Archive for May 12th, 2008

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 141

Monday, May 12th, 2008
 
 

                        Click to Watch Video Podcast

  (4月2日播出)

  旁白: 岱山岛地处舟山群岛的中部,

  Daishan Island lies in the central

  part of Zhoushan Archipelago.

  是舟山的第二大岛。

  It is the second largest island

  of the archipelago.

  据我们了解,

  To our knowledge,

  人们根据当地的特色

  the island has a series

  of museums

  建起了一系列的博物馆。

  displaying the island’s special

  characteristics.

  因此,岱山也就有了

  For this reason, Daishan

  “博物馆之岛”的美誉。

  is also billed as the Island

  of Museums.

  韩佳: 快乐学汉语,万里海疆行!

  Learn Chinese the fun way and enjoy

  a happy journey across China!

  快乐的韩佳向您问好。

  Hello, I’m Merry Han Jia.

  王渊源:快乐的渊源也向您问好。

  Hi, I’m Happy Yuanyuan.

  哎,韩佳,都说岱山是博物馆之岛。

  Eh, Han Jia, all say Daishan is

  an island of museums.

  那这里有些什么博物馆呢?

  What specific museums does

  it have?

  韩佳: 哇,那可多了。

  Oh, quite a lot.

  有渔业博物馆、台风博物馆、

  The Fishery Museum, the

  Typhoon Museum,

  灯塔博物馆、盐业博物馆等等。

  the Lighthouse Museum and

  the Salt Museum.

  据说啊还有好几座博物馆

  And it is said there are still

  a number of museums

  正在建设之中。

  under construction.

  王渊源:那这儿为什么会建那么多博物馆呢?

  Why did they build so many

  museums here?

  韩佳: 当然是由这里独特的

  Of course, the unique natural

  environment and

  自然环境和特色产业决定的喽。

  special industries here provided

  the bases for doing so.

  王渊源:“决定”就是做主张的意思,对吗?

  ”Jueding” means to decide, right?

  韩佳: 准确地说呢,

  To be precise,

  “决定”在这里是指某一件事物

  ”jueding” here refers to

  something becoming

  成为另一件事物的基础,

  a prerequisite or bases

  或者是先决条件。

  for something else.

  王渊源:“决定”除了有做主张、下决心的意思外,

  So in addition to meaning to decide

  or to determine,

  还可以指某一件事物

  ”jueding”can also refer to something

  成为另一件事物的基础。

  becoming a prerequisite or bases

  for something else.

  韩佳: 没错儿。那平时呢,

  Exactly. Normally,

  我们还会说“由…决定”,

  we can also say “you … jueding”,

  就好像刚才说的。

  just like what we said

  just now.

  jiàn zhème duō bówùguǎn shì yóu zhè li de zìrán huánjing

  hé tèsè chǎnyà juédìng de

  建 这么 多 博物馆 是 由 这 里 的 自然 环境

  和 特色 产业 决定 的。

  The natural environment and special industries here

  provided the bases for building so many museums.

  旁白: 在当地人的带领下,

  Together with a local guide,

  我们来到了岱山的东沙古镇。

  we arrived in the ancient town

  of Dongsha on Daishan Island.

  沿着青石板路,

  Along a flagstone-paved path

  穿过小巷两旁极具渔家特色的

  and through narrow alleys

  一座座老宅,

  flanked with old fishing homes,

  便到了今天的第一站——

  we reached our today’s first stop,

  中国海洋渔业博物馆。

  the Chinese Marine Fishery Museum.

  王渊源:在这样一个历史悠久的

  It is certainly appropriate to

  have built

  渔都古镇里,

  a fishery museum here

  建渔业博物馆还挺合适的。

  in this old fishing town.

  韩佳: 对啊。在这个博物馆里面,

  Yes. In this museum,

  我们不仅能够看到很多

  we can not only see many

  鱼类标本和渔船、渔具等实物,

  fish specimens, fishing vessels

  and fishing gears,

  而且呢还能够了解到

  but also find out

  舟山海洋渔业的发展史。

  the history of Zhoushan

  fishery development.

  王渊源:这么多内容。

  There is so much to see.

  该从哪儿开始呢?

  Where should we start from?

  韩佳: 这个嘛,我们还是找人问问吧。

  To answer this, we’d better get

  someone to consult.

  嘉宾: 欢迎二位

  Ma’am and sir, welcome

  来到我们海洋渔业博物馆参观。

  to our marine fishery museum.

  合: 您好,您好。

  Hi.

  韩佳: 您能不能给我们介绍介绍

  Can you tell us something

  王渊源:这儿的情况啊?

  about this museum?

  嘉宾: 可以。请二位这边走。

  Sure. This way, please.

  这个展馆总共有六个展厅。

  This museum has six showrooms.

  那我们现在看到的呢

  What we’re seeing

  就是第一个展厅。

  is the First Showroom.

  这个展厅里面主要陈列的

  All on display here

  都是一些海洋生物标本。

  are specimens of marine life.

  韩佳: 那刚才说到的“陈列”呢,

  The guide just said “chenlie”.

  就是指把物品摆出来供人观看。

  It means to display or exhibit.

  王渊源:“陈列” 就是指把物品摆出来供人观看。

  ”Chenlie” means to display or exhibit.

  旁白: 在工作人员的耐心讲解下,

  After the staff member’s

  patient explanation,

  我们了解了很多

  we’ve got to know a lot

  海洋文化方面的知识。

  about oceanography and ocean culture.

  渔民们以海为伴,以渔为生,

  Locals live with the sea and

  make a living as fishermen

  形成的风情习俗独具特色。

  and have formed a unique

  lifestyle of their own.

  说起渔民们的海上生活,

  Talking about fishermen’s life

  on the sea,

  您一定会想到渔船、渔网

  you’ll definitely think of the

  fishing boats, fishing nets

  这些和渔民密切相关的物品。

  and stuff that are closely

  related to fishermen.

  其实,还有一种东西

  In fact, there is still

  one more thing

  是渔民出海时必不可少的。

  that is indispensable to

  seafaring fishermen.

  那就是灯塔。

  That is the lighthouse.

  王渊源:这一路上,

  All the way down here,

  我们看到了很多博物馆。

  we’ve seen many museums.

  这灯塔博物馆还是第一次看到。

  But this is the first time we’ve ever

  seen a lighthouse museum.

  嘉宾: 两位主持人好。

  Hi, you two presenters.

  欢迎来到我们岱山灯塔博物馆。

  Welcome to our Daishan

  Lighthouse Museum.

  王渊源:我们刚好想问

  We happened to want to know

  这些灯塔都是哪些国家的。

  which countries these lighthouses

  belong to.

  嘉宾: 像这一座,它是法国的阿姆德灯塔。

  For instance, this one is the Armendeche

  Lighthouse of France.

  那座是德国的佩尔沃姆灯塔。

  That one is the Pellworm Lighthouse

  of Germany.

  另外那座白色的呢,

  And that white-colored one

  是加拿大的卡夫岛灯塔。

  is Canada’s Cove Island Lighthouse.

  王渊源:看来不同国家的灯塔

  It seems that lighthouses of

  different countries

  建筑风格也不一样啊。

  are different in style.

  韩佳: 它们的建筑风格

  Their architectural styles

  虽然不一样,

  are different,

  但是作用却是相同的。

  but their function is the same.

  除了在晚上发出强光指引方向,

  Apart from sending out spotlights

  at night

  保障过往船只的安全外呢,

  to guarantee the safety of

  passing vessels,

  还能在白天啊,

  during the daytime,

  帮助过往的船只辨别航向。

  they can also help the passing vessels

  to determine their orientations.

  旁白: 走出灯塔的世界,

  After walking out of the world

  of lighthouses,

  我们的车队继续向下一个目的地

  our team headed for the next destination,

  台风博物馆进发。

  the Typhoon Museum.

  王渊源:请问这些东西

  Please tell us what these things

  都是干什么用的呀?

  are used for?

  嘉宾: 这个呢就是以前的暴风警报风球。

  This is a balloon used in the past

  for storm warnings.

  因为当时科技比较落后,

  Because of the backwardness of our

  science and technology in those days,

  我们就是要把这些风球

  we had to use these balloons

  挂在高处,

  hanging on high places

  警示当地人民

  to warn locals

  有多少大的台风即将降临。

  of the coming of a certain force

  of typhoon.

  韩佳: 没想到这些东西

  I never imagined that

  虽然看起来不起眼儿,

  although they don’t look very striking,

  却有这么重要的作用啊。

  their function is very important.

  嘉宾: 对啊。

  Yes, indeed.

  王渊源:不起眼儿?怎么讲啊?

  ”Bu qiyanr”? What does it mean?

  韩佳: “不起眼儿”呢

  ”Bu qiyanr” means

  就是不引起人们的重视,

  inconspicuous, not striking

  不引人注目。

  or unremarkable.

  王渊源:“不起眼儿”就是不引起人们的重视,

  ”Bu qiyanr” means inconspicuous,

  不引人注目。

  not striking or unremarkable.

  Tāmen suīrán kàn qǐlai bù qǐ yǎnr què yǒu hěn zhòngyao

  de zuòyong

  它们 虽然 看 起来 不 起 眼儿, 却 有 很 重要

  的 作用。

  They don’t look very striking, but their

  function is very important.

  韩佳: 那您再带我们进馆去看看吧。

  Please take us inside the museum

  for a look.

  走进这中国首家台风博物馆,

  After getting inside this only typhoon

  museum in China,

  通过大量的图片、

  and through a host of pictorial

  实物和资料片,

  and material exhibits as well

  as a film show,

  我们对台风有了进一步地认识。

  we got a deeper understanding

  of typhoons.

  王渊源:没错儿。

  Absolutely.

  了解了这些知识之后,

  Having understood so much,

  我发现台风也没有那么可怕了。

  now I not long find typhoons

  are so terrible.

  韩佳: 是啊。那下面呢,

  Yeah. Next,

  就让我们放松一下,

  let’s relax for a while

  看看岱山美丽的风光吧。

  by seeing some of Daishan’s

  beautiful scenery.

  赏心悦目:

  这里是中国博物馆最多的县

  Daishan has more museums than

  any other Chinese county.

  这里浓缩了丰富的海洋文化

  It is also known for its rich oceanic culture.

  在海洋渔业博物馆了解舟山的海洋史

  The visitor can understand Zhoushan’s oceanic

  history at the Marine Fishery Museum.

  在盐业博物馆体验煮海的乐趣

  He may also get a feel for the fun of boiling

  the sea at the Salt Museum,

  在台风博物馆感受惊涛骇浪

  or witness the torrential waters

  at the Typhoon Museum,

  在中国灯塔博物馆欣赏古老的灯塔

  or enjoy some ancient lighthouses

  at the China Lighthouse Museum.

  人们依托丰富的海洋资源

  Inspired by the rich marine resources,

  把这里打造成中国海洋博物馆之乡

  local people have thus turned their county

  into a home of museums.

  王渊源:下面呢,

  Coming up next,

  到了我们的有奖问答题时间了。

  it’s our award-winning question time.

  韩佳: 您听好了,题目是这样的。

  Listen carefully. Here’s the question.

  (问题部分略)

  好了,今天的节目就到这里。

  All right, that’s it for today.

  让我们相约

  Let’s see each other

  明天同一时间不见不散。

  same time tomorrow.

  王渊源:口号不能忘。

  And 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)

China Travel – Longxing Temple (2)

Monday, May 12th, 2008

The Hall of Mahamuni lies at the front part of the central line, first built in the 4th year (1052) of the Huangtuo reign of the Northern Song Dynasty. Frescoes made in the Ming Dynasty with subjects of Buddhist stories are around the hall. Their color and hue is still as bright as they were just painted. Five clay sculptures in golden clothes are on the altar in the middle of the hall. Among them, statues of Sakyamuni, Ven. Ananda, Kassapa were original ones made in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and the other two were made in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when the temple was expanded. On the back of the screen wall in the north is the unconventional painted clay sculpture of Sumeru. In the sculpture, all kinds of rare fowls and strange animals are running, and a Kwan-yin sits quietly in the middle with a chaplet around the head, ribbons on the shoulders, chest and arms exposed, full and round, hands on knees, one foot on a lotus and the other foot crouched. She appears calm and at ease. This sculpture broke away from the traditional dull style of the religious icons, and is a fine work of the clay sculpture of the Ming Dynasty.

 

The Pavilion of the Great Mercy, which is at the back part of the central line, is the main building of the temple. It is 33 meters high, 7-bay wide and 5-bay long. It has three storeys and five layers of eaves. Its gable and hip roof is covered with green glazed tiles. According to the documents, the Pavilion of the Great Mercy was built in the Kaibao reign (968-976) of the Northern Song Dynasty, and rebuilt in 1944. The bronze Kwan-yin statue with a thousand hands and a thousand eyes towering in the hall was built due to the order of Zhao Kuangyin, an emperor of the Song Dynasty. The 22-meter-high bronze statue appears calm and at ease, and the lines of her clothes are smooth. The Kwan-yin has 42 arms, holding sun, moon, sword, cane and other musical instruments. It is one of the largest bronze statues extant in China.

 

The Vairocana Hall is at the end of the central line. Originally it was the main hall of the Chongyin Temple, which was near the northern gate of Zhengding County. Later, the temple was abandoned and only this hall was preserved. In 1959, the hall was moved to the Longxing Temple, but it was first built in the Wanli reign (1573-1620) of the Ming Dynasty with a bronze statue of Buddha Vairocana in it. On each section of the lotus throne there is a tiny Buddha, 1,000 Buddha in total. On the third layer of the lotus throne, there are 12 statues of Buddha Vairocan, bringing the total number of Buddha statues to 1,012. They form the image of a thousand Buddha surrounding Vairocana. Such unconventional style is the typical example of bronze statues.

 

Because of the long history, the Longxing Temple has a lot of tablets in it, among which the Longcang Tablet is the most precious one. This tablet was set up in the 6th year (586) of the Kaihuang reign of the Sui Dynasty (581-618) after the Longcang Temple was completed with the joint efforts of thousands of people. The calligraphy of the inscription is written with great strength, inheriting the style of the Northern Dynasty (386-581) and initiating the calligraphic style during the most prosperous period of the Tang Dynasty. It holds an important position in the history of China’s calligraphy, as Kang Youwei, the famous scholar in the late years of the Qing Dynasty, put it: This tablet has the characteristics of all the tablets in the six dynasties, and surely can be classified as the No. 1 Tablet not simply in the Sui Dynasty.

 

(Source: chinaculture.org)

Chinese Characters: abiotic 无生命的

Monday, May 12th, 2008

abiotic:

Chinese Pinyin: wu2 sheng1 ming4 de

(Source: about.com)