Asian baby traditions, Chinese children traditions

Historically, Zen Buddhism originates in the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. Around 500 B.C. he was a prince in what is now India. At the age of 29, deeply troubled by the suffering he saw around him, he renounced his privileged life to seek understanding. After 6 years of struggling as an ascetic he finally achieved Enlightenment at age 35. After this he was known as the Buddha (meaning roughly "one who is awake"). In a nutshell, he realized that everything is subject to change and that suffering and discontentment are the result of attachment to circumstances and things which, by their nature, are impermanent. By ridding oneself of these attachments, including attachment to the false notion of self or "I", one can be free of suffering.

The teachings of the Buddha have, to this day, been passed down from teacher to student. Around 475 A.D. one of these teachers, Bodhidharma, traveled from India to China and introduced the teachings of the Buddha there. In China Buddhism mingled with Taoism. The result of this mingling was the Ch'an School of Buddhism. Around 1200 A.D. Ch'an Buddhism spread from China to Japan where it is called (at least in translation) Zen Buddhism.

For thousands of years, Asian baby name selection for the majority of world’s population was performed according to a traditional system, one that eliminated personal bias and reflected, according to astrological principles, the best qualities that the child was supposed to grow up with.

In Asia names were usually selected after calculations involving the horoscope, the exact time and place of birth, as well as the traditional textual links between numbers so derived. Naming babies in Asia was an extremely complex and learned process, requiring deep knowledge of ancient texts as well as their applicability in normal or special circumstances. Highly specialized training was needed as well as a thorough grounding in the methodologies and processes of the Rites and Rituals dimension of Religions. Modern Asia is a melting pot of many religions, with different baby naming rituals, however the religious connotations and connections remain as strong as ever. The meanings of baby names are very important in Asian culture. With thousands of gods and goddesses to choose from, as well as the deeply rooted traditions of honoring family ancestors, the Asian baby naming process remains a fascinating and spiritual one.

Baby Carrying - Mei tai" (pronounced "may tie") is a generic term for a particular style of baby carrier, generally a square- or rectangle-shaped piece of fabric with straps on all four corners. The "traditional" mei tai has a history that stretches back hundreds of years. The carrier has its roots in Asia, where mothers often carried their babies in simple fabric carriers that tied onto their bodies

Red Egg and Ginger Party where proud parents introduced their new baby to friends and relatives

Traditionally, a newborn was not given a name or formally accepted into the family until this time because, as in other countries, infant mortality rates in China were quite high. A baby who reached one month of age was likely to survive, and so
the event was celebrated.

What is the significance of Red Eggs and Ginger?

Eggs are significant because they symbolize fertility and the renewal of life.
Also, their shape is traditionally associated with harmony and unity. According to
some sources, an even number of eggs means a daughter has been born, while
an odd number represents a son.
Ginger is important because in the yin (cold) and yang (warm) balance of
Chinese food, ginger adds a touch of 'hotness' to the nutritional needs of the new
mother, who is tired and weak (or too yin) after giving birth.

Guests receive red-dyed eggs and ginger at the party. Additionally, instead of sending
thank you cards to the guests, more traditional parents may send thank you gifts
consisting of small round biscuits with pork in them.

Read more about these Asian Traditions....
Chinese Vietnamese Cambodian

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