Lifestyle - The Korea Times

(44) Life and Saju of the Late President Roh Moo-hyun

By Janet Shin We are in great grief at the sudden death of the former President Roh Moo-hyun last Saturday. Although some of us would have blamed him while others admired him, it was a shock and totally unexpected for everyone. We praised him as the son of a poor farming family who was elected president. Born in 1946, he passed the Korean bar exam as a high school graduate since he was not able to study at law school due to poverty. We recognized him when he worked as a human rights lawyer and entered politics in order to serve justice. We rebuked him when he was against the press and was less than diplomatic in dealing with political issues or foreign affairs such as echoing the wave of anti-American sentiment. His presidency was controversial and filled with feuds with political opponents, and criticism about his abrupt political gambles. We were disappointed because he mishandled economic issues. He received condemnation for his and his family's bribery cases. However, whatever criticism there is about his political and economic achievements or his personal life, no

May 28, 2009

(43) Dynamics of Life Path (2) - Stem Combination

By Janet Shin Let's start this week's column by taking a closer look at the saju of Michelle Wie, a professional golfer who plays on the LPGA tour. In 2006, Wie was named in a Time magazine article as one of the 100 people who shape our world. In October 2005, Wie announced she was turning professional at the age of 16, signing lucrative sponsorship contracts with Nike and Sony. Usually, we see gap people as positive, active, future-oriented and extroverted. Especially when the gap day masters added by another gap in its saju, they are highly valued for its competitiveness. It is like a beautiful forest with lots of big trees. When gap people have gyeong metal (career star-ax) positioned well in other stems, they are very successful in their career path usually achieving a respected position. We see gi stem in her year pillar, which has also a good relationship with gap wood, as it provides gap with ground to grow well and implies a good sign of money fortune at an early age. Also sa fire placed beneath the gi earth brought out her sunshine (talent) including gyeong

May 21, 2009

(42) Dynamics of Life Path

By Janet Shin From this week, we are going to review combination, assembly, clashing and penalty of saju, bazi letters. Before we get into the details, let's see a saju of a woman first. She was born on November 28, 1967 (year of the sheep) and died on Febrary 9, 2007. She was known under the stage name of Anna Nicole Smith, American model, sex symbol, actress and television personality. She first gained popularity when she appeared in Playboy. Then she had a highly publicized marriage to an oil business executive and billionaire, 63 years her senior in 1994. Following his death in 1995 (year of eul-hae), she began a lengthy legal battle over her share of his estate. In 2006 (year of byeong-sul), her son, Daniel Smith was found dead as a result of a drug overdose. Her day master is byeong fire and she is like sun born in month of cold water. She may shine and be recognized by others as the sun is always welcomed, especially by the energy of cold water. However, we can tell that she would be lonely by the surroundings of the day master. Sin metal, her month stem

May 14, 2009

Things You Need to Know About Atopic Disease

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter The prevalence of eczema and other inherited allergies problems has led to the release of key government guidance. About 19 percent of middle and high school students suffer eczema, or atopic dermatitis; 26 percent have atopic rhinitis (runny nose); and 8 percent atopic (allergic) asthma, according to the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs. The ministry compiled a list of ``Frequently Asked Questions and Answers'' to help people better understand the conditions. They are: 1. Is atopic dermatitis inherited? Atopy means the inherited tendency to develop allergies. The three major atopic diseases are atopic rhinitis, atopic asthma and atopic dermatitis. 2. Does a ``bad environment'' cause atopic dermatitis? Statistically, people without an allergic constitution do not get allergic diseases regardless of the environment they live in. Making one's lifestyle environmentally friendly could be good for anyone, but it cannot be a ``solution'' to everyone. It is rather an emergency measure to prevent symptoms worsening

May 10, 2009

(41) Family Relations and Their Positions

By Janet Shin Before we finish the 10 relations, let's review the positions of each of the relative stars in saju. Although we prescribed family relations of a day master in relation with yin-yang and five elements, we may also refer to each pillar in accordance with the concept of root-seed-flower-fruit. It is a lineage hierarchy to make oneself in a saju setting. As we reviewed before, the root-year pillar corresponds to the ancestor, the seed-month pillar to parents, the flower-day pillar to the day master itself and the fruit-time pillar to children. This concept of `position' is applied not only to relative stars, but to the assembly, combination, clashes and penalty among the branches that we will review in future columns. So let's continue to think about it, and use this tool when you review saju. Family relations and their places in Saju The ten stars are very dynamic and co-relate with each other. Subject to their location and the harmony among themselves, they affect the person's fate either positively or negatively, or through direct or indirect ways.

May 7, 2009

(40) Five Stars and Family Relations

By Janet Shin We've learned the basic conception of yin and yang and how they're slashed into five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water). The five elements are the classification of our nature. But most importantly, are not the elements themselves but ``changing states of being.'' Although translated as ``element,'' the oriental conception of the term is therefore quite different. The oriental ``elements'' were thought of as ever-changing and moving energies as they exist, act or react and circulate within yin and yang boundaries. To help your understanding of the five elements (five beings, or movements, phases or stages as per Oriental conception), let's review how the five elements were shown in relation with their circulation according to the Book of Changes. Although we normally consider the circulation cycle of five elements as having a round shape, the diagram has four angular points due to the characteristics of the five elements. Fire's characterized with yang energy with diffusion and radiation power on top ― south, water as characterized by yin energy wi

Apr 30, 2009

English Library Seeks Globalization of Buddhism

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter People no longer have to visit temples hidden among serene mountaintops to learn about the Buddhist faith. Just across from the Jogye Temple, the headquarters of the biggest Jogye Order in Korea, there is a small, yet lively library called the Buddhist English Library of Seoul (BELS). Here, you can learn, read and talk about the religion at any time. The library celebrated its second birthday last Sunday, but director Kang Hoh-shik admitted that they have a long way to go. ``Many people stress the importance of the globalization of Korean Buddhism, but that's just talk. We are not prepared for such a trend yet, and that is why we started the library,'' he said Tuesday as The Korea Times visited the library. BELS opened in May 2007 to offer a venue where foreign monks, Zen masters and Buddhists, both local and foreign, could get together, share their studies and learn about the religion in depth with special lectures and events. Although the world recognizes Tibetan and Indian Buddhism more than Korean, experts and believers abroad have

Apr 29, 2009

Korean-Specific Genes Verified

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter Eleven genetic factors that affect Koreans' blood pressure, heart rate, waist-to-hip ratio, bone strength, height and other body dimensions have been verified by the Center for Disease Control and Management, a unit of the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs. Previous studies have been conducted into other ethnic groups or races, but this is the first time the exact genes that make Koreans distinct from other peoples have been confirmed. According to the center's report, ATP2B1 is linked to systolic blood pressure by controlling the calcium level in cells, while FAM3C and SFRP4 were linked to bone strength. The former is related to cartilage cells and the latter worked for the structuring of the marrow and its absorbent properties. HMGA1, ZBTB38, PLAG1 and EFEMP1 affected height; the former three were found to control the increase and decrease of the activity of genes in cells. The exact function of the EFEMP1 has yet to be verified. Another, FTO, is linked to body mass index (BMI), often used to determine obesity, and has be

Apr 27, 2009

(39) Knowledge Stars (II)

By Janet Shin Sometimes, a fool achieves more than a wise man does. A wise man solely relies on rationality than fortune. On the other hand a fool takes the other way round to achieve tremendous success. People usually forget fortune by believing they achieved something because of their wisdom. However they must admit the fact that it is their fortune to live in a time and space when and where their wisdom and ability are well recognized. The same ability is sometimes valued by others and sometimes neglected. If people have the intricate knowledge stars, they are not focused and can't express their talent well. They are vague, changeable and lack thoroughness. Their fates are not pure and they change their thoughts day by day. Sometimes they are hot-tempered. They lack self-examination so they are not considered to have a good personality. The achievement of knowledge and contracts are not easy. They have mixed thoughts and can't focus on one thing. On the other hand they may absorb much knowledge well. They are indecisive and hesitant. They have conflicts in their thoughts

Apr 23, 2009

(38) Knowledge Stars (I)

By Janet Shin The knowledge star is the element that the day stem gets its energy from. It rules one's opinions and makes a person carefully plan for success. People with the knowledge star achieve success owing to their talent and help from others. Instead of making the move itself, it lets others do so; the knowledge star is lazy. And both the knowledge star and the expression star are greedy. While the expression star may give up when it comes to a certain level, the knowledge star cannot quench its desire. The knowledge star means learning, scholarship and documents, such as real estate contracts. Profits can be academic degrees, honor, business contracts or gains from investments and prizes. As it controls honor, it's also concerned with its dignity, can't stand dishonor and never forgives others who hurt its pride. The knowledge star nourishes the day stem. In the circulation of the five elements (woodafireaearthametalawater), if the day stem is fire, for example, the knowledge star is the wood element. 1) Family relations: mother 2) Social relations: Senior or sy

Apr 16, 2009

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