Chinese culture of fortune

Author: Yin Wei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: The character is a walking entity; the path it traverses is a genuine cultural map. The character is reproductive; every vibrant character, nourished by history, possesses a vast community. If each character is a seed with full grain, then "Fú," "Lù," "Shòu," "Xǐ," and "Cái" have fortunately landed in the fertile soil of Chinese culture. Over five thousand years, the rich nutrients have allowed them to develop deep roots and flourish. Each plant is a magnificent sight. German philosopher and anthropologist Michael Landmann believes, "Culture, by definition, is created by the free originality of human beings. For this reason, humans have given culture so many forms: one nation differs from another, one era differs from another. However, in the process of creating culture, humans have created themselves." Among all cultural phenomena, the cultural landscape generated by blessings and prayers is the most common in daily life, distinguishing one nation from another. For example, the Chinese greet each other with "Gōngxǐ Fācái" during the Spring Festival, while the English and Americans say "HAPPY NEW YEAR" on New Year's Day. Beyond the practical needs of human interaction, there is a ritual that almost all nations share—blessings. Generally speaking, blessings are between people, expressing good wishes, and are altruistic; prayers are personal matters, also expressing wishes, but for oneself (and also for the collective). However, in terms of specific interests, the content of blessings and prayers is highly consistent. In the context of traditional Chinese culture, it mainly revolves around "Fú, Lù, Shòu, Xǐ, Cái." This is an interesting question: Why are these five characters chosen to summarize the blessings people enjoy, rather than others? The high level of abstraction in traditional culture leaves us amazed. Among the five characters "Fú, Lù, Shòu, Xǐ, Cái," "Fú" takes the lead. The meaning of "Fú" can be both superficial and profound. Compared to the other four characters, it is more metaphysical—it is not specific but encompasses the others. A person's understanding and enjoyment of "Fú" are closely related to their worldview and values. Longevity is a blessing, health is a blessing, and having many descendants is a blessing—classic dialectical evolution. People might even "gain from misfortune" (like the story of "The Old Man Who Lost a Horse"), but going too far might lead to "Blessings leading to misfortune." Thus, "Dìng" (determination) is also closely related to "Zhù" (blessing) and "Qí" (prayer). Each of the five characters "Fú, Lù, Shòu, Xǐ, Cái" has a rich history. The longevity of the civilization is reflected not only in the specific meanings of the characters but also in their historical context. The history of a character is the history of people, the history of a nation and culture. Each character's history is a splendid cultural landscape. For a long time, we have been fascinated by these characters, which appear so frequently, and our desire to understand them has grown even stronger. However, when we take the time to explore, besides the concise explanations in dictionaries, there is often no easy way to delve deeper. We are grateful to the culturally insightful scholar Yin Wei for meticulously selecting and compiling a series of illustrated Chinese folk auspicious culture books titled "Fú, Lù, Shòu, Xǐ, Cái" from the vast historical classics and the rich tapestry of folk culture. Each character has its own book, with each volume containing over one hundred thousand words, following a consistent format. From the origin and meaning of the characters to the legends and customs, from the worship of character deities to anecdotes about blessings and prayers, all are meticulously researched and engaging. The publication of these books has fulfilled our desire to understand the culture of "Fú, Lù, Shòu, Xǐ, Cái." The character, as an important cultural symbol, has been filled with ambiguity since its birth, carrying the risk of contradiction and the expectation of growth and wonder. The character is a walking entity; the path it traverses is a genuine cultural map. The character is reproductive; every vibrant character, nourished by history, possesses a vast community—just as Yin Wei presents in "Fú, Lù, Shòu, Xǐ, Cái." If each character is a seed with full grain, then "Fú, Lù, Shòu, Xǐ, Cái" have fortunately landed in the fertile soil of Chinese culture. Over five thousand years, the rich nutrients have allowed them to develop deep roots and flourish. Each plant is a magnificent sight. In daily life, we may occasionally see scattered branches or exposed roots, but we cannot see the full picture. Yin Wei's compilation has depicted the entire tree, allowing us to see the well-developed lineage of the "Five Blessings." Even more precious is that Yin Wei has included over a hundred carefully collected folk illustrations in the books, making the series not only informative but also visually delightful. Undoubtedly, the publication of the Chinese folk auspicious culture series "Fú, Lù, Shòu, Xǐ, Cái" is a generous gift to the book market, a feast of folk culture for readers, and an unconventional blessing for festivals.