Early spring 郭熙 早春圖

This painting is one of the finest masterpieces of Chinese art. For more details, please see the following site. I am sure you can enjoy a wonderful view of early spring.　Collection of National palace museum Taiwan

朋友們請來看這幅名畫而享受電腦上的探春行樂。臺灣故宮博物院藏品

http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/collection/selections_02.htm?docno=48&catno=15

Expelling devils with beans 撒豆驅邪:日式儺

The night before the beginning of spring, in every house people scatter parched soybeans, shouting "Bad luck, go out of my house. Good luck, come into my house." This ritual is usually done in the night of 3rd Feb. In ancient China more than 2000 years ago, there was a ritual of expelling devils and bad lucks at the end of a year. In Japan, people still keep a similar one. This cute pack in the photo is for children.

立春的前一天晚上, 每個日本家庭人們都開門窗, 撒黃豆來驅邪招福。大家大喊"邪氣出去! 福氣進來! "

中國古代臘月有驅逐疫鬼的一種儀式叫做儺(音: 挪)。2000多年前的周禮有關于儺的記載。

New Year's Holy Fire 新年聖火

In mid January, people make a big triangle with bamboos and ceder branches and put new year's ornaments around it. In the night, it is fired. People warm rice cake and eat it. It is believed that if you warm your body at the fire, you will never catch a cold during the year.

The origin of this custom is unknown. Some nations may have same folkway to start daily life in a new year.

Zhuhai (south China) revisited 再訪珠海

I visited Zhuhai again last week. Though it is the coldest season now, the temperature is around 20 degrees centigrade.

Zhuhai is a special economic zone. Tall buildings for residence have been being built one after another. 珠海市政府想要建築一個美麗的庭園城市。

Many city projects have been under way to build a garden city here. Actually we can see beautiful flowers and green grass from a car window.

This is a photo of a suburb under development. New high speed railway to Guangzhou is under construction. 郊外有一道山巒。
During WWII, a partisan base was built here. The first floor of this small building is a memorial room of revolution. The second floor is a business office.

Visit to a shrine on New Year's Day 新初參拜

A happy new year! May this year bring you success, happiness and health.

新年好! 祝你們健康 全家幸福。 日本現在以陽曆恭賀新年。我也去參拜神社。

This is a stone gate built in front of the approach to the shrine. Before praying, people wash hands and rinse their mouths to purify them.
People ring a big bell before praying. A pair of lions guards the shrine.
People receive talismans from girls in shrine uniform. Red color is a symbol of happiness. 這些穿著紅白衣裳的小姐們在神社中從事奏樂祈禱。相似古代女巫。
This is an ornament for new year, made of bamboo, pine leaves and plum tree. 這個叫做"門松"。用松竹梅做的。這三種是日本吉祥植物。

Chiristmas at a city in south China 珠海聖誕節

I visited Zhuhai, one hour trip by ship from Hong Kong. It's still warm in winter. The hotel I stayed is on right side of the photo.
This is one of Christmas decorations in the hotel. Wo ho ho!!!
Beside of the hotel, there was another hotel displaying Santa Claus on a reindeer sleigh and a Christmas tree. Many waitress and shopgirls wore a hot cap under Christmas songs. China has tried to accept western culture. It can be said China is in new age.

National Park (2) 國立公園 有山有水

Red leaves under the blue sky
After 40minutes walk we saw a big fall. Captured by the unexpected view and the overwhelming sound, I forgot my daily life for a while.
A rapid mountain stream is biting rocks. 白龍遊泳

Late autumn in national park 晚秋看紅葉洗溫泉

Last Sunday we went to Nikko national park 120miles north of Tokyo and stayed one night in a cabin. We soaked in a good hot spring.

我們去日光國立公園在小房住了一天。也洗溫泉了。

The river has the winter color, glittering black.
The maple leaves still keep red. 紅葉可美啊。
In upper mountains, the trees have already shed leaves. I love to walk in this scene with warm sunshine and silence.

Ginkgo 公孫樹

Ginkgo leaves have turned. Yellow ginkgo and red maple leaves have people notice that autumn has deepened and winter will come soon. When I was a child, I loved to collect fallen ginkgo leaves.