Social Customs in Taiwan

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. If we enter a country, follow the customs. Like many countries, the Taiwanese have their own customs, they will of course, often pardon foreigners who make social mistakes. However, no one wants to do the wrong thing and offend people by mistake so it is well to understand some of the important social ideas and its meaning in Taiwan.

For an example, Taiwan is a place where people often give gifts. We can be given on many different occasions not just birthday. In Chinese New Year, children are given gifts of money. In the weddings, the happy couple is also given money. Money is given in red envelops as red is thought of as the color of good fortune. However, you must not give certain numbers about 4 as this is the number of death. In the West, it used to be that people avoided the number 13. In Taiwan, many people avoid the number 4. Even today, hospitals in Taiwan have no fourth floor. Some people don’t like the car number and cell phone number as 4, too.

For other example, in our culture, having lots of food symbolizes abundance for the New Year during the Chinese New Year. If a foreigner have a Chinese New Year dinner with you, you should tell him that we can't eat all of them. Leaving some on the plate means that we'll have more than enough in the New Year.

Today, perhaps not many young people believe in the old ideas about good and bad fortune, etc. But I think I would follow the old traditions. As I said before, whether though people believe the old ideas or not, we should tell the foreigners about that. We all might respect our customs.

Why Confucianism had such an enduring influence?

Confucius was the greatest Chinese philosopher. He wanted to develop a way for people to connect with each other so that society could be peaceful. I think that he lived at a time when there were many wars, so it is not surprising he tried to develop a peaceful society. He thought that the wisest man is the best man and so should be the ruler. In my opinion, there are two reasons why Confucianism had such an enduring influence.

First, two cornerstones of Confucius system of personal conduct were Jen and Li. He believed that a man should strive after truth and virtue rather than wealth. Only the personal behavior fit the moral standard, the society can be stable.

Second, Confucius emphsized the strict rules and order of Li. He wanted society to have a stable structure. The Emperor would be at the top, then the nobles would be at the middle, the common people would be at the bottom. Within families the father would be at the top, then wife, then the eldest son and so forth. Besides, Confucius believed that respect and obedience are owed by children to their parents, by wives to their husbands, and by subjects to their rulers.

Everyone wouldn't cross the line under the structure, and therefore the society became peaceble and people became safe and stable.To sum up, both of rulers and common people like stable structure. Why Confucianism had such an enduring influence? His important ideas were gathered together into a book, the Analects, which were compiled by his disciples. Only such a book which is about studying, music and friendship, met the legitimate ism, could pass down to now.

Humor is a way for people to socialize

The psychologist, Freud said, “Human being is such kind of animal that pursues happiness.” All human beings like things which make them laugh and happy, but not things which are about crying, pain or miserable. We all hope to be with someone has sense of humor. As a consequence, the man with sense of humor and wit is always popular. To know how to being optimistic and humorous can improve our iinterpersonal relationship, and it also makes others to be intimate with us.

Why most women like to date with humorous men? That is because women don’t need to figure out the topics and humorous men can make them laugh. Here is an example, I work in a cram school and I have to chat with many kinds of parents. Mostly, humor is the best way for me to socialize with them. And for other example, my husband is a business person, he also need to socialize with a lot of people, so he always use his sense of humor to bond with each other. Most important of all, humorous can not only socialize with others, but also lubricate the tense relationships between colleagues.

To sum up, why humorous TV shows are really popular? I guess our society likes to laugh. Like me …I think I am a sociable kind of person; I think people can not stay out the social life. I would rather be a person with smiling than with a cold heart.

Simpsons Movie Comment

I thought the movie was very funny. Although I have not watched the series before but I still enjoyed it. And I was laughing throughout the movie. I thought the Simpsons movie wants to convey four issues:

First, this movie wants to entertain audience in an ironic way. The opening showed that Homer said “ I can’t believe we’re paying to see something we get on TV for free. IF you ask me, everybody in this theater is a giant sucker.” And they mocked some classic movies, such as Titanic. This opening it shows director that want to make a joke to movie industry

Second, this movie shows how people are really cold about others. Green Day has been playing for three and a half hours then they would like just a minute of time to say something about environment. At that time there is a deathly silence, followed by huge boos from springfieldians. They start throwing things at Green Day. This part present people are indifferent and don’t like to be lectured, they won’t care about anything unless it happens to themselves.

Next, it shows the decision process of the U.S government is so rough and it jokes about the voters. There are one plot about President Schwarzenegger that me.
When Russ Cargill wants the President Schwarzenegger to make a choice, then President Schwarzenegger doesn’t want to read them first and just pick.
And he says I was elected to “lead not to read.”…

The last, this movie shows the family relationship. Especially when Homer lay in the heart - shaped ice and then it breaks. After a strong struggle, he’s finally back to springfield. It presents he cared about his wife and his family. To sum up, this movie conveys issues about environment, family, movie industry, religion, and politic. Althouth these issues are very serious, the director uses the humor way to present his idea. I like the way it presents and I think the director and script writer are genius. We all know the pollution is very serious nowadays, but if someone wants you to see movie about environmental protection, will you choose the humor way like this movie or just like An Inconvenient Truth? My answer is the latter.

Dragon Boat Festival

Last Thursday was the Dragon Boat Festival, we went back Keelung and had lunch with my family....After we ate rice dumplings I said a story to children about this festival....On rainy spring day, Lady White and Lady Green were walking along river. They met a handsome scholar,Xu Xian. Lady White and Xu fell in love at first sight....and soon they got married and opened a very successful herb store. For a while their life together was happy....

Howerer, one day a monk with one eyebrow, Fahai, said to Xu, " you are in dagner. Your wife is a one-thousand-year-old snake!" Xu didn't believe him. Fahai told Xu to follow one simple Chinese custom. This way, Xu could see his wife as a snake. "Today is Dragon Boat Fesstival....It's a custom to drink wine mixed with realgar". And the smell of realgar kept them away. " Have Lady White drink some and you will see for yourself," Fahai said. Xu replied, "I don't believe you. But I'll have her drink some just to show you that you are wrong."

Then...This part was very touching,,,
Lady White knew she should not drink the wine with realgar. However, she did it out of her love for Xu. So...for sure she temporarily turned into a giant white snake....Although Xu knew the fact ...he said " I don't care if you are a snake. I still love you". I thought it like another movie named Painted Skin. They were both touching and remantic....If I were Lady White I would do the some thing like her... I would do everything for my love!