Visitors to an ancient Chinese palace hall often have their attention drawn to the centre of the ceiling. The zaojing or caisson ceiling is a distinctive feature of classical Chinese architecture, if not unique to it. It is usually in the form of a sunken coffer bordered in a square, a polygon or a circle, decorated with elaborately carved or painted designs. This architectural decoration dates a long way back for it has been found in tombs of the Han Dynasty 2,000 years ago.
Tag: Ancient Chinese
2013 The 12th Chinese Bridge for Foreign Students Open in UK 2013年第12届“汉语桥”世界大学生比赛英国开幕
Chinese culture is also gaining recognition among youths in Britain. The 12th "Chinese Bridge" proficiency contest is one such example. Held in the British Museum, 28 contestants vye for two spots at the Grand finals in July and August. The contestants are tested comprehensively in their understanding of Chinese culture through various presentations.
English-Taught Programs at Chinese Universities
English-Taught Programs at Chinese Universities No. Name Majors
Ancient Clepsydras
Lou (water clock) is an idiom used by ancient Chinese equivalent to today's "clock". Zhonghu Dilou is also called clepsydra or water clock. The time-measuring device consists of several kettles filled with water, which are usually connected together. There are small holes on the bottom of upper kettles, so that once the kettles are filled up, the water will drop down stepwise and regularly to the lower kettles. The lowest kettle has an erect buoy in it carved with scale divisions. The clepsydra is a 24-hour calculagraph used to calculate time through observing the scale of buoy according to fluctuation of buoy enabled by changes in water level. It measures time day and night during both sunny and rainy days. However, there may be changes in the speed of dripping according to temperature condition, which lead to inevitable error or difference in telling time. Nevertheless, it can be corrected by using sundial during fine days.
Farming and Sericulture
Producing food by cultivating crops and raising animals was a most important step forward in the development of human history. Around 10,000 years ago, people moved from an economy of gathering to one of producing, and entered the New Stone Age. Before that, people maintained their lives by picking wild fruits and other plants, and hunting animals. In order to look for food, they lived a nomadic life, but cultivation of grain crops made them settle down, thus the earliest villages appeared.
About the Wuxia (Martial Arts) Novels
Wuxia novel(武侠小说wǔxiá xiăoshuō) is a Chinese novel genre, which features martial arts heroes, i.e. swordsmen and those related to them, with the plot dedicating to the intricate(you use intricate to describe something that has many small parts or details) relationships of honor, loyalty, love and hatred between individuals in the world of martial arts. There's usually a thread of martial arts practice and demonstration running through the plot.
Chinese Tea 中国茶
、 The Origin It is said that tea shrubs were first discovered in the tropical and sub-tropical climate zone in the southwestern part of China, where primeval forests prevailed and the warm and moist setting was favorable for the growth of tea shrubs. Wild tea trees of 2,700 years old and planted tea trees of 800 years old can still be found in the area.
Wuxia
The Wuxia(武侠wǔxiá) is a broad genre of Chinese fiction that concerns itself with martial arts adventures set primarily in ancient China. Although traditionally a literary art form, it is now also found in art, comics, films, games, television, theatre, and other media. Wuxia forms a large part of popular culture for most Chinese-speaking communities around the world.
About Site of North Sima Gate
Geographical Location: On the top of Mount Jiujun, about 23 km northeast of Liquan County, in Shaanxi Province
Bronze Workshops
Geographical Location: Fufeng County, Shaanxi Province Period: Western Zhou Dynasty (1100-771BC)
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