Archive for May, 2009

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Beijing Olympic – American wins women’s archery individual title

Saturday, May 30th, 2009

Jennifer Nichols of the United States fulfilled the expectations on Thursday in the women’s individual archery final in the 2007 Pan Am Games.

In a fierce competition, the American beat her Mexican opponent Aida Roman 107-103 at the National Archery Center at Deodoro Military Club.

The bronze medal went to Ana Maria Rendon of Colombia who beat compatriot Natalia Sanchez.

The gold medal was decided only in the last moments. In the last series, Jennifer Nichlos, ranked 24th in the world, scored three accurate shots to ensure the victory.

The bronze medal match was between two Colombian archers. Until the third series, the archers were only one point apart and Rendon was more accurate in the last series to wrap up the match 108-106.

After the quarterfinals, the archers shoot 12 arrows in four series of three arrows each.

The men’s individual event will be held on Friday.

(Source: en.beijing2008.cn)

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China Travel – Cishan Site

Friday, May 29th, 2009

The Cishan Site spreads across the mesa on the northern banks of the Luo River, southwest of Wu’an County in Hebei Province.

Discovered in 1973, Cishan is the earliest site of the Neolithic Age found in North China. Preceding the Yangshao Culture, the site dates back to 5400 to 5100 BC. It is of key importance to the study of Yangshao Culture, as well as the cultural deposit of the Neolithic period. Owning to its unique features, the Cishan Culture was named after the site. To date, over 10 Cishan Culture sites were discovered in the central southern areas of Henan Province.

Agriculture was the main form of production back then. Two half-pit foundations surrounded by over 460 kilns, 80 of which were stored with carbonized millet, were discovered at the site. The millet deposits in some kilns were piled up over two meters high. Production tools, such as stone axes, knives, sickles, shovels and millstones used for grain processing, were spread around the site. People of that period learned how to raise livestock, such as chicken, pigs and dogs. Moreover, economic activities like fishing and collecting food also held an important position in people’s lives.

A crucial feature of the Cishan Culture is its pottery making. Mainly red potteries mingled with sand were found in great varieties, including cups, bowls, plates, earthen bowls, three-legged wares, double-ear pots and jars. These items were decorated using rope or by etching patterns into the surface. Such crude techniques, however, were inferior to those used by the Yangshao Culture.

(Source: chinaculture.org)

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Chinese Culture – Li Qingzhao: Woman Poet of Song Dynasty

Friday, May 29th, 2009

A remarkable female poet of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Li Qingzhao (1084-1155) made great achievements in prose as well as poetry, but most of all in the field of lyrics. Born into a literary family in present-day Jinan of Shandong Province, she established herself early as a major talent. In 1101 she married Zhao Mingcheng, who shared her artistic and academic interests.

The style of Li Qingzhao’s lyrics changed sharply after she fled to the south after the invasion of the Kin Kingdom in north China. Before she went south, her lyrics mainly recounted the lives of girls and women in their boudoirs. For example, Like a Dream and Complaint of the Prince describes the airy life of cheer the poetess enjoyed at home. Tipsy in the Flower’s Shadow expresses a girl’s loneliness and longing for love, as also expressed in the Flute on Phoenix Terrace, and A Twig of Plum Blossoms. After fleeing south, she endured great hardships in life and the style of her lyric poetry turned deep and pithy. Buddhist Dancers Charm of a Maiden Singer and Slow, Slow Song explore the author’s feelings about life in exile. Joy of Eternal Union is one of the classic Li Qingzhao’s lyric poems composed in the south, presenting a scene during the Lantern Festival in which the poet, avoiding the company of friends, meditates on the bitterness consigned her by the war. In this lyric poem, Li Qingzhao rises above self-pity and expresses her fears for the whole nation.

In Pride of Fishermen, the poet not only spilled out the distress caused by homelessness but also expressed a strong desire for an unfettered freedom. Li Qingzhao’s lyrics are woven with a “delicate restraint” in the following ways: first, merging intense passion with literary images, creating an artistic conception in which feelings and scenery are well blended; second, using simple but original language, which in Li Qingzhao’s lyrics is very natural and expressive. Not many literary quotations sprinkle her lyrics but with much spoken language and common sayings, Li Qingzhao’s lyrics have the beauty of music and are easy to recite.

（Source: chinaculture.org）

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