Henan Museum
is a free admission provincial level museum that should not be missed. Located in the central plain of partly mountainous province, Henan is regarded as the cradle of Chinese civilization. From the fractional collection of display, one can only glimpse generally about the long recorded history of China.
12th Day of Chinese New Year 2009

(Below) Blooming in cold winter, a type of plum flower 腊梅 or la-mei gives off unmistakable fragrance that even birds and bees are attracted to them. By reason of this, scholars or philosophers alike have taken this to symbolize the unbending character, strength, perseverance and dexterity.

(Below) A legendary figure, Fuxi is regarded as the person who made observation of nature. The standing elephants are symbols of cosmic order, hence the evolution of human nature.

(Above) The parts and nomenclature of a conventional vertical scroll chinese painting. (Below) This is a part of a long horizontal scroll that depicts life during the spring festival.

(Below) The symbolic painting depicts human nature craving for eternity as shown by the flying crane and longevity as shown by the four easy and casual immortals.

(Above and below) Models showing prototypical forms of life necessitated by the immediate environment and amenities available.

Tortoise oracles (above) with cursive calligraphic inscriptions on them served to record histories during classical period, also the origins of chinese writings.

The flute shown above is made out of a bone while the chart below shows the musical notes in chinese and compared.

(Above) The clay container is the prototype of the later musical instrument called bian bells. The protrutions on the container are taken as the decorative nipples form. (Below) Whereas, clay can be formed into another type of container with meaningful acrobatic actions pragmatic as a handle.

(Above) this beautifully sculpted bulbous metallic animal figurine appears like some crouching dog or leopard biting at something, with a squarish compartment in the center set other isntrumental parts or for other unknown use. The figurine (below) is most likely a type of oil lamp.

While this one (below) appears dragon like and it could be a part of other use as well.

(Above) Multi-tiered pagoda is a building type deriving from buddhistic culture from India.

(Above) Horse and camel (below) play an important part of transportation mean during the silk road period when the east met the west, trading across the Gobi desert that brought a long and prosperous period during the Tang Dynasty.

(Above) The relatively prosperous and peaceful period has evolved into pleasurable indulgence such as musical entertainment as shown by the women troupe.

And women during the Tang Dynasty leaned toward obesity as the standard of beauty during the Tang Dynasty. With available wealth and time, women engaged themselves into various creative hair-do coiffer.

(Above) Nothing is more gothic than a piece of ghoulish figurine to defend the tomb of deceased and to ward off unwanted tomb raiders.

The model (above) depicts the modernistic urban scale during the relatively peaceful and wealthy Tang periods. Below in 3-dimensional format, the model is based on the painting of By the River during Clear and Bright Festival, of Ming period, sectionally depicts a properous Ming Period in the current Kaifeng city, located east of Zhengzhou.

(Above) a nifty scale model showing architectural work of a simple house form while (below) is a spread out display of a jade mask, a part of the larger whole scale human body jade figure that is also made out of these similar various forms of jades pieces.

Jeremy

Zhengzhou, Henan

February 6, 2009

Street life in Zhengzhou, Henan
12th Day of Chinese New Year 2009

After hearing the newscast from radio mentioning about some temple gala or 庙会 somewhere in town at the People's Park next to the Museum but found none later anywhere near, Fan Hui and I had lots of engaging conversational exchanges all the way while walking on the streets aimlessly in the mild cold. Along the way, great interest is aimed at the street scenes, rather reality of life.

Being born and lived most of her life in Zhengzhou, Fan Hui explained that these rows of trees were planted before the Liberation Period. She further elaborated that the pollination of tree flowers always cause nasal problems for many during spring season. Rather disappointed and sad to hear, like many other modernizing cities, these two streets or shaded boulevards could possibly be fast disappearing or last of its kind in Zhengzhou. These grandiose trees can certainly provide shades and attracts many to stroll during summer should they are also furnished with amenities and human activities.

(Above) The couplet on the entrance framework of this Moslem's or Islamic 回族 Hot and Spicy Soup or Hulatang Restaurant is rather amusing to read and comprehend its rhyming and meaningful implication. On left, "Inside and outside the premise is a kind of taste"; on right, "Same root and same family name is one family" while the central horizontal plaque is inscribed with "taste of an area" or flavor from regional source. According to statistics, there are 56 ethnic types living all over China while the Han ethnic 汉族 is the majority of all.

(Above) I can't imagine life without these skilled workers who link and brighten up our living environment. Conventionally, they were socially and inaccurately branded as unskilled workers. They have to constantly risks their life in many ways they are in and see how they braved the cold winter to keep our world alive. We should really care for them more and give them sincere due respect accordingly.

(Above) Appearing beatened up by seasonal weather, this street vendor strive to find possible means to push around town and locate whichever spots or corner to make sale of lanterns for little kids or home decors in time for the 15th Day of Chinese New Year Gala. (Below) Providing convenience for neighborhood around, another one find his territory to sell granular products, most likely consumable products such as rice, wheat, barley or sorghum and alike.

(Above) Usually with make shift extension from the existing premise on the first floor, even every possible inch of neighborhood backyard is used for growing vegetables and daily produce beside serving as dumping ground for unwanted belongings and air-conditioning condenser. The greenery is great to see for its best use but the overall cluttering is considered visually unsightly for an urban street landscape.

(Above) Fresh produce directly from the farms in small and (below) larger truck load full of broccolis, this usually provides good bargain of the day.

(Above) I am not sure if these mouth watering crackers that keeps the day mouthful and busy during TV watching is really worthy to buy when laid out in open space, not ever fresh any longer.

(Above) By the wide open the street curb, this ventdor with red banner claims her being the supply outlet of fire crackers from Jinshui District. Don't forget that she has telephone number openly displayed for one to call in case of inquiring doubts for regulatory purpose. (Below)" Honesty is the way of human deeds," the reminder on the wall will certainly help him to boost his sales.

(Above) A beautiful decor of a large size drum comprises of lanterns is being stately displayed in front of a larger shopping center. The picture speaks for itself for what year it is to usher in...a bullish year of prosperity for sales and economies.

(Above) Cotton candies, (below) sweet potatoes, buns and (below next) pineapples as well as cooked edibles are some varieties of attractive offers for passers-by who quest for a fix at street level. Municipality should find them proper niche for these migrating vendors to generate sales, of course, with better hygienic conditions and visually appealing means of catering for the public concurrentlyl. The municipality and the public should cooperate to tap the market or economic potential of this though menacing niche who like many of us are abled workers finding their ways of making a living. Needless to say, they form an interesting part of street life; without them, the streets views can be lifeless and unappealing in certain ways. Alternatively and in many other creative ways, certainly streets can be closed for certain number of hours, for certain time of the weeks at selected streets, just for them to make sales or to pull in some decent incomes. Street life is a part of urbanizing life. Many cities are lifeless when they are weeded out eventually due to urbanization process.

And what a better way to start the day of business by firing up some fire crackers to usher in a prosperous year to come...Good business and good wealth to all in this Year of Ox!

Jeremy
February 6, 2009
Zhenghou, Henan

15th Day of Chinese New Year 2009

The Year of Ox

Gun powder, later fireworks or crackers, is one of the four major discoveries (印刷术printing press,指南针compass,火药gunpowder and 造纸术paper making) during classical time of China.

In this contemporary China, the rising class of neauveau riche continues to flex their pocket change besides entertaining the street crowd for this showy fireworks. This one shown above was nearly an hour long and on the hotel building itself. The building has appeared to have blown up. The cascading firework was really spectacular. According to a friend, the hotel operator is from the Kaifeng City west of Zhengzhou, Henan.

With sky high non-stop and stunning firework displays, there was another municipality operated biggie over at the Conference Square nearby; however, curfew had started at 3p.m. to curb the gravitating crowd towards the Square. This particular firework finale drew crowd from all. By all transportation means to access the nearest strategic and viewable spots, the crowd jammed the street, sidewalks and green pastures. They even illegally parked cars wherever on highways to catch the show at a distance, completely heedless of law or rules since everyone was doing so.

Lucky, me and friends left right before the show ended or we'll be trapped in the jam again.

Thus, the 15-day Chinese New Year gala ended with a big bang.

On the following morning, Su Demei sent me to the New Zheng Airport and I flew back to Shanghai on Tuesday, February 10, 2009.

Jeremy

Zhengzhou, Henan

February 9, 2009