Archive for January 30th, 2008

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 38

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008

                   Click to Watch Video Podcast

  (10月3日播出)

  旁白: 山东省是黄河流经的最后一个省份。

  Shandong is the last of the provinces

  the Yellow River flows through.

  而山东的东营

  And Dongying, Shandong,

  则是黄河流经的最后一个城市。

  is the last of the cities the river

  flows through.

  今天,我和渊源就要带大家

  Today, Yuanyuan and I are

  going to take you

  一同走进东营。

  to the city of Dongying.

  看看这个黄河三角洲的中心城市。

  to take a close look at this central city

  in the Yellow River delta area.

  韩佳: 快乐学汉语,

  Learn Chinese the fun way

  万里海疆行。

  and enjoy a Happy Journey

  across China!

  我是快乐的韩佳。

  I’m Merry Han Jia.

  王渊源:我是快乐的王渊源。

  And I’m Happy Wang Yuanyuan.

  韩佳: 渊源,你说这土地会再生吗?

  Yuanyuan, do you think land

  can be regenerated?

  王渊源:肯定不会啊。

  Absolutely impossible.

  韩佳: 那我们打个赌怎么样?

  What about a bet?

  我觉得这土地是会再生的。

  I believe land can be regenerated.

  王渊源:土地再生?怎么可能啊?

  How can land be regenerated?

  It’s impossible.

  韩佳,我看你输定了。

  Han Jia, you’re bound to lose.

  韩佳: 你可别那么肯定。

  Don’t be so sure of that.

  王渊源:肯定不会再生啊。

  I’m sure land can never

  be regenerated.

  我要是输了,你让我干什么都行。

  If I lose, you can ask me to do

  whatever you want.

  我要是赢了呢…

  But if I win …

  韩佳,我还没说完呢。

  Han Jia, I haven’t finished yet.

  你别走啊。

  Don’t go away.

  韩佳,咱们说土地再生,

  Han Jia, we’re talking about

  land regeneration,

  你怎么带我到这儿来啊?

  but why did you take me here?

  韩佳: 这是黄河水体纪念碑,

  This is the Yellow River

  Water Monument

  问题的答案就在这里。

  and the answer is right here.

  王渊源:水也有纪念碑吗?

  Does water also deserve

  a monument?

  难道这纪念碑都是用黄河水做的呀?

  Is this monument made of the water

  from the Yellow River?

  韩佳: 算你说对了。

  You’re right.

  这是一座大型的水体纪念碑。

  This is a large-scale water monument.

  碑身由1093个装有黄河水样的

  The monument is made with 1,093

  钢化玻璃水罐组成。

  toughened glass jars of water samples

  collected from the Yellow River.

  王渊源:装这么多黄河水样

  Is it of any special significance

  有什么特殊意义吗?

  to gather so many water samples

  of the river?

  韩佳: 当然有了。

  Of course, it is.

  这些水样是从黄河源头到入海口处,

  These water samples were collected

  every five

  每隔五公里取一次而得的。

  kilometers along the river from

  its source to its mouth.

  正好是1093个取水点。

  Altogether, there are exactly 1,093

  collection points.

  王渊源:我今天算是真大开眼界了。

  This trip can be said to have

  broadened our perspectives.

  韩佳: 大开眼界。

  Da kai yanjie.

  王渊源:对。

  Yes.

  韩佳: “眼界”就是指目光所涉及的范围。

  ”Yanjie” literally means one’s field

  of vision.

  “大开眼界”就是说

  ”Da kai yanjie” means to

  看到了未曾见过的新奇事物

  have seen something new

  而觉得增长了见识。

  and broadened one’s perspectives.

  Zhè huí wǒmen zhēn shì dàkāiyǎnjiè le

  这 回 我们 真 是 大开眼界 了。

  This trip can be said to have

  broadened our perspectives.

  那人们按照取水的顺序

  These jars arranged from

  west to east

  自西向东排列,

  in the order of the collection points

  组成了纪念碑的主体。

  form the main body of the monument.

  黄河流经黄土高原,

  The Yellow River flows through

  the Loess Plateau,

  每年都会携带上亿吨的泥沙,

  so it carries nearly 100 million

  tons of sand and silt

  淤积在黄河入海口。

  and dumps them at it mouth

  every year.

  因此说黄河每年都会给东营

  Therefore, the river brings as many

  带来多达三万亩的土地。

  as 30,000 mu of new land to

  Dongying each year.

  王渊源:是因为黄河的含沙量大,

  Because the Yellow River contains

  a lot of sand,

  才会给东营带来新的土地。

  it is able to bring new land

  to Dongying.

  看来土地真的可以再生啊。

  This shows that land can be

  really regenerated.

  韩佳: 所以当地人

  So local people

  就把黄河带来的新土地

  call the new land created by

  the Yellow River

  称为中国最年轻的土地。

  China’s youngest land.

  旁白: 在来东营之前,

  Before we came to Dongying,

  我一直想不出来

  I could hardly picture

  一座黄河流经的城市是什么样子。

  what a city along the Yellow River

  would look like.

  直到我看见这里宽敞的街道,

  When I see these wide streets here,

  眼前的视野变得开阔了。

  my perspectives have been

  really broadened.

  王渊源:韩佳,你看前面那个广场挺漂亮。

  Han Jia, look, that square is

  so pretty.

  咱们去瞧瞧。

  Let’s go over and have a look.

  韩佳: 好啊。

  Okay.

  这里就是东营的新世纪广场。

  This is New Century Square

  of Dongying.

  王渊源:凭借我这一路的经验,

  Based on the experience I’ve

  accumulated all the way here,

  我看,这里应该就是东营的市中心吧。

  I think this must be the city center

  of Dongying.

  韩佳: 说到这儿我正好给大家讲讲

  Now I think I should explain

  “凭借”这个词儿。

  the word “pingjie”.

  “凭借”在这里是个动词,

  ”Pingjie” is a verb,

  表示依靠的意思。

  meaning to rely.

  Tā píngjiè jīngyàn duàndìng zhèli shì shì zhōngxīn

  他 凭借 经验 断定 这里 是 市 中心。

  He relies on his experience to determine

  that this is the city center.

  这新世纪广场

  New Century Square

  的确是东营市的标志性建筑,

  is surely a landmark of Dongying,

  不过它不是在市中心的位置。

  but it isn’t the city center.

  而是在东城的中心位置。

  It is the center of East District.

  在东营有东、西两个城区。

  Dongying consists of East

  and West Districts.

  王渊源:原来是这么一回事。

  Oh, I see.

  不过我这还是第一回

  But this is my first time

  看到广场上有大门。

  to see a gate to a square.

  韩佳: 那新世纪大门

  The New Century Gate

  就象征着东营

  symbolizes that Dongying

  向四面八方的朋友敞开大门。

  opens itself to friends from

  all walks of life.

  旁白: 在这座城市,

  No matter where we go

  无论我们走到哪里,

  in this city,

  都能感受到东营人

  we can always feel the

  tremendous efforts

  在城市建设上花了很多心思。

  made for the city’s urban construction.

  您瞧,前面的广场真热闹!

  Look, what an exciting scene

  at the square!

  我们正好过去看看。

  We’d better go over

  and take a look.

  嘉宾: 千层芦苇,万朵莲。

  Willow trees and reed wetlands.

  北门里边有座北极庙。

  Beiji Temple is inside the

  North Gate.

  你好!

  Hello!

  王渊源:你好!你好!这是什么表演?

  Hello! What kind of performance

  is this?

  以前没见过呀。

  I’ve never seen it before.

  嘉宾: 这是我们山东的地方戏——吕剧。

  This is Lǚju, a local opera

  of Shandong.

  对对对。东营是我们吕剧的发源地。

  Yes. Dongying is the birthplace

  of Lǚju.

  我们这个戏非常好学。

  This local opera is easy

  to learn.

  韩佳: 好学啊?好学?

  Is it easy to learn?

  好学。

  It is easy to learn.

  王渊源:好学?

  Is it easy?

  韩佳: 好学。

  Yes, it is easy.

  王渊源:好学,那还不赶紧学?

  Since it’s easy, why don’t

  you learn it now?

  你别难为我。这我哪会啊?

  Don’t embarrass me. How

  can I learn it?

  你这不是赶鸭子上架嘛。

  You’re driving a duck onto

  a perch.

  韩佳: 赶鸭子上架都知道呢。

  You even know “gan yazi

  shang jia”.

  赶快解释解释。

  Quickly, explain it to us.

  王渊源:这个我说不太清楚。

  I can’t explain it very clearly.

  韩佳: “赶鸭子上架”

  ”Gan yazi shang jia”

  是一句常用的惯用语,

  is an idiomatic expression,

  比喻勉强别人

  meaning to ask someone

  做不能胜任或者是做不了的事。

  to do what’s beyond his ability.

  来来来,换装,换装。

  Come on, change your clothes.

  王渊源:这个衣服?来来来。

  This costume? Okay.

  合: 哗啦啦…往上窜…

  Hua la la …raise the

  tone upward …

  赏心悦目:

  东营 位于黄河三角洲的中心

  Dongying lies in the heart of the

  Yellow River delta area.

  浩浩荡荡的黄河

  The formidable Yellow River

  每年都会为这里带来新的土地

  brings new land to the area every year.

  在这片中国最年轻的土地上

  On this youngest land of China,

  东营人精心建设着自己的城市

  the locals are making their city more beautiful.

  整座东营市有着简洁的线条

  The architectural style of Dongying

  明快的建筑风格

  is simple and sprightly,

  谱写出现代化都市的独特韵律

  exhibiting its unique rhythm of urban construction.

  合: 一。

  One.

  这个。二。

  Look. Two.

  三。

  Three.

  嘉宾: 往上收。

  Pull it upward.

  好。哗啦啦…往上窜…

  Okay. Hua la la …raise the

  tone upward …

  韩佳: 渊源,学得怎样了?

  Yuanyuan, how is your

  learning going?

  王渊源:你听着呢。

  Oh, you listened to me

  all the time.

  哗啦啦…该出题目了。

  Okay. Hua la la …

  It’s time to set a question.

  韩佳: 好好好。

  Okay.

  那我来出今天的问题吧。

  Let me set today’s question.

  (问题部分略)

  王渊源:也别忘记我们的口号:

  And also don’t forget our slogan:

  嘉宾: 学说中国话,朋友遍天下。

  Learn Chinese and make

  friends everywhere!

  合: 明天见。

  See you tomorrow.

       (Source: cctv.com)

Chinese Conversation – Making Plans

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008

451. What do you plan to do this Friday? 明天你打算干什么?
452. What are you doing next week? 下周你干什么?
453. I plan to go to the concert. 我打算去听音乐会。
454. I’m thinking of going to my grandma’s. 我想去外婆家。
455. I’ll go skiing of the weather permits. 天气允许的话,我会去滑雪。
456. I suppose I can finish the project next year. 我想我明年完成此工程。
457. I have no idea. 我不知道。
458. It’s up to you. 由你决定。
459. I’m considering buying a house. 我想买套房子。
460. Hi, Jack, what lessons will you take this semester? 你好,杰克,这学期
你选什么课?
461. Hi, Lucy. I’ll take French and Economics. 你好,露西,我想选法语和经
济。
462. I’m taking Chinese and History. 我将选中文和历史。
463. Do you plan to do some odd jobs? 你打算打工吗?
464. Yes, I’m applying to work at the library. 是的,我在申请图书馆管理员的
工作。
465. Good luck! 祝你好运。

Source: wwenglish.com

Chinese Culture-The legend of blood red porcelain

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008

Porcelain with red under glaze is distinctively different from other Chinese ceramic styles, with very flamboyant, lively, and intense colors. In traditional Chinese culture, the color red represents joy, happiness, and auspiciousness. This combination of form and meaning has made red under glaze porcelain very popular and demand has always been greater than supply.

Jihong Plate during the Hongwu Reign of the Ming Dynasty

“If you want to go broke, make red glaze porcelain” is a popular saying among porcelain makers, because making this kind of porcelain is very complicated and costly. The expensive materials needed and the complicated technique used to glaze the base are the two major obstacles to making red under glaze porcelain. When the porcelain is fired, temperature and time control is also essential to prevent the glaze from changing color or breaking.

Jihong plum blossom bottle in the Qing Dynasty

Because of the extreme difficulties in producing this kind of porcelain, the skills were once lost, and were only revived very recently with the help of modern technology.

The origins of red under glaze porcelain

Red-glazed porcelain was invented as the result of a happy accident. In the Tang Dynasty (618-907), bronze was widely used in Changsha kilns to make porcelain green, and it was discovered that different firing temperatures made some porcelain red.

Jihong porcelain in the Qing Dynasty

The technique was improved in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), when large quantities of porcelain with red under glaze were produced in Jun kiln in Henan Province. However, the craftsmen’s skills were not yet very advanced and there were usually some other colors in the red under glaze.

In the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), craftsmen began to intentionally make porcelain with red under glaze in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, known as the capital of ceramics. In the Yongle Reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the craftsmanship was very much improved, and the red color became more brilliant.

Later, Jihong porcelain began to be produced for sacrificial ceremonies. Ji means to sacrifice and hong means red. Jihong porcelain produced in Jingdezhen surpassed previous porcelain both in luster and in color. Precious gems like coral, agate, jade, pearls, and gold were sometimes added.

The legend of Jihong porcelain

It was extremely hard to produce this kind of porcelain, and the success rate was quite low. The successful production of red porcelain demonstrates the intelligence and dedication of the Jingdezhen people.

 

A popular local legend says even their blood was sacrificed for their craft. According to the story, Emperor Xuanzong in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) wanted to use red porcelain to worship the sun god, and issued an imperial decree ordering the Jingdezhen kiln to produce it. After many attempts, the craftsmen failed to produce satisfactory porcelain and were whipped, thrown into prison, and threatened with death if they didn’t produce what the emperor desired.

Cuilan, daughter of an elderly kiln worker, was very upset when her father was jailed. Enraged at the atrocity, she jumped into the fiery kiln. Two days later, when workers opened the kiln, they were surprised to find the porcelain inside was blood red.

People thought Cuilan’s blood dyed the porcelain red and this is how the porcelain came to be called Jihong.

Porcelain fit only for royaltySuccessive emperors also demanded expensive Jihong porcelain, but as the legend suggests, it was very hard to produce. Among the ten thousand plus items in Jingdezhen Ceramics Museum, there are only ten Jihong porcelain objects, one of which is only half of its original size and there are less than one hundred Jihong porcelain objects in museums worldwide.

Generations of Jingdezhen people endeavored to produce the porcelain in the following hundreds of years, but Jihong porcelain was never successfully reproduced. From the Ming Dynasty when Jihong porcelain was first produced, generations of Jingdezhen porcelain craftsmen have made numerous attempts to manufacture Jihong, but the results have not been as good.

The imperial kiln’s only customer was the court, and it had very high product quality standards. The porcelain made in these kilns underwent a strict selection process. Works which didn’t make the grade, were broken and buried because common people were forbidden to use them.

In 1982, an ancient imperial kiln with many pieces of red under glaze porcelain was accidentally found. Archeologists found many of the pieces could be glued together to make complete items. It seemed that these pieces were destroyed intentionally. Closer examination showed no obvious defects, some pieces were extremely skilled and still lustrous even after hundreds of years.

The revival of Jihong porcelain making

Western scholars examined the chemical ingredients of Jihong porcelain in the 19th century, but their attempt to reproduce similar porcelain with red under glaze failed.

In the 1950s, Jingdezhen established a center to produce colored under glaze, summoning seasoned craftsmen to research the firing techniques for various high-quality porcelains including Jihong.

Although there has been a porcelain industry in Jingdezhen for thousands of years, the red under glaze formula has always been a secret, passed down only within families. Luck and experience also played important roles in producing rare works like Jihong porcelain.

After persistent testing, researchers finally made some refined Jihong works that are just as beautiful as those from the Qing Dynasty. They were made with traditional kilns, and 35 tons of wood were burned to produce them.

In 1986, researchers in Jingdezhen tried to make the porcelain using gas, but it turned out black. After several adjustments to the glaze formula, they finally produced porcelain with red under glaze using another substitute fuel.

During their experiments, the researchers also found out why ancient red under glaze porcelain ware bottles, bowls, plates, and boxes were no taller than 40 cm. The red under glaze could only be made within a specific temperature, with a temperature difference no more than five degrees Celsius. But in traditional kilns, the temperature dropped varied by about ten degrees Celsius for every meter away from the furnace.

Modern gas kilns have relatively steady temperatures and with their help, Jingdezhen craftsmen finally made three 62cm tall vases with beautiful red under glaze, which were presented to Japanese and Turkish governmental heads.

Another porcelain with red under glaze that could withstand very high temperatures was produced recently in Hunan Province. Its color and quality are as good as Jihong porcelain, and the mysterious ancient technique was finally revived. The new porcelain is named “Chinese Red Porcelain.”

Author: Jeff

(Source: chinaculture.org)