Archive for April 14th, 2008

Chinese Conversation – lesson 46

Monday, April 14th, 2008

1938年,超人第一次漫画书中。开始时作者并没有给他强大的力量。他可以挡住子弹,但可能会被大炮射来的炮弹击倒。几年中,作者决定让他更强壮。他们给他X光的视觉,然后给他可以飞的能力。如今他们把他搞得更加强壮。他现在甚至可以抵挡核爆的力量。

Superman appeared in his first comic book in 1938. At first the writers did not give him great powers. He was able to stop bullets, but he could be knocked down by a shell shot from a cannon. Within a few years, the writers decided to make him stronger. They gave him X-ray vision. Then they gave him the ability to fly. Today they have made him even stronger. Now he can even withstand the power of nuclear bombs.

(Source: wwenglish.com)

Chinese Culture – Qiuse Arts of Foshan(3)

Monday, April 14th, 2008

Making Qiuse zhen ke artworks:

1. To make a paper zhen kou lantern, first decide on its structure and make a frame; then draw a lantern pattern on a thick sheet of paper. For a Qiuse melon lantern, the patterns can be drawn directly drawn on the melon husk.

2. Use a needle to make holes in the pattern and then paste it on the lantern frame.

3. For a Qiuse melon, carve the husk of a Chinese watermelon along the pre-drawn pattern. Then, hollow out the melon and place a lit lamp inside.

Traditional, colorful Qiuse lanterns also include bamboo woven lanterns, palace lanterns, lanterns with revolving paper-cuts, paper-cut lanterns, etc. To make such lanterns, bamboo strips or iron threads are used to make the frame, then silk, gauze or colored paper is used to cover the framework; finally, paper-cuts or paintings and calligraphy are pasted onto the surface.

 Qiuse nian tie art

Qiuse nian tie handicrafts come in a great variety, including palace lanterns, silk gauze umbrellas, artificial flowers, potted rockworks, etc. This handicraft requires sophisticated skills and boasts a scientifically orderly and structural beauty. It incorporates such materials as melon seeds, sesame, rice, rush, grass, rice stalks, paring, beans, fish scales, etc.

When making Qiuse nian tie artworks, artists make use of the shapes of their materials to configure various patterns. For instance, Chinese watermelon seeds, red melons, sunflowers and muskmelons are egg-shaped, resembling wild chrysanthemum petals. Pasted on a wild chrysanthemum pattern, they can help create a very beautiful flower image. Also, flowers made from black-and-white sunflower seed shells can produce more vivid patterns using natural hues.

Qiuse artists also take into account the flexibility of raw materials. For instance, since rush is thin and long and flexible, it is often applied to artworks that feature patterns of creeping weeds.

Source: chinaculture.org

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 113

Monday, April 14th, 2008
 
 

  

  (2月12日播出)

  旁白: 人们都说绍兴依山傍水。

  All people say Shaoxing is situated

  between mountains and waters.

  水在这里随处可以见到。

  There is water in sight everywhere.

  要说起山呢,

  Of all the mountains of Shaoxing,

  绍兴最有名的山,

  the most well-known

  就要数我们今天

  is the Kuaiji Mountain,

  要去的这座会稽山了。

  which we are going to

  visit today.

  王渊源:快乐学汉语,万里海疆行!

  Learn Chinese the fun way and enjoy

  a Happy China across China!

  大家好!

  Hello there!

  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:韩佳,你刚才是不是说错了?

  Han Jia, did you mispronounce

  the name just now?

  这座山应该叫会稽山吧。

  It should be called Huiji Mountain.

  韩佳: 我可没说错。

  No, I didn’t mispronounce it.

  这个“会”是个多音字。

  The word “hui” has more than

  one pronunciation.

  既可以读会(hui),

  It can be pronounced “hui”

  又可以读会(kuai)。

  and “kuai” as well.

  那在这里呢,

  Here,

  是特定读法“会稽山”。

  it should be pronounced “kuai”.

  王渊源:哦,“会”是个多音字。

  Oh, so the character “hui” can

  be pronounced in different ways.

  在这里是特定读法“会稽山”。

  Here it should be pronounced “kuai”.

  对了,你之前说这座会稽山

  Oh, yeah, you said the Kuaiji

  是绍兴最有名的山。

  is the most well-known of

  Shaoxing mountains.

  它怎么会这么出名呢?

  Why is it so famous?

  韩佳: 问得好。这有两个原因。

  A good question. There are

  two reasons.

  第一个就是因为

  The first reason is that

  这座山是中国的五大镇山之一。

  it is one of China’s five

  sacred mountains.

  王渊源:那会稽山出名的第二个原因是?

  What is the second reason why

  the Kuaiji Mountain is famous?

  韩佳: 第二个原因就是跟一个人有关了。

  The second reason has something

  to do with a man.

  王渊源:是谁啊?

  Who was he?

  韩佳: 就是中国古代传说中的

  He was Da Yu, the water

  harnessing hero

  治水英雄大禹啊。

  in ancient Chinese legend.

  传说在远古的时候,

  Legend has it that in

  remote antiquity,

  发生了一次很严重的水灾。

  there occurred a very severe flood.

  当时的部落首领呢

  The chieftain then

  就派一个人带领大家去治理洪水。

  sent a man to lead the people

  to fight the flood.

  这个人就是禹。

  That man was Yu.

  王渊源:不对,不对。

  No, no.

  人家叫大禹,大禹治水。

  People call him Da Yu, who

  controlled the flood.

  韩佳: 你听我说完嘛。

  Let me finish.

  禹花了十三年的时间,

  Yu spent 13 years

  带领大家用开渠排水、

  leading people to dig ditches

  疏通河道的办法,

  and dredge rivers

  最后把洪水引入了大海。

  before diverting the floodwater

  into the sea.

  从此,人们就过上了安定的生活。

  After that, people began to lead

  a settled life.

  那后人为了称颂他治水的功绩,

  To praise his deeds in

  controlling floods,

  就在他的名字前面加了一个“大”字,

  people added the word “Da”

  before his name

  表示对他的尊敬。

  to show their respect for him.

  王渊源:原来是这样的。

  Oh, I see.

  那大禹和会稽山又有什么关系呢?

  Did Da Yu have anything to do

  with Kuaiji Mountain?

  韩佳: 据说大禹治水成功之后,

  It is said after Da Yu successfully

  controlled the floods,

  是在会稽山庆功的,

  the celebration was held

  at Kuaiji Mountain

  死后又葬在了这里。

  and he was buried here

  after his death.

  所以人们就建了这座大禹陵,

  So people built the Da Yu Mausoleum

  来纪念这位治水英雄。

  to commemorate this water-harnessing

  hero.

  旁白: 听完大禹治水的故事,

  After hearing the story about

  Da Yu controlling the floods,

  我们直接来到了

  we came directly to

  位于会稽山脚下的大禹陵。

  the Da Yu Mausoleum at

  the foot of Kuaiji Mountain.

  写着“大禹陵”三个字的石碑,

  The tablet bearing the words

  Da Yu Mausoleum

  让每一个来这里的人

  makes every visitor

  都感受到了那种庄重的气氛。

  feel the solemn atmosphere

  around the place.

  韩佳: 据说大禹就葬在这后面的山上。

  It is said Da Yu was buried

  right behind the mountain.

  这座大禹陵因为年代久远,

  As the Da Yu Mausoleum

  was built a long time ago,

  所以也经历了很多次的修复。

  it has undergone reconstruction

  a number of times.

  王渊源:但是大禹陵

  But the fact that the

  Da Yu Mausoleum

  能够一直保存到现在,

  has been kept to this day

  也说明了人们对他的崇敬啊。

  shows people’s deep respect

  for him.

  韩佳: 是啊。

  Yes indeed.

  在古代艰苦的条件下,

  Under the difficult conditions

  of ancient times,

  他能够带领大家

  it required great courage

  and wisdom

  去改造自然环境,治理洪水,

  for him to lead people

  to transform

  这需要极大的勇气和智慧。

  the natural environment and

  control the floods.

  王渊源:是啊。

  Yes indeed.

  韩佳: 所以在大禹身上

  So Da Yu

  集中体现了中华民族的

  fully embodied the Chinese nation’s

  优秀品德和崇高精神。

  fine virtues and noble spirit.

  王渊源:说得好!

  Wonderfully put!

  我想这种精神

  I believe this spirit

  应该保留和继续发扬下去。

  should be kept and carried forward.

  韩佳: 那渊源刚才说的“发扬”呢,

  Yuanyuan just said “fayang”.

  就是用来指

  It means

  发展和提倡优良作风、传统等等。

  to exalt, develop or carry on.

  王渊源:“发扬”就是用来指

  ”Fayang” means

  发展和提倡优良作风、传统等等。

  to exalt, develop or carry on.

  Tā de jīngshén zhídé jìxù fāyáng xià qu

  他 的 精神 值得 继续 发扬 下 去。

  His spirit is worthy of being

  exalted and carried on.

  韩佳: 从古到今,

  Since ancient times,

  有很多人都会到这里

  there have been many worshippers

  来祭祀大禹,

  coming here to pay homage

  to Da Yu

  为的就是表明

  to show their determination

  自己想要学习大禹精神的决心。

  to learn the Da Yu spirit.

  王渊源:我想这种精神

  I think this spirit

  应该让世界上

  should be also made known

  其他的国家的朋友也了解。

  to friends in other countries.

  韩佳: 这里就是大禹陵的碑廊。

  This is the mausoleum’s

  stele corridor.

  那这些石碑上都是一些

  These stone steles all bear

  赞扬大禹和兴修水利方面的碑文。

  inscriptions praising Da Yu’s

  deeds in controlling floods.

  王渊源:数量还真不少呢。

  There are plenty of them.

  韩佳: 对啊。虽然它们的年代不同,

  Yes. Although they date from

  different historical periods,

  但是在研究大禹文化方面

  they are all of very high value

  和考古方面,

  for the research of Da Yu culture

  都具有很高的价值。

  and archeology.

  比如这块吧。

  Take this one for example.

  据说这上面的碑文

  It is said the inscription

  是秦代宰相李斯写的。

  was written by Prime Minister

  Li Si of the Qin Dynasty.

  记载了秦始皇到会稽山

  It records Emperor Qin Shihuang’s

  visit to Kuaiji Mountain

  祭祀大禹的事情。

  to pay homage to Da Yu.

  王渊源:原来秦始皇

  Did Qin Shihuang

  还来过这儿祭祀大禹哪!

  also come here to pay homage

  to Da Yu?

  韩佳: 对啊。除了这个,

  Yes. Apart from that,

  碑廊里的文章还包括

  the stele inscriptions also include

  人们对大禹的赞扬,

  people’s praise of Da Yu

  修复大禹陵的记载。

  and records of reconstructions

  of the Da Yu Mausoleum.

  对了,

  Oh, yeah,

  还有对古代水利工程的记录呢。

  they also include records of

  ancient water control works.

  王渊源:是吗?

  Really?

  韩佳: 你看这块。

  Look at this one.

  明代的戴琥水利碑。

  It’s known as the Tablet to the

  Dai Hu Water Control Works.

  王渊源:它上面怎么还有张地图呢?

  There is even a map on it.

  韩佳: 对啊。

  Yes.

  这就是古代绍兴县的水利分布图。

  This is a water work distribution

  map of ancient Shaoxing.

  就因为有了它,

  Because of this map,

  所以这块石碑非常的珍贵。

  this stele is very valuable.

  王渊源:那为什么呢?

  Why?

  韩佳: 因为像这种图文并茂的石碑,

  Because there were very few

  such steles with both

  在中国古代是很少见的。

  excellent texts and pictures

  in ancient China.

  王渊源:“图文并茂”是?

  What does “tu wen bing mao”?

  韩佳: “图文并茂”就是指图画、文章

  ”Tu wen bing mao” means that

  both the pictures

  都十分丰富、精美。

  and text are excellent.

  王渊源:“图文并茂”就是指图画、文章

  ”Tu wen bing mao” means that

  both the pictures

  都十分丰富、精美。

  and text are excellent.

  Zhè zhong túwénbìngmào de shíbēi shi hěn shǎo jiàn de

  这 种 图文并茂 的 石碑 是 很 少 见 的。

  It’s rare to see stone tablets such as this

  with both excellent pictures and text.

  这里怎么还有一座庙呢?

  Why is there also a

  temple here?

  韩佳: 对啊,这就是禹庙。

  Yes, this is the Yu Temple.

  它在南北朝时期就有记录了。

  It was recorded as early as the

  Northern and Southern Dynasties.

  不过现在里面的建筑

  But the architecture of

  this temple

  主要保留了明清时期的风格。

  is mainly of the Ming and

  Qing styles.

  王渊源:那过去的人们

  Did people pay homage

  是不是就在这里祭祀大禹啊?

  to Da Yu right in this temple?

  韩佳: 对啊。

  Yes.

  前面就是拜厅。

  Up ahead is the worshiping hall.

  当年的祭祀仪式都是在那里举行的。

  The worshiping ceremonies in

  the past were all held here.

  王渊源:那现在还有祭祀大禹的活动吗?

  Are ceremonies to worship

  Da Yu held in modern times?

  韩佳: 当然有了。

  Of course.

  只不过不是在这里举行而已。

  Only they are not held here.

  这里就是新的祭祀广场了。

  This is the square newly built

  for such ceremonies.

  现在人们都是在这里

  Ceremonies to worship

  举行祭祀大禹的活动。

  Da Yu are all held here

  in modern times.

  王渊源:原来这祭祀活动

  Such worshiping activities

  一直流传到现在!

  have been kept to this day!

  韩佳: 对啊。

  Yes.

  这样一方面,可以保留古老的传统。

  On the one hand, they can help

  preserve old traditions.

  另一方面,又可以提醒大家,

  On the other, they can also

  remind people

  不要忘记大禹精神。

  not to forget the Da Yu spirit.

  王渊源:让大禹精神继续流传下去。

  So as to carry on the

  Da Yu spirit.

  韩佳: 说得没错儿。

  Exactly.

  赏心悦目:

  会稽山为中国五大镇山之一

  Kuaiji Mountain is one of China’s five

  sacred mountains.

  中国古代治水英雄大禹

  The ancient water-harnessing hero Da Yua

  终年安息于此

  was buried here.

  大禹陵历经千百年的风雨

  The imposing Da Yu Mausoleum has

  a history

  至今仍巍然屹立

  going back more than a thousand years.

  接受后人的膜拜

  It has never ceased receiving worshipers.

  文人墨客撰文立碑

  Men of letters erected steles to exalt

  称颂大禹的举世功德

  Da Yu’s glorious deeds.

  王渊源:看过了赏心悦目,

  After seeing the Feast for

  the Eyes,

  又到了该给大家出

  it’s time again for us

  to set

  今天的有奖问答题的时间了。

  today’s award-winning question.

  韩佳: 您听好了。

  Listen carefully.

  今天的题目是这样的。

  This is today’s question.

  (问题部分略)

  王渊源:明天同一时间,

  Please stay tuned

  请记得继续收看

  tomorrow at the same time

  我们的“万里海疆快乐行”。

  for our Happy Journey across China.

  韩佳: 当然了,

  Of course,

  也别忘了我们的口号:

  don’t forget our slogan.

  合: 学说中国话,朋友遍天下!

  Learn Chinese and make friends everywhere!

 (Source: cctv.com)