Category: Chinese Culture

Qingming is one of 24 solar terms. Traditional East Asian lunisolar calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms. Qīngmíng is the 5th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 15°and ends when it reaches the longitude of 30°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 15°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around 4 April (5 April East Asia time) and ends around 20 April.清明，农历二十四节气之一。每年4月5日前后太阳到达黄经15°时开始；《月令七十二候集解》：“三月节，物至此时，皆以洁齐而清明矣。”故清明节总是在公历4月4日、4月5日、4月6日三天中的一天。
Each solar term can be divided into 3 pentads. They are: first pentad, second pentad and last pentad. Pentads in Chingming include:First pentad, The paulownia begins to bloom; Second pentad, Voles transform into quails; Last pentad, Rainbows begin to appear.清明分为三候：初候，桐始华；次候，田鼠化為鴽；末候，虹始见。
Qingming has been regularly observed as a statutory public holiday in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Its observance was reinstated as a nation wide public holiday in mainland China in 2008.由于清明节是根据节气而定的，故清明是少数与西历大致吻合的中国传统节日。清明为台湾、中国大陆、香港等地唯一根据节气而定的休假日，在澳门则还有冬至。
Literally meaning "clear" (Qing) and "bright" (Ming), this Chinese festival falls in early spring, on the 106th day after the winter solstice. It is a "spring" festival, and it is an occasion for the whole family to leave the home and to sweep the graves of their forebears. Chinese being practical people this sweeping of the graves is given an extended period, that is, 10 days before and after Qing Ming day. Among some dialect groups a whole month is allocated. 清明节是一个纪念祖先的节日。主要的纪念仪式是扫墓，扫墓是慎终追远、郭亲睦邻及行孝的具体表现；基于上述意义，清明节因此成为华人的重要节日。 清明节是在仲春和暮春之交，也就是冬至后的106天。扫墓活动通常是在清明节的前十天或后十天。有些地域的人士的扫墓活动长达一个月。
Also known as the Grave-sweeping or Spring Remembrance, Ching Ming ("clear and bright"), is when Chinese families show their respect by visiting the graves of their ancestors to clear away weeds, touch up gravestone inscriptions and make offerings of wine and fruit.清明时，中国阖家前往祭拜祖先，同时把祖坟修饰一下，把杂草清除。然后准备一些牺牲、酒和水果作为对祖先的祭品。
The Qingming (Pure Brightness) Festival is one of the 24 seasonal division points in China, falling on April 4-6 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.清明是我国的二十四节气之一。由于二十四节气比较客观地反映了一年四季气温、降雨、物候等方面的变化，所以古代劳动人民用它安排农事活动。但是，清明作为节日，与纯粹的节气又有所不同。节气是我国物候变化、时令顺序的标志，而节日则包含着一定的风俗活动和某种纪念意义。因此，这个节日中既有祭扫新坟生别死离的悲酸泪，又有踏青游玩的欢笑声，是一个富有特色的节日。

竖蛋To Balance Eggs Custom 01:To Balance Eggs
People choose fresh eggs laid only a few days ago and gently placethem on the table. The one who can balance an egg on its point steal the glamour.
春分习俗一：竖蛋
在每年的春分那一天，世界各地都会有数以千万计的人在做"竖蛋"试验。这一被称之为“中国习俗”的玩艺儿，何以成为"世界游戏"，目前尚难考证。不过其玩法确简单易行且富有趣味：选择一个光滑匀称、刚生下四五天的新鲜鸡蛋，轻手轻脚地在桌子上把它竖起来。虽然失败者颇多，但成功者也不少。春分成了竖蛋游戏的最佳时光，故有“春分到，蛋儿俏”的说法。竖立起来的蛋儿好不风光。

The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms. Vernal equinox (春分Chūnfēn) is the 4th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 0°and ends when it reaches the longitude of 15°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 0°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around 20 March and ends around 4 April (5 April East Asia time).根据中国的日历把一年分为了24个节气。春分是春季九十天的中分点。二十四节气之一。太阳位于黄经0°。在时间周期上是指太阳位于黄经０°和１５°之间的位置，大约是3月20日至3月22日之间。但在实务上通常特指太阳真正位于黄经０°的那天：3月20日或3月21日。
Each solar term can be divided into 3 pentads (候). They are: first pentad (初候), second pentad (次候) and last pentad (末候). Pentads in Chunfen include:中国古代将春分分为三候：“一候元鸟至；二候雷乃发声；三候始电。”
First pentad: 'The dark birds arrive'. 'Dark bird' in this case refers to swallows, which are also making their northward migration.玄鸟至：玄鸟，燕也，高诱曰：“春分而来，秋分而去也。”
Second pentad: 'Thunder sounds', referring to the onset of spring thunderstorms.雷乃发声：阴阳相薄为雷，至此，四阳渐盛，犹有阴焉，则相薄乃发声矣；乃者，《韵会》曰：“象气出之难也。”注疏曰：“发，犹出也。”
Last pentad: 'Lightning begins'. This refers to thunderstorms as well, but also to the gradual lengthening of daytime, and the prevalence of sunlight.始电：电，阳光也；四阳盛长，值气泄时而光生焉。故《历解》曰：“凡声，阳也；光，亦阳也。《易》曰：“雷电合而章。”《公羊传》又曰：“电者，雷光。”是也，徐氏曰：“雷阳，电阴。”非也。盖盛夏无雷之时，电亦有之，可见矣。
 

领lǐnɡ： collar
襟jīn： front of a garment
裾jū： the full front of a Chinese gown
袂mèi：sleeve
袪qū：cuff of a sleeve
袖xiù： sleeve
衿jīn： the lapel of coat
衽rèn：the one or two pieces making up the front of a Chinese clothes
带dài：belt
系xì：tie 

Clay sculptures, a kind of folk craft of sculpturing a variety of figures from clay, is also known as “painted sculpture” and “mud play”. Clay sculpture art is an ancient and common Chinese folk art form in which clay can be used as raw material and kneaded by hand to take form. They are plain in color or multi colored and mainly take the shape of human figures and animals. Such, Beijing Clay Sculpture is known for its simple, unrefined and pleasant style.泥塑，即用粘土塑制成各种形象的一种民间手工艺。在民间俗称“彩塑”、“泥玩”。泥塑艺术是我国一种古老常见的民间艺术。它以泥土为原料，以手工捏制成形。或素或彩，以人物、动物为主。北京泥塑以古朴粗犷的写意风格著称
The Charm of Clay Sculpture泥塑魅力
Clay sculpture art is a kind of Chinese folk art. The folk artisans use natural or cheap materials but can make small and exquisite artifacts, gaining popularity with common people. Though clay sculptures are not technologically involved, they bring highlights to people’s lives by means of simplicity, direct-vision, authenticity and hands on characteristics. In terms of collection times, clay sculpture collections are very challenging and collections are valued. Each work is made by hand and is unique and is artistically untainted by copies, reproductions or counterfeits etc. Different from, other forms of art such as paintings, paper cuttings and embossment etc., clay sculpture art has a strong visual impact with appreciation from varying angles adding richness and diversity, more closely resembling life. Today, with high technology developing rapidly, reflection upon this art form allows people to return to an original simplicity and clay sculptures allow for a manifestation of fashion and individuality. China attaches great importance to the protection of intangible cultural heritage. On May 20th, 2006, upon the approval of the State Council, clay sculpture was listed in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage.泥塑艺术是中华民间艺术的一种，民间艺人用天然的或廉价的材料，能够作出精美小巧的工艺品，博得民众的喜爱。虽然泥塑并非以科技含量而论，但它确实在人们的生活中增加了新的亮点。朴实、直观、真实和更加的“零距离”。在珍藏时间上也极具挑战性，而且还具有收藏价值。就是说每件作品均是手工制做，皆为孤品，世界上独一无二的。不存在仿造、复制、盗版等被侵权现象的发生，它更不同于油画、剪纸、浮雕等其他艺术的表现形式。泥塑艺术具有强烈的视觉冲击效果，欣赏角度也极为的丰富和多样化，更能贴近于人们的生活。在高科技迅猛发展的今天，是人们追求其返璞归真的具体写照，同时也是当今人们追求时尚、个性的一种体现。中国非常重视非物质文化遗产的保护，2006年5月20日，泥塑经国务院批准列入第一批国家级非物质文化遗产名录。

春节后15天，中华大地又将迎来一个重要的节日：元宵节。元宵节是农历正月十五，又称为“上元节”（the Lantern Festival），春灯节，是中国汉族民俗传统节日。农历的第一个月是正月（zhēngyuè，first month of the lunar new year ），正月是农历的元月，古人称夜为“宵”，而十五日又是一年中第一个月圆之夜，所以称正月十五为元宵节。又称为小正月、元夕或灯节，是春节之后的第一个重要节日。中国幅员辽阔，历史悠久，所以关于元宵节的习俗在全国各地也不尽相同，其中吃元宵/汤圆（Glutinous Rice Balls for Lantern Festival）、赏花灯（a festive lantern）、猜灯谜（riddles written on lanterns）、舞龙（dragon dance）、舞狮（lion dance）、放烟火（let off fireworks）、赏月（admire the moon）等是元宵节几项重要民间习俗。

15 days after spring festival is another important festival in China. It is the Chinese Lantern Festival.It is the 15th day of the 1st lunar month because the first lunar month is called yuan-month and in the ancient times people called night Xiao. The 15th day is the first night to see a full moon(And full moon stands for reunion). So it is also called Yuan Xiao Festival in China.