force, or an organisation, whether political, administrative, commercial, or even sporting. The Chinese for fl ag is 旗, "qi".
FROM “LITTLE MULE” TO THE “RED FLAG” AND THE “CHANG JIANG”
- THE EARLY DAYS OFCHINESE ROAD TRANSPORT
Tibetan Buddhist Kama Sutra and Tantric Sex
Tantra, by that name, derives from Vedic/Hindu religions, and was most common in Northern India, although it became mixed together with Southern Indian local religions such as the worship of Kali. A strange offshoot of it - is in the Tibetan mixed-religion sometimes called Tibetan Buddhism, but also referred to as Tibetan Lamaism.
MONGOLIA’S PRZEWALSKI’S HORSE
Twenty thousand years ago wild horses roamed over the whole of Europe and Asia. Our prehistoric ancestors hunted them intensively as we have learned from the many caves discovered in the last hundred years, especially in France and Spain, where wall paintings abound. In most of the caves, pictures of horses far exceeded pictures of any other species, so
we may assume that they were abundant. During this period there were comparatively few human beings and therefore posed little threat to the environment. These early people were very dependent upon nature for their survival.
In the course of time primitive agriculture and livestock rearing began to be practiced, and some of the animals that had previously been hunted became the enemies of the early farmers. Of all the wild creatures the horse was the one that gave them the most trouble. It broke into the enclosures and grazed on the crops raised on the hard won land and moreover the wild stallions were in the habit of taking with them the tame mares that were kept for meat. As time went on and agriculture spread, the population of humans and domestic cattle increased and the enclosing of more land meant that the wild horses were driven even further off into areas that were not suitable for cultivation.
MONGOLIA’S NADAAM FESTIVAL
Mongolia's annual Nadaam Festival is where the entire countries champions in the "Three Kingly Sports" - Archery, Wrestling and Horseracing - all come together in spectacular style. The competition is nationwide, with many villages and towns having their own local Nadaams to determine the local champions. Then each summer, the best of these congregate - as do much of the population of the entire country - to Ulan Bataar, for the national championships. This year, it is held in UB from 11th-12th July.
ABOUT CHINESE NEW YEAR
The Chinese Lunar New Year is the longest chronological record in history, dating from 2600BC, when the Emperor Huang Ti introduced the first cycle of the zodiac. Like the Western calendar, The Chinese Lunar Calendar is a yearly one, with the start of the lunar year being based on the cycles of the moon. Therefore, because of this cyclical dating, the beginning of the year can fall anywhere between late January and the middle of February. This year it falls on February 9th. A complete cycle takes 60 years and is made up of five cycles of 12 years each.
The Chinese Lunar Calendar names each of the twelve years after an animal. Legend has it that the Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before he departed from earth. Only twelve came to bid him farewell and as a reward he named a year after each one in the order they arrived. The Chinese believe the animal ruling the year in which a person is born has a profound influence on personality, saying: “This is the animal that hides in your heart.”
“WISHING YOU PROSPERITY AND WEALTH”
SHANGHAI’S PRE-WAR HOTELS
One of the delights of the hospitality scene in Shanghai is that many of the charming old hotels from the early 20th century still stand – and more importantly, still take bookings. Because of its slightly unusual political status central Shanghai was largely spared damage during WW2, and you can still stay in many of these redoubtable old buildings. Graham Thompson of China Briefing Media Ltd explores the fascinating history of the four most famous old hotels.
If you had come to Shanghai in the 1930s you would have had the choice of several of grandest hotels in Asia. As a contemporary guidebook put it, “Shanghai offers ample hotel and hotel-apartment accommodation, with a wide variety of locations and tariffs”. On the other hand, some Chinese observers of the time felt these foreign buildings were inappropriate. A 1932 local guidebook said, “these places have no relationship to us Chinese and besides the upper class atmosphere in these Western hotels is very solemn, every move and gesture seems completely regulated.” This is all maybe something to contemplate over a drink in the bar of the Peace or the Park !
.gif)