LO HEI 捞起 WHAT IS LO HEI?
It is the “Prosperity Toss of salad items” practised by the Chinese during the Lunar New Year.
Yusheng (or yee sang or yuu sahng) is a Teochew-style raw fish salad. It usually consists of strips of raw fish (most commonly salmon), mixed with shredded vegetables and a variety of sauces and condiments, among other ingredients. Yusheng literally means “raw fish” but since “fish (鱼)” is commonly conflated with its homophone* “abundance (余)”, Yúshēng (鱼生) is interpreted as a homophone for Yúshēng (余升) meaning an increase in abundance. Therefore, Yusheng is considered a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigour.
While versions of it are thought to have existed in China, the contemporary version was created and popularised in the 1960s amongst the ethnic Chinese community and its consumption has been associated with Chinese New Year festivities in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
[*A homophone is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but differs meaning. They may also differ in spelling]
BACKGROUND Eating Yusheng during Chinese New Year is a cultural activity for Chinese living in Singapore and Malaysia, but not so much in other Chinese-populated countries such as Hong Kong, where the practice is almost unheard of. This may be due to the origins of the dish, which was created by 4 master chefs in a Singapore (then still part of Malaysia) restaurant kitchen way back in 1964. It made its debut during Lunar New Year of 1964 in Singapore’s Lai Wah Restaurant (established in Sept. 1963). The 4 master chefs were Than Mui Kai (Tham Yu Kai, co-head chef of Lai Wah Restaurant), Lau Yoke Pui (co-head chef of Lai Wah Restaurant), Hooi Kok Wai (founder of Dragon- Phoenix Restaurant) and Sin Leong (founder of Sin Leong Restaurant), who together created that as a symbol of prosperity and good health amongst the Chinese . These four chefs were named the “Four Heavenly Culinary Kings” of Singapore some 40 years ago for their culinary prowess and ingenuity.
In the 1970s, Lai Wah Restaurant started the modern-day method of serving Yusheng with a pre-mixed special sauce comprising plum sauce, rice vinegar, kumquat paste and sesame oil --- instead of customers mixing inconsistently-concocted sauce.
THE DISH The Yusheng had fish served with white radish, carrots, red pepper (capsicum), turnips, red pickled ginger, sun-dried oranges/lime, limau nipis (key lime leaves), Chinese parsley, chilli, jellyfish, chopped peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, Chinese shrimp crackers (or fried dried shrimp), five spice powder and other ingredients, laced with a sauce using plum sauce, rice vinegar, kumquat paste and sesame oil, for a total of 27 ingredients. Originally, the dish used raw wolf herring, although in deference to the popular wishes of customers, salmon was later offered as an alternative due to the growing popularity of salmon.
THE SERVING The base ingredients are first served. The leader amongst the diners or the restaurant server proceeds to add ingredients such as the fish, the crackers and the sauces while saying “auspicious wishes” as each ingredient is added, typically related to the specific ingredient being added. For example, phrases such as Nian Nian You Yu (年 年有余) are uttered as the fish is added, as the word Yu (余), which means “surplus” or “abundance”, sounds the same as the Chinese word for fish (yu,鱼 ).
All diners at the table then stand up and on cue, proceed to toss the shredded ingredients into the air with chopsticks while saying various “auspicious wishes” out loud, or simply “撈起, 撈起”. It is believed that the height of the toss reflects the height of the diner’s growth in fortunes, thus diners are expected to toss enthusiastically [the above information is primarily from Wikipedia]
POSSIBLE CHRISTIAN PRACTICE As the Lo Hei is a popular practice of the Chinese population, Chinese Christians will also be joining in it. Is there a way of observing it that will NOT
• give the impression that we can make ‘luck’ come to us by a ‘magic ritual’ that we do (since webelieve God is the Lord of our lives and our fortunes) • not have financial prosperity as the main focus of our celebration
BUT WILL • put emphasis on remembering God’s promise to love and care for us throughout the year • focus on His desire to bless others through us as we live in community…
Here is an attempt to do it. Do try out this for your family’s LoHei and let us know if it is meaningful. We appreciate your input to refine the “litany” that we hope to share with all in the future. Do email the church office with your feedback. LITANY FOR CHRISTIANS TO USE
1. When putting the Yusheng on the table, offer New Year greetings to each other: 新年蒙福（Xin Nian Mong Fu) “May you be blessed and be prosperous!” 万事如意 (Wan Shi Ru Yi) meaning “May all your wishes be fulfilled!”
2. Fish (representing abundance) Narrator: The fish is added, symbolising abundance and excess through the year. 年年有余(Nian Nian You Yu) meaning “Abundance through the year”, as the word “fish” in Mandarin also sounds like “Abundance”.
Leader: (This happened after Christ resurrected from the dead) “Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish…” John 21:4-6
Prayer Leader: Lord, when we obey you, you give us abundance. May this year be a year where we learn to obey you and receive the fruits of that obedience.
People: AMEN!
3. Pomelo or Lime (representing smooth flow of good things)
Narrator: Traditionally, pomelo or lime is added to the fish, symbolising the adding of luck and auspicious value. 大吉大利（Da Ji Da Li） meaning “Good luck and smooth sailing”.
Leader: Jesus said that while other people eagerly seek all things having to do with what one eats, drinks and wears, His people need to be aware of this: “ Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things….(so you His people should) seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31-33) Prayer leader: Lord, as we live this new year, may we put You first in everything. By doing so, everything in its turn, will find its proper place in our lives. Your peace, like a river, will then flow smoothly in our lives.
People: AMEN!
4. Pepper/5 spice powder (representing ability to attract good things),
Narrator: Traditionally, pepper is then dashed over the dish in the hope of attracting more money and valuables. 招财 进宝 (Zhao Cai Jin Bao) meaning “Attract wealth and treasures”.
Leader: The Lord’s favour upon us will attract good things to us. God says, “ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”(Jeremiah 29:11)
Prayer leader: Thank you Lord for Your good will towards us. We look at the future with confidence and joy.
People: AMEN!
5. Oil/plum sauce (representing ‘great increase’ of whatever that is good)
Narrator: Traditionally, oil is poured out, circling the ingredients and encouraging money to flow in from all directions. 一本万利 (Yi Ben Wan Li) meaning “Make 10,000 times of profit with your capital.”财源广进 (Cai Yuan Guang Jin) meaning “Numerous sources of wealth.”Plum sauce (representing wish for a sweet life) is also added. 甜甜蜜蜜 (Tian Tian Mi Mi) meaning “May life always be sweet.”
Leader: Scripture says: “ ...if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. ...(Deut 28:1-14)
Prayer leader: The Lord has given us increase. He wants to bless us. Thanks be to God!
People: AMEN!
6. Carrots (representing good luck)
Narrator: Carrots are used as the first character鸿 also sound like the Chinese character for red (红). Carrots are added indicating blessings of good luck. 鸿运当头 (Hong Yun Dang Tou) meaning “Good luck is approaching”.
Leader: Scripture says: “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” (Deuteronomy 8:18)
Prayer leader: Thank you God for keeping Your covenant, Your solemn promise to us that You will protect and provide for us. Good things will come to us because of Your grace and love.
People: AMEN!
7. Green radish (representing youthfulness and energy)
Narrator: The shredded green radish is placed symbolising eternal youth. 青春常驻 (Qing Chun Chang Zhu) meaning “Forever young”.
Leader: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isa 40:31)
Prayer leader: Give us, O Lord, the wisdom of age. Give us also the idealism, the strength and passion of youth. Teach us how to wait upon you…and in waiting, find strength to soar this year.
People: AMEN!
8. White radish (representing progress to a higher level and at a faster pace)
Narrator: Shredded white radish is added - prosperity in business and promotion at work. 风生水起 (Feng Sheng Shui Qi) meaning “Progress at a fast pace.” 步步高升 (Bu Bu Gao Sheng) meaning “Reaching higher level with each step.”
Leader: The Apostle Peter writes: “ Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Prayer leader: Lord, give us both the will and the perseverance to grow beyond where we are to where we can be, fulfilling the destiny to which you have called us.
People: AMEN!
9. Peanuts/sesame seeds (representing flourishing returns) l crackers (representing wealth)
Narrator: Peanut crumbs are dusted on the dish, symbolising a household filled with gold and sesame seeds quickly follow, symbolising a flourishing business. 生意兴隆 (Sheng Yi Xing Long) meaning “Prosperity for the business.” 金银满屋 (Jin Yin Man Wu) meaning “Household filled with gold and silver.” Deep-fried flour crisps in the shape of golden pillows are then added with wishes that literally the whole floor would be filled with gold.满地黄金 (Man Di Huang Jin) meaning “Floor full of gold.”
Leader: May You Lord crown us this year with Your goodness and set us on Your paths that drip with abundance. (Psalms 65:11)
Prayer Leader: Yes! Thank you Lord.
People: AMEN!
THE TOSSING All toss the salad towards the centre 7 times with loud shouts of “Lo Hei!” and all close with this prayer for each other.
TOGETHER (A BLESSING PRAYER FOR EACH OTHER)
ay everything you do be Ho-say (good) Meverything you eat be Ho-jia (tasty) every friend you have and make be Ho peng you (good friend) everyday live a Ho mia (good) life and work days become like Holy-days this year.
ay the Lord bless you and keep you, The Lord make His Face shine upon you and be gracious unto you MThe Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.
- Rev Dr Lorna Khoo, Aldersgate Methodist Church, February 2015
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: • Information regarding the Chinese meaning of the ingredients, the sequence of the Lo Hei has been gleaned from several sites on the Internet • Some good advice regarding Chinese words for the liturgy: from Rev Joshua Loo of Toa Payoh Methodist Church
Aldersgate Methodist Church 98 Dover Road, Singapore 139647 T: 6773-1964 W:www.aldersgate.sg