Good context is part of the story.

Choose sources for the claim

We look first to museum collection records, scholarly publications, primary texts, and cultural institutions. A source should support the specific point being made. A catalogue can explain an object’s history; it cannot establish a modern promise about luck or health.

Each editorial entry lists the references used. A source’s inclusion does not imply that its publisher endorses OrientLore.

Show when we reviewed it

Entries display a reviewed date. This records the editorial review of the page, not the age of the tradition or a promise of continuous monitoring. When a substantive correction or fresh review changes an entry, its review date should be updated.

Make corrections clearly

Errors in names, dates, translations, or source attribution should be corrected against the relevant evidence. Where a correction changes the meaning of an entry, we aim to explain that change in the entry itself. Gaps and uncertainty should be stated rather than filled with an unsupported explanation.

Make unfamiliar words readable

We explain culturally specific terms when they first appear. Chinese characters are included where they help identify a term. Mandarin pronunciation uses pinyin and is labelled as such; it does not stand for every Chinese language or regional pronunciation. Established English names may appear alongside transliterations.

Leave room for variation

Stories have different tellings, and celebrations change across regions, families, communities, and time. We describe the context of a practice where the sources allow it. One account should not be read as a universal rule, and a retelling should not be mistaken for a historical record.

Separate tradition from advice

Symbolic associations and traditional frameworks are subjects to explore, not guarantees about personality, relationships, health, wealth, or the future. Our calculators explain which calendar or age convention they use. Their results are for cultural understanding and do not replace professional advice or official age requirements.