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Seventeen years on the streets, living and working with the people of China, Jeff
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Our anecdotal vignettes and best wishes to all the fans in Sinoland!
Happy New Year’s Eve in China. It is called Chuxi (除夕) in Chinese. Chu means doorstep, and Xi means sunset. Thus, today you’re on the doorstep of the sunset before Chinese New Year tomorrow, which, being lunar, happens to fall on February 17 this year. Curiously, it’s also Mardi Gras for Catholics and many Catholic-based cultures around the world, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Chinese people are fairly private about their home lives. Last year, our Taiwanese neighbors invited us into their home for Chuxi, and they invited us again this year, which is quite an honor, since it is traditionally a family banquet. Having recently moved here, we were a little bit unprepared last year and only came with a couple of bottles of Prosecco, from our Puli Carrefour supermarket. We learned they apparently don’t like bubbly, champagne-like drinks. So, this year, we’re better prepared. Today, Evelyne is preparing a French cream, cauliflower, potato, and broccoli soup. For dessert, she’ll make a French blueberry, apple, cream tart, of course both of them have lots of real, imported French butter! I’ll try a couple of bottles of non-bubbly French red wine this year. Wish me luck!
In any case, we will be celebrating a cross-cultural, Chuxi tonight. We’re looking really forward to it.
Both Evelyne and I would like to wish everyone out there in Sinoland a happy, healthy and safe 2026 Year of the Male Red Fire Horse, which only comes around every 60 years. It usually portends bad things and we’re already seeing it happen, thanks to the Judeo-West’s psychopathic, Satanic Talmud-Tanakhs.
Maybe the elliptical, Daoist-Confucist-Buddhist Chinese know something about the cycles of human life and (geo)political society that we linear, invasive, occupied, colonized and Weimarized Occidentals don’t. Maybe we have something to learn.
Take care,
Jeff and Evelyne
Pictured above: This calendar page for today is from Evelyne’s and my Daoist calendar that we bought on the Mainland for 2026.
Later, I will publish a full description of our Daoist calendar. I’ve already saved a lot of notes and it will be quite extensive. Daoism is extremely fascinating, I mean extremely fascinating.
But just to give you a taste, you can see the big Chinese characters for Chuxi (除夕) in the upper left-hand corner.
Then there’s two vertical sentences. The one on the left says,
时时刻刻喜洋洋 (shíshíkèkè xǐyángyáng) = Be Happy All the Time!
And the second one says,
四面八方放光出异彩 (sìmiàn bāfāng fàngguāng chūyì cǎi) = Emit Light and Radiate Extraordinary Brilliance in All Directions (since it is a well-known maxim, the 2nd-4th characters are all scrunched together)!
You can see the picture of a noble Chinese family, the mother, the father, elder son on the left, two middle daughters and a baby boy. Younger sister is lighting a candle that could represent fireworks or reinforce the aforementioned sentence on the right. They have a giant goldfish. Goldfish in Chinese iconography represent prosperity, harmony, abundance (including fertility, since they multiply like crazy) and good luck. The flowering plants in the huge porcelain vase on the right double the meaning of the goldfish.
I’ll stop there for now. The rest of the content is all profound and mystical Daoism.
Chinese civilization is very, very interesting. It is a relaxing and gentle contrast to the Talmud-Tanakh West’s Globo-cop Judeo-genocide, Wokeism and one-world (techno)totalitarian dictatorship being perpetrated across all of humanity.
Again, Happy Chuxi!
J&E
Really fun and cool further reading
ADVENTURES IN ASIA WITH LADYB, LAOLAO AND GONGGONG- Story #25: all the fascinating details in 365-day, tear-a-page Chinese wall calendars. Here’s yours for your birthday!
It’s that time of year again: learn about the incredibly fascinating Chinese Lunar and Agricultural Calendars explained in this Year of the Fire Horse 2026!
It’s all here in a downloadable 6-page summary to post on your refrigerator, bulletin board, in your notebook or by your bedside!
Noble attributes of Chinese civilzation cheat sheet updated expanded 260216
Noble Attributes of Chinese Civilization
A Radio Sinoland Cultural Cheat Sheet, six printable pages to earn your Chinese Studies Degree!
By: Jeff J. Brown
With Mandarin and Pinyin for language learners…
Zhou Gong (周公 = Zhōu Gōng, born 1050BC). Zhou is a common family name. Gong means Public & Authority.
Why he matters: He was a wise king who laid the philosophical foundations for Confucism and Chinese Thought.
Motto: No more divine leadership and its human sacrifice. From now on, the Heavenly Mandate is based on the citizens’ consent. The foundations of social harmony are Virtue, Ritual, Filial Piety and Prosperity for All!
From now on, the Heavenly Mandate is based on the citizens’ consent: Virtue, Ritual, Filial Piety—Foundations of Harmony!
Core values: Revere virtue to protect the people; illuminate virtue and apply punishment cautiously.
Core values in Chinese: 敬德保民，明德慎罚 (Jìng dé bǎo mín, míng dé shèn fá).
Generation Z version: Honor, Hope, Humble, Helpful.
Laozi (老子 = Lǎozǐ, born 604BC). Means Old Child or Old Master.
Why he matters: He gave us Daoism, the Way of the Dao.
Motto: Constant Non-Being and Constant Being, Non-Action and Action, Retreat and Advance.
Core values: Humanity follows Earth, Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Dao, the Dao follows Nature.
The way of the Dao in Chinese: 老子的道经/道之道 (Lǎozǐ de Dàojīng/Dàozhīdào)
Core values in Chinese: 人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然 (Rén fǎdì, dì fǎtiān, tiān fǎdào, dào fǎ zìrán).
Generation Z version: Zen, baby, Zen.
Confucius (孔子 = Kǒngzǐ, born 551BC). Means Kong Family Scion or Master Kong.
Why he matters: He gave us Confucism.
Motto: Cultivate humanity, Uphold Fairness, Practice Etiquette, Be Resourceful, Keep the Faith!
Confucius’ Five Constants: Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, Trustworthiness.
Confucius’ Five Constants in Chinese: 仁义礼智信 (Rén Yì Lǐ Zhì Xìn).
Generation Z version: Family, Friends, Fraternity, Unity.
Sunzi (孙子 = Sūnzǐ, born 544BC). Means Sun Family Scion or Master Sun.
Why he matters: Maybe history’s greatest strategist.
Motto: Victory without battle, so that hot war is not even needed.
Core values: Know yourself, know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles.
Core values in Chinese: 知己知彼，百战不殆 (Zhī jǐ zhī bǐ, bǎi zhàn bù dài).
Generation Z version: When in doubt, retreat.
Note: 36 Stratagems of War were not written until 5th century AD.
Zigong, Yan Hui & Zilu (子贡 = Zǐgòng, 颜回 = Yán Huí & 子路 = Zǐlù, born 520, 521 & 542BC, respectively). Names mean, Zigong: Child/Master of Tribute, Yan Hui: Yan is a family name. Hui means Return/Answer. Zilu: Child/Master of Logic.
Why they matter: They were Confucius’ three favorite students, out of 3,500.
Motto: Ethics trump morals.
Core values: Gentleness, Kindness, Respect, Frugality, Humility.
Core values in Chinese: 温良恭俭让 (Wēn Liáng Gōng Jiǎn Ràng).
Generation Z version: Cool, Calm, Collected, Chillaxed.
Buddha (佛陀 = Fótuó, born 480BC). Means The Awakened One.
Why he matters: He gave us Buddhism.
Motto: Practice the Ten Good Deeds and avoid the Ten Negative Actions, for Harmony, Balance & Peace.
Core values: Buddha’s Three Hinderances: Desire, Anger and Ignorance.
Core values in Chinese: Buddha’s Three Hinderances: 佛陀的三盖: 贪欲、嗔恨、无明 (Fótuó de Sāngài: Tānyù, Chēnhèn, Wúmíng).
Generation Z version: Rest, Relaxation, Respite, Repose.
Mozi (墨子 = Mòzǐ, born 470BC). Mo is a family name. Means Mo Family Scion or Master Mo.
Why he matters: A “competitor” to Confucism, expounding on ethics, logic, rational thought and scientific technology.
Motto: Universal Love, Condemn Aggression, Frugality, Heaven’s Will!
Core Values: Impartially care for all; mutually benefit one another.
Core values in Chinese: 兼相爱，交相利(Jiān xiāng ài, jiāo xiāng lì).
Generation Z version: Seek truth from facts. Holistic knowledge trumps superstition.
Shang Yang (商鞅 = Shāng Yāng, born 390BC). Shang is a family name. Yang means Leather Horsecollar.
Why he matters: Great statesman, chancellor and administrator whose vision and organizational skills were instrumental in eventually unifying China for the first time into the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC).
Motto: Law, Power, Merit—No Privilege!
Core values: Punishment recognizes no rank—from ministers to commoners, all who disobey the king’s orders or violate state laws shall be executed without pardon.
Core values in Chinese : 刑无等级，自卿相将军以至大夫庶人，有不从王令、犯国禁、乱上制者，罪死不赦。 (Xíng wú děngjí, zì qīng xiàng jiāngjūn yǐ zhì dàfū shùrén, yǒu bù cóng wáng lìng, fàn guó jìn, luàn shàng zhì zhě, zuì sǐ bù shè).
Generation Z version: You do it, you own it, Bub.
Mencius (孟子= Mèngzǐ, born 371BC). Means Meng Family Scion or Master Meng.
Why he matters: He expounded on Confucism.
Motto: Accountability, Meritocracy, Mutual Honor and Respect.
Core values: Loyalty, Filial Piety, Integrity, Shame, Courage.
Core values in Chinese: 忠孝廉耻勇 (Zhōng Xiào Lián Chǐ Yǒng).
Generation Z version: Where one’s reputational rubber meets the road.
Zhuangzi (庄子 = Zhuāngzǐ, born 369BC). Means Zhuang Family Scion or Master Zhuang.
Why he matters: He expounded on Daoism.
Motto: Embrace Spontaneity, Transcend Distinctions, Wander Freely, Merge with the Infinite!
Core values: Infinite Essence, Empty Existence, Silent Stillness, Sharing Minds.
无限的本质，空无的存在，寂静的静止，心灵的交流 (Wúxiàn de Běnzhí, Kōngwú dì Cúnzài, Jìjìng de Jìngzhǐ, Xīnlíng de Jiāoliú).
Generation Z version: Zen, baby, Zen.
Xunzi (荀子 = Xúnzǐ, born 313BC). Means Xun Family Scion or Master Xun.
Why he matters: The Thomas Hobbes of Confucism.
Motto: Daily rule (Heavenly Mandate), not divine rule.
Core values: Human nature is evil; goodness is the result of conscious effort.
人之性恶，其善者伪也 (Rén zhī xìng è, qí shàn zhě wěi yě).
Generation Z version: Trust but verify. When in doubt, assume the worst.
Han Feizi (韩非子 Hán Fēizǐ, born 280BC). Han is a family name. Feizi means Run Counter to the Master.
Motto: Authority, Law, Tactics—Rule by System, Not Virtue!
Core values: The law does not favor the noble; the plumb line does not bend for the crooked.
Core values in Chinese: 法不阿贵，绳不挠曲 (Fǎ bù ēguì, sheng bù náoqū).
Generation Z version: Supreme organization and visionary management equal societal success.
Huang Feihong (黄飞鸿 = Huǎng Fēihóng, born 1847). Huang is a common family name. Feihong means Flying Swan Goose. Also known as Dàyùn (大云 = Big Cloud).
Why he matters: Cited as one of the greatest Kungfu martial artists ever and even more so, a renowned Traditional Kungfu doctor. Revered by Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, etc.
Motto: Righteous Fist, Healing Hand—Defend the Weak, Uplift All!
Core values: Energy in Body, Power of Persistence, Internal Qi, Positive Attitude.
Core values in Chinese: 身体能量，坚韧之力，内气，积极心态 (Shēntǐ néngliàng, Jiānrèn zhī lì, Nèiqì, Jījí xīntài).
Generation Z version: Possible, doable – I can, I will; possible, doable – I should, I must.
Mao Zedong (毛泽东 = Máo Zédōng, born 1893). Mao is a common family name. Zedong means Eastern Luster/Beneficence.
Why he matters: He expounded on Marxism-Leninism-Stalinism + the above Great Philosophies, giving us Chinese Communism-Socialism.
Motto: Women hold up half the sky, Mass Line (listen to the citizens) and
SERVE THE PEOPLE!
Core values: Cooperation, Collective, Collaboration, Cohesion.
Core values in Chinese: 合作、集体、协作、团结! (hézuò, jítǐ, xiézuò, tuánjié).
Generation Z version: There is no “I” in “Team”.
All these great philosopher-teachers espouse two fundamental concepts, The Golden Rule and Vital Precept/Jade Laws.
-
The Golden Rule = 金科 (Jīnkē)
English: What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.
Chinese: 己所不欲，勿施于人 (Jǐsuǒ bùyù, wùshī yúrén).
Very important observation: the Chinese version is in the negative, making it epistemologically very different than the Western Golden Rule. Not the same thing. The prior is passive, elliptical and uber-Daoist, the latter is active, linear and invasive.
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The Vital Precept/Jade Laws = 玉律 (Yùlǜ).
Entire books are written about the Vital Precept/Jade Laws, so I will go Gen Z on you, to sum it up in one sentence:
DO THE RIGHT THING!
In fact, these two concepts are almost always mentioned together:
金科玉律 (Jīnkē Yùlǜ).
Further reading about Chinese Civilization
Series by boots-on-the-ground China Writer travelers reporting on real China and real Chinese people!
Stay caught up with Amir&Jeff’s Amazing Adventure, journeying through the wilds of inner China, where foreigners don’t go! Short videos, captioned photos, articles, critical commentary.
State of the Chinese Union 2025: based on five months recently journeying across the country’s backwoods + 17 years living there. Speech given to Samui Real, Thailand, 13 August 2025
ADVENTURES IN ASIA WITH LADYB, FASHU, LAOLAO AND GONGGONG Series (focused on Taiwan Province and the rest of Asia)
Jeff’s many articles about Taiwan Province
Evelyne&Jeff’s Excellent China Adventure Series. Months spent traveling the back roads of China. Short videos with transcripts, captioned photos, articles and critical commentary. The REAL Chinese people you do not know!
Frans Vandenbosch: Final reflections on an extraordinary voyage
https://yellowlion.org/asia-trip-2025-part-11/
###
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44 Days Backpacking in China: The Middle Kingdom in the 21st Century, with the United States, Europe and the Fate of the World in Its Looking Glass https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=YBKHEAAAQBAJ
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BIG Red Book on China: Chinese History, Culture and Revolution
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44 Days Backpacking in China: The Middle Kingdom in the 21st Century, with the United States, Europe and the Fate of the World in Its Looking Glass
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China Rising: Capitalist Roads, Socialist Destinations
https://www.amazon.com/China-Rising-Capitalist-Socialist-Destinations/dp/0996487042
BIG Red Book on China: Chinese History, Culture and Revolution
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Praise for The China Trilogy:
Jeff J. Brown’s libraries and catalogues A-Z: 1,000s of hours of research, writing, editing and podcasting.
Why and How China works: With a Mirror to Our Own History
JEFF J. BROWN, Editor, China Rising, and Senior Editor & China Correspondent, Dispatch from Beijing, The Greanville Post
Jeff J. Brown is a geopolitical analyst, journalist, lecturer and the author of The China Trilogy. It consists of 44 Days Backpacking in China – The Middle Kingdom in the 21st Century, with the United States, Europe and the Fate of the World in Its Looking Glass (2013); Punto Press released China Rising – Capitalist Roads, Socialist Destinations (2016); and BIG Red Book on China (2020). As well, he published a textbook, Doctor WriteRead’s Treasure Trove to Great English (2015). Jeff is a Senior Editor & China Correspondent for The Greanville Post, where he keeps a column, Dispatch from Beijing and is a Global Opinion Leader at 21st Century. He also writes a column for The Saker, called the Moscow-Beijing Express. Jeff writes, interviews and podcasts on his own program, China Rising Radio Sinoland, which is also available on YouTube, Stitcher Radio, iTunes, Ivoox and RUvid. Guests have included Ramsey Clark, James Bradley, Moti Nissani, Godfree Roberts, Hiroyuki Hamada, The Saker and many others. [/su_spoiler]
Jeff can be reached at China Rising, [email protected], Facebook, Twitter, Wechat (+86-19806711824/Mr_Professor_Brown, and Line/Telegram/Whatsapp: +33-612458821.
Read it in your language • Lealo en su idioma • Lisez-le dans votre langue • Lies es in deniner Sprache • Прочитайте это на вашем языке • 用你的语言阅读
[google-translator]
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I contribute to