daily talk beside ghost catchers

Copyright © Tatiana Cardeal. All rights reserved.
Reprodução proibida. © Todos os direitos reservados.

It was a clear feeling that the worlds of myth and reality
have never demanded a clear separation in China.

Red is everywhere in Chinese culture and is the color of celebration. Red banners, from the past Spring Festival, hanged on each side and top of the door, creates the symbolic gateway on the house and add meanings of joy, luck and passion, with written messages that are usually intended to keep the bad spirits away and bring luck into the house.

Some also stick directly on their door the image of the “door god” (men2 shen2 / 门神 ), as ghost catchers, to make sure that bad spirits could not get into the house.

> Village on the suburban area of Guangzhou city, China.

wishes

Copyright © Tatiana Cardeal. All rights reserved.
Reprodução proibida. © Todos os direitos reservados.

China colorized my imaginary world for a long long time. Mythic dragons, ancient history, tea, exotic spicy food, red lights, wisdom, yin yang, Taoism, Buddhism, golden signs, all beside a strong social/political regime, sustainable environmental quests, a still sexist society, human rights hard challenges, and a huge economic development of a massive population... in many ways so different, so complex, and so new for me.

2009 was such a rushed year, Chinese year of the Bull, meaning the prosperity that comes from the strong and the hard work, and luckily I got some of that.
In 2010 I hope to have better chances to share much more experiences here, with old and new friends, and I wish you all a great year of Tiger, with courage and passion on your purposes.

> village's temple around the suburban area of Guangzhou (Canton), China.