Category: Chinese

Chinese Numbers

Chinese Numbers by Chang Pat Foh Numbers and their meaning in Chinese 1. One is always a good number because it is the first number; can mean loneliness or single  2. Two means meet; good things come in pairs 3. Three means alive; one of three essential stages, birth, marriage

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Chinese Birthday Celebrations

您生日快乐,长命百岁 Chinese Birthday Celebrations as practised in Sarawak by Chang Pat Birthdays in Western countries highlight a child’s existence, while grown-ups tend to dislike being reminded of their age. However, in the Chinese community, the adults are to be congratulated for longevity. It is a big affair for the Chinese

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Chinese Dream Interpretations

Dreams: A Chinese Interpretation  by Chang Pat Foh The interpretation of dreams by the Chinese community of Kuching Weather and Universe A shooting star-Your family may be struck by sickness A star going slowly into a cloud-You may have a child Stars in a clear sky-Good fortune The sun/moon setting-Your

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Goddess of Mercy

Kuan Yin Goddess of Mercy by Chang Pat Foh The Chinese believe in the existence of many gods, spirits, devils and the souls of the departed human beings in the supernatural world. Thus, prayers to the god’s departed ancestors are offered by the Chinese community at specific times for specific

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Islam in China

Islam in China  The first mention of the Arabs in China is found in the Annals of the T’ang Dynasty (618-907). The Arabs were called Tazi and Tashi in Chinese. In 713, a Tazi ambassador arrived in China. In 924, another Tazi visited A-Po-Ki, chief of the K’tan and camped

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Rail Roads Coal and Infrastructure in Kuching

Tom’s note: This account about the infrastructure of Sarawak is probably one of the most unintentionally hilarious histories of the times of the Second Rajah Brooke.  Coal Outcrops of coal existed at Silantek and along the Sadong river. Mr St John was dispatched to explore the coal findings. However, he

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Teochew Temple in Kuching Centre

The Hiang Thian Siang Ti Temple in Kuching Many thanks to John Tan for his kind assistance in helping me understand the Chinese temples. The Hiang Thian Ti temple, on Carpenter Street, was first built in 1863 by the Teochew immigrants as a house of worship for the Deity of

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Foochow of Sarawak

Part Two The New Foochow Settlement of Sarawak  Part Two Foochow settlement at Binatang Binatang is situated on the left bank of the lower reaches of the Rejang River between Sibu and Sarikei districts. Most of the people are natives of Chiang and Chuan of Fukien province. The Cantonese came

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The Foochow of Sarawak

The New Foochow Settlement of Sarawak Note: Dollar amounts are Straits dollars where 3 Straits dollars =1 USD; 1 picul=60kg In 1900, Mr Wong Nai Song came to Singapore after an attempted coup in China. He harboured the idea of colonization but could find no place to settle. Mr Wong

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