Business is business - 对事不对人

Communication crossing cultures in this post mordern world may need to take more of respect before the conflict happens.

-------------

When you study the language Chinese, you may be told that never saying no directly to a Chinese, instead, using perhaps/ maybe/ thinking about it later to be polite and respectful for the culture.

Yes, it’s hard to be “business is business”, for in China, business is also with relationships.
In Mandarin, it says, 对事不对人. (dui4 shi4 bu2 dui4 ren2)

Unfortunately, in China, (traditionally) all the business is hard to be only business without personal relationships.
And it makes a perfect sense that for (traditional) Chinese, it's hard to say no, as the rejection of the issue might be taken personal.
So, saying no in a soft way, with "maybe" / "perhaps" / "thinking about it later" is an ambiguous disagreement on the business table in China.

Don't be frustrated by that culture if you are from Europe (traditional), for that's the way of the unique communication in Ancient Asian culture.
It just represents a moderate attitude of saving your face in the public for the sake of achieving harmony while resisting conflict.
So, if there is a direct “no” hitting your face, it may interpret as a death penalty, if the person doesn't know or consider the western way of communication at all.

Adding into that, Chinese turns more into confronting business and person together, especially when it comes into conflict.
If there is neither Love nor Faith nor Respect in the communication, a “death penalty” is very easily to be made.

Thus, can we (Chinese) really confront the issue rather than the person, when there is a disagreement, discouragement, or even an attack?
Can we still remain Loving for those who are trying to destroy, steal or kill?
( -- Absolutely, we can, and we should, for Love Redeems. )

It is funny, before, when people jumped in front of me (I'm Chinese) and showed something disagreeable, I would turn to be "aggressive", which means either I would convince them mine was better for this and that (very preachy), or give an absolutely cold look (typical blessed child). Ironically, I called myself a soul lover, which proved I was just one of those hypocrites.

Reading the Bible, we were commanded to Love.
Reading the Words from Confucius, we were told we would be absolutely "agreeable at the age of 60th".
(-- Bible is a hard core to make a person look old.)

So, all communication based on Love will be a success Communication.
Love, is the Power, shaped well, spiritually and scientifically makes sense, crossing cultures;
Love, is for all the Souls; no matter the soul is with what color or nationality or faith;
Love, is a progress of learning to be gentle and forgiving;
Love, is from an absolute pure heart, with single mind, loving words and gentle open-armed gesture.

Biz is biz, and we'd better not take it personal, if it is with a traditional European.
Biz is biz, and we'd never say no directly to a traditional Chinese, for “perhaps yes” can be a better way to save there face.
When culture is mixed, we'd better be an agreeable Soul Lover.

Biz is hard to be biz in this post modern new age, we'd communicate with Respect and Loving all Souls.

Music Video: 神奇的九寨 - The Mysterious Jiu Zhai / Tibetan

More info about Jiu Zhai Gou at Wikipedia: Jiu Zhai Gou Valley in Wikipedia
One more Hint --- it's close to the earthquake center in Si Chuan province.

神奇的九寨 - The Mysterious Jiu Zhai
容中尔甲 Rong Zhong Er Jia



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5HLLPEHGwM

在离天很近的地方
总有一双眼睛在守望
她有着森林绚丽的梦想
她有着大海碧波的光芒
到底是谁的呼唤那样真真切切
到底是谁的心灵那样寻寻觅觅
There are a pair of eyes looking,
At the gate of the heaven,
She is with the dream of florid forest
She is with the brilliant rays from the blue ocean,
Whose voice is that, vividly calling?
Whose spirit is that, thoroughly seeking?

噢,神奇的九寨, 人间的天堂
你把那温情的林光洒遍山岗
噢,神奇的九寨 , 人间的天堂
你看那天下的人儿深情向往
深情向往
Oh, it’s the mysterious Jiu Zhai,
Oh, it’s the heaven on earth,
It spreads the tender light of the forest among the monticule,
Oh, it’s the mysterious Jiu Zhai,
Oh, it’s the heaven on earth
Look, peoples around the world are attracted with passion,
peoples around the world are attracted, with passion.


在离我很远的地方
总有一支花朵在芬芳
她有着生命祈求的梦想
她有着日月轮回的沧桑 mutable
到底是谁的呼唤那样真真切切
到底是谁的心灵那样寻寻觅觅
There is a flower, redolence and fragrant,
far away from me.
She is with the dream of the life prayer,
She is with the tribulation of incarnation,
Whose voice is that, calling so vividly?
Whose spirit is that, seeking so thoroughly?

噢, 神奇的九寨, 人间的天堂
你把那童话的世界铺满高原
噢,神奇的九寨, 人间的天堂
你看那天下的人儿深情向注
深情向往
It’s the mysterious Jiu Zhai,
The heaven on earth
You spread the warmhearted light among the monticule,
It’s the mysterious Jiu Zhai,
The heaven on earth
Look, peoples around the world are attracted with passion,
Peoples around the world are attracted with passion.

John DeFrancis Remarks - Video Review

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afaVjLlnUtQ

1. Want to hear more about Lu Xun as well.
The cut is strange at the Lu Xun's part at the beginning.

2.thank God, pinyin is the only thing I use for Chinese inputting, I think it helps me to learn English.

3. Don't be disappointed by the policy.
It is conservative, but understandable.
a. it's not easy for the last generation to learn about the computer, and it will be harder to learn Pinyin. In a culture of respecting elders, I understand this shape inputting emphasis.
(As mentioned above, personally, I love latinization! This opens my brain of learning both Latin language and Chinese in my childhood.)
b. practical reason - speed. Those who know how to type both pinyin and shape input will tell you how much faster it is to use shape input instead of pinyin (will analyze more in the point 4).
c. prevent next generations from forgetting how to write Chinese characters, since the computer use. This problem exists in all cultures. Human just love traditions and want to keep it.


4. Latinization will be the future trend for input software, for the population speaks the standard Chinese is growing with the urbanization, the Television, and the internet.
Let's analyze it in Human Computer Interaction sense:
Psychologically,
if the person can pronounce the word perfectly, she/he would love to use pinyin;
if the person can write the word perfectly, he/she would love to use shape input.
If the person can write and speak Chinese both perfectly, he/she would love to use pinyin, for it's takes longer time to memorize another keyboard system than just type pinyin perfectly.
Let's say if the person only knows how to write some characters, with hard time to pronounce the standard Chinese, he probably will choose the shape input, other than pinyin, for Chinese characters is "shape oriented".

Since the urbanization and intellectualization is the trend in China, standard Mandarin will be the natural trend, as well as Pinyin.

If Chinese government is doing this promotion for shape input to against human nature and psychological preference, I will pray for the "grass root" software companies.
If Chinese government is doing this promotion for minorities who may find hard to speak perfect standard Mandarin, I pray for the government software companies.
Often, it's just hard for people to pronounce it perfect in pinyin, for there are tons of dialects in China.

5. for Taiwan.
Support the minority languages.
Develop the pinyin - traditional input and be generous like a nation.

(We know Taiwanese people are very generous, but in term of nation, it’s actually not an easy thing for a democratic small nation to do)
One tip in my head for Taiwan policy makers is to learn from Singapore if it’s possible. Make Taiwan attractive for other nations to come and be a multi-cultural Taiwan.

Lulu

Music - A Herbalist's Manual

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhPUzgfBoS8

Jay Chou, a Taiwanese pop song singer and writer, obsessed for the Chinese culture.
This is a song about the Herbalist's Manual.

Overall, it's a great song, with some sense of renaissance.
Somehow, it's also very inspiring for me. :P

Video is not as good as the song, and it seems like he is playing a savior's role in this MTV.





曲： 周杰倫
Qu : Zhou Jie Lun
Music: Jay Chou

詞: 方文山
Ci : Fang Wen Shan
Lyrics: Vincent Fang

Translation: sesamestreet - www.jay-chou.net


如果華佗再世　
Ru guo Hua Tuo zai shi
If Hua Tuo were still alive

祟洋都被醫治
Chong yang dou bei yi zhi
Worshiping of foreign cultures would be healed

外邦來學漢字　
Wai bong lai xue han zi
Foreigners coming to learn Chinese characters

激發我民族意識
Ji fa wo min zu yi shi
Stimulates my national consciousness

馬錢子 | 決明子 | 蒼耳子 | 還有蓮子
Ma qian zi | Que ming zi | Can er zi | Hai you lian zi
Strychnos, Cassia seed, Xanthii, and Lotus Seed

黃藥子 | 苦豆子 | 川楝子 | 我要面子
Huang yao zi | Ku dou zi | Chuan lian zi | Wo yao mian zi
Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae, Sophora alopecuroides, Fructus Toosendan, I want to save face

用我的方式改寫一部歷史
Yong wo de fang shi gai xie yi bu li shi
Using my own approach to rewrite a part of history

沒什麼別的事　跟著我唸幾個字
Mei shen mo bie de shi…gen zhe wo nian ji ge zi
This is not something special… follow me in uttering a few words

山藥~當歸~枸杞~ go
Shan yao~dang gui~gou qi~ GO
Chinese yam…Angelica sinensis….Lycium chinense…GO

山藥~當歸~枸杞~ go
Shan yao~dang gui~gou qi~ GO
Chinese yam …Angelica sinensis….Lycium chinense…GO

看我抓一把中藥　服下一帖驕傲
Kan wo zhua yi ba zhong yao fu xia yi tie jiao ao
Watch me grab some Chinese medicines and throw in some pride

Chorus:

我表情悠哉 跳個大概
Wo biao qing you zai tiao ge da gai
My reaction is tranquil… hurdle over problems (estimates)

動作輕鬆自在　你學不來
Dong zuo qing song zi zai ni xue bu lai
Actions are relaxed and free …you will never learn

霓虹的招牌　調整好狀態
Ni hong de zhao pai diao zheng hao zhuang tai
Neon signs…organised into a neat manner

在華麗的城市　等待醒來
Zai hua li de cheng shi deng dai xing lai
In this grand city…waiting [for it] to awaken

我表情悠哉　跳個大概
Wo biao qing you zai tiao ge da gai
My reaction is tranquil… hurdle over problems (estimates)

用書法書朝代　內力傳開
Yong shu fa shu zhao dai nai li chuan kai
Using calligraphy to describe a dynasty…internal force is unleashed

豪氣揮正楷　給一拳對白
Hao qi hui zheng kai gei yi quan dui bai
Gallant manner to write in standard calligraphy….give a fist of dialogue

結局平躺下來　看誰厲害 **
Jie ju ping tang xia lai kan shui li hai **
The ending starts to become stable/clear… see who is the most impressive

Verse 2:

練成什麼丹
Lian cheng shen mo dan
Refined into what panacea? 　

揉成什麼丸
Rou cheng shen mo wan
Kneaded into what pill?

鹿茸切片不能太薄
Lu rong qie pian bu neng tai bo
Deer horn must not be sliced to thinly

老師傅的手法不能這樣亂抄
Lao shi fu de shou fa bu neng zhe yang luan chao
The old master’s skill cannot just be haphazardly copied

龜苓膏　雲南白藥　還有冬蟲夏草
Gui ling gao ~ yun nan bai yao ~ hai you dong chong xia cao
Gui ling gao ~ yun ling bai yao ~ and dong chong xia cao

自己的音樂自己的藥　份量剛剛好
Zi ji de yin yue zi ji ke yao fen liang gang gang hao
My own music… my medicine… amount is just right

聽我說中藥苦　
Ting shuo guo zhong yao ku
Once heard that Chinese medicines were very bitter

抄襲應該更苦
Chao xi ying gai geng ku
Plagiarism is even more distasteful

快翻開本草綱目　
Kuai fan kai ben cao gang mu
Quickly open the Herbalist's Manual

多看一些善本書
Duo kan yi xie shan ben shu
Read more books on virtues

蟾蘇 ~ 地龍　已翻過江湖
Chan sudi long …yi fan guo jiang hu
Chan su, di long …overturn the underworld

這些老祖宗的辛苦　
Zhe xie lao zu zong de xin ku
This is our ancestors' hard work

我們一定不能輸
Wo men yi ding bu neng shu
We cannot lose

就是這個光 ~~~ 就是這個光 ~~~
Jiu shi zhe ge guang ~~~ Jiu shi zhe ge guang
This is the light ~~~ This is the light

一起唱
Yi qi chang
Let’s sing together

(就是這個光　就是這個光)
(Jiu shi zhe ge guang ~~~ Jiu shi zhe ge guang)
(This is the light ~~~ This is the light)

Hey ～～～～

讓我來調個
Rang wo lai diao ge pian fang
Let me write you a prescription

專治你媚外的內傷
Zhuan zhi ni mei wai de nei shang
Especially cure internal wounds of foreign-fawning

已札根千年的漢方
Yi zha gen qian nian de han fang
A prescription rooted in millenniums of Chinese culture

有別人不知道的力量
Yong bie ren bu zhi dao de li liang
Has unknown strength

Repeat Chorus


蹲　小殭屍蹲　小殭屍蹲
Dun xiao jiang shi dun xiao jiang shi dun
Bend … small corpse bend… small corpse bend…

又蹲　小殭屍蹲　暗巷點燈
Dun xiao jiang shi dun an xiang dian deng
Bend… small corpse bend… dark alleyway lit by light

又蹲　小殭屍蹲　鑽蘿蔔坑
Dun xiao jiang shi dun zuan luo bo keng
Bend… small corpse bend… dig a turnip hole

又蹲　小殭屍蹲　唸咒語哼
Dun xiao jiang shi dun nian zhou yu heng
Bend… small corpse bend…chanting a curse

Vog and Chinese Food and Medicine: 清肺

Oh, dear vog, let's read some stuffs from Chinese doctors!
Good luck with fighting vog!

---

This is some ingredients play some interesting roles in clean the lungs in Chinese Medicine:
(Yay, Chinese eat anything and Chinese vegetarian will eat any plants and mushrooms for fun...)
LoL

• white turnip： cough, phlegm, smoker
• lily (put lily into porridge or soup):
• mung:
• water chestnut: clearing away heat (Chinese medicine)
• silver mushroom
• lotus seed
• honey
• refined white sugar
• white gourd
  

---

DON'T eat too spicy, salty or greasy.

---

These are some recipes to make those ingredients tasty (sorry, don't have time to translate, hopefully, Google translate can help ):

a. 雪耳、莲子、百合、排骨汤：
　　原料：雪耳75克，百合100克，排骨500克。
　　做法：将上述选料清洗之后加水一起放入煲内煮沸，煲3小时。
b. 桑百皮、百合、排骨汤：
　　原料：桑百皮50克，百合75克，排骨500克。
　　做法：将上述选料清洗干净后加水，然后一并放进煲内煮沸，煲一个半小时。
c. 润肺银耳羹：
　　原料：银耳5克，冰糖50克。
　　做法：将银耳放入盆内，以温水浸泡30分钟，待其发透后摘去蒂头、拣去杂质；将银耳撕成片状，放入洁净的锅内，加水适量，以武火煮沸后，再用文火煎熬1小时，然后加入冰糖，直至银耳炖烂为止。
d. 润肺豆浆粥：
　　原料：豆浆1000克，糯米100克，白糖适量。
　　做法：将糯米洗净放入锅中，加水适量，武火烧沸后改用文火慢慢熬煮，煮至米粒开花时倒入豆浆，继续熬10分钟，加白糖适量即可。
e. 鸭肉粥：
　　原料：鸭肉150克，糯米250克，料酒、盐少许。
　　做法：先将鸭肉切丁；糯米加水煮粥，然后加入鸭肉、少许料酒和盐，煮至粥熟。
f. 毛肚血汤：
　　原料：鸭血300克，毛肚150克（注意不要加入羊肉，因为羊肉属热，不适宜在气温渐高、天气干燥的春夏之交食用）。
　　配料：黄喉、鳝鱼、午餐肉、黄豆芽、粉丝各100克，重庆火锅底料、泡姜、大蒜、味精、白糖各少许。
　　做法：先将鸭血切成片，放在炒锅中用清水汆一下待用；再放少许清油把姜片、蒜片炒一下，放入重庆火锅底料烧开；汤味熬好后，加入鸭血、毛肚、黄喉、鳝鱼、午餐肉、黄豆芽、粉丝等直至煮熟（注意毛肚不要煮得太老）。
　　提示：俗话说“血能洗肺”。因此，对于这种绵软滑爽又非常便宜的血豆腐，此时不吃更待何时？
g. 火腿冬瓜汤：
　　原料：火腿片，冬瓜片。
　　配料：葱丝，姜丝，虾皮，盐，糖，麻油。
　　做法：锅内放清水煮沸，将冬瓜片及配料下锅煮10分钟后加入火腿片，2分钟后即可出锅；出锅前加入葱花、麻油、盐、糖。
　　提示：此汤清新可口，去燥润肺，适合春夏季节食用。

---

Reference:
http://www.xicn.net/life/health/item/2003-05-16/117642.html