Life is what you make it, or so they say. In China, life can be gauged in terms of yin and yang, at one go opposing forces but also complementary pairs. One is the dark side of a hill; the other the sunny part. Though in sharp contrast, they are both necessary. As Ray Bugeja found out for himself, the Chinese excel in seeking the perfect balance in everything they do.
Addressing a seminar on China and the Olympic Games held to mark 100 days from the opening of the XXIX Olympiads in Beijing this August I could not help not recalling that my very brief experience on Chinese soil late last year taught me more than ever before that although the Chinese population is huge, 1.3 billion and counting, you somehow do not feel lost in the crowd.
The people have 101 problems to deal with but they seem happy and lead a relaxed life.
They are small in stature but have taken on gargantuan tasks and have had tremendous achievements.
They are so industrious; continuously going about their business, whatever that is.
Yet, they find time to play games, keep their body, mind and soul in shape and when they sit down to eat they ensure the intake is as perfectly balanced as possible.
And, here, we get back to yin and yang.
The secret of yin and yang is that they must be balanced. It does not seem to worry the Chinese if the two forces battle it against each other. The problem arises when there is an imbalance.
In what the Chinese eat, the colour, the flavour and even the textures must all be balanced. However, belief in the importance of following the principles of yin and yang in the diet extends further.
Certain foods are thought to have yin, or cooling properties, and, in contrast, others have warm, yang properties.
So what the Chinese try to do - and they seem to succeed beautifully - is to ensure that their diet contains a healthy balance between the two.
This even goes beyond the dining table.
Indeed, when treating illnesses, an Oriental physician is likely to prescribe dietary changes in order to restore a healthy balance between the yin and yang in the body.
Apparently there exists no food item that is 100 per cent yin or completely yang.
If anything it is a matter of one characteristic likely to dominate more than another. This explains why experts never completely agree which food items have more yin or more yang.
Which takes us back to the point raised at the start that, rather than the individual ingredients, it is the balance and the contrast between ingredients in each dish that really matters.
Yin qualities:
• Boiling
• Poaching
• Steaming
Yang qualities:
• Deep frying
• Roasting
• Stir-frying
The tea in health
It is said that tea is one of the seven basic daily necessities of life besides fuel, rice, oil, salt, soya sauce and vinegar and according to an ancient Chinese saying, it is better to be deprived of food for three days than tea for one.
British statesman William Gladstone also sang his praises to tea:
"If you are cold, tea will warm you;
"If you are too heated, it will cool you;
"If you are depressed, it will cheer you;
"If you are exhausted, it will calm you."
So, there you have it, tea is more than just a drink. No wonder it forms an intrinsic part of the Chinese people's diet.
Indeed, medical research has shown "miraculous" healing powers in tea. According to information posted on the websites of tea makers and lovers regular consumption of tea helps to:
Aid digestion: Tea has antibacterial, antioxidant, antiseptic and detoxifying properties that make it effective in treating infectious dysentery and easing inflammatory bowel disease.
Prevent heart disease: A study found that drinking more than two cups of tea a day helps to decrease the risk of death following a heart attack by 44 per cent.
Prevent cancer: Green tea extracts were found to inhibit the growth of bladder cancer cells in the lab while other studies suggest that drinking green tea protects against developing stomach, prostate and esophageal cancers.
Prevent arthritis: Research suggests that older women who are tea drinkers are 60 per cent less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than those who do not drink tea.
Increase bone density: Drinking tea regularly for years may produce stronger bones. Those who drank tea on a regular basis for 10 or more years had higher-bone mineral density in their spines than those who did not.
Aid oral health: Researchers who have been investigating the medicinal properties of tea think that tea may be able to help people afflicted with bad breath, or halitosis, prevent cavities and gum disease.
Strengthen the immune system: The antioxidant, detoxifying antibacterial properties of tea, as well as the vitamins and minerals present in tea, help to strengthen the immune system.
The Chinese excel in the manufacture of various types of tea, which all have their particular characteristics and "healing" powers. Here are the more prominent ones:
Chinese green tea - Chinese green tea is light and refreshing. Well known for its many health benefits, Chinese green tea helps to prevent cancer, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, strengthens the immune system, prevents cavities, reduces stress and regulates ageing.
Chinese black tea - tasting thick and robust, tea connoisseurs appreciate Chinese black tea as a beverage with various purifying qualities. It blends easily with other flavors to create a rich and exquisite taste. Regular consumption of Chinese black tea can reduce risk of stroke.
Pu-erh tea - is renowned for its medicinal qualities. Unlike other teas, Pu-erh's quality and taste improves with age. Its taste is often described as earthy but some very well aged Pu-erh produce cups of incredibly smooth and wonderfully complex beverages.
Chinese oolong tea - with a flowery sweet aroma combined with a pleasantly sweet aftertaste, Chinese Oolong tea does not lose its appeal no matter how often you drink it. Chinese oolong tea increases body energy, promotes metabolism, controls obesity and helps to regulate ageing.
Chinese white and yellow tea are light and delicately smooth. They are the least processed tea, undergoing just steaming and drying, leaving them close to the natural state. Studies have shown that these teas contain more cancer-fighting antioxidants than any other teas.
Chinese herbal tea - if you are looking for a caffeine-free alternative, Chinese herbal tea could be the answer. This tea contains herbal tisanes formulated to taste delicious and refreshing while helping to keep the mind relaxed and the body rejuvenated.
Contemplating nature
Whenever we want to get away from the maddening crowds and the jungle of concrete we usually seek what we define as the lungs of the town/city. The Chinese go to the gardens of contemplation, relaxation or serenity.
According to Wikipedia, the Chinese (Scholar's) Garden is a place for solitary or social contemplation of nature. To be considered authentic, a garden must be built and planned around 17 essential elements: proximity to the home; small; walled; small individual sections; asymmetrical; various types of spatial connections; architecture; rocks; water; trees; plants; sculpture; jie jing (borrowed scenery); chimes; incense burners; inscriptions; use of (the art of arranging objects) for choosing the site. In China such public gardens are many and varied... and they are very popular and well frequented. But replicas are found in various other countries, including Malta.
A Chinese Garden of Serenity can in fact be found at Santa Luċija, one of 10 Chinese-style gardens outside China listed on Wikipedia.
The garden was constructed in the early 1990s. The most striking elements in the Chinese Garden are rocks and water, which feature prominently. They symbolise all that forms part of the basis of nature, the yin and yang. The fountain near the entrance of the garden represents the figure of birth.
There are other elements within the Chinese Garden that symbolise the active life. The winding corridor at the northern end of the garden represents the windings and challenges of life, the bamboo garden represents contemplation and the great hall represents community.
So, it is more than a garden. It is also a passage through life.
Meditation in motion
The multitude (for want of a better word) of Chinese people going about their business in everyday life hides another characteristic facet of daily life in China: relaxation. This is practised by all, the young and the old, males or females, at any time of the day and wherever they may be, though quite open spaces, especially public gardens, seem to be preferred.
Tai chi, very often described as "meditation in motion", is widespread. Try to look closely at somebody going through those dance-like movements while doing tai chi and you are likely to find yourself relaxing as well. No wonder, because the exercise is meant to promote serenity through gentle movements that connect the mind and the body.
Originally developed in China as a form of self-defence, tai chi has existed for about 2,000 years. Practised on a regular basis, tai chi is known to help people ease stress apart from having other health benefits.
Despite the fact that it has a long history, it was only a few years ago that scientific studies into tai chi started. And the research done so far indicates that among the other benefits are: less anxiety and depression; better balance and coordination, thus reducing the tendency to fall; improving sleep quality by being able to sleep longer at night; feeling more alert during the day; slowing down bone loss in women after menopause; lowering blood pressure; improving cardiovascular fitness; relieving chronic pain and improving everyday physical functioning.
Regardless of age or physical ability, tai chi can be practiced by virtually everybody because rather than laying stress on physical prowess, it is technique that matters and not strength. There are over 100 possible movements and positions
• (The above is based on information researched from various online sources.)
• The author visited China as guest of Emirates and KD Travel.
Addressing a seminar on China and the Olympic Games held to mark 100 days from the opening of the XXIX Olympiads in Beijing this August I could not help not recalling that my very brief experience on Chinese soil late last year taught me more than ever before that although the Chinese population is huge, 1.3 billion and counting, you somehow do not feel lost in the crowd.
The people have 101 problems to deal with but they seem happy and lead a relaxed life.
They are small in stature but have taken on gargantuan tasks and have had tremendous achievements.
They are so industrious; continuously going about their business, whatever that is.
Yet, they find time to play games, keep their body, mind and soul in shape and when they sit down to eat they ensure the intake is as perfectly balanced as possible.
And, here, we get back to yin and yang.
The secret of yin and yang is that they must be balanced. It does not seem to worry the Chinese if the two forces battle it against each other. The problem arises when there is an imbalance.
In what the Chinese eat, the colour, the flavour and even the textures must all be balanced. However, belief in the importance of following the principles of yin and yang in the diet extends further.
Certain foods are thought to have yin, or cooling properties, and, in contrast, others have warm, yang properties.
So what the Chinese try to do - and they seem to succeed beautifully - is to ensure that their diet contains a healthy balance between the two.
This even goes beyond the dining table.
Indeed, when treating illnesses, an Oriental physician is likely to prescribe dietary changes in order to restore a healthy balance between the yin and yang in the body.
Apparently there exists no food item that is 100 per cent yin or completely yang.
If anything it is a matter of one characteristic likely to dominate more than another. This explains why experts never completely agree which food items have more yin or more yang.
Which takes us back to the point raised at the start that, rather than the individual ingredients, it is the balance and the contrast between ingredients in each dish that really matters.
Yin qualities:
• Boiling
• Poaching
• Steaming
Yang qualities:
• Deep frying
• Roasting
• Stir-frying
The tea in health
It is said that tea is one of the seven basic daily necessities of life besides fuel, rice, oil, salt, soya sauce and vinegar and according to an ancient Chinese saying, it is better to be deprived of food for three days than tea for one.
British statesman William Gladstone also sang his praises to tea:
"If you are cold, tea will warm you;
"If you are too heated, it will cool you;
"If you are depressed, it will cheer you;
"If you are exhausted, it will calm you."
So, there you have it, tea is more than just a drink. No wonder it forms an intrinsic part of the Chinese people's diet.
Indeed, medical research has shown "miraculous" healing powers in tea. According to information posted on the websites of tea makers and lovers regular consumption of tea helps to:
Aid digestion: Tea has antibacterial, antioxidant, antiseptic and detoxifying properties that make it effective in treating infectious dysentery and easing inflammatory bowel disease.
Prevent heart disease: A study found that drinking more than two cups of tea a day helps to decrease the risk of death following a heart attack by 44 per cent.
Prevent cancer: Green tea extracts were found to inhibit the growth of bladder cancer cells in the lab while other studies suggest that drinking green tea protects against developing stomach, prostate and esophageal cancers.
Prevent arthritis: Research suggests that older women who are tea drinkers are 60 per cent less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than those who do not drink tea.
Increase bone density: Drinking tea regularly for years may produce stronger bones. Those who drank tea on a regular basis for 10 or more years had higher-bone mineral density in their spines than those who did not.
Aid oral health: Researchers who have been investigating the medicinal properties of tea think that tea may be able to help people afflicted with bad breath, or halitosis, prevent cavities and gum disease.
Strengthen the immune system: The antioxidant, detoxifying antibacterial properties of tea, as well as the vitamins and minerals present in tea, help to strengthen the immune system.
The Chinese excel in the manufacture of various types of tea, which all have their particular characteristics and "healing" powers. Here are the more prominent ones:
Chinese green tea - Chinese green tea is light and refreshing. Well known for its many health benefits, Chinese green tea helps to prevent cancer, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, strengthens the immune system, prevents cavities, reduces stress and regulates ageing.
Chinese black tea - tasting thick and robust, tea connoisseurs appreciate Chinese black tea as a beverage with various purifying qualities. It blends easily with other flavors to create a rich and exquisite taste. Regular consumption of Chinese black tea can reduce risk of stroke.
Pu-erh tea - is renowned for its medicinal qualities. Unlike other teas, Pu-erh's quality and taste improves with age. Its taste is often described as earthy but some very well aged Pu-erh produce cups of incredibly smooth and wonderfully complex beverages.
Chinese oolong tea - with a flowery sweet aroma combined with a pleasantly sweet aftertaste, Chinese Oolong tea does not lose its appeal no matter how often you drink it. Chinese oolong tea increases body energy, promotes metabolism, controls obesity and helps to regulate ageing.
Chinese white and yellow tea are light and delicately smooth. They are the least processed tea, undergoing just steaming and drying, leaving them close to the natural state. Studies have shown that these teas contain more cancer-fighting antioxidants than any other teas.
Chinese herbal tea - if you are looking for a caffeine-free alternative, Chinese herbal tea could be the answer. This tea contains herbal tisanes formulated to taste delicious and refreshing while helping to keep the mind relaxed and the body rejuvenated.
Contemplating nature
Whenever we want to get away from the maddening crowds and the jungle of concrete we usually seek what we define as the lungs of the town/city. The Chinese go to the gardens of contemplation, relaxation or serenity.
According to Wikipedia, the Chinese (Scholar's) Garden is a place for solitary or social contemplation of nature. To be considered authentic, a garden must be built and planned around 17 essential elements: proximity to the home; small; walled; small individual sections; asymmetrical; various types of spatial connections; architecture; rocks; water; trees; plants; sculpture; jie jing (borrowed scenery); chimes; incense burners; inscriptions; use of (the art of arranging objects) for choosing the site. In China such public gardens are many and varied... and they are very popular and well frequented. But replicas are found in various other countries, including Malta.
A Chinese Garden of Serenity can in fact be found at Santa Luċija, one of 10 Chinese-style gardens outside China listed on Wikipedia.
The garden was constructed in the early 1990s. The most striking elements in the Chinese Garden are rocks and water, which feature prominently. They symbolise all that forms part of the basis of nature, the yin and yang. The fountain near the entrance of the garden represents the figure of birth.
There are other elements within the Chinese Garden that symbolise the active life. The winding corridor at the northern end of the garden represents the windings and challenges of life, the bamboo garden represents contemplation and the great hall represents community.
So, it is more than a garden. It is also a passage through life.
Meditation in motion
The multitude (for want of a better word) of Chinese people going about their business in everyday life hides another characteristic facet of daily life in China: relaxation. This is practised by all, the young and the old, males or females, at any time of the day and wherever they may be, though quite open spaces, especially public gardens, seem to be preferred.
Tai chi, very often described as "meditation in motion", is widespread. Try to look closely at somebody going through those dance-like movements while doing tai chi and you are likely to find yourself relaxing as well. No wonder, because the exercise is meant to promote serenity through gentle movements that connect the mind and the body.
Originally developed in China as a form of self-defence, tai chi has existed for about 2,000 years. Practised on a regular basis, tai chi is known to help people ease stress apart from having other health benefits.
Despite the fact that it has a long history, it was only a few years ago that scientific studies into tai chi started. And the research done so far indicates that among the other benefits are: less anxiety and depression; better balance and coordination, thus reducing the tendency to fall; improving sleep quality by being able to sleep longer at night; feeling more alert during the day; slowing down bone loss in women after menopause; lowering blood pressure; improving cardiovascular fitness; relieving chronic pain and improving everyday physical functioning.
Regardless of age or physical ability, tai chi can be practiced by virtually everybody because rather than laying stress on physical prowess, it is technique that matters and not strength. There are over 100 possible movements and positions
• (The above is based on information researched from various online sources.)
• The author visited China as guest of Emirates and KD Travel.