#ChineseTraditionsAndCustoms

Chinese Culture Points

Chinese Appellations

中国人的称谓很复杂,同事之间可以称职务,如“麦总,刘经理”等,熟人之间可以直呼其名,或者在姓的前面加上“老,小”来称呼,如:“老王,小王”等。比较正式的场合对不熟悉的人一般可以称“先生,女士,太太,小姐”等。

The Chinese system of names and titles is by and large complicated. Titles may be used to address each other among one’s colleagues, e.g. “màizǒng and Liú Jīnglǐ”. For acquaintances personal names and surnames may be preceded by “lǎo” (old) or “xiǎo” (young).…

在中国过春节 (Zài zhōng guó guò chūn jié) Celebrating Spring Festival in China

Background

The Chinese Lunar New Year is also known as the Spring Festival because it starts at the beginning of spring. It is the most important festival in China and is traditionally a time for family reunions. Many of China’s ethnic minorities celebrate their Lunar New Year around the same time as the Han people, although some maintain their own calendars.…

Can I give “钟(zhōng) Bell” as a gift to Chinese people?

After accepting invitations from a friend, you must choose a special gift for the host. Many things could be on your present list: fruit, clothes, or books. However, in China, the Bell “钟”(zhōng) could never be given as a present. In Chinese, “钟”(zhōng) has the same pronunciation as “终”(zhōng), which means “the end, the death.”…

Chinese Calligraphy

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大家好,欢迎您收听在线学汉语,我是主持人Jency。这里是我们今天的聊聊中国。在今天的聊聊中国中,我将和大家一起分享一下关于中国书法艺术的知识。

课文:

中国书法是汉字的书写艺术,历史十分悠久。汉字起源于图画,汉字书法是一种独特的线条艺术。作为艺术,中国书法有很强的观赏性。这种观赏性已经超过了它的实用性,这在世界上是独一无二的。

美丽的线条艺术

中国书法的美主要是线条之美。汉字是由笔画组成的,而笔画是由线条来表现的。我们可以从线条和由线条组合的图形中,看出不同的书体和风格,获得不同的美感。 三千年前,当中国人的祖先用线条组成能表达意思的图画,并用刀刻在龟甲和兽骨上时,书法艺术创造就从此开始了。这种很像图画的文字就是甲骨文。甲骨文线条细瘦硬直,有一种古朴之美。 金文是刻铸在青铜器上的文字,线条比甲骨文粗重,字形比较丰满。金文也有一种古朴的美。喜欢中国书法的人都知道石鼓文,它是战国时期的一种优秀的书法艺术作品。石鼓文在十个鼓形的石头上,笔画比甲骨文、金文简化些,线条更为粗壮,古朴而生动。 秦始皇时期出现的小篆,是一种非常漂亮的字。字形是长圆形,左右对称,线条粗细一样,有一种圆笔曲线之美。小篆是秦始皇的丞相李斯创造的。据说为秦始皇歌功颂德的泰山刻石,琅琊台刻石就是李斯写的。 秦汉时期的隶书是快写小篆形成的。隶书字形扁平,笔画有了波式,并有了轻重粗细的变化。隶书表现的是一种笔直线的美。了解隶书艺术,我们可以欣赏礼器碑、曹全碑等作品。 楷书是书法作品中最常见的书体,由隶书发展而来。楷书字形方正工整,笔画线条丰满美观,把书法艺术推向了一个新的高度。唐代是楷书最为繁荣的时期,出现了很多写楷书的大书法家,其中颜真卿、柳公权、欧阳询最有名气。加上元代的赵孟頫,被称为中国古代的四大楷书家。从书法风格上看,他们的风格不同,也体现在笔画线条上。比如颜真卿的字人称“颜体”,笔画粗壮,柳公权的字人称“柳体”,笔画瘦硬,人们把他们两个人不同的书法风格形容都说成是“颜筋柳骨”。 最能体现线条艺术美的就属草书了。草书线条飞舞,笔画相连,生动而有气势,能尽情地抒发书法家的感情,表现书法家的性格。草书中有一种叫狂草,写出的字像暴风雨,艺术欣赏性比较高。古代狂草的作品中,有唐代张旭的古诗四帖和怀素的自叙帖等。 行书也是书法中最常见的书体。行书没有楷书那么工整,但也不像草书那么草率。东晋书法家王羲之的行书十分优美,他写的兰亭序在中国古代被称为“天下第一行书”。王羲之的草书很出色和杰出,人们称王羲之为“书圣”。

独特的书写工具

中国书法成为一种独特的艺术,还和使用的工具有直接的关联。笔、墨、纸、砚是中国书法的独特工具。人们把这四中工具叫做“文房四宝”。 笔就是毛笔,是书写汉字的主要工具。中国很早就有毛笔了,据说新石器时期彩陶上的花纹和图画就是用毛笔画成的。商代甲骨文也是先用毛笔写好之后再用刀刻的。常见的毛笔笔头是羊毫和狼毫。羊毫较软,适宜写大字;狼毫较硬,适合写小字。好的毛笔笔头尖,笔毛柔软有弹性,能写出粗细、刚柔、浓淡、干湿不同的线条来。中国最好的毛笔要数浙江省湖州制作的,这,就是著名的湖笔。 墨就是书写汉字的染料,黑色一般为长方形。墨的发明也很早,甲骨文中就有用墨书写的字。好墨颜色黑而有光泽,写出的字永远不掉色。安徽省徽州生产的徽墨名气最大。 纸是书写汉字的重要材料。纸的种类很多,最好的是宣纸。宣纸吸墨,能表现书法的韵味。宣纸是安徽省宣城的特产,已经有一千八百多年的历史,所以在各种宣纸中,徽宣最受欢迎。 砚俗称砚台,是磨墨的工具。砚台的历史也很久远。砚台有石砚、陶砚、玉砚、瓷砚多种,现在最常用的是石砚。在石砚当中,最有名的要数广东省肇庆生产的端砚。 那么怎样练好书法呢?练好书法可不是一件容易的事,一定要勤学苦练才行。中国的许多著名书法家都是经过长时间的勤学苦练才成功的。传说欧阳询为了临一座古碑上的字,在碑前临了三天。王羲之练字练了二十年,他练字洗笔的池水都被墨染黑了,成了一个墨池。

Parting Etiquette in China

Farewells in China, like welcoming receptions, follow certain etiquette. In formal business situations, the following procedures are usually followed for a proper farewell: first, determine the level of farewell ceremony; then, arrange proper transportation; give or exchange gifts; and finally see off the guest.

As guests leave, hosts will usually observe the following etiquette: first, urge the guests stand up; and finally, walk with the guests for a certain will not usually initiate handshakes with their guests.Gifts…

月饼 (yuèbĭng) Moon Cake

Chinese Food for Mid-Autumn Festival

月饼(yuèbĭng) Moon Cake
The Origin of Moon Cake

Moon cake comes from the Yuan Dynasty. During that time, people would not stand the cruel domination taking place, so many people staged uprisings to fight against the Yuan Dynasty rulers. Zhu Yuanzhang, the most prominent one, united all the people to start the uprisings.…

Answer to How do Chinese People Celebrate the Lunar New Year’s Eve?

Correct Answer: B “大年三十(dànián sānshí) Lunar New Year’s Eve” falls on the 18th of February 2015. It is the last day of the lunar year, which is also one of China’s most important traditional holidays.

Legend has it that a long time ago, during the age of great floods, there was a vicious monster named “年(nián) year.”…

How do Chinese People Celebrate the Lunar New Year’s Eve?

Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank. Judy: Wáng Qīng, nǐ chúxī yè zhǔnbèi zěnme guò ne? Judy:王    清,   你  除夕 夜    准备     怎么   过  呢? Judy: How do you intend to celebrate your New Year’s Eve? Wáng Qīng: Wǒ dǎsuàn chī wán niányèfàn hòu hé jiārén yìqǐ __________.…

Answer to Everything You Need to Know about the Chinese Laba Festival

Correct Answer: B The Laba Festival, or “腊八节(Làbā jié)” in Chinese, is coming up on January 27, 2015. What is the Laba Festival and what will Chinese people do on this day? The following text will help you learn more about this traditional Chinese festival. The Laba Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the eighth day of the twelfth month of the lunar Chinese calendar.…

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