Unit4:Traditional Chinese culture and its English expressions4.1Traditional Chinese festivals4.1.1Spring FestivalThe Spring Festival falls on the1st day of the1st lunar month,often one month later than the Gregorian calendar.It originated in the Shang Dynasty from the people's sacrifice to gods and ancestors at the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one.Strictly speaking,the Spring Festival starts every year in the early days of the12th lunar month and will last till the mid1st lunar month of the next year.Of them,the most important days are Spring Festival Eve and the first three days.The Chinese government now stipulates people have seven days off for the Chinese Lunar New Year.Many customs accompany the Spring Festival.Some are still followed today,but others have weakened. Before the New Year comes,people do thorough cleaning and washing.Then people begin decorating their clean rooms featuring an atmosphere of rejoicing and festivity.All the door panels will be pasted with Spring Festival couplets,highlighting Chinese calligraphy with black characters on red paper.The content varies from house owners' wishes for a bright future to good luck for the New Year.Also,pictures of the god of doors and wealth will be pasted on front doors to ward off evil spirits and welcome peace and abundance.The Chinese character"fu"(meaning blessing or happiness)is a must.The character put on paper can be pasted normally or upside down,for in Chinese the"reversed fu"is homophonic with"fu comes",both being pronounced as "fudaole."What's more,two big red lanterns can be raised on both sides of the front door.Red paper-cuttings can be seen on window glass and brightly colored New Year paintings with auspicious meanings may be put on the wall. Expressions about Spring Festivalspoetic couplet对联,Spring Festival couplets春联lunar January;the first month by lunar calendar正月New Year‘s Eve;eve of lunar New Year除夕the beginning of the New Year正月初一New Year paintings年画special purchases for the Spring Festival;do Spring Festival shopping买年货propose a toast敬酒fireworks烟花,firecrackers(People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)爆竹lion dance(The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)舞狮dragon dance(to expect good weather and good harvests)舞龙variety show;vaudeville杂耍staying-up守岁comic dialogue相声sketch小品pay New Year’s call;give New Year‘s greetings;New Year’s visit拜年,taboo拜年禁忌get rid of the ill-fortune去晦气offer sacrifices to one's ancestors祭祖宗gift money压岁钱bid farewell to the old year辞旧岁family reunion dinner团圆饭Treasures fill the home金玉满堂Business flourishes生意兴隆Peace all year round岁岁平安Wishing you prosperity恭喜发财Harmony brings wealth和气生财Everything goes well吉祥如意The country flourishes and people live in peace国泰民安Money and treasures will be plentiful招财进宝Promoting to a higher position步步高升Safe trip wherever you go出入平安4.1.2Lantern FestivalThe Lantern Festival falls on the15th day of the1st lunar month,usually in February or March in the Gregoriancalendar.As early as the Western Han Dynasty,it had become a festival with great significance.According to the Chinese tradition,at the very beginning of a new year,when there is a bright full moon hanging in the sky,there should be thousands of colorful lanterns hung out for people to appreciate.There are many different beliefs about the origin of the Lantern Festival.But one thing for sure is that it had something to do with religious worship.Guessing lantern riddles“is an essential part of the ntern owners write riddles on a piece of paper and post them on the lanterns.If visitors have solutions to the riddles,they can pull the paper out and go to the lantern owners to check their answer.If they are right,they will get a little gift.The activity emerged during people's enjoyment of lanterns in the Song Dynasty(960-1279).As riddle guessing is interesting and full of wisdom,it has become popular among all social strata.People will have Y uanxiao,or rice dumplings,on this day,so it is also called the"Yuanxiaojie."Yuanxiao also tangyuan is small dumplings with a variety of contents as fillings which can be boiled,fried or steamed.It tastes sweet and delicious.What's more,tangyuan in Chinese has a similar pronunciation with"tuanyuan”,meaning reunion. So people eat them to denote union,harmony and happiness for the family.4.1.3Qingming FestivalThe Qingming(Pure Brightness)Festival is one of the24seasonal division points in China,falling on April4-6 each year.After the festival,the temperature will rise up and rainfall increases.It is the high time for spring plowing and sowing.But the Qingming Festival is not only a seasonal point to guide farm work,it is more a festival of commemoration.The Qingming Festival sees a combination of sadness and happiness.The Hanshi(Cold Food)Festival was usually one day before the Qingming Festival.As our ancestors often extended the day to the Qingming,they were later combined.On each Qingming Festival,all cemeteries are crowded with people who come to sweep tombs and offer sacrifices.Traffic on the way to the cemeteries becomes extremely jammed.The customs have been greatly simplified today.After slightly sweeping the tombs,people offer food,flowers and favorites of the dead,then burn incense and nether currency and bow before the memorial tablet.4.1.4The Dragon Boat FestivalThe Dragon Boat Festival,the5th day of the5th lunar month,has had a history of more than2,000years.It is usually in June in the Gregorian calendar.Dragon boat racing is an indispensable part of the festival.Folk tales say the game originates from the activities of seeking Qu Yuan's body,but experts,after painstaking and meticulous research,conclude that dragon boat racing is a semi-religious,semi-entertaining program from the Warring States Period(475-221BC).In the following thousands of years,the game spread to Japan,Vietnam and Britain as well as China's Taiwan and Hong Kong.Now dragon boat racing has developed into an aquatic sports item which features both Chinese tradition and modern sporting spirit.In 1980,it was listed into the state sports competition programs and has since been held every year.The award is called "Qu Yuan Cup."Case2:“The moon is climbing up above the sea.Although we are far away from each other,we share the same time.”What does this imply?And at what time should it be recited?Why?4.1.5The Mid-Autumn FestivalThe Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the15th day of the8th lunar month,usually in October in Gregorian calendar.In antiquity,there were ten suns rising in the sky,which scorched all crops and drove people into poverty.A hero named Hou Yi was much worried about this,he ascended to the top of the Kunlun Mountain and,drew his extraordinary bow and shot down nine of them one after another.He also ordered the last sun to rise and set accordingto time.For this reason,he was respected and loved by the people.Hou Yi had a beautiful and kindhearted wife named Chang E.One day on his way to the Kunlun Mountain to call on friends,he ran upon the Empress of Heaven Wangmu who was passing by.Empress Wangmu presented to him a parcel of elixir,by taking which,it was said,one would ascend immediately to heaven and become a celestial being.Hou Yi, however,hated to part with his wife.So he gave the elixir to Chang E to treasure for the time being.Chang E hid the parcel in a treasure box at her dressing table when,unexpectedly,it was seen by Peng Meng.One day when Hou Yi led his disciples to go hunting,Peng Meng,sword in hand,rushed into the inner chamber and forced Chang E to hand over the elixir.Aware that she was unable to defeat Peng Meng,Chang E made a prompt decision at that critical moment.She turned round to open her treasure box,took up the elixir and swallowed it all.As soon as she swallowed the elixir her body floated off the ground,dashed out of the window and flew towards heaven. When Hou Yi returned home at dark,he knew from the maidservants what had happened.With grief,Hou Yi looked up into the night sky and called out the name of his beloved wife when,to his surprise,he found that the moon was especially clear and bright and on it there was a swaying shadow that was exactly like his wife.He tried his best to chase after the moon.But as he ran,the moon retreated;as he withdrew,the moon came back.He could not get to the moon at all.Thinking of his wife day and night,Hou Yi then had an incense table arranged in the back garden that Chang E loved. Putting on the table sweetmeats and fresh fruits Chang E enjoyed most,Hou Yi held at a distance a memorial ceremony for Chang E who was sentimentally attached to him in the palace of the moon.When people heard of the story that Chang E had turned into a celestial being,they arranged the incense table in the moonlight one after another and prayed kindhearted Chang E for good fortune and peace.From then on the custom of worshiping the moon spread among the people.People in different places follow various customs,but all show their love and longing for a better life.Today people will enjoy the full moon and eat moon cakes on that day.4.2.The solar terms立春the Beginning of Spring(1st solar term)Feb.3,4,or5雨水Rain Water(2nd solar term)Feb.18,19or20惊蜇the Waking of Insects(3rd solar term)Mar.5,6,or7春分the Spring Equinox(4th solar term)Mar.20,21or22清明Pure Brightness(5th solar term)Apr.4,5or6谷雨Grain Rain(6th solar term)Apr.19,20or21立夏the Beginning of Summer(7th solar term)May5,6or7小满Lesser Fullness of Grain(8th solar term)May20,21or22芒种Grain in Beard(9th solar term)Jun.5,6or7夏至the Summer Solstice(10th solar term)Jun.21or22小暑Lesser Heat(11th solar term)Jul.6,7or8大暑Greater Heat(12th solar term)Jul.22,23or24立秋the Beginning of Autumn(13th solar term)Aug.7,8or9处暑the End of Heat(14th solar term)Aug.22,23or24白露White Dew(15th solar term)Sep.7,8or9秋分the Autumn Equinox(16th solar term)Sep.22,23or24寒露Cold Dew(17th solar term)Oct.8or9霜降Frost‘s Descent(18th solar term)Oct.23or24立冬the Beginning of Winter(19th solar term)Nov.7or8小雪Lesser Snow(20th solar term)Nov.22or23大雪Greater Snow(21th solar term)Dec.6,7or8冬至the Winter Solstice(22th solar term)Dec.21,22or23小寒Lesser Cold(23th solar term)Jan.5,6or7大寒Greater Cold(24th solar term)Jan.20or24.3Chinese Cuisine4.3.1Features of Chinese CuisineChinese culinary厨房的,烹调用的,厨房用的arts are famous all over the world.Chinese dishes appeal有吸引力to the senses through colour,shape,aroma香味and taste.Chinese cuisine’s entree主菜normally strives for three to five colours,made up of the main ingredient成分,with more secondary ingredients of contrasting colours and textures结构; these are prepared and cooked to enhance their own qualities,with the use of appropriate condiments调味品and garnishing装饰,enabling chefs to present a delicious platter大浅盘of fragrant delicious art.In prepared dishes,the stronger fragrant aroma stimulates one’s appetite,by using scallion青葱,冬葱,大葱,韭菜,fresh ginger,or chili pepper;with the use of wine,aniseed大茴香,八角,cinnamon肉桂,桂皮,peppercorn胡椒子or sesame芝麻oil.Soy sauce,sugar,vinegar and other seasonings调味品,调料may be used discreetly谨慎地,小心地, according to individuals’taste.All chefs of the Chinese kitchens,professional or in the home,strive for harmony of sight,smell,taste,texture,so that each individual dish has its unique features highlighted突出.4.3.2Eight CuisinesChinese food,made from various kinds of materials,can be classified as the"Eight Cuisines".The flavor of them differs from each other but all of them attract people to sample with their dainty.Shandong CuisineConsisting of Jinan cuisine and Jiaodong cuisine,Shandong cuisine,clean,pure and not greasy,is characterized by its emphasis on aroma,freshness,crispness and tenderness.Sichuan CuisineSichuan Cuisine,known more commonly in the West as Szechuan cuisine,is one of the most famous Chinese cuisines in the word.Characterized by its spicy and pungent flavors,Sichuan cuisine emphasizes the use of chili.Pepper and prickly ash are always in accompaniment,producing typical exciting tastes.Catonese CuisineTasting clean,light,crisp and fresh,Guangdong Cuisine,familiar to Westerners’,usually has fowl and other meats that produce its unique dishes.Steaming and stir-frying are most frequently used to preserve the ingredients’natural flavors. Guangdong chefs pay much attention to the artistic presentation of their dishes.Fujian CuisineFujian cuisine stresses on fine slicing techniques so much that it is reputed as sliced ingredients are as thin as paper and shredded as slim as hairs.Everything sliced serves its original aroma.Cutting is important in Fujian cuisine.Most dishes are made of seafood,and if the seafood is not cut well,the dishes will fail to have their true flavor.The most characteristic aspect of Fujian cuisine is that its dishes are served in soup.Jiangsu CuisineJiangsu Cuisine,also called Huaiyang Cuisine,is popular in the lower reaches of the Yangtze ing fish and crustaceans甲壳类as the main ingredients,it stresses their freshness.Its carving techniques are delicate,of which the melon carving techniques consists of stewing,braising,roasting,and simmering慢煮.The flavor of Huaiyang Cuisine is light,fresh and sweet and its presentation is delicately elegant.Zhejiang CuisineComprising local cuisines of Hangzhou,Ningbo and Shaoxing,Zhejiang Cuisine is not greasy.It wins its reputation for freshness,tenderness,softness and smoothness of its dishes with their mellow fragrance.Hangzhou Cuisine is the mostfamous one of the three.Hunan CuisineHunan Cuisine is characterized by thick and pungent flavors.Chili,pepper are usually necessities in this variation. Anhui CuisineAnhui Cuisine chefs focus much more attention on the temperature in cooking and are good at braising and stewing. Often ham will be added to improve taste and candied sugar added to gain freshness.4.4.The twelve zodiac animals4.4.1The zodiacThe zodiac is a diagram used by astrologers to represent the positions of the planets and stars.It is divided into twelve sections,each of which has its own name and symbol.The zodiac is used to try to calculate the influence of the planets, especially on someone‘s life.4.4.2The twelve animalsmouse,ox,tiger,rabbit,dragon,snake,horse,sheep,monkey,rooster,dog,pig.We have twelve animals to mark different twelve years.And it’s in a cycle,for instance,this year is the year of dog,and in the other twelve years we have another year of dog. And those twelve animals are in the very set order.We cannot change it.4.4.3Its social functionThose animals,the zodiac signs of Chinese culture,have some social functions.For instance,if you think that is not really proper to ask“how old are you”,sometimes you can ask“in which year were you born”but in the West it’s not proper either.It’s just another way to ask about people’s age.By asking their zodiac sign you can figure out roughly which year they were born,and roughly how old they are.4.4.4The superstition about it“Benmingnian”,means the year of your animal.For instance,if you were born in the year of dog,and this year is a year of dog,and this is your“benmingnian”.“Benmingnian”is not a birthday.It is not a year to celebrate.It is not a year which can bring you good luck.Just on the contrary,it will bring you some potential bad lucks.So“benmingnian”is not really a good year for you,and usually we have some measures to try to get rid of those bad lucks,wearing something red,for example,red waist belt,or red ankle bracelet or red socks.4.5Twelve Constellations水瓶座Aquarius January21～February19the Water Bearer双鱼座Pisces February20～March20two Fish白羊座Aries March21～April20the Ram金牛座Taurus April21～May21the Bull双子座Gemini May22～June21the Twins巨蟹座Cancer June22～July22the Crab狮子座Leo July23～August23the Lion处女座Virgo August24～September23the Virgin天秤座Libra September24～October23the Scales天蝎座Scorpio October24～November22the Scorpion射手座Sagittarius November23～December21the Archer(a centaur shooting an arrow)魔羯座Capricorn December22～January20the Goat4.6Keju(Imperial Examination System)Keju(Imperial Examination System)is a kind of examination system in ancient times,through which officials were examined and selected.It was first adopted in the Sui Dynasty(581-618)and was prevailing in Ming and Qingdynasties,which was ended in Guangxu31Qing Dynasty.Intellectuals who wanted to be an official must take multi-tier examinations.4.6.1The scales and admittanceFormal imperial examinations consisted of four levels:county,provincial,metropolitan and final imperial examination. The successful candidate in a county scale examination could further take the provincial examination.The provincial examination was held at the provincial city.The successful candidate could further take the metropolitan examination. The metropolitan examination was held at the Ministry of Rites in the capital.Those admitted were to take the final imperial examination which was under direct supervision of the emperor of the dynasty.Only the successful candidates in the metropolitan examination were qualified to take the exam supervised by the Emperor.The successful candidates in the palace matriculation ranking first was called Zhuangyuan,the second,Bangyan,the third,Tanhua.4.6.2The required contentsThe Four Books(The Great Learning,The Doctrine of the Mean,The Confucian Analects,and The Works of Mencius) and The Five Classics(The Book of Songs,The Book of History,The Book of Changes,The Book of Rites and The Spring and Autumn Annals).In ancient China,a literator put emphasis on calligraphy,which was also necessary test contents of imperial examination.The writing style was fixed in the Bagu essay,also known as eight-part writing,which was a stereotyped writing style.。