-
The Origin of Manga and Anime
Submitted by Ruthie Suarez Manga and anime are more than just a hobby—they’re art, storytelling, and emotional expression forms that have grown into global cultural powerhouses. Whether you’re laughing through a high school comedy, tearing up during a bittersweet romance, or hanging onto every moment of an intense battle, there’s something in this world for everyone. The roots of manga go way back to 12th-century Japanese scrolls, where artists used sequential drawings to tell stories. In the 18th and 19th centuries, artists like Hokusai helped popularize the word “manga,” meaning “whimsical pictures.” But the real boom came after World War II when Osamu Tezuka, often called the “God of Manga,”…
-
The Hidden Language of Red Envelopes
Submitted by Jodie Li Red envelopes (hóngbāo in Mandarin, lai see in Cantonese) are a symbol of Chinese culture and tradition. These vibrant envelopes are usually associated with Lunar New Year, weddings, and other grand celebrations. But these pockets hold deeper meanings beyond their monetary gifts—they carry wishes of luck, protection, and connection across generations. Origins in Legend The tradition of red envelopes traces back to the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD). The tale goes that villagers would place coins in red paper under children’s pillows to ward off a demon named Sui. The color red symbolizes fire and vitality, which is why it was believed to repel evil spirits. By…
-
The Bizarre Journey of Boba
Submitted by Will Chen Boba has turned into a worldwide phenomenon over the last decade. It has grown to be the perfect drink to grab on the go and is beloved by the younger generation. Here at the University of Delaware, we have a handful of boba shops such as Comma Cafe, Kung Fu Tea, TBaar, and Tiger Sugar. With such a large popularity, let’s take a dive into the origin of boba. Where did it all start? The origin of boba is often debated. However, it is widely believed that in the early 1980s, the owner of a tea store in Taiwan wanted to experiment with serving cold…
-
The Symbolism of My Chinese Zodiac Sign
Submitted by Angelina Ng The Chinese zodiac sign is similar to a horoscope: your sign is determined by the animal that is associated with the year in which you are born. The twelve zodiac signs are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. With the twelve animal signs, it is believed that each has unique personality traits and characteristics associated with it. This was assigned by the ancient Chinese. They believed that these traits would be embodied in people, according to their zodiac sign. Born in 2004, my Chinese zodiac sign is a monkey (猴). Overall, a monkey’s personality traits are described as…
