1 The Art of Calligraphy奇妙的书法

1 The Art of Calligraphy奇妙的书法 A: Some critics suggest that different genres (风格)of Chinese calligraphy have different political implications. Take Wang Xizhi for example. His calligraphy was repudiated as unorthodox during his lifetime but, only a few decades after his death, was established as an orthodox genre. B: That?s for sure! Historically, Chinese calligraphy and politics were closely intertwined. Over 2,000 years ago, Emperor Qin Shihuang, the first Emperor in Chinese history, established the official Chinese writing characters. The new, simplified characters made writing calligraphy less complicated. It allowed people to use characters with more straight strokes, thus making it easier to write with brushes. This created the Li genre. Over time, other variations were also developed, which eventually lead to the formation of the five genres in Chinese calligraphy. These were the Zhuan, Li, Kai, Xing and Cao genres. A: I?ve heard that most emperors were good at calligraphy. The Tang Dynasty Emperor Li Shimin was an avid collector of Wang Xizhi?s writings. B: That?s right. Qing Dynasty Emperor Qian Long played a key role in compiling an authoritative collection of calligraphy. To some extent, preferences of the Emperors had an influence on the rise and fall of certain calligraphy genres. A: Ordinary Chinese people also seemed to like calligraphy a lot. B: Part of the reason was the sponsorship by the Emperors. Another reason was the thImperial Civil Service examinations that started in the 7 century. Those examinations were focused on writing and provided a way for ordinary people to achieve a better life. As a result, calligraphy became widely accepted. Calligraphy also had its practical values because it was a good way to make friends and was more presentable as a gift rather than jewelry or money. A: Does calligraphy still have these practical functions now? B: Yes. Many people practice calligraphy as a way to raise their cultural accomplishment. Older people use calligraphic writing as a method to keep fit. They believe that when a person concentrates on writing calligraphy, his inner wellbeing is stimulated. A: I had thought computers would lead to the disappearance of Chinese calligraphy. Now I understand that?s not likely to happen. How can you give your boss computer-printed calligraphy as a gift? B: You don?t, unless you want him to fire you. 2 The Significance of Chinese Paintings中国画的含意 A: It?s interesting that Chinese painting can be created on the spot, even though most of them have similar subjects. Peony, plum blossoms, mountains, creeks or cottages are very popular. These are often painters at significance celebratory and commemorative events. B: Their educational function is, in fact, a unique feature of Chinese paining .Human profile were used as a method to either glorify heroes or condemn traitors 2,000 years ago. Tang Dynasty officials even tried to bring painting into Confucian ideology. The Court of the Song Dynasty published an official guide to paintings. This raised criteria not only for human profiles but also for landscape and object paintings. A: Oh, what was that? B:It classified painting into ten categories covering religious beliefs, Confucianism and state power. This classification gave an official definition of the value and significance of the paintings. The purpose of landscape painting was to portray the five mountains, while fruit and birds were used to exemplify or eulogize the Gods. In this case, the subjects were used as references to people in order to deliver moral messages, For example, peony and peacocks represented wealth and fortune; pine trees, bamboo, plum blossoms and orchid represented elegance and accomplishment ;and pine trees and cypresses symbolized loyalty. A: As far as I know, painters who did not have to make a living by painting used different skills to those specified in the guide, even though they painted the same subject. B: Artists are usually against pragmatism. They like to give meaning to the subjects they paint. Bamboo symbolizes integrity and simplicity; the orchid symbolizes modesty and misfortune; and pine trees symbolized never give up. Artists also like landscapes. It doesn?t take a lot of training to paint landscape. It all depends on the painter?s personality and ability, as well as his unique touch. Most of today?s non-professional painters follow the landscape style .The objective of the painters is purely entertainment and self-satisfaction. The more successful artists have the opportunity to exhibit at public functions. That is probably the climax of their painting careers, A: What are professional painters doing? B: Some of them make a great effort to improve their painting skills. They want to develop new and innovative painting methods by borrowing form other genres. Others are busy making money. They have found ways to produce commercially attractive paintings. Some people say they are no longer artists. Instead they have become manufacturers of paintings. 参考译文 A:这真有意思，中国画是可以现场表演的。在一些庆典或者纪念性是场合，你 可以看到画家们挥毫泼墨。话的材大致相同:牡丹、梅花、山水、林中小屋 等; B:其实这是中国画的特点:强调画的宣传功能。早在2000年前人物画就被政 府机关广泛用于宣传工具，表彰忠臣烈士，批判乱臣贼子。唐代的士大夫们甚 至把绘画创作纳入儒家的思想体系。到了宋代，政府专门出版了官方画谱，不 但对人物画的功能提出要求，对山水花鸟画也如此。 A:都是些什么要求, B:这个画谱分为十类，涵盖宗教思想、儒家伦理和政权统治，论述了各类绘画 存在的价值与意义，山水画的存在价值是能描绘“五岳”;瓜果、花鸟有敬神 的作用。绘画因此起到以物比人的教化作用。比如，牡丹、孔雀表现富贵;松、 竹、梅、兰比喻高雅人士;松、柏象征忠贞。 A:不过，据我所知，古代那些不靠绘画谋生的文人，虽然也画同样的题材，但 他们的技法与官方画谱规定的不同。 B:文人反对实用主义，他们的画有不同的象征意义:竹子代表正直、质朴;兰 花代表谦虚和怀才不遇，松树代表自强不息。文人也喜画山水，这不需要进行 长期的技巧训练，完全取决于画家的个性和修养们还有独特的笔触，今天，一 些非职业的画家依然沿袭古人的路子，为自娱自乐、修身养性而画。他们当中 知名度较高的画家能参加各种活动，现场作画。这大概是他们艺术价值的最高 体现了。 A:职业画家在干什么, B:一些人苦心研习技巧，试图多方借鉴，开发出不同凡响的画法;另一些人忙 于赚钱，他们绘制具有商业价值的作品。有人说他们其实已不算画家，只是画 匠而已。 3 Rediscover Confucius重新发现孔子 A: Did you see the statue of Confucius launched bay the China Confucius(孔子) Fund? B: Yes, I did .It doesn?t quite match the Confucius image in my mind though. I heard there are many different opinions about this so-called official statue. But, to be fair, it?s an impossible job to create an official statue of someone who lived more than2, 500 years ago. No one knows what he looked like, just like no one in the West knows what Plato (柏拉图)looked like. Nevertheless, Confucius was a great philosopher, an educator, a politician, as well as the founder of Confucianism, which still has a tremendous influence over people today. A: Confucianism seems to be back in fashion again. As far as I know, about five to six million Chinese students are currently studying The Analects of Confucius(论语). Some companies are using Confucianism as a management tool. The government is also promoting the Confucian values of ethics, fairness, and honesty. They see it as a way to address the social problems that have emerged as a result of the accelerated economic growth. B: Confucianism is the backbone of Chinese culture. Confucius developed his philosophy around the concept of benevolence. The Analects of Confucius is a record of his political views. Confucianism represents a set of moral principles because it stresses fairness and harmony in human relationship, as well as the individual?s social responsibility for their country. For Confucius, political honesty is based on individual ethical integrity. A: Some American scholars did a comparative study of Confucius with Greek and Roman philosophers. Their conclusion was that there is more practical value in Confucianism. Why it that? B: Well, it has extensive application in Chinese society. Confucius was also an accomplished(有造诣的) educator. He treated his student as his equal by teaching them democratic and open-minded ideas. In the words of the American scholars, Confucius wanted to train his students to become more unrestrained and adaptable to external influence. A: There is also increasing awareness of Confucianism in other parts of the world. This may be a result of various political. cultural, and environmental challenges due to China?s growing economic importance .As a result ,the rise of individualism in the community has become a serious threat to social harmony and progress. A different set of values are needed as a counterbalance. Confucianism emphasizes “courtesy “and “respect” when dealing with people or nature so it should be very beneficial for building harmony in any society. B: You are right. A scholar once said that answers concerning our survival can be found in the wisdom of Confucius, even though he lived more than 25 centuries ago. 对话 A: 你看到中国孔子基金会发布的孔子像了吗, B;看到了，但他不完全是我心目中是孔子形象。据说有很多人对这个标准像持不 同的意见。这也难怪，孔子毕竟生活在2500多年前，没有谁能够想象他的真 实长相，就像你们西方人不知道柏拉图的面孔一样。但是，孔子对今天中国人 的生活和思想上依然有着重大的影响。他是中国古代的思想家、教育家、政治 家，也是儒学的创始人 A:儒家的思想似乎又风行起来了。就我所知，中国有五六百万的孩子在学习《论 语》;不少企业吧儒家思想引进企业管理当中;中国政府也试图通过倡导道德、 公正和廉洁的儒家思想，来解决经济高速发展带来的社会问题。 B:儒家思想是中国传统文化的主干。孔子的哲学体系以“仁”为核心，《论语》记 载着他的人对国家的政治学说。儒学是一套道德理论，强调的是为人处世的正 派、人际关系的和谐以及个人对国家的责任感。在孔子看来，政治的廉洁是以 人品的正直为基础的。 A:有的美国学者将孔子与古希腊罗马哲人相比较，认为他的思想更具有实用价 值。为什么, B:因为他被广泛的应用与中国社会。孔子还是一个了不起的教育家，他平等对待 学生，教他们民主、开放的观念。用美国学着的话说就是:培养能够自然从容 并适应环境的君子。 A:据我所知，儒家学说也在世界其他地方逐渐引起了重视。这也许与中国经济的 高速发展带来的各种政治、文化、以及环境等问题的巨大挑战有关。个人主义 在商品社会中的极端发展，对社会和谐进步构成威胁，必须寻求另一种价值观 ”来处理人际关系及于自然的关系，来取得平衡。而孔子的学说恰好提倡以“礼 对于和谐社会的构建大有益处。 B:有道理。正如一位学者所说:21世纪生存问题，必须回到25世纪前的孔子的 智慧中去寻求解决答案。 management tool:管理手段 backbone:主心骨、中坚 counterbalance:抗衡，弥补 accomplished:学识渊博的，事业有成的 comparative study:比较研究 4 Differences between Chinese and western medicines中西医的差异 A: For many years, there have been repeated discussions to give up Chinese medicine. It?s recently become a hot topic once again. Advocates believe that Chinese medicine is not scientifically based in comparison to western medicine. B: Although it is debatable whether Chinese medicine is scientifically sound, you can not deny that is has rich philosophical significance. This is very different from western medicine. Usually a Chinese medicine practitioner approaches the illness form a broader perspective, emphasizing its entirety and dialectical implications. This is why some people view it as holistic medicine. In contrast, a western doctor deals directly with the symptoms(症状). For instance, if someone has a sore throat, a western doctor will treat it as a throat problem, while a Chinese doctor may link it to the disorder of the patient?s stomach. A: What?s the difference between Chinese and western medicines? B: A Chinese doctor examines his patient by using methods like observing, smelling, asking and feeling(望闻问切). His western counterpart relies on symptoms or evidence like body temperature and lab tests. The Chinese doctor determines the problems of the patient?s internal organs(内脏) by inference through observing various exterior signs, such as complexion (皮肤) or the tongue. A western doctor, on the other hand, makes his judgment based on the results of a lab test on the internal organs. He then reinforces his judgment by examining exterior symptoms. A western doctor uses chemical-based medicines and surgery(手术), while a Chinese doctor relies on herbal medicines(中草药) and acupuncture(针灸). A: For a patient, which is preferable? B: It depends. Usually a Chinese doctor will recommend western medicine for intensive treatment, and Chinese medicine for the recovery. In fact, Chinese medicine is probably more effective in treating some functional diseases where the cause is difficult to discover. A: What will happen if Chinese medicine is indeed abandoned? B: No idea. But for people with terminal diseases, Chinese medicine may be their last resort. Chinese medicine can not only alleviate pain, but also offers the option of a different treatment. 5 The role of operas戏曲的作用 A: In his book Chinese Characteristics, which was written more than 100 years ago, A. H. Smith said that Chinese people liked opera. To them, opera was the only entertainment, like sports for the British and bullfighting for the Spaniards. A:亚瑟?史密斯在他一百多年前写的《中国人的德行》一书中说:中国人喜好戏 曲，就像英国人喜好体育，西班牙人喜好斗牛一样。戏曲成为中国人唯一的娱乐。 B: In a traditional Chinese society, opera was used as a vehicle to spread knowledge and ethical teachings. Most operas were based on historical events, folklore, or classical novels. They promoted traditional values and moral principles, such as punishing evil and eulogizing the good(惩恶扬善); loyalty and kindness; and the denunciation of the ungrateful. Operas were able to fill the gaps in education and teaching, especially in an agricultural society B:是这样。在传统中国社会，戏曲还有着普及文化知识和教化社会的作用。戏曲 的题材多取自历史典故、民间传说或古代小说。它宣扬传统的价值观和偷道德， 比如惩恶扬善、忠孝仁义，以及贬斥忘恩负义。戏曲填补了文化教育的不足，特 别是在农业社会。 A: Opera fans were like today?s popular music fans. They enjoyed singing the arias. A:戏迷就像现在的歌迷一样，喜欢学着唱戏。 B: The Dowager Empress Cixi of the Qing Dynasty was a super opera fan. She often had opera troupes perform for her in the Court. This is why Peking Opera overtook all other folk operas and became a national entertainment. It was said that the Empress was deeply influenced by the teachings of the operas, especially those relating to gratitude B:对。清朝的慈禧太后就是一个超级戏迷，她常请戏班子进宫演出。京剧因此在 众多地方剧种中脱颖而出，成为中国主要的剧种。据说，京剧所宣扬的传统伦常， 比如知恩图报的思想，也给了西太后很大的影响。 A: I know she would pardon anyone to whom she felt indebted, regardless of their mistakes. A:我知道凡是有恩于她的人，不论犯了什么过失，她都会宽恕。 B: That?s right. Some historians even suggest that when she engaged the Boxers to fight against the Westerners, she was under the illusion they were invincible. She got the notion from the operas that they could not be hurt by bullets. Of Course, she was wrong and the Boxers were quickly defeated by the Westerners. B:是这样。甚至有历史学家认为，她利用义和团打洋人的举动，也是出于相信京 剧神怪戏宣扬的神力，以为义和团的人刀枪不入。结果她当然错了，义和团被洋 人打得一败涂地。 A: Well, if operas had so much influence on the Dowager Empress, I think it would be even more so on ordinary people. Since Peking Opera is no longer as popular as it was, does it still have an influence on people? A:戏曲对这样的大人物影响尚且召引，对老百姓就不用说了。现在京剧不像过去 那么流行，它还有影响力吗? B: Now it is TV. Since every household has a TV, its influence should not be underestimated. There was a popular Korean TV drama not long ago, which captivated the audience by its costumes and food. As a result, some studios in Beijing began taking photo portraits in Korean costumes and some restaurants introduced similar Korean food B:现在是电视当道。在几乎家家有电视机的今天，电视的影响不可低估。前些时 候播出了一部韩国的古装电视剧，其中的服装和饮食受到观众的追捧。北京的照 相馆开始提供韩服拍照，餐饮也推出这部电视中的食谱。 A: Now I understand why the government discourages TV hosts from imitating Hong Kong and Taiwan accents. It also explains why TV stations are forbidden from airing programs about adultery and other unethical topics. A:这下我就理解了为什么政府部门要求电视节目主持人不可模仿港台腔，也不让 播出宣扬“第三者”等有悖社会偷的电视剧了。 B: That?s correct. China has been experiencing an increasingly high divorce rate where adultery is cited as a main reason. B: 对。据说中国的离婚率增高，“第三者”是离婚的主要原因之一。 6 Gardens and bonsais 园林和盆景 Gardens in China are known for their skillful combination of landscapes. They use man-made structures, such as creeks, rocks, trees, plants, pavilions, platforms, terraces and bridges. Together they create a poetic atmosphere (诗意), just like a painting that combines poems, calligraphy and scenery all in one. The rocks in the garden don't have to be huge to look meaningful as long as they are arranged in order. The same is true with the creeks. It is not the length of the creeks but the turns and curves which give the garden a feeling of liveliness. This is a manifestation of the Confucian belief of harmony between man and nature(人与自然的和谐相处) and the Taoist(道家)worship of nature. This has something to do with the Chinese philosophy. The imitation of nature reflects both a worship of nature and a pursuit of a poetic state of mind. The walls around the gardens are in effect a way to show modesty and unpretentiousness. Also, it separates people with different backgrounds. People like bonsais for their philosophical implications, representing an interaction with the world through a potted landscape. There used to be a saying that goes, "Three leaves and two flowers represent the world." In other words, the few pieces of leaves and the flowers are enough to make you feel the change in the weather, the earth and the universe. That is the beauty of bonsais. The miniature gives peoples a feeling of closeness to nature. This is a diversified world. We need to learn to accommodate each other .Maybe this is what traditional Chinese gardens and bonsais are all about. 中国的园林以自然景观和人造建筑融为一体而著称于世.园林中溪流假山树木,亭 台楼阁桥梁,营造成集诗书画于一体的诗境.所谓,山不在高,贵在层次;水不在深,妙 在曲折。它既体现了儒家文化人与自然和谐相处的观念,也表达出道家崇尚自然 的理念。 这与中国传统的哲学有关。模仿自然，是内心对自然的崇拜，也是对诗意境界的 追求。用围墙将小环境圈起来，也是出于古人对内敛，谦逊品性的推崇。从另一 个角度说，这也能够把与他们生活不相关的不同层次的人隔开。 很多人欣赏盆景，因为它渗透着传统哲学的理念:以小见大，见微知著。古人说: 三叶两花一世界，就是说花叶虽小，但透过它们的变化可以体悟到四季，风土甚 至宇宙的变迁。盆景之美就在于此，让人在方寸之间体味到与自然景物的亲近。 世界是多样的，我们要学会相互包容。这也许是中国古典园林和盆景给当代人的 启示。 7 Glazed tiles and imperial architecture琉璃瓦与宫廷建筑 A: I went to the Forbidden City on Sunday. It was a beautiful day with a blue sky and white clouds. The yellow tiles looked gorgeous. A:星期天我去了故宫。在蓝天白云下，故宫的黄色琉璃瓦显得壮美极了。 B: Glazed tiles are unique to Chinese architecture. They were used exclusively on Imperial Palaces and buildings. Junior officials or ordinary people were not allowed to use them. That?s why you can only see them in the Forbidden Palace, the Summer Palace or other Imperial architecture. There is a place in Beijing called Liu Li Chang, which means "glazed tile factory." It is where glazed tiles were made during the Ming Dynasty. B:琉璃制品是中国古建筑中特有的材料，但只限于在皇家建筑中使用。一般官宦 以及平民百姓是不准用的。所以你只能在故宫、颐和园等皇家建筑中看到琉璃。 北京有个地方叫琉璃厂，在明代这里是炼制琉璃瓦的地方。 B: No, there are other colors such as green, blue, purple and black. There were strict rules for the use of the tiles: yellow tiles for Imperial Palaces and green tiles for the homes of the Emperor?s brothers. B:不，还有绿色、蓝色、紫色和黑色。对于各色琉璃瓦的使用有着严格的等级规 定:皇宫用黄色;亲王府用绿色。 A: Sounds special! Could you tell me more about the colors, A:真奇特～你能多讲讲那些颜色吗, B: The colors are related to the five elements (五行) that make up our world. Those elements are metal, wood, water, fire and earth(金，木，水，火，土), and they are represented by the colors of white, green, black, red and yellow. Each element is also influenced by the four seasons. The five regions on earth are ruled, respectively, by five different Emperors. The Yellow Emperor is in the center and is assisted by the God of Earth. In the east is the Green Emperor, who is assisted by the God of Wood and is responsible for spring. The Red Emperor in the south is assisted by the God of Fire and is responsible for summer. The White Emperor is in the west. He is assisted by the God of Metal and is responsible for autumn. The Black Emperor is in the north, being assisted by the God of Water and responsible for winter. So, the colors used in traditional architecture correspond to the theory of the Five Elements and the Five Regions. B:说到颜色，不得不提五行学说。传统上，五色(白、青、黑、红、黄)象征五 行(金、木、水、火、土)，并与春夏秋冬四季变化相联系。天下五方由五帝统 治——黄帝居中，由土神相助，其色属黄;东方为青帝，以木神相佐，其色属青， 掌管春季;南方为炎帝，以火神相助，其色属红，掌管夏季;西方称白帝，由金 神相助，掌管秋季;北方称黑帝，由水神相佐，掌管冬季。中国古代建筑所用的 颜色就与传统五行、五方说相关。 A: Are those theories used in any of the contemporary buildings, A:现代建筑依然按照这些学说来设计吗, B: Not much. The Ten Milestone buildings, built in the 1950s, followed the traditional style but not today?s landmark buildings in Beijing. Those buildings were designed together with Western architects. They seldom use any of the traditional colors. B:不完全是。,,世纪,,年代，北京标志性的十大建筑特别强调传统建筑风 格。这几年，外国建筑师成为京城标志性建筑的参与者，他们很少采用传统的颜 色。 A: If Beijing uses the five Olympic colors to dress up the city it will definitely look very impressive. It will also be in tune with the Five Color theory. A:如果北京按照奥运五环的色彩来装饰，效果一定惊人。这也符合五色之说。 B: That?s an interesting thought. Unfortunately, there is no white in the Olympic colors, otherwise it would be a perfect match to the Five Colors. B:这个主意挺有意思。遗憾的是奥运五环里没有魄，否则就与中国的五色说相符 合了。 8 Two boats in the Yangtze River长江里的两条船 M: A Norwegian was told by his Chinese friend that figuratively the Yangtze River has two boats, one called fame, and the other wealth. He said that Chinese students are in the busy pursuit of fame and wealth, while their western counterparts are more interested in an ordinary life. F: Although many westerners are critical of the obsession with fame and wealth by young Chinese people, few westerners understand the reason behind it. In traditional Chinese culture, fame and wealth were two indicators of a family's glory. Every man had an obligation to both their immediate and extended families (直系和旁系家庭) as well as to the entire village. His action would either glorify or defame his family. M: Why is that? F: Well, China is a developing country with scarce resources and opportunities, which means that one has to be very successful in order to live a quality life. For example, in rural areas, in order for someone in the family to go to university, his brothers and sisters may have to drop out of school (辍学) to save costs. After graduation, the student would do everything he can to gain fame and wealth in the hope of lifting his family out of poverty. Such is a popular story line of a number of movies. But Gao Jianlin in a 1980's movie called "Life" is probably the most well-known. He has to do everything he can in order to live in a city, even though it is achieved at the expense of (以……为代价) giving up his hometown sweetheart. M: To be further, there are also many young Chinese who are less interested in fame and wealth, and are more focused on the life style they can enjoy. F: Correct. Chinese economic progress has made it possible for these young people to choose that sort of life style. Young people of different time periods have different pursuits. In the 1950s and 1960s, shortly after the People's Republic was founded, people truly believe there wouldn't be any personal wealth without building a prosperous country in the first place. So they devoted themselves to the construction of a new China. The economic reforms in the 1980s and 1990s gave people an opportunity to focus on their personal pursuits. Today, thanks to increased disposable income, people are able to constantly upgrade their life style. However, many people have begun to worry about China's future, because they see a diminishing sense of family and social responsibility among the young generation. M: I'm not too worried though. As people become more affluent (富裕的), their sense of responsibility will become stronger, and they will make decisions which best reflect their values. Many young people in the west have chosen to do voluntary work in Asia, Africa and other underdeveloped areas. As a matter of fact, more and more young Chinese people have also signed up as volunteers. Chinese fans中国扇子 9 Fans seem to have special meaning in Chinese culture. I?ve received a number of them as gifts from my Chinese friends. The fans are very pretty. So I assume they are not meant to be used. Also they are too cute for a man like me to use. Fans used to be a favorite item for women in China. You may have noticed that nearly all female figures in traditional Chinese paintings carry a silk fan. In the movies of the 1930s and 1940s, fans are a very visible article for Shanghai women on the bond. Usually the structure of the fans is made of sand wood, and the faces are made of silk or paper. Because the fans are always scented, women who use them appeared even more attractive. Fans are probably one of the most appropriate expressions of female elegance. Men also use fans. But these fans are usually much bigger. Men?s fans often use valuable materials for that structure and the faces are always painted with plants, landscapes or calligraphy to express the only status and aspirations. But none of fans I have look the same as what you have just told me. The paintings are also different. Mine are painted with either Beijing Opera masks or Chinese dragons. As a result of open-door policy, fans have become popular again, not for people to use at home, but as a gift for foreigners. However, unlike fans of the old days, the ones people use as gifts nowadays do not take a lot of craftsmanship to make. Neither are the materials unique. In some of the popular tourist markets around Beijing, you can buy traditional Zhejiang fans made of blue painted cloth. In stead of sand wood, very scented substitute materials are used for the structures. Because fans are small, inexpensive and typically Chinese, many people like to use them as gifts from the overseas trips. I heard westerners appreciate these gifts. My Mexican friends told me that Chinese fans are all over the place in Mexico. Things are probably true in Chinatowns throughout the United States. That reminds me of an article by a Chinese writer. He wrote that two former Soviet Union experts paid a special visit to a fan factory in Suzhou during the 1960s. They wanted to buy some fans to take home. The workers were very excited about that visit. The factory held a meeting of its 200 workers to discuss the production plan. They were determined to make the best fans they could for their Soviet friends. Now, although fans are still a very good gift for foreigners, we seem to be using excessively. Someone needs to have a look at the fans factory and people who go on overseas trips about the over-supply of fans. 10 Beijing Opera Facial Masks京剧脸谱 A: Beijing Opera is the cream (精华)of the Chinese culture. As such it has become a must-see item to entertain foreigners. But I don?t like its shrieking singing and noisy percussions. I enjoy the costumes (服装) and facial masks(脸谱) better. B: As a traditional art form, Beijing Opera has problems in appealing to the days theatre goes. It is very slow and monotonous. Its costumes and facial masks are more attractive. There is very distinct Ming Dynasty influence on Beijing Opera costumes. They are colorful and majestic. Two long pieces of white silk at the end of the sleeves create a graceful feeling during dancing. Different styles of costumes are used to reflect the status of different characters. There are more decorations in the costumes of the nobles, while those of the poor tend to be simple and less ornamental. But the same materials are used for all costumes to ensure the desired hierarchical presentation. Present-day designers are also borrowing from Beijing Opera for their work. A: Facial masks can reflect qualities of different characters. B: Facial masks using different colors are important ways to portray a character. There are hundreds of different facial mask designs and each character has its own design. For example, Guan Yu is a very well-known warrior. People believe he had a dark-red complexion. So his facial mask is painted red, because red is a color to represent loyalty and courage. A: As the folk saying goes, all red complexion guys are good guys. B: The facial mask of Song Dynasty Emperor Zhao Kuangyin depicts a dragon to show his imperial background. Another hero is Yang Qilang. There?s a tiger in his facial mask. The word „tiger? is even written on the forehead to show that he is as courageous as a tiger. A: So colors become an important expression. B: Yes, people can tell a hero from a villain by the colors of the masks. In general, white usually represents treachery; black represents righteousness; yellow represents bravery; blue and green represent rebellious fighters; while gold and silver represent divinity and Buddhism. A: I didn?t realize Beijing Opera facial mask is so complicated. Although I can?t stand its shrieking singing, I still like to go to a Beijing Opera show. I'll listen to mp3 while enjoying the facial masks. B: Then you can have the best of both wealth. 11 Yellow: China’s Favorite Color 黄，中国人崇尚的颜色 A:Chinese people seem to like the red and yellow colors a lot. The two colors are used for the Chinese national flag. They are also the predominant colors for the cover design of some important books, as well as in the decorations for major events, such as the flower display in Tian?anmen Square during the National Day holidays. B:The color preferences of the Chinese people are influenced by the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire and earth, in addition to geographical locations and weather. China is a huge and geographically diversified country. It is cold in the north so people there like warm colors. But it is just the opposite in the south. Of all the warm colors, the Han people like yellow especially. A:Maybe because the Hans originated in the Yellow River Plateau, a region where yellow was the prevailing color. B:You are probably right. As far as the five elements are concerned, the corresponding colors are white, green, black, red, and yellow. Yellow is the predominant color and is situated in the center of the diagram. Yellow was also the color representing the imperial court in traditional China. It was established as the authoritative color representing the Emperor during the Han Dynasty more than 2000 years ago. During the Sui Dynasty, yellow was officially designated as the exclusive color for the imperial family. It was used in the Emperor?s clothes, the paper on which the Emperor published his decrees, and the calendar that was printed by the Imperial Court. A:People have a tradition of making a “longevity outfit” for the deceased. The inner side of the outfit is always yellow. The bottom of the coffin is also lined with yellow silk. B:During the 1980s and 1990s, taxis in Beijing were all painted yellow. Those taxis were very popular because of space and low fares. However, they were considered inappropriate for Beijing and were replaced with new models. The new taxis use a standard color pattern with yellow at the bottom, which acts as a reminder of Beijing?s Imperial tradition. A:Nowadays, people always refer to pornography as “yellow literature” and pornographic films as “yellow movies.” That reference can be traced to a newspaper from the 19th century United States, which used to print vulgar paintings in yellow. B:The word “yellow” in the campaign statement of “Eradicate the yellow and fight against the illegal” refers to pornography. I guess we all need to be very careful with the yellow color since it is used to represent both the Imperial Court and bad taste. In olden times, a person could be beheaded for the misuse of yellow. It can also cause trouble today if a person associates himself with the wrong yellow. A:中国人似乎很喜欢红黄两色，你看，中国国旗就是由这两种颜色组成的。很 多重大场合或重要书籍的装帧总会用到这两种颜色。国庆节天安门广场摆放的花 坛，也是以这两种颜色作主调。 B:中国人对色彩的好恶除了受地理、气候的影响外，也受到传统五行说的影响。 从地理方面说，中国是个地域广阔的国家，北方寒冷，人们喜欢暖色;南方炎热， 人们喜欢冷色。在暖色中，汉民族最崇尚黄色。 A:这也许是因为汉民族的发源地是黄土高原，这个地域满目黄土之色。 B:可能是吧。从五行说来看，金、木、水、火、土所代表的五色分别是白、青、 黑、赤、黄，其中黄为主色，位在中央。在中国古代社会，黄色是皇权的象征。 在两千多年前的汉代，朝廷就规定“衣尚黄”，确立了黄色的权威地位。从隋朝起， 黄色成为皇家专用的颜色。皇帝的龙袍称作黄袍;皇帝的文告用黄纸写成，称黄 榜;皇帝颁发的历书用黄纸印刷，称为黄历。 A:据我所知，按照传统，死者去世后穿的衣服称作“寿衣”，它讲究双层缝制， 里面那一层一定要用黄色。棺材的底部也要铺上黄绸布。 B:上世纪八九十年代，北京街头跑着的出租车就是黄色的面包车。它因为价廉 且空间大而广受欢迎。后来这种车型被认为有碍京城市容而被新车型取代。现在 的出租车采用统一的颜色，下半部为土黄，以体现北京皇家名城的传统。 A:现在，人们称色情文学为“黄色小说”，称色情电影为“黄色电影”。这种说法 来源于19世纪美国的一家报纸，该报社以黄色印刷趣味低下的漫画。 B:现在的词汇“扫黄打非”中的“黄”就有色情的意思。这种有时贵为皇家专用， 有时又表示低级趣味的颜色，用起来还真要小心。古时用错了黄色会杀头，今天 错用了黄色会闯祸。 12 Red — China’s Favorite Color红，中国人崇尚的颜色 A: Chinese people also like the red color a lot. China used to be called the red country in the past. Even now, Chinese people like to refer ourselves as Chizi, meaning the red descendant. B: Traditionally, red represents the motherland and authority. Official uniforms of the Tang Dynasty were red. In the Qing Dynasty, different shades of red were used on official caps to show different ranking. Even nowadays, headlines of official documents are still painted in red. This is why they are called red-head documents. A: Red is also a highly-regarded color among ordinary people. B: Yes, because it represents happiness. For example, the word double happiness used for weddings is red. The bride wears red clothes, which is different from the white gowns of the west. During Chinese spring festival, people will give Hongbao or red packets with money inside to the children as well wishes. Couplets(对联)hanging on both sides of the doors are written in red. Even the outfit of Zhongkui, the door god whose portrait is hung on the door is red. The word red equals prettiness. The expression „hongyan? meaning red color is a synonym of a beautiful girl. Red is also one of the most popular words used in the names of Chinese women. A: You told a lot about how people like the red color. In traffic lights as well as in soccer, red means stop prelimination. B: This is how the westerners like to use the red color. Because red is very bright, it is good for warning purposes. But it doesn?t really have any negative meanings. In China, the red color was abused during the Cultural Revolution (文革)in the 1960s. The country was overwhelmed with red flags, posters, unbans and Mao?s badges, etc., and was therefore called a red sea. A: Ironically, although there was worship of red, no one dared to wear red clothes. Everyone was in either green or blue uniforms. That?s why westerners refer to the Chinese as blue ants at that time. B: I guess red clothes were somehow associated with the meaning of beauty in the red color. During those special years, beauty was considered bourgeois. So anyone who dared to wear red would be drowned in the red sea. 13 The Importance of Chopsticks筷子的重要性 A: In the 17th century when the British businessman heard that there were one hundred million people in China, he was determined to go there and sell spoons. He thought even if a spoon would only sell for one penny, he would still make one hundred million pennies. But he didn?t succeed. The Chinese people use chopsticks not spoons. B: Some people did some research on the origin of China?s chopsticks compared to the knife and fork in the west. One theory is that China was an agricultural society and relied on vegetables for food. Chopsticks were very convenient to those for eating. The westerners, on the other hand, were nomads and lived on meat. The knife and fork were more practical. Others believe that China didn?t have much industry and therefore people use chopsticks. The west was an industrial society, so their eating utensils were made of metal. A: Sounds interesting. When I first learned that the Chinese use a pair of sticks to eat with, I was curious how they would drink soup. Just like the Indians who use their fingers to eat, do they also use their fingers to drink soup? B: Whatever the reasons why the Chinese use chopsticks and westerners use knife and fork, it is a result of their respective cultures. Chinese culture is developed around collectivism, which stresses communion and harmony. The western culture emphasizes individualism. In terms of eating customs, chopsticks and knives and forks are two desperate expressions of this cultural difference. The Chinese like to have communal meals where everybody eats out of the same bowl of food. Chopsticks were used in order to discourage people from eating more than others. This was not only a good way to preserve collectiveness, but also to limit individualism. It is more straightforward in the west. People eat their meals on their own, and there?s no restriction on how to eat. A: That sounds quite reasonable. B: In addition, table manners are very strict during the Chinese meal. Respect has to be given to the elderly. Each time a dish is served, everyone has to wait until the elder person starts or to cut the ribbon as it is now called. The westerners will simply say “Help yourself” to start. The food is brought to the table all of the same time, so everybody is on the same starting line. This lacks the warm atmosphere which prevails at the Chinese dinner. A: This may be the reason why it is always very noisy at the Chinese dinner, but quiet in the western restaurant. 14 The Elegance of Tea-Drinking茶的格调 A: In classical novels, if someone drinks tea out of a big cup to quench his thirst, the word used to illustrate this action is "drink", like a cow drinking water. Scholars would use fine cups to drink tea and the word to use is "savor". B: Tea drinking is a very sophisticated pastime. It starts with the environment. In the past, tea drinking should take place in a setting where "spring water runs on marbles" or "in a monastery in misty spring" or "in the woods during sunset." Nowadays, in order to recreate such an ambience, tea houses are always decorated with traditional paintings, calligraphy and furniture, with a girl in traditional costume playing the gu zheng, a traditional Chinese musical instrument. A: How about the tea sets? B: In the old days, people used iron kettles to boil water. Tea was placed in a paper bag. Porcelain cups were used for drinking. The water came from melted snow which was collected from plum blossom trees the previous winter and stored underground in a jar. Today people use different tea sets but the most popular ones are the pots made in Yixing. No one collects snow any more because of pollution so people use bottled water instead. A: Is there any difference in the tea? B: Tea has categories: red tea, green tea, Wulong tea and Pu'er tea. The first three types of tea area processed using similar methods but Pu'er tea uses a totally different method. It contains a kind of fungus which is believed to be healthy. The fungus will ferment on its own after the tea is processed. This is why expensive Pu'er tea is always quite old. A: Is tea drinking very expensive? B: Yes, it is a commercialized hobby now. This is different from the way ancient scholars enjoys themselves, by savoring tea among bamboos or in the moonlight. People nowadays talk business in expensively-decorated tea houses. Ordinary people go to the inexpensive tea houses where they can play games or simply chat with friends. It's more personal. Although such tea houses may not look elegant, the certainly have a relaxed atmosphere and are good fun. A: Different tea houses can meet different needs and, you are right, people's taste preferences are not always swayed by money. 15 Beijing’s Identity北京人的身份 A: Are you a Beijinger? B: Not really. I was born in Shandong, but was raised in Hubei. I came to Beijing when I was ten and have lived here ever since. So, you tell me if I qualify as a Beijinger? A: No, you are not a real Beijinger. B: It?s no hard to find a family that has lived in Beijing for more than three generations. A: Some people say that Beijing is very generous and open-minded. Do you agree? B: Generous, maybe. A friend of mine had a small accident once. Her car got stuck in a ditch. Four young men, all non-Beijingers, happened to pass by. They refused to help. Then an old man came over. He was a Beijinger. Without any hesitation, he helped my friend pull the car out. He also told her to drive carefully. A: That?s a typical Beijinger. Such a person is always ready to help when someone is in need. B: I guess this has something to do with the fact that Beijing has been a capital city for several dynasties. People living here always feel obligated by a sense of honor. Also, face is very important for a Beijinger. When doing business, especially with a friend, a Beijinger doesn?t want to appear too fussy about the contract or making concessions. He cares more about friendship and esteem. A: Tolerant may not be the right word to describe a Beijinger. About twenty years ago, Beijing residence usually looked down upon non-Beijingers, believing them to be rustic and ignorant. B: That?s true. Beijing has used to look down upon outsiders. In the past, due to strict residential permit requirement, it was extremely difficult to become a Beijing resident. There?s more mobility now, and anyone can find a job in Beijing. Pick someone in the street a most likely that person isn?t a real Beijinger. True Beijingers do not have a feeling of superiority, and that may be why they appear to be more tolerant nowadays. A: This is quite similar to New York. There are fewer and fewer real Americans there. Some say New York is no longer a city of Americans. I think the same is true with Beijing. 16 Trendy Shanghai 时尚的上海 A: Some MNC (MultiNational Corporation) employees in Shanghai prefer speaking English than Chinese. Many people disapprove of this phenomenon as a blind worship of western culture. B: I?m not surprised that this could happen in Shanghai. As a poor city, Shanghai was heavily influenced by western culture, beginning in the 1920s and 1930s. It was called “a paradise of the adventurers”. A lot of western companies opened offices there as trade in commons began to develop. New ideas were brought in, together with the arrival of businessmen and foreigners. Shanghai residence were overwound with important merchandise, foreign languages and jobs in foreign companies. As result, Shanghai people are very open-minded and receptive to new things. A: I know many westerners like Shanghai because of its cosmopolitan atmosphere. Shanghai people are smart and pragmatic. They are business-minded and have a high standard of ethics. For example, you seldom hear people accuse Shanghai taxi drivers of cheating. If you ask Shanghai person for directions, he (she) will show you the most efficient route to your destination. B: Many new things were initially introduced to China through Shanghai. In the 1920s, some Shanghai art schools were the first in the country to use human models. Shanghai was also the first city to have movies. In the late 1970s, Shanghai was again among the first cities to send students to study abroad. Shanghai made products such as watches, bicycles and sewing machines and enjoyed a very favorable reputation throughout the country even during the years of central economic planning. This reputation still benefits Shanghai today. A: People from other cities always feel the Shanghai people are biased against them. B: This is indeed very perplexing. A city as open and developed as Shanghai doesn?t have the capacity to accommodate others. In the past, an outsider who didn?t speak the Shanghai dialect was always ignored by the shop assistants. Now, there are more and more MNC employees prefer speaking English. Non-English speakers feel disadvantaged. A: Some people say Shanghai doesn?t look like a Chinese city. It is more like New York. People used to make that comment in the 1930s. In many ways, Shanghai does look like New York. It is not New York. It is a Chinese city no matter what. Happy-go-lucky Chengdu幸福的成都 17 A: People like to call Beijing a political city because it?s the capital and there are lots of bureaucrats. Even taxi drivers talk politics. Shanghai, on the other hand, is viewed as a city of fashions. Ever since the 1930s, when Shanghai was under western rule, it has always been in full front of fashion. Guangdong is the center of the economy where business has the priority as the saying goes, “whether a cat is black or white, it is a good cat as long as it catches mice.” Chengdu is a happy-go-lucky city. Do you know anything about Chengdu? B: Chengdu is a major city in Sichuan Province. The temperature is mild and the land is very productive, in fact, so fertile that even a stick will grow. The favorable environment has given rise to a very easy and relaxed life style. According to a 2005 survey, people?s expectation or monthly salary is 3000 Yuan. They believe that amount of money is enough to lead a happy life in Chengdu. Many Chengdu people drive a small fuel-efficient car called auto. The car didn?t sell well in Beijing because Beijing thought it was too shabby. In fact, autos were even not allowed on Beijing?s Chang?an Avenue for some time. A: Chengdu is also known for its tea houses. B: Yes, there are tea houses everywhere. Unlike some other big cities, where tea houses are graded to serve different customers, tea houses in Chengdu offer a whole range of products. Everyone, yet a businessman, a migrant worker (民工) or a student can find something they want. People can spend a day in the tea house, either to talk business or simply relax. A: Are there any other interesting games there? B: Mahjong is a popular game among tea house goers in Chengdu. There was a joke on the internet that says as soon as the plane enters the Chengdu airspace, passengers can hear the sound of mahjong shuffling. Chengdu is also known for its snacks. There are plenty of columbaries and entertainment outlets. You don?t always find a kind of restlessness in Chengdu as in other cities. But this doesn?t mean Chengdu people have closed minds. On the contrary, they are very open-minded. A: It?s good for a person to be happy and forget about fame and wealth. But we still have to worry about social progress, right? B: In fact, Chengdu has made great progress. It ranked the fourth in terms of economic growth in 2005 after Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. During the National Day golden week holidays, Chengdu ranked the eighth of the top ten most popular tourist destinations. A: This reminds me of a Chinese saying, “A lucky person doesn?t have to chase luck.” 18 Chinese Beauty中国美女 A: I heard there were four beautiful women in Chinese history — Xi Shi, Wang Zhaojun, Diao Chan and Yang Yuhuan. Were they really so beautiful? B: None of the one thousandth to two thousandth your old portrays of these four women are reliable because there are no photographs to verify the accuracy. These four women are known not just for their pretty looks, but also because each of them played a critical role during the life times. A: That?s amazing. What did these beautiful women do? B: Both Diao Chan and Xi Shi gave their lives for the removal of some tyrants in imperial court. Wang Zhaojun offered to marry a man from a faraway tribe for the sake of peace and harmony amongst people of different ethnic backgrounds. Yang Yuhuan was a concubine who hung herself during the mutiny for the benefit of the overall situation. So these women are remembered not just for their good looks, also for the intelligence, bravery and dedication. A: Is there any change in people?s perception of the beautiful woman today? B: I heard that the Chinese Film Academy likes to recruit female students in Qingdao and Harbin. Girls from these places are handsome with round and sexy body curves. Gong Li is a typical example. She is regarded as beautiful both in China and in the West. Traditionally, Hangzhou is known for its pretty women. Hangzhou is situated in the picturesque southern China. Women there are cute and elegant. Film actress Zhou Xun is an example. She is good at acting as a traditional girl who is restricted by established values, but who is ready to die for love. A: Which of the above category does the international star Zhang Ziyi fit in? B: Zhang Ziyi is from Beijing. So she is unrelated to any of the above. She rose to stardom through hard work rather than God?s blessing. Initially, American thought she was sexy and beautiful. But many Chinese did not agree because she did not meet any of the traditional criteria. Subsequently, some patriots accuse these people of being jealous. They said China does not have many people who have earned international recognition. Zhang Ziyi is one of the few that has, and therefore it is unpatriotic not to accept her. A: This is quite like the beautiful women in Chinese history. As soon as their looks were linked to national interest, they were accepted by all as beautiful. 19 Shanghai Men上海男人 A: You don't act like a typical man from shanghai. For a man from shanghai, such a comment is both a complement and an offense. Usually he doesn't know how to respond. B: Why? A: Because in northern China, men from Shanghai usually perceived as womanly. They are extremely detail-oriented and spend too much time doing housework, which in the eyes of a northerner should only be done by women. In other words, shanghai men have too much respect for women. In comparison, men from northern China are the hands of type. They don't like house chores, and they feel embarrassed to be subservient to their wives. The worst nickname for a northern man is Qi Gauanyan meaning henpecked. B: What kind of a man does a Chinese girl like to marry? A: It depends, currently more women like to marry Shanghai men, because they are more understanding, considerate and helpful. Have you ever seen the film what women want? The main character of the movie is Nick Martial. He was struck by lightening and as a result he acquired the extra ability of reading a woman's mind. He got tremendous benefit from this ability both in his career of advertising women's products and in his private life. Understanding women has become a new criterion for an ideal man. There is suddenly no need for a Shanghai man to be hit by lightening to become an ideal husband. B: Is this part of local culture in Shanghai, A: Shanghai has been a very open commercial city for many years as a result of its long standing western influence. People tend to be more practical and chivalrous. You don't find a lot of men are chauvinism there. Before the 1980's Shanghai men used to be laughed at for their lack of manly character. But now they have become examples of an ideal husband. For many, the north, especially in Beijing the reason for the men of chauvinism is the bureaucratic environment associated with the imperial court. They want to look important even in front of their wives. Of course I?m only making a general comment. Men in the north can also be very tender and considerate. If you run into a man carrying a lady's handbag next to a woman in a supermarket, most likely, he is a northerner. B: It?s good for men to be chivalrous, but I?m not to keen on carrying a woman's handbag. A man is a man after all. No matter where he is from. 20 Family Relations家庭关系 I heard that one of the criteria some girls use when looking for a boy friend is the boy doesn't have any parents. Is this correct? It?s an over statement. But it certainly reflects the sensitive relationships in the Chinese family. In the traditional household, a man is both a son and an elder brother. There are certain obligations that you can never shun. Even his marriage is the duty to produce the next generation. The obligations of the wife are less important. As the old saying goes, brothers are as indispensable as handsome and fit, but the wife is like a coat. Under this influence, a man would have to treat his parents and brothers or sisters with priority even if he was married. If the man have to be an honest son, his obligations will be even more important. Such an unique role the man makes relationships with his family very complicated. This is why some well-educated young woman would rather marry a husband whose parents have passed away. An American woman she was teaching in China once asked her students to put him selves in a situation where man fell into a river to get with his mother, wife and son. If the man was only able to save one person, who would that person be? Some students reply that he should save the mother out for the mother is old. Other said that he should save the son, because the child represents the future. The American teacher was very unhappy with the answers. None of you even thought of saving the wife, why? She asked. The students fell silent. She explained I think you should save the wife first. The mother was old and has already spent most of her life. The child is too small to feel much pain. The wife has come through a knot with him. After this incident, the couple will be bound even closer together and they can produce another child. Between the Chinese and westerners, there are some obvious differences in dealing with family relations. In China, a family is headed by the most persons as the grandparents or parents. Children come next, followed by brothers. Husband and wife relations comes the bottom. In the west, the order is husband and wife, children, parents and brothers, sisters. The husband and wife relationship is the foundation of a family. Under criticality, a man is required to leave his parents and stay together with his wife. On the Confucianism, a man is required to stay with his parents. The one child family has free the man from obligations to his brothers and sisters. But he cannot escape from duties to his parents. Although it is not the best solution for the girl to choose a husband without any parents, sometimes she doesn't have a better alternative. 21 Neighborhood Relationship A: Neighbors seem to be an important part of community relationship in China. B: I can give you example to illustrate this importance. For instance, if a couple had a noisy fight and the neighbors heard it, they would come over to calm them down. Or, if both the husband and the wife are working, they will give their house key to the old woman next door so she can help look after the children after school. The “bound feet security guards” was a very popular expression in the last century. It refers to the retired people, usually old woman, who would walk around their neighborhood to ensure its security. A: I wonder how these special community relations are developed. B: In a traditional, agricultural society there was almost no population mobility. People lived in one place for generations with no interaction with the outside world. Everyone knew everyone else, and this led to a lot of mutual understanding and interdependence. Whenever someone needed any help, the first solution was to ask the neighbors. This is where the expression, “a neighbor is more dependable than a distant relative” came from. A: I see. I know that such an intimate community relationship was still very popular as recently as the 1990s. B: There is an old joke that goes like this: A newly-wed couple lived together with four other families in a big courtyard. One morning, they slept in until midday. Their neighbors thought something might have gone wrong and knocked on the door to check it out. You can imagine how embarrassed the young couple was. A: Exactly! Now that people live in high-rise apartment buildings, will this relationship be affected? B: Yes. The closeness that was typical in a traditional courtyard is gone. People live behind closed doors and often do not even know the next-door neighbor. The older people, in particular, have problems adapting to this change. This is why you always see groups of old people socializing in public green areas. They miss the intimate community of their private life, and they also appreciate a friendly neighborhood. A: What can they do to address this issue? B: Some neighborhoods a LAN network, as in the case with a neighborhood in suburban Beijing, they share information with each other. In another place, residents produced at TV drama of their everyday life. This may be one reason why Chinese people are happier and feel more secure. 22 Personal Privacy vs. Hospitality隐私与亲密 A: I don?t like my Chinese friends calling me „Lao Wai?. It makes me feel that I am not one of them. B: Actually, Chinese people want to treat you as one of us. The word „lao? always implies respect and closeness when used to address someone. For example, senior people are often addressed as „lao Wang? or „lao Li?. A: I see. Many people are learning English nowadays because of the Olympics. But it?s a bit weird to hear people say hello to me in the street. That?s the word you use to answer phone. So it feels like everybody in the street is on the phone. A: Chinese people are friendly. We are also curious about people from afar. What you?ve just said is an example of such a feeling. B: But occasionally, some people tend to be over-enthusiastic. I was reading in a subway one hot summer day when a young man looked at my arm and asked, “Don?t you feel hot with so much hair on your arm?” I have a five-year-old son. And sometimes people like to touch his face or even hold him up in the arms. He doesn?t like that. So I have to explain to him that is the Chinese way of showing affection. Another time, I was reading a newspaper in a subway, and a person suddenly put his head on my shoulder and helped himself to my paper. A: That?s just like what we read in “A neighbor is more dependable than a distant relative(远亲不如近邻).” Today?s China has evolved from its agricultural origins, where there was limited mobility. Those old traditions have given rise to a unique level of human relationship, which doesn?t accommodate personal privacy. People treat each other like one big family. The level of closeness is easily visible in everyday greetings such as “Have you eaten?” and “Where are you going?” Even during first encounters, Chinese people may still ask such questions as “Are you married?”, “How old are you?” or other questions which may be very personal to westerners. B: Or you should learn to appreciate it rather than feeling offended. A: You?ve got it. This is Chinese hospitality just like the person who shared your newspaper. I remember some of my western friends telling me that sometimes they will either charge less or offer more when doing the grocery shopping. Again this is all about Chinese hospitality. B: Well, it seems I am an unlucky person because I?ve never been in a situation where people are willing to charge me less. 23 Exchange of Gifts礼尚往来 A: When offered a gift, a Chinese person will usually say “No, no, I can?t take it.” Even after he takes it, he does not always open it. On the contrary, a westerner will take the gift with appreciation and open it immediately. B: You know why? We Chinese believe that only a valuable gift is presentable and can best convey your feelings. This is why Chinese people often use precious or expensive items as gifts. During the Mid-autumn Festival or the Moon Festival, people will buy well-packaged high-quality moon cakes for gifts and keep the ordinary ones for their own consumption. Because gifts are usually valuable items, people are reluctant to receive them out of consideration for the person who offers them. A: Really? I never thought of that. B: Westerners are different. For them, gifts are an expression of appreciation and don?t have to be very expensive. So, in receiving a souvenir, it is very appropriate to say thank you in return. It will certainly make the person even happier if you open it in front of him or her. A: Chinese people paid great attention to gifts. Some people spend a lot of time and effort buying gifts before going abroad. B: This is very different from the west. Before each public holiday, you can find a very large variety of gifts on display at supermarkets. They are very well wrapped and are inexpensive to buy. Most of the gifts are items for daily use. This saves people a lot of time looking for appropriate holiday gifts. On the other hand, a Chinese person seeks a gift which is decently priced, well-wrapped and has some unique meaning. It is always a challenge to buy a gift for a Chinese person. When people buy gifts for the overseas trips, they usually choose items with Chinese features, such as Beijing opera masks, fans and lots. A: As more and more Chinese people go abroad and over-supply of Chinese gifts has occurred in many countries, Chinese gift items are not that unique anymore. A friend of mine is a university professor in U.S. She told me that at the end of the semester, she received three Beijing opera masks from her Chinese students. I also heard the Chinese fans are all over the place in Mexico. B: What is an appropriate gift for a westerner? A: Flowers, wine and chocolate are the three universal gifts that is suitable for all purposes. I sometimes wonder whether the Chinese saying “A gift may be insignificant, but it carries tremendous friendship” originated in the west. 24 Chinese Hospitality中国人的待客之道 A:I was invited to a traditional Beijing household for dinner once. It was an eye-opening experience. The girl who invited me was my colleague. Her father was over 60 years old. He didn?t eat much but was constantly proposing a toast. His wife was busy cooking in the kitchen all the time. I asked her to join us but her husband said “No, she doesn?t.” After dinner, I asked my colleague why her father didn?t eat much and why her mother didn?t join us. She said that was an old tradition. Her father was there to keep me company because I was a guest of honor and usually women did not eat with the guests. B:I had a similar experience too. I always feel spoiled to be a guest in a Chinese household. The host usually prepares a sumptuous meal. The kids are sent to the neighbors so the guests can have a peaceful meal. Usually, they would start preparing for our visit days ahead. Even though there would be a lot of food on the table, the host would still say “We don?t have much, so please bear with us.” They keep putting food on my plate despite the fact I may not like certain food. I usually feel very embarrassed. Some hosts even force their children to perform a song or recite a poem for me. A:That is Chinese hospitality. People want to bring out their best food to welcome the guests. Westerners are different. They don?t stay in the kitchen when the guests have arrived. They want to socialize with the guests rather than simply showing hospitality. B:Chinese people are very friendly and always ready to treat their guests with the best things they have. But this hospitality may cause inconvenience to both the guests and the hosts themselves. An American said in a book over 100 years ago that Chinese hospitality is meant to show the politeness of the host rather than keeping the guest happy. The host may insist on starting a fire so he can make tea for the guest, despite the fact that the guest may be irritated by the smoke. At least the host gives the impression that he is very hospitable. A:That was over 100 years ago. Things are different now. More and more people prefer a relaxed atmosphere rather than showing hospitality just for the sake of it. But there are exceptions. I went to visit a fairly affluent village in southern China last year. The host was asked to make a special tea for us. She was very friendly, but when she finished making the tea she charged each of us 10 yuan for the treat. As a result of the economic growth people have become money conscious. Although you may not feel comfortable with the traditional hospitality, it could disappear any time. B:Shall I feel lucky or sorry then? A:我曾到一个老北京家里做客，可真是开了眼了。请客的是这家的女儿， 她是我的同事。她的父亲六十多岁，作为主人，他在饭桌上几乎没吃什么，只是 隔一会儿就端起酒杯劝酒。他的太太一直在厨房里忙着。我们招呼她一起吃，同 事的父亲说“她不上桌”。告辞出来，我问同事为什么她父亲几乎不吃东西，而她 母亲一直不加入我们。她说这是老礼数。她父亲把我们当作贵客所以要陪酒，而 女人一般是不和客人同桌的。 B:我也有过同样的经历。到中国人家里做客总感觉他们招待得很隆重:上 一大桌菜，小孩子被赶到邻居家，以便客人吃得尽兴。请一次客得提前几天做准 备。既便做了一大桌菜，他们还是说:“没什么东西，凑合吃吧。”还不停地为你 布菜，不管你是不是爱吃。这让我觉得很尴尬。有些人家还逼着孩子给客人表演 唱歌，或者背诗。 A:这就是中国人的待客之道:把最好的东西拿出来招待客人。西方人并不 如此。他们不会在客人到来后还在厨房中忙碌，他们的目的是交流而不是表现待 客的热情。 B:中国人非常友好，所以才会用最好的东西招待客人。但这样一来，家人 跟着受累，客人也不自在。一百多年前，一位美国人在他的书中写道:中国人待 人热情的目的通常是为了表现自己懂礼节，而并非想使客人满意。主人执意生火 为客人沏茶，而不在乎客人是否被烟呛着，因为他至少树立了待客有礼的形象。 A:这是一百年前的情形，现在有所不同。更多的人已经懂得，自在随意比 过分礼貌要好得多。也有例外:去年，我到一个富裕的南方村庄去采访，请主人 给我们一杯当地特有的茶。她热情地为我们上了茶，然后向我们每位收了10元 钱作为服务的报偿。经济发展了，中国人也有了金钱意识。你不适应传统的待客 之道，它也许很快就不复存在了。 B:我该为此庆幸还是遗憾呢? 25 Table Manners餐桌礼仪 A: A westerner said to his Chinese friend. Chinese people slurp when drinking soup. It?s disgusting. The Chinese friend replied, westerners make a lot of noise licking their fingers when eating. It?s even worse. B: Everyone has his own habits, but these habits are not very good. The noise often spoils other people?s appetite. A: I attended a course on table manners while I was in the United States. Some of the things we learnt included how to place the napkin and utensils and how to pass the bread. Before each course, the teacher would ask if we wanted to learn the continental European way or the American way. We always said “American way.” It?s amazing that everyone is so used to their own table manners. What is the Chinese way? B: The westerners use knives and forks to eat so it is complicated. The Chinese use a pair of chopsticks and eat out of the same plate. I assume it is less complicated, right? A: Not really. I did some research about Chinese table manners. The important rule is to remain silent while eating. Of course, this refers to family meals only. Not talking over meals is supposed to be good for the health. It is impolite if people do not talk to each other during a social party. The table arrangements and serving order for a social party are equally complicated. Each dish should be placed in the correct position. When fish is served, the tail should be pointing at the guest because tail meat is supposed to be tasty. If it is in winter, the stomach should face the right-hand side of the guest because that portion of the fish is very rich in winter. Each dish should be commenced by the eldest person who is seated at the head of the table. The diners should sit close to the table so food won?t drop on their cloths. No noise should be made when chewing. No one should move food back to the communal plate even if he doesn?t like it. One should drink soup slowly and is not supposed to make a lot of noise. All these table manners are very similar to western habits. B: it seems that people share the same basic sense of etiquette regardless of their background. Apart from the different tools used for eating we seem to follow the same principles. We do not let inappropriate manners spoil other people?s appetite. Westerners like to say, bon appetite before meals which is one way to suggest mind your table manners. Is there such an expression in Chinese? A:Yes. We say eat well and drink well. 26 The Fashion of tea-drinking喝茶的时尚 A: There are a lot of Chinese expressions that link tea with food. For example, “firewood, rice, oil, soy sauce, vinegar and tea are the seven daily necessities.” (柴米 油盐酱醋茶) B: The purpose of tea and food is totally different though. People eat to fill their stomach. But, tea-drinking can help a person achieve an elevated state of mind. Tea-drinking is said to have originated with the advent of Buddhism(佛教). Monks drank tea to keep themselves awake and help their concentration. Ordinary people were tempted by the tranquility of the monasteries and began to imitate the monks. So tea-drinking is considered an elegant pastime. A: Has tea-drinking become fashionable? B: A few years ago, it was fashionable to drink Lipton tea with milk and sugar to emulate a western lifestyle. Later it was green tea. Fruit tea was also popular for a while. A: I heard that pu?er tea is very popular in Japan and Taiwan. People think it can help them lose weight and control their blood pressure. B: It is also popular in china?s mainland. Pu?er tea looks and smells more like French red wine than tea. Plus, its rumored function is to reduce weight. Pu?er tea-drinking has been very fashionable. Green tea is good for longevity and combating cancer. Red tea is good for keeping the stomach warm. A: Many tea houses have been opened. Usually tea houses are where ordinary people like to hang around. But, some tea houses are destinations for high-brow social life. B: Tea houses have even changed the way people do business. It used to be over meals. The saying now is “at a table of spirits, the more you talk, the more muddled things become. But at a tea table of tea, the more you talk, the clearer things become.” A: Tea parties also seem to have become popular. B: They represent thriftiness and cleanliness. Government agencies like to host tea parties to celebrate public holidays. It serves the purposes of both socializing and saving money. A: A cup of tea, not only serves social and economic purposes, but also political purposes as well. No wonder tea is always with food in Chinese culture. 27 Meanings in a Chinese Name 中国人姓名的含意 A: Unlike in a Western name, the family name in a Chinese name comes before the first name. There are also meanings in a Chinese name. B: That's correct. The meanings in a Chinese name are reflected in the combination(组合) of the characters, which are influenced either by elements of culture or era. Usually the cultural influence is stronger in the characters for family names. Any character that has the particle that means "woman" suggests its traces back to the matriarchal society(母系社会). Some family names originated either in official titles or occupation(职业), or in animals of worship. A few others come from numbers. A: I see. What about given names? B: In comparison, meanings in given names are always chosen to reflect elements of the era. In the old days, characters meaning "wealth", "fortune", and "happiness" were very common in names. Characters with the meanings of "gifted", "handsome", and "clever" were often chosen by parents as well wishes for their children to be beautiful, capable, and intelligent. During the 1950s and 1960s, many boys were given the name with the meaning of "building the country", "celebrating the nation", "fighting the American imperialists", and "overtaking the British". The reform and opening policies also provided more choices of characters, such as "bo" meaning "strive", "si" meaning "thoughtful" ,and "yuhang" meaning "aeronautics". Parents would like their children to learn more knowledge, to be more thoughtful and to have great aspirations(抱负,志 向). Some people also like to use translated Western names such David, Richard, Lisa and Linda. A: This is quite similar to English names. Some of the surnames also come from occupations, such as Sheppard, Smith and Baker. Some Western names also have meanings. "Laura" for example means "laureate" in Latin, and "Samson" means "Sun" in Hebrew. B: I don't know much about Western names. When translated into Chinese, Westerns names are simply phonetic combinations of Chinese characters. In order for people to remember Western names. Translators in the 1950s and 1960s tried to localize names in literature, such as Scarlett O' Hara and Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind. Even a place like Atlanta was translated in such a way. Although it was easier to remember these names, they don't look Western any more. So when some of the literary works were retranslated in the 1990, phonetic translation was used again. A: A Western novel with each of its characters having a Chinese name is very similar to a Westerner having a typical Chinese name like Da Shan, meaning "Big Mountain". It sounds weird(怪). I'd rather have something that can remind me of the original. 28 Feng shui风水 A: Some Chinese people like to keep a bowl of gold fish in their office. They think this can bring good luck to dealing with office politics and in their career. B: That?s what we call feng shui, or geomancy. Some people think feng shui is superstition. But once you have a closer look. You?ll find it?s much more sophisticated. It is a juxtaposition of environmental, psychological and, hygienic studies. Elements, such as structures, noise, smell and lighting, which are harmful to a living environment, are called evil. For instance, a room that is either, too bright or too dark, can have an adverse effect on people?s emotions. Fengshui is supposed to help people adapt to that sort of harmful environment. A: Are there any Chinese culture elements in fengshui. B: Of course, there are. It is heavily influenced by the theory of the five natural elements of metal, wood, water, fire and earth. The theory is all about how things complement, or check, each other, and how people should pursue harmony to avoid colored house for too long, he or she, is likely to lose patience and become restless. According to fengshui, the colors in the room are not harmonious and need to be adjusted to achieve balance. Fengshui also has an influence over people?s life and psyche. Chinese culture is developed around the belief of the golden mean. In other words, refrain from being excessive. If a small family occupies a large house, it is believed to bring bad fortune, sooner or later. The message here is, to maintain balance. A: How does fengshui interpret the location of a house? If the location is not desirable, do people have to desert it? B: Not really. Fengshui emphasizes the pursuit of harmony to avoid harm. For example, if the door of a house opens in the wrong direction. The solution is not to seal it but to place something else near the door. That diverts the potential harm and makes people feel secure. It?s quite similar to the fish bowl in the office. It gives people a psychological boost that helps them be more relaxed, and confident at work. Hopefully, it will help them earn promotions. Is this a benefit from the fish bowl, or a psychological boost, or neither? Whatever the answer, if fengshui can help people live a smoother and more successful life, why not? 29 The secret of numbers数字的秘密 A: I noticed that some people like to use 001 for their personalized license plates(车 牌), such as BTV 001 and CRC 001. Why does everybody like 001? B: Because, in Chinese, the number one represents “the first” or “the most original”. It?s differentiator. The 001 in the license plate is an expression of the car owner?s aspirations. A: At an auction in Shanghai last year, one particular license plate, with a combination of four 8?s, was sold for, well over, 100,000 yuan. That made me think, whether there is any special meaning behind the numbers and, how people are influenced by them. B: In Cantonese(粤语), the number”8” has a similar pronunciation to, the word “prosper”. Guangdong is one of the first provinces to benefit from China?s open policy(改革开放). There is a lot of temptation to become wealthy so, “8” is a luck number for people in Guangdong. Similarly, “6”is often associated with smoothness. Many people like to choose a date for their weddings which include the number “6”. Lots of people got married on June 6, 2006. In contrast, “4”is the least favorable number because, it sounds very similar to the word, “death”. Many buildings do not, even, use the number for their elevator programming. Now, as a result of western influence, more and more Chinese people started to dislike the number “13”. A: Does the number, “3” have a special meaning too? B: Number “3” is, always, associated with abundance or, the ultimate limit. There are a lot of proverbs with the number “3” “shi bu guo san” is one which, literally, means, “you are only allowed three chances”. Another proverb is “san si er xing”, meaning, “think three times before you act”. A: Does this have any effect on people?s lives? B: it depends. Sometime ago, a man received a blackmail message on his cell phone. It told him to deposit 3,000 yuan in a designated bank account by a certain time or, his family would face danger. Similar blackmail threats have happened to a number of other people. The police found that there was, at last, an “8”in the cell phone numbers of the victims. The robbers thought that only wealthy people could afford to choose the number“8”. So, instead of bringing the victims prosperity and wealth, the number nearly got them in trouble. A: That reminds me of a saying “things will have an adverse effect if pushed to the limit.” 30 Paintings, Calendars and Christmas Trees年画，日历，圣诞树 A: I bought a few old Chinese New Year painting at the Pan Jia Yuan Market. The person told me that they were block-printed Tao Hua Wu paintings. B: It's almost impossible to buy authentic Tao Hua Wu paintings on the market now. This type of painting was originally produced in Tao Hua Wu near Suzhou .The place became well-known during Southeast Asia. During the Taiping rebellion between 1851 and 1664, the imperial court (朝廷)sent troops and set Tao Hua Wu ablaze. Most of its paintings, wood types, shops and books were destroyed. A: What a shame! Do Chinese people still hang up New Year painting now? B: New Year painting was an important part of annual celebrations .The content of the painting were well-wishing stories that could add to the festive atmosphere. Some of them also carried a moral message. At a time when education was not accessible to everyone, these painting served as useful teaching tools. Some of the typical message was about a woman abusing her daughter-in-law but was later turned into a child bride herself as punishment. Beautiful lady figurines were another favorite topic of these painting A: Sounds lovely! Are there any others? B: During the 1950s, portraits of Mao Zedong and other leaders were popular. During the Cultural Revolution, the eight Peking Operas were main themes. After the open-door policy in 1980, these paintings were replaced by 12-pages calendars. These calendars were favorite New Year gift for quite some time. They were well printed and were quite expensive to buy. Because they used quality paper, many students would use out-of-date calendars to cover their textbooks as protection A: That's odd! What kind of pictures did they have? B: Movie stars were the main contents, a reaction to the cultural Puritanism during the Cultural Revolution. As a result of improved living standards, calendar contents later evolved to include calligraphy, traditional painting, as well as landscape pictures. In order to make these calendars worthy New Year gifts, silk, gilded sheets and other materials rather than paper were used. Calendars went out of fashion around the end of the 1990s. No one used calendars for gifts any more. A: What do people put up during the Spring Festival now? B: Papercuts in some townships, but in big cites, no one put anything. Instead, hristmas trees have become fashionable, imagine, the whole family are enjoying C jiaozi or playing majiang, while Christmas lights are blinking in the background .That's pretty atmosphere.