Archive for March 1st, 2008

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 69

Saturday, March 1st, 2008
Click to Watch Video Podcast

  (11月27日播出)

  旁白: “日出初光先照”,

  The first information we got

  这是我们查找今天的目的地

  about our today’s destination

  is that

  所得到的第一个信息。

  it’s a place that receives

  the sunrays first.

  宋朝时能够得到这个评价的地方,

  It was praise for the city in the

  Song Dynasty.

  到底是什么样子呢?

  How exactly is it like?

  我们充满了好奇。

  We are full of curiosity.

  一行人向着

  Our team is heading for

  有“东方太阳城”之称的日照进发。

  the Sunny City in the East-Rizhao.

  王渊源:快乐学汉语,

  Learn Chinese the fun way

  万里海疆行!

  and enjoy a Happy Journey

  across China!

  我是快乐的王渊源。

  I’m Happy Wang Yuanyuan.

  韩佳: 我是快乐的韩佳。

  And I’m Merry Han Jia.

  王渊源:从胶南出发,

  Starting from Jiaonan,

  经过半个多小时的路程

  we took about a half-hour drive

  就来到了日照市,

  to reach the city Rizhao,

  就是太阳最初照到的地方,

  the place that receives the

  first sunrays.

  当然了,

  Of course,

  那只是宋朝人的说法。

  that’s merely a description about it

  by people in the Song Dynasty.

  韩佳: 哎,但不管怎么样,

  Yeah. Anyway,

  这日照听起来

  the city Rizhou sounds

  就是一个阳光灿烂的地方。

  like a place full of bright and

  dazzling sunshine.

  王渊源:用“灿烂”这个词

  Yeah. No word except “canlan”

  来形容这儿的阳光,

  should be used

  那可真是再合适不过了。

  to describe the sunshine here.

  “灿烂”是个形容词,

  ”Canlan” is an adjective

  可以用来形容阳光明亮而耀眼。

  that can be used to describe

  bright and dazzling sunshine.

  韩佳: “灿烂”这个词呢,

  The word “canlan”

  我们可以用来形容

  can be used to describe

  阳光明亮而耀眼。

  bright and dazzling sunshine.

  Cànlàn de yángguāng zhào zài dàdì shang

  灿烂 的 阳光 照 在 大地 上。

  The dazzling sunlight is shining

  down on the earth.

  其实,日照

  In fact, in addition to

  不光以阳光充足而著名,

  its plenty of sunshine,

  这里的沙滩同样很有名。

  Rizhao’s sand beaches are

  also very famous.

  王渊源:是吗?

  Really?

  韩佳: 嗯。在丁肇中眼中啊,

  Yes. In the eyes of Samuel

  Chao Chung Ting,

  这里的阳光、沙滩还有海岸,

  the sunshine, the sand beach

  and coast here

  可以跟夏威夷的相媲美呢。

  are comparable to those

  of Hawaii.

  王渊源:丁肇中?

  Samuel Chao Chung Ting?

  他是不是那位获得过诺贝尔奖的

  Was he the Chinese-American physicist

  华裔物理学家啊?

  who won a Nobel prize?

  韩佳: 嗯,没错儿啊。

  Yes, exactly.

  王渊源:那他也来过日照啊?

  Did he also come to Rizhao once?

  韩佳: 哎,何止来过啊。

  Oh, not just once.

  他的家乡就在日照。

  Rizhao is exactly his hometown.

  有一次啊,他返回家乡,

  When he was back here for

  the first time,

  抓起了一把沙子说:

  he held a handful of sand

  and said:

  “嗯,这里的沙子

  ”Oh, the sand here

  比夏威夷的还要好。”

  is better than that of Hawaii.”

  王渊源:对了,

  Oh, yeah,

  谁不说俺家乡好嘛。

  all people say their hometown

  is the best.

  旁白: 和不少海滨城市一样,

  Like in many other coastal cities,

  日照市在碧海边、金沙滩旁

  there are also many pretty

  residential areas

  也建有很多漂亮的住宅小区。

  near the seaside and sand beaches

  in Rizhao.

  不过,我们下面要去的这个小区

  But the residential area we’re

  going to visit

  可有些与众不同啊。

  is a bit different from others.

  韩佳: 这个小区与众不同之处呢

  It’s different in that

  就在于里面住的都是

  the residents there are all

  全国知名高校的教授。

  professors from famed universities

  of the country.

  这可是一个名副其实的

  It’s worthy of its name,

  教授花园啊。

  the Professors’ Garden.

  王渊源:教授花园?

  Professors’ Garden?

  那怎么会有这么多教授

  Why could there be so

  many professors

  住在这儿呢?

  all living here?

  韩佳: 那当然得归功于

  This should be ascribed to

  日照的宜人气侯

  the congenial climate

  和迷人的风光了。

  and fascinating scenery

  of Rizhao.

  你看,这里的环境这么优美!

  Look, how beautiful the environment

  here is!

  所以呀,很多教授

  Therefore, many professors

  都到这里来安家落户。

  came and made their homes here.

  王渊源:“安家落户”就是指

  ”An jia luo hu” means

  把家安置在某个地方。

  to make one’s home somewhere.

  韩佳: “安家落户”就是指

  ”An jia luo hu” means

  把家安置在某个地方,

  to make one’s home somewhere

  准备长期住下来。

  and live there permanently.

  Rìzhào xīyǐnle bù shǎo jiàoshòu zài zhèli ān jiā luò hù

  日照 吸引了 不 少 教授 在 这里 安 家 落 户。

  Many professors have made

  their homes in Rizhao.

  王渊源:这倒挺好的。

  This is really very good.

  教授们这么一安家,

  With these professors settling here,

  这文化氛围也浓了。

  the cultural atmosphere here must

  have become much stronger.

  韩佳: 对啊。

  Yes.

  旁白: 听韩佳说,

  Han Jia told me

  当地十分看重科教兴市。

  the city underscores the importance

  of science and education.

  所以才把最好的地段留给教授们,

  So they allotted the best part of

  the land for the professors

  并提供较好的

  and provided convenient facilities

  进行学术交流的条件,

  for them to carry out academic exchange,

  让他们能在舒适的环境中

  and prepare their lessons

  研究课题。

  in a comfortable environment.

  在花园里转了一圈之后,

  Having toured around this garden,

  感觉好极了。

  I find it really impressive.

  要不然,我也…

  Perhaps, I should also …

  王渊源:好,我决定了。

  OK, I’ve decided.

  韩佳: 哎,你决定什么了?

  Oh, what have you decided?

  王渊源:我决定也在这教授花园里

  I’ve decided to make my home

  安家落户。

  here at the Professors’ Garden.

  韩佳: 啊,你也要在这儿做学问、

  What, you also want to be

  a professor

  研究课题?

  and carry out researches here?

  王渊源:我是想住在这儿学习啊。

  I want to live and study here.

  你想啊,左邻右舍都是教授,

  Just imagine, with all neighbors

  being professors,

  要想请教问题,一敲门就行了。

  if I have a question to ask, all I need

  to do is a knock on any door.

  多方便!

  How convenient it would be!

  韩佳: 你想得也太美了吧!

  Your imagination runs a bit

  too far!

  旁白: 除了美丽迷人的自然景观、

  In addition to the fascinating

  natural beauty

  充满人文内涵的住宅小区之外,

  and culturally oriented residential areas,

  日照还有一处城市亮点。

  Rizhao has another bright spot.

  那就是日照国际水上运动基地。

  It is China’s international water

  sports base.

  展现在我们面前的港池

  The pools and berthing areas

  before us

  有三十八万平方米,

  cover 380,000 square meters,

  三百多个游艇泊位随时待命。

  with over 300 berths available

  at any time.

  王渊源:啊,我要是能在教授花园安家,

  Oh, if only I could make my home

  at Professors’ Garden

  来水上基地锻炼,

  and do exercise at this water

  sports base,

  那我简直是文武双全了!

  I would benefit both educationally

  and physically!

  韩佳: 你啊,又开始做美梦了!

  Oh, you’ve started daydreaming again!

  王渊源:哎,这怎么是美梦啊。

  No, this is not daydreaming.

  我这就给你看看

  Let me show you

  我的实际行动了。

  my concrete action.

  韩佳: 哎,你去哪儿啊?

  Hey, where are you going?

  王渊源:开始进行水上项目的训练哪。

  I’m starting off for water sports training.

  韩佳: 啊?

  What?

  没听说过

  I’ve never heard

  在帆船训练基地赛龙舟的呀。

  a dragon boat race can be also

  conducted at a sailboat training base.

  王渊源:你不敢赛你就直说呀。

  You just say straight that you

  don’t dare to compete with me.

  韩佳: 谁不敢了?

  Who doesn’t dare?

  谁赢谁输还不知道呢。

  It’s still unknown who will

  be the winner.

  大伙儿加油啊!

  You all cheer me on, OK?

  合: 加油!

  Come on!

  王渊源:预备。开始!

  Ready. Go!

  合: 五,四,三,二,一。

  Five, four, three, two, one.

  五,四,三,二,一。

  Five, four, three, two, one.

  韩佳: 赛龙舟最重要的就是鼓手。

  The most important person in a

  dragon boat race is the drummer.

  鼓手指挥得好,

  If the drummer commands

  and coordinates well,

  队员的动作才能一致。

  the crew would act in perfect unison.

  动作一致了呢,

  When their movements are identical,

  速度才会快。

  the speed of the boat will

  be faster.

  王渊源:你知道“一致”的意思吗?

  Do you know the meaning

  of “yizhi”?

  是个形容词,

  It’s an adjective

  表示步调协调 一样。

  that can mean identical or consistent.

  合: 渊源,你敲啊!

  Yuanyuan, keep striking!

  我们都乱了。

  We’re in total disorder.

  韩佳: 我们赢啦!

  We won!

  赏心悦目:

  日照因朝阳先照而得名

  Rizhao, a place that gets the sunshine first.

  这里气候宜人 风光秀丽

  With beautiful climate and scenery,

  充满了丰富的人文内涵

  the city also abounds in history and culture.

  碧海 银浪 金沙相映相衬

  The blue ocean, silvery waves and golden

  beaches set off one another in perfect contrast.

  点点风帆 为大海平添了浪漫的色彩

  The sailboats add romantic colors to the sea.

  因得天独厚的自然环境

  Thanks to its unique natural conditions,

  成为极具潜力的水上运动之都

  it has great potential for developing

  water sports.

  夜晚的潮汐塔 令这里更显妖娆

  When night falls, the Chaoxi Lighthouse

  appears more charming.

  韩佳: 哎,渊源,

  Eh, Yuanyuan,

  还在想着白天的比赛呢?

  are you still thinking of the

  daytime match?

  王渊源:不是,不是。

  No, no.

  我是看这儿的夜景。

  I’m just seeing the night

  scene here.

  简直是太迷人了!

  It’s so fascinating!

  跟白天的感觉完全不一样。

  It’s totally different from that

  in the daytime.

  韩佳: 是啊。

  Yes, indeed.

  王渊源:咱们俩干吗呢?

  What are we doing now?

  观众朋友还在等我们

  Our audience is still waiting

  for us

  出今天的有奖问答题呢。

  to set today’s award-winning question.

  韩佳: 对对对。您听好了,

  Yes, yes. Listen carefully.

  今天的题目是这样的。

  Here’s today’s question.

  (问题部分略)

  王渊源:在我们博客上留言也可以。

  You can also leave a message

  on our blog.

  总之,只要把您的答案告诉我们,

  All in all, as long as you tell us

  your answers,

  就有机会获得我们的纪念品。

  you’ll have a chance to receive

  a package of souvenirs from us.

  韩佳: 对。节目的最后呢,

  Yes. At the end of this program,

  要提醒您明天同一时间,

  we’d like to remind you

  别忘了继续收看我们的

  not to forget to continue to

  watch our

  “万里海疆快乐行”哦。

  Happy Journey across China

  same time tomorrow.

  王渊源:也别忘了我们的口号:

  And also don’t forget our slogan:

  合: 学说中国话,朋友遍天下!

  Learn Chinese and make friends everywhere!

  韩佳: 明天见。

  See you tomorrow.

        (Source: cctv.com)

Chinese Culture – Tang Tri-colored Glazed Pottery

Saturday, March 1st, 2008

A type of glazed pottery with the dominant colors of yellow, brown and green was very popular in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It was later called the tri-colored glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty, or Tangsancai .

The Tang tri-colored glazed pottery is a low-melting glazed pottery. It was made by adding metallic oxides to the colored glaze and calcining the object to create different colors, namely the predominant yellow, brown and green. The chemicals in the glaze change gradually in the firing process, creating a variegated effect with a majestic and elegant artistic attraction. Tri-colored glazed pottery was usually used as burial objects. Its loose and brittle base and its low waterproofing properties meant it was not as practical as the blue and white porcelain that had already emerged at the time.

Tri-colored glazed pottery utensils of the Tang were usually rounded and full in shape in accordance with the aesthetic values of the time. The accurately proportioned human and animal figures have fluid lines, natural expressions and life-like movements. The soldier figures have strong muscles, big staring eyes and wield swords or arrows. The female figures have high hair buns and full sleeves; they stand gracefully erect, looking natural and elegant. The animal figures are mainly of horses and camels.

A tri-colored glazed pottery of a camel and a dance group was unearthed in a Tang general’s tomb. The camel is brown and stands with its head raised high. The long hairs on its head, chest, stomach and upper parts of its two front legs were carefully executed. On the camel’s back is a platform covered by a rug with two ethnic musicians seated on it with their backs to each other playing instruments. A third ethnic person dances between them. The three human figures have deep eyes, high-bridged noses and full beards; they are wearing long, green sweaters with turned-down collars and white boots. The figure in the front has a deep yellow coat. This piece of pottery is truly an exquisite handicraft.

Tri-colored glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty was mostly produced in Xi’an, Luoyang and Yangzhou, which were important cities along the Silk Road. The camel was the major form of transport on the ancient trade route during the Tang. From these gazed potteries, we can imagine the travelers and camels making their hard journey across the desert, depending on one another for survival. The large figures and camels’ resolute expressions represent the hardships associated with traveling on the long road.

Tri-colored glazed pottery is the crest of Tang pottery and it flourished during the dynasty’s early and middle period. As the Tang gradually lost power and its porcelain-producing technology developed, tri-colored glazed pottery declined. Though tri-colored glazed pottery was also produced during the Liao (916-1125) and Jin (1115-1234) dynasties, it was not made in such great quantity and its quality was not as good as that of the Tang.

Tri-colored glazed pottery was exported to foreign countries in the early Tang, winning great favor. It was always been famed for its bright colors and pleasing shapes. Tri-colored glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty is a shining pearl among ancient Chinese pottery.

As the tri-colored glazed pottery continued to improve through the centuries, now it has been developed even further and its varieties number several hundred. The once tri-colour glaze has expanded to include yellow, purple, black and blue and its artistic quality has also soared.

  Tri-colored Duck Potteries of the Tang Dynasty

The history of raising duck in China can be dated back to the Neolithic Age four or five thousand years ago. Primitive Chinese at this stage began to settle and tame wild animals for husbandry. Gradually, wild ducks were transformed into domesticated ducks.

China’s earliest duck potteries ever found were unearthed from the remains of Yangshao Culture 4,000 years ago, located in Shanxian County, central Henan Province. In 1954, a painted gray duck pottery was excavated from the remains of Eligang Culture 2,000 years ago, located in Zhengzhou, Henan. Now collected in the National Museum of China, the ceramic duck stands in a plate, about to fly. It is obviously a domesticated duck.

China became one of the world’s most powerful empires in the Tang Dynasty . Animal husbandry developed rapidly at that time, thanks to luxurious life of noblemen and landlords. Among unearthed tri-colored Tang potteries from noblemen’s tombs near the capitals of the Tang Dynasty, livestock accounts for the largest part. A green gilded duck pottery was excavated from a Tang tomb in Shaanxi in the 1950s. Gilded with green and dotted with yellow and brown, the pottery features a Hedging duck. It looks ripen and awkward, with innocent and funny facial-expression.

Tri-colored Tang potteries were mostly unearthed from tombs of landlords or noblemen of the Tang Dyansty. Tombs of ordinary people usually only have common potteries. According to archeological discoveries, kilns producing tri-colored Tang potteries are mainly located in Gongxian County of Henan, Tongchuan of Shaanxi, suburb of Xi’an and Renqiu County of Hebei.

For animal-shape tri-colored Tang potteries, they were first cast in molds and then carved in detail. Those animal-shape potteries usually feature realistic styles, with much emphasis on lines and grandeur.

(Source: chinaculture.org)

Beijing Olympic – Dadong

Saturday, March 1st, 2008

What is unique about Dadong roast duck is its being crisp and not greasy. Its skin is more crisp and soft, and less greasy, than that of roast duck served in other restaurants. Its aroma hits your nose at some distance from your table. It’s so soft that it melts in your mouth instantly; so it suits the senior citizens, in particular.

The restaurant has a special way of processing the duck, with strict rules on the duration of the dressed duck’s immersion in hot water, the temperature of refrigeration, dryness, and the duration and degree of heating. While traditional processing makes the duck rid of some of its nutritional elements, the process employed by Dadong ensures that they are fully retained and well balanced.

The Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant features two more brand dishes¨CShark Fin in Red Flower Sauce and Dong’s Sea Cucumber. The most frequently ordered dishes are: Australian beef with abalone sauce, goose liver with mushroom sauce, tongzicai, crystal goose liver, roast river eel, spicy jiayu (terrapin), and bird’s nest duck.

The restaurant has an elegant and ornate ambience. The exquisitely fashioned copper-nail-studded walls used to be the mullions when the place was a part of the imperial palace of Ming and Qing dynasties; the windows open onto clusters of lush bamboo. It’s a perfect choice for dinners with your business partners.

(Source: ebeijing.gov.cn)