Have you Ever Wondered Why There Is No Year of the Cat?



Fan showing the Chinese Zodiac

In Chinese Folklore, the story of how the Chinese Zodiac came into being tells about rivalry, competition and cooperation amongst the animals vying for an honored place in the zodiac.  If you are an aficionado of cats, you may ask yourself’ “Why no cats?  Isn’t the cat a lucky animal in Asian cultures?”

 

maneki-neko

It is true that cats are considered lucky, especially in Japan where the maneki-neko or beckoning cat originated.   You may have seen a maneki-neko in Asian business establishments because it represents a wealth and prosperity feng shui cure.  If you know nothing about feng shui, it literally means wind and water, which we think of as harmony.  Practitioners of feng shui take the bagua, “a grid that reveals how the different areas of any building [or space] you occupy are connected to specific aspects of your life,” and place that grid over homes and businesses to let the owners know how to arrange their belongings to the best advantage.  So the maneki-neko in a business is placed near the entrance to welcome good customers; in a home it should be placed in the southeast (to the right of the entrance) part of the bagua, the wealth and money area. 

 



Jade Emperor

But to get back to the Chinese Zodiac story which begins with the Jade Emperor who ruled the Heavens.  On his birthday he arranged for a swimming race to be held across a fast running river.  The first twelve animals to cross the finish line would have a year of the zodiac named for them.

 Rat and Cat, good friends back then, were afraid they might not stand a chance as they were not good swimmers.  “Let’s ask Ox (water buffalo) for a ride!  He’s a wonderful swimmer.”  So they asked; and Ox, who was easy going and kind as well as a good swimmer, complied. 

 The river was swift and rather deep, but Ox was strong.  Rat and Cat cheered as he took the lead.  Close the far side of the river, Rat crept up behind Cat and suddenly pushed him into the water where Cat began to flounder.  Then climbing onto Ox’s head Rat jumped to the shore before Ox could step upon the land, and proudly presented himself to the Jade Emperor.

 “Ahhh...,” said the Jade Emperor. “The first year of the zodiac will be named after you, Rat.”

Calendar from May Wa Restaurant

Ox was tricked into second place, but he was content with the second year of the zodiac being named after him.  The rest of the animals followed in this order: Tiger, also a strong swimmer; Rabbit, who hopped across the river on stones and then floated on a log; Dragon, who was not first because he helped the others by providing rain and pushing Rabbit with a little extra breeze; Snake who rode across on Horse’s hoofs; Horse, who is now fearful of snakes; Goat, Monkey and Rooster, who shared a raft and arrived together; Dog, who had taken the time to bathe in the river; and Boar, who ate and rested before coming.  Twelve animals in all.

 

Comet

As for Cat, pushed into the water by Rat, he finally crawled out of the water wet and bedraggled, but was too late to have a year named after him.  Cat has taken his frustration out on Rat and his cousins the mice ever since.


(In some versions Rat promises to wake Cat; but fails to so, which is just as devastating to Cat.)   
 

So now you know why there is no Year of the Cat.  

 

 Some other interesting notes about Chinese New Year.  The Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar, thus changing from year to year as to when it begins.  The celebration lasts fifteen days, ending with the Lantern Festival.  The whole fifteen days are known as the Spring Festival.

 

This year begins on January 31.  It is year number 4712, the Year of the Horse.  Each animal has special characteristics attributed to it.  If you want to know what your zodiac animal is click here .  There are also other interesting articles about the Chinese Zodiac on this website.  Here's another website with fun activities.

Karen Chace, a storytelling friend, has a wonderful blog.  Click here for her offering of stories about horses.

Another interesting blog about the Year of the Horse can be found here.  To quote from it, "...grab a fistful of mane, hang on to the reins, cast your old cares to the wind and let out a whoop of delight–Yeeehaaw!"

Dreams Do Come True

          In the spring of 1969 as I filled out applications for teaching jobs, a difficult question for an eager young teacher-to-be to answer, “Where do you see yourself in ten years?” needed a special answer.  I loved my student teaching position.  I hoped I would love my first teaching position.  But where did I see myself in ten years?  Hmmm?

Tilton School 2nd grade



              Thinking long and hard I wrote, “I plan to write a children’s book.  In ten years I see myself as a children’s author.”  That dream did not come true.  For ten years later, I was the mother of a toddler with another baby on the way.  What I had done was tell stories to my second grade classes and obtain my master’s degree with a dual emphasis on library and media.  But still I wanted to write.

Preschool Story Hour

 

My son's birthday party.

           My children grew.  The volunteer task of holding the preschool storytime at our public library was offerd.  It was fun, I told stories, learned finger plays and silly songs.  All the children loved what we did and I became a minor local celeb.  But still I wanted to write.



Telling stories at Ortega Middle School

            My children grew.   They started school, I obtained a position as secondary librarian in a nearby school district.  I taught students how to find information.  We used Billy Joel’s “WeDidn't Start the Fire” as a fun way to start the freshmen on the road to scholarship.  The middle-schoolers learned research through History Fair and Science Fair.  And I introduced storytelling to these students, who loved it.   But still I wanted to write.

            My children grew.   They entered secondary school.  I became the elementary school librarian.  I was back with children’s literature!  I told stories and read the latest new books to children ages four through ten.  And I taught them how to find information.  The internet entered our lives – email, lots of information at our fingertips.  But still I wanted to write.

            My children grew.   They attended the colleges of their choice, graduated and started their own lives.  Now I was working only with the upper grades.  I still told stories and read new books to the students.  We learned research skills by making science booklets for the kindergartners and first graders.  The internet grew more sophisticated.  So the students and I together learned how to sift through the myriads of stuff to find just what we needed.  The principal directed me to help with the gifted and talented program.  My partner and I worked on reading, poetry, math, science, computer skills and storytelling.  The storytellers told their stories to the kindergartners and first graders and learned the joy that comes with sharing a story well-told.  But still I wanted to write.

Telling stories for my grandson's class.



            My children grew.   One started a family of his own; the other traveled around the world.  I retired and was privileged to spend nine months with my grandsons - singing songs, reading books and telling stories.  The oldest had his public debut while singing a story song with me to a group of other children and their parents!  And I was writing!

            Following an NSN sponsored trip to China with other storytellers and my daughter where we collected and shared stories, I began to research the story-gifts we had been given.  I told them and worked those stories into versions of my own.  I wrote the stories down and changed them as they changed with the tellings.  There were workshops about writing and books to read about publishing.  Then, oh then, I was ready to find a publisher.  Query letters went out, and my friend and fellow-traveler, Judith Heineman, introduced me to Ted Parkhurst of Parkhurst Brothers, Inc.  He was interested!  And now, very shortly the finished product will be ready and available.  I did write a book, a book not only for children, but also for storytellers and story-lovers.  My Dream Came True!

     

 

What Can We Learn from a Bully?

             This post has been simmering and stewing for most of the month.  I am not an authority on bullying.  I don’t have all the answers, but I do know that this issue must be addressed by everyone.  These are my thoughts and opinions - nothing more, nothing less.

Twice last month I heard about instances of adult bullying.  That’s right, not on the school yard or the bus, not at the playground; but in adult circles that are supposedly supportive of one another.

Why do we bully others?  Are we afraid?  Are we aggressive?  Are we sure we would be bullied if we did not first bully the other?  I believe it is all of those and more, and I have been on both sides of the bullying issue as a child and as an adult.  It’s easier to bully when you have allies, yes; but some of us bully on our own.  And what in the world should we do when we witness an act of bullying?  Silence?  Confrontation?  Report it?  To whom?

As a child, my two friends who were sisters and I bullied our younger siblings usually in our fantastical discussions, but sometimes for real.  In turn I was physically bullied by my younger sister when she grew bigger than I until I stood up to her.  I was an easy target in school since I was one of the youngest children in the class.  In first grade we emulated the older kids and had gangs.  Everyone was expected to join one side or the other.  Being naïve, I joined Betty’s gang because then she would let me borrow her pink crayon.  I only had eight crayons in my box.  And Arthur, he beat up everybody no matter what gang they belonged to.  I was very careful not to sit near him on the bus.

I’m not sure how much the adults in my life knew about what was going on.  It certainly seemed like they were oblivious, expecting us to act like innocent children which we were not.  And a fair number of those adults were bullies in their own right including my own dear mother.  It was life and you dealt with it best you could.

As an adult, I have been bullied by both employers and colleagues.  Neither is any fun.  Now I work for myself and consider that a big plus.  But when one wants to sell their product or services, there is the public and the possibility of bullying raising its ugly head.  Today’s children see examples of adult bullying all around them, just look at what our political process has degenerated into.  Cyber bullying is something new as well.  Not only is it easier to bully when the bully has allies, but it is also easier to bully anonymously. 

Programs that attempt to show bullying for what it is and prevent bullying from happening are on the rise.  And yet, adults still turn a blind eye and at time participate in the bullying.  I don’t know what the final answer will/should be.  Thoughts?

There is an ancient Chinese folktale that was first told not to prevent bullying, but to show a Leader that his General was not more feared than he.  But it also speaks to dealing with a bully.  Here is a synopsis.   The whole story is in my forthcoming book, Old China through the Eyes of a Storyteller.

Fox Assumes Tiger’s Authority

Tiger announced he would eat 100 different animals and be King of the Forest.  A Fox ran across his path while he was looking for another animal to devour. 

Tiger stepped on Fox’s tail and announced, “I am going to eat you; then I will be King of the Forest!” 

“I don’t think so,” replied Fox.  “I am already King of the Forrest by proclamation of the Heavenly Emperor!”

Tiger was taken aback.  He wasn’t sure what to do.  So he demanded, “Prove it!”

“Follow me,” stated Fox, “and you will see.”

Tiger closely followed Fox through the forest.  Seeing how all the animals quickly ran away as they approached.

Finally, Fox turned to Tiger and said, “See I am King of the Forest!”

Tiger was afraid.  He ran back up the path without turning around once.

Here are a couple links to anti-bullying sites:
http://www.youandme-bullyfree.com/index.html
http://vimeo.com/37246679

Generosity, Kindness and Friendship

~ May your heart be like a lake …

with a calm still surface and great depths of kindness. ~ 

Lao Tzu

A long time ago when I was home from college for Christmas Break, I went to the local strip mall to do some shopping.  While walking from store to store I decided to smile at everyone.  The smiles returned were the best Christmas presents I received that year.   My little unscientific experiment showed me the power of a generous smile. 

Another incident from my distant past taught me a lesson in kindness.  I was driving home from a wedding that had taken place two states away.  The retread came off my tire and I had no idea how to change a tire.  Yes, I know my education was lacking.  But I did know enough to put my hood up and then wait in the car for help.  The state patrol called a service station to come help.  My tire was changed; I paid for the service, and had no money left to continue my trip.  So I stopped at my future in-laws where I told my story.  Not only did my future brother-in-law go out and buy me a spare tire, but he gave me enough money to make it home.

And this could be my cats except they are much older.

When I count the blessings of friendship I have experienced throughout my life, I know that lasting relationships take commitment, TLC, and love both to build and to maintain.  I have many friends – some brand new, others from childhood and every part of my life in-between.  True friends really are angels in disguise.  They come to your aid when needed.  They laugh with you, cry with you, celebrate your successes and overlook your failures.  "With true friends - even water drunk is sweet enough." ~Chinese Proverb

Here’s a website with many Friendship Quotes: http://www.friendship.com.au/quotes/

                                                                                  

               So it is no wonder when I think of the three words “generosity,” “kindness” and “friendship” I get a warm fuzzy feeling.  A feeling that lingers from my childhood, from the gifts I have received and given throughout the years, and from the closeness of a friend who loves you no matter what.

               Some of the best gifts I have received from others are stories or as I like to call them Story Gifts.  The generosity of storytellers is well known throughout the storytelling community if not the world in general.  When I feel out of sorts, down in the dumps, I know that if I talk to one of my storyteller friends, my life will instantly become brighter, more livable.  There is kind generosity of friendship like no other I’ve known.  It may take a village to raise a child, but it also takes a village to create a storyteller.

Storytelling mentors are some of the most generous people in the world.  They spend their time with you, encourage you to do better, to grow in story, stretching your comfort zone or taking steps outside it.  I was privileged to count the great storyteller, Norma Livo, as a mentor.  She was an inspiration not only to me, but to my daughter as well.  We attended her Storytelling Camp together back in the late-1980’s.  Looking at her comments when she signed the books I purchased from her, I can see our relationship growing and flowering.  She will, of course, receive a copy of my book, Old China through the Eyes of a Storyteller, when it is published later this summer.  And so the circle rolls onward.

One of my fondest memories of Norma is when at the Rocky Mountain Storytelling Conference, those who were presenting stories and/or workshops honored her at the Opening Ceremony.  My gift may have seemed a wee bit out of the ordinary as it was the annual report of the Colorado State Library.  But, there on the cover was a picture of a storyteller (yours truly).  The first and perhaps the only time a storyteller had been featured on the cover of the Colorado State Library Annual Report.  Norma was thrilled.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Norma last week.  She is still witty and wonderfully down-to-earth.  We promised to keep in better touch.  And I know that is a promise I will keep.  The gift of Friendship is all important, and I count Norma as a friend as well as a mentor.  If you don’t know Norma, but have heard Elizabeth Ellis, I believe they were cut of the same cloth.  Two Great Ladies of Story

As Valentine’s Day approaches, you may want to think of your friendships, of kindnesses shown to you or by you to others and the generosity of people in your life.  I know I will be as I work on becoming a better friend who is more generous and infinitely more kind.  Let me know how I’m doing.

Chinese New Year - Spring Festival

What Westerners call Chinese New Year, the Chinese call the Spring Festival.  All Chinese Festivals are special events, but Spring Festival is the biggest, most elaborate and lasts the longest – 15 whole days and nights!  Each day has a special significance (See below).  Spring Festival begins on the first day of the first lunar month under the new moon; fifteen days later Spring Festival ends with the Lantern Festival which is celebrated under the light of the full moon.  This year that corresponds to January 23 and February 6 on the Gregorian calendar that Westerners use.

Before the Spring Festival begins cleaning, cooking, and shopping must be completed as the evening before the first day of the first lunar month is for spending time with your family, eating and telling stories.  Midnight marks the transition to the New Year with firecrackers and dumplings.  Spring Festival’s fifteen days all have special tasks.

First Day: No cleaning!  All your good fortune might be swept out the door!  Children are given money in decorated red envelopes.  And the gods are welcomed.

Second Day: Prayers are sent to your ancestors as well as the gods.  Dogs enjoy their birthdays this day.

Third and Fourth Days: Sons-in-law are expected to show their respect to their in-laws.

Fifth Day: The God of Wealth (Making Money Correctly) is welcomed into homes.  You should not be out visiting when he comes.

Sixth to Tenth Days: Visiting friends, relatives, and the temples takes place.

Seventh Day: Traditionally people eat noodles to bring long life.  It is also humankind’s birthday.  Farmers are honored on this day.

Ninth Day: Offerings are made to the Jade Emperor.

Tenth to Twelfth Days: Visiting is over and invitations to family and friends to join you for a meal are given. 

Thirteenth Day: Take a break from overeating and eat simply on this day.

Fourteenth Day: All preparations for the Lantern Festival are made.

Fifteenth Day: The Lantern Festival is celebrated under the first full moon.  Lanterns are lit, parades wind through the streets, and sticky rice balls are consumed.

The Chinese Zodiac consists of twelve animals each representing a year every twelve years.  This is the year of the Dragon (long 龙).  People born during Dragon years are said to be energetic, imaginative, full of fun and lucky.  Dragons are the movers and shakers of the world.

Chinese Dragons are benevolent, unlike the Western Dragons which are cruel and demand sacrifice.   The Dragon was the symbol of the Emperor because the Dragon represents wealth, wisdom, power, and nobility.  In the old days only the Emperor could wear this symbol.

Story of Nián

The Chinese word for year is nián (年).  There is good reason for this.  Nián was the name of a ferocious monster with a voracious appetite that plagued the countryside every year eating livestock and people as well.  So each year the people of the villages would flee to the mountains for safety driving their livestock ahead of them.

One year an old man entered the village just as everyone was fleeing.  He stopped at the home of an old woman and asked, “Why are the people leaving your village?”

“Because,” she answered, “they are afraid.”

“Why are they afraid?” the Old Man queried.

“You don’t know?”  The Old Woman was incredulous.  She told the Old Man about Nián and its terrible appetite.

“Ah…”  The Old Man stroked his beard.  “Would you like to be rid of Nián forever?”

“Of course,” replied the Old Woman.  “But how can we do that?  It eats everything!”

“Leave it to me.  May I stay in your house tonight?”

“Yes, but I hope you will still be here when we return.”  And with that the Old Woman picked up her bundle and was off.

The Old Man covered the all the windows with red paper and cloth.  He made pyres of bamboo on the paths leading to the entrances.  He set firecrackers up so he could light one and all would go off.  And then he sat back and waited.

That night the Old Man heard a terrible roaring and gnashing sound.  He peeked out the window and saw Nián emerging from the dark.  Quickly he lit the fires and firecrackers.  Nián saw the red in the windows and the bright flames from the fires.   Nián heard the loud pop pop of the firecrackers.  Nián stood still, then turned and ran away into the night.

When the villagers returned to their homes, there was the Old Man waiting for them.  They crowded around him with questions flying.  He held up his hand; then told them about what had happened in their absence.

“Really?” the villagers asked.  “Nián is afraid of red, loud noises and bright light?”

“Yes,” answered the Old Man.

And the celebration began.  Now every year people all over China and elsewhere in the world celebrate the New Year with Red, Loud Noises and Bright Lights.  And Nián has not been seen since.

There are many versions of the story of Nián.  This version of the story was told to me by Mr. Li Kuo, a teacher from Heilongjiang Provence located in the Chinese rooster’s head.  Mr. Li is spending the current school year teaching Mandarin to HS students in Monte Vista, CO, and was a great help in finishing the pinyin glossary for my book, Old China through the Eyes of a Storyteller, to be published by Parkhust Brothers late Summer, 2012.

Here are some websites that give more details about the Chinese New Year.

http://education2.uvic.ca/Faculty/mroth/438/china/chinese_new_year.html

               Brief explanation of the Chinese New Year and links to more details.

http://china.mrdonn.org/newyear.html

               A fun social studies website for teachers and students.

http://www.rightathome.com/Family/Articles/Pages/WelcometheDragon.aspx

               Hints for things to do to celebrate as well as ads for Johnson cleaning products.

http://www.china-family-adventure.com/chinese-zodiac.html

               Simple explanation of the twelve Zodiac animals and a very brief story about why these twelve and not others.

Story Changes a Life

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
-- Confucius

That Journey can be one of Change.  Change sometimes begins with a baby step.  A step outside one’s Comfort Zone. 

Four years ago this past September, I took that first step by inviting my daughter to accompany me to China to gather stories.  Then in April with my hand tightly clinging to my daughter’s we stepped out into the unknown.  Well, unknown to me.  Laura had been to China before which is why I was clinging to her hand.  We were going to China to gather stories!  Life changing – door opening…

Two years later on a solitary journey through the mountains of Colorado and across the deserts of the southwest, I felt a bigger change coming over me.  A change that required a giant step outside my Comfort Zone.  Another Leap of Faith.  Ever wonder what it would be like to reinvent yourself?  After an incredible four year journey, I can say it’s been worth the reinvention.  Growth has been phenomenal!  And I lay everything at the feet of Story and Storytelling.

The results of this journey have been an anthology of Chinese Folktales, Old China through the Eyes of a Storyteller, to be published by Parkhurst Brothers in May, 2012; the opportunity to help produce the Rocky Mountain Storytelling Conference in May, 2012; presentations at the Tumbleweed Festival in Abilene, TX, in October, 2010, Florida StoryCamp in March, 2011, LANES Sharing the Fire in March, 2012, and Northlands in April, 2012; attendance at the Global Storytelling Institute on the ETSU campus August, 2011; and to top it all off immersion into the world of Story including new friends throughout the Storytelling World and work finding me through avenues that had not been paying off until now.  Amazing , remarkable, wonderful …

Robert Frost tells the story best in his poem The Road Not Taken:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference

Back Home in Colorado

Back home in Colorado the end of June. Deadlines for expanding the Anthology of Chinese Folktales kept me busy all summer! And now it will be a reality this coming spring. Details as they are available will be posted!
But here's what I can tell you now.
The manuscript almost doubled in size as I added new stories, revised and researched.  Librarians love doing research; so I was having a ball.  Luckily from my desk I could relax by looking out on my garden from time to time.  The pinyin glossary was finished by my new friend Li Kuo - what a joy!  Huang Sky wrote such a wonderful Introduction.  And this week I finish up the gathering of endorsements, questions and pictures of yours truly to use for publicity.  It's all coming together.

Oh, and those grandkids I left back in Florida?  Well, they moved to Denver so we see each other every month!  They were testing out some of my stories last winter.  The oldest already has his favorites.  We taught a special song to the kids at the library before I left.  Storytelling is in the blood and will be alive and well for another generation.

Where Have I Been? Writing a book of Chinese Folktales

Has it really been over a year since I posted? Oh, what have I been doing?

Well, the last four months of 2009 I was subbing in the library at Marsh Elementary School in Monte Vista, CO. Then I spent two weeks freezing in Florida after Christmas (yes it was below freezing at night for almost the whole two weeks!).

The rest of the winter and spring I began in earnest to write my book of Chinese Folktales. The submition dealine I set for myself has been moved a number of times for good reasons and is now looming again. Hopefully this time I will make the deadline and not have to reset it once more.

Storytelling did happen though. I helped a small but determined group of fifth graders find their inner storyteller at Evans School in Alamosa, CO. These students persisted and were rewarded by being able to perform for the public at their World's Fair in May, 2010. They even convinced their teachers that they should receive as many points for telling a story as for producing a Power Point.

SLV Spellbinders journeyed to tiny Costilla, NM, to bring the joy of story to local students in April.
SLV Spellbinders also helped Bill Metz Elementary School in Monte Vista celebrate their International Day the first Friday in May, 2010.
SLV Spellbinders tell stories on KRZA (88.7 fm) on the last Sunday every month. Sometimes it's just me and other times I am joined by various storytellers. I enjoy telling stories on the radio and have gotten to the point where I can even do it without an audience.

I bartered some stories with Charlie Sanchez when he fixed my HD receiver which I told for his son's birthday party in April, 2010. Bartering got into my system and the next barter resulted in 6 tickets to the Creede Theatre for their Summer, 2010, season. I was able to see three plays and invited my daughter and husband to join me.

The end of July I drove from Colorado to California by myself while listening to stories on CD all the way! I think some of the other drivers must have thought I was crazy I was laughing so hard sometimes. The NSN Conference was life-changing. I met storytellers I had only heard of and many, many I hadn't. I was able to share a couple stories at two story swaps where the hosts became my new friends. My roomie is also a friend now.

In September we packed two cats and some clothes, books and everything from China into the car and drove to Florida where I will be living until June, 2011. That led to more new storytelling friends (Tampa Bay Area Storytelling Guild) and opportunities to tell.

Circle C Ranch in October for my grandson's birthday.
Two Telebrations this month along with stories at the Oscar J. Pope Elementary School and Dale Mabry Elementary School. Watch for photos.