Archive for March 17th, 2010

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China Travel – Huashan Mountain(2)

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

Cultural Heritage

1、South Peak: Taoism Temples

The south peak is the main peak and also the steepest of Huashan Mountain. Legend has it that Laozi, the originator of Taoism, used to missionize here. Among the many temples, the Jintian Palace, the Zhenyue Palace and the Chunyang Temple are the listed among the state-level Taoist structures.

2. West Peak: Green Cloud Temple

The Green Cloud Temple is also called the Holy Mother Temple. It enshrines statues of three holy mothers. There is a large stone cut into three parts outside. It is the well-known “Ax Cutting Stone” for it looks as if it is being cut by an ax. Beside the stone, there is a huge ax. According to legend Baolian Deng (The Lotus Lamp), it was used by Chen Xiang to save his mother.

3. Central Peak: Jade Maiden Shrine

It is on the central peak of Huashan Mountain and stands on a natural stone tortoise. The Jade maiden was said to be Nong Yu — daughter of Duke Mu of the Qin Dynasty (221-206BC). The story took place in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC): A young man named Xiao Shi was good at playing bamboo flute. Nong Yu, who fell deeply in love with the poor young man, gave up all her nabobism to marry Xiao. The lovers came to Huashan Mountain and lived here for the rest of their life. To commemorate the couple, people built the Jade Maiden Shrine.

(Source: chinaculture.org)

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Chinese Culture – Brick and stone reliefs: Chinese paintings in 3-D(5)

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
A red colored rubbing of an Eastern Han stone showing a Lord on an excursion, accompanied by his servants. The rubbing scholar has added a poem.
Even the architecture of the Han Dynasty can be reconstructed because a brick and its rubbing of a city gate have survived. The gate is flanked by two mighty towers with watching platforms at its top. On the roof of the gate we see a phoenix, a symbol of happiness, luck and longevity. We also find models of towers, palaces and farms in the tombs of the Han nobility that are scattered all over China.
An item that is found in tombs and can be seen in pictorial art, is the one horse chariot of the Han dynasty. It was used by an aristocrat and the chariot leader. A halfmoon shaped axes indicates the rank of the owner of this chariot. Brick and rubbing are both conserved.
We see not only the life of the nobility but also the daily work the peasants had to do. This rubbing of an Eastern Han brick shows two men shooting ducks and harvesting peasants.
A further example of a picture that shows a scene in daily life is this rubbing of an Eastern Han brick, demonstrating the work in a butcher’s shop, where we see meet being chopped, hanged up, dried and boiled.
As a source of Han social history, this picture of a store can be used as an ideal illustrative material. The trader sells sheep and a kind of wine.
The period of the Southern and Northern Dynasties was dominated by warriors of Chinese and Non-Chinese origin. This brick shows a cavalry soldier with his heavily armored horse.
Southern Dynasties court ladies. On this brick we can admire the costumes, hair fashion and the large shoes of the 5th century dam

（Source: chinaculture.org）

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Learn Chinese Podcast – Slow-stewed Bean Curd with Chicken Soup

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

Slow-stewed Bean Curd with Chicken Soup Slow-stewed Bean Curd with Chicken SoupTaste: Simply delicious.

Features: Golden yellow in color, the bean curd is crispy outside and tender inside.

Ingredients:

200 grams (0.44 lb) bean curd

2 eggs

50 grams (0.11 lb) wheat flour

10 grams (2 tsp) cooking wine

3 grams (1/2 tsp) salt

1 grams (1/4 tsp) MSG

3 grams (1/10 oz) finely cut scallions

5 grams (1/6 oz) chopped ginger

10 grams (2 tsp) sesame oil

75 grams (5 tbsp) chicken soup

100 grams (7 tbsp) cooking oil

Directions:

1. Cut the bean curd into slices 4 cm (1.6 inches) long, 2.5 cm (1 inches) wide and 0.4 cm (0.16 inches) thick. Put them on a plate and sprinkle on the scallion and ginger 2 g (1/15 oz) each. Add 1 g(1/6 tsp) of the salt, and 5 g (1 tsp) of the cooking wine to marinate.

2. Heat the oil in a wok to 180-200°C (355-390°F). Whip the eggs and dip the cut bean curd slices to allow them to be evenly coverd with the whipped egg. Deep-fry the bean curd slices until they are golden yellow on both sides. Add the ginger, scallions, chicken soup, the remaining cooking wine and salt, MSG, and when mixture starts to boil, cover the wok lid. Turn to a low fire and cook until the soup is absorbed. Sprinkle on the sesame oil and bring out to serve.

(Source: culture.chinese.cn)

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