Spring Festival Couplets

On the last day before the New Year arrives, DuiLian, Spring Festival Couplets, are hung up on door frames. This ancient tradition bears two meanings:

Firstly, this time between the old and the new year is a time of transition; a time to get rid of what is past and to create a space for new things to arrive.
This process of letting go and welcoming is accompanied by different customs such as setting off firecrackers. This serves the purpose of dispersing bad fortune and energy. In the past bamboo sticks were used instead of firecrackers as they emit a similar explosive sound to scare away negative energy fields.

The most significant meaning for putting up the DuiLian is welcoming new, positive energy. Thoughts and wishes for the New Year are expressed by words and symbols which then guard the doors.
In the past there were different significant symbols used: lions, rowing boats, phoenix and dragons. Each of these symbols bears a specific meaning.
The image of a lion shows one of its paws resting upon a sphere. This orb reveals a pattern similar to the Flower of Life, an ancient sacred geometrical motif connected to the language of the Universe. It resembles a great power able to protect life.
Rowing boats carry wishes of prosperity and well-being. Positive energy is invited to flow in from distant places.
Wisdom, purity and beauty are attributes of phoenix. Hence this is wished for by invoking their symbol. Phoenix belong to an ancient, mysterious bird race.
Dragons are associated with Chinese culture since long ago. They belong to nine different races and bear different meanings depending on whether they are kind hearted or evil. Positive dragons are pictured with a pearl in their claw; this pearl represents the energy of the Universe. According to legends the dragons not only gave power to humans but also supplied rain water for our environment, e.g. to grow crops.

Furthermore, at New Year, families reunite and celebrate the holiday together, eat dumplings, and exchange red envelopes with money inside. Children very much like the New Year Festival since they receive many kind of presents and are also fond of the tradition of burning fire crackers.

According to another Chinese New Year custom called BaiNian, we send best wishes and good fortune to everybody. We hope that all relations stay harmonious. Although we are connected on the formless level, in our hearts and minds, we can’t perform BaiNian. In China, neighbors visit each other to maintain a peaceful relation and to express good wishes. By this face-to-face contact a strong sense of community is kept alive, independent from modern technology.

Since those who have studied at Bai Ma Shan live all over the globe, we rely on cellphones and computers to stay in touch. Nevertheless we continue to keep up the relationships that were formed during our time at the temple.

Light and love to all of you and, once more, a healthy, peaceful and significant New Year!