Feb 9 Chinese New Year by Jazaf

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Feb 9 Chinese New Year

POSTED BY: JAZAF
UPDATED: Thursday, January 6, 2005 20:59
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Monday, January 3, 2005 8:41 PM

JAZAF

Hey, it's Jazaf the Rat

bringing you the Chinese New Year update!

Feb 9th is the start of the year of the Rooster!!

And for those of you who don't know;

The sign of the Rooster indicates a person who is hard-working and definite about their decisions. Roosters are not afraid to speak their minds and can therefore sometimes come across as boastful. They make good restaurant owners and world travellers.

So all you Browncoats out there that were born in the years 1933 1945 1957 1969 1981 1993
come on and give a shout out!!

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Heh thought I would pst this as a tribute to the Chinese influence in Firefly. If the response is good I'll do it every Chinese New Year

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Do you know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I go get and beat you with till you
understand who's in rutting command here.

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Tuesday, January 4, 2005 6:31 AM

JAYNEZTOWN

Symbols

牛 Ox/Cow
虎 Tiger 兔 Hare/Rabbit
龙 Dragon
蛇 Snake 马 Horse
鼠 Rat
羊 Sheep 猴 Monkey
鸡Rooster 狗Dog 猪Boar

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Tuesday, January 4, 2005 8:41 AM

INDIGO

Thanks Jazaf and Jayneztown -- I was *just* about to go look up when the Chinese New Year was. My family usually does a party then, with lots of red foods. I love the opportunity to hang up my collection of Chinese paper lanterns!

Delurking at last. This site is one of my daily reads; and although I've only seen each episode once (my brother-in-law turned us onto to Firefly and loaned us the tapes) I've gained a better understanding of the show through climbing around with FireFlyFans. I love, love, love that crew!

Oh, I'm a Wood Dragon (Mu Lung), my husband is a Fire Ram (Ho Yang), and our son is a Fire Ox (Ho Niu).

Peace, Indigo

Art is long and Time is fleeting -- Longfellow

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Tuesday, January 4, 2005 7:46 PM

JAZAF

hey no problem. but could you enlighten me on the elements in front of your zodiac animals?

---------------------------------------
Do you know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I go get and beat you with till you
understand who's in rutting command here.

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Wednesday, January 5, 2005 8:04 AM

INDIGO

Well, as best that I can -- It relates to the ideas behind Feng Shui, living in balance with the natural enviroment which is symbolized by the interaction between five elements. Rather than the western alchemical elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water (the Norse also added Ice) -- the Chinese use Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.

The Chinese zodiac has its twelve signs, as you know and these are in a sixty year rotation. Sixty is arrived at by doing the multiples of the 12 signs and the five elements (or ten because each is used twice in a row in the rotation).

The system was invented in the 27th Cen. BCE by the scholar and astronomer Ta Nao for the purpose of giving names to days. In the Han Dynasty it became used as a way of naming years. It was easy for people to remember thier element and animal as thier date of birth. Since I was born in 1964 (Western calender), I am a Wood Dragon.

If it sounds like I know alot about this, well no, I referred to a neat old book called "Outlines of Chinese Symbolism & Art Motives" by C.A.S. Williams, Dover Edition, 1931.
Probably out of print, but I bet that there are plenty of resources out there that can give you the table of ephemere and qualities of the signs and elements. Tell me your *year* of birth and I can look it up for you.

Anyone else have any resources?

--Indigo

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Wednesday, January 5, 2005 8:23 AM

JAZAF

You'd do that? Cool!
I was born in 1984.

---------------------------------------
Do you know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I go get and beat you with till you
understand who's in rutting command here.

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Wednesday, January 5, 2005 9:06 AM

INDIGO

Jazaf, you are a Wood Rat (Mu Shu). And oh neat -- you are in the No.1 year (named Chia Tzu) of the cycle of 60 (78th five cycles of 60 in a 300 year cycle, from CE (AD) 1744-2043). TMI right?

Anyway, a Wood Rat could be described as (from my book source): "The rat...is an emblem of timidity and meanness. It is also regarded as the symbol of industry and prosperity on account of its ability for locating, aquiring and hoarding large amounts of food." Rats are thought to turn into quails (and vis versa) in the 8th month of the year. Quails represent fierceness and courage, but also poverty. Wood's pictogram represents the roots, trunk and spreading branches of a tree. It is a symbol of resource (fire, building supplies, art), life, strength and beauty.

All and all, it sounds like you should be prosperous if you are thrifty.

"Your milage may vary," as a good friend of mine says.

--Indigo

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Wednesday, January 5, 2005 10:13 AM

GOJIRO

I was born in 1967, which means I'm a ram or a sheep, depending upon which Chinese restaurant's placemat I'm looking at.

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Are you a Southern Ohio Browncoat? If so, join our Yahoo group for news and events: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/firefly-ohio/

And if you're a Cincinnati Area Browncoat, join our meetup group at http://firefly.meetup.com/137/

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Wednesday, January 5, 2005 10:32 AM

INDIGO

"I was born in 1967, which means I'm a ram or a sheep, depending upon which Chinese restaurant's placemat I'm looking at."

Giggle

Yea, I remember being absolutely *fascinated* by the placemats as a kid. We had a great Chinese restaurant, Yat-suns, in Helena, MT (USA) that always entranced me -- old local family from this gold mining town that filled the place with crimson and gold, dragons and tigers.

Feeling really nostalgic for favorite Chinese restaraunts now; must make trip to our Seattle International District soon. Yum, Dim Sum.

Let'see, 1967: Ho Yang, the Fire Ram, same as my husband.

--Indigo

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Wednesday, January 5, 2005 10:39 AM

GOJIRO

Fire Ram, eh? That explains that burning sensation when I ... uh, never mind.

Thanks for looking that up! I'm noodling around the idea of having a Chinese New Year FF shindig. Maybe I'll try to get a copy of this book -- would make for some interesting conversation!

-------
Are you a Southern Ohio Browncoat? If so, join our Yahoo group for news and events: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/firefly-ohio/

And if you're a Cincinnati Area Browncoat, join our meetup group at http://firefly.meetup.com/137/

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Wednesday, January 5, 2005 10:54 AM

PERIDIDDLE

Would you mind taking a glance at 1991? I'm very intrigued by this new little bit of the Zodic I learned today, and it'd be neat to know mine. ^_^

"Bwaa...it's kind of a warrior...strikes fear into the hearts of..."

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Wednesday, January 5, 2005 1:55 PM

INDIGO

Oh sure,
1991 - you are a Metal Ram (Chin Yang).

I'd write more, but I have to go pick up my Fire Ox from school right now.

Ta, Indigo

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Wednesday, January 5, 2005 5:13 PM

INDIGO

That sounds fun Gojiro,
I've never done a Shindig, but depending on what time its planned for Feb. 9th I'd be into it. It might run nicely forth from our family party.

Also, I just started a new thread vis-a-vis the zodiacal signs of the crew -- might be a fun fic for the crew to hold their own Chinese New Year's party.

(OT sorta, my husband and I went back east (uhm, relative to the Pacific NW) last summer to Cinncinnati to visit his relatives, home-stomping-grounds, and to attend GenCon. Mmh, humidity! I was sooo chagrined to find out that Nathan Fillion and Ms. Baccarin were there and we didn't know! Argh. Oh well, not into the fan-fawning bit anyway.)

--Indigo

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Wednesday, January 5, 2005 6:00 PM

GOJIRO

Don't be chagrined. GenCon was not in Cincinnati. I think it was in Indiana somewhere. And I don't think that was the one Nathan and Morena attended. They were at GenCon West, with I believe was in LA.

If I have the facts wrong, please, someone correct me on this. And if Nathan and Morena WERE in Cincinnati, I know a WHOLE LOTTA BROWNCOATS that are gonna be way more chagrined than you, Indigo!

Even further OT, if you ever do make it back to Cincinnati again, let us know you're coming and we'll throw a Big Damn Shindig in your honor, making you Big Damn Heroes!

-------
Are you a Southern Ohio Browncoat? If so, join our Yahoo group for news and events: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/firefly-ohio/

And if you're a Cincinnati Area Browncoat, join our meetup group at http://firefly.meetup.com/137/

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Wednesday, January 5, 2005 6:53 PM

JAZAF

Quote:
The rat...symbol of industry and prosperity... Wood... is a symbol of resource ), life, strength and beauty.

whoa...

looks like I have a bit to live up to.heh

thanks for the info!

---------------------------------------
Do you know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I go get and beat you with till you
understand who's in rutting command here.

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Thursday, January 6, 2005 7:20 AM

INDIGO

Whups, you're right, GenCon was in Indianapolis.

It was a confusing week -- we stayed in Cinncinnati alot too, and I was a bit overwhelmed and exausted by the end of the con.
However, I'm *pretty* sure that it was the Indianapolis GenCon that they were at -- I saw a couple of photos of them there and recognize the merchant area that they were standing in. One of best friends worked the Wizards booth so we spent alot of time in and out of there. Still, I could be wrong.
Anywho, thanks for the invite!

--Indigo

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Thursday, January 6, 2005 8:59 PM

NEEDLESEYE

Quote:
Originally posted by Jazaf:
...not afraid to speak their minds and can therefore sometimes come across as boastful. They make good restaurant owners and world travellers.

I guess I'm a Rooster myself. "Boastful"not so much, but "matter of fact" or "blunt".

'cause I seem to give that impression often.
Can't say I'd be a resturant owner, but world travelin'? make that "off world" and I'll be there!

Keeper of Jayne's goggles. 8)

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