Sunday, January 15, 2006
The Beast
Ah the things you learn at Wikipedia.org! My lovely and devoted wife Nian informs me that her name roughly translates as "missing" as in someone that would be missed when away (and I certainly do). She also brags a bit that it is a lovely Chinese name for girls and that many Chinese girls receive "ugly" names on purpose because it hides them from demons and misfortune. A karma thing I guess.Recently however I came across a Wikipedia entry for Nian by accident while Googling around. It doesn't mention the "missing" definition for Nian.
In Chinese mythology, Nian is a beast that comes in spring. The Chinese word for year is based on the arrival of this beast. A phrase for Chinese New Year, guo nian means the passing of the beast. It is believed that it lives under the sea. It came to attack people at the same time of the year. The Chinese tradition of decorating in red, burning fire-crackers, and the lion dance with loud drums and gongs was to scare the beast away.I'm sure this isn't an omen, but if all goes well Nian will arrive to live with me in the spring. Nian I love you, so please don't be mad with my post. You have to admit it is a little funny. Perhaps the Wikipedia entry needs an edit, which is something we can do since Wikipedia is OpenSource and editable by anyone.
If I don't post for awhile, you'll all know Nian killed me.
