Why I am a firm believer in traditional Chinese wisdom
Many tales or proverbs may seem unscientific or arbitrary, but they are a precious collection of survival tips handed down over the generations
Summer is fast approaching, daily temperatures are rising and it’s becoming more humid in Hong Kong. Still, I remain hopeful we will be able to, before mid-June, enjoy at least another month of reasonably cool nights.
This is because I am a firm believer in Chinese wisdom.
One useful nugget of wisdom I like to impart around this time of year is: “Don’t put away your winter clothing before eating Dragon Boat zongzi”. The Dragon Boat Festival occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month of the traditional Chinese calendar, and zongzi are conical or pyramid-shaped sticky rice dumplings wrapped in leaves.
Sometimes, I hear foreigners make fun of how Chinese people apply unusual substances on their faces as part of their anti-ageing beauty routines. For example, I grew up using watermelon rinds in my own routine – I would rub them on my face and body as a way to prevent acne.
I also cannot remember how many gallons of sticky egg white I have used throughout the years to improve the glow and shine of my face and hair.
To tell you the truth, no matter how Westernised or Western-educated a Chinese person is, many of us – myself included – still abide by these axioms.
Some might try to hide it, but many of us believe in these ageold proverbs, or old wives’ tales.
I am one of many Chinese people who firmly believe in drinking warm water instead of cold, even on a hot summer’s day. The reason is simple: it is better for your health.
Imagine, your internal system is warm and calm before you flush it with cold water. The result is a disruption to your body’s normal “operation”, which leads to an imbalance of temperature. Cold water slows down organ functions and causes an internal imbalance.
On the other hand, drinking a glass of warm or hot water helps increase blood circulation, detoxifies your body and minimises muscle contraction. Another Chinese health tip is to eat fresh pears to cool or ease your sore throat.
I am so grateful to all my aunties, or ah-yi, who have imparted so many nuggets of Chinese wisdom over the years. Their advice proved priceless during my formative years.
Many of these tips may seem unscientific or even arbitrary to non-Chinese people but, to us, they are a precious collection of survival tips handed down from generation to generation. They are “life hacks” which teach us how to maintain a balanced and healthy life and keep an equilibrium with our internal and natural environments.
Be forewarned: many of these old wives’ tales very often involve drinking warm water and warm soup – and lots of it. This is because we Chinese believe that keeping the body temperature constantly “neutral” (that is, warm) is a key to good health. By that same logic, cold hands and feet could be signs of weakness, poor blood circulation or poor health.
Are you ready for more Chinese wisdom? The Chinese believe in eating animal organs to fortify the corresponding organs in our bodies. For example, eating pig brain boosts your brain power. The belief is that they carry out similar functions and therefore can enhance weakened organs in humans.
Here’s another tall tale targeted at newlyweds. It says that if the wife wants to have more control over her husband, all she needs to do is step into his shoes on the wedding night. This move is supposed to cast a “spell” over her spouse for the rest of their marriage.
However, this old wives’ tale does not specify if this “hack” can be applied the other way around. If it can be used both ways, it would surely be highly entertaining to see both parties secretly crossdressing on their wedding night to cast a manipulative spell on their spouse.
Many of these traditions are related to common Chinese sayings, such as the one that advises people how one’s name affects one’s chances and luck in life.
The saying goes: “Don’t be afraid to be born into a bad life; be afraid of being given a bad name”, and one notoriously spooky example is Bruce Lee, whose name in Chinese was Lee Siu-lung. Siu-lung means “little dragon”.
At the time of his death, Bruce Lee was living in Hong Kong’s Kowloon Tong residential area, which translates to “Nine Dragon Pond.” The superstitious saying deduces his demise was the result of him – a little dragon – being outnumbered by the nine dragons in the same pond.
Every culture has its own set of old wives’ tales. Many of these tales teach us how to take care of ourselves or guide our conduct towards one another. To me, the Chinese ones are very colourful, controversial and often amusingly superstitious.
Chinese people don’t really think about whether they are scientific, nor do we care. This is because they are mostly adages told by our parents or relatives. We believe in them even when we’re adults, and we pass them onto our children.
Many of us don’t care if they are fact or fiction – for us, they serve as a kind of security blanket or a self-help manual that we can turn to in times of need or desperation.
As one of my favourite aunties used to say: if in doubt, just follow all the advice given to you. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Now go drink lots of warm water. It’s time for me to get another glass, too.
Many [Chinese] don’t care if they are fact or fiction – for us, they serve as a kind of security blanket or a self-help manual
Luisa Tam is a Post correspondent who also hosts video tutorials on Cantonese language that are now part of Cathay Pacific’s in-flight entertainment programme