chinese calligraphy

Chinese calligraphy is an ancient art form stemming back to almost 3000 years ago. This style of writing is said to be abstract art. Many masters throughout Chinese history have left behind their own unique interpretation of the Chinese characters. It was Tu Mang, however, who correlated it all together with form identification and style. He established names for the techniques used to describe the words. For instance, a "carefree" style has an unfixed or unknown direction. On the opposite end, a "carefully executed" form insists on careful execution and thought behind the work. "Mysterious" is to use your imagination. There are 120 existing expressions used for Chinese calligraphy, many born by great masters.

Chinese characters have been defined as complicated yet beautiful in their meaning. They are complex in relation to other writing languages. Romanization is used in terms of relation or simple visual information, however the meaning of the character remains mysterious as the art styles behind it. Some Chinese characters mimic similar tones of other characters, yet have different meanings. Some characters written with just an added dot or stroke, turn into something totally different.

What kind of brush strokes would best represent the meaning of the words I had chose? I could go with a more classic, traditional style used in ancient times or even something called the "grass" style, looking more whimsical to me. I had not realized the depth of expression involved not only in searching a tattoo, but the actual essence, personality, and layers upon layers of meaning associated with this beautiful art.

As you learn Chinese calligraphy, you will notice that traditionally certain materials are used in a particular way to produce the eloquent results. The Chinese use special brushes made of rabbit hair or sheep. One brush is for sharpness in line drawing, and the other for rhythm and depth all equaling to the subject's inner self. Also used in Chinese calligraphy, is a thick ground ink combined with water and applied to Chinese paper (also called rice paper) or silk. This form shows depth, contrast, density and texture and creates a rhythmic balance. When the Chinese apply color to this art form, it is to show the subject's characteristics or moods.

The more I searched on Chinese calligraphy, the more infatuated I became of the work, yet I was not getting closer to choosing a tattoo because, quite honestly, each word or quotation inspired a feeling in me. There were simply too many I identified with on a deeper, more spiritual level.

After skipping across the top of the Chinese calligraphy history and art information, you can decide to take the process further by actively seeking out places or internet sites offering a more thorough course in the art of Chinese calligraphy. Many instructions remain basic in it's course, while others incorporate reading or speaking Chinese as well.

If your focus is art, then by all means, stick with the art only instructions, as there is so much to master within that form anyways. You will learn the different tools, mediums, and colors used for expressing your personality in depth on a simple surface. There are many diverse varieties of applications in Chinese calligraphy only to express one word. The results will refer to as a living moment, or living thought. And it is the results that loved and appreciated.

Chinese calligraphy is a worthy and nice experience to launch into. Expect Countless hours of enjoyable practice into an ancient, respected, old world art. If you wish to learn Chinese calligraphy, then by all meanscontinue on.

Islamic Calligraphy has arguably become the most reverenced form of Islamic art. It provides a link between the languages of the Muslims with the religion of Islam. The Muslim calligraphists have great contributions in taking this Islamic art to this zenith. The holy book of Islam, Al-Qur an, has played an important role in the development and evolution of the Arabic language, and by extension, calligraphy in the Arabic alphabet. The famous Islamic artists have created Arabic calligraphy of supreme quality. Till today, The chief sources for Islamic calligraphy are the proverbs and complete passages from the Holy Qur'an. In modern times, the supply of Islamic calligraphy has also become a flourishing Islamic art business.

Islamic calligraphy is a visible expression of the highest art of all for the muslim. It is the art of the spiritual world. Calligraphy literally means writing beautifully and ornamentally. Islamic calligraphy is the art of writing, and by extension, of bookmaking. This art has most often employed the Arabic script, throughout many languages. Since Arabic calligraphy was the primary means for the preservation of the Qur'an, Calligraphy is especially revered among Islamic arts. The work of the famous muslim calligraphers were collected and greatly appreciated throughout Islamic history. Consideration of figurative art as idolatrous led to calligraphy and abstract figures becoming the main methods of artistic expression in Islamic cultures. Contemporary muslim calligraphers are also producing the Islamic calligraphy of high artistic quality.

Calligraphic scripts

The Kufic script is the first of those calligraphic scripts to gain popularit. It was angular, made of square and short horizontal strokes, long verticals, and bold, compact circles. For three centuries, this script had been mainly used to copy the Qur'an. The cursive Naskh script was more often used for casual writing. This script had rounder letters and thin lines. It would come to be preferred to Kufic for copying the Qur'an as techniques for writing in this style were refined. Almost all printed material in Arabic is in Naskh. The Thuluth would take on the ornamental role formerly associated with the Kufic script in the 13th century. Thuluth is usually written in ample curves as it has a strong cursive aspect. The Persians took to using Arabic script for their own language, Persian after their conversion to Islam. The Ta'liq and Nasta'liq styles were contributed to Arabic calligraphy by the Persians. Nasta'liq style is extremely cursive, with exaggeratedly long horizontal strokes. The Diwani script is a cursive style of Arabic calligraphy. It was developed during the reign of the early Ottoman Turks (16th and early 17th centuries). This outstanding Diwani script was both decorative and communicative. Finally, Riq'a is the most commonly used script for everyday use. It is simple and easy to write. Its movements are small. In China, a calligraphic form called Sini has been developed. This form has evident influences from Chinese calligraphy. Hajji Noor Deen Mi Guangjiang is a famous modern calligrapher in this tradition.

Calligrams

The most Islamic of arts in the Muslim world, has also its figurative sides. The muslim calligraphers have produced wonderful anthropomorphic figures by interweaving written words, made from an "Allah", a "Muhammad", a "Bismillah", etc., or using micrography. These include , ('Ali, the Ideal Human of mystics, a praying man, a face), (Duldul, horse of 'Ali, horse ('Ali's Duldul), fish, stork or other bird (the qur'anic Hudhud) and unanimated representations (a sword (Dhu al-Fiqar) and a mosque. Calligrams are related to Muslim mysticism and popular with many leading calligraphers in Turkey, Persia and India from the 17th century onward.

Pakistani Islamic Calligraphy

Pakistan has produced Islamic calligraphist of international recognition. Sadeqain is on of these international fame Islamic calligraphist. He was an untraditional and self-made, self-taught painter and calligrapher. He did a lot of work on Quranic calligraphy. Many other contemporary Pakistani calligraphists like Gul Gee have created great contemporary Islamic calligraphy. These days, Islamic calligraphies of Tufail and Uzma Tufail are getting very much popular both in Pakistan and all over the world.

Islamic Calligrahpy as an Islamic Gift

The Muslims love to adore their homes, offices and places of their work with the Islamic calligraphy. The Islamic calligraphies especially the verses from the Holy Quran and the verses from the sayings of the Holy Prophet are considered to be very sacred to muslims. Islamic calligraphy indeed make the perfect gift for a muslim for any special occasion. A muslim can send an Islamic gift of Islamic calligraphy to congratulate his relative or friend on his new home or new office or on his birthday or wedding ceremony or on Eid Festival.

What You Should Know.

Before you purchase your wedding invitations or correspondence stationery, you need to become familiar with paper quality. The quality of paper you select is very important. Not only because premium paper makes for a more lovely presentation for your recipient, but excellent quality paper is critical if you are using professional, handwritten calligraphy for your envelopes.

The Heirloom.

Your wedding invitation is your heirloom keepsake. Choose stationery that won t fall apart over time. For example, 100 percent cotton or linen is best. If you are hiring a professional calligrapher to address your wedding envelopes, then avoid the following: thin papers like those of inexpensive greeting card quality, papers made with wood pulp, and handmade or recycled papers. Calligraphy ink may bleed on handmade and recycled stocks.

What to Avoid.

Try to stay away from dark papers or the use of liners in your envelopes. The most formal wedding invitations, at one time, were not accompanied by lined envelopes. Liners have become more popular recently, this is true. However, I often wonder if liners were introduced to create the illusion of substance to mask otherwise thin paper. If you choose heavy weight premium paper, then a liner is not necessary. If you are sold on liners, because you wish to incorporate your wedding color into your invitations, then consider instead: a silk ribbon tied around the invitation with a parchment overlay. Or print an envelope seal in your wedding color on the back flap of our outer envelope. Monograms make wonderful envelope seals. Lastly, because dark colors and liners make envelopes opaque and can also affect writing results, calligraphers may charge more to address these flavors of envelopes.

The Toughie.

How do you choose premium paper? Stationery is usually measured in bond weight. A good piece of paper is thirty-two or forty-pound bond. And hundred-pound offset is roughly equal to forty-pound bond. Heavy cards should be made of three-ply stock. Ask your vendor about their paper quality if you are unsure. Also, here are two great tests for paper quality for envelopes. Hold the envelope up to the light. Is the envelope feathery, very thin and extremely easy to see through? Can you write on it with a good fountain pen, or does the ink bleed? Professional calligraphers use fountain and dip inks. I always tell my clients, Exquisite calligraphy can only be achieved on the finest paper.

In Sum.

Choose a reputable wedding vendor for your wedding invitations and correspondence. And remember, if the quoted prices are too-good-to-be-true , then the paper and calligraphy most likely are not.

Before the beginning of the 20th Century little had been written about calligraphy except The Story of the Alphabet by Edward Clodd and Maude Thompson's fine work on Greek ana Latin Paleography together with his volume on English Illuminated Manuscripts, published in 1895 and out of print before 1906. But since the time that Edward Johnston published his book on Writing, Lettering and Illuminating a steady stream of works upon all aspects of the subject have been written; probably it was because of the interest aroused by the pioneers in the practical side of the craft that this flow of literature occurred, both here and in the United States.

The following are among the most important. The British Museum published a guide to the collection of manuscripts they had in 1906. About the same time John W. Bradley was publishing illustrated books on illuminating, its history and development. During 1907 the British Museum published Reproductions of Illuminated MSS., a series of fifty collotype plates. In 1920 W. A. Mason published in New York a work of considerable scholarship dealing with the subject of picture writing in the Americas together with the growth of letter-form in Egypt, Phoenicia, Babylon, Assyria, Crete, Greece and Rome, a book of great interest to all who wish to study the formation of alphabets.

With the development of photography and process reproduction the range of examples showing epigraphy and paleography has increased to a degree unthought of during the early days of the century. During 1932 B. L. Ullnan of the University of Chicago published Ancient Writing and Its Influence, which brings the history of the alphabet more up to date and includes some observations on the Sinai stones, which may eventually help to solve the riddle of the alphabet. Professor E. A. Lowe of Oxford wrote in The Legacy of the Middle Ages a chapter on "Handwriting" which deals with its growth before the time of Charlemagne. This is an excellent essay, which should be known by all serious students of calligraphy. James Wardrop of the Victoria and Albert Museum has also written on "Palatino and His Circle" in Signature, No. 14, 1952.

World origins and development of alphabets are also dealt with in great profusion by D. Diringer, a scholar in these matters. The French just before the war of 1939-1945 issued some newly discovered material in plates dealing with early specimens of the written small letter under the title of L' Eicriture Latine by J. Mallon, which takes history back earlier than Maude Thompson's great work.

Finally among the smaller and more recent publications comes the "King Penguin" on the subject of writing by Alfred Fairbank, which makes a rapid survey from the fourth to the twentieth centuries; and some beautiful photographic reproductions of the detailed work of twelfth-century artists taken from the Winchester Bible by Walter Oakshott.

From about the year 1930 writing and lettering had made such progress that it had become a subject in the training of Art Teachers and was taught by the immediate followers of the two who had given their lives to its cause. Lettering of Today, first volume, published in 1937, showed the work of some of these who had taken up the craft and were in their turn passing it on to the new generation.

As the art itself has progressed, so has the literature representing calligraphy. The aforementioned books are great historical references, but technical books that will walk you through the art of calligraphy are also available.

The calligraphy pen is a simple tool that takes considerable application to master. Some pens come with little added extras which may also take some time getting used to.

Some calligraphy pens come with a detachable reservoir and some are permanently fixed. A calligraphy pen reservoir is a little piece of metal fitted to the calligraphy pen nib that increases the amount of ink it holds. You’ll find that it will give you a more even flow of ink. It will also reduce the frequency with which you will have to recharge your pen while working.

The calligraphy pen reservoir might be a detachable piece that can be removed for refilling or cleaning while other pens come with the reservoir permanently attached. Both have their pluses and minuses, but using them is just a matter of trial and error and becoming accustomed to the new tool.

Although a detachable reservoir gives you an easier pen to clean, you also have the responsibility of reassembling the pen carefully. Allowing the reservoir to protrude from the nib will reduce the quality of the ink flow and your work will suffer.

A top-mounted reservoir can prove to be a distraction for some people because it can obscure the vision to the writing edge. There are options available to over come this, such as the Mitchell Roundhand Series pens which have the reservoir permanently mounted to the holder sitting underneath the nib.

Care must also be taken when recharging the reservoir that is permanently attached to the pen. Turn your pen upside down and, either with a paintbrush that has been dipped in ink or with an eyedropper , add the ink to the widest part of the nib. This will allow the ink to fill the space between the nib and the reservoir. Make sure the upper side of the pen nib is ink-free.
Careful application of ink to the nib and reservoir will ensure you maintain a smooth, even flow when lettering and you reduce the risk of leaving large ink blots around your work surface – your lines will be consistently wide.

To clean the reservoir, slide it off and simply rinse it under running water. Soak the nib in a special solvent (such as Higgins Pen Cleaner) overnight and then take an old toothbrush to it to get it clean. Take the soaking nib the next morning and rinse it in cold running water before drying it thoroughly with a towel.

When buying a calligraphy pen with an attached reservoir make sure that you have a close look at the nib and reservoir settings to ensure that the tip of the reservoir hasn’t been bent away from the nib. The flange of the reservoir should sit lightly on top of the pen with little excess air space visible.

As with all important tools, the more care you take with maintenance of your pen, the longer it will remain in good working order.

If you are up on the world economy, then you will know that China is the fastest growing economy in the world. In fact, the Chinese language is becoming so commonly used in business, the demand for resources teaching the Chinese language has more than tripled in the last half decade.

Even online, our communications to pen pals exist in Asian countries and the need to break the language barrier stronger than ever. In social-patterns, we have to adopt cultural sensitivities to those merging into Americanism. By learning Chinese we, with or without consciously knowing, have created more doors of opportunity all the way around.

Why learn Chinese? Because today's world almost insists on it. With our increasing love for the Chinese culture, like the martial arts, or media (Who can forget Jacki Chan), or even Chinese foodwe are quickly merging cultures together today then we ever did in past. Great inspirations have come out of the eastern ways of life, and in a hungry way to consume them, and learn all about them, the need to learn Chinese has surfaced.

The Chinese culture itself, represents a solidarity in balance, peacefulness, and serenity. In the western world, the fast paced, time pressed crunches have taken their toll, and now we actively seek solace from other cultures, who we think, hold the key. It is through understanding, learning and appreciation of other cultures in which we often find what we seek.

If I learn Chinese, I will get a better job, a "worldly" careermy employer will find me indispensable and reward me with travel and great expense account. I will return to take his job, giving me a bigger expense account. If I learn Chinese, I could be an emerging artist in ancient Chinese calligraphy, brush stroking my way to a higher spiritual calling, even if only a tattoo artist, my work would live on forever.

There are dozens of hints and helpful advice on how to learn more quickly, how to affect memorization abilities, and where to go for more free Chinese lessons. On many of these web sites are links, some worthy and some leading to more links, which may be of use in searching out free Chinese lessons.

If time is also a factor, consider using your MP3 player or CD burner to download lessons you can take on the go. This way to study Chinese is intensely popular and as popularity grows, so does the sites catering to programs most used. Also, available for free is access to a Chinese dictionary, to be used as a bookmark, or in some cases a download. Other fun places to explore Chinese for free are the blogs created for improving your skills. Then there is Chinese music and live broadcasts daily to entertain and keep familiarizing you with the language.

If I learn Chinese, I would make it benefit all, so not only would the world economy be merging as expected, but so would the hearts. Because, If I learned Chinese, I would want for it to mean more than just a command of a second language, I would want to use it as a tool for connecting us all together other than just economy, or a passing by of another. In today's world, if I learn ChineseI could stop the hurry, if only to say, "hello".

Chinese New Year follows the track of Chinese calendar and the people of China give it a hearty welcome in the cheerful season of spring. And therefore, the entire month of February brings in exciting holiday time for all parts of East India. The entire fervor attached to the Chinese New Year 2008 that is about to begin with 7th February, is bound to stretch to the next 15 days that comprise to form the time when the New Year seeps in. And the last day of Chinese New Year celebrations touches its culminating mode with the bright celebrations of Lantern festival, which adds glitter to the overwhelming celebration mood with an array of bright and colorful lanterns.

Lighting numerous lanterns is similar to glorifying all the newfangled things coming our way with New Year. Also, the days preceding the Lantern festival are filled with the illumination of candles of varied sizes. People consider it auspicious to refurbish their surroundings through and through so that their homes exude good vibes to influence their future days. Along with candles, all the bulbs and chandeliers at home are turned on to burnish every pocket of home. Thus, we can say that all the jolly fifteen days marked by New Year gaiety witness the sparkle of lights that New Year brings with it.

Apart from lights, a variety of flowers are drizzled over varied parts of our house and all of them together add the scent of New Year to everyone’s life. Beautiful flowers like Plum blossom, Sunflower, Narcissus and many others promise to bring in loads of good fortune. Their fragrant bunches spill over the display areas of almost all the markets.

Other than flowers and lights, there are a host of multifarious objects that hold immense significance in all Chinese New Year celebrations. Embroidered decors surfacing various colorful fabrics are used to spruce up different walls of your home. They showcase wonderful Chinese calligraphy that is used to convey wishful New Year messages. Chinese people make it a point to shape up such pretty wall adornments and many traditional designs along with rich Chinese idioms find their space on the whatever material they use to make them. Such compelling adornments with their indigenous Chinese element diffuse every aspect of our home with their compelling beauty and ensure to remain close to us throughout the year.

Another thing that Chinese people consider extremely felicitous is Koi Fish. Even the artificial image of this fish stands for brighter fortune. Also, this fish has direct associations with the inflow of money. They appear to be extremely lively and their cheerful posture along with their slanting tail brings in bundles of money and good luck. Because of their high significance in the beliefs of the people of China, beautiful figures of these fishes can be easily spotted as the attractive toppings of several Chinese dishes.

Moreover, Chinese New Year celebrations cannot be imagined without being redolent with elegant Lion dances that team up with the rhythm of complementing musical drums. The entire dance is rejuvenating and symbolizes happiness to accompany us in the upcoming Chinese New Year 2008.

To help us relax there are different types of massage treatments that can be used. These various treatments can be divided into two schools of treatment. You will find Western based massage treatments and Eastern massage treatments. The Chinese massage is just one example of the different Eastern massages.

In the Chinese massage there are different variations that will help with relaxing the tense muscles of the body. Some of these Chinese massage techniques also have other healing benefits for the body. In all of the Chinese massages the person who is having the massage will need to wear loose clothing.

Chinese massages are used to help with the healing of different medical complaints that can afflict people. The different branches of Chinese massage therapy as it is known are designed to help with the healing process.

The first of the Chinese massage techniques is that of Amno. This is a press and rub technique that is used to rejuvenate your health. It is also used to maintain the body in top physical condition. The next technique is that of Tuina.

In Tuina which is a push and grab technique, internal disorders and muscle problems are treated via this massage. This Chinese massage method is also used for treat injuries and joint pains. For babies the Chinese have a massage treatment that works quite well.

This Chinese massage is called Infant Tuina. The pressure points that are used for this massage are different than the ones that are widely used. As a home remedy type of Chinese massage you will find Dian Xue. This particular Chinese massage is used by acupuncturists when they encounter situations where they can’t use the acupuncture needles.

Dian Xue is known to be a point and press technique in Chinese massages. The final part of the Chinese massage techniques is that of Wai Qi Liao Fa. This massage technique is used only after the trainee to Chinese massage therapy has studied for years with a Qigong master.

In the Wai Qi Liao Fa Chinese massage technique the healing is accomplished by direct contact with the life energy that is called Qi. All of these Chinese massage therapies are used to treat various conditions in the body that are the result of blocked Qi.

In the practice of Chinese massage the idea that the Qi and the body’s mental and physical conditions are linked. As it is believed that the body needs to be healed on three different levels you should see a trained Chinese massage therapist.

With a Chinese massage therapist you can gain the best benefits to your health as a result of having a Chinese massage. The next time that you find yourself in some pain as part of your day to day work you might want to consult with a Chinese masseuse to have a Chinese massage worked on your aching body.

Now holds a popular place among the entire population of the world. You can find a Chinese restaurant in every major city and in many smaller areas of the world as well. Why is Chinese food so popular? Is Chinese food healthy? What is the history of Chinese food?

The History of Chinese Food
The history of Chinese food1 is an interesting one. Unlike many cultures the Chinese believe that the preparation of food is an art and not simply a craft. The art of cooking Chinese food can include dishes and food preparation techniques which are difficult to develop and may require the expertise of a chef with lots of experience. One such technique is noodle pulling (scroll down to the bottom of the page to learn more about this technique). Noodle pulling requires skill and lots of practice and results in a delicious noodle dish. This article will refer to noodle pulling later on, but for now, let’s go back to the history of Chinese food.

Chinese food and the way it is prepared is very much influenced by the two major philosophies, which influence the entire Chinese culture. These dominant philosophies are Confucianism and Taoism. Both have these philosophies have influenced the way that the Chinese people cook and the way that they enjoy their food..

Confucianism and Chinese Cuisine
Confucius was the man behind the Confucianism beliefs. Among many other standards Confucius established standards for proper table etiquette and for the appearance and taste of Chinese food. One of the standards set by Confucius (you might have noticed this at an authentic Chinese restaurant) is that food must be cut into small bite size pieces before serving the dish. This is a custom that is definitely unique to the Chinese culture.

Knives at the dinner table are also considered to be a sign of very poor taste by those who embrace Confucianism beliefs. The standards of quality and taste that Confucius recommended required the perfect blend of ingredients, herbs and condiments--a blend which would result in the perfect combination of flavor. Confucius also emphasized the importance of the texture and color of a dish, and taught that food must be prepared and eaten with harmony. Interestingly enough, Confucius was also of the opinion that an excellent cook must first make an excellent matchmaker.

Taoism and Chinese Cuisine
Those who follow the Taoism beliefs focus on the health benefits of particular foods vs. the presentation of the same. Taoists search for foods that will increase their health and longevity. They search for foods that have healing powers. Many times these benefits were often referred to as ‘life giving powers’. For instance, the Chinese found that ginger, which can be considered to be a garnish or a condiment was found to be a remedy for upset stomachs or a remedy for colds.

Is Chinese Food Healthy?
Chinese food, when authentic is probably the healthiest food in the world. Some restaurants, which are not authentic, prepare their menu with highly saturated fats or with meats that contain unhealthy amounts of animal fat. These Chinese restaurants are not recommended and they are both neither authentic nor healthy.

Good Chinese food however, is prepared and cooked with poly-unsaturated oils. Authentic Chinese food does not require the use of milk-fat ingredients such as cream, butter or cheese. Meat is used, but not in abundance, which makes it easy for those who love authentic Chinese food to avoid high levels of animal fat. Many believe that authentic Chinese food is really the ideal diet.

Chinese Restaurants in Every Part of the Nation
Whether it is in a Tennessee Chinese Restaurant to a New York Chinese restaurant you are going to find culinary dishes that are both healthy and delicious. Savor the flavor with Chinese f

Happy Spring Festival! (Gwuh Nee-en Haow!) Good fortune, health and prosperity to each of you throughout the Year of the Pig. On the Chinese Calendar, 2007 is the Lunar Year 4704-4705 and the New Year festivities begin on February 18th.

Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is the most important celebration in China. It carries the same, if not more, importance as Christmas does in western countries. Traditional Spring Festival is synonymous with happiness and good fortune; for more than 15 days, special foods and activities contribute to cherished, lifetime memories. Temple fairs, dragon and lion dances, fireworks equal to a war zone's sound and light proportions, stilt walking, lantern carnivals and acrobatic shows are everywhere. Pictures of the god of doors and wealth, Chinese calligraphy with black characters on red paper, and bright red paper cuttings decorate households and add to the atmosphere of good cheer.

The feast of Spring Festival may be the most scrumptious dinner of the year. Dishes such as chicken, fish, and bean curd are the favorites, their homophones, respectively jee, yiew, and doh foo mean auspiciousness, abundance, and prosperity. Jee-aow zih (Chinese dumplings), nee-en gaow (New Year cakes) and tahng yiew-en (a kind of round dumpling made of glutinous rice flour and sweet stuffing served in soup) are also special foods of the season.

After dinner, families play cards or board games, or watch TV programs highlighting the holiday. On New Year's Day itself, the ancient custom of Hong Baow (meaning red packet) takes place. Children and unmarried adults are given red envelopes of money which symbolizes luck and wealth. Following Hong Baow, families say greetings from door to door, first to their relatives and then to their neighbors. Like the western saying: Let Bygones Be Bygones, at Chinese New Year, old grudges are cast aside.

The end of the New Year is marked by the Festival of Lanterns, which is a celebration with singing, dancing, lantern shows, and yes, more fireworks. Traditionally, Chinese parents prepared lanterns for their children to carry to school during the first days of the New Year. This symbolized their hope that the children would have bright futures. Another interesting tradition is the posting of riddles called Lantern Riddles. They are written on pieces of paper and posted on lanterns or walls, and anyone solving the riddle is awarded a prize.

Born Year of the Pig

If you were born in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983 or 1995, you were born under the sign of the pig. Like the pig, you are known for your chivalry and pureness of heart, and you often make friends for life. People born in the Year of the Pig are said to be steady and resolute in all things, as well as warm hearted to other people. Competent and persistent as they are, they will spare no efforts in fulfilling any job assigned to them. According to the Chinese zodiac, pigs can overcome any setbacks and obstacles in 2007, so look forward to a year of success, both personally and professionally.

Famous people born in the Year of the Pig include Lucille Ball, Humphrey Bogart, Thomas Jefferson, Mahalia Jackson, David Letterman, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Chinese symbols are one of the most popular tattoo designs. You should consider consulting a Chinese linguist or a Chinese artist before deciding on a particular Chinese symbol tattoo, though.

Why You Want One

Before asking an expert about a particular symbol, ask yourself why you want it first. Of course, they obviously look cool but you need to be certain that it is what you want. You need to have the right reasons to be able to appreciate your tattoo.

- In most cases, a person with Chinese heritage may want a Chinese symbol tattoo because it links them to that part of them that is Chinese. A Chinese inspired tattoo is a way of connecting to your roots.

- The masterful calligraphy of a real Chinese characters is also another reason why people want to have such designs. Tattoos of Chinese characters actually look elegant, exotic, artistic and clean.

- Another reason is also the influence of the culture. Some people also want to have Chinese symbol tattoos simply because of the link of Chinese symbols to mythology, mystery and even martial arts pop culture. In a deeper level, Chinese characters have also been associated with ancient wisdom and values.

Why You Need an Expert

It is usually a good idea to get paid expert service to come up with a customized Chinese symbol tattoo that is just for you. Here are some valid reasons why you need an expert:

- The system of writing is complicated and usually very intricate. Although Chinese people usually need to master only about 3,000-5,000 characters, there are more than 70,000-80,000 Chinese characters in existence. There is a therefore a high chance that you could get the wrong symbol on your skin. Furthermore, the English language has a lot of words that are the same but may have different meanings and connotations. Translating multiple meaning words in Chinese could get tricky because there are many possible characters that could have different definitions for a single English word.

- Chinese calligraphy comes in many styles. You can choose a Chinese symbol tattoo in cursive, classic, old style and many more. This does not mean though that a tattoo artist is free to put his own flair on a Chinese symbol tattoo. Chinese calligraphy may have many styles but it is an exact art. Putting artistic flair could ruin a Chinese symbol tattoo or its meaning could change.

- It's easy for you to apply a symbol incorrectly if you don't know much about the symbol that's why an expert is important. Because you and your tattoo artist are not familiar with Chinese, you could unintentionally put a symbol backward or upside down. You might also miss some strokes. This could change the meaning of your symbol or make it completely meaningless.

- You could ask friends, artists and online dictionaries to translate for you. Sometimes though, translations could be wrong. This is especially true if you have a friend who is not so well versed in the nuances of either the English or Chinese languages. An expert would be careful of double meanings.

In recent years Chinese tattoos have become extremely popular. The authentic characters are fully of history and mystery, especially if you come from a non-Chinese culture. And it's easy to appreciate the beauty and artistry of Chinese calligraphy whether or not you understand the subtle meanings that it conveys.

But it's so easy to let all that excitement blind you to the dangers of getting an impulsive Chinese tattoo, as these two stories illustrate;

Chinese Tattoo Mistake 1

In 2002 a newspaper reported that 18 year old hairdresser Lee Becks paid £90 to get a Chinese characters tattooed onto his upper arm. He was really pleased with his new tattoo and thought that the mandarin letters meant "Love, honour and obey".

But when he visited his local Chinese take-away a young Chinese woman reluctantly told him that his new design really meant "At the end of day, this is an ugly boy".

So the next day he went back to the tattoo studio, only to discover that the artist had shut up shop and was nowhere to be found. To make matters worse, when he uncovered the design at a nightclub, it attracted a group of Chinese girls who thought it was a great joke. After that, he made sure that his new Chinese tattoo was kept covered until he could afford the £600 for laser removal treatment.

Chinese Tattoo Mistake 2

In 2004, Joanne Raine, a 19 year old from Darlington spent £80 getting her boyfriend's nickname "Roo" tattooed on her stomach. She was delighted with the design, which was a symbol of her commitment and undying love.

Then her problems began with a visit to her local Chinese take-away. When she revealed her new tattoo, an embarrassed member of staff told her that the design meant "Supermarket". She subsequently split up with her boyfriend and can't afford to have the design removed.

So to make sure that you avoid a real horror show under your skin, take great care when planning your new Chinese tattoo.

The most important thing is to consult a native speaker. Make sure that they actually grew up in the country and are fluent in the language. Third or fourth generation Chinese Americans or Chinese Europeans won't have such a thorough understanding of the language. And just to make sure, get a second and third opinion if possible. Somebody else may be able to suggest a better option.

Once you find someone you trust, avoid the temptation to show them a design that you like and ask them what it means. They may agree with you just to make things easy, when it would be better to use different characters.

Make sure that you explain to them the underlying meaning or message that you want the design to convey. Someone who understands the language may be able to suggest another design that is more appropriate. In many cases there may be an idiom which is more suitable than a direct translation.

The Chinese language is packed full of great sounding four character idioms which can't be directly translated into English but are able to convey almost any concept or idea. However, if you go for this option, it's even more impressive if you can learn the translation, transliteration and pronunciation in Chinese. After all, nearly every non-Chinese person that you meet will ask what it means.

If you want to have your name translated into a Chinese tattoo, please be aware that different speakers may provide different translations depending upon their local dialect.

Certain western names can't be directly translated into Chinese. So consider adopting a real Chinese name just as many Chinese people adopt Westernized names. Get a Chinese person that you know to suggest a few names and choose the one that you like best. Just make sure that you cross check what it means with other Chinese speakers.

Once you've decided upon the characters that you want, get a native speaker who is good at calligraphy to write out your design. Get them to make a few sketches of the design which you can take to your tattoo artist.

Make sure that your artist understands the Chinese language and has experience of turning Chinese calligraphy into tattoos. Finally, discuss the type of font that you want your artist to use. As with all languages some fonts are better than others. Do you want modern handwriting or the elegance of classic Chinese calligraphy brush strokes?

Take your time, find the right design, get the right people to help and your Chinese tattoo will be a source of pride for the rest of your life.