The Monkey King or Sun Wukong is a literary,and religious figure best known as one of the main players in the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West,and inspiration to the world renowned Dragon Ball franchise and its protagonist Son Goku. In the novel,Sun Wukong is a monkey born from a stone who acquires supernatural powers through Taoist practices. After rebelling against heaven,he is imprisoned under a mountain by the Buddha. After five hundred years,he accompanies the monk Tang Sanzang (唐三藏) riding on the White Dragon Horse and two other disciples,Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing,on a journey to obtain Buddhist Sutra and Mahakapi Jataka
A mooncake is a Chinese bakery product traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋節). The festival is primarily about the harvest while a legend connects it to moon watching,and mooncakes are regarded as a delicacy. Mooncakes are offered between friends or on family gatherings while celebrating the festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival is widely regarded as one of the four most important Chinese festivals.
Baozi,or simply bao,is a type of yeast-leavened filled bun in various Chinese cuisines. There are many variations in fillings and preparations,though the buns are most often steamed. They are a variation of mantou from Northern China.
A pineapple bun is a kind of sweet bun predominantly popular in Hong Kong and also common in Chinatowns worldwide. Despite the name,it does not traditionally contain pineapple;rather,the name refers to the look of the characteristic topping.
Lotus seed paste is a Chinese dessert ingredient made from dried lotus seeds. It is traditionally considered a luxurious ingredient.
In Chinese mythology,Peaches of Immortality are consumed by the immortals due to their mystic virtue of conferring longevity on all who eat them. Peaches symbolizing immortality are a common symbol in Chinese art,appearing in depictions or descriptions in a number of fables,paintings,and other forms of art,often in association with thematically similar iconography,such as certain deities or immortals or other symbols of longevity,such as deer or cranes.
A lotus seed bun is a Chinese sweet bun found in China. They are prepared by steaming a yeast-leavened dough that contains lotus seed paste. It can be classified as a dim sum,though not exclusively so.
Hoppang is a warm snack that is sold throughout South Korea. It is a convenience food version of jjinppang and is typically filled with smooth,sweetened red bean paste.
Ang ku kueh,also known as red tortoise cake,is a small round or oval-shaped Chinese sweet dumpling with soft,sticky glutinous rice flour skin wrapped around a sweet central filling. It is molded to resemble a tortoise shell and is presented resting on a square piece of banana leaf. As suggested by its name,red tortoise cakes are traditionally red in color and has a sticky,chewy texture when eaten. Red tortoise cakes are shaped like tortoise shells because the Chinese traditionally believed that eating tortoises would bring longevity to those who are eating it and bring about good fortune and prosperity. Considered to be auspicious items,these sweet pastries are especially prepared during important festivals such as Chinese New Year as offerings to the Chinese deities.
Cranes are an important motif in Chinese mythology. There are various myths involving cranes,and in Chinese mythology cranes are generally symbolically connected with the idea of longevity. In China,the crane mythology is associated with the divine bird worship in the animal totemism;cranes have a spiritual meaning where they are a form of divine bird which travels between heaven and man's world. Cranes regularly appear in Chinese arts such as paintings,tapestry,and decorative arts;they are also often depicted carrying the souls of the deceased to heaven. The crane is the second most important bird after the fenghuang,the symbol of the empress,in China.
Koah-pau or gua bao,also known as a pork belly bun,bao,or bao bun,is a type of lotus leaf bun originating from Fujianese cuisine in China. It is also a popular snack in Taiwan,Singapore,Malaysia,Philippines,and Nagasaki Chinatown in Japan.
Red bean paste or red bean jam,also called adzuki bean paste or anko,is a paste made of red beans,used in East Asian cuisine. The paste is prepared by boiling the beans,then mashing or grinding them. At this stage,the paste can be sweetened or left as it is. The color of the paste is usually dark red,which comes from the husk of the beans. In Korean cuisine,the adzuki beans can also be husked prior to cooking,resulting in a white paste. It is also possible to remove the husk by sieving after cooking,but before sweetening,resulting in a red paste that is smoother and more homogeneous.
Chinese auspicious ornaments in textile and clothing refers to any form of Chinese auspicious ornaments,which are used to decorate various forms of Chinese textile and clothing,fashion accessories,and footwear in China since the ancient times. Chinese auspicious ornaments form part of Chinese culture and hold symbolic meanings. In ancient China,auspicious ornaments were often either embroidered or woven into textile and clothing. They are also used on religious and ritual clothing and in Xifu,Chinese opera costumes. Auspicious symbols and motifs continue to be used in present-day China in industries,such as home textiles and clothing;they are also used in modern design packaging and interior design. Some of these Chinese auspicious ornaments were also culturally appropriated by European countries during the era of Chinoiserie,where they became decorative patterns on fashionable chinoiserie fashion and textiles.
