Child Bathing at One Month Old

Chinese Folk Customs--Child Bathing at One Month Old

When an infant is one month old, relatives and friends gather in the house. These people pour warm scented water into a silver pot, and put nuts called “infant-bathing nuts” and colorful paper notes in the water. They tie bright silks around the pot. These silks are called “ red around the pot”. Elder members stir the water in the pot with gold or silver hairpins. These are called “pot stirring pins”. The close relatives among the guests drop gold coins or silver pins into the pot. This practice is called “adding to the pot”, If there are dates floating upright in the water, young women race to eat them because they think doing so foretells their having a boy. After bathing the infant, people shave its head and collect its hair in a gold or silver box. Parents then show the baby around to thank all those attending. This rite is adopted by rich families and families of officials. Common people and poor families have something simpler in accordance with their economic means.

中国传统文化精粹--满月洗儿会

孩子满月那天，亲戚朋友都聚集在一起，家人吧和着香料煮好的热水倒在银盘里，把叫做“洗儿果”的干果和彩色的钱币等放在水里，还用彩色的丝绸绕在盘上，这称作“围盆红”。长辈用金叉或银叉搅盆中的水，这名叫“搅盆叉”。客人中的近亲也把金的钱币、银的叉撒到盆中去，这叫做“添盆”。盆水中若浮有竖立的枣子，年青的妇人都争着拿来吃掉，她们认为这是生男孩的征兆。洗完孩子，剃完胎发，把胎发放入金或银制成的小盒中。大人抱着孩子感谢每个亲人和家人。倘是有钱的人家或是官宦之家，就用这样的礼仪，普通人家或穷困人家，随自己的能力节俭一些。

Gifts Expediting Child Delivery

Chinese Folk Customs--Gifts Expediting Child Delivery

As families in Hangzhou await a child in a woman’s last month of pregnancy, just before delivery members of the family will place a bunch of millet stalks in a silver of an ornamental pot covered with silk or paper and decorated with interwoven patterns of flowers and rich-paper plant. This suggests chances of bearing five boys and two girls. In addition, there are pastries in the shape of sleeping lambs and crouching deer, one hundred and twenty painted duck eggs, regular dishes, lamb, raw dates and chestnuts and embroidered clothes for the infant. All these are sent to the son-in-law’s house. They are called “gifts expediting child delivery”.

中国传统文化精粹--催生礼

杭州城里人家生孩子，如孕妇进入最后一个月，产期将到的时候，娘家人就用银盆或彩色的盆盛一束粟米杆子，上面盖着丝绸或纸，并用花朵、通草交织的花样点缀着，表示生育五男二女的意思。还有面粉做的睡羊和卧虎、一百二十个彩绘的鸭蛋、日常的饭菜、羊、未熟的枣子、粟子和手绣的彩色婴儿服装送到女婿家中，这叫做“催生礼”。

汉语语法基础知识一：名词

一、名词的定义Definition

表示人或事物名称的词叫名词。A word denoting the name of a person or thing is called a noun.

二、名词的种类Types

根据名词的不同意义，名词可分为以下各类：Nouns can be grouped into the following kinds according to their meanings:

l  专有名词（包括国名、地名、人名、书名等）：Proper nouns(including names of countries, places, persons, books etc.). For example:

中国   北京   黄河   长城   孙中山   毛泽东  《家》

l  指人的名词：Nouns of personal reference:

人   朋友   大夫   工人   经理

l  指动植物的名词：Nouns of animate things:

鱼   羊   花   树

l  表示具体事物的名词：Nouns of inanimate objects:

笔   车   山   本子   电脑   鼠标   光盘   学校   城市

l  表示抽象事物的名词：Nouns of abstract things:

友谊   汉语   经济   事   思想   行为

l  表示时间的名词：Nouns of time:

年   月   日   钟点   早上   春天

l  表示方位的名词：Nouns of locality:

上   下   前   里   东   南   左   上边   后面   西边   中间

Activities to Develop Oral Skills—Tongue Twister

Pronunciation and fluency are related to the physical aspect of speech. This activity intends to exercise the “speaking muscles” of your class.

Preparation for the activity:

Handouts: Practice rhyme sheet

Procedure:

Step 1: Create a list of items: words, phrases, sentences

Step 2: Pre-speaking practice

      Read the list of rhymes to review vocabulary.

Step 3: Read aloud

      Teacher leads reading rhymes aloud in class with increasing speed.

Step 4: Class memorization

      The class tries to say one rhyme from memory.

Step 5: Individual experiment

      Select individuals to perform from memory.

Step 6: Time your speech

      Ask the students to time the teacher reciting one rhyme to see how fast it can be done.

      Have students set individual speed records.

Follow-up 1: Homework

Select two or three rhymes to practice: memorize and time.

Follow-up 2: In class competition

Students select one best-practiced rhyme to perform/

Time the performance.

Analysis of the activity:

It supports review and lays ground for further learning.

It makes mechanical exercises exciting.

It connects class work with home work.

It makes assessment natural.

A brief in Chinese Minorities

There are altogether 56 peoples in China, among which 55 are officially recognized ethnic minorities except Han. The defining elements of a minority are language, homeland, and social values. The 53 ethnic groups use the spoken languages of their own; 23 ethnic minorities have their own written languages.

All nationalities in China are equal, as stipulated by the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China. They take part in the administration of state affairs as equals, irrespective of their numbers or the size of areas they inhabit. every minority nationality is represented in the National People’s Congress, which is the highest organ of state power of the People’s Republic of China.

Equality, unity and common prosperity are the fundamental objectives of the government in handling the relations between ethnic groups. China exercises a policy of regional autonomy for various ethnic groups, allowing ethnic group sliving in compact communities to establish self-government and direct their own affairs.

In most of China’s cities and country town, two or more ethnic groups live together. Taking shape over China’s long history, this circumstance of different ethnic groups living together in one area while still living in individual compact communities in special areas continued to provide the practical basis for political, economic and cultural intercourse between the Han and the various minority peoples, and for the functioning of the autonomous national minority areas system.

The Clear and Bright Festival

The meaning of Qing Ming  

Qing Ming (Pure Brightnese) is a traditional festival highlighted by worship at ancestral graves. Usually it falls between April 4-6.The festival marks the fifth solar term of the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, which divides the year into 24 such terms according to the position of the earth as it orbits the sun. The names of the terms are used as guideposts for agriculture and certain Chinese festivals in China . Qing Ming marks the start of spring plowing in China’s north and of spring sowing in the south. At this time people also customarily make offerings to family ancestors, go on outings and flying kites.

What would people do in Qing Ming

In ancient China, Qing Ming was by no means the only time when sacrifices were made to ancestors. In fact such ceremonies were held very frequently, about every two weeks, in addition to other important holidays and festivals. The formalities of these ceremonies were in general very elaborate and expensive in terms of time and money.

Natural change after Qing Ming

A society of natural farming economy employed slash-and-burn cultivation, burning mountains and destroying forest. Spring was a time when grass and trees start sprouting. To keep a balanced ecology and to preserve a better living environment was a necessity to human being’s own survival. It was said in Li Ji--Yue Ling,” During this month, the air pressure of the sky comes down and the air pressure of earth rises up. When the sky and earth come together, grass and trees germinate. It is an edict from god to start farming.”

The origin of Qing Ming

Continued upkeep of loved one’s tombs is the purpose of a Chinese holiday called Qing Ming Jie, which means “clear and bright.” Traditionally falling on the 105^th day after the lunar winter solstice, this is the time for inspecting and cleaning graves. In this balmy, crystalline time of year, the very sky looks fresh-swept and flawless, refreshingly “clear and bright.”

chinese folk arts-Clay figurine

chinese folk arts-Clay figurine

Clay figurine is one of antiquated chinese folk arts . The clay is taken as raw material and manually kneaded into a figurine and the sculptures are mainly the characters and animals. This kind of art can date back to the Neolithic Period. The time of pottery pig and sheep unearthed in Hemudu ancient cultural relic of Zhejiang Province is about six thousand to seven thousand years ago; the time of antique pottery, clay pig and clay sheep head unearthed in Peiligang ancient cultural relic of Xinzheng, Henan Province is about seven thousand years ago. However it was until the Ming and Qing dynasties that the clay figurine had been substantially produced and became one of the main artworks in the mass's cultural life.

The art of clay figurine is divided into two branches in China: Wuxi Huishan Clay Figurine and Tianjin "Clay Figurine Zhang". The Huishan Clay Figurine which stems from the western suburb of Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province begun in the Southern Dynasty and flourished in the Ming Dynasty and had a history of over one thousand years. The most famous character of "Big A'fu" is rich and brisk, deep and concise in sculpture, bright and ardent in color, full of a rich native tinge. Tianjin "Clay Figurine Zhang" was initiated in Daoguang Period of the Qing Dynasty and had a history of 180 years. Zhang Mingshan (1826-1906) was the initiator of "Clay Figurine Zhang". It is said that he could complete a lifelike clay figurine with vivid facial expression in a minute while sitting and talking to others. Xu Beihong, the famous contemporary Chinese painter, applauded him as a great folk sculptor in China.

In 1992, the representative works "Big A'fu" of Huishan clay figurine was designated as the tourism mascot at that year by the State Tourism Bureau; at a Chinese modern art gallery in Ashiya, Japan, a special display room was built for the painted sculptures of Tianjin "Clay Figurine Zhang". The art of clay figurine has already walked out of the national gate and become an envoy for the communication between the Chinese and foreign cultures and been gradually accepted and cherished by more and more nations and people.

the silkworm and the silk

The Fable of Silkworm and Horse is recorded in the mythical novel A Search for God. As the legend goes, in ancient times there is a father who went afar, leaving his only daughter at home. The daughter missed her father so much that she joked with her horse, "I'll marry you if you get my father back home." The horse did as what she said and got her father back. However, when her father returned home, the daughter copped out on her words. When her father got to know the truth, he killed the horse with his arrow and peeled its skin. All of a sudden, the horse skin jumped up, wrapped up the girl and disappeared. Several days later, the father found among the leaves of a big tree his daughter, who had turned into a silkworm spinning on the tree. The tree was the mulberry.

The silkworm is a holometabolous insect requiring special care in different stages of growth. Therefore, sericulture is a hard job. When cocoons are formed, we may begin reeling raw silk, which can then be weaved into colorful silk. China boasts a large variety of silk, including the massive brocade and floss, light gauze and yarn, lustrous satin and damask silk, as well as delicate Gesi silk tapestry and superior embroidery.

the silk

Silk is a kind of fabric elaborately made of the natural protein fibrin of pods. Products made of silk have bright luster and soft touch; silk clothes are very comfortable and soft, and has the function of adjusting body heat and moisture, and preventing ultraviolet radiation; silk can also be used to produce home commodities like curtains and carpets, and it is favored by the consumers for the functions of absorbing sound and dirt, heat preservation, and fire-proof. Foreign customers also call silk "the headspring of beauty", for products made of it are rather flowery.

China is the earliest country raising silkworms and weaving silk. It is said the silkworm was first raised by Lei Zu, wife of the Yellow Emperor. According to archaeological speculation, the Chinese have begun to raise silkworms, and pull and weave silk since the middle Neolithic Period 5000-6000 years ago. In the Shan Dynasty, the silk production had reached a certain level, relatively complicated weave machines and skills were developed, and the silk products reached a high technical level. Expanding with the foreign trade scale of the Han Dynasty, the trade and export of silk was unprecedentedly prosperous. Silk, due to its delicate, comfortable and rare characteristics, is very popular among the aristocrats in European palaces. The silk trade promoted the further development of economic and cultural exchanges between China and her neighbor countries, forming the famous prosperous "Silk Road".

The invention of silk made the silkworm weaving a relatively important handicraft industry in ancient China, and exerted a great influence on China in terms of ancient poetry culture and chinese folk-customs. Many articles in The Book of Songs, for example, describe the situation about raising silkworms by women, and folk craftworks like embroidery also take silk as materials. Silk is not only a noble costuming, but a precious artwork. It contains abundant cultural meanings and historical values, representing China's age-old splendid culture. The silk trade promoted the large-scale economic and cultural exchange between the West and East, and made a great contribution to the development of human culture.

The Alluring Xizi—West Lake

Lying on the west edge of Hangzhou city, the beautiful West Lake covers a total area of 6 square kilometers with and average depth of 1.5 meters. It is divide into 5 sections by the renowned scenic spots of Su Causeway, Bai Causeway and Yanggong Causeway, namely the Oulter Lake, North Inner Lake, Yuehu Lake, West Inner Lake and Little South Lake.

Embraced by mountains and hills on three sides, the lake contains glittering blue water. Three islets of lesser Yingzhou, Mid-Lake Pavilion and Ruangong Dun tripartitely stand at the centre of the lake which is girdled by myriad blossoming flowers and dense trees. The surrounding scenes hills home miraculously shaped peaks and serene forests and springs, providing scenes to supplement those of the Lake.

The West Lake is a romantic poem, a natural picture and there will be beautiful stories  happened here everyday. Everyone will be greatly moved by the unparalleled fairness of the scenic lake. Different views can be seen in different seasons.

In spring, the green meadow along the lake attracts the birds that are flying to stop here; peach blossoms and plum blossoms are flourished everywhere. You can spend a whole day to tour on foot, by bike or hire a boat for seeing a good view of the entire lake.

Summertime, pretty water lilies on the lake surface make you feel a little bit cooler in the heat. In autumn the full moon shines and reflects itself clearly on the West Lake, the coolness of the season in Hangzhou make the scenery very lovely, and you will see fish swimming freely.

The essence of the scenic lake can only be seen during and after a snowfall, the lake’s “Broken Bridge” becomes “rejoined” by the white snow, the ancient trees along the lake are decorated by the heavenly thing, when you are lucky to be here, you may feel you’re really in a paradise.

Near to the lake can be found the Ling Yin Temple in its woodland setting near to Fei Lai Feng. Legend says that the limestone peak flew from India where it had formed part of a holy mountain. These are of particular interest to Buddhists and those who love sculpture and art.

The Mausoleum of General Yue Fei is a monument to the patriot who was murdered in 1141 at the behest of his arcrival Qin Hui, the prime minister of Song Dynasty. These buildings like others in the vicinity of the lake such as the Six Harmonies Pagoda add to the calm and beauty of their surroundings.

No visitor to the West Lake and Hangzhou can fail to learn something of this city’s most famous products, namely silk and Dragon Well Tea. Since the Tang Dyansty (618-907) silk products from Hangzhou have found their way all over the world. The National Silk  Museum is the first Chinese national museum to be dedicated to silk culture. The similar museum, the National Tea Museum is dedicated to tea, providing a fascinating insight into the history and production of Chinese tea.

Another natural spectacle to be found here is the tidal bore of the Qiantang River that has enthralled people for centuries. Standing at the 13 storey high Six Harmonies Pagoda, visitors could overlook the river estuary. Dating from 970 and built o the site of an earlier pagoda that served as a lighthouse, the name refers to the six codes of Buddhism i.e. harmony of the body, speech and thought and the renunciation of personal pleasure, opinions and wealth. A climb to the top of pagoda carries the reward of an impressive view over the tidal bore.

Hopefully, this introduction to the delights of the area surrounding the West Lake will tempt you to visit them for yourself. You can be assured that the splendid and diverse landscape will remain long in your memory as you call to mind tour sites to be found south of the Yangtze River.

The Must-see Sacred Mountain –Mount Huangshan

Mountain Huangshan is located in the southern part of Anhui Province. Added to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List in 1990, Mountain Huangshan is generally regarded as China’s most picturesque mountainous area, with the fantastic pines, the grotesque rocks, the sea of clouds and the hot springs, which is called the four major attractions of the mountain Huangshan.

The Mountain Huangshan was formed in the Mesozoic era, about 100 million years age, when an ancient sea disappeared Later, in the Quaternary Period, the landscape was molded by glacial action. Mountain Huangshan is a body of granite, often with vertical joints, which help form many beautiful caves and tunnels. Within an area of 154 square kilometers, the mountain offers a crowd of peaks. 72 of them have names indicating the shapes they resemble. Lotus, Brightness Apex and Celestial Caital are the three major ones, all rising above 1,800 meters.

Each of the 72 peaks in different shapes has its own charm. Lotus Peak and Celestial Capital Peak are distinguished for their loftiness, steepness and grandeur, while Shixin Peak shooting out from the deep valley impress us with its slenderness, quietness and delicacy. The harmony of strength and gracefulness, the two qualities of beauty, make a superb picture of Mountain Huangshan.

Although the mountain are not that high (the highest peak is 1,873 meters), the peaks are often enshrouded in mist and fog, and covered in snow during winter months. Because the mountain tops are often above cloud level, they offer spectacular views of the clouds from above and glorious lighting, and Mountain Huangshan is renowned as a photographer’s paradise. When it is cloudy the pinnacles loom in mists as if the were illusionary. When the sun shines, they unfold in all their majesty and splendor.

Because of its peculiar terrain, Mountain Huangshan’s climate is marked by a vertical change, and the vertical distribution of vegetation is also distinctive: plants on the summit, on the middle levels and at the foot belong to the frigid, temperate and subtropical zones respectively. There are more than 1,500 species of plants, which makes Mountain Huangshan so important for China’s botanical research. One of the species is pines, for which Mountain Hiangshan is beautiful.

The hardy, old pines are all beautifully shaped by nature, some growing out of the rock cracks, some standing adhering to the cliff, some overhanging over the deep valley, and some capping the head of rock. There are pines stretching out their arm-like branches like earnest ushers greeting guests year after year. There are also pines with twisted and gnarled roots that look like flying dragon or couching tiger keeping one inawe. Stretching or twisting, standing or crawling, Mountain Huangshan’s pines growing in various styles are all natural works of art.

The beautiful scenery of the various vegetation is not only for visual enjoyment, but also fro medicinal herbs store. More than 300 kind are found here, in which the notable ones is glossy ganoderma, Chinese gold thread rhizome and Chinese cinnamon. Moreover, Maofeng tea of Mountain Huangshan, regarded as one of the top ten green teas of China, is well known at home and abroad.

Mountain Huangshan has captivated and inspired artists for hundreds of years. Poetic phrases in handsome calligraphy can be found in many spots on the mountain. They have become part of the fascinating scene themselves.

However, Huangshan Mountain is too beautiful for words, so the best thing to do is to tour it and get some idea of it for yourself. The hot spring here is not only suitable for bathing but also serves as a form of herbal bath for curing various types of disease. Don’t miss the Cuisine in Anhui Province, often called Hui Cuisine,  is one of the eight major cuisines of China.