Qingming Poem by Du Mu with an MP3 Recording

Yesterday, I posted the poem Qingming by the poet Du Mu (803 – 852) that mentions the Qingming Festival (also called Ching Ming). I asked my friend Ray Lee about it. He grew up in Hong Kong and I wanted to hear his impression about the poem and also my translation of it [...]

Qingming Festival in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan

The Qingming Festival is on April 4th this year in China, and on the 5th in Taiwan. In Taiwan it's called Tomb Sweeping Day. This day is a remembrance of ancestors — it's similar to All Saints Day and The Day of the Dead. People clean the tombs of their ancestors and offer them [...]

Mama Lisa Now Has a Facebook Group

We'd love it if you'd join the Mama Lisa Facebook Group. You can post anything you'd like about your culture. You can post your own musical recordings or YouTube videos… Links to culture and musical sites… Photos of your country… Questions about songs or cultural issues… Anything related to World Culture and [...]

Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year starts on January 26th this year. It'll be the year of the Ox. Here's a composition by David W. Solomons that he created in honor of the holiday. If you're interested in learning more, you can read previous posts about the Chinese New Year. If you'd like to find [...]

The Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth moon (month) in the Chinese New Year. This year that's today! According to Andrew Sullivan, it falls on this day, “in remembrance of Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet who committed suicide in the Miluo River on the day in 221 BC.” [...]

Can Someone Help with a Chinese Song from an Album called “Children's Folk Rhymes in Beijing”?

Kel wrote: Hi, I just found your web page and am interested in finding a song and lyrics. The song is called is “Looking at the Sights With My Small Eyes” (in Chinese its “Xiao Yan Jing Kan Jing Zhi Er”). It's from an album called “Children's Folk Rhymes in Beijing”….. I'm trying to find somewhere [...]

I Need Help with the Chinese Text for a Kids Song called “Count Ducks”

I received a wonderful Chinese children's song recently called Count Ducks. The text I received is a scanned in image – I had a hard time making it look crisp and clear. If anyone can send me the computerized text in Chinese, I'd be grateful. Here's the graphic, followed by an English [...]

Yuan Xiao and the Lantern Festival in China

Yuan Xiao is a traditional food for the Lantern Festival in China. The Lantern Festival is at the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. People go outside with lanterns, watch the dragon dance, set off firecrackers, and they eat Yuan Xiao. (Yuan Xiao is also called Tang Yuan.) There's a [...]

Qingming – Festival of Pure Brightness – 清明節

The Qingming Festival takes place on April 4, 5, or 6th – whichever is the 104th day after the winter solstice. It's celebrated in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Qingming has many names and spellings: Qingming, Ching Ming, Ch'ing Ming, Qing Ming Jie. In English it's been called Clear Brightness Festival, Remembrance [...]

“Delighting in Rain on a Spring Night” – A Poem by the Chinese Poet Du Fu

Du Fu, also known as Tu Fu (712-770), is one of the best-known poets of China. Many of his poems are about nature and the seasons. Here's Delighting in Rain on a Spring Night in simplified Chinese and with an English translation by Brendan O'Kane. After the translation, I posted the traditional Chinese text. 春夜喜雨 Delighting [...]