Cub goes through the rites of initiation
MAN-YUE
As mentioned in the previous pages, it was Sifu Cheng's goal to give his son the best influences his multicultural background would provide. As a result, Sifu & Simu decided to celebrate Cub's first month with a Man-Yue party.
The Man-Yue celebration is a vestige of ancient Chinese history. Literally meaning "full month", this party commemorated the child's first full month, indicating an important milestone in its survival in a time when infant mortality was exceedingly high by today's standards. In ancient times, a family would not even name the child for the first month, as a way of keeping psychologically and emotionally detached, lest the infant fail to make it past the first crucial month. In modern times, the Man-Yue party had become a sort of Chinese christening for some. The Cheng family decided to use this occasion to bestow Cub with his Chinese name, decided by Cub's grandfather, Cheng Yu-Nien.
Prior to the actual Man-Yue party, Sifu & Simu took Cub to the Hsi Lai Ch'an Buddhist Temple, where Dr. Brady Chin arranged for two of the Venerables to bestow a blessing on the new arrival.
From L to R: Shi Man Yuan, Mrs. Josephine Chin, Simu Cheng, Sifu Cheng, Cub, Mr. Billy Chin, Dr. Brady Chin, Shi Miao Hsi, Mrs. Barbara Mizuhara
Cub had to rest up for his big couple of days to follow, but he still wanted to get some playtime in before bed. Perhaps seeing his father's Gee Yung Sil Lum Fut Ga Kuen shirt brought out the urge to train.
But eventually, he passes out in the company of Nai Nai & Mommy.
The Man-Yue celebration took place at JR Seafood Restaurant in West L.A. later on in the week. It was attended by a who's who of martial artists from around the world, drawing guests from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, New Zealand, and Australia. Some 40 guests were in attendance at the celebration.
From L to R: Sifu Cheng, Cub, Simu Cheng, Sifu Daniel Inosanto, Sifu Nino Pilla (who served as one of Cub's Catholic godfathers)
And Darryl Grauman of New Zealand with the infamous Tuesday morning workout crew...
From L to R: Pavel Tsatsouline, Sensei Roy Harris, Sensei Darryl Grauman, Cub, Simu Cheng, Sifu Mark Cheng, Sifu Daniel Inosanto
At the end of the evening, Sifu Cheng explained the name that his father chose for Cub - Zai Ren.
The word Zai (or Tzai in Wade Giles) means to be located in or found in, to consist of, or to rest in. The word Ren (or Jen in Wade Giles) means benevolence, love, or humanity. Thus, Cub's Chinese name carries the dual meanings of one who comes from a place of benevolence or love, as well as one who lives by the Grace of God.
THERE ARE MANY MORE PICTURES YET TO COME FROM THE MAN-YUE, SO WE'LL BE UPDATING THIS PAGE AS THE PICTURES ROLL IN!