Adam Cheng and Liza Wang
1. Quotation of the Day:
The Holy Bible
(Micah 6:8 ESV):
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
2. The title of this song is four simple Chinese words "笑看風雲" but they are rather difficult to translate into English.
The reason they are difficult to translate is because the words are being used figuratively - as an aphorism or terse formulation of a sentiment.
The sentiment is to not to grasp too tightly on life, but that as life changes to let go of all the conflicts, struggles and antagonisms.
There are certain Taoist (or Daoist) sentiments to the lyrics.
"笑" = laugh or smile.
"看" = look or watch.
"風" = wind.
"雲" = cloud.
As a phrase, "風雲" denotes changes.
A literal translation of “笑看風雲" would be "Smiling while Looking at the [Changing] Wind and Cloud".
I have chosen a more dynamic translation: "Smiling at the Passing Scene".
3. Smiling at the Passing Scene ("笑看風雲") is the theme song of the 40 episodes 1994 Hong Kong TVB's drama Instinct.
The name of the theme song and the drama is identical in Chinese: "笑看風雲".
Adam Cheng, who sings the theme song, is also the male lead of the drama.
Instinct was broadcast to both popular and critical acclaims.
4. Music videos with Adam Cheng:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R41k0FtH960
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGHd752u-pU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wvyl4C-aYo
5. The video are scenes from the 1994 TV drama:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXgp4rq0w-s
6. Adam Cheng in concert with musical arrangement by Kitaro (Masanori Takahashi).
The second of two songs which starts at the 3:20 minutes mark:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnLObidhgUU
7. Adam Cheng performing in 2013 on Shenzhen Star-TV in China:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=456_0OHnc0c
Adam Cheng was born in 1947.
He is 66 years old this year (2013).
Does he look his years?
8. Adam Cheng performing in 2012 for Hu Bei Star-TV (Hubei Province, China):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMRW_xCPN7A
9. Adam Cheng in concert in 2012 in Hong Kong:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3STTMCu35bo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYcuMmQ_nG8
The second of two songs which starts at the 3:42 minutes mark:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msAfeFiNBpE
10. Adam Cheng in concert:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hQ1GSzAz2k
11. The first of two songs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHNbpbjr0s8
12. These are just the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHqfuSmNqD8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9PVaWt_Iso
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvEq9WdgSwE
13. This is just the music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpbWjJCQcGg
14. A DJQQ Club Dance Mix of the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A93NzzUT4Y
Quite interesting.
15. A cover by Sam Tsang of Hong Kong:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzfBas28Rzs
This cover starts at the 1:36 minutes mark:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTKZX4hCZ-Y
And a Jazz version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53r_bvfiQaU
16. Covers by Pei-sha of Singapore:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgIRHxo6pJE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrTU5YT5U70
17. Covers by Guan Xue-er of Singapore:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTFLXuONBqo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11Dac6w14Gk
18. A karaoke version produced in China (?):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU8ZAuDGJvs
The singing is quite ok but just ignores the second part of the video.
19. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:
笑看風雲 -- 鄭少秋
* 誰沒有一些刻骨銘心事
誰能預計後果
誰沒有一些舊恨心魔
一點點無心錯
# 誰沒有一些得不到的夢
誰人負你負我多
誰願意解釋為了甚麼
一笑已經風雲過
@ 活得開心心不記恨
為今天歡笑唱首歌
任胸襟吸收新的快樂
在晚風中敝開心鎖
& 誰願記滄桑匆匆往事
誰人是對是錯
從沒有解釋為了什麼
一笑看風雲過
Repeat *, #, @, &, @, &
20. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:
笑看风云 -- 郑少秋
* 谁没有一些刻骨铭心事
谁能预计后果
谁没有一些旧恨心魔
一点点无心错
# 谁没有一些得不到的梦
谁人负你负我多
谁愿意解释为了甚么
一笑已经风云过
@ 活得开心心不记恨
为今天欢笑唱首歌
任胸襟吸收新的快乐
在晚风中敝开心锁
& 谁愿记沧桑匆匆往事
谁人是对是错
从没有解释为了什么
一笑看风云过
Repeat *, #, @, &, @, &
21. Names, Words and Phrases:
Adam Cheng (Traditional Chinese: 鄭少秋; Simplified Chinese: 郑少秋).
Guan Xue-er (Traditional: 關雪兒; Simplified: 关雪儿).
Hu Bei Star-TV (Traditional: 湖北衛視: Simplified: 湖北卫视).
Hubei Province (Traditional: 湖北省; Simplified: 湖北省).
Kitaro (Traditional: 喜多郎; Simplified: 喜多郎).
Liza Wang (Traditional: 汪明荃; Simplified: 汪明荃).
Masanori Takahashi (Traditional: 高橋正則; Simplified: 高桥正则).
Pei-sha (Traditional: 佩莎; Simplified: 佩莎).
Sam Tsang (Traditional: 曾航生; Simplified: 曾航生).
References:
"Adam Cheng", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Cheng
(accessed 2013-02-28).
"鄭少秋", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E9%84%AD%E5%B0%91%E7%A7%8B
(accessed 2013-02-28).
"笑看風雲", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E7%AC%91%E7%9C%8B%E9%A2%A8%E9%9B%B2
(accessed 2013-02-28).
End.
1. Chinese Verse of the Day:
蘇軾 (1037 - 1101)
定風波
莫聽穿林打葉聲，何妨吟嘯且徐行。
竹杖芒鞋輕勝馬，誰怕？一蓑煙雨任平生。
料峭春風吹酒醒，微冷，山頭斜照卻相迎。
回首向來蕭瑟處，歸去，也無風雨也無晴。
2. For the past many years, the overriding policy consideration of the Chinese Government in Beijing can be summarized by the slogan "Stability above All Else" or "Stability Overrides Everything".
It is not the purpose of this blog post to express an opinion on this policy, but rather to give one reason why "stability" strikes a chord with many Chinese.
The reason why many Chinese prize stability above all else is because political instability may leads to "a change in dynasty" and a change in dynasty historically means death on a massive scale.
Just contemplating "a change in dynasty" will send chills up and down the spine of many Chinese.
3. The following table summarizes China's population statistics over the centuries.
The figures are from the posthumous China's Historical Statistics on Households, Land and Taxes (1980) by Liang fangzhong.
The following are some very rough interpretations of the numbers:
(a) When there was a dynastic change from Western Han to Eastern Han, the wars lead to a decrease in population of (69.60 - 21.01) = 48.59 million.
The population decreased by (69.60 - 21.01) / 69.60 = 69.81%
(b) When Eastern Han disintegrated into the Three Kingdoms, the resulting wars lead to a decrease in population of (56.49 - (0.94 + 4.43 + 2.30)) = 48.82 million.
The population decreased by (56.49 - 48.82) / 56.49 = 86.42%
(c) (I have skipped over Liang's statistics on Southern and Northern Dynasties (420 CE - 589 CE) as China was fragmented and it will take too many explanations for the purpose of this blog post.)
(d) When there was a dynastic change from Sui to Tang, the wars lead to a decrease in population of (46.02 - 37.14) = 8.88 million.
The population decreased by (46.02 - 37.14) / 46.02 = 19.30%
(e) The An Shi Rebellion of Tang Dynasty happened between 755 CE and 763 CE.
The wars of An Shi Rebellion lead to a decrease in population of (52.92 - 16.92) = 36.00 million.
The population decreased by (52.92 - 16.92) / 52.92 = 68.02%
(f) Tang ended at 907 CE and a fragmented period called Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907 –960/979 CE) followed.
Song unified China from between 960 CE to 979 CE and is known as Northern Song.
The population of China hovered around 16 millions in this transition period.
(g) Northern Song is called "Northern" because its Capital is at present day Kaifeng in northern China.
After the Song engaged in a period of wars with the Liao and the Jin, its capital was moved to present day Hangzhou in southern China for strategic reasons; thus began Southern Song.
The wars with the Liao and Jin lead to many deaths and a contraction in territory.
The population decrease in this period was (46.73 - 16.84) = 29.89 million.
The population decreased by (46.73 - 16.84) / 46.73 = 64.00%
(h) When the dynasty changed from Southern Song to Yuan, the wars lead to a decrease in population of (76.34 - 59.85) = 16.49 million.
The population decreased by (76.34 - 59.85) / 76.34 = 21.60%
(i) The dynastic changed from Yuan to Ming had negligible impact on the population of China.
(j) When the dynasty changed from Ming to Qing, the wars lead to a decrease in population of (51.66 - 14.03) = 37.63 million.
The population decreased by (51.66 - 14.03) / 51.66 = 72.84%
3a. Added: Later on Wednesday, February 27, 2013.
I believe my use of Liang fangzhong's statistics on China's population is adequate for its purpose: To illustrate how the wars during "a change in dynasty" lead to death on a massive scale.
But I cannot emphasize enough that the above is a "very rough" interpretations of the census numbers.
Just two caveats out of many:
(a) I believe the actual numbers of deaths due to wars over the centuries, in general, were worse than the census data indicated.
The census data Liang quoted were taken after a dynasty was established and the government bureaucracy has recovered enough to conduct censuses.
Thus, Eastern Han was officially established at 25 CE but the first census data was from 57 CE.
There was 32 years between the establishment of the dynasty and the first census for the population to recover from wars.
This means the census data probably underestimated the devastation of wars on the population.
(b) Despite the wars with the Jin and later the Yuan (Mongols), Southern Song (1127 - 1279) was one of the high points of China in terms of cultural attainments, commerce and material welfare in general.
Southern Song did not rule over all of China but had lost many territories to the Liao and Jin.
If we consider the year 1193 CE, the population of Southern Song was 27.85 million but the combined population of Southern Song + Jin was 76.34 million.
Since the population of Jin was in the low millions, Chinese population in that year should be over 70 million - this not counting Chinese under Liao rule.
4. Given the above statistics: Is it any wonder that Chinese fear instability and the mentioning of "a change in dynasty" will send chills up and down the spine of many Chinese?
5. Names, Words and Phrases:
A change in dynasty (Traditional Chinese: 改朝換代; Simplified Chinese: 改朝换代).
An Shi Rebellion (Traditional: 安史之亂; Simplified: 安史之乱).
Eastern Han (Traditional: 東漢; Simplified: 东汉).
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (Traditional: 五代十國; Simplified: 五代十国).
Hangzhou (Traditional: 杭州; Simplified: 杭州).
Jin (Traditional: 金; Simplified: 金).
Kaifeng (Traditional: 開封; Simplified: 开封).
Liang fangzhong (Traditional: 梁方仲; Simplified: 梁方仲).
Liao (Traditional: 遼; Simplified 辽).
Ming (Traditional: 明; Simplified: 明).
Qing (Traditional: 清; Simplified: 清).
Northern Song (Traditional: 北宋; Simplified: 北宋).
Southern and Northern Dynasties (Traditional: 南北朝; Simplified: 南北朝).
Southern Song (Traditional: 南宋; Simplified: 南宋).
Stability Above All Else (Traditional: 穩定壓倒一切; Simplified: 稳定压倒一切).
Song (Traditional: 宋; Simplified: 宋).
Sui (Traditional: 隋; Simplified: 隋).
Tang (Traditional: 唐; Simplified: 唐).
Three Kingdoms (Traditional: 三國; Simplified: 三国).
Western Han (Traditional: 西漢; Simplified: 西汉).
Western Jin (Traditional: 西晉; Simplified: 西晋).
Yuan (Traditional: 元; Simplified: 元).
References:
Liang fangzhong 梁方仲. 1980. 《中国历代户口、田地、田赋统计》 [China's Historical Statistics on Households, Land and Taxes]. Shanghai: Shanghai People's Publishing House.
"Dynasties in Chinese history", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynasties_in_Chinese_history
(accessed 2013-02-27).
"Su Shi", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Su_Shi
(accessed 2013-02-27).
"蘇軾", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E8%8B%8F%E8%BD%BC
(accessed 2013-02-27).
End.
Sally Yeh
1. Chinese Verse of the Day:
岳飛 (1103 - 1142)
滿江紅
怒髮衝冠，憑欄處，瀟瀟雨歇。
抬望眼，仰天長嘯，壯懷激烈。
三十功名塵與土，八千里路雲和月。
莫等閑、白了少年頭，空悲切。
靖康恥，猶未雪；臣子恨，何時滅？
駕長車，踏破賀蘭山缺！
壯志飢餐胡虜肉，笑談渴飲匈奴血。
待從頭，收拾舊山河，朝天闕。
2. The music of Ten Minutes Past Midnight ("零時十分") was composed by George Lam for his will-be wife Sally Yeh in 1984.
(They were married in 1996.)
The lyrics are quite sad and describe a person celebrating her birthday by herself from ten past midnight to six in the morning.
"Yeh is a Canadian citizen. Born in Taipei, Taiwan, immigrated to Canada at young age with her family, grew up in Victoria, British Columbia." ("Sally Yeh", Wikipedia.)
If Sally Yeh were to have been born in Hong Kong, then her last name would have been spelled in English as "Yip" - a Cantonese transliteration.
I suppose "Yeh" is a Fukienese transliteration.
Sally Yeh was born in Taiwan and a sizable population of Taiwan has roots in Fukien (or Fujian) Province of China.
I have a friend from Malaysia whom have the same last name as Sally but his last name is transliterated into English as "Yap".
But I have never asked him where his ancestors were from.
3. Sally Yeh returns to Taiwan from Canada in 1980 to begin her singing career.
She moved to Hong Kong in 1984 and continues singing and acting.
1984 was Sally Yeh breakout year; as a matter of fact, Ten Minutes Past Midnight was her breakout song.
This song has received many awards in 1984.
4. This music video is from 1984 but the music is remixed from LP Record:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDI2SuxZ0po
@Ringo Chan in YouTube's Comments summarized the mood of the lyrics very well: "loneliness, expectation and disappointment."
5. Sally Yeh in 1984's Hong Kong Jade Solid Gold Awards.
The song starts at the 12:50 minutes mark:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMjGbySR59I
6. A karaoke version of the song from 1991:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQhwth7RQj0
7. Sally Yeh and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G4iIJ6SuII
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow_2jZRzodQ
8. Sally Yeh in concert:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsSqRFtolU0
9. This is just the music with Sally Yeh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9r9mTTYNyw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWin8NY2kdM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-L2CCcTDSo
10. Sally Yeh and George Lam:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn6Pt7fX2JQ
George Lam is the husband of Sally Yeh.
11. Sally Yeh and George Lam in concert in 2004:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX1ft8TIJWs
12. Sally Yeh and George Lam in concert in 2010:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt0hw8FbEic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiSwxmqF0qs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGDgukOAnnk
13. Sally Yeh, George Lam and Alex Lam in concert in 2012.
The first of two songs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsPIUPTXdPA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRmtjoeKIBk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTelaoRPrm0
Alex Lam is the son of George Lam by a previous marriage.
14. Sally Yeh and Jacky Cheung in 2005 in a TV show celebrating the 25th Anniversary of her singing career.
The song starts at the 3:10 minutes mark:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEKDtuDjTJg
15. Sally Yeh and Eason Chan.
The second of two songs which starts at the 1:55 minutes mark:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ5mM2hInuI
16. George Lam in concert in 2002 with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap2xMa0vSjc
The song starts at the 3:25 minutes mark with some bars from Happy Birthday to You.
A very poignant counterpoint to Ten Minutes Past Midnight's "Happy birthday to me".
17. Music video of George Lam singing Ten Minutes Past Midnight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck9hOuTE0KE
Very good.
18. A cover by George Lam and Joey Yung:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8flrnN4Ei40
19. A surprisingly good but unknown cover:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPFlSGvMwxs
20. A piano cover:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZCzU2K_UTA
21. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:
零時十分 -- 葉蒨文
零時十分 倚窗看門外暗燈
迷途夜雨 靜吻路人
曾在雨中 你低聲的說：
Happy birthday my love one
* 為何如今 只得我呆望雨絲
呆呆坐至 夜半二時
拿著兩杯凍的香檳說：
Happy birthday to me
# 綿綿夜雨 無言淚珠
陪我慶祝 今次生辰
綿綿夜雨 無言淚珠
齊來為我添氣氛
@ 無人夜中 穿起那明豔舞衣
呆呆獨坐 直至六時
拿著兩杯暖的香檳說：
Happpy birthday to me
Repeat *, #, @
22. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:
零时十分 -- 叶蒨文
零时十分 倚窗看门外暗灯
迷途夜雨 静吻路人
曾在雨中 你低声的说：
Happy birthday my love one
* 为何如今 只得我呆望雨丝
呆呆坐至 夜半二时
拿着两杯冻的香槟说：
Happy birthday to me
# 绵绵夜雨 无言泪珠
陪我庆祝 今次生辰
绵绵夜雨 无言泪珠
齐来为我添气氛
@ 无人夜中 穿起那明艳舞衣
呆呆独坐 直至六时
拿着两杯暖的香槟说：
Happy birthday to me
Repeat *, #, @
23. Names, Words and Phrases:
Alex Lam (Traditional Chinese: 林德信; Simplified Chinese: 林德信).
Eason Chan (Traditional: 陳奕迅; Simplified: 陈奕迅).
George Lam (Traditional: 林子祥; Simplified: 林子祥).
Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (Traditional: 香港管弦樂團; Simplified: 香港管弦乐团).
Jacky Cheung (Traditional: 張學友; Simplified: 张学友).
Jade Solid Gold (Traditional: 勁歌金曲; Simplified: 劲歌金曲).
Joey Yung (Traditional: 容祖兒; Simplified: 容祖儿).
Sally Yeh (Traditional: 葉蒨文; Simplified: 叶倩文).
References:
"Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Philharmonic_Orchestra
(accessed 2013-02-24).
"Sally Yeh", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally_Yeh
(accessed 2013-02-24).
"葉蒨文", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E8%91%89%E8%92%A8%E6%96%87
(accessed 2013-02-24).
"香港管弦樂團", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E7%AE%A1%E5%BC%A6%E6%A8%82%E5%9C%98
(accessed 2013-02-24).
"岳飛", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E5%B2%B3%E9%A3%9E
(accessed 2013-02-24).
"滿江紅", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E6%BB%A1%E6%B1%9F%E7%BA%A2
(accessed 2013-02-24).
End.
1. Chinese Verse of the Day:
辛棄疾 (1140 - 1207)
(南鄉子) 登京口北固亭有懷
何處望神州？滿眼風光北固樓。
千古興亡多少事？悠悠。不盡長江滾滾流。
年少萬兜鍪，坐斷東南戰未休。
天下英雄誰敵手？曹劉。生子當如孫仲謀。
2. According to a Chinese saying, tea is a drink fit for immortals or deities ("仙品").
At the "suggestion" of my Mother, I have been drinking Chinese tea as my main beverage for the last three years.
My Mother made the suggestion out of concern for my health, and I am glad I have taken up her suggestion as I attribute some of my health improvement to tea drinking.
3. I am not a connoisseur of tea drinking; I only drink tea that is commonly available.
The following is my tea drinking habit nowadays:
(a) For diversity, I drink four kinds of tea.
(b) I alternate between two bottles that are 2 litres each.
(c) One bottle is for Pu-erh tea only.
(d) The other bottle is for Shoumei (or Sow Mee), Tieguanyin, and Liu'an tea.
(e) I finish one bottle before I go for the second bottle.
So I am drinking three bottles of Pu-erh tea for every one bottle of the other three kinds of tea.
And I can almost finish two 2 litres bottles of tea on an average day.
4. Because there is a very sizable Chinese Canadian community in the Metro Vancouver area, there are lots of Chinese goods available here.
And Chinese tea is available in many stores.
If one is not a connoisseur and go for the pricey stuff, one can buy a package of Chinese tea for between 1 to 3 Canadian dollars.
And if one drinks around 2 litres of tea a day, then one package of tea can usually last between three to four weeks.
Tea drinking can be a very economical affair.
5. My late father used to drink Pu-erh tea and I grow up drinking it.
So when I started drinking tea as my main beverage three years ago, I have an affinity for Pu-erh tea.
Pu-erh tea has the ability to help our digestive system to break-down fat and oily foods; that is one reason why it is my main kind of tea.
My Mother told me she does not drink Pu-erh tea after supper because it "cleans her intestines" and makes her hungry at night.
I second her opinion on this point.
6. Wikipedia on the beneficial health effect of Pu-erh tea ("Pu-erh tea"):
Scientific studies report that consumption of pu'er tea leaves significantly suppressed the expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) in the livers of rats; gains in body weight, levels of triacylglycerol, and total cholesterol were also suppressed.The compositions of chemical components found to have been responsible for these effects (catechins, caffeine, and theanine) varied dramatically between pu-erh, black, oolong, and green teas.
Specific mechanisms through which chemicals in pu'er tea inhibit the biosynthesis of cholesterol in the laboratory have been suggested.
Pu'er tea has also been found to have antimutagenic and antimicrobial properties in vitro. (In vitro studies do not necessarily correlate to medicinal effects. An article in Microbiologist, The magazine of the Society for Applied Microbiology, in March 2008, Vol 9 No 1, p35, found that tea had many in vitro antimicrobial properties against many organisms; for example English Breakfast tea at the concentration used for drinking had significant antimicrobial effect on the lethal anthrax bacillus (Bacillus anthracis) and many others, but this did not make it a useful treatment for anthrax.)
Pu'er tea is widely believed in Chinese cultures to counteract the unpleasant effects of heavy alcohol consumption. In traditional Chinese medicine it is believed to invigorate the spleen and inhibit "dampness." In the stomach, it is believed to reduce heat and "descends qi".
7. I drink the other three kinds of tea mainly for diversity.
My Mother told me that Liu'an tea has the characteristic of being suitable for any age group.
A person of any age can drink Liu'an tea without any adverse side effects.
8. Names, Words and Phrases:
Liu'an tea (Traditional Chinese: 六安茶; Simplified Chinese: 六安茶).
Pu-erh tea (Traditional: 普洱茶; Simplified: 普洱茶).
Shoumei tea (Traditional: 壽眉茶; Simplified: 寿眉茶).
Tea (Traditional: 茶; Simplified: 茶).
Tieguanyin tea (Traditional: 鐵觀音茶; Simplified: 铁观音茶).
References:
"Fermented tea", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermented_tea
(accessed 2013-02-16).
"Pu-erh tea", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pu-erh_tea
(accessed 2013-02-16).
"Shoumei tea", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoumei_tea
(accessed 2013-02-16).
"Tea", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea
(accessed 2013-02-16).
"Tieguanyin", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tieguanyin
(accessed 2013-02-16).
"茶", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E8%8C%B6
(accessed 2013-02-16).
"普洱茶", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E6%99%AE%E6%B4%B1%E8%8C%B6
(accessed 2013-02-16).
"鐵觀音", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E9%93%81%E8%A7%82%E9%9F%B3
(accessed 2013-02-16).
"辛棄疾", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E8%BE%9B%E6%A3%84%E7%96%BE
(accessed 2013-02-16).
End.
Jacky Cheung
Karen Tong
1. Quotation of the Day:
Marco Antonio de Dominis (1560-1624)
In essentials unity;
In non-essentials liberty;
In all things charity.
2. Love amidst Wind and Rain ("相思風雨中") is a Cantonese song sung by Jacky Cheung and Karen Tong.
I have two specific memories related to this song:
(a) I remember exactly when I first listened to this song: It was back in 1992 when this song first came out and I was with my friend and his girlfriend and we were visiting a girlfriend of my friend's girlfriend.
When we entered her house, the girlfriend of my friend's girlfriend was listening to Love amidst Wind and Rain and she commented on how beautiful this song was.
(I am having fun writing these two sentences!)
(b) When I went to work in Hong Kong and China in the mid-1990s, one of my cousins in Hong Kong advised me to practice a few songs just in case I need to sing on social occasions.
Love amidst Wind and Rain was one of the songs I practiced on.
3. Love amidst Wind and Rain is a sub-theme song of Hong Kong TVB's 1992 TV drama Road for the Heroes.
Since then, this song has become a perennial favorite in karaoke singing for Cantonese speaking Chinese.
I suppose one reason why this song has been so popular is because the music, the lyrics and the original music video are very well done.
This song captures the sadness amidst separating lovers very well.
Another reason is because this is a duet so a male and female can sing it together in karaoke.
A third reason is that this is a "simpler" song among Jacky Cheung's songs.
Many of Jacky Cheung's songs are technically difficult for the average person to sing.
So people are happy to be able to sing this song reasonably well.
4. I believe this is the original music video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnrKK2EQKxA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-IZyyKeics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUi963J8tQM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdJlLjSJNtY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vfk9mpotX9g
and many more in YouTube.
After 20 years, I still think this music video is very well done.
5. A rare music video by Karen Tong and Jacky Cheung:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmiAMnFLBD0
6. Karen Tong and Jacky Cheung in concert:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jY50CJd4lw
7. Karen Tong and Jacky Cheung in an Award ceremony in 1992:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL60HDwnU6Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs8zKf6Kos0
8. These are just the music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toQID0gSr9o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ecbe-CKGvf4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XuFq7VfYoo
9. Karen Tong in concert in December, 2012, in Hong Kong with the Grasshopper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMf3b5LBZzs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL4S_eUo6CU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8EhETXKM3A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG29FZ_IOC8
The Grasshopper is a Hong Kong singing and dancing group active since 1985.
10. Karen Tong and William singing in 2009:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VaMcUzLdVY
William sang pretty well.
11. Karen Tong and Kevin Cheng in concert in Reno, USA in 2009:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtihRHLiJKQ
12. Karen Tong in concert in 2006:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH7CZRmjOQI
The laughter in the video was occasioned by the guy missing the lyrics.
13. Karen Tong having fun with her previous music video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz2mZcvWb0s
The guy is Johnson Lee.
14. The music in the instrument Guzheng:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v6pYqJGdFg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM7xBS63vIg
15. A version with English translation of the lyrics (top) and the Chinese lyrics and the pinyin transliteration of the lyrics (bottom):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI_qtOtKdRU
16. Frankie Lam and Kenix Kwok are both actors and not singers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_gq1Xta5R8
By the way, they are husband and wife.
17. The Hong Kong actors Michael Tse and Fala Chen in concert in Malaysia in 2011:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKWuRM7-3Kc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIPBKtRnk8o
18. A cover by Tony Lui and Connie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UYGz6MiBzE
The venue for the singing is the Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong.
19. Some karaoke cover versions produced in China:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JXyNvaNL0s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7SlaWDNZpw
20. The Irish Chris McEvoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_ByCkKYmFA
His introduction was in Mandarin, but the singing was in Cantonese.
21. As a testimony to the continuing popularity of this song, some amateur cover versions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW7ilVB7Ilk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj1aXTgLoF0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMTDHMsYoe0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm10iBUOvNs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYbWKlsMO7E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIAcWfyAMTA
and many more in YouTube.
22. The Lyrics in Traditional Chinese:
相思風雨中 -- 張學友 & 湯寶如
(男) 難解百般愁 相知愛意濃
(女) 情海變蒼茫 癡心遇冷風
(男) 分飛各天涯 他朝可會相逢
(女) 蕭蕭風聲淒泣暴雨中
* (男) 人海裡飄浮 輾轉卻是夢
(女) 情深永相傳 飄於萬世空
(男) 當霜雪飄時 (合) 但願花亦艷紅
(合) 未懼路上湮雨濛
# (男) 啊…寄相思風雨中
(女) 啊…寄癡心風雨中
(男) 抱月去 化春風雲外追蹤鴛侶夢
(合) 恨滿胸 愁紅塵多作弄
@ (男) 難解百般愁 相知愛意濃
(女) 情海變蒼茫 癡心遇冷風
(男) 分飛各天涯 (女) 但願他日重逢
(合) 夜漫漫路上珍重
Repeat *, #, @
(男) 寒夜裡霜雪飄時
(合) 但願花亦艷紅 別後路上珍重
23. The Lyrics in Simplified Chinese:
相思风雨中 -- 张学友 & 汤宝如
(男) 难解百般愁 相知爱意浓
(女) 情海变苍茫 痴心遇冷风
(男) 分飞各天涯 他朝可会相逢
(女) 萧萧风声凄泣暴雨中
* (男) 人海里飘浮 辗转却是梦
(女) 情深永相传 飘于万世空
(男) 当霜雪飘时 (合) 但愿花亦艳红
(合) 未惧路上湮雨蒙
# (男) 啊...寄相思风雨中
(女) 啊...寄痴心风雨中
(男) 抱月去 化春风云外追踪鸳侣梦
(合) 恨满胸 愁红尘多作弄
@ (男) 难解百般愁 相知爱意浓
(女) 情海变苍茫 痴心遇冷风
(男) 分飞各天涯 (女) 但愿他日重逢
(合) 夜漫漫路上珍重
Repeat *, #, @
(男) 寒夜里 霜雪飘时
(合) 但愿花亦艳红 别后路上珍重
24. Names, Words and Phrases:
Fala Chen (Traditional Chinese: 陳法拉; Simplified Chinese: 陈法拉).
Frankie Lam (Traditional: 林文龍; Simplified: 林文龙).
Grasshopper (Traditional: 草蜢; Simplified: 草蜢).
Jacky Cheung (Traditional: 張學友; Simplified: 张学友).
Johnson Lee (Traditional: 李思捷; Simplified: 李思捷).
Karen Tong (Traditional: 湯寶如; Simplified: 汤宝如).
Kenix Kwok (Traditional: 郭可盈; Simplified: 郭可盈).
Kevin Cheng (Traditional: 鄭嘉穎; Simplified: 郑嘉颖).
Michael Tse (Traditional: 謝天華; Simplified: 谢天华).
Road for the Heroes (Traditional: 出位江湖; Simplified: 出位江湖).
Tony Lui (Traditional: 雷若天; Simplified: 雷若天).
Reference:
"In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas", Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_necessariis_unitas,_in_dubiis_libertas,_in_omnibus_caritas
(accessed 2013-02-08).
End.
