Teochew Artist: Dio: Mạng Hōng 張夢虹

*NEWS FLASH*: This just in: a singer who sings in Teochew, and the music is MODERN. Don't believe me? Take a listen. This song is called  《Chiù Kang Chiù Giā: 手牽手行》Yeah, its a bit cutesy and sounds kind of like a lot of Mandarin/Cantonese music out there, but freak man, it's modern! Apparently she is from 普寧 Pouleng (and you can tell by the way she says 汝 lèu as lù). Enjoy! I've included a direct video for her song Chiù Kang Chiù Giā:. Also here is a link to another of her songs 《Hue Mịng Ngiao 花面貓》

Teochew Cartoons

Dạigehò! I know I have been slow to post in the last couple of months, so I've decided to step it up a notch and post THREE times today - because I love you so much (but mostly because I found a bunch of awesome things). For this first one: Cartoons!

Who doesn't reminisce about Saturday morning cartoons? Let's check out some real Teochew cartoons from China! The first one is about 出花園 Chuk Hue Hēung - anTeochew coming of age ceremony for both boys and girls (like a Sweet 16, Bar mitzvah, or Quicenera). If you have never heard of it this is a perfect introduction on what it entails. The second is 柴房会外传 Chàibāng Hué Ghuạ Juang or Firewood House Story. The Teochew in both is quite understandable. Enjoy!

Old Swatow

Suatāo gai Lạochịku

Interior that's seen better days...

Sue Ann Tay: Check out her Shanghai Street Stories

Just found a nice little photography article on old Swatow (of course nowadays is known as Shantou) or in pengim "Sua:tāo". Singaporean photographer Sue Ann Tay is known for her work on Shanghai, but also paid a visit to this "largest city" of the Diọsua: region. I've personally been to the old quarter of Sua:tāo and I thought it had a lot of character - the mix of East and West, and just a nice change of pace from typical modern architecture that you can find throughout China nowadays. The old quarter is officially know as the 汕頭老市區 (Sua:tāo Lạochị-ku) and it is unfortunately not being maintained. Tay also visits Teochew City. I can't recommend enough that overseas Teochew folks, especially young ones take a trip to China to see these places. It helps to speak good Teochew, but if you have relatives or friends who can translate you'll have a richer experience.

Article:
China Through My Lens: Exploring Shantou's vanishing treaty port architecture with Sue Anne Tay

Teochew Medicinal Herbs in Tàigok

Fellow Gaginanger and staff member Du gave me a heads up on an article in the Bangkok Times about Teochew folks in Yaowarat (Bangkok's Chinatown) selling medicinal greens/herbs. The article is great because they specifically mention Teochew language, have the names of the herbs in Teochew, and have pictures of the Teochew woman who sells them. I've never heard of these in Teochew, but I've probably seen some of these before... like the Jui Dek Chao (probably 水竹草) looks awfully like Wandering Jew (Purple Heart). Also seems like a lot of these are just edibles that happen to have medicinal properties... awesomeness! If you ever wind up in Bangkok, you really have to go to Yaowarat - its huge, sprawling, and filled with Teochew people - you'll hear it being spoken especially amongst the older folks... me thinks the writer for this article must be Teochew heh heh.

I've tried to provide characters and English for the list they have at the end, can anyone help me finish it?

• JUI TEK CHAO (水竹草?)  - lit. Water bamboo grass
• JING JU CHAI (真珠菜)  - lit. Pearl greens
• EAH MOR CHAO (羊毛菜)  - lit. Wool greens
• KAO KI CHAI (枸杞菜) - Wolfberry/Gojiberry Plant  
• SAI EAH CHAI (西洋菜) - Watercress  - lit. Western ocean greens
• HUA SIA TAO CHAO (?)  - Pennywort, rau ma
• HUE CHAI CHAO (?)  
• POW TI KIM (?)  
• TAO CHI CHAO (?)  
• POR EAH (?)  
• JIA TAE CHAO (?)

A Teochew Version of "The View"

 
Ah yes, "The View" - an American talk and variety show featuring the opinions of four women, including Barbara Walters, Whoopi, and Joy Behar, and others... well, Teochew people gots their own show with opinionated women! Check out 美女觀天下 múi nèung guang ti: é (literally: Beautiful Women Viewing Everything Under the Sky). One of the most interesting things I notice is how different their accents are. I like the host's accent the best - well, at least its easiest for me to understand, and also the one in red. Some of the others have weird tones, or pronounce things weird. Also I can tell one or two of them are making mistakes on some words, and also fill in their missing TC with Mandarin or even Cantonese occasionally. Anyhow, one interesting show is about "Growing Up With Teochew Parents" and "Teochew Guys and Male Chauvinism"... click on the picture then scroll down on the left to the top rated shows "嫁人要嫁潮汕男？" or "潮汕男人與大男子主義".