Alchemy
Alchemy was a special superstitious art practiced in ancient China, also known as "the golden touch". The basic idea of alchemy was to make divine pills that could make human beings "live forever" and turn common metals like copper and iron into gold and silver.
The Earliest Seismoscope
The Chinese philosopher Zhang Heng invented the earliest known seismoscope in 132 A.D. The instrument was said to resemble a wine jar of six-foot diameter. On the outside of the vessel there were eight dragon heads, facing the eight principal directions of the compass. Below each of the dragon heads was a toad, with its mouth open toward the dragon. The mouth of each dragon held a ball. At the occurrence of an earthquake, one of the eight dragon-mouths would release a ball into the open mouth of the toad situated below. The direction of the shaking determined which of the dragons released its ball. The instrument is reported to have detected a four-hundred-mile distant earthquake which was not felt at the location of the seismoscope.
Chinese phrase translation: 没戏 (méi xì) stand no chance
没戏 (méi xì) stand no chance
Usage: “没戏”意为没有可能，没有希望。指事情将以失败告终，不会再有突破。与“有戏”相对。"没戏(méi xì)" means "hopeless, not having any chance of success". It indicates things will fail at last and there will be no chance to make a breakthrough. Its opposite is "有戏".
Chinese Culture: Double Ninth Festival (重阳节)
Today I will introduce the Double Ninth Festival (重阳节 chóngyáng jié), which is also called Chongyang Festival. It occurs on the 9th day of 9th lunar month. It is celebrated for over 2000 years but officially defined as a festival during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). As the development in modern times, the Double Ninth Festival gradually to be celebrated also as a Elder Day for young people to show their respects to the elderly as double nine symbolize the longevity in Chinese culture.
Chinese phrase translation: 智多星 (zhìduōxīng) resourceful person
智多星 (zhìduōxīng) resourceful person; mastermind Usage: “智多星”是指聪明、主意多的人。《水浒传》中的吴用就是文学作品里有名的“智多星”，他足智多谋，出了很多好主意。“智多星”refers to a resourceful strategist. Wu Yong, a character in a fiction Water Margin was known as mastermind. He was resourceful who proposed many good ideas.
Sundials
A sundial is an instrument that measures time by the position of the sun. Called "rigui" in Chinese, a sundial is a timepiece that indicates the daylight hours by the shadow that the gnomon casts on a calibrated dial in ancient China. A typical sundial is made up of a bronze pointer and a stone dial.
Chinese Grammar- Prepositional phrases 介词短语
The type "在…上" (zài…shàng) can express the position exactly where an action takes spot or perhaps a condition exists. The type在…上can also be employed to indicate scope or aspect when an abstract noun or verb is utilized in between. For instance,
他在楼上。tā zài lóushàng. [He is upstairs.]
他在班上的表现还是不错的。tā zài bān shàng de biǎoxiàn háishì bú cuò de. [He performed well in the class.]
Chinese phrase translation: 打包票 (dǎ bāo piào) to be sure or to guarantee
打包票 (dǎ bāo piào) to be sure or to guarantee Usage: “打包票”字面意义是写保证的单据。当对事情有绝对把握，非常确定时人们常说“打包票”。“打包票” literally means writing a guaranty. People usually say “打包票” when they are very sure about something.
Chinese Culture: Zhongyuan Festival (中元节)
Today I will introduce the zhongyuan Festival(中元节 zhōngyuán jié). Zhongyuan Festival, also called Ghost Festival(鬼节 guǐ jié), is specified at the date of July 15th in Chinese lunar calendar, though it is celebrated on various dates of lunar July in different regions.
Famous Boats in Ancient China
The shipbuilding in China enjoys a history almost as long as the development of mankind. Through thousands of years, ships have been developed from the raft, canoe, wooden boat, oared boat, wooden sailboat, steamship, and airscrew-propelled vessel to modern steel vessel. The various models, structures, rigs and propelling forces are full embodiment of the diversification in human wisdom and creativity. Among all ships in ancient China, the most famous and influential ones are the towered ship in the Han Dynasty, the grand dragon boat in the Sui Dynasty and Zheng He's treasure boat in the Ming Dynasty.
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