Archive for May 7th, 2008

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 136

Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
 
 

                           Click to Watch Video Podcast

  (3月22日播出)

  画外音:韩佳,找什么呢

  Han Jia, what are you

  looking for

  那么专心?

  so seriously?

  韩佳: 找渊源呢。

  I’m looking for Yuanyuan.

  跟他约好了

  I made an appointment with him

  一起来看奉化布龙的。

  to go to see cloth dragons

  in Fenghua.

  可是,表演都开始了,

  But the performance has

  already begun,

  还找不到他人。

  I can’t find him.

  画外音:哦。那你可得快点儿了。

  Oh. You’d better hurry.

  韩佳: 就是说啊。

  Yes indeed.

  王渊源:快乐学汉语,万里海疆行!

  Learn Chinese the fun way and enjoy

  a happy journey across China!

  观众朋友,

  Audience friends,

  这就是我今天要给大家的一个惊喜。

  that’s the surprise I gave you

  all today.

  怎么样,没想到我也会舞龙吧。

  Well, you must never imagined that

  I could also perform a dragon dance.

  韩佳: 渊源,原来你在这儿啊。

  Yuanyuan, there you are.

  快点儿。节目都开始了。

  Hurry up. Our program has started.

  王渊源:来了。

  I’m coming.

  你觉得我刚才的表演怎么样啊?

  What do you think of my performance?

  韩佳: 还挺卖力的。

  You certainly did your best.

  王渊源:出卖力气?

  Sell strength?

  韩佳: 我刚才说的“卖力”是个形容词。

  The “maili” I said is an adjective.

  但它不是用来指出卖自己的力气。

  But it doesn’t mean to sell

  one’s strength.

  而是指尽量地使出自己的力气。

  It means to spare no effort.

  王渊源:“卖力”指尽量地使出自己的力气。

  So “maili” means to spare no effort.

  Tā wǔ lóng wǔ de hěn mài lì

  他 舞 龙 舞 得 很 卖 力。

  He spares no effort as he does

  to dragon-dance.

  韩佳: 那你舞了这么半天,

  Though you performed for

  quite a while,

  对这奉化布龙又了解多少呢?

  do you know anything about

  Fenghua’s cloth dragons?

  王渊源:你听好了。布龙…

  Listen carefully. A cotton dragon …

  布龙,就是说咱们现在看到的

  such as this pretty dragon

  这个漂亮的龙,

  we’re seeing now,

  是用彩色的布做的,

  is made with cloth,

  当然还有竹子呀、木头啊什么的。

  of course, also bamboo, wood

  or something.

  它可是中国非物质文化遗产呢。

  The dragon dance is listed as part of

  China’s intangible cultural heritage.

  听说已经有八百多年的历史了。

  They say it has a history stretching

  back more than 800 years.

  韩佳: 没了?

  That’s all?

  王渊源:没了。剩下的你来补充吧。

  That’s all. As for the rest, you

  may have something to add.

  韩佳: 那我来就我来吧。

  Okay. I should add that,

  据我所知呢,

  to my knowledge,

  这种民间舞蹈是从过去

  this kind of folk dance evolved

  祭拜龙王的活动中逐步发展出来的。

  from the past Dragon King

  worshipping ceremonies.

  那它的特点就是舞得活、

  Its characteristics are vivacity,

  神态真、套路多、速度快。

  vividness, multiple movements

  and fast speed.

  旁白: 宁波作为一座历史文化名城,

  As a famous historical and

  cultural city,

  保留着许多非物质文化遗产。

  Ningbo keeps a lot of intangible

  cultural heritage.

  宁海平调就是其中之一。

  Ninghai Pingdiao Opera is

  such an instance.

  它起源于明朝末年,

  Originated from the late Ming Dynasty

  兴盛于清朝,

  and seeing its heyday during

  the Qing Dynasty,

  是浙江古老的地方戏曲。

  Pingdiao is the oldest local opera

  in Zhejiang.

  王渊源:观众朋友,咱们现在看到的是

  Audience friends, what we’re seeing

  宁海平调耍牙。

  is the teeth play of

  Ninghai Pingdiao.

  这个名字可不大好懂,

  Its name is hard to understand,

  可您一看就明白了。

  but you’ll understand after

  you see it.

  说实在的,我刚一看到的时候,

  To be frank, when I first saw it,

  还吓了我一跳。

  I was startled.

  韩佳: 你胆子也太小了吧。

  You’re too chicken.

  王渊源:不过,你说那是怎么完成的呀,

  But how is it performed

  嘴里含着那么多牙?

  with so many teeth in his mouth?

  又要唱,又要念,

  And what’s more, he has to sing,

  又要做动作什么的。

  narrate and perform at

  the same time.

  韩佳: 你是问我吗?

  Are you asking me?

  这可是宁海平调的看家绝技啊!

  This is, after all, the signature skill

  of Ninghai Pingdiao!

  这里面的诀窍我怎么会知道呢?

  How could I understand it?

  王渊源:什么?看家绝技?

  What? “Kanjia jueji”?

  韩佳: 嗯。

  Yes.

  王渊源:唱平调和看家有什么关系啊?

  Does singing Pingdiao has something to do

  with “kanjia”-looking after one’s home?

  韩佳: 我刚才说的“看家”呢,

  The “kanjia” I said

  是用来形容本人特别擅长,

  refers to someone’s special skill,

  别人难以胜过的本领。

  that is hard for others to beat.

  王渊源:“看家”常用来形容本人特别擅长,

  So “kanjia” here is used to describe

  a special skill

  别人难以胜过的本领。

  that is hard for others to beat.

  shuǎyá shi nìnghǎi píngdiào de kān jiā juéji

  耍牙 是 宁海 平调 的 看 家 绝技。

  Shuaya is Ninghai Opera’s special skill.

  韩佳: 那这样吧,一会儿等表演结束了,

  Well, I suggest that after the performance,

  我们去找一位专家请教请教?

  we go ask an expert about it, okay?

  王渊源:好。

  Okay.

  嘉宾: 我们平调里头最主要的

  The most salient feature of

  Pingdiao Opera

  一个特点就是耍牙。

  is the teeth play.

  耍牙的历史到现在也有一百年左右。

  It has a history of about 100 years.

  旁白: 听专家介绍,

  The expert told us

  耍牙主要分为一咬、二舔、

  teeth play consists such movements

  as biting, licking,

  三吞、四吐等几个步骤。

  swallowing and spitting.

  艺人们以舌头的力量为主要动力,

  The performer mainly uses his

  tongue to perform

  再用牙齿、嘴唇的各种活动

  while using his teeth and lips

  来辅助表演。

  to assist the performance.

  表演耍牙可是需要有很深厚的功底。

  Performing teeth play requires

  experience and skill.

  奉化布龙、

  After the Fenghua cloth dragon dance,

  宁海平调耍牙。

  now there is the Ninghai Pingdiao

  teeth play.

  这宁波的非物质文化遗产

  Ningbo’s intangible cultural heritage

  实在是太丰富了!

  is so rich!

  接下来,咱们一起去重温

  Coming up next, let’s have

  a review

  梁山伯与祝英台的美丽爱情故事吧。

  of the love story of Liang Shanbo

  and Zhu Yingtai.

  韩佳: 渊源,你别哼了。

  Yuanyuan, stop humming.

  都哼了一路了。

  You’ve kept humming all

  the way here.

  王渊源:你不知道啊,

  You don’t know

  我这是情不自禁。

  I can’t help it.

  我一提起梁山伯和祝英台的故事,

  Whenever the story of Liang Shanbo

  and Zhu Yingtai is mentioned,

  我就特别想哼这曲子。

  I always want to hum this tune.

  韩佳: 连成语都用上了。

  You even used an idiom here.

  那你知道“情不自禁”是什么意思吗?

  Do you know the meaning of

  ”qing bu zi jin”?

  王渊源:这肯定是难不倒我的。

  You can’t baffle me.

  “情不自禁”就是指控制不住自己的感情。

  ”Qing bu zi jin” means can’t help

  but do something.

  韩佳: “情不自禁”呢

  ”Qing bu zi jin”

  就是指控制不住自己的感情。

  means can’t help but do something.

  王渊源:我特别喜欢这个故事和这首曲子。

  I like the story and this tune

  very much.

  所以一提起《梁祝》,

  So whenever the Butterfly Lovers

  is mentioned,

  我就情不自禁地想…

  I always want to …

  梁圣君庙?

  Liang Sheng Jun Temple?

  韩佳: 渊源,其实这梁圣君庙

  In fact, Liang Sheng Jun Temple

  就是梁山伯庙。

  means Liang Shanbo Temple.

  根据专家的考证,

  According to experts’ textual research,

  在中国,

  in China there are three places

  有梁祝读书处三个,

  where the two lovers are believed

  to receive their education

  梁祝坟墓呢有七处。

  and seven toms of them.

  而既有坟墓又有庙的地方

  And this is the only place

  that has both

  就只有这里了。

  a tomb of them and a temple

  in their honor.

  王渊源:不对啊!

  There is something wrong!

  这尊梁山伯像

  Why does this statue of

  Liang Shanbo

  怎么跟以前看过的不一样呢?

  look different from those we

  saw before?

  怎么一副县官的打扮?

  How come he is dressed like

  a county magistrate?

  韩佳: 听说宁波的鄞州

  I heard Ningbo’s Yinzhou

  是梁祝故事的发源地。

  is the birthplace of the love story.

  而根据地方志的记载,

  According to local chronicles,

  梁山伯曾经在鄞县

  Liang Shanbo served as a county

  magistrate in Yinxian County,

  也就是现在的鄞州区当过县官。

  which is now called Yinzhou.

  所以这里才会有一个穿着官袍,

  That’s why there is an image

  of him

  戴着官帽的梁山伯。

  wearing such an official robe

  and an official hat.

  王渊源:原来梁山伯还当过县官呢!

  Actually Liang Shanbo also served

  as a county magistrate!

  我这还是头一次听说呢。

  This is the first time I’ve

  ever heard about it.

  韩佳: 而且还是一位

  And he was also

  为百姓着想的好官呢。

  an honest magistrate caring

  for the people.

  人们为了纪念他呢,

  So to commemorate him,

  就在这里修建了梁山伯庙。

  people built the Liang Shanbo

  Temple here.

  王渊源:对了,你不是说

  Oh yeah, did you say

  这里还有一处梁祝的坟墓吗?

  there is also a tomb of Liang

  and Zhu here here?

  韩佳: 嗯。

  Yes, there is.

  王渊源:那我们赶快去看看吧。

  Hurry, let’s go there and

  take a look.

  韩佳: 好啊。那观众朋友们,

  Sure. Then let our audience

  您先看看我们今天的赏心悦目。

  take a look at today’s Feast

  for the Eyes.

  我们一会儿再见。

  We’ll be back in a moment.

  赏心悦目:

  奉化布龙是中华龙舞的杰出代表

  Fenghua’s cloth dragon dance is a fine

  example of the Chinese dragon dance.

  迄今已有八百多年的历史

  It has a history of more than 800 years.

  舞者动作矫健 舞姿变化多端

  The movements of performers are brisk

  and diverse,

  舞出长龙的各种姿势神态

  bringing to life the dragon’s various postures.

  展现人们“人定胜天”的豪迈气概

  The dance sings praises of man’s

  determination to conquer nature.

  宁海平调耍牙更被誉为“东方一绝”

  Ninghai Opera’s teeth play is billed

  as an extraordinary feat in China.

  几颗獠牙在嘴里吞吞吐吐 令人称奇

  A few buckteeth come in and out of

  the mouth intermittently.

  “梁祝”是我国四大民间传说之一

  The story of butterfly lovers is one of

  China’s four major folktales.

  海枯石烂真情不变

  It extols two faithful lovers,

  化蝶双飞永不分离

  who end up being butterflies flying side

  by side.

  韩佳: 好了,精彩的赏心悦目之后呢,

  Well, after the wonderful Feast

  for the Eyes,

  又到我们的有奖问答题时间了。

  it’s our award-winning question

  time again.

  王渊源:韩佳,你来出题吧。

  Han Jia, you’d better set

  the question.

  韩佳: 您听好了。今天的题目是这样的。

  Listen carefully. Here’s today’s question.

  (问题部分略)

  今天的节目就到这里了。

  That’s it for today.

  不过,最后还是要提醒您,

  Before we wrap up, we’d like

  to remind you

  口号不能忘啊。

  not to 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)

China Travel – Juyong Pass and Cloud Platform

Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
 

Juyong Pass is located in an 18 kilometer-long valley named “Guangou” which is inside Changping County more than 50 kilometers from Beijing City. It is one of the three greatest passes of Great Wall of China. The other two passes are Jiayuguan Pass and Shanhai Pass.

 

It had many different names in the past dynasties. However, the name “Juyong Pass” was used by more than three dynasties. It was first used in the Qin Dynasty (221-206BC) when Qin Emperor Shihuang ordered to build the Great Wall. Juyong Pass has two passes, one at the south and one at the north. The south one is called “Nan Pass” and the north one is called “Badaling”.

 

The wall we can see now was built in the early years of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), supervised by Xu Da, a great general who fought with Emperor Hongwu (Zhu Yuanzhang) to set up a new regime at the turning point of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and the Ming Dynasty. The valley where Juyong Pass lies is 20 km long, steep and precipitous. Thus, Juyong Pass won the reputation of the most steep and dangerous pass long before. Juyong Pass and Badaling in the south are vital gateways in the northwest region of Beijing City. In the Ming Dynasty, soldiers all over the country were established into troops known as the so-called the Defense Bureau System. After Emperor Zhudi of the Ming Dynasty moved the capital to Beijing, Juyong Pass become more vital to the defense against the Nüzhen ethnic minority in the northeast of China. Therefore, the Defense Bureaus were settled at Juyong Pass with massive forces guarding there. Meantime, the Defense Bureaus were also in charge of the defenders along the near wall and responsible for the gateway of the northwest region of Beijing City.

 

In the middle of Juyongguan Pass, there is a “Cloud Platform” with another name of “Crossing Street Tower”. It was made of white marble in the Yuan Dynasty with a height of 9.5 meters. Around the top of the platform there are many architectures such as stone railings and a watching post. They are still kept in the style of the Yuan Dynasty. In the middle of the base of the platform there is an arched door where men, horses and carriages could pass through. Many animal images were carved in the arched hole and the arched door. On the walls of both sides of the door, the statues of gods and scriptures are carved. There were three white towers on the platform in the past (this is how it got the name of “Crossing Street Tower”) and were destroyed in the transitional period between the Yuan Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty. Later a Tai’an Temple was built on the platform but was later destroyed in the Qing Dynasty.

 

As there are lush flowers and trees around the Pass like layers of green waves, so it got the good name of “Juyong Green Layers”, which belongs to one of “Yanjing Eight Best Sceneries”.

(Source: chinaculture.org)

Chinese Characters: abidance (abide, comply) 遵守

Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

abidance (abide, comply):

Chinese Pinyin: zun1 shou3

(Source: about.com)