The Chinese New Year is also called the Spring Festival (Chūn jié 春节), or the Lunar New Year Festival (Nóng lì xīn nián 农历新年). When Chinese people celebrate the Spring Festival, they say Guò nián (过年). What does that mean, and what is nián (年)? Let’s explore the meaning and learn how to write 年 using Chinese calligraphy.
The character 年 (nián) means year. Originally carved in oracle bones nián (年) referred to harvesting crops. It was an image of a man (rén 人) harvesting cereal crops (hé 禾). The harvest was essential to people’s livelihoods.
The character年 (nián) means year. Originally carved in oracle bones年 (nián) it referred to harvesting crops. It was an image of a man (rén 人) harvesting cereal crops (hé 禾). The harvest was essential to people’s livelihoods.
Therefore, in ancient times it was always a great concern of rulers. Since most cereal crops are harvested once a year, the concept of 年 (nián) became an important event in the lunar calendar at the beginning of the year. Celebrating the New Year, (that is also guò nián, 过年) became an important festival during which people prayed for prosperity and blessings on the harvest that year. Guò nián (过年) literally means the passing of the year. In Chinese culture, 年 (nián) symbolizes the start of a new cycle and the beginning of good fortune.
If you are interested in Chinese culture, why not learn the language? You can find out more about the Confucius Institute Chinese language courses here.
Credits:
Image courtesy Li Fenglan and Robin Martin