The Sanja Matsuri festival is a three day weekend of traditional shrine processions through the streets of Asakusa, Tokyo; to bring wealth and good luck to the area and its inhabitants. It is one of the three greatest matsuri (festivals) in Tokyo and is celebrated annually over the third weekend of May. The drinking, music, dancing and celebrations attract over two million people every year.

The number three in Japanense is “san” and the Sanja Matsuri is a festival that honors the three men who founded the Asakusa Shrine. Two of the men were said to have found a Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) statuette caught in their fishing net around this time in the year 628. A wealthy man heard about the discovery and used the opportunity to share a Buddhist sermon with the two men. The two men were converted and devoted their life to teaching Buddhism. The wealthy man consecrated the Kannon statuette in a small temple in what is now know as Asakusa Shrine. These three men are recognized as the founders of Asakusa and are revered as deities (Gods).

The Asakusa shrine’s bearers all wear traditional festival clothing, and purposely rock and shake the shrine about during the procession. It is believed that the more that the shrine is shaken; the more blessings are bestowed on the neighborhood.

The Sanja Matsuri not only sees the traditional street processions, but is also host to more bizarre events. Dogs are welcome at the parade, and are often dressed in traditional coats. The Japanese Mafia, Yakuza, openly displays their body tattoos which are normally against the law, so you get chance to witness Tokyo’s gangsters under safe conditions.

The festival’s crowds are large but remain calm and good natured so it is a great day out for all the family. Visitors to the festival, both locals and holiday makers, will also enjoy the traditional food stalls found all along the parade route.

The best known date on the Buddhist calendar, familiar even to non-Buddhists, is the thrice sacred day of “Wesak”. Wesak is the name of a month in the ancient Indian calendar and it usually falls in May though sometimes it may commence in the later part of April or extend to the early part of June. For this year, it falls on today – May 19, 2008. Wesak is derived form the original Pali word “Wesakha” or Sanskrit “Waishakha”. In some countries it is also known simply as Buddha Day.

Wesak Day holds special significance for the millions of Buddhists who comprise a fifth of the world’s total population. In thousands of temples across the world from Tokyo in the East to San Francisco in the West, Buddhists will pay homage to an Indian Prince who forsook the pleasures of a royal household to bring peace and happiness to mankind. The Buddha was born in 623 B.C. on a Wesak full-moon day. The young Prince was named Siddhartha or “the one who has brought about all good.” His parents, King Suddhodana and Queen Mahamaya, ruled a small kingdom in Northern India.

It is said that when he was born an ancient sage called Asita came to visit him. The sage took the child in his arms and first smiled, then wept. Questioned about his extra-ordinary behavior the sage explained that he smiled because the child would one day become the greatest teacher the world have ever known and he wept because he would not live long enough to see the boy grow up.

On the 35th anniversary of his birth, again on the full-moon day of Wesak, and seated under a bodhi tree in Buddha Gaya, the ascetic Siddartha became the Buddha. For the next forty-five years the Buddha traveled around Northern India preaching his message of loving-kindness for all beings and realization of the nature of existence.

As with all other great religious teachers the Buddha found opposition to his teaching. But many saw the truth of his teachings and followed him, learning how to lead a proper religious life to free themselves from the misery of existence. Finally, after forty-five years, lying under two beautiful sala trees, before a large assembly of monks, the Buddha passed away at Kusinara. This passing away is also known as Mahaparinibbana or the attainment of ultimate peace and bliss. This great event also occurred on the full-moon day of Wesak. The Buddhist Era begins from the Mahaparinibbana – passing away of the Buddha.

Hence on Wesak Day, Buddhists all over the world commemorate three great events: The Birth, Enlightenment and the Passing Away of Gautama Buddha. As Buddhism spread from India to all parts of the world, the teachings were readily assimilated with the cultures of the people who accepted the teachings. As a result, Buddhist art and culture took on a rich variety of forms with profound gentleness and kindness as the Buddha expressly forbade the use of force. The practice of Buddhism was adapted in many ways to suit the nature of the various cultures that accepted it.

As a result of this, Wesak is celebrated in many different ways all over the world. But in essence many practices have become universal. It is most important to remember that this sacred day is purely and simply a religious festival and not a festive occasion for feasting, drinking and dancing. On this day all Buddhists are expected to reaffirm their faith in the Buddha Dhamma and to lead a noble religious life. It is a day for meditation and for radiating loving-kindness.

Celebrating Wesak also means making special efforts to bring happiness to the unfortunate like the aged, the handicapped and the sick. To this end, Buddhists will distribute gifts in cash and kind to various charitable homes throughout the country. Wesak is also a time for great joy and happiness. But this joy is expressed not by pandering to one’s appetites but by concentrating on useful activities such as decorating and illuminating temples, painting and creating exquisite scenes from the life of the Buddha for public dissemination. Devout Buddhists also vie with one another to provide refreshments and vegetarian food to devotees who visit the temple to pay homage to the Buddha.

To all Buddhists, happy Wesak day!

Don’t you wish you could find already-tied ties? Putting on a tie is considered a dreaded task for some men, but it really doesn’t have to be. Just follow these simple directions and you’ll know exactly how to tie a tie in no time.

Tie it in front of a mirror!

Give yourself a few extra minutes when tying a tie for the first time. Allow yourself time to re-tie the knot higher or lower until you get it the right length. Part of good grooming means paying attention to the details. Employers will notice and appreciate the effort.

When slipping the broad end through the knot, push a loop through with your finger, then pull the rest through. This helps keep the knot together.

Look for the spot on the tie where the narrow end becomes wider. This will often be the best place to pass the broad end over the narrow end. Try tying the tie with this widening section laying on top of the narrow end’s knot spot. Even if it does not make the perfect knot for you, it gives you a good way of gauging the distance the second time around.

Difficult? Read interesting overview by Toph Speaks.

This is an interesting article written by Shi Xi of China Daily.

The average Chinese are among the least likely in the world to have an orgasm, according to the Durex Sexual Wellbeing Global Survey.

The Durex survey examines the sexual behavior and attitudes of men and women worldwide. Some 26,000 people in 26 countries were questioned about key aspects of their sex lives: health, general well-being, education, beliefs, sex and relationships, attitudes to sex and social circumstances.

The survey found that only 24 percent of Chinese in the mainland climax almost every time they have sex, the same percentage as Hong Kong people. On the contrary, Spanish, Mexicans and South Africans are the most likely to climax, with 66 percent usually managing to hit the spot.

Globally, 58 percent of those who usually achieve orgasm were content with the emotional aspects of their sex life compared with 29 percent of those who rarely do. Eight in 10 who frequently orgasm feel close to their partner during sex – a figure that falls to 54 percent for those who have difficulty hitting the spot.

Despite the low rate of climaxing, Chinese people are feeling some of the benefits of orgasm, with a whopping 86 percent of them who frequently orgasm feel at ease with themselves sexually; only 58 percent of them are happy with their psychological health. And while 30 percent of Chinese males almost always climax during sex, only 13 percent of women almost always achieve orgasm.

In order to help people fulfill their sex lives, the survey suggests massaging one’s partner, taking things slowly, and spending more time alone with one’s partner.

“Regularly achieving orgasms help improve our emotional and overall well-being, as well as our bond with our partner,” says Dr Kevan Wylie, a sexual health expert. “It can also help reduce life’s stresses. To achieve that, you need to have a protected and uninterrupted time together, keep the rest of the family at bay and make sure you don’t bring your work worries with you into the bedroom.

“It’s also important to communicate with your partner and have a strong bond of trust,” he advises. “Don’t be afraid to tell them what you like and don’t like in sex, the more you learn about each other’s needs, the better it will become.”

Interesting huh? I wonder how they became the most populated country in the world.

The early abacus, which was used for counting, was in existence with the Babylonians 4000 years ago.

The Chinese abacus, which appeared at least 3000 years ago, was perhaps the first comprehensive calculating device that was actually used in performing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division and was employed for several thousand years. A traditional Chinese abacus is made of a rectangular wooden frame and a bar going through the upper middle of the frame horizontally. There are thirteen evenly spaced vertical rods, each representing one decimal level. More rods were added to later versions.

On each rod, there are seven beads that can be slid up and down with five of them held below the middle bar and two above.

Zero on each rod is represented by the beads below the middle bar at the very bottom and the beads above at the very top. The numbers one to four are represented by sliding one–four beads below the middle bar up and five is given be sliding one bead above down. The numbers six to nine are represented by one bead above the middle bar slid down and one–four beads below slid up. The first and last beads on each rod are never used or are only used cosmetically during a calculation. Learn how to use it!

Wherever a Chinese goes, the abacus goes with him.

For more information: Click Here.