Author Archives: Magnolia West

争上游 “Struggling Upstream” Card Game

Folklore:
争上游 or translated as “Struggling Upstream” is a card game played with family and other guests, uses a normal 52 card deck with variations about the jokers. The game splits the deck into part depending on how many players playing with the goal of getting rid of them the fastest. To get rid of the cards, they must be placed in mostly numerical order as the strength of the card with 3 being the weakest card and 2 being the strongest. Pairs, Triples, or Fours (known as The Bomb) of the same number card increases the strength of the cards. Combos of cards can be combined to get rid of lesser cards faster. The first game starts with the 3 of Spades. A Joker works as a wild card and if placed alone is stronger than other cards.

Context:
The informant is a Chinese American student at USC. She plays this game with her family on trips with her family in China or in the greater Los Angeles area and enjoys teaching it to others to play. She found there are many variations on the game “vary like Egyptian War.” Her family enjoys playing with The Bomb, which is a combination of 4 of the same card. A joker could be used to replace one of the four, but if someone has a stronger number in four will beat other the pair. The informant notes the game is difficult at times due to the late game making it harder to get rid of weaker cards, so strategy is an important focus of the game.

Analysis:
The game helps connect her family in a shared strategy experience. The game challenges strategy and forward thinking with its mechanics on cleverness and knowledge of the rules. Playing the game, also invites the family and guests into partaking in a shared experience and play together. It also provides entertainment in possibly boring situations.

天时地利人和

Folklore:
天时地利人和 (Tiān shí dì lì rén hé)

Context:
The informant is a Chinese American student studying business at USC. She encountered the saying in situations where when asking for advice from an elder or someone in a more successful position, they would give this saying. She found it used in response to questions like “why are you successful?” She roughly translated it to “The right person at the right place at the right time with the right amount of luck or fortune.” Noting how many things needed to come together in order for the favorable situation to happen.

Analysis:
The folklore saying is used in interactions between elders and youth about success, wisdom, or favorable situations. The saying places credit of the situation on multiple factors, most outside of the person’s control while also celebrating the work and opportunity it took to get there. It may be used to brush off credit from the speaker or the inverse.

Chinese New Year’s Red Envelope

Folklore:
Giving red envelopes of money to members of the family until they get married at Chinese New Years.

Context:
The informant is a Chinese American student at USC. She described the practice and noted how the rule of marriage being the end marker of the tradition was a variation she noticed through her experience. The extra money helped with people still not married or able to comfortably give out the red envelopes by themselves. The informant noted how it tied into a larger normal of giving money as a gift on all occasions and presents were rarely specific items. Finding money is able to better support them and prevent negative outcomes such as embarrassment of not liking the gift and returning it.

Analysis:
The folklore reflects a larger value of caring and supporting the members of their greater family. The money allows for the most function to the receiver and prevent emotionally negative outcomes from lack of knowledge. The tradition of money also allows for the support of each members needs and not just the wants that giving a particular gift might not be able to address.