Greetings !

[OIB]

To all collectors who celebrate the Chinese New Year :

May the New Year of the Ram bring you vitality, good health and happiness !

三羊开泰

喜气洋洋

Inn Bok
Singapore

[David]

Dear Inn Bok and all,

Happy New Year,
may the old year leave us with warm memories to recall,
may the new year grant us the opportunities to create wonderful new ones.

Very happy to have the "Yuan" to meet you all on this forum, and looking forward to learning more from each of you.

Sincerely, 
David

P.S. Thank you for sharing the bottle, perfect for the occasion! 

[richy88]

Hi All

May the New Year of the Ram bring you good luck, good health, happiness and many good bottles!

Regards.


Richard

[George]

Happy New Year to all !

[YT]

Dear all, Happy Chinese New Year in advance.

Almost time for reunion dinner, Enjoy!!

[Wattana]

Dear All,

Happy Chinese New Year from me too.
Wishng you all health, happiness and prosperity in the year ahead!

Tom

[Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司]

To all on the Forum,
    GONG XI FA CAI / KUNG HEY FAT CHOY !

    YANG NIAN  (Year of the Ram )

  Best,
     Joey

[AntPeople]

Happy New Year to all....

Pin

[Steven]

Happy New Year!!

[rpfstoneman]

OK, I need a little clarity on the Chinese zodiac. 

Some are saying it is the year of the goat and others the ram.  Here in the United States there is a distinction between a male goat (billy or buck) and a male sheep (ram).  So is this the year of the goat or sheep?    The New Year's celebration commentary as seen on the internet and news seems to be osculating between goat and ram.  I presume it should be goat, but a number of sources are traipsing around sheep.  So could someone in the know set me straight.    Is it a goat or ram?

From someone lacking in both knowledge and etiquette of the Chinese New Year.  Charll   

[David]

Hello Charll,

I will vote for the "cashmere" goat (or wooly type) as our original animal for the "zodiac". It was used for food, milk, cloth, rug, ornament (horn), and weeding  .

Not official, but this was how I was taught to think of them:
Sacred to be respected (lung for heavenly beings, horse for earthly beings)
Life supporting  to be grateful to (ox, rooster, dog, hog, goat)
Pests to be killed or scared off  (rat, rabbit, snake, monkey)
Dangerous to be avoided (tiger)

No evidence as usual from me 

But here is a link for goat you might find interesting if you believe the 12 Chinese "zodiac" is derived from Buddhism beliefs (India based) combined into Chinese Astrology.

http://ajas.info/upload/pdf/20-25.pdf

And if you look at a old Chinese Jade from Han and Tang, they look like goat (straighter horn) and not ram (curled horn). I would disregard the Ming's ram, as they are Mongolian.

My 2 cents,
David

[David]

Hello Charll,

Errata... I meant Yuan not Ming.

Kind Regards,
David

[Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司]

Dear Charll,
     I understood that goat and sheep are interchangeable, since there is the same Chinese character for both, but I may be wrong (I'm not fluent in Chinese!  ).
     I'd vote for Sheep, but that's because I prefer lamb to goat, and YF Yang's surname is Sheep (Yang).
     While I love Cashmere wool, I hope for the Year of the Lamb cutlets!
Tastefully,
   Joey

  (I checked, and Yang is Sheep or Goat) 
Joey

[David]

ROFLOL! Joey, you always say the oddest things (in a good way).

I hope for the Year of the Ram cutlets!
Tastefully,
   Joey

Now I need to think of some ending to match tastefully... where do you come up with those?

Head scratchingly,
David

[Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司]

I ask G-D for inspiration, modestly.

  Although I'm always reminded of a certain member of the Israeli Knesset (Parliament), of whom my godfather, Menachem Begin once said, " he's very modest, and he has good reason to be!"   
Best,
St. Joey the Jocular

[Wattana]

 I would disregard the Ming's ram, as they are Mongolian.

Dear David,

The Mongolians also celebrate the Lunar New Year this week. It is called Tsagaan Sar, and this year is the Year of the Blue Sheep.

Tom
PS: Why blue? I guess it's darn cold up in Mongolia. 

[Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司]

Guys,
    Does anyone know the element in this year's Year of the Sheep (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water are the Five Chinese Elements)?
    I know I'm born in the Chinese year of the 'Fire Rooster' (March 1957).
    Is this the Year of the 'Water' Sheep (ie, blue)?
Best,
   Joey

 I would disregard the Ming's ram, as they are Mongolian.

Dear David,

The Mongolians also celebrate the Lunar New Year this week. It is called Tsagaan Sar, and this year is the Year of the Blue Sheep.

Tom
PS: Why blue? I guess it's darn cold up in Mongolia. 

[YT]

Dear Joey,

It is the year of the wooden sheep/goat/ram. Colour is green. Thinking of it reminds me one of my favorite mutton soup called 'Kambing soup'. Yum yum

Cheers,
YT

[Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司]

Dear YT,
    If it is the Year of the [Wood] Sheep, and its colour is green, why is it called the 'Blue Sheep' in Mongolia? Are the Mongols colour-blind?
 Inquiringly,
   Joey

[David]

Dear Joey the Jocular,

Since you are alive and well (and I hope you reach the grand old age of 99), I will not refer you as St.   
 

If it is the Year of the [Wood] Sheep, and its colour is green, why is it called the 'Blue Sheep' in Mongolia? Are the Mongols colour-blind?

Perhaps it's the problem with the word 滄 (cang),青(qing) etc... of the sky, or leaf/grass or other objects of nature that the old Chinese love to use to describe color. 

With the desert and the grass on the steppes, one can only imagine the amount of dust/pollen in the air... So, perhaps the sky is bluer over Mongolia and so blue sheep... LOL.

Dialecticly,
David

  Got to love Thesaurus.com  Can't believe I am learning more english word this forum.