英文介绍中国文化、节日、符号、象征(大合集).ppt

The Culture of ChinaDragonForbidden CityForbidden CityGreat WallGreat WallShaolin TempleShaolin TempleChopsticksChopsticksSpring FestivalSpring FestivalQingming FestivalQingming FestivalDuanwu FestivalDuanwu FestivalMid-Autumn FestivalMid-Autumn Festival1-dragon Chinese dragons are legendary creatures in Chinese mythology and folklore.In Chinese art,dragons are typically portrayed as long,scaled,serpentine creatures with four legs.In yin and yang terminology(术语),a dragon is yang and complements a yin fenghuang“Chinese phoenix(长生鸟).In Chinese daily language,excellent and outstanding people are compared to the dragon while incapable people with no achievements are compared with other,disesteemed creatures,such as the worm.A number of Chinese proverbs and idioms feature references to the dragon,for example:“Hoping ones son will become a dragon”(望子成龙).Many Chinese people often use the term“Descendants of the Dragon”(龙的传人)as a sign of ethnic identity,as part of a trend started in the 1970s when different Asian nationalities were looking for animal symbols for representations.The wolf was used among the Mongols(蒙古),the monkey among Tibetans(西藏).2-Fenghuang Fenghuang are mythological birds of East Asia that reign over all other birds.The males are called Feng and the females Huang.In modern times,however,such a distinction of gender is often no longer made and the Feng and Huang are blurred into a single feminine entity so that the bird can be paired with the Chinese dragon,which has male connotations.In ancient and modern Chinese culture,they can often be found in the decorations for weddings or royalty,along with dragons.This is because the Chinese considered the dragon and phoenix symbolic of blissful（极幸福的）relations between husband and wife,another common yin and yang metaphor.“Dragon and Phoenix infants”(龙凤胎)is an expression meaning a set of male and female fraternal twins(异卵双生).3-Forbidden CityThe Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty.It is located in the middle of Beijing,China,and now houses the Palace Museum.For almost five hundred years,it served as the home of emperors and their households,as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government.The palace complex exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture,and has influenced cultural and architectural developments in East Asia and elsewhere.The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987,and is listed by UNESCO(联合国科教文组织)as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.4-Great WallThe Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China,built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups.Several walls have been built since the 5th century BC that are referred to collectively as the Great Wall,which has been rebuilt and maintained from the 5th century BC through the 16th century.One of the most famous is the wall built between 220206 BC by the first Emperor of China,Qin Shi Huang.Little of that wall remains;the majority of the existing wall was built during the Ming Dynasty.5-Chinese Classical GardenThe Chinese Classical Garden is a place for solitary or social contemplation of nature.Chinese gardens were created in the same way as a combination of landscape and paintings together with poems-this was the so-called“poetic garden.”The design of Chinese gardens was to provide a spiritual utopia(乌托邦)for one to connect with nature,to come back to ones inner heart,to come back to ancient idealism.Chinese gardens are a spiritual shelter for people,a place they could be far away from their real social lives,and close to the ancient way of life,their true selves,and nature.This was an escape from the frustration and disappointment of the political problems in China.They used plants as symbols.Bamboo(竹子)was used in every traditional Chinese garden.This is because bamboo represents a strong but resilient(达观的)character.Often pine(松树)is used to represent longevity(长寿),persistence,tenacity(坚韧)and dignity(庄严).The lotus(莲花)is used to symbolize purity.Flowering peaches(碧桃花)are grown for spring color,and sweet olive(橄榄)as well.The chrysanthemum(菊花)is used to symbolize splendor,luster(光彩)and the courage to make sacrifices for a natural life.Peonies(牡丹)symbolize wealth and banana trees are used simply for the sound they make in the breeze.6-Chinese folkloreChinese folklore includes songs,dances,puppetry(木偶戏),and tales.It often tells stories of human nature,historical or legendary events,love,and the supernatural,or stories explaining natural phenomena and distinctive landmarks.The main influences on Chinese folk tales have been Taoism(道教),Confucianism(儒教)and Buddhism(佛教).Well-known Chinese folk tales include:The story of Qi Xi(七夕),also known as the Story of the Magpie Bridge(鹊桥)or the Story of Cowherd(牛郎)and the Weaving Maid(织女),which tells how the stars Altair(牵牛星)and Vega(织女星)came to their places in the sky.The story of Hua Mulan(花木兰),the female warrior who disguised herself as a man.The story of Change(嫦娥),the goddess of the moon.The story of the Magic Paintbrush(神笔马良).The story of Meng Jiangn(孟姜女),the woman who sought her husband at the Great Wall.The story of Sun Wukong(孙悟空),the Monkey King-from the popular novel Journey to the West(西游记).7-Study of Chinese Folklore in ChinaThe Book of Songs(诗经),the earliest known Chinese collection of poetry,contains 160 folk songs in addition to courtly songs and hymns.One tradition holds that Confucius(孔子)himself collected these songs,while another says that an emperor compiled them as a means to gauge the mood of the people and the effectiveness of his rule.It is believed that Confucius did encourage his followers to study the songs contained in the Shi Jing,helping to secure the Shi Jings place among the Five Classics(五经).After Confucian ideas became further entrenched(确立)in Chinese culture,Confucius endorsement led many scholars to study the lyrics of the Shi Jing and interpret them as political allegories and commentaries.8-Shaolin TempleThe Shaolin Monastery or Shaolin Temple is a ChnBuddhist temple at Song Shan near Zhengzhou City Henan Province in Dengfeng,China.It is led by Venerable abbot Shi Yngxn and martial abbot Shi De Li.Founded in the 5th century,the monastery is long famous for its association with Chinese martial arts(武术)and particularly with Shaolin Kung Fu.The Shaolin Monastery and its famed Pagoda Forest were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010 as part of the Historic Monuments of Dengfeng.9-Kung FuChina is one of the main birth places of Eastern martial arts.The names of martial arts were called Kung Fu or its first name Wushu.China also includes the home to the well-respected Shaolin Monastery and Wudang Mountains.The first generation of art started more for the purpose of survival and warfare than art.Over time,some art forms have branched off,while others have retained a distinct Chinese flavor.Regardless,China has produced some of the most renowned martial artists including Wong Fei Hung(黄飞鸿),Bruce Lee(李小龙)and many others.10-Numbers in Chinese cultureIn Chinese culture,certain numbers are believed by some to be auspicious(吉利)or inauspicious(不利)based on the Chinese word that the number name sounds similar to.However some Chinese people regard these beliefs to be superstitions.Since the pronunciation and the vocabulary may be different in different Chinese dialects,the rules are generally not applicable for all cases.Because of the supposed auspiciousness of certain numbers,some people will often choose,attempt to obtain,or pay large sums for numbers that are considered to be lucky for their phone numbers,street addresses,residence floor,drivers license number,vehicle license plate number,bank account number,etc.Lucky numbers are based on Chinese words that sound similar to other Chinese words.The numbers 6,8,and 9 are believed to have auspicious meanings because their names sound similar to words that have positive meanings.11-table mannersChinese table manners are the traditional styles that are used for eating in the region of China.In most dishes in Chinese cuisine(烹饪),food is cooked in bite-sized pieces and easy to grab and eat.Therefore,chopsticks are used at the table instead of forks and knives.Eating is a dominant aspect of the Chinese culture.In China,eating out is one of the most accepted ways to treat guests.Similar to Westerners drinking in a bar with friends,eating together in China is a way to socialize and deepen friendship.There are many traditions that govern table manners in China such as the correct treatment of guests and how to use chopsticks correctly.Although each Chinese household has its own set of table manners and rules,the foundational traditions used to welcome guests are the same.12-ChopsticksChopsticks are small tapered sticks used in pairs of equal length as the traditional eating utensils(用具)of China.Generally believed to have originated in ancient China,they can also be found in some areas of Tibet and Nepal that are close to Han Chinese populations.Chopsticks are most commonly made of bamboo or plastic,but are also made of metal,bone,ivory,and various types of wood.The pair of sticks is maneuvered in one hand,between the thumb and fingers,and used to pick up pieces of food.13-cuisineThe overwhelmingly large variety of Chinese cuisine comes mainly from the practice of dynastic period emperors hosting banquets(宴会)with 100 dishes per meal.A countless number of imperial kitchen staff and concubines were involved in the food preparation process.Over time,many dishes became part of the everyday-citizen culture.Some of the highest quality restaurants with recipes close to the dynastic periods include Fangshan restaurant in Beihai Park Beijing and the Oriole Pavilion.Arguably all branches of Hong Kong eastern style or even American Chinese food are in some ways rooted from the original dynastic cuisines.14-LeisureA number of games and pastimes are popular within Chinese culture.The most common game is Mah Jong.The same pieces are used for other styled games such as Shanghai Solitaire.Others include Pai Gow(牌九).Weiqi and Xiangqi are also popular.Ethnic games like Chinese yo-yo(溜溜球)are also part of the culture.15-architectureChinese architecture,examples of which can be found from over 2,000 years ago,has long been a hallmark of the culture.There are certain features common to Chinese architecture,regardless of specific region or use.The most important is its emphasis on width,as the wide halls of the Forbidden City(故宫)serve as an example.Another important feature is symmetry,which connotes a sense of grandeur as it applies to everything from palaces to farmhouses.One notable exception is in the design of gardens,which tends to be as asymmetrical as possible.Like Chinese scroll paintings,the principle underlying the gardens composition is to create enduring flow,to let the patron wander and enjoy the garden without prescription,as in nature herself.Feng shui has played an important part in structural development.16-musicMo Li Hua,which means Jasmine Flowers,is a popular Chinese folk song.It was created during the Qianlong Emperor period of the Qing Dynasty.There are two versions of the song,the more well known one from the Jiangsu Province,and the other from Zhejiang Province.They have different lyrics and a slightly different melody(曲调).The melody has become well known among Western listeners as it was included by Giacomo Puccini in his opera Turandot(图兰朵),where it is associated with Turandots splendor.This song was sung by a young Chinese girl and broadcast to the world,at the closing ceremonies of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens,Greece,to introduce the next Olympic Games site,accompanied by the music by Peking University students.At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games,this music was used in all awarding ceremonies.17-Spring Festival Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays.It is often inaccurately called“Lunar New Year”,because-as part of the lunisolar Chinese calendar(农历)-the date is partially determined based on lunar phase.The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day.Chinese New Years Eve,a day where Chinese families gather for their annual reunion dinner,is known as ch x(除夕).It literally means“Year-pass Eve”.Red envelopes or red packets(红包)Fireworks(烟花)Firecracker ban(鞭炮)18-According to tales and legends,the beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called the Nien(年).Nien would come on the first day of New Year to devour livestock,crops,and even villagers,especially children.To protect themselves,the villagers would put food in front of their doors at the beginning of every year.It was believed that after the Nien ate the food they prepared,it wouldnt attack any more people.One time,people saw that the Nien was scared away by a little child wearing red.The villagers then understood that the Nien was afraid of the colour red.Hence,every time when the New Year was about to come,the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and doors.People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nien.From then on,Nien never came to the village again.The Nien was eventually captured by Hongjun Laozu,an ancient Taoist monk.The Nien became Hongjun Laozus mount.19-Qingming FestivalThe Qingming Festival is a traditional Chinese festival on the 104th day after the winter solstice(冬至)(or the 15th day from the Spring Equinox(春分),usually occurring around April 5 of the Gregorian calendar(公历).Astronomically(天文学上)it is also a solar term(节气).The Qingming festival falls on the first day of the fifth solar term,named Qingming.Its name denotes a time for people to go outside and enjoy the greenery of springtime(踏青)and tend to the graves of departed ones.20-A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day;The mourners heart is breaking on his way.Where can a winehouse be found to drown his sadness?A cowherd points to Almond Flower(杏花)Village in the distance.21-Duanwu FestivalDuanwu Festival，also known as Dragon Boat Festival,is a traditional and statutory holiday associated with Chinese.The festival occurs on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar on which the Chinese calendar is based.The focus of the celebrations includes eating the rice dumpling zongzi,drinking realgar wine(雄黄酒),and racing dragon boats.The best-known traditional story holds that the festival commemorates the death of poet Qu Yuan.Qu Yuan committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.It is said that the local people,who admired him,threw lumps of rice into the river to feed the fish so that they would not eat Qu Yuans body.This is said to be the or