{"id":1669,"date":"2021-03-04T14:23:02","date_gmt":"2021-03-04T15:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/malvinartley.com\/blog.malvinartley.com\/?p=1669"},"modified":"2021-03-04T14:23:02","modified_gmt":"2021-03-04T15:23:02","slug":"the-chinese-new-year-2021-the-context-from-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/malvinartley.com\/blog.malvinartley.com\/2021\/03\/04\/the-chinese-new-year-2021-the-context-from-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"The Chinese New Year 2021: The context from 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

CHINESE NEW YEAR 2021<\/strong>
\n\u201cTHE OX ON THE ROAD\u201d<\/strong>
\n\u00a9 Malvin Artley<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Topics<\/span>:<\/strong>
\nThe Iron Ox<\/strong>
\nPrevious Iron Ox years<\/strong>
\nCommon themes from the past<\/strong>
\nKeeping essentials in mind<\/strong>
\nA pandemic avoided?<\/strong>
\nThe pandemic in the East<\/strong>
\nOur imaginary threats<\/strong>
\nThe propaganda list<\/strong>
\nThe bottom line<\/strong><\/td>\n		\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

Gong Hey Fat Choy Everyone!<\/span><\/p>\n

And welcome to the year of the \u2018Ox on the Road\u2019, the White\/Metal Ox. It is also known as the Iron Ox. Following on from last year, the Year of the Rat on the Crossbeam, we now come to a year where we move out of our period of impasse and indecision, represented by the Rat on the Crossbeam. Last year was indeed a crossroads experience, where various paths were chosen by nations and individuals alike, in response or reaction to the numerous challenges that were present, some of which had been growing for some time, and some for which we were caught unprepared and unawares. 2020 was a challenging year, to say the least. And now, we all want a sense of stability and a renewed sense of direction. In remembering the motto for the Rat on the Crossbeam, there were possibilities last year that may have loomed large for a select few (which we will cover later in this letter). But for the majority of us, basic decisions about even how we live our lives, especially looking to the future, were presented to us in bold relief. And for the majority of us, the following sentences from the year still hold true: \u201cAdequate precautions will prevent future calamities. A balanced mind is the best assurance of a good outcome.\u201d So, we look forward now with a more sober view of our world situation.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>The Iron Ox<\/strong>, in distinction to the year we just had, is seen as stable, reliable, methodical, sometimes practical to the point of dullness. The Ox in general is not known to be a flashy, spectacular, or even a sexy kind of expression. That said, however over time, the methodology of the Ox can produce spectacular and lasting results. Yin Metal, as we find with this Ox, can exhibit as being inward, passive, nebulous, and cool, as well as being progressive, vigorous, strong and direct.<\/span><\/p>\n

This particular Ox has the following mottos: \u201cThere is much to be gained in constant movement. Attention to a good diet never goes astray, either. Though health problems might be present, a change of climate often brings a cure.<\/strong>\u201d[i]<\/a> In addition, the combined element for the year states that \u201cadequate precautions prevent future calamities<\/strong>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

On top of these statements, a further motto for this year reads as follows: Youthfulness: All things new, experience is wanting. Small-mindedness brings only small things <\/strong>(results).\u201d The latter is from the nighttime reading for the 12th<\/sup> tetragram of the Tai Hs\u00fcan Ching<\/em>, an alternative I Ching<\/em>, the former having a particular connection with geopolitical changes. In parsing that tetragram, its Chinese name is T\u2019ung<\/em>, the Young Boy. The meaning is as was stated before \u2013 we have entered into a youthful phase, but experience is lacking. Young boys will typically rush forward into life, often learning painful yet valuable lessons along the way, immersed in the wonder of every new experience. However, in this particular instance there is a sense of timidity, but also of conflicting images, like a deer seeing its reflection in a rippling pond, from which it will run, confusing issues and ideas and not giving a clear reflection until \u2018the water is still\u2019, meaning emotions are calmer. This state of affairs is perhaps obvious enough in these days, when emotions run high, opinions run strong and beliefs reign implacable.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>Previous Iron Ox years<\/strong>: With this background in mind and before we go too much into interpreting the portents for the present year, we need the context of the year just passed as well as the previous Iron Ox years \u2013 1961, 1901, 1841, 1781, 1721, etc. We start with the main events in previous Iron Ox years, events in which we find echoes today.<\/span><\/p>\n

1721<\/span><\/a><\/strong>: There was a smallpox epidemic in Boston, which resulted in the 1st<\/sup> public inoculation campaign. The Russian Empire replaced the Tsardom of Russia.<\/span><\/p>\n

1781<\/a><\/strong><\/span>: America was embroiled in its Revolutionary War. Immanuel Kant<\/a><\/span> published his “Critique of Pure Reason.” There was a smallpox epidemic in the Mandan tribe that wiped out 90% of their population. Uranus was discovered.<\/span><\/p>\n

184<\/span>1<\/a><\/strong>: Britain occupied Hong Kong, the Canadian Act of Union was enacted, President William Henry Harrison died in office, the 1st<\/sup> Opium War started, there was the 1st<\/sup> multilateral treaty banning the African slave trade and there was the 1st<\/sup> Anglo-Afghan war. Russia created<\/a><\/span> its first savings banks.<\/span><\/p>\n

1901<\/a><\/strong><\/span>: Queen Victoria died, ending the Victorian Era in the UK. There was the Panic of 1901, Iran began Western involvement in resources, Cuba became a US protectorate, Roosevelt uttered his \u201cSpeak softly and carry a big stick\u201d mantra, President McKinley was assassinated, Teddy Roosevelt started his trust busting and ushered in the Progressive Era, and the 1st<\/sup> radio transmission was received. The first recorded powered flight took place. A team was sent to Cuba<\/a><\/span> to find the cause for Yellow fever. The White Australia policy was introduced.<\/span><\/p>\n

1961<\/span><\/a><\/strong>: Kennedy was inaugurated, Eisenhower gave his military-industrial complex speech, the Bay of Pigs fiasco happened, the 1st<\/sup> human made it into space (Yuri Gagarin), there were race riots during the Civil Rights Movement, the Berlin Wall went up and fallout shelters became vogue in the United States, and there were escalations of tensions over Vietnam, which was an earlier attempt to encircle China.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>Common themes from the past<\/strong>: We see there are common themes in those other recent Iron Ox years with what is already emerging in this one in a few instances. We might list those common themes as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n