This afternoon I'm starting Chaiko's The Monkey King, published by Magnetic Press.

#Comics #GraphicNovel #MonkeyKing #ChineseLiterature #China #Buddhism #ChineseFolklore #ChineseFolktales #Monkeys

In China the pine, bamboo and plum are known as 'the three friends of winter' because they are evergreen and do not wither as the days get colder like many other plants. By extension they became associated with perseverance and resilience.
#folklore #DailyFolklore #plantlore #ChineseFolklore #ChineseArt
🎨'The Three Friends of Winter' - Zhao Mengjian, Song dynasty.

Been informed by a friend that pinyin rendered by a screenreader is rubbish, so I'm going to put all the pinyin at the end of threads like this and hashtag with "tones" so screenreaders can mute.

一九二九不出手
Yī jiǔ èr jiǔ bù chū shǒu

三九四九河上走
Sān jiǔ sì jiǔ hé shàng zǒu

五九六九沿河看柳
Wǔ jiǔ liù jiǔ yán hé kàn liǔ.

七九河開八九雁來
Qī jiǔ hé kāi bā jiǔ yàn laí.

九九加一九，耕牛遍地走.
Jiǔ jiǔ jiā yì jiǔ , gēng niú biàn dì zǒu.

#ChineseFolklore #Katja #Tones

九九加一九，耕牛遍地走.
Jiǔ jiǔ jiā yì jiǔ , gēng niú biàn dì zǒu.
Nine nine plus one nine, the oxen (for plowing) walk all over the land.
About 90 days after winter solstice, it's time for spring planting.

The best part about the nine-nines rhyme is that different areas have different versions, based on their cultural/temperature differences.
Because Chinese culture is not a monolith. 💗

There is one verse somewhere about fleas... and if the homeless will survive.

#ChineseFolklore #Katja #Tones

五九六九沿河看柳
Wǔ jiǔ liù jiǔ yán hé kàn liǔ.
Five nine six nine see the willows along the river

This is when it gets warmer and you can see the budding willows.

七九河開八九雁來
Qī jiǔ hé kāi bā jiǔ yàn laí.
Seven nine river opens eight nine geese come
About 50 or so days after the solstice, the river ice melts and around 70 the geese return.

#ChineseFolklore #Katja #Tones

Nine nines and then spring is officially here. The third and fourth Nine have the chilliest days.

There's even a rhyme! Although. No one who knows the Chinese should be surprised. We love our rhymes.
Translation to follow, but the English won't rhyme, sorry.

一九二九不出手
yī jiǔ èr jiǔ bù chū shǒu
First nine second nine hide your hands
(so cold you should wear gloves/mittens or the like)

三九四九河上走
sān jiǔ sì jiǔ hé shàng zǒu
Third nine fourth nine walk on the river

#ChineseFolklore #Katja #Tones

Saw @dynamicsymmetry say "Yes, the days are no longer getting shorter - so cling to that, because the cold is STILL COMING FOR YOU and at some point the light will be all you have"
and
according to Chinese folk-knowledge, it is known that after winter solstice we move into "the nines", aka the coldest period of the year.

#ChineseFolklore #Katja #Solstice

#folklore #chinesefolklore #redthreadoffate #redstringoffate #myth #mythology #illustration #chinese #mastoart #fate #destiny #soulmates #illustrator #mastoillustration #drawdrawdraw

I am struck just now by how similar the tale of the little wren (y dryw bach) becoming the King of Birds is to the tale of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Much like how the clever wren flies the highest by hiding in eagle's feathers and then launching off eagle's back just as eagle reaches the height of his ability to fly, the cunning rat gets to the banquet first by riding on ox and leaping ahead.

#folklore #wren #ChineseZodiac #ComparativeFolklore #ChineseFolklore #JapaneseFolklore #WelshFolklore

As I wrestle with the itch from my new tattoo, it occurs to me that a list of my planned future tattoos might help other users find me.

#baguazhang / #chinesefolklore
#thehunger (covers #vampires, #davidbowie & #bauhaus / #goth all in one)
#2000ad (one #judgedredd / #darkjudges & one other (perhaps #halojones ?))
#norsemythology / #heathen / #animist

This is, of course,va very long term plan.

Hope this helps those that need to find me. That's assuming anybody wants weirdness & swearing.

In China there is an ancient romantic folktale about Zhinu, a weaver girl and Niulang, a cowherd. Because theirs was a forbidden love, Zhinu was made to return to the heavens and they were separated by the stars that form the Milky Way. Once each year, on the seventh day of the seventh month, they were allowed to meet for a single day. On this day a flock of magpies created a bridge so the lovers could cross...
1/2

#folklore #folktales #JapaneseFolklore #ChineseFolklore #DailyFolklore #ukiyoe

To help some of the newcomers make connections: name 5-7 things that interest you but aren't in your profile, as tags so they are searchable. Then boost this post or repeat its instructions so others know to do the same.

#fantasyfiction
#writingcraft
#chinesefolklore
#AAPIpoetry
#translation
#wuxia
#tarot