Light Skin Beauties - Paler the Better!

I recently made a trip to China and was exposed to a phenomenon that surprised me. Chinese people find light skin tones infinitely more attractive than darker ones. This seemed strange to me since everyone I know in the US is always trying to get a nice tan and people who are pale are usually considered "not as attractive" and "unhealthy". As every major city in the US is infested with tanning salons, I did not see any while I was in China.

This phenomenon is also evident in the realm of beauty products where many American products are geared towards "bronzing" the skin while Chinese beauty products usually aim to whiten the skin. When I met up with my relatives in China, they immediately mentioned skin tones when referring to each other's beauty. "Your skin is so nice and white" and "Why is your skin so dark?" was frequently asked of the children and young adults by their elders. It is almost comedic and vampire-like to watch droves of Chinese people walk in a narrow shaded walkway or tote umbrellas on the sunniest days just to avoid the sun.

Although I may be completely wrong, I think this obsession with white skin has to do with the fact that in olden times any body with a tan was associated with manual labor and peasantry therefore having pale skin was a sign of your wealth. It seems that this type of thinking is still very prevalent in China today. Also as controversial as this may sound, this might be the basis for the somewhat bias attitude Chinese people have towards races of darker skin colors.

For those who don't believe me, just take a trip to China and you'll know what I mean.

Going Mahjong!

An informative article written by Bulldozer, an expert Mahjong player:

Chinese people love to play Mah-Jong. Although everyone can learn to play, in order to win at this game, you need good memory, skills, and of course, what everyone needs when gambling, luck.

Mahjong consists of 144 tiles: 108 of them are suited tiles, 28 are honor tiles (Winds and Dragons) and 8 are bonus tiles or what most people call flower tiles. There are 3 different types of suits: Circles (Dots), Bamboo (Sticks) and Chinese Characters (Ten Thousands - "Maan"). Each suit consists of numbers 1 through 9 repeated FOUR times (so 3 suits x 9 numbers x 4 tiles = 108 suited tiles). For the circles and bamboos, the number is determined simply by counting the number of dots or sticks that are on the tile. For the Chinese characters, it is necessary to learn and memorize the Chinese numbers from 1 through 9, although some "Americanized" Mahjong sets have the numbers written in the corner.

The honor tiles consist of dragons and different wind tiles:

• There are 3 types of dragons, four tiles each: Red, Green, and White. The red dragon is actually the Chinese character for middle ("joong" in Cantonese) and the green dragon is the Chinese character for good fortune ("faat" in Cantonese). The white dragon is just a clear rectangle (you can't miss it). If you don't want to memorize these characters, you can just go by color. If you get three of the same dragon it counts as 1 point.

• There are 4 different types of wind tiles: East, South, West, and North (each consisting of four tiles). Each person is assigned a wind depending on the number decided by the dice throw and each round is also assigned a wind. If you get 3 of a kind of your assigned wind or the wind of the round, 1 point is awarded. It is possible that both your assign wind and the wind of the round is the same in which case, 3 of a kind of that wind will count as 2 points.
  

When the game starts, everyone receives 13 tiles, unless you’re the dealer who starts with 14 tiles because the dealer has to discard one tile to get the game started. Out of these 13 tiles you have to make combinations of either 3 of a kind (Pung) or a 3 tile straight (Chow). In Mahjong, you can either make these combinations by drawing or by taking from others (you need to have at least 2 tiles of a combination to take from others). In order to make a straight combination, you can only take from the person going directly before you. For making 3 of a kind combination, you are free to take from anyone on the table. In order to take another player's discarded tile, you must declare Chow or Pung at the moment the tile is discarded or else no one can take the card. Those who Pung have priority over those who Chow. Also if you make four of a kind (Kong), you need to pick up an extra tile in order to preserve 13 tiles in your hand. Kong is when you already have 3 of a kind and you need it to make 4 of a kind. Mah-Jong is very similar to Gin Rummy, you can not make a combination if the suits are different. For example: 1 circle, 2 circle, and 3 sticks is not a legal combination. In order to win, one can either draw the winning tile from someone else ("serng" in Cantonese) or by themselves ("ji maw" in Cantonese). Each player has 13 tiles but in order to win, you need 14 tiles. So most winning hands consists of 4 combinations and a pair (also known as the eyes - "ahn" in Cantonese). When the winning tile is drawn, those Cantonese ("serng" or "ji maw") sayings must be declared. False declarations of winning lead to automatic loss and heavy penalties. Points mentioned throughout this article are only awarded if a person declares a win. Those who do not win, do not get points, regardless of their hand. One final note on winning- each winning hand must also have two matching tiles (the eyes). For example, if you have four sets of three of a kind, there will be one tile left over (your 13th tile). In order to win, you must either self pick a matching tile to complete your eye or if that is the only tile you need to declare a win, you can take from any one else that discards it.

The bonus tiles consist of pictures of flowers with Chinese and Arabic characters counting from 1 through 4 in two different colors, usually red and blue. Similar to wind tiles, each player is assigned a certain number flower. If you get your assigned flower, 1 point is awarded. If you do not get any flowers, some people also reward that with one point. If you get all the flowers (1 through 4) of the same color, it is 2 points. When you have seven flowers it’s usually an automatic win or 3 points depending on the house rules. If you can get all eight flowers it is usually awarded the maximum number of points you decide to play with.

In addition to winning the "traditional" way there are also special hands that is usually awarded maximum points. Here are some of the hands:

“The 13 Wonders”

A concealed hand with #’s 1 and 9 of each suit. One of each dragon and one of each directional wind. And to win with this hand just match it up with any of the above tiles. So you’re calling on 13 different tiles.

“9 United Sons”

A concealed hand of all one suit in the following formation 1,1,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,9,9 when completed by any tile of the suit, either drawn or discarded. For this hand you’re calling 9 tiles.

“All Kong’s (18 temples?)"

Four sets of four-of-a-kind and a pair of any sort.

“4 Large Blessings”

Sets of either 3 or 4 of a kind of all 4 winds with a pair of any suit or honor.

“3 Great Scholars”

Sets of either 3 or 4 of a kind of all 3 dragons with another any kind of set and a pair.

“Hidden Treasure”

A concealed hand of 4 sets of 3of a kind and to win with any pair. Everything must be drawn from the wall and you need to draw the winning tile yourself also.

“Heavenly Peace”

When East's original fourteen tiles (or after flowers and Kongs have been grounded) form a complete hand. Extremely Rare.

“Earthly Peace”

When a player's other than East, completes his hand with East's first discard (and after flowers and Kongs have been grounded). Extremely Rare.

These rules to Mahjong are very basic and definitely many intricacies have not been mentioned. Also, look for future articles concerning basic and advanced strategies for Mahjong. If you have anything you would like to add, feel free to do so in the comments section below.

East vs. West - A Rift of Misunderstanding

There has always been a chasm between the East and the West. I'm not talking about the much publicized and rapped about battle of the coasts in the United States but one that is causing even greater controversy, Westernized Americans and the Easternized Chinese. We always hear about people becoming more westernized but rarely do we hear about people becoming easternized. Perhaps it is because I live on the western hemisphere but the general consensus is that being westernized is a sign of progress while being easternized is almost viewed as being "backwards".

So why the conflict between the East and the West? Misunderstanding

The main difference between Western and Eastern thinking that is causing this rift is the western idea of individualism. Although this is the backbone of our free society, it is often misunderstood in Asia and especially China. This is because in the Eastern Confucianistic society of Asia, success is measured by the fullness of human relationships. This is in direct contrast to the emphasis placed in Western society for individual achievement. To the Chinese, westerners seem to merely cultivate human relationships as a means to further their individual success thus painting an image of a lonely and harsh Western world. Even the word "individualism" when translated into Chinese (個人主義) carries a negative connotation of selfishness and self-centeredness. It is mistranslations and stereotypes like this that fuel these cultural clashes between traditional Chinese and Americans.

The Chinese view Americans and their ideals as being selfish and cold. American young adults who move out of the house or American adults who put their parents in retirement homes are testament to the views of the Chinese. The thing is, from an American point of view, it is accepted and even encouraged to "leave the nest" and become self-sufficient. Dependency including mutual dependency is seen as a weakness in the US whereas such dependency in Asia is actually seen as a validation of a worthwhile relationship. The Americans usually view the Chinese emphasis on relationships as a preface to corruption and also as a dearth to individual thinking. Americans usually view the Chinese as susceptible to group think and worst of all, unable to think for themselves.

These are only the tip of the iceberg in terms of East vs. West conflicts but as you can see, there is much misunderstanding between the two seemingly different cultures. The truth is both Eastern and Western ideology were formed for the betterment of the people in its culture. The motive to create a better and more productive society holds true for both cultures but until people from both East and West realize this similarity, conflicts from misunderstanding will persist.

Avoidance of Confrontation

Some people love looking for and starting trouble, Chinese people on the other hand strive hard to avoid confrontations AT ALL COSTS. You would be hard pressed to see a Chinese person asking for a store's managers or raising his/her voice in public when they are wronged. Usually Chinese people just "let things go" and go on with their merry lives. This non-confrontational attitude has its pros and cons. On the one hand, being passive avoids huge escalations or time consuming arguments. On the other hand, this passiveness can be taken advantage of as Chinese people become known as being pushovers. This would explain the "Chinese (Asian) Workhorse" phenomenon of any non-Chinese firm. Let's take a look at why Chinese people hate confrontations:

Reasons Why the Chinese are Non-Confrontational

• Chinese People Dislike Scrutiny - Most Chinese people are known to engage in somewhat questionable activities such as bootlegging and tax evasion (Chinese people live in a CASH dominated society) so naturally they prefer to stay in the shadows.

• Not Worth the Trouble - In addition to disliking scrutiny, Chinese people hate it when other people get into their business. They like to minimize the amount of people involved even if it is the costlier alternative. For Example: If you ever get into a car accident with a Chinese person, most likely they would like to handle the situation without calling the police and without involving the insurance companies. Many times this may prove to be more expensive than the increase in their insurance premium.

• Xenophobic - In America, Chinese people will avoid confrontation with foreigners at all costs. In general, the Chinese don't like dealing with foreigners (Chinese people hate teaching things to the "Gwai Lo" - Cantonese for foreigner).
  

• Our Upbringing - My parents dislike confrontation and so did my parents' parents. I was always raised to not make a fuss and just "let it go" so naturally that is what I am inclined to do.

• Losing Face and Embarrassment - Generally, it is considered embarrassing to cause a scene. All confrontations should be done behind closed doors. To "act a fool" in public will cause your a loss of face for you and your family which is taboo among traditional Chinese people.
  

Let's face it, Chinese people are non confrontational. Next time, there is a public confrontation, it is safe to say, Chinese people aren't involved (unless it's in Chinatown).

Feel free to comment on this phenomenon in the comments section.

C.R.E.A.M. - Dolla Dolla Bill Y'all

The Wu Tang Clan must have been singing about their Chinese roots when they released C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rule Everything Around Me) because most Chinese prefer to deal in cash. Chinese people truly dislike borrowing money and being indebted to someone because it is embarrassing and it makes them seem weak. There is a general mistrust of credit among the Chinese which is exemplified in these Chinese proverbs:

"A good debt is not as good as no debt"

"Free from debt is free from care"

Another good reason for exclusively using cash is the power cash has when haggling and negotiating prices for consumer goods and services. Chinese people can't resist bargains and discounts so naturally they would gravitate towards cash (Try bargaining with a credit or debit card). A third reason is that many Chinese immigrant workers get paid in cash, so in order to avoid leaving a "paper trail" come tax time, they solely use cash. If they use credit/debit cards or checks, it is easy to figure out exactly how much they are spending.

I am sure there are many other reasons but whatever the reasons, in the eyes of the Chinese, Cash is King.

Feel free to give other reasons why cash is used so much among the Chinese in the comments section!

Filial Piety - Respect Your Elders!

If you ever watch TVB (Hong Kong TV series), you will notice that children rarely move out of the house no matter how successful they are. A regular household usually always consists of the parents, the children and the grandparents. Most Chinese people take care of their parents as they reach retirement age. Although this may seem strange for Americans, it is the status quo in Asia. Filial piety is the main reason why you rarely see elderly Chinese people in nursing or retirement homes.

If you've ever studied Chinese history and culture, you probably came across the term filial piety (孝, xiao). Filial piety is a Confucianism concept which centers a relationship with parents around love and respect. The concept of filial piety is common to all of the diverse religious beliefs in China and can be demonstrated by (taken from Wikipedia):

• Taking care of one's parents

• Not being rebellious

• Show love, respect and support

• Display courtesy

• Ensure male heirs

• Uphold fraternity among brothers

• Wisely advise one's parents

• Conceal your parents' mistakes

• Display sorrow for their sickness and death

• Carry our sacrifices after their death ("Bai Saan" in Cantonese)
  

Filial piety is practiced by Chinese immigrants all over the world. Confucius emphasized the "circle of life". When the children are young, the parents are the strong and they take care of the children and must given respect. When the children become adults, they take on the strong role and take care of their elders. Some Confucian schools feel that children do not have to always obey their parents. If the parents make a mistake, as adult "children" it is necessary to help teach the parents. In America, there is much conflict among first generation families because teenage rebellion, usually viewed as a natural phase of growing up, is completely opposite the ideals of filial piety. This leads to much confusion, misunderstanding and frustration between the parents and the children.

You can find some Chinese fairy tales concerning filial piety here

Practical Jobs

Chinese families have always placed a heavy emphasis on practical jobs. Chinese parents just can't understand college majors that don't lead to "successful" jobs. Occupations fitting the mold are Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Computer Science/Programmer, Pharmacists and Finance/Business related jobs. Technical schools such as those for Architecture, Hotel/Restaurant Management and Dentistry are also accepted. College majors that traditional Chinese parents and relatives understand are pre-med, economics, business, math and any type of engineering or physical science related major.

Naturally this would lead to ignorance and disdain for the more "useless" liberal arts majors such as sociology, Asian studies, any languages, art, performing arts, history, etc. Chinese people can't understand majors that do not translate into a practical job. If you have a liberal arts major, the best way to save yourself the trouble of having to explain to the older traditional Chinese is to say you are going to become a lawyer. Being a Spanish major means nothing to Chinese parents but being a Spanish major with the intent of going to Law School is infinitely more respectable (in Chinese eyes of course, no offense to Spanish majors).

Although this may seem ridiculous to some, just look at the percentage of Chinese people for each major and I guarantee that it will be heavily skewed to the more "practical" majors. If you are Chinese, just look at what major you and your other Chinese friends chose to pursue. I'm pretty Americanized yet my major was Chemistry and Economics during college and most of the Chinese people I knew were engineers, math, economics or in physical science majors.

One thing that ranks higher than obtaining practical jobs on the Chinese list of priorities is the stability and safety of a certain occupation. Chinese parents love their children and they also expect them to take care of them when they become old (more on this in another article) so any job that may have inherent risks and dangers are frowned upon. Positions that are consider dangerous and/or heavily frowned upon are policemen, firemen, inner city teachers and positions that pay solely on commission (including freelance work) and have no health benefits.

Perhaps one day, Chinese people will break out of this mold and accept more liberal arts majors but having many of these beliefs hard-wired into our system, I wouldn't hold my breath.