Tembusu Tree; dragon tree; yesterday.sg

You might have known that the Tembusu tree appears on the back of Singapore's five dollar note. The tree featured in the note is the one located in the Botanic gardens. Read on below...

http://yesterday.sg/detail/the_tembusu_tree/

http://yesterday.sg/detail/tembusu_tree_part_ii/

http://flowersinsingapore.blogspot.com/2006/08/tembusu-fragraea-fragrans.html

Pictures of the dragon fruit before it takes on the appearance that you are familiar with :

http://flowersinsingapore.blogspot.com/search/label/Dragon%20fruit

More about yesterday : http://www.yesterday.sg/

The Red Bud Tree

Here is my summarized and translated version of the story contained in the Chinese Text Book of Virtues, Book one, Chapter on Fraternal Love and Respect. Please pardon my translation errors and let me know if you spot any errors.

During the Sui dynasty, there was a family of three brothers who lived together. Tian Zhen was the eldest, followed by Tian Qing and Tian Guang. They had decided to go separate ways and agreed to split the money and property in the house evenly among them. However, there was this blooming red bud tree which grew in front of the house. Who should it belong to? Finally it was decided that the tree would also be splitted evenly to three parts. Before they were going to chop the tree, they were surprised to discover that it had suddenly withered. The eldest brother, Tian Zhen, sighed and said, "The branches of the tree actually arose from the same trunk and roots. The moment it heard that it was going to be splitted, it became wan and withered. Looks like we humans can't even be compared to the trees." He was very much saddened by this. Eventually, the three brothers gave up the idea of going separate ways and continued living together, taking even greater care of one another. Strangely the red bud tree started to thrive and bloom again like in the past.

Li Wen Geng commented that before they had the idea of going separate ways, the three brothers had lived in harmony for quite some time and the red bud tree thrived in the harmonious environment. The action of splitting the family property hurt the harmonious environment in the house and the tree withered although it did not hear about the brothers' decision to split the tree. After the brothers returned to living in harmony, the tree again thrived, showing that it thrived under harmonious environment.

Original Chinese story available HERE 《德育课本》,初集卷二,《二十四悌》, 编号 : dykb1-02, story number 10).

Fried bean curd with bean sprout

You can see the virtues of a great man from the food he ate. Mr Tan Kah Kee was one of the pioneers of Singapore. He was a prominent and successful business man who used much of his fortune for charitable purposes, especially in areas of education. Recently, I came to know that one of his favourite dish was 'Fried bean curd with bean sprout' - 豆干炒豆芽. I'm touched when I heard about this. Although rich, he led a very frugal life, committing much of his time, effort and wealth on educational philanthropy. Here are some of his charitable and selfless deeds :

* In Singapore, he himself set up and helped to set up (through partnership) more than ten schools which included Dao Nan, Ai Tong, Chinese High etc. He was also concerned with the development of English schools and had donated generously to schools that impart English education. For instance, he donated $30,000 to Anglo-Chinese school in 1919.
* In China, he established a series of schools (from Primary to University level) in Jimei, his hometown in Fujian province. Moreover, he had also set up Xiamen University in Fujian province.
* He left his entire fortune of 3 million to the Jimei schools and for other educational purposes, leaving not a penny to his descendants.

References :

http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_839_2004-12-28.html

http://www.tkk.wspc.com.sg/tkk/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tan_Kah_Kee

http://www.asiapacbooks.com/product.asp?pid=571&cid=39

Gui Yang Tu

Here is the flash version of the song, Gui Yang Tu (跪羊图) (on-line viewing version) : click HERE
Download version : click HERE

Simple eye exercise

I have come across this simple eye exercise that is said to be capable of soothing strong or negative emotions. When experiencing negative emotions (eg. anger, anxiety, sorrow, frustrations ...) or situations that trigger these emotions, you can roll your eyeballs in a clockwise direction (to the right) three times. After which, roll your eyeballs many times in an anti-clockwise direction (to the left). This can help to pacify oneself and relieve emotions of bad memories and past hurt.

Rolling your eyeballs in the clockwise direction retrieve the emotions deep inside you while rolling your eyeballs in the anti-clockwise direction releases the energy of these emotions.

Doing this exercise before sleep is akin to sweeping away the day's emotional dust and is conducive to a good night sleep.

Reference link.

The Wit and Kindness of Lady Zhan

Here is my simple translated version of the story contained in the Chinese Text Book of Virtues, Book two, Chapter on Filial Piety. Please pardon my translation errors and let me know if you spot any errors.

During the Song dynasty, there was this young lady with the surname of Zhan who lived in the Wuhu area. Since young, she followed the ways of her father, reading the classics and books of learning. Every night, she recited the classic, <<烈女传>> (Biographies of Exemplary Women) several times before retiring for the night. She had also copied down the classic once.

When she was of age seventeen, robbers attacked the city of Wuhu and successfully took control of it. Both her father and elder brother were captured and the robbers were about to kill them. The young lady pleaded with the robbers, crying and begging them, "Please! Although I'm poor and ugly, I'm very willing to follow all of you, in exchange for the life of my father and brother." The robbers consented. She then waved to her father and brother, telling them, "Leave quickly, do not think of me and worry about me, I feel contented to follow the Generals." After that, she left with the robbers. After walking several miles, they came to a bridge east of the city. On the bridge, the young lady jumped into the waters below and was drowned. Many of the robbers were stupefied by the sight.

Lu Kun commended on the virtues of this lady. Her wit and submissive words during the moment of crisis had saved the life of her father and brother. If they were to put up a resistance and condemned the robbers, the whole family would have perished.

Original Chinese story available HERE 《德育课本》,二集卷一,《二十四孝》, 编号 : dykb2-01, story number 12).

Beetroot

Beetroot is one of my favourite vegetable. You can just remove its skin, cut it into slices and boil it with water to make a simple soup. I really like the mild, natural sweetness of the warm beetroot soup. It gives me a warm, peaceful and energetic feeling. Furthermore, you can also do a simple stir fry of the beetroot itself or with other vegetables you like to experiment with. The mild sweet taste of the food will still be there. Give it a try. I think the Chinese name of beetroot is 甜菜根.

A recent study suggests that Beetroot juice can lower blood pressure. You can read about it HERE.