David Jirard

5 Health Benefits of Eating Tofu

The benefits of eating tofu are well documented, as it is a great example of how a simple food like soybeans can be woven into human food traditions in a way that is natural, inexpensive, and nourishing. Tofu is a surprisingly versatile form of soybeans that is made by curdling soymilk so that its proteins ...

David Jirard

Tofu chunks in a bowl with soy beans.

5 Health Benefits of Hot Chilies

For spicy food lovers, hot chilies go very well with rice. Besides the flavor, there are many health benefits of eating them. They wake up the taste buds and also provide important nutrients. Hot chilies contain Vitamin C and are rich in capsaicin in their seeds and skin. They can boost the immune system, promote ...

David Jirard

Beautiful red hot chili peppers growing in a pot.

Yellow in Chinese Culture Is Very Significant

The color yellow in Chinese culture is very significant. It is believed that all Chinese people are the descendants of the “Yellow Emperor,” the birthplace of Chinese culture was the Loess Plateau, a country of windblown “yellow earth,” the cradle of Chinese culture was located on the “Yellow River,” and the descendants of the Yan ...

David Jirard

A reclining buddha statue.

Do Not Take Ill-Gotten Gains or Disasters Will Abound, Part 2

In the first part of this story, there are examples given showing how righteous behavior is rewarded by the heavens. The following tales reveal how taking ill-gotten gains is met with penalties and hardship. A warning to those who hurt others for self-interest During the period of the Republic of China (1912-1949), a businessman in ...

David Jirard

String of pearls with glass orange, gold, and clear beads – Ill-gotten gains bring disaster.

Are You Responsible for Your Own Good or Bad Fortune?

Is a person responsible for his or her own good or bad fortune? There are two contrasting examples found in Chinese folklore that act as examples of this. One man found a small fortune in silver, but he did not keep it. The outcome was that he was rewarded even after he refused a reward. ...

David Jirard

Sunrise over the mountains.

8 Red Foods to Eat in Summer

Eating red foods in summer is very important. The summer heat tests your tolerance and temper, and you can get irritable and lose your head more easily. This can lead to a drop in your immunity, which can induce the onset of various diseases, especially cardiovascular disease. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), there is the ...

David Jirard

Eating red foods in summer help the heart (Image: Christopher Paquette via Flickr / CC BY 2.0 )

6 Ways to Strengthen Your Self-Healing Power

The body’s self-healing power comes from the body’s Yang Qi. Adequate Yang Qi leads to longevity, while insufficient Yang Qi can lead to all kinds of diseases. This self-healing power is your body’s ability to repair itself by use of its inner life force, and it provides the most benefits to your immune system. This ...

David Jirard

A young woman drinking a glass of water.

Unearned Fortune Provides a Test

In ancient times when an unearned fortune came to your door, doing the right thing was not a difficult decision. These days, it seems the world has gotten so polluted that simple basic morality is gone and anything could happen. This story from 2011 shows that basic morals are not entirely missing. Not only can ...

David Jirard

An open treasure chest with golden light shining out from the lid.

5 Powerful Signs of the Chinese Zodiac

On the surface, some people do not appear to be special. They have no status and lead a normal life working 9 to 5 seemingly without ambition or aspiration. Little do people realize that these people are actually working hard in preparation for their future. In addition, they are powerful; eventually, such people will come ...

David Jirard

A display of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Laughter Helps You Live Longer

Research reveals that laughter can help you live longer! The Chinese saying “Smiles make one young” reveals a Chinese way of maintaining health and longevity. Emotions and health are closely related. Surveys find that people who have lived a long life, even in different countries and with different habits, have one thing in common: a ...

David Jirard

A laughing Japanese school girl with her friends, all in their school uniforms eating ice cream cones.