After reading about Maxine Hong Kingston's piece, we learned that the color red can symbolize many things, especially in Chinese culture. In the chapter "White Tiger", the "red" thread connects Kingston's personal experiences with the ancient Chinese folklore of Mulan.
Beyond the book, red has a profound cultural significance in Chinese history and culture. It's way more than just a color; it's rich in symbolism. In Chinese culture, red is associated with good fortune, joy, and celebration. It's widely shown during festivities such as Chinese New Year, where red envelopes containing money represent blessings and good fortune for the future year. Red is also frequently used in Chinese weddings (not so frequently anymore as many weddings are westernized now) to symbolize love, happiness, and success. Brides often wear red gowns, and the color is integrated into various aspects of the ceremony.
One memory I still remember deeply is the New Year on my Běn Mìng Nián (rough translation "zodiac year of birth"). On that specific Chinese New Year's Eve, also known as Chú Xī, my mom had me wear red the whole day. It's believed that wearing red during this potentially challenging year will bring good luck and ward off bad luck. The Běn Mìng Nián is often associated with bad luck or obstacles because it's believed that the zodiac animal of that year (which is the same as the person's birth year) is in conflict with the Tai Sui, a deity in Chinese astrology responsible for a person's fate and fortune. Thus, wearing red will protect individuals from negative energy or bad luck associated with this conflict. Although I wouldn't consider my family to be superstitious, we still embrace these traditions because they create a shared experience that we can look back upon.
I liked how you connected the color red with apart of Chinese culture that wasn’t shown in the piece. Red is a big part of Chinese culture as a whole and I liked how you talked about it’s everyday value as well.
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