Archive for September 28th, 2008

Learn Chinese Podcast – Happy China 280

Sunday, September 28th, 2008

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         旁白: 江门的开平

   Most of the castle-like buildings

   are concentrated

   是碉楼分布最多的地方。

   in Kaiping, another city near Jiangmen.

   这里的碉楼

   These Diaolou buildings

   已经成为侨乡民间建筑的

   have become a significant feature

   in this hometown

   一大特色景观。

   of overseas Chinese.

   今天呢,

   Today,

   我们就要带着大家

   we’re going to take our

   audience there for

   一同去领略开平碉楼的独特魅力。

   a glimpse of the unique charm

   of these buildings.

韩佳: 快乐学汉语,万里海疆行!

   Learning Chinese the fun way on this

   Happy Journey along the Coast!

   大家好,我是快乐的韩佳。

   Hello, I’m Merry Han Jia.

  王渊源:大家好,我是快乐的渊源。

   Hi, I’m Happy Yuanyuan.

   韩佳,

   Han Jia,

   开平既然是碉楼最多的地方,

   since Kaiping has more Diaolou

   buildings than any other place,

   那这里到底有多少座碉楼呢?

   how many such buildings does

   it have exactly?

  韩佳: 这么跟你说吧。

   Let me tell you this way.

   江门至今为止

   So far

   还保存着三千多座碉楼。

   over 3,000 such buildings have been

   preserved in the Jiangmen area.

   而在开平境内呢

   And more than 1800 of them

   就有一千八百多座。

   are located in Kaiping.

  王渊源:那确实是够多的呀!

   Surely quite a lot!

  韩佳: 对啊。

   Yes.

   开平的碉楼除了数量多之外呢,

   In Kaiping, such a type of buildings can

   be seen not just in big numbers,

   年代还非常久远。

   but they are very old

   as well.

   比如,我身后的这座迎龙楼

   For instance, the Yinglong

   Building behind me

   就有四百多年的历史了。

   already has a history of

   over 400 years.

   是开平现存最早的碉楼。

   It is the oldest of Diaolou

   buildings in Kaiping.

  王渊源:经历了四百多年,

   After more than 400 years,

   还能保存得这么完好。

   it has been kept still

   so well.

   真是不容易!

   That’s really remarkable!

  韩佳: 是啊。

   Yes.

   这座迎龙楼的造型非常的传统。

   The shape of Yinglong Building

   is very traditional.

   可以说是开平碉楼最原始的式样。

   and it can be said to be the

   earliest style of Diaolou.

   因而还享有”开平碉楼之父”的称号。

   For this reason, it is billed as the Father

   of Kaiping Diaolou buildings.

  王渊源:”原始”就是指最初的,第一手的,对吧?

   “Yuanshi” means original, earliest

   or firsthand, right?

  韩佳: 没错儿。”原始”是个形容词,

   Right. “Yuanshi” is an adjective

   就是指最初的,第一手的。

   that means original, earliest

   or firsthand.

   比如,

   For example,

  Zhè zhong zàoxíng shì diāolóu zhōng zuì yuánshǐ de shìyàng

   这 种 造型 是 碉楼 中 最 原始 的 式样。

   This is the earliest style of Diaolou.

   它在外形设计上非常注重防御。

   The designing of the exterior

   puts emphasis on defense.

   据说,

   It’s said that

   它的外墙就有九十三厘米。

   its exposed walls are 93

   centimeters thick.

   至今为止呢,

   So far

   没有因为任何外界因素而受到损坏。

   no damage has been made to

   them by external factors.

   在开平,

   In Kaiping,

   要想看到更多的碉楼呢,

   if we want to see more

   Diaolou buildings,

   就一定要来这个自力村,

   we should come to Zili Village

   因为在这里,拥有开平规模最大、

   because it has the largest and

   最为集中的碉楼群。

   most concentrated group of

   Diaolou buildings.

   也可以称得上是

   They are considered the representatives

   开平碉楼兴盛时期的代表作了。

   of Diaolou buildings in

   their heyday.

王渊源:那在碉楼兴盛的时期,

   What were the major characteristics

   它们又有一些什么特点呢?

   of the heyday of Diaolou?

  韩佳: 那个时期啊,

   During that period,

   人们会把中国传统的建筑艺术

   people fused Western architectural style

   和西方的建筑风格融为一体。

   into traditional Chinese architecture.

   碉楼中有古希腊的柱廊,

   In these Diaolou buildings, there

   are ancient Greek colonnades,

   伊斯兰的拱券,

   Islamic arches

   也有中国古建筑的飞檐和雕栏。

   and also flying eaves and carved pillars

   of ancient Chinese architecture.

  王渊源:我想,

   I think

   人们建造这些风格独特的碉楼,

   people must have spent a lot

   of energy

   一定得花上很多的精力。

   to build these unique Diaolou buildings.

  韩佳: 嗯。”精力”就是指精神和体力。

   Yes. “Jingli” means energy or vigor.

  王渊源:”精力”就是指精神和体力。

   So “jingli” means energy or vigor.

  韩佳: 比如我们刚才说的,

   For example,

  Rénmen jiànzào diāolóu yào huā hěn duō de jīnglì

   人们 建造 碉楼 要 花 很 多 的 精力。

   People must spent a lot of

   energy to build Diaolou.

   在自力村这么多的碉楼当中

   Of these Diaolou buildings in Zili,

   要说最具有特色、最漂亮的呢

   the most distinctive and most

   beautiful one

   还要数那边那座铭石楼。

   is the Mingshi Building

   over there.

   渊源,这铭石楼建于1925年。

   The Mingshi Building was built

   in 1925.

   一共有六层。

   It has six stories altogether.

   第一层是厅房。

   The drawing room is on

   the first floor.

   第二层到第四层是居室。

   Bedrooms are on the second up

   to the fourth floors.

   第五层是拜神祭祖的地方。

   The fifth floor is a place where

   gods and ancestors were honored.

   那第六层呢,

   And the sixth floor

   则是一个非常宽广的平台。

   is a very spacious terrace.

  王渊源:光从这楼层的布局来看,

   From the assignment of

   these floors,

   就知道这碉楼里住的

   we can be sure that

   一定是当时的大户人家。

   the owner of this building must

   have been a very rich family.

  韩佳: 对啊。

   Yes.

   据说这幢楼的主人呢

   It’s said the owner of

   this building

   很早就到海外去谋生了。

   went abroad to make a living

   very early.

   所以,

   So naturally,

   自然就接受了很多西方文化的熏陶。

   he received a lot of influence

   of Western culture.

   你看,这屋里的很多陈设也都是西式的。

   Look, many furnishings in the room

   are Western-style.

  王渊源:哎呀,还真是。

   Oh, yes indeed.

   你看,有落地钟,还有留声机,

   Look, there is a console clock,

   a gramophone

   还有纯银的茶具呢。

   and a silver tea set.

   这些陈设在当时来讲

   These furnishings

   一定是相当的豪华了。

   must have been considered very

   luxurious at the time.

  韩佳: 是啊。这铭石楼里呢,

   Yes. In the Mingshi Building,

   非常完整地保存了

   the owner’s various articles

   for daily use

   主人当年使用过的各种生活用具。

   have been kept intact.

   也可以说,

   It can be said that

   是开平华侨文化和生活的

   they are the best proof of

   the culture and life

   一个最好见证。

   of returned overseas Chinese

   in Kaiping.

  旁白: 在自力村,

   In Zili Village,

   除了铭石楼,

   apart from the Mingshi Building,

   还坐落着大大小小十多座碉楼。

   there are a dozen or so other Diaolou

   buildings, big and small.

   您瞧,

   Look,

   这些碉楼一座座错落有致、

   these Diaolou buildings are well spaced

   and arranged in a neat order.

   造型精美,让人目不暇接。

   There are too many such beautiful

   buildings for the eyes to take in.

  王渊源:韩佳,自力村真是太棒了!

   Han Jia, Zili Village is

   just fantastic!

那些漂亮的碉楼让我大开眼界。

   These beautiful Diaolou buildings

   are an eye-opener for me.

  韩佳: 那是当然的了。

   That’s for sure.

   不过,来到开平,

   But in Kaiping,

   还有一座非常著名的碉楼

   there is another very famous

   Diaolou building

   也是不能不看的。

   that we shouldn’t miss.

  王渊源:你说的不会就是这座呀?

   Did you mean this one?

  韩佳: 没错儿。

   Precisely.

   这就是位于锦江里的瑞石楼。

   This is the Ruishi Building

   in Jinjiangli.

   它可有着”开平第一楼”的美誉哦。

   It is known as the Number One

   Building in Kaiping.

  王渊源:不愧是”开平第一楼”啊。

   It certainly deserves to be called the

   Number One Building in Kaiping.

   真是够高的!

   It is so tall!

  韩佳: 是啊。

   Yes.

   那它是开平所有碉楼中最高的一座了。

   It is the tallest Diaolou building

   in Kaiping.

   高度有足足二十九米呢。

   It is at least 29 meters

   in height.

   不过除了高度第一之外呢,

   But aside from its number

   one height,

   它的外观

   its appearance

   也是其他碉楼难以相比的。

   is also unmatched by other

   Diaolou buildings.

  王渊源:从外观上看,

   Judging by its appearance,

   它很像欧洲的城堡。

   it is very much like a

   European castle.

   非常宏伟壮观。

   It’s very magnificent.

  韩佳: 是啊。而且据说,

   Yes. It’s said that

   楼主人当年建造这座碉楼时所用的建材,

   the owner’s building materials for

   this building

   还都是从国外进口的呢。

   were all imported from abroad.

  王渊源:国外进口的?

   Imported from abroad?

   那这碉楼的造价不就更高了嘛。

   The cost of the building must

   have been very high.

  韩佳: 嗯。

   Yes.

   渊源刚才说到了”造价”这个词语。

   Yuanyuan just said the word “zaojia”.

   “造价”是个名词,

   “Zaojia” is a noun

   就是指制造产品

   that refers to the cost

   of building

   或者是建造工程的费用。

   or manufacturing something.

  王渊源:”造价”是个名词,

   So “zaojia” is a noun

   就是指制造产品

   that refers to the cost

   of building

   或者是建造工程的费用。

   or manufacturing something.

  韩佳: 这瑞石楼的确是造价很高,

   The cost of this building was

   surely very high

   因为楼主人在整座楼的

   because the owner of this building

   设计和细节装饰上

   put a lot of efforts

   都下了很大工夫。

   into its designing and

   detail decorations.

  王渊源:好,那下面就请观众朋友们,

   Now together with our audience,

   再和我们一起欣赏一下

   let’s take another look

   这座开平第一楼吧。

   at this number one building

   in Kaiping.

  赏心悦目:

   开平地处五邑侨乡中部

   Kaiping is in the middle of four other

   overseas Chinese hometowns.

   分布着大小不一众多的碉楼群

   It boasts many castle-like buildings,

   big and small.

   走进碉楼 好像重温了华侨的发展史

   These buildings reveal the success stories

   of overseas Chinese.

   巍峨耸立的背后是艰辛的奋斗

   Hidden behind them are hard work

   and efforts.

   沧桑变迁之下流传着岁月的讴歌

   They sing praises of changes and successes.

   当目光掠过美丽的碉楼窗棂

   When we look at these beautiful buildings,

   这精美的建筑也成了侨乡历史的一段传奇

   we find them to be part of the legendary history

   of this hometown of overseas Chinese.

  王渊源:今天真是不虚此行啊。

   Our trip for today was really

   very rewarding.

   走进开平,

   Walking into Kaiping,

   就好像来到了一个

   we felt as if we had entered

   万国建筑博览园一样。

   a world architecture expo.

  韩佳: 是啊。

   Yes.

   这些独具特色的碉楼呢

   These unique Diaolou buildings

   给我们留下了非常深刻的印象。

   left a deep impression on us.

   渊源,你知道吗,

   Yuanyuan, do you know that

   现在啊,

   at present,

   开平的这些碉楼呢

   these Diaolou buildings of

   Kaiping have been

   还成为了世界文化遗产呢?

   listed as part of the world

   cultural heritage?

  王渊源:那可真是太好了呀!

   Oh, that’s really remarkable!

   这样,这些精美的碉楼

   This way, these beautiful

   Diaolou buildings

   就会得到更好的保护。

   will be under even better protection.

  韩佳: 没错儿。

   Exactly.

   我们今天的节目到这里就要结束了。

   Our program for today will

   go to end soon.

   来给大家出有奖问答题吧?

   How about setting an award-

   winning question now?

  王渊源:好啊。您听好了。

   Okay. Listen carefully.

   今天的有奖问答题是这样的。

   Here’s today’s award-winning question.

  (问题部分略)

   节目的最后,

   At the end of the program,

   还是要提醒您

   we’d still want to remind you

   别忘了我们的口号。

   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 – Yulin Grottos

Sunday, September 28th, 2008

 

The Yunlin Grottos lie 70 kilometers to the south of Anxi County, Gansu Province.

 

No.4 Grotto of Yulin Grottos

The Yunlin Grottos are chiseled in the cliffs on both the east and west sides of the Yulin River. The east cliff has 30 grottos and the west has 11, with a distance of more than 100 meters between them. It used to be called Ten-Thousand Buddha Gorge. The grottos began to be chiseled and sculpted during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), and was enlarged in the later dynasties such as the Tang (618-907), Five Dynasties (907-960), Song (960-1279), the Western Xia (1038-1227), Yuan (1271-1368) and so on. There are more than 1,000 square meters of frescoes, and more than 100 colored sculptures extant there.

 

The grottos in different forms include Central Pole grotto, Fudou grotto with an oblong or square plane, and the Big Buddha with oval plane and arched roof. Because of the single-lined passageways outside the gates of the grottos, about 15 meters long, it is not easy for the dust storms to intrude, which reduce the damages to the grottos. These grottos have close relationship with the Mogao Grottos in Dunhuang, both of which are Sister Grottos on the Silk Road.

 

The frescoes inside the grottos include the statues of Buddha, Bodhisattvas, and the paintings of Buddhism stories, flowers and beasts, patterns and ornaments, providers, and other figures. Among them, the No.25 Grotto is the most exquisite and precious one. In the main room are two the paintings about Maitreya and the Pure Land in the West, with grand spectacle and intact composition. Manjusri Bodhisattva riding on a lion, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva riding on an elephant, and the Northern and Southern Heavenly Kings are graphically carved with smooth and skilful strokes, and look vivid and lifelike. In the Big Buddha Hall of the No.6 Grotto, there is a statue of Sakyamuni, 20 meters high, being golden all over the body, which are stunningly beautiful. In the No.29 Grotto chiseled in the West Xia, the male and female providers all wear the hat and clothes of the Western Xia’s style, and the inscriptions beside them are also written in the Western Xia language. The frescoes made in those dynasties such as the Five Dynasties, the early years of the Song Dynasty, the Western Xia Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty, not only follow the themes of the past dynasties, but also adopt some new subject matters such as the Water and Moon Kwan-yin, Datura Stramonium of the Secret Sect of Buddhism and so on, whose artistic style is utterly different from those of the past dynasties.

 

Inside the grottos chiseled during the Western Xia Dynasty, the image of Sun Wukong has appeared as a monkey in some paintings of the story that Xuanzang, a Buddhist scholar of the Tang Dynasty, overcame difficulties and obstacles and finally reached India for Buddhist scriptures. This may be the first artistic image of Sun Wukong and is more than 300 years earlier than that in the Pilgrimage to the West.

(Source: chinaculture.org)

Children Chinese – The Qing Dynasty Furniture

Sunday, September 28th, 2008

During the Qing Dynasty, furniture began to take on a more novel appearance. Craftsmen began making Qing-style furniture after Emperor Qianlong’s reign (1736-1795). After political power was stabilized and the economy improved, people began to pay more attention to their material lives. Qing furniture is gaudy and sumptuous — a clear departure from the stark scholarship of the Ming furniture.

To satisfy people’s desires for decorative and luxurious furnishings, Qing furniture came in many varieties. The furniture is heavy and sizable, and features exquisitely carved patterns. Some pieces were carved from head to foot and had inlays of stone, mother-of-pearl, porcelain, metal, and enamel. Qing furniture’s curved decorations and exaggerated shapes demand attention, but some say that the over-emphasis on decoration lowered the artistic level of the furniture.

(Source: ancienthistory.mrdonn.org)