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Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn… and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat) 

Hello and welcome to another episode of China Lifestyle Journeys. Today, we are exploring the fascinating world of Traditional Chinese Medicine, also known as TCM.  Now, I don’t know much about TCM, but I do know that it has been practiced in China for thousands of years, but apart from that, I don’t really know anything else. So Jocelyn, where should we start with this topic?

(Jocelyn) 

OK, so let’s start with the basics. TCM is an ancient traditional system of healthcare that considers the overall connection between the body, mind, and spirit. Instead of just treating individual symptoms or diseases, TCM focuses on promoting overall well-being and restoring balance in all aspects of life.  

To better understand this, let’s take an example. Imagine someone experiencing frequent headaches. In standard Western medicine, the focus would be on finding a specific treatment for the headache, such as painkillers. However, in TCM, the doctor (or practitioner as they are sometimes called) would take a step back and look at the person as a whole. They would consider various factors like the person’s lifestyle, diet, emotions, and even the environment they are in.

For instance, the headaches could be seen as a sign of an imbalance in the body’s energy flow, or Qi (气). The TCM practitioner may explore different techniques, like acupuncture or herbal remedies, to restore the flow of Qi and bring the body back into harmony. They might also suggest lifestyle changes, such as stress management techniques or dietary adjustments, to address underlying factors that could be contributing to the headaches.

(Mat) 

OK, I think I understand this, the TCM doctor is trying to improve my overall health, so that I won’t get any more headaches in the future. But what if I just want the headaches to be cured now, today? I don’t want to wait around for a long time, trying to improve my overall health. I just want... Can you get rid of this headache? Please help me. Can TCM help me in this situation?

(Jocelyn) 

Of course, that’s the great thing about TCM. It can certainly help with immediate symptom relief, like your headache.  But the main focus is on long-term well-being, so a lot of TCM treatments like acupuncture, herbal remedies, and other modalities aim to help with immediate concerns while also considering the underlying imbalances for lasting results. So basically, in the future, you’ll get less headaches. In essence, TCM recognizes that our well-being is influenced by multiple factors and aims to address the root causes of imbalances rather than just alleviating symptoms. Some people describe this as a more holistic approach to healthcare.

(Mat) 

OK, so now that I have a better understanding of TCM’s approach to helping with overall well-being. I’m quite interested and curious about the specific concepts and methods that form the foundations of TCM. What are these key principles that I’ve heard about orsome kind of beliefs that guide TCM practices? Or to put it in a really simple question, how does it work?

(Jocelyn) 

That’s a great question! TCM is based on two important ideas: Qi and Yin-Yang. Qi is like a special energy that flows through our bodies and keeps us healthy. TCM treatments focus on making sure this energy flows smoothly to keep us balanced. Yin and Yang are like opposites that need to be in harmony. Yin is connected to things like darkness and rest, while Yang is connected to light and activity. TCM practitioners use these ideas to understand and treat imbalances in the body. Their goal is to bring everything back into balance and help us stay healthy.

(Mat) 

Wow, it sounds a bit complicated now. I think I get the part about Qi and energy, because I think we’ve talked about that in another episode. But this Yin and Yang? Light and dark? I don’t really get what you’re talking about here. I think you’ll need to explain it with an example.

(Jocelyn) 

OK, let me try to put it in a simple example. In TCM, Yin and Yang represent two opposite forces that need to be in balance within our bodies. Think of someone who has trouble sleeping, finding it hard to fall asleep and feeling restless at night. This imbalance is like having too much of the active and warm Yang energy. To restore some balance, TCM may suggest introducing more calming and cooling Yin elements. This can be achieved by practicing relaxation techniques like meditation or drinking special herbal teas known for their soothing effects. The goal is to find a balance between Yin and Yang energies to promote better sleep and overall health.

(Mat) 

OK, it’s starting to make more sense now. It actually sounds like quite a natural way of healing, combined with some good philosophy.You know what? I think I might try it next time I’ve gota headache.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

中国古代科学内容丰富。随着时代的发展，其中大多数已经融入了现代科学体系。而目前仍然自成体系并且拥有强大生命力的，当属中医药学。

中医药学是利用中国古代的阴阳五行体系，来说明人体的生理现象和病理变化，阐明其中的关系并进行诊疗的学科。

中医的生理病理学以五脏六腑、经络气血为基础展开。中医的五脏六腑是人体脏器的总称。“五脏”包括肝、心、脾、肺、肾。

肝的主要功能是疏泄和藏血。疏泄是指肝可以疏通全身之气，使身气和畅，情绪稳定。藏血是指肝可以贮藏血液和调节血量，防止出血。

心主血脉和神明。心脏与血脉密切相连，调控着全身血液的运行。同时，心脏主管思维、感觉、记忆等与意识相关的活动。

脾的主要功能是运化水谷和统血摄血。运化水谷指的是脾将食物消化吸收，转化为营养物质，以供养全身。统血摄血则是控制血液在脉中正常运行，防止出血。

肺的主要功能是呼吸和治节。呼吸功能很好理解，指的是肺控制着呼吸的节奏和深度，进行外部氧气和机体产生的二氧化碳的交换。治节指的是肺调节全身的气机，与皮毛相应，使人体各部分的功能相互协调。

肾主藏精和生长发育。藏精指的是肾贮藏精气，以供养全身。生长发育则是控制人体的生长、发育和生殖能力。人体的精气有两种，一种是先天之精，受之父母，是人体的根本；另一种是后天之精，主要是脾胃从人体摄入中转化的各种营养物质，是维持人体精力体力的重要基础。肾主水、主骨，生髓、生发，肾脏虚亏会导致精气神不足 。

六腑包括胃、胆、小肠、大肠、膀胱、三焦。六腑的功能是受盛和传化水谷。“水谷”即饮用水和谷物，通俗地说，就是人体摄入各种水和食物，然后六腑接受、运输和转化这些营养能量。

胃的主要功能是分解和消化食物。胆的主要功能是排泄胆汁，帮助消化和代谢。小肠的主要功能是消化和吸收食物中的营养物质 。大肠的主要功能是吸收经过小肠消化后的食物残渣，吸收多余水分，将身体的废弃物排出体外。膀胱的主要功能是贮存和排泄尿液。

三焦分为上、中、下三焦。上焦是心肺，中焦是脾胃，下焦是肝、胆、肾、膀胱、大小肠等。三焦是人体运行的主要通道，三焦负责疏通全身气节，调节全身气、血、津液的运行，促进人体的新陈代谢。如果三焦不通，会出现气、水液代谢异常。

五脏和六腑互为表里，密不可分。而串联起五脏六腑的桥梁就是经络。它们通过经络系统连成一体，共同完成各种生理活动。例如，肝与胆相表里，肝的疏泄可以促进胆的排泄胆汁，所以成语中才有“肝胆相照”的说法；脾与胃相表里，相辅相成，互相制约和依存，因此我们在日常生活中往往将“脾胃”连起来说；肾与膀胱相表里，肾的气化作用可以促进膀胱的贮尿和排尿。

中医的诊疗主要包括诊断和辩证两个方面，望闻问切是中医诊断疾病的最基本方法。

望诊就是尽可能详细地观察病人的面色、舌苔、表情神情、体态姿态等外部特征，获取有用的身体信息和病情状况，为后续的诊疗提供依据。

闻诊包括两个方面，一是听声音，包括听病人的呼吸声、咳嗽声、喘息声等；二是闻味道。闻病人口腔的气味、身体的体味以及腋下的味道等。通过听和嗅取得的病情信息可以和望诊了解的信息相结合，以便医者进一步判断。

问诊，顾名思义就是问询。医者会详细地询问病人身体感觉、症状、既往病史、家族病史、遗传病等情况获取病情资料。通过询问，医者可以初步确定用药方案和禁忌。

切诊的“切”就是通过亲自接触病人身体来判断症状。最基本的切诊方法就是切脉，观察病人的脉象是否平稳。更进一步的切诊方法是用手接触病人感到不适的身体部位，比如腹部疼痛的病人，可以轻轻按压腹部，找到他具体疼痛的位置，判断患处有没有硬块等等。切诊相比其他三种诊断方法，更偏向内部，主要用来了解病人的气血运行状况和内部器官的状况。

对病人病情有了基本的了解之后，医者就可以对患者的证候作出初步判断了，这个过程就是辩证。中医将病人的证候分为阴阳、表里、寒热、虚实四组八类，统称“八纲”。

慢性、抑制性的疾病属于阴证。病情较急、代谢旺盛的属于阳证。

同时存在发热、恶寒症状，且脉象浮弱、舌苔无明显变化的属于表证。出现单一的发热或恶寒症状，且脉象较沉、舌苔改变明显的属于里证。

寒证则分为外寒和内寒。外寒指的是寒邪侵袭引起的恶寒、发热、脉象浮紧等证状；内寒指的是阳气虚衰导致脏腑功能减弱，主要表现为面色苍白、肢体寒冷等。外感热邪或阴虚阳盛所表现出的生理亢奋、热躁，属于热证。

人体正气衰弱，五脏功能减退表现出的证候，如气短、心悸等，属于虚证。患者因疾病出现的痰多、气喘、腹痛等属于实证。

通过望、闻、问、切四诊初步了解患者病情之后，医者再根据疾病性质、疾病发生部位及深浅等情况综合分析和辨别疾病的证候，并根据患者表现的证候进行对证治疗。

中医，不仅是治疗疾病、维护身心健康的重要宝库，更是世界各国人民认识和了解中华文化的重要窗口。展望未来，中医将继续发挥其独特的价值，为人类的健康和幸福作出更大的贡献。

Tai Chi

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn… and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat) 

Hello and welcome to another episode of our show. Today, we’ll be looking at the mysterious world of Tai Chi, a Chinese martial art1 that has becomevery popular all around the world. Now, I have to admit, I don’t know much about Tai Chi, actually before I came to China, I had seen people doing it in my hometown in London in the mornings. Sometimes you see old people doing it in parks in London really early in the morning. Then I came to China, I saw lots of old people doing Tai Chi in parks inChina in the morning. So you can probably guess my first question, before we look at the history in the details. What’s the thing with parks? Why do people always seem tobe doing Tai Chi in parks?

(Jocelyn) 

Ok, I guess that’s a good question to begin with, so Tai Chi and parks, what’s the connection? Tai Chi is often practiced in public parks in China (and in other countries) because it provides a peaceful and natural environment that helps people relaxed. Relaxation andmeditation2 are important features of Tai Chi (and we’ll talk more about this later). Also, the peaceful and natural surroundings of parks provide an ideal setting for Tai Chi practice, as they create a sense of connection with nature (another important aspect of Tai Chi). And of course, in most cities, it’s easy to find a local park and they're usually free to use. That’s why Tai Chi is commonly practiced in parks.

(Mat) 

OK, that makes sense, so it sounds like Tai Chi is more than just a physical exercise. You just mentioned relaxation, meditation and a connection with nature. Can you tell me more about these aspects of Tai Chi?

(Jocelyn)  

Absolutely, Mat. Tai Chi is more than just a physical experience; it’s also a way of promoting3 mental and spiritual well-being. And the practice involves slow, flowing movements that are coordinated with4 deep breathing and focused attention. And this combination of movement, breathing, and mindfulness can help us to reduce stress and anxiety, improve mental clarity and focus, and enhance overall feelings of calm and relaxation. Tai Chi is also sometimes described as a moving meditation, because the focus is on being present andletting go of5 distracting thoughts. And as for the connection with nature, many of the movements in Tai Chi are inspired by animals or natural elements, such as trees or water. Practicing Tai Chi in a natural setting can help to deepen this connection and enhance the overall experience.

(Mat)  

That's quite fascinating. So, if someone wanted to start practicing Tai Chi, wherewould they start? Is there any special equipment or clothing they need?

(Jocelyn) 

Ok, so if someone is interested in starting to practice Tai Chi, I would recommend finding a local Tai Chi class or teacher. Tai Chi is best learned through practice and guidance from an experienced instructor6. And you can ask around in your local community or search online for Tai Chi classes near you. When you find a class, just wear comfortable clothing (like something you’d wear for jogging) and comfortable shoes and of course, bring an open mind. Tai Chi is accessible to7 people of all ages and fitness levels8, so don’t worry if you’ve never done it before. Just be patient with yourself and enjoy the experience of learning something new.

(Mat) 

Now there's one thing I really don't understand. Sometimes Tai Chi is described as a martial art, a traditional form of fighting, like Kung Fu or Chinese boxing9. But when I see those people in the park, doing their slow relaxing movements, as you said earlier, inspired by animals or natural elements, such as trees or water – it doesn’t really look like fighting to me.

(Jocelyn) 

I understand your confusion, Mat. Tai Chi is indeed a martial art, but it’s a unique form of martial art that focuses on defence rather than attack. The slow movements that you see in the park are just one aspect of Tai Chi, which are used to cultivate internal strength and balance10, but Tai Chi also includes more dynamic movements and self-defence techniques that are used in combat11 situations (but you don’t usually see these being practiced in parks). But for most people, it’s all about fitness and well-being, relaxation and meditation.

(Mat) 

Now, I think I've heard the expression ‘Tai Chi Master12’ before, ‘He’s a Tai Chi Master.’ – now I know that in some martial arts, like Japanesekarate13, there are different coloured belts, and black belt means Master. So what about Tai Chi? How do you become a Tai Chi Master? Is there some kind ofgrading system14?

(Jocelyn) 

Actually, there isn’t a standard grading system for Tai Chi, like in some martial arts. In Tai Chi, the mastery15 of the art is often judged by one’s experience, skill and understanding of the principles of Tai Chi. Usually, someone is considered a Tai Chi Master after many years of dedicated practice and experience. It’s a title that’s earned through hard work, dedication and deep understanding of the art.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

Key words and expressions:

1. Chinese martial art 中国武术

Chinese martial art, often called Kung Fu, is a traditional fighting system from China that combines physical techniques like kicks, punches, and forms with mental and spiritual aspects for self-defence and personal development.

e.g. He had been practicing Chinese martial art for years, mastering various forms and techniques to become a skilled fighter.他已经练习了多年的中国武术，掌握了各种招式和技巧，成为了一名熟练的武者。

2.  meditation n. [C or U] /ˌmedɪˈteɪʃən/ 默念，冥想

the act of giving your attention to only one thing, either as a religious activity or as a way of becoming calm and relaxed

e.g. prayer and meditation

          祈祷与冥想

3. promote v. /prəˈməʊt/促进, 推广

to encourage people to like, buy, use, do, or support something

e.g. The government is actively working to promote Chinese culture around the world through initiatives like cultural exchange programs. 政府正在积极通过文化交流计划等举措来推广中国文化，使其传播到世界各地。

4. coordinate with…  相配，协调

to match or look attractive together

e.g. The bed linen coordinates with the bedroom curtains.床单和卧室的窗帘很相配。

5.let go of 放开，放手

to stop holding something or someone

e.g. He let go ofher hand and ran across the street. 他放开了她的手，跑过马路。

6.  instructor n. /ɪnˈstrʌktər/ 教练

a person whose job is to teach people a practical skill

e.g. a driving / ski / swimming instructor 驾驶／滑雪／游泳教练

7.  be accessible to 可进入的，可接近的；可得到的

able to be reached or easily got

e.g. The internet has made it possible for people all over the world to be accessible to Chinese culture through online courses, cultural forums, and virtual museum tours.互联网使得全世界的人们通过在线课程、文化论坛和虚拟博物馆参观变得更加容易，从而能够接触到中国的文化。

8. fitness levels 体能水平

“Fitness levels” is the term used to describe a person's physical health and capability.

e.g. His fitness levels improved significantly after months of regular exercise and a balanced diet.在经过几个月的定期锻炼和均衡饮食后，他的健康水平显著提高了。

9. Chinese boxing中国拳法

“Chinese boxing” is a term that refers to traditional Chinese martial arts or combat systems, which include various styles and techniques such as Tai Chi. These martial arts emphasize physical control, technique, and often incorporate principles of internal energy.

e.g. Chinese boxing, also known as Kung Fu, is a traditional martial art practiced for self-defense and physical fitness. 中国拳法，又称功夫，是一种传统的武术，用于自卫和身体健康的练习。

10.  internal strength and balance 内在力量和平衡

“Internal strength and balance” refers to the physical and mental qualities that promote stability, poise, and resilience from within a person’s body and mind.

e.g. Practicing yoga regularly can help improve one’s internal strength and balance, both physically and mentally. 定期练习瑜伽无论是在身体上还是在精神上都可以帮助提高一个人的内在力量和平衡。

11. combat n. [C or U] /ˈkɒmbæt/ 战斗，搏斗

a fight, especially during a war

e.g. There was fierce combat between the two sides. 双方展开了激烈的战斗。

12. Tai Chi Master 太极宗师，太极大师

A Tai Chi Master is an expert in the ancient Chinese martial art of Tai Chi, known for its flowing movements and holistic health benefits. These Masters are respected for their deep knowledge and skill in promoting physical and mental well-being through Tai Chi practice.

e.g. The Tai Chi Master gracefully demonstrated the art's fluid movements, leaving the audience in awe of his skill and poise.太极大师优雅地展示了这门艺术的流畅动作，令观众对他的技巧和风度赞叹不已。

13. karate n. [U] /kəˈrɑːti/ 空手道

a sport, originally from Japan, in which people fight using their arms, legs, hands, and feet. The level of skill a person has is shown by what colour belt they wear.

e.g. She has been practicing karate for five years and recently earned her black belt. 她已经练习空手道五年，最近获得了黑带。

14. grading system评级制度

A grading system is a way to assess and score individuals' performance, commonly in education, using letters, numbers, or symbols to indicate their level of achievement.

e.g. The university uses a letter-based grading system, with A being the highest grade for excellent performance and F indicating failure.该大学采用字母评分制度，其中A代表卓越的表现，是最高分，而F表示不及格

15.mastery  n. [U] /ˈmɑːstəri/ 完全的控制

complete control of something

e.g. her mastery of the violin她对局势的牢牢掌控

太极

太极是中国文化史上的一个重要概念。关于太极的含义，历来众说纷纭。其中最具影响力的是“混沌说”。

中国古代哲学观念认为，宇宙之初，阴阳未分，秩序尚未建立，这种状态被称为混沌。后来，宇宙有了阴阳的区分，形成了初步的秩序，但组成世界的各部分尚未独立，这种宇宙最原始的秩序状态被称为太极。

太极是易学的基本概念，《易经》中就有记载，“易有太极，始生两仪，两仪生四象，四象生八卦。”

两仪也就是阴、阳两种状态。四象则指是天空中的四大区域。古代天文学将天空分成东、北、西、南四个区域，称东方为苍龙象，北方为玄武象，西方为白虎象，南方为朱雀象，合称“四象”。

而八卦则指的是乾卦、坤卦、巽卦、震卦，坎卦、离卦、艮卦、兑卦。八卦分别代表了八个方位和八种事物。这八种事物是古代哲学中构成现实世界的基本元素，它们分别是：乾代表天，坤代表地，巽代表风，震代表雷，坎代表水，离代表火，兑表泽。

在《道德经》中，“道”被描述为是“太极”的初始形态，它是生命和宇宙的源泉。无论是《易经》还是《道德经》，“太极”实际上是古人最朴素的世界观，是他们对宇宙诞生最初形态的一种想象。

根据“太极”的哲学理念，历代哲学家们绘制了许多太极图来展示其理念，比如周敦颐太极图、先天太极图、古太极八卦图等等。其中，最知名且运用最广泛的，是先天太极图。

先天太极图，图案结构简单，由一个圆圈、两个圆点、两个黑白鱼图形组成，因此又被称为阴阳鱼图。我们现在则俗称它为“太极八卦图”。太极八卦图看似简单，实则蕴含着深刻的哲理。

首先，太极八卦图是以“圆”为基础元素。中国人偏爱“圆”，因为“圆”代表了“圆满”“团圆”。中国文化中有诸多“圆”，文人墨客赏月要等“圆月”，春节吃的年夜饭要称为“团圆饭”。

在中国传统建筑中，也有“圆”的美学。苏州园林中的洞和窗多为圆形，园中亭子也有不少为圆亭，在回环的曲线中感受江南烟雨的情致。福建客家土楼也是圆形，将民族风情融于建筑之中。完美展现古代工匠技艺的拱桥也是圆形的，并且历经千年不坏。圆没有棱角，仿佛将万物都承纳进去了，这是一种包容的哲学思想。这种思想也可以扩展为我们日常生活的处世原则——圆融。圆融不是圆滑，它是一种包容、理解和接纳的态度。金庸在《书剑恩仇录》里提到，“情深不寿，强极必辱，谦谦君子，温润如玉”。这便是对“圆融”的最好解释了。

太极图中的第二个元素是阴阳的对立统一。太极图中的黑鱼和白鱼分别代表阴和阳。事物都有两面性，很多时候我们往往只看到了其中一面，而忽视了它的另一面。比如，面对挑战，如果我们只看到其中难以解决的困难，却忽略背后的机遇，那我们便会畏缩不前，失去拥抱新生活的可能性。所以，挑战既意味着困难，也蕴含着新生。在一定情况下，坏事可能转变为好事，否（pǐ）极泰来；如果我们不珍惜福气和运气，好事也有可能变为坏事，乐极生悲。

“塞翁失马”的故事便是事物对立统一的最好体现。《淮南子》记载，传说在地势险要的边界地带，住着一位善于占卜、能够预测吉凶的老人。有一次，他家的马竟然越过边界，跑到胡人那里去了。遇到这样的不幸，人们都前来安慰他。这位老人却说：“谁知道这会不会是一件好事呢？”

过了几个月之后，这匹马竟然带着一匹胡人的骏马回来了。邻居都认为这是喜事。可是这位老人却说：“这为什么就不能算是一件坏事呢？”

老人的儿子喜欢骑马，由于家里添了新马，老人的儿子骑马的时间更多了。有一次，老人的儿子骑马的时候不小心从马上摔了下来，摔断了腿。人们感慨他家的不幸，又前来安慰。这位老人却又说：“说不定这是一件好事呢？”

过了一年，胡人大举进攻边境，青壮年男性都要作战。因为战事惨烈，很多人都战死了。老人的儿子因为腿瘸了，免于征战，父子双双幸存下来。

在塞翁失马的故事里，马的出现、消失引发了一系列连锁反应。马对塞翁一家的影响也在好与坏之间转换着，这便是“太极阴阳转化”思想的集中体现。正如老子说的：福兮祸之所倚，祸兮福之所伏。我们要保持一颗平常心，去面对人生的每一个难题。

除了以“圆”为基础元素，太极八卦图中黑白两鱼的鱼眼也是图中一个很重要的元素，可以分别看作黑鱼和白鱼的核心。一个事物有很多种元素组成，但不同部分的作用和意义不同。我们学习知识和技能，就是透过现象看本质，找到它的核心部分。通过核心问题的拆解，便能将事物的脉络梳理清楚，进而真正地理解。

太极哲学是中国古人了理解宇宙、自然、社会乃至自身的重要思维方式。太极圆融统一的哲学思想让中国文化具有强大的生命力和包容性，让中国人懂得“居安思危，未雨绸缪”，也让中国人在绝境中坚信“山穷水复疑无路，柳暗花明又一村”。

Mid-Autumn Festival

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn… and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat) Hello and welcome again to another episode of China Lifestyle Journeys. As usual, in today’s episode we will be looking at one unique and interesting aspect of Chinese culture. Now as you can tell from the episode title,today we’re talking about Mid-Autumn festival. Now, personally, I’ve got to admit that I don’t know much about this festival, except that it’s in the autumn (in the middle ofautumn I think – because of the name) – and on this festival – I know that people eat mooncakes. So I guess thatwill be the best place to start with the origins. So Jocelyn, tell me something about the origins of this festival.

(Jocelyn) Sure, Mat. The Mid-Autumn Festival has its originsrooted in1 ancient Chinese traditions and beliefs. It dates back over 2,000 years and is closely tied to agricultural practices and the lunar calendar. The festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, when the moon is believed to beat its fullest and brightest2. It was originally a time for people to give thanks for a successful harvest3, and to pray for the good fortune. Over time, it has evolved into a celebration of family reunion and the appreciation of the moon’s beauty. The festival has deep cultural significance and holds a special place in Chinese folklore and traditions.

(Mat) OK, so it’s linked to the lunar calendar, but you just made a point about“the appreciation of the moon’s beauty” – isn’t the moon like the same at any time of year? Is the moon more beautiful during this festival? And you know what’s the significance of the moon in this particular Mid-Autumn Festival?

(Jocelyn) OK, let me explain. While the moon itself may not physically change in its beauty throughout the year, its symbolism and significance during the Mid-Autumn Festival are what make it special. The full moon during this festival is seen as a symbol of unity, completeness, and family reunion. It represents harmony and serves as areminder4 of loved ones who may be far away. The moon’s round shape also signifies prosperity and good luck. During the festival, families and friends gather to admire the moon together, appreciating itsserene5 beauty and using it asa focal point6for storytelling, poetry, and heartfelt wishes7. The moon holds deep cultural and emotional significance, fostering8 a sense of connection and warmth among people.

(Mat) Oh right, I see. Actually you’ve just reminded me. I think I remember a story about the moon, something about a moon goddess, some beautiful goddess who lived in the moon. Does that story have any connection with this festival?

(Jocelyn) Well remembered, Mat. You’re actually right. You’re talking about the popular Chinese legend of Chang’e, the Moon Goddess. According tothe ancient legend, Chang’e was a beautiful woman who consumed a specialelixir9, to make her immortal (to live forever), she drank the special elixir and floated up to the moon, where she still lives to this day. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people pay tribute to10 Chang’e by offering her fruits,incense11, and mooncakes. The story of Chang’e adds a touch of12 magical charm andmythology13 to the festival, deepening its cultural significance. It’s a great story that has been passed down through generations and continues to be cherished during the Mid-Autumn Festival.  

(Mat) Ah, mooncakes, finally we get to mooncakes. This is going to be my favourite part of the episode, because we are talking about cakes. Now I’ve had mooncakes on many occasions, and I always think they are quite varied, there are so many differentfillings14. Some I think are delicious, others… not really for me. So before we talk about the fillings, what’s the story behind mooncakes?

(Jocelyn) I think there are many different stories behind mooncakes. Most of these are very old legends. There are some old stories which say that army generals used mooncakes to hide secret messages, they could communicate important military information by sending mooncakes. Other stories tell us of how important people used to send mooncakes to each other with greetings or blessings carved into the top of the cake.

(Mat) OK, so that’s the history. Now let’s talk about mooncakes today. If someone wants to try mooncakes, what do they need to know?

(Jocelyn) Well, if someone wants to try mooncakes, they can expect a delightful variety of flavours, fillings, and textures15. Traditional mooncakes often feature flavours like lotus seed paste16, red bean paste, or mixed nuts. Some mooncakes may also use salted egg yolks17 fora savoury twist18. Modern variations have flavours like green tea, black sesame19, or even fruit-based fillings. There are even chocolate, coffee and ice cream versions. So it’s all about finding the flavour that suits your taste. Again, the texture of mooncakes can vary from soft and smooth to dense and chewy, depending on the type and filling. So it’s probably a good idea to try as many different types as you can, to discover your own personal favourite.   

(Mat) I think that’s an excellent piece of advice. Try as many different cakes as you can. I think that’s a great idea!  

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

Key words and expressions

1. be rooted in sth 根植于…

to be based on something or caused by something  

e.g. Most prejudices are rooted in ignorance. 大多数偏见源于无知。

2. at its fullest and brightest 在最饱满和最明亮时

It refers to the peak or maximum point of something, often used to describe the maximum illumination of light or the highest degree of a particular state or condition.

e.g. The sun was at its fullest and brightest, casting a brilliant golden glow across the landscape. 太阳达到了它最饱满和最明亮的状态，照亮了整个风景。

3. harvest n. [C or U] /ˈhɑːvɪst/ 收获; 收成

the time of year when crops are cut and collected from the fields, or the activity of cutting and collecting them, or the crops that are cut and collected

e.g. We had a good harvest this year. 今年我们收成不错。

4. reminder n. [C] /rɪˈmaɪndər/ 提醒（的话），提示

a written or spoken message that reminds someone to do something

e.g. If he forgot to pay his rent, his landlady would send him a reminder.

如果他忘了付房租，女房东就会去信提醒他。

5. serene adj./səˈriːn/ 宁静的

peaceful and calm; worried by nothing

e.g. She has a lovely serene face. 她有一张可爱娴静的脸庞。

6. a focal point 焦点，中心点

the main center of attention or interest in a particular context

e.g. The bright red sculpture in the middle of the art gallery serves as a focal point, drawing visitors’ attention as soon as they enter. 艺术馆中央的鲜红色雕塑充当着焦点，吸引着游客们一进门就注意到它。

7. heartfelt wishes 衷心的祝愿

sincere desires or blessings expressed from the heart

e.g. I send you my heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery.

我送上衷心的祝愿，希望你能尽快康复。

8. foster v./ˈfɒstər/ 培养

to encourage the development or growth of ideas or feelings

e.g. Good teachers strive to foster a love of learning in their students. 优秀的教师努力培养学生对学习的热爱。

9. elixir n. [C] /iˈlɪksər/  灵丹妙药，长生不老药

a substance, usually a liquid, with a magical power to cure, improve, or preserve something

e.g. It’s yet another health product claiming to be the elixir of life.

这又是一种号称灵丹妙药的保健产品，据说有延年益寿之奇效。

10. pay tribute to 赞扬，称赞

to praise someone or something

e.g. The minister paid tribute to the men who had fought the blaze.

部长高度赞扬了奋力扑灭大火的勇士们。

11. incense n. [U] /ˈɪn.sens/ 香

a substance that is burnt to produce a sweet smell, especially as part of a religious ceremony

e.g. an incense burner/stick 香炉／香烛

12. add a touch of添加一丝、一点的成分、特性或品质

to include or introduce a small amount or a slight hint of something, often for the purpose of enhancing or improving it

e.g. She added a touch of cinnamon to the apple pie for extra flavour.

她在苹果派中加了一点肉桂以增添额外的味道。

13. mythology n. [U] /mɪˈθɒlədʒi/ 神话

myths in general

e.g. She’s fascinated by the stories of classical mythology. 她被古典神话故事迷住了。

14. filling n. [C or U] /ˈfɪlɪŋ/ （三明治、蛋糕等的）馅

the layer of food inside a sandwich, cake, etc.

e.g. pies with sweet or savoury fillings 甜味或咸味的馅饼

15. texture n. [C or U] /ˈtekstʃər/ 质地;质感

the quality of something that can be decided by touch; the degree to which something is rough or smooth, or soft or hard

e.g. a smooth/rough/coarse texture 光滑／不平／粗糙的质地

16. lotus seed paste 莲蓉馅儿

17. salted egg yolks 咸蛋黄

18. a savoury twist 咸口儿

introducing a salty or savoury element to enhance or change the flavour of something

拓展：a sweet twist甜口儿

19. black sesame 黑芝麻

中秋节与春节、端午节、清明节并称“四大传统节日”。中秋节源自远古先民对天象的崇拜，由上古时代的“秋夕祭月”演变而来。农耕社会，人们认为月亮的运行同农业的生产和季节的变化有很大关系，因此，祭月就成了一项重要的祭祀活动，中秋节也被称为“祭月节”。

最初的“祭月节”是在秋分这一天。后来逐渐演变为农历八月十五。农历八月在秋季中间，所以称为“中秋节”。

“中秋”一词最早出现在汉代成书的《周礼》一书里。《周礼》记载，先秦时期已经有了“中秋夜迎寒”的活动。唐代，中秋节成了全国性的节日。据《唐六典》记载，官府衙门在中秋这天可以休假。民间也有了庆祝中秋的活动，比如赏月、祭月。中秋节的盛行则是在宋朝。至明清时，中秋已与元旦齐名，成为我国重要的节日。

中国传统节日大多和各种神话传说、民间故事密切相连，中秋节也不例外。“月”是中秋最重要的意象，因此，中秋的传说也与月亮有关。“嫦娥奔月”的故事由来已久，在我国出土的先秦简牍中就有嫦娥奔月的故事雏形。

嫦娥奔月的故事有很多种版本，其中最经典的版本是这样记载的：

相传远古时期，天上有十个太阳，永不停息地照射着人间，大地都要被烤焦了，农作物无法生长，人也无法生存。有一位叫后羿的弓箭手，决心为百姓排忧解难。后羿登上昆仑山顶，将九个太阳射了下来，并且警告最后仅存的一个太阳：“从今以后，你必须按时升起，按时落下，为民造福。”从此昼夜交替，人们日出而作，日落而息，过上了幸福的生活。

大家把后羿视为英雄，后来很多人来找他拜师学艺。其中就有一个叫逄蒙的人。

后羿的妻子嫦娥，美丽善良、乐于助人。有一天，西王母送给后羿一丸仙药。吃了仙药可以长生不老，还可以成仙。可是，后羿不愿意离开嫦娥，让她把药藏在匣子里。

这件事不知怎的被逄蒙知道了，他一心想把仙药弄到手。八月十五清晨，后羿出门去了，留嫦娥一个人在家。到了晚上，逄蒙闯进后羿家里，威逼嫦娥交出仙药。嫦娥不肯。于是逄蒙便翻箱倒柜，四处搜寻，眼看就要找到药匣了。见情势不妙，嫦娥疾步向前，取出仙药，一口吞了下去。

吃了仙药之后，嫦娥觉得自己的身体越来越轻，然后她就飞了起来。嫦娥飞出窗户，越过田野，越飞越高，飞向了天空，最终落在了月亮上。

月宫清冷，嫦娥寂寞。她很后悔，可是从此再无回头路。

乡亲们常念嫦娥，在院子里摆上她平日爱吃的食品，为她祈福。从此，每年八月十五就成了人们企盼团圆的中秋佳节。

中秋节的两大重要活动是赏月和吃月饼。

月饼在中国有着悠久的历史。据文献记载，早在殷商时期，江浙一带就有一种纪念太师闻仲的饼，被称为“太师饼”。民俗学家普遍认为这就是月饼的雏形。

月饼何时成为中秋节的食品，无年代可考。但我们可以确定的是，唐代开始，中秋节就已经有了吃月饼的习俗。《洛中见闻》记载，中秋节的时候，唐僖宗会赏赐月饼给新科进士。

    宋代，月饼开始大范围普及。一代文豪苏轼在《留别》中写道：“小饼如嚼月，中有酥与饴”。这里的“小饼”就指的是月饼。

    明清时期，月饼的种类和馅料不断丰富，月饼的食用场景也不再限于中秋，而扩展为一种任何时候都可以吃的点心。

随着物质生活水平的不断提高，月饼的种类也不断丰富。常见的月饼种类有：五仁月饼、枣泥月饼、豆沙月饼、莲蓉月饼等灯。其中，最经典的当属五仁月饼了，堪称月饼之王。五仁是指核仁、杏仁、花生仁、瓜子仁和芝麻仁。将这五种料炒熟后压成碎丁，加入白糖调味之后就是五仁馅了。五仁馅口味丰富、老少皆宜，深受大家的喜爱。

如果说月饼满足了口舌之欢，赏月则抒发了人们的悲欢离合。无论我们身在何方，总能看到一轮或圆或缺的月亮，总有一抹月光披在我们身上。“海上生明月，天涯共此时”，这是月夜望远的辽阔意境；“中庭地白树栖鸦，冷露无声湿桂花”，这是望月怀人的秋思；“长安一片月，万户捣衣声”，这是思念征夫的真情挚意……一千个人眼中有一千个月亮，月亮的意义是无穷的。

团圆是中秋的主题，中秋不仅是一个节日，更是一个家庭团聚、亲友话谈的契机。我们无论身在何处，都能感受到家的温暖和幸福，感受到亲友的支持和鼓励。这便是中秋节的最大意义。

Silk

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn… and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello listeners! Welcome to a rather glamorous episode of China Lifestyle Journeys. Today we’re looking at the world of silk and its role in both Chinese fashion culture and even global fashion. Now silk has always been cherished1 in China as a symbol of beauty, elegance, and luxury. We know that, I think everyone knows this. I also know that silk has a really smoothtexture2, (Actually, there’s a word or an expression that we use quite a lot in English to mean really smooth – ‘silky smooth3’ , and we use this expression ‘silky smooth’ to talk about anything with food, drinks, material, when the texture is really smooth… we say it’s silky smooth.) So I know that silk is smooth… but apart from this… what makes it so special as a fabric for clothing? So Jocelyn, let’s talk about silk fashions and what makes silk so special for people like yourself, for Chinese women.

(Jocelyn) 

OK, I think that’s a great place to start! Silk has been an important part of Chinese fashion culture for centuries. Silk is smooth, or ‘silky smooth’ as you say in English. It has a unique shiny finish to it. It flows and hangs in a really beautiful and elegant way. Imagine a large piece of cotton, think about how it hangs down. Now imagine a piece of silk hanging, you can almost picture that special quality, the way that it drapes4 so elegantly. Now that’s just the start. It also feels very soft and delicate on the skin when you wear it. So, because of these qualities, silk is perfect for making elegant shapes in traditional Chinese clothes likeqipao dresses,tangzhuang jackets, and things like that.     

(Mat)

Hang on a second, I get the part about the silky smooth texture and the way it hangs, but what were those words you just said,qipao andtangzhuang... I think you’ll need to explain those before we continue.

(Jocelyn) 

Sure! Aqipao is a traditional Chinese dress that’s known for its elegant, fairly tight,figure-hugging5 design. It’s often worn by women on special occasions, and features a high collar and unique patterns. You’ve definitely seen one before – it’s the classic traditional Chinese dress. It’s a symbol of grace andfemininity6. Atangzhuang, on the other hand, is a style of traditional Chinese jacket. It has a straight cut and a stand-up collar. Both of these classic clothing items look best when they’re made from silk.

(Mat)

Ah yes, I can picture them now. So let’s get back to the fabric, silk. Now I know that there are different types of silk, like different quality levels or grades (I remember this, I think, when I was in a traditional silk shop somewhere). So how can we tell how good a piece of silk is? How do we measure the quality?

(Jocelyn) 

So, when it comes to silk quality, there are a few things to look for. One of the most important things is the sheen7 (that’s just a fancy word for how shiny the fabric is or the material is)  – the highest-quality silk has a natural, beautiful shine. It looksglossy8 and almost wet. And it behaves like a liquid, it has a unique fluid flow (that I’ve mentioned before). The highest-quality silk looks so shiny that it has a strange reflective quality to it. Now, as you go down in quality, the sheen is lower, so the silk looks less shiny, and this gives it a less fluid appearance, and it looks kind of flat. And there’s another important difference, the higher-quality silks are stronger because they are made from the best raw material. Cheaper lower grade silk isn’t as strong because it’s made frominferior9 materials, so it doesn’t last as long as it can break or tear quite easily.

(Mat)

Now that’s quite interesting because I thought the opposite would be true. In my mind, when I picture high-quality silk, I imagine a fabric that is really delicate and easy to rip. But it seems like you’re saying that this isn’t the case.

(Jocelyn) 

That’s exactly what I’m saying. Because of its light weight, silk is often thought of unable to withstand everyday wear. A lot of people think silk is fragile10 because of its appearance. On the contrary, silk is one of nature’s strongest natural fabrics when it’s high-quality silk, it’s really strong. A well-made silk dress can last for decades and even become anheirloom11 piece. In Chinese museums, you can find examples of old silk clothing that is hundreds and even thousands of years old.

(Mat)

Wow, I didn’t know that. So silk is one of the strongest fabrics or natural fabrics in the world. That’s pretty cool.

(Jocelyn) 

Yeah, I forgot to mention before that it has a nickname, ‘The Queen of Textiles12’ and it gets that name partly from its appearance and partly from its strength.

(Mat)

Right, that’s quite a cool nickname, I’m impressed. So if silk is the queen of textiles, what’s the king?

(Jocelyn) 

Haha. To be honest I don’t know the answer to that, cause it’s meant to be an episode just about the queen, silk, I guess.

(Mat) Sure, so what else do I need to know about silk before we finish?  

(Jocelyn) Well if you really want to know more about silk, you should really visit the city of Suzhou, the silk capital, it is a must-visit for any silk fan. You can explore the silk shops on Pingjiang Lu, learn all about silk craftsmanship at Suzhou Silk Museum, and witness silk production in a factory. You can take home exquisite souvenirs like embroidered gowns, fans, and bedding. Speciality shops even createbespoke13 qipaos andtangzhuang jackets, making you feel like a real Chinese silk goddess!  

(Mat)

I’m not sure if I really want to be a silk goddess, but I think this is a good place to make some cultural connections. We can think about silk beyond China too. Of course, the ancient Silk Road trade enabled silk to travel from China to places like Persia, Rome, Egypt and many other regions in ancient times. So silk’s luxurious reputation expands many centuries and many different civilizations. And of course, these days, silk is really important globally in luxury fashion. Top designer brands from Italy, France, and around the world, many of them use silk for their most prestigious14 and most expensivegarments15. I know that actually in my country, England, when we think about very formal, traditional clothing, a silk tie is considered to be the highest quality tie you can find. So silk’s luxury appeal is actually important to people all around the world, not just in Chinese culture.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

Key words and expressions:

1. cherish  v. /ˈtʃerɪʃ/ 珍爱，钟爱

to love, protect, and care for someone or something that is important to you

e.g. Chinese culture is cherished by people all around the world for its rich history.

        中国文化因其丰富的历史而受到世界各地人们的珍视。

2. texture n. [C or U] /ˈtekstʃər/ 质感；手感

the quality of something that can be decided by touch

e.g. This artificial fabric has the texture of silk.

        这种人造织物有丝一样的质感。

3. silky smooth 如丝般柔滑

used to describe something that is exceptionally smooth, soft in texture or appearance, resembling the feel of silk

e.g. After applying the lotion, her skin felt silky smooth to the touch.

       涂抹了护肤霜后，她的皮肤触感如丝般柔滑。

4. drape v. /dreɪp/ 披，搭，垂下来

to put something such as cloth or a piece of clothing loosely over something

e.g. She draped the scarf loosely around her shoulders.

她把围巾松松地披在肩膀上。

5. figure-hugging adj. /ˈfɪɡəˌhʌɡɪŋ/  （衣服）紧贴身体的，贴身的

used to describe clothes that fit closely to your body

e.g. a figure-hugging dress

        贴身长裙

6. femininity n. [U] /ˌfeməˈnɪnəti/ 女性气质

the fact or quality of having characteristics that are traditionally thought to be typical of or suitable for a woman

e.g. Long hair was traditionally regarded as a sign of femininity.

传统上，长发被认为是女性气质的象征。

7. sheen n. /ʃiːn/ 光彩；光泽

a bright, smooth surface

e.g. The conditioner gives hair a beautiful soft sheen.

        这种护发素能使头发美丽、柔顺，富有光泽。

8. glossy adj. /ˈɡlɒsi/ 平滑有光泽的

smooth and shiny

e.g. She has glossy hair like silk.

        她的头发如丝绸一般富有光泽。

9. inferior adj./ɪnˈfɪəriər/ 差的；比……不如的

not good, or not as good as someone or something else

e.g. These products are inferior to those we bought last year.

这些产品比我们去年买的差些。

10. fragile adj. /ˈfrædʒaɪl/ 易损坏的；易碎的；脆弱的

easily damaged, broken, or harmed

e.g. The delicate porcelain teacup was so fragile that it broke when it was lightly bumped.

        那个精致的瓷茶杯非常脆弱，轻轻一碰就破碎了。

11.  heirloom n. [C]  /ˈeəluːm/ 传家宝，祖传之物

a valuable object that has been given by older members of a family to younger members of the same family over many years

e.g. This ring is a family heirloom.

这枚戒指是家里祖传的。

12. textile n. [C] /ˈtekstaɪl/ 纺织物；织物

a cloth made by hand or machine

e.g. the textile industry

        纺织业

13. bespoke adj./bɪˈspəʊk/ 定做的，定制的

specially made for a particular person

e.g. a bespoke suit

        定做的西装

14. prestigious adj/presˈtɪdʒəs/ 有威望的，有声望的

very much respected and admired, usually because of being important

e.g. a prestigious literary award

       颇具声望的文学奖

15.  garmentn. [C] /ˈɡɑːmənt/ （一件）衣服

a piece of clothing

e.g. Traditional Chinese garments, like the elegant silkqipao, reflect the exquisite craftsmanship and timeless beauty of Chinese culture.

传统的中国服装，如优雅的丝绸旗袍，反映了中国文化的精湛工艺和永恒之美。

丝绸是中国古代最伟大的技艺之一。两千多年以前，丝绸经由西域、中亚传入欧洲，贵族和商人都惊叹于它的轻盈和美丽。

制作丝绸的主要工序包括缫丝、煮茧、精炼、织线、染色、整理六大工序。

缫丝是制丝的第一道工序，传说/中华始祖/黄帝/的妻子/嫘祖/发明了养蚕和缫丝的技术，因此被尊称为“纺织之母”。缫丝指抽取蚕丝的过程。在缫丝之前必须要煮茧，因为煮过之后蚕丝软化，更容易观察到蚕丝的走向、找到线头。然后，将蚕丝抽出线，多条线合到一起，努力搓捻，形成较粗且紧致的一根，然后穿过孔眼卷起来晾干，缫丝就完成了。

缫好的生丝中含有色素、油脂、蚕蜡等杂质，因此需要将生丝放入特制溶液内加热，去除杂质。这个过程称之为精炼。精炼之后就可以用来织线了。

织线是制作丝绸的主要环节。将丝线以不同的数量比例相互紧密交织，在古代社会，主要是用半人工的木质纺机来进行，这种纺机被称为“梭子”。“梭子机”运行的时候速度飞快，所以常常用来形容飞速运行、密集繁忙的事物，比如“岁月如梭”、“穿梭不息”。

织线完成之后便是染色印花了。

染色便是根据成品的颜色要求，对织物进行整体或者部分的染色。为了保证颜色稳定不掉色，一般染色要经过几轮的重复浸染。为了丰富颜色，展现更加精美的花纹和图案，纺织厂会还会用印花技术来精细化处理。

完成染色和印花之后，一件丝绸制品算是初步完成了。但是要达到贴身使用的要求，还需要经过进一步的“织物整理”。织物整理就是提高织物品质、提高贴肤性的过程。比如用蒸汽熨烫调整丝绸的密度和平整度，添加柔软剂、抗静电剂来防皱、防缩、防静电。至此，合格的丝绸制品才算大功告成了。

因为丝绸名贵，所以最初它并不是日常服饰，而是用于贵族丧葬祭祀。到汉代，战事平息，国家统一，统治者奉行“休养生息”的政策，劝课农桑，丝织业得以飞速发展，丝绸服饰才开始进入寻常百姓家。

除此之外，丝绸还可以当作官员俸禄，可以当作货币流通。我国古代的官俸有土地、钱币、实物几种形式。北齐的俸禄实行三分法，即将官员俸禄分为三份，一份是丝帛，一份是粮食，一份是钱币。帛是丝织品的总称，以帛为先，说明帛在流通货币中享有较高的地位。

伴随着丝织产业一同蓬勃发展的，还有丝绸贸易。丝绸贸易的繁荣促进了“丝绸之路”的诞生。这条商贸之路起自长安，通过河西走廊进入西域，然后途径中亚各国，最终到达地中海的罗马，全程六千多公里。在通过这条漫漫长路进行贸易交接的货物中，中国的丝绸最具代表性，“丝绸之路”也因此得名。

汉代，中原地区受匈奴侵扰，汉武帝派张骞出使西域，希望联合大月氏夹击匈奴。后来汉军取得阶段性胜利，占领了河西走廊地区，至此打通了西汉与西域之间的通道。霍去病在祁连山大破匈奴后，张骞又多次出使西域前往乌孙、大夏等西域强国。从此，西汉与西北诸国开始联系频繁起来，丝绸之路正式开通。

汉宣帝时期，西汉取得了对匈奴战争的最终胜利，设置了西域都护府，将新疆地区纳入中央管辖，从此新疆成为中国不可分割的一部分。稳定的周边环境促进了商贸的发达，丝绸之路也进入了繁荣时期。

魏晋南北朝时期，是中国历史上大碰撞、大融合的阶段。魏晋时期，经由丝绸之路，中原蚕桑和丝织技术传入西域各国，这些地区逐渐成为重要的丝绸产地。

到了唐代，丝绸之路达到鼎盛，海上丝绸之路也在此时兴起。通过丝路贸易，中国同中亚、西亚等地区的文化交流更加频繁。据《唐会典》记载，与唐朝进行文化交流和商贸往来的国家有三百多个，堪称历朝历代之最。

北宋从建立开始就带着积贫积弱的基因，版图大幅缩减，政府无法控制河西走廊。而到了南宋时期，版图进一步缩小，丝绸之路日益衰落。

明代倭寇横行，海禁政策不断加强，海上丝绸之路近乎废止。

清代初期以后，清政府实行“闭关锁国”政策，丝绸之路进入了最低谷，接近消亡。

2013年，中国提出了“丝绸之路经济带”和“21世纪海上丝绸之路”的伟大倡议，简称“一带一路”。2014年，中国、哈萨克斯坦、吉尔吉斯斯坦三国联合申报的“丝绸之路：长安－天山廊道的路网”成功地认定为“世界文化遗产”，成为首例跨国合作的申遗项目。自此，历经数千年的古老丝路重焕生机。

丝绸是中国古代劳动人民发明的纺织品，是中国文化的象征。丝绸不仅为中华民族织绣了光辉的篇章，也对世界文明的发展作出了不可磨灭的贡献。丝绸的历史不仅仅是一段美丽的历史，它也代表着人类智慧的发展与进步，是了解中国古代文化的重要途径。

Guanxi

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn… and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello and welcome to another episode of China Lifestyle Journeys! Today, we’re delving into the fascinating topic ofguanxi, or as we say in English “personal relationships” in Chinese culture. So personal relationships hold significant importance in Chinese society, but I think that this is also an important part of many cultures, so let’s explore the differences. So first of all, Jocelyn, I think we should start with an example.

(Jocelyn)

Sure, Mat! Let’s create an example with a fictional story, rather than using a real life example. So imagine a character, a Chinese businessperson named Li and his colleague, Zhang. Li and Zhang have been working together for several years and have developed a strongguanxi (a personal connection). They often go out for meals together, exchange small gifts on special occasions, and help each other out whenever needed. This personal relationship goes beyond just business interactions and creates a sense of trust and mutual support between them. For instance, if Li needs a favour or an introduction to someone, Zhang would be more likely to assist him because of their establishedguanxi. It’s a friendship that extends beyond the workplace and enhances their professional collaboration.

(Mat)

I’m not sure if I get it. It sounds like they are workmates, they get on well with each other and when they need a favour, they help each other out, just like most people doing this in the situation. To me this sounds like just any kind of normal relationship between colleagues. I can imagine this happening in my country. So what am I missing here?

(Jocelyn)

OK, let me give a different example using our two characters Li and Zhang. Let’s say that Li is getting married and needs to hire a restaurant for the wedding party. Zhang’s uncle owns a fancy restaurant in the neighbourhood. Zhang says, “I’ll ask my uncle if he can give you a good deal on the wedding party”. Zhang’s uncle agrees, and Li can hire out the restaurant, for a very good price, and Zhang’s uncle will even give some free drinks and snacks on the table. Li is very happy, he accepts this offer. Zhang has done him a big favour. Li knows this and Zhang knows it. It is stored in their heads. Imagine it like a football score, Zhang One Li Zero. Zhang is owed a favour. Now this is where it gets interesting, because Zhang can call in that owed favour any time he wants. Next week, next month and even next year. It will not be forgotten.

(Mat)

OK, so it’s similar to the English expression, you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. So when Zhang gets married, he can ask Li to help with the restaurant arrangements for his wedding. Is that how it works? 

(Jocelyn)

Well, yes, that’s possible, but Zhang is owed a favour of a “similar social value” – it could be something completely unrelated to weddings. So let’s say Li’s sister has a very important university examination coming up, she needs some guidance with her studies. Zhang’s sister is a teacher, Li asks Zhang, “Can your sister help my sister with her exam?” Zhang is obliged to say yes.

(Mat)

OK, so Li asks Zhang to repay the favour. And Zhang cannot refuse. But what happens if Li asks Zhang to lend him a million dollars or something like that?

(Jocelyn)

Well, that’s it, you’ve kind of found the true meaning of “guanxi” here. There is an understanding that the favours exchanged should be within a reasonable and appropriate range – equal in size to the favour owed. Asking for a million dollars would likely be considered beyond the scope of theguanxi relationship between Li and Zhang. It’s important to note thatguanxi operates within certain boundaries and is based on trust and balance. Asking for such a large sum of money would likely puta strain on the relationship and go against the principles ofguanxi. It’s more common for these favours to be related to personal or professional support, advice, introductions, or small-scale assistance. It’s about maintaining a harmonious and balanced relationship, rather than exploiting or imposing on the other person.  

(Mat)

OK, so let me see if I’ve got it. Let’s say you wrote a book about English culture and you wanted me to write a recommendation in the preface. I agree to do it, I write it for you, and then you owe me a favour and we both know it, and then about one month later, I mention that I need to find a publisher for, let’s say, my book. Imagine I wrote a book on Chinese culture, and you say you have a publisher friend, then you invite us both out to lunch, so that we can have a formal introduction. You can introduce me to your publisher friend. And then you have repaid the favour. I think that’s it, yeah.

(Jocelyn)

Ah, that’s a great example, Mat! You’ve got a better understanding ofguanxi now. In your example, the exchange of favours and support is a perfect illustration of howguanxi works. By writing a recommendation for my book, you do me a favour, and when you need assistance with finding a publisher, I leverage my personal connections to introduce you to my publisher friend. This kind of exchange strengthens ourguanxi and shows the importance of maintaining a harmonious relationship based on trust and mutual support.People rely on their personal networks to navigate various aspects of life, whether it’s professional opportunities, social connections, or even personal matters. Chinese people understand the value ofguanxi and use it to build a better society by fostering cooperation, collaboration, and a sense of interconnectedness. It’s a cultural practice that reflects the deep-rooted values of mutual benefit and reciprocity.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

人是社会关系的总和。在传统社会中，人际关系尤为重要。儒家思想中的人际关系理论是封建社会人际关系的指导原则和规范。

在内部人际关系中，封建伦理要求子女对父母“尽孝”。这种“孝”，既有积极部分，比如对长辈的尊重、侍奉。也有在今天看来不合时宜的内容，即唯父命是从，不得有任何的违逆。从现代社会的进步观念来看，这是一种“愚孝”。

关于孝道的论述，最经典的当属元代学者郭居敬收集的《二十四孝》，这是古代“孝道”理念的精华。后人将《二十四孝》里每个故事都配上连环画，称之为《二十四孝图》。

《二十四孝图》中不乏打动人心的故事，比如刘恒（héng）亲尝汤药。有一次，刘恒的母亲薄（bó ）太后患了重病，随后一病三年，卧床不起。这可急坏了刘恒，他日夜守在母亲床前，等母亲睡着了，才在旁边睡一会儿。刘恒还天天为母亲煎药，每次煎完，必先亲尝，看看汤药苦不苦，烫不烫，有没有其他问题，确保稳妥之后，才给母亲喝。

但同时，《二十四孝图》中也记载了在今天看来很不合情理甚至让人觉得恐怖的故事，比如“郭巨埋儿”。晋朝人郭巨原本出身贵族，后来家境中落。郭巨育有一子，郭巨的母亲非常疼爱孙子，自己总舍不得吃饭，却把仅有的食物留给孙子吃。郭巨内心十分忧虑。他认为，长此以往这个儿子肯定会影响自己侍奉母亲。于是，郭巨和妻子商议：“儿子可以再有，母亲死了不能复生。我们不如埋掉儿子，节省粮食侍奉母亲。”于是，郭巨和妻子来到空地挖坑，准备埋掉儿子。当他们挖到两尺深的时候，突然发现了一坛黄金，上面写着：“天赐孝子郭巨，官不得取，民不得夺。”夫妻得到黄金，生活有了很大改善，不仅可以更好地奉养母亲，而且也能养活孩子了。郭巨的故事历来存在争议，有人认为郭巨“至孝之人，善莫大焉”；反对的人则认为郭巨对母亲有孝，却对儿子无情，如果没有拾得黄金的幸运，岂不是真的要杀了孩子？而且郭巨的母亲那么喜欢孙子，郭母如果问起孙子，又该如何回答呢？估计老人会悲痛欲绝。这种结果岂不是更大的不孝！

除了父慈子孝，内部人际关系还有“长幼有序”与“夫妻和睦”。

“长幼有序”包括两方面的含义。其一是在兄弟之间，提倡兄友弟恭，比如“孔融让梨”的故事。东汉名士孔融四岁的时候，和哥哥们一起吃梨，他总是拿最小的梨吃。长辈问他原因，他回答说：“我年纪最小，理应拿最小的梨吃。”其二是在长辈和晚辈之间，晚辈要尊敬和礼让长辈，特别是上了年纪的老人。两方面合起来，便是孟子说的，“老吾老以及人之老，幼吾幼以及人之幼”。

而“夫妻和睦”则强调夫妻要互相尊重敬爱。处理家庭事务时，要分工协作。传统上，男主外，女主内。男性在外奔波，努力工作。妻子作为当家主母，治家理财，管理家庭日常事务。当然，随着社会发展与时代进步，家庭关系被不断地重构，家庭成员的分工也有了更多的模式。

在外部人际关系中，古代社会最具价值和影响力的是关于友谊的论述。

提到中国古代的友谊，人们最先想到的想必是俞伯牙和钟子期的“高山流水”了。俞伯牙是楚国有名的琴师，擅长寓景于琴。钟子期则善于欣赏音乐。伯牙弹琴时，想象着巍峨的高山。钟子期高兴地说：“弹得真好啊！我仿佛看见了一座巍峨的大山！”伯牙继续弹琴，志在流水，钟子期马上领悟，说道：“我仿佛听到了奔腾不息的江河！”不管伯牙弹奏什么，钟子期总能从琴声中领会到其所思所想。伯牙惊喜万分，一直以来，自己用琴声表达的意境，很少有人能领悟，而钟子期竟说得分毫不差。俞伯牙与钟子期一见如故，相约来年中秋再会。后来钟子期去世，伯牙悲痛欲绝，摔琴断弦，终身不再弹琴。俞伯牙和钟子期成为古代友谊的典范，正所谓知音难觅，后来人们常用“高山流水”来表示这种深刻的友谊。

另一个著名的故事同样发生在春秋时期。齐国有一个颇具才能的青年叫管仲，又名管夷吾。管仲与鲍叔牙是交情深厚的好友。管仲家境贫困，他和鲍叔牙一起做生意的时候，本钱都是鲍叔牙出的，但最后的利润却是管仲分的多一些。鲍叔牙对此没有任何怨言。后来鲍叔牙服侍齐国的公子小白，管仲服侍公子纠。而后小白被立为桓（huán）公，公子纠被杀死，管仲也被囚禁。鲍叔牙向桓公力荐管仲。桓公不仅没杀管仲，还让他当了齐国的宰相。在管仲的辅佐下，齐国也成为了著名的强国。

管仲后来说：“当初我贫困的时候，同鲍叔牙一起做买卖，分钱的时候往往自己多占一些，而鲍叔牙不认为我贪婪，他知道我家贫。我曾在官场浮沉，多次升迁又贬谪（zhé），鲍叔牙不把我当无能之人看待，他知道我没赶上好的局势。我曾多次在打仗时躲在鲍叔牙身后，他不认为我是胆小鬼，知道我家中还有母亲需要奉养。生我者父母，知我者鲍子也。”后人便用“管鲍之交”形容互相了解、共患难的生死之交。  “士为知己者死，女为悦己者容”。友谊的最高境界被称为“知己”，因为最好的朋友往往是最了解我们、最懂我们的人。除了了解对方，至交还必须要有共同的价值取向和追求，所谓“道不同，不相为谋”。可见，友谊中凝结了传统价值观的精华：既有互相了解、互相扶助的“仁爱”，也有坚持道义和信仰的“大义”。

古代社会的伦理道德是维护君主专制和社会稳定的重要工具，它外化为人际关系中的具体要求，规范着每个人的一言一行。对于传统人际关系规范，我们应该用辩证的态度，“取其精华，弃其糟粕”，用平等、尊重、友爱的态度去经营我们的人际关系。

Qixi Festival & Valentine’s Day

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn… and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello and welcome to another episode of China Lifestyle Journeys. And today we are talking about something that I guess most people know about. And that’s Valentine’s Day, or should I say we are going to talk two important dates in the calendar1, Valentine’s Day and something called the Qixi Festival. So first of all, I think a good place to start is with the question, is the Qixi Festival the same as Valentine’s Day?

(Jocelyn)

Thank you, Mat. Yes, that’s a good question to open with. So, both the Qixi Festival and Valentine's Day are celebrations of love. They do have some differences. The Qixi Festival, is sometimes called Chinese Valentine's Day, and I think this can cause some confusion, because it’s actually celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunar2 month in the Chinese calendar (which is usually around the month of August), whereas the Valentine’s Day is in February. And the Qixi Festival has its own unique customs, traditions and cultural significance, so it’s quitemisleading3 to call it “Chinese Valentine’s Day”, actually. So while they both share some similarities on the theme of love, they havedistinct4 origins, customs, andsymbolism5. So, in short, they are two quite separate and distinct celebrations.

(Mat)

OK, so now we know that these are two separate things, really quite different. So let’s start with the origins. I know that the European Valentine’s Day comes from both Christian and ancient Roman traditions. It’s a combination ofboth. I think it’s named after a saint, Saint Valentine6, but I remember reading somewhere. There’s actually more than one Saint Valentine, there’s probably about four, so nobody really knows the story behind the celebration of Valentine’s Day, because there are many different versions of the same story. So, Jocelyn, tell me something about the origins of the QixiFestival.

(Jocelyn)

OK. The origins of the Qixi Festival can be traced back to ancient Chinese folklore7. The festival is based on an interesting legend about two characters Niulang (the Cowherd8) and Zhinv (the Weaving9 Maid).  

The story goes that a warm-hearted10 cowherd called Niulang, who lost his parents and led a hard life with an old ox, and he fell in love with11 a girl named Zhinv, a weaving maid who escaped from the heaven because all the strict rules there made her life dull. So, in the story, they got married, and soon had two children and lived together happily for a few years.

However, Zhinv’s mother, the Empress of Heaven12, was quite angry to find that her daughter had married a simple and poor human and sent soldiers to fetch13 her back.

Then Niulang tried to go to heaven to rescue Zhinv but they were separated by the giant river (which is actuallythe Milky Way14) and they could only meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, and that’s why the Qixi Festival falls on this day.

(Mat)

Wow, it’s quite a romantic story, which makes sense really, because it’s a romantic festival. Now, obviously on Valentine’s Day, couples buy gifts for each other, they go on dates, and I remember when I was a teenager, there was a special Valentine’s Day ritual. If you had a crush on15 someone, but they didn’t know, because you haven’t told them. You bought a romantic Valentine’s card, you wrote a simple message, such as“be my valentine”, but you didn’t sign your name. It was like a secret love letter, a mystery. It was like sending a message to someone saying “someone likes you”, but it’s not signed, so they never knew who. So, are there any similar traditions or rituals for the QixiFestival?

(Jocelyn)

Traditionally, in the past, one popular custom was for unmarried women to demonstrate their needlework skills by creating intricate16 handicrafts, such asembroidered17 silkand wovenaccessories18. It was a way for young women to show their creativity and dedication, and also a chance to impress others with their artistic abilities. Another tradition, which still exists in some places today, is making a wish, writing it on a piece of paper, then throwing it into a river or stream during the festival, hoping that the wishes will come true. Usually the wishes are related to love and romance. So in some ways, that’s similar to the secret love letters of Valentine's Day that you mentioned. 

Today, however, the festival has become increasingly commercialised19 – with many couples celebrating by going on datesor giving each other gifts on that day, again similar to Valentine’sDay.

(Mat)

OK, so although the origins and original ancient legends are different, I suppose just like many things in the modern world. Once they become more commercial, things tend to become more similar and less unique. They lose some of their original flavour. So as we are talking about festivals, I always have to ask, are there any foods that are traditionallyeaten on this festival?

(Jocelyn)

Well actually, there are some. The most well-known is probably something called “Qiaoguo20”  pastry. It’s a thin pastry made from flour, sugar,sesame21 and sometimes honey. The fragrant and sweet pastry dough22 is moulded into different shapes and decorated with elegant patterns and decorative designs. In some regions of China, they deep fry this Qiaoguo pastry. It’s really delicious. I recommend that you try it if you have a chance. 

(Mat)

You don’t have to convince me. Deep fried sweet pastry sounds amazing. It’s now on my list of things to try.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

Key words and expressions:

calendar CET4n.[C] /ˈkæləndər/ 日历

a printed table showing all the days, weeks, and months of the year

e.g. a calendar for 2023 2023年的日历

lunar CET4 / IELTS / TOEFLadj./ˈluːnər/ 月亮的，月球的

of or relating to the moon

e.g. lunar calendar 阴历，农历

misleading CET4 / IELTS / TOEFL adj. /ˌmɪsˈliːdɪŋ/ 误导的

causing someone to believe something that is not true

e.g. Adverts must not create a misleading impression.  广告不得产生误导印象。

distinct CET4adj./dɪˈstɪŋkt/ 明显不同的，差别明显的

clearly separate and different (from something else)

e.g. The use of chopsticks is a distinct cultural feature that sets Chinese dining etiquette (礼节) apart from many Western cultures.使用筷子是一个独特的文化特征，使得中国饮食礼仪与许多西方文化形成了明显的文化特色差异。

symbolism IELTS / TOEFL  n.[U] /ˈsɪmbəlɪzəm/ 象征手法

the use of symbols in art, literature, films, etc. to represent ideas

e.g. The red colour often used during Chinese New Year holds significant symbolism, representing luck, happiness, and prosperity. 在中国新年期间常用的红色具有重要的象征意义，代表着幸运、快乐和繁荣。

Saint Valentine 圣瓦伦丁

Saint Valentine, a 3rd-century Christian martyr (殉道者), defied (反抗) a Roman ban on young men’s marriages. He was executed (处决) on February 14th. This day later evolved into Valentine’s Day, celebrating love and affection.

folklore  CET6 / IELTS / TOEFLn.[U] /ˈfəʊklɔːr/ 民间传说，民俗

the traditional stories and culture of a group of people

e.g.the Department of ChineseFolklore Culture中国民间文化研究所

cowherd IELTS / TOEFLn.[C] /ˈkaʊhɜːd/ 牧牛人

a person employed to take care of cattle

e.g. the Cowherd 牛郎

 weavingCET4n.[U] /ˈwiːvɪŋ/ 编织

the act of making cloth

e.g. the Weaving Maid 织女

 warm-heartedCET4adj. /ˌwɔːmˈhɑːtɪd/ 热心肠的，友好的

kind and loving

e.g. She’s a good, warm-hearted woman. 她是位热心肠的好人。

 fall in love with… 爱上（某人），（与某人）相爱

to start to love someone romantically

e.g. I fell in love with you the moment I saw you. 从见到你那一刻，我就爱上你的。

the Empress of Heaven 王母娘娘

 Fetch CET4 v. /fetʃ/

to go to another place to get something or someone and bring it, him, or her back

e.g. I have to fetch my mother from the station. 我得去车站接我母亲。

 the Milky Way银河，在此处译为“天河”

 have a crush on…迷恋，暗恋

a romantic infatuation (热恋) with someone, especially unbeknownst (在不知道的情況下) to that person

e.g. I think you have a crush on somebody. 我觉得你有暗恋的人了。

 intricateCET6 / IELTS / TOEFL adj./ˈɪntrɪkət/ 错综复杂的

having a lot of small parts that are arranged in a complicated or delicate way

e.g. The cloth has bright colors and intricate patterns. 这块布有着明亮的颜色和复杂的图案。

embroidered GRE / IELTS / TOEFL adj./ɪm'brɔɪdəd/ 绣花的

decorative process of adding intricate designs, patterns, and images to fabric using needle and thread

e.g. the embroidered silk丝绸刺绣

accessory CET6 / IELTS / TOEFLn.[C] /əkˈsesəri/ 装饰品，配饰

something added to a machine or to clothing that has a useful or decorative purpose

e.g. The delicate jade bracelet was not only a fashionable accessory but also held great cultural significance in traditional Chinese beliefs. 这款精致的玉手镯不仅是时尚的配饰，还在中国传统信仰中具有重要的文化意义。

 commercialise CET4v./kəˈmɜːʃəlaɪz/ 使商业化

to organise something to make a profit

e.g. Local farmers began seeking ways to commercialise their unique agricultural products to attract more tourists for visits. 当地农民开始寻求方法来商业化他们的特色农产品，以吸引更多游客参观。

 Qiaoguo 巧果

special traditional pastries, festive foods for the Qixi Festival

sesame GRE / IELTS / TOEFLn.[U] /ˈsesəmi/ 芝麻

a herb grown for its small oval seeds and its oil

e.g. sesame oil / seeds 芝麻油／籽

 pastry dough糕点面团

农历七月七日是我国传统节日，七夕节，又称乞巧节。七夕是一个文化含义多样的节日。它源于传统历法中的“重日为节”的习俗，同时结合了古代的星宿崇拜。最初以妇女乞求智巧为主要文化内涵，后来七夕节又被赋予了牛郎、织女相会的美丽神话传说，使其逐渐演变为中国的“情人节”。

关于它的起源有多种说法。在中国传统历法中，有“重（chóng）日为节”的习俗，如正月初一春节、三月三日上巳节、五月五日端午节、九月九日重阳节。因此在七月初七设节。这是七夕最原始的起源，此时还未赋予它特殊的文化内涵。

当时的天文学说认为，牵牛、织女二星对人类的生产和生活有重要意义。牵牛星是农耕劳作的象征；织女星则是女红的标志。两者结合，刚好代表了“男耕女织”四个字。而这恰恰是封建社会小农经济的组织模式。但此时尚未衍生出“牛郎织女”的故事。

到了汉代，民间才开始流行“牛郎织女”的爱情故事。传说天上有个仙女是王母的女儿，她擅长织布，因此被称为“织女”。天空中的彩霞就是她织就的。织女厌倦天庭枯燥的生活，偷偷下凡，与放牛郎相遇相恋，结为夫妻，还产生了爱的结晶。有了丈夫孩子的羁绊，织女更不愿回天庭了。后来，王母发现此事，非常生气，命天兵天将捉织女回天庭，不许再见牛郎。织女被抓走时，深情的牛郎携儿女不停追赶。王母见状，拔出金簪在二人中间划银河为界，牛郎无法过河，只能在河边与织女遥望对泣。他们坚贞的爱情感动了喜鹊，无数喜鹊飞来，用身体搭成一座跨越天河的彩桥，让牛郎织女在天河上相会。王母无奈，只好允许牛郎织女每年七月七日在鹊桥上会面一次。正所谓：莫嫌天上稀相见，犹胜人间去不回。

 七夕节的民俗活动为妇女乞巧。乞巧风俗早在西汉时期就已盛行。七夕之夜，女孩子们将酒食瓜果陈列于庭中，遥拜牛郎、织女星，向织女乞求智慧和灵巧的手艺，并预卜未来命运。乞巧的具体方式也和“织”有关，即穿针引线。为了增加难度和趣味性，女孩子们穿的针有很多种形式，有些针眼很小，比如刺绣针。有些有很多针眼，只有耳聪目明、心灵手巧的人才能成功。民间还会举办“乞巧大赛”，选出最心灵手巧的女子。

到了魏晋时期，乞巧风俗的活动内容开始多样化发展，出现了蛛丝乞巧。蛛丝乞巧便是将蜘蛛盛放在盒里，至午夜打开，观察蛛网疏密，如果蛛网密集，便是乞巧成功。

唐代，七夕乞巧风俗大盛，流行于宫庭内外。《开元天宝遗事》中就记载，唐玄宗和杨贵妃每年七夕都会夜游华清宫，用蜘蛛乞巧。杨贵妃所用蜘蛛，个头大，颜色绚丽，品种名贵，价值不菲。一时间，民间妇女都效仿宫中风气。蜘蛛价格大涨，唐代民间逸史记载，最贵的蜘蛛可以卖到白银百两。白居易在《长恨歌》中描写唐明皇与杨贵妃的爱情故事时，也选取了七夕许愿的场景：七月七日长生殿，夜半无人私语时：“在天愿作比翼鸟，在地愿为连理枝”。

无论是穿针乞巧，还是蛛丝乞巧，都寄托了女性对美满幸福生活的向往。而七夕民俗活动除了乞巧之外，还有晒衣、吃巧食等其它许多内容。晒衣是为了防止衣物、书籍虫蛀霉变。吃巧食则是准备好茶、酒、果品作为节日的食物。

宋元商业经济发达，在北宋都城汴梁还形成了专门买卖乞巧物品的市场，称为乞巧市，七夕节日文化气氛更加欢乐热闹

到明清时期，京城内外又形成了“投针于水”的乞巧风俗。从汉唐以来形成的“月下穿针”乞巧演变到明清时期的“日中投针于水”乞巧，说明传统民俗也处在不断地发展演变之中。

近代以来，在各地的七夕节俗中，传统的乞巧风俗仍然是过节的主要内容，许多七夕节的民俗活动继续得到传承和发展，形成了具有地方特色的节俗活动。

广西部分地区有七夕储水的习俗，人们将七夕储存的水称为“双七水”，用双七节的水洗浴具有消灾祛病的效果。

广东则有“拜七姐”的习俗，广东人称七夕节为“七姐诞”或者“七姐会”，半夜十二点是织女下凡的吉时。广东人会在七月初六晚上摆好各式各样的香案，案上供奉“七姐”画像、泥塑等，然后在旁边摆满鲜花水果、胭脂水粉作为祭品。

七夕节寄托了中国人民对美好生活的期待，馨香饼饵，新鲜瓜果，乞巧千门万户；随着时代的发展，七夕节也加入了“愿得一人心，白首不相离”的浪漫，惟愿年年有巧，岁岁有福，万千爱侣，白首如故。愿人人都能在七夕节获得向上的力量，有心人心想事成，有情人终成眷属。

Fans

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn… and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello and welcome to another episode of China Lifestyle Journeys! Today, we’re talking about Chinese fans. So if you’ve been in a Chinese city in summer, hot summer weather, you’ve probably seen people keeping cool with ahandheld1 fan. Now I’m sure there’s more to fans than just keeping cool. So, let’s start with the basics. Jocelyn, what do we know about the history of Chinese fans?

(Jocelyn)

OK, so the history of fans in China dates back to over 3,000 years ago. Actually their original function was the same as the way we use them today – in ancient times people used fans to create a breeze2 and stay cool in hot weather.  Obviously, in those days there was no air conditioner or electric fans. So handheld fans were probably the best option for keeping cool.

(Mat)

So, over 3,000 years ago, people who were feeling hot in cities, used fans to keep themselves cool. And today we still use them for the same thing. So have fans ever been used for other purposes over the years?

(Jocelyn) 

Actually yes, they have. Besides keeping people cool, fans have had some other important uses too. There was one type of fan, calledZhang Shan3. This was a long-handled fan, and it was shaped like a door and used for ceremonial4 purposes. It was believed to be invented by a king a really long time ago. And it representedimperial5 power andauthority6 during the Qing Dynasty.   

(Mat)

I think I’ve seen those fans, the wooden handle is quite long and the fan part is in the shape of, kind of like a rectangle7, as you said, it looks like a door. But I guess for most people, if they imagine a traditional Chinese fan, they picture one that looks like half a circle, a kind of like moon shape. Does that fan or that type of fan, does it have a name?

(Jocelyn)

I think you’re talking something called Tuan Shan8, or Gong Shan9. Yes, this is a famous style of fan. And these fans were often quite big and they were originally used to protect important people (like the kings) from the sun, or wind, or even sand (during a sandstorm). Servants10 used to hold these fans for thenobles11. So these were not really for creating a breeze, these were more like a shade, to shade12 peoplefrom the sunshine.

(Mat)

OK. Now whenever I’ve seen a Chinese fan, it usually has some kind of painting on it, some kind of design, either a picture or some writing. Can you tell me something about that? 

(Jocelyn)

Yeah, sure. There’s a long tradition of fans being decorated with calligraphy13, paintings, and auspicious14 patterns. They were like little pieces of art. And people would use fans with different designs to express their status or personal preferences. So, it was a way toshow off15 their creativity and taste. The calligraphy on the fan could be meaningful phrases, or poetry, or even famous quotes. Paintings were also a popular choice, featuring16various subjects like landscapes, flowers, birds, and even mythical creatures.  

(Mat)

Now I think most people know about folding fans, I’m guessing that they arrived later because they are a little bit more complicated than the other types of fan. So when did folding fans become popular?

(Jocelyn)

Folding fans started to become popular during the Han Dynasty, around 2,000 years ago. Bamboo and hand-woven leaf fans were invented, making fans more affordable for common people. So, around the same time, silk fans started to become popular. And because of the sturdy17 materials (bamboo and silk), many ancient examples are still around today. In certain museums you can see fans that are thousands of years old.

(Mat)

So I guess these were quite an important fashion accessory in their day and there was probably something like a “fan-making” industry.

(Jocelyn) 

Yes, you’re right! Many hundreds of years ago, the fan-making industry was mostly made up of family-run businesses. They produced fans in small quantities and sold them from the front of their workshops. Hangzhou was the centre of this industry during the Southern Song Dynasty. You may have heard that Hangzhou was (and still is) a very important production and trading centre for silk. So it makes sense that a city famous for its silk, became famous for its silk fans.

(Mat)

Yeah, that makes sense. So if I go to Hangzhou today, can I find one of these traditional fans? Are they easy to find? Can I buy them? Are they expensive?

(Jocelyn)

Actually, Hangzhou would be a great choice because it’s also got a fan museum, so you can see all kinds of fans, even some really old ones. And just like most museums, it has a gift shop so you can buy a new copy of many of the older fans on the show in the museum.

(Mat)

Well, that does sound pretty cool… a museum dedicated to fans or fans of fans. I’ll have to check that out next time I’m in Hangzhou. 

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

Key words and expressions:

1. handheld CET4  adj. /ˌhændˈheld/ 手提式的，便携式的

held in the hand or hands

e.g. a handheld device手提式设备

2. breeze CET4 n. [C] /briːz/ 和风，微风

a light and pleasant wind

e.g. However, outdoor breezes may quickly blow those clouds away.然而，户外的微风可能会迅速吹走那些云彩。

3. Zhang Shan 障扇

4. ceremonial CET4adj. /ˌserɪˈmoʊniəl/ 仪式的，礼节的

related to, used in, or involving a ceremony

e.g. The men were dressed in ceremonial black robes.男人们穿着庄重的黑色长袍。

5. imperial CET4adj. /ɪmˈpɪəriəl/ 帝国的；皇帝的

belonging or relating to an empire or the person or country that rules it

e.g. the imperial palace皇宫

6. authority CET4n. [U] /ɔːˈθɒrəti/ 威信；权力；管辖权

the moral or legal right or ability to control

e.g. the local housing authority 当地住房管理机构

7. rectangle IELTS / TOEFLn. [C] /ˈrektæŋɡəl/ 长方形

a flat shape with four 90° angles and four sides, with opposite sides of equal length

e.g. The rectangle is 5 cm long and 1.9 cm wide.这个长方形的长是5厘米，宽是1.9厘米。

8. Tuan Shan 团扇

9.  Gong Shan 宫扇

10.  servant n. [C] /ˈsɜːvənt/ （尤指旧时的）佣人，仆人

a person who is employed in another person’s house, doing jobs such as cooking and cleaning, especially in the past

e.g. civil servant 公务员；文职人员

11.  noble CET4n. [C] /ˈnəʊbəl/ 贵族

a person of the highest social group in some countries

e.g. a noble spirit浩然之气

12.  shade… from… 给……遮住直射光线

to prevent direct light from shining on something

e.g. I shaded my eyesfrom the glare of the sun.我遮住眼睛，避开刺眼的阳光。

13.  calligraphy IELTS / TOEFL / GREn. [U] /kəˈlɪɡrəfi/ 书法；书法艺术

(the art of producing) beautiful writing, often created with a special pen or brush

e.g. The elegance and grace of Chinese calligraphy have made it not only a means of communication but also a form of artistic expression.中国书法的优雅和风采使其不仅成为了交流的方式，还成为了一种艺术表达形式。

14.  auspicious IELTS / TOEFL / GRE adj. /ɔːˈspɪʃəs/ 吉利的，吉祥的

suggesting a positive and successful future

e.g. In Chinese culture, the number eight is considered highly auspicious.在中国文化中，数字8被认为是极其吉祥的。

15.  show off 展示

to show something or someone you are proud of to other people, so that they will admire it, him, or her

e.g. She likes to show off her collection ofpaintings. 她喜欢展示她的绘画收藏。

16.  feature GRE / IELTS / TOEFLv./ˈfiːtʃər/ 以……为特色

to include someone or something as an important or special part

e.g. The Spring Festival Gala often features traditional Chinese dances, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the country.春节联欢晚会经常以传统的中国舞蹈为特色，展示了其丰富的文化遗产。

17.  sturdyCET6 / IELTS / TOEFLadj./ˈstɜːdi/ 结实的，牢固的

physically strong and solid or thick, and therefore unlikely to break or be hurt

e.g. The Great Wall of China stands as a sturdy testament to the engineering marvels and historical legacy that define Chinese culture.中国的长城是坚固的证明，它体现了中国文化的工程奇迹和历史传承。

中国扇种类繁多，样式精巧，图案复杂多样，中国历来有“制扇王国”的美誉。

目前的考古资料和历史文献很难断定扇子产生的时间和形制。但根据人类社会的生产生活经验，最初的扇子应该来自于自然。比如较大的叶子或羽毛，芭蕉的叶子就可以当作扇子，这应该是原始扇子的雏形。

在我国，出土年代最早、保存最完好的扇子实物，是江西靖安县东周古墓出土的，春秋晚期的短柄竹扇，被称为“中华第一扇”。

扇子的材质和花样种类繁多。如果按照材质分，可以分为羽扇、竹扇、团扇、折扇、绢扇等。至于形状，更是数不胜数：圆形、折叠型、梅花型、三叶草型，还有父母辈喜欢的戏曲人物的扇子造型，以及随着工艺进步出现的青少年喜欢的卡通人物的扇子造型。

在这些种类繁多、花样丰富的中国扇中，历史最悠久、流行最广的当属羽扇、竹扇和折扇三种。

羽扇就是用各种鸟类羽毛制作的扇子。提到羽扇，我们最先想起的人物可能就是诸葛亮。羽扇出现的时间比较早，在汉代的历史文献中已有明确记载。

不过羽扇不易保存，易弯曲折断，损耗较大，所以目前考古学界并未发现汉代的羽扇实物。

团扇从西汉开始就受到人们的欢迎，尤其是社会阶层较高的女性。唐代文人王建的《调笑令》中就有“团扇团扇，美人病来遮面”的句子。后来，扇子是女子为了保持美好的仪态，用来遮病遮羞的。古代还讲究“笑不露齿”，不让其他人，特别是外族男子看到牙齿。所以女子笑的时候往往会用衣袖或者团扇来遮住牙齿，这里的扇子起到了保持仪态的作用。

后来，扇子遮体的习惯也影响到了唐代皇家贵族。唐玄宗李隆基便设立制度，在皇帝临朝前后都要用扇子遮住身体，不让臣下看到，称为“障扇”。不过在这里可不是为了遮羞，而是为了显示帝王的威严。皇帝上朝前，宫人分立两侧，将巨大的团扇合起来遮住皇帝宝座，等皇帝坐定之后，再渐次拉开，让臣子们拜见。退朝时，也要先合上扇子，等皇帝离场后再撤扇。

虽然“障扇”的行为随着社会文明的进步已经消失。但是“障扇”的原理仍然在生活中随处可见。比如，我们去剧院看各种文艺演出，表演开始时，舞台上有厚厚的帷（wéi）幕，随着演出开始，帷幕层层升起，表演者登台亮相。当演出结束时，演员鞠躬致谢，帷幕缓缓落下，观众是看不到演员离场的。这一设置同样是为了将表演者最美好的一面呈现给大家，和“障扇”有异曲同工之妙。

古代文人墨客的杰作中也不乏团扇的身影。比如唐代大诗人杜牧的《秋夕》：银烛秋光冷画屏，轻罗小扇扑流萤。烛火的微光映照着冷清的画屏，手执绫罗小扇扑打萤火虫。捉萤火虫这种孩童的玩乐活动都能让深宫女子感到快乐，足见宫女生活的孤苦、寂寞。诗中的“轻罗小扇”便是团扇的一种。

折扇，可以折叠收纳，也完全可以展开。折扇产生时间较晚，在明清时期达到了鼎盛。

折扇脱离了怯热纳凉的常规用途，成为了贵族名士身份和地位的象征，折扇也被称为“怀袖雅物”。比较讲究的人，会在扇面上作画题诗，称为“题扇”。“扬州八怪”之一的郑板桥，就好（hào）在扇子上画竹子和怪石，题写诗作。因此，如果要研究明清的绘画作品和书法作品，折扇便是非常重要的资料。时至今日，很多舞台艺术仍然保留了折扇的随身装饰。比如，相声、说书都会身着长衫，随身带折扇。

扇子在文学作品当中也常常出现。以扇为“眼”的"扇戏"便有《沉香扇》、《芭蕉扇》，以及最著名的孔尚任的《桃花扇》。

《桃花扇》以明末清初为背景，以复社文士侯方域与秦准名妓李香君的爱情故事为主线，来书写南明弘光朝的兴亡。“借离合之情，写兴亡之感”。在这部经典戏剧中，扇子是一个重要的意向。侯方域在上巳（sì）节造访翠香楼，寻觅佳人，以一枚香扇坠作为传情之物，拉开了与李香君的爱情序幕。而李香君被恶人强娶之时，誓死不从，血溅扇面。后来，侯方域的朋友以这抹血迹为基础，在扇子上绘制了一枝桃花。这便是“桃花扇”的由来。桃花扇也最终成为了这出剧的剧名。

扇子被当作馈赠佳品的习俗也由来已久。唐朝时，中国和周边国家便时常互遣使者赠送扇子。日本各大博物馆都保留了许多唐朝时中国赠送给日本的扇子，这是大唐盛世中日友好交往的证明。到现代，扇子仍然是外事活动中经常出现的礼品。在民间，江南地区也仍然保留着佳节送扇的习俗。

古往今来，扇子与人们的日常生活结下不解之缘。在没有电力的古代，扇子是人们消暑纳凉的好帮手，是文人雅士的配饰与玩物。在工业化高度发达的今天，扇子亦是艺术表演和文化活动的重要装饰，是融实用价值与美学价值于一体的精美工艺品。中国扇，有着深厚的文化底蕴，是中国工匠的智慧结晶。扇子中凝集的文化精华与古典技艺，值得被我们铭记。

Kites

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn… and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello and welcome to another episode of China Lifestyle Journeys. Today, we are talking about a fascinating Chinese handicraft1, something that has a long and interesting history, something everyone knows – Chinese kites. So for most people,and Ithink me included, kites are something that kids play with. I didn’t realise that kites had such a“colourful” history, and until we started talking about this today. So I guess the obvious place to start, Jocelyn, is with the question– what do we know about the history of Chinese kites?

(Jocelyn)

OK sure, let’s start with some history. Chinese kites have a rich cultural heritage2 that dates back thousands of years. And they were believed to have originated in China between 475 BCE and 221 BCE, with the earliest kites being made of wood andresembling3 the shapes of birds. Over time, craftsmen began using lighter materials such as silk and bamboo, and later, paper and bamboo, to create these beautiful flying objects.

(Mat)

So I think that’s an important point for everyone. The idea of kites was actually invented by the Chinese, a few thousand years ago. How do we know this? Do we have any solid evidence?

(Jocelyn)

Well, most historians agree that the origins of kites can be traced back to4 ancient China. We have quite a lot historical records and accounts that provide strong indications that the ancient Chinese invented kites.

(Mat)

So if the kites were invented by the ancient Chinese all those years ago, what were they doing with these kites? Were they just going to the park like people today, flying their kites in the park as a way to relax?

(Jocelyn)

That’s a very good question actually. In ancient China, kites had important practical uses. Actually, they didn’t start out as something fun in the park – this came much later. Kites were originally developed for military purposes, particularly during the Warring States Period5 (475 – 221 BCE). There are some historical accounts that tell us about two Chinese philosophers Mozi and Lu Ban. They both played a role in inventing kites formilitary intelligence6, measuring distances, and calculating wind readings7. Actually, kites provided valuable information for strategic movements and communication, similar to ship flags at sea. So think about it, if you had a huge army on a field, and you wanted to give orders, like this group move over there, and that group move forward and so on, they didn’t have mobile phones or radio communication, but they did have kites. So early kites were a form of signal communication, different shapes, different colours and different designs had specific meanings (related to military movements).

(Mat)

Wow, I had never thought about kites in that way. So actually kites are more important than we think. They were an early form of communication, that’s pretty cool actually. So when did people start designing and creating the types of kites that we see today, in the shape of birds, dragons and fish, and things like this?  And do these animal designs have any special meaning?

(Jocelyn)

Well, the designs we see in modern kites, such as birds, dragons, and fish, have evolved over time. The art of designing and creating elaborate and beautiful kites really began sometime during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1636-1912) dynasties8. And during this period, kites changed quite a lot in terms of9 size, design, decoration, and even flying skills. The shapes of animals in kites often carry symbolic meanings deeplyrooted10 in Chinese culture. Birds may represent freedom and grace, while dragons symbolise power and prosperity. And fish can symbolise abundance and good fortune.  

(Mat)

You just mentioned “flying skills”. Is there really a skill to fly a kite? I thought you just throw the kite into the wind, the kite goes up in the wind and you hold the string to stop it flying away. Am I missing something? Is there more to kite-flying than I know?

(Jocelyn)

Absolutely, Mat. There are certain skills needed to fly a kite effectively. It requires a combination of factors, such as selecting the right site and weather conditions, choosing the appropriate kite for those conditions, launching11 the kite into the air with precision, adjusting the line to control the kite's flight, and maintaining control throughout the flying experience. Experienced kite flyers understand how wind patterns and movements affect the kite's behaviour and make adjustments accordingly. They also use special techniques, such as pulling and releasing the line, at exactly the right moment to perform tricks.  

(Mat)

That's fascinating! I never realised there was so much skill involved in flying a kite. Now I can see that it is much more than just throwing it into the wind and holding onto the string. Now, one final question, the materials used to make Chinese kites, I think you mentioned these earlier, something about paper and bamboo. Tell me something more about that.

(Jocelyn)

Yes. Traditional Chinese kites are typically made using paper and bamboo. Bamboo is chosen for its light weight yet strong properties, making it an ideal material for the kite’s frame. And it gives stability and flexibility to withstand the wind while keeping its strength. And paper used for traditional Chinese kites is often handmade and specially selected. It can be made from various plant fibres. Using handmade paper reflects the delicatecraftsmanship12 and attention to detail that is often a characteristic of Chinese traditional handicrafts.

 Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye.Stay wise.

Key words and expressions：

1. handicraft CET6 / IELTS / TOEFL  n. [C] /ˈhændɪkrɑːft/ 手工艺；手工艺品

a skilled activity in which something is made in a traditional way with the hands 

e.g.  traditional handicrafts 传统手工艺品

2. heritage CET 4 / IELTS / TOEFL  n. [U] /ˈherɪtɪdʒ/ 遗产

something handed down from one’s ancestors or the past, as a characteristic, a culture, tradition, etc.

e.g. intangible cultural heritage 非物质文化遗产

3. resembleC1 / IELTS / TOEFL  v. /rɪˈzembəl/ 像；看起来像；与…相似

to look like or be like someone or something

e.g. The new building closely resembles the ancient architecture found in traditional Chinese temples. 这座新建筑与传统中国寺庙中的古代建筑密切相似。

4. trace back to考研 vp. 查明…的起因（或源头），追溯

first happened in

e.g. This practice can betraced back to festivals in ancient China.这个习俗可追溯至中国古代的节庆活动。

5. Warring States Period (475 – 221 BCE)

战国时期

The Warring States period is distinguished from the preceding age, the Spring and Autumn (Chunqiu) period (770–476 BCE), when the country was divided into many even smaller states.

6. military intelligence

军事情报

Military intelligence includes information on other countries’ military forces, plans, and operations gained through a variety of collection methods. 

7. wind readings

风力读数

Wind readings refer to the measurement of various parameters (限定因素) related to the speed and direction of the wind.

8. dynastyCET 4   n. [C]  /ˈdɪnəsti/ 朝代

a series of rulers or leaders who are all from the same family, or a period when a country is ruled by them

e.g. Southern Song dynasty 南宋

The Xia Dynasty was the first government to emerge in ancient China. 夏朝是中国古代出现的第一个政权。

9.  in terms of考研  pp. 在…方面；从…方面来说

used to describe which particular area of a subject you are discussing

e.g. In terms of Chinese culture, traditional painting are deeply cherished and celebrated for their artistic beauty. 就中国文化而言，传统绘画因其艺术美和历史意义而深受珍视和赞扬。

10.  root CET 4  v. /ruːt/（使）生根

to grow roots

e.g. The trees failed to root and so died. 这些树没能生根，所以都死了。

拓展：deeply rooted in something 表示“对某事物深深扎根”，如：deeply rooted in Western culture

11.  launch C1 / IELTS / TOEFLv. /lɔːntʃ/ 推出，发起

to send something out

e.g. China launched Dongfanghong I, becoming the fifth country to send a satellite into orbit. 中国发射了东方红一号，成为第五个将卫星送入轨道的国家。

12.  craftsmanship CET 4n. [U]  /ˈkrɑːftsmənʃɪp/ 工艺；手艺；技艺

skill at making things

e.g. carry forward craftsmanship with the pursuit of excellence 弘扬精益求精的工匠精神

风筝古称“纸鸢”或“鹞子”，是一种民间玩具，用竹篾扎成鸟、兽、鱼、虫等各种形状的骨架，糊上绢或纸，系上长线做成。放飞时，拉着系在风筝上的长线，双手抛起，风筝即可借助风力升入空中，片刻之后，便会随风扶摇，冲入云霄。

风筝的起源，最早可以追溯到公元前一千多年，传说夏朝贵族养蚕时，从树叶迎风起落得到启发，以竹篾为骨，插上鸟类羽毛，借助风力就可以飞起来。这是风筝最早的雏形。

而和现代形状相近的风筝，两千多年前的春秋战国时期才出现。

第一只风筝据说是墨子与鲁班研制的，墨子研究了三年，终于用木头制成了一只木鸟，但只飞了一天就坏了。《墨子》中记载：“公输子削竹木为鹊，成而飞之，三日不下”。墨子与鲁班都是东周鲁国人，居住在鲁山，也就是现在潍坊市的鲁山山脉。由此可见，潍坊是中国风筝的故乡，早在两千多年以前就有记载了。

至于“风筝”这个名字的最终确定，那就要看唐末了。唐末官吏李邺在纸鸢上拴了竹哨，风一吹竹哨就发出悦耳的声音，恰如古筝之音，从此就将纸鸢正式改名为“风筝”。

唐代以后，木鸢逐渐被纸鸢所代替，风筝在中原亦开始盛行。清代以后，全国出现了一批能工巧匠，专门制作、销售风筝，且品种多，花样新，比如有鸳鸯型、蜈蚣型、凤蝶型等,栩栩如生。

风筝历史悠久，不仅风筝的制作有很多讲究，放风筝也有许多技巧需要注意。

首先，要选择空旷的地方，避开树枝、旗杆和其他建筑物，以免碰撞或损坏。放风筝尤其忌讳在高压电线和供电设施附近，如果一不小心挂在这些障碍物上，严重时会发生触电，危及人身安全。

其次，放风筝不要选择人流过于密集的地方，既不利于起跑，更是容易出现风筝线缠绕、断裂等情况。

然后，最好选择风和日丽的天气，不要在狂风大作或者可能有雷雨的天气出门放风筝。虽然风筝起飞需要风和气流，但是风力过大会让风筝难以控制，甚至让风筝线断裂。断线之后的风筝四处飘落，很可能撞击到建筑物玻璃、砸到路人，成为安全隐患。而雨天常常伴随着雷电，如果预报有雨的时候出门放风筝，高空中的电荷被受潮的风筝线引至地面，就会有雷击的风险。

选定地点之后，就可以放风筝了。放风筝也是有技巧，最重要的是学会辨别风向。只有在合适的风速和风向下才能把风筝放好。如何判断风速和风向呢，主要是通过身体感知以及观察附近的参照物，比如树枝、旗帜、炊烟飘动的方向。或者往空中扔枯草、纸片，观察他们运动的方向。

确定风向之后，拉着风筝线，逆着风奔跑，风筝就可以飞起来了。一般来说，高空的风力比近地面的风力要大。风筝飞得比较高之后，便能依靠风力在高空中平稳地飞行。在风力较弱的情况下，两个人互相协助才能把风筝放起来。一人手持风筝，将风筝向上放飞；同时，另一人手持风筝轮并逆着风奔跑，待风筝飞入高空便可。

如果风力突然变小，就需要收线；相反，如果风力突然加强，就需要放线或者朝着顺风方向前进，这样就能保证风筝更好地放飞。

另外，需要注意的是，如果两个风筝缠到一起，这时千万不能惊慌，按照打结的方向调换位置，慢慢解开风筝线。如果风筝线缠得太紧难以处理，两人可以商议同时收线，让风筝落到地面再解开。

在漫长的岁月里，我们的祖先创造了许多形制精美、寓意吉祥的风筝图案。风格各异的风筝给人以喜庆、吉祥和祝福之意。它融合了群众的审美取向，蕴含着人们美好的生活情趣，展现了中国丰富多样的民间习俗。相信未来的中国风筝会飞得更高更远，将五千年的中华文明理念传遍全世界。让我们选择一个好天气，和家人、朋友一起去放风筝吧，把所有的烦恼抛在脑后，带着思绪飞向远方。

Opera

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn… and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello and welcome to another episode. Today, we’re going to be discussing an unusual topic – opera. Now you might not be an expert on opera, but I think it’s still an interesting theme to explore as it can help us to understand some interesting historical and cultural ideas with this quite unique medium. So for my first question, Jocelyn, tell me what is your general definition or experience of opera from a Chinese perspective?

(Jocelyn)

Well I’m not really an expert on Chinese or Western opera, but I’ve seen a few performances of both. I’d say that from a Chinese perspective, opera is a performing art form that combines singing, dancing, and acrobatics to tell a story. Obviously, the most common one that most people know is Beijing opera, and that originated in Beijing in the late 18th century. And performances are typically characterised by stylised singing and actions that symbolise the story. Each performer’s actions are an important way to tell the story, rather than just the singing. So it’s a visual performance, like acting, as well as a singing performance.

(Mat)

That’s interesting. Because from my experience of watching typical Western European opera (which is often but not always Italian), there’s a lot of powerful singing and emotional expression and this is central to the performance, and the actingis quite simple and life-like.And the stage setup for Western opera is usually quite elaborate, lots of vivid props and stage design. I’ve seen a couple of Beijing opera performances and I remember that the stage was very simple. So that’s my first question — why is the stage so simple, in a typical Beijingopera?

(Jocelyn)

In Beijing opera, the stage is normally a simple platform that only has one side exposed to the audience. And this is because the focus is more on the performers and their actions, rather than on the props or the stage design. It allows the audience to focus more on the story and the performers. In fact, the performers' costumes and make-up are more complex and detailed, with each character having their own distinct look and style. The make-up is thick and unnatural, with heavy colours that symbolise the character roles. I think this is quite different from Western opera where the make-up is closer to real life. The characters look real in Western opera, but I’m sure you’ll agree, in Chinese opera the singers often look quite unnatural – and this is because they symbolise an idea, an exaggerated character or role, it’s a performance, it’s like imaginary theatre, it’s not aiming to show real life.  

(Mat)

OK, that’s interesting. Now we’ve mentioned the singing styles, I think we can talk about that a little bit more. Now, I’m sure you’ll agree with me, when you listen to a Western opera performance, the singing is quite emotional, it can be warm, calm, sad, tragic, passionate or joyful and celebrating. But am I right in saying that in most Beijing opera, the singing is like… what it sounds kind of weird to me, not like a human singing, sometimes it sounds like a musical instrument, when they sing, their voices sound like some strange violin or something. And there must be a reason for this.

(Jocelyn)

Well, you’re right. The singing style in Beijing opera can seem quite unnatural and artificial to Western European ears. And this is because each role in Beijing opera requires a unique singing technique. And the style is very specific and often includes special tones, which make individual sounds much longer and drawn out, as you said, sometimes like a musical instrument and with very sharp changes in pitch and tone.And this technique is used to create a certain atmosphere and convey certain emotions. And it’s also used to differentiate between different roles and characters. For example, the emperor might have a very different singing style compared to a common person or a soldier. And these roles and characters are quite defined, for example, the Dan role (heroine) is characterised by a high-pitched, resonant singing voice that has a lot of vibrato. On the other hand, the Sheng role (hero) requires a loud, forceful, and clear singing voice. The singing style for each role is carefully crafted to convey the character’s personality and emotions.

(Mat)

Now my next question is quite obvious. In Western European opera, the female roles are performed by women, but when I’ve seen some Chinese opera performances, there are no women,the man play the female roles. Why is this?

(Jocelyn)

That’s a very good question. Now the simple answer is that throughout most of Chinese history, women have always performed in Chinese opera, but in the late 18th century, social values changed (especially in Beijing) and people thought it wasn’t appropriate for a woman to dress up in heavy make-up, singing and acting on stage, so men started to perform the female roles. But of course, society has changed again, so nowadays it’s more common to see women performing in Beijing opera or any other kind of Chinese opera.  

(Mat)

OK, so for my final question, what advice would you give to someone from Europe, who has only seen European opera, what’s the best way for them to enjoy their first experience of Chinese opera?

(Jocelyn)

I would recommend approaching Chinese opera with an open mind and paying attention to the symbolic actions of the performers. Also, read up a bit about the story and roles beforehand so that you can better appreciate the performance. Because you don’t know the story before you watch the performance, it would be a bit confusing. It will be much more enjoyable if you know who is who and what role they are playing in the story.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

戏曲是中国农耕社会自给自足经济形态晚期的艺术形式，因而它的盛期在20世纪前，它的市场是当时的农村和城市市民社会。自然经济状态下的戏曲，拥有自生自灭的原始生态，兴起于宋朝的市民社会和村镇土壤，元明清不断发扬光大。

明清以后的中国民间生活里，戏曲演出占据了绝对重要的位置，形成全国城乡遍布戏台、民众生活无日不看戏的局面。人们一年之中的主要文化生活，从祭祀敬神、年节庆贺、红白喜事一直到日常交往和娱乐，都与戏曲结下不解之缘。戏曲以民俗文化主流的姿态进入并牢牢占据着城镇村落社区的精神空间，孩子从小就在其中濡染中国文化的传统墨色，如鲁迅小说《社戏》里所描写的生动情景那样。于是，它所具有的文化特性与审美特征，就在人们耳濡目染的过程中浸润渗透为其心理结构中的文化沉淀，成为其精神家园的珍藏。

摘自《戏曲是传统文化的载体与中国人的精神家园》

中国戏曲的起源可以上溯到原始时代的歌舞。在中国原始部族的祭祀仪式中，广泛运用着拟态装扮的歌舞表演，这种原始装扮型的表演，在岩画、陶器中可以找到一定的痕迹。

春秋战国之后，中国宫廷中出现了活跃的优戏活动和专职的艺人——优人。这一时期，优人模仿各种人生情境来进行装扮，融入调笑性的插科打诨，从而取得某种喜剧效果。

汉代将表演艺术称为“百戏”。短剧在这一时期蓬勃发展。

宋代，中国戏曲史上第一个成熟的戏曲样式——南戏出现了。南戏盛行于浙江沿海，温州被称为南戏的发源地。南戏原来是歌舞小戏，采用了以温州为中心的南方民间乐器和歌谣。元朝统一之后，南北戏曲交流频繁，互相促进，表现出了蓬勃的生命力。

元杂剧也称“北杂剧”，是在宋杂剧、金院本、诸宫调等艺术形式基础上逐渐产生发展的，采用最多的则是当时以大都为中心的北方流行歌曲，形成一种以北曲来演唱故事的戏曲形式，并出现了比较出名的“元曲四大家”关汉卿、马致远、郑光祖、白朴以及元曲四大悲剧《窦娥冤》、《汉宫秋》、《梧桐雨》和《赵氏孤儿》。

《窦娥冤》是关汉卿的代表作，全剧四折，写弱小寡妇窦娥，在无赖陷害、昏官毒打下，屈打成招，成为杀人凶手，被判斩首示众。临刑前，满腔悲愤的窦娥许下三桩誓愿：血溅白练，六月飞雪，大旱三年。果然，窦娥冤屈感动天地，三桩誓愿一一实现。

《汉宫秋》的作者是元代文学家马致远，讲述的是西汉元帝受匈奴威胁，被迫送爱妃王昭君出塞和亲的故事。通过他对文武大臣的谴责和自我叹息来剖析这个事件，作为一国之主，他连自己的妃子也不能保护，以致演成了一幕生离死别的悲剧。

《梧桐雨》全名《唐明皇秋夜梧桐雨》，是元代文学家白朴创作的杂剧，取材于唐人陈鸿的《长恨歌传》，讲述的是从长生殿乞巧盟誓到安禄山叛乱、马嵬坡哗变，唐明皇被迫赐死杨贵妃的故事。

《赵氏孤儿》的作者是纪君祥。《赵氏孤儿》是四大悲剧中最有“悲壮”感的作品。词曲中所倾注的激烈悲愤情绪，渲染出炽烈的悲剧气氛。

明清是继元杂剧之后的又一戏剧高峰，出现了许多名家名作，比如明代汤显祖的《牡丹亭》。

南安太守杜宝有个十六岁的女儿，叫做杜丽娘。在一个春日里，杜宝下乡劝农。杜丽娘趁着父亲外出去花园游玩，困倦之中梦见一个折柳书生。梦醒之后，杜丽娘思君而不得，从此一病不起，终至病入膏肓。临死之前，丽娘嘱咐家人把自画像藏于牡丹亭的太湖石下，其父升任淮阳安抚使，委托陈最良葬女并修建“梅花庵观”。三年后，柳梦梅赴京应试，借宿梅花庵观中，在太湖石下拾得杜丽娘画像，发现杜丽娘就是他梦中见到的佳人。杜丽娘魂游后园，与柳梦梅再度幽会。柳梦梅掘墓开棺，杜丽娘起死回生，两人结为夫妻，前往临安。杜丽娘的老师陈最良看到杜丽娘的坟墓被挖掘，就告发柳梦梅盗墓之罪。柳梦梅在临安应试后，受杜丽娘之托，送家信传报还魂喜讯，结果被杜宝囚禁。发榜后，柳梦梅由阶下囚摇身一变成为状元，但杜宝拒不承认女儿的婚事，强迫她离异，纠纷闹到皇帝面前，皇帝感慨二人的旷世奇缘，于是杜丽娘和柳梦梅二人终成眷属。《牡丹亭》自问世以后，便被视为古典爱情戏剧的杰出代表。

戏曲凝聚了传统艺术之精华，无疑是中华民族优秀传统文化的杰出代表。戏曲的传承与发展，是当代文化发展和建设的核心课题之一，而在中华民族伟大复兴的道路上，戏曲必将做出新的伟大贡献。

Pavilions

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn… and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello and welcome to another episode of China Lifestyle Journeys! Today, we’re going to explore the topic of Chinese pavilions. Now, pavilions are a very typical Chinese architectural structure. I guess that most people have seen a pavilion but maybe they are not so familiar with the name “pavilion”. So, let’s start with a description.

(Jocelyn)

OK, a description, no problem! Chinese pavilions are these awesome architectural structures that you often come across in China (and possibly in other countries too, especially in parks or maybe in one of the Chinatowns around the world). They have special designs with open sides and lovely roofs held up by pillars. They can be built either of wood or stone or bamboo and may be in any of several plan figures - square, triangle, hexagon, octagon, a five-petal flower, a fan and so on. But all pavilions have one thing in common: they have columns to support the roof, but no walls.  As I said, you generally find them in parks, gardens, and other scenic spots where the environment is really peaceful and nice. And people can go to these pavilions to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. It’s a calm and quiet place where you can take a break, or think, or admire the beautiful views. Chinese pavilions are really important in Chinese culture and architecture, and they are loved by many people for their peacefulness and charm.

(Mat)

OK, so the function is like a covered platform where I can relax and enjoy scenery. So what’s the story and history behind these pavilions?

(Jocelyn)

OK, Chinese pavilions have a long and rich history that dates back thousands of years. They were initially built as part of palace complexes during ancient times, where emperors and nobles could go to relax and appreciate the beauty of their surroundings. Over time, pavilions became more accessible to the general public and were constructed in parks, gardens, and scenic areas. They served as gathering places for social activities, such as poetry recitals and tea ceremonies. And Chinese pavilions are not only architectural structures but also symbols of elegance and harmony with nature. They continue to be cherished today as cultural landmarks and places for contemplation and enjoyment.

(Mat)

As you know, I love a good story, so hopefully there’s a famous story or legend related to pavilions?

(Jocelyn)

Ah, yes! There is a famous story in Chinese literature called "The Peony Pavilion," which is closely associated with pavilions. It is a romantic and tragic tale written by Tang Xianzu during the Ming Dynasty (in the year 1598). The story follows the journey of a young woman named Du Liniang, who falls in love with a scholar in a dream after visiting a pavilion. And the dream becomes a profound experience that affects her deeply. “The Peony Pavilion” is considered a masterpiece of Chinese literature and highlights the significance of pavilions as settings for love, longing, and spiritual awakenings. It has captured the hearts of readers for centuries and continues to be celebrated as a cultural treasure in China.   

(Mat)

I’ve seen quite a few of these pavilion structures in public parks all over China. Are there any really famous ones with some kind of cultural or historical significance?

(Jocelyn)

Well obviously, there are some that are more or less famous or well-known but most pavilions are fairly common, very functional structures. They are intended to be used by people for everyday leisure activities, like singing in the park or playing traditional musical instruments, so they aren’t famous structures like towers or temples.  

So while most pavilions in public parks serve everyday leisure activities, there are a few notable ones with cultural or historical significance. One example is the Summer Palace in Beijing, which features the beautiful Marble Boat Pavilion. This pavilion is a unique structure made entirely of marble, and it has been a popular attraction for visitors to admire and explore.

Another famous pavilion is the Leshan Giant Buddha Pavilion in Sichuan Province. This pavilion sits at the foot of the majestic Leshan Giant Buddha, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It offers a stunning view of a colossal statue and the surrounding natural landscape.

(Mat)

Ah, that’s fascinating! I’ve actually been to the Summer Palace, but I didn't know about the Marble Boat Pavilion. I must have missed it. Next time, I’ll make sure I check it out.  

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

中华文明初期，穴居在由地下到地上的演进过程中，与长江流域的木构技术产生了双向的文化交流与渗透，形成了土木共济的建造体系。夯土、木构相结合的“茅茨土阶”构筑方式，既用于百姓的居所，也见于考古所发现的夏都二里头宫殿等重大建筑。春秋至秦汉，不仅秦咸阳宫、汉未央宫形制恢宏，楼阁台榭夯土高筑，见于后世的木构体系特征也已成型，包括抬梁、穿斗、井干三种木构形式，庑殿、歇山、悬山等屋顶样式。

魏晋南北朝至隋唐，建筑文化在民族大融合中交流汇集并得以显现。比如，佛教建筑中的寺院融入祠庙和宅邸，佛塔融入楼阁，经幢融入阙、表；汉族席地跪坐的起居方式逐渐改为垂足而坐，建筑内部的高度随之升高；观念上不再“度堂以筵，度室以几”，而是改用“间”作为室内空间的度量单位。自明代起，夏鲁寺、大昭寺等汉藏合璧建筑风格，在中原地区传播。在宋代制度化、典章化的基础上，清代的木构体系呈现更多的工巧意味。

                                                                                 选自《如何读懂中国建筑蕴含的古典慧》

中国古代建筑以美轮美奂、典雅精致闻名于世。但内部结构同样值得我们关注。比如亭亭如盖、飞檐翘角的屋顶，不仅是为了美观，更重要的是排除雨水、遮荫纳阳。而传统宫殿的石柱从中间向外逐渐加高，柱头向内倾斜，则是为了保持建筑的稳定性。可以说，中国建筑是实用与美观相统一的最佳范例。

亭子便是最能体现传统建筑特征的建筑形式。亭子的历史十分悠久，可以上溯到商周以前。

亭的含义古今有所不同，秦汉时期，亭是比乡低一级别的行政单位，类似于现在的“村”，它管辖的范围为方圆十里。刘邦在发迹前，就曾担任过亭长。亭长主要负责查验旅客、货物运输、采购、文件传送、缉拿贼盗等。后来，亭不再作为一个行政区划单位，亭专指供人临时休息的场所，也就是我们今天熟知的含义。

汉代以前的亭子，大多是驿亭、报警亭，亭子的形体较大。魏晋以后，出现了供人观赏的小亭。南朝时，园中建亭已极为普遍，亭子的观赏性逐渐代替了它的实用功能。唐宋以后，亭子的造型更为丰富多样，建筑也更为精细考究，尤其是皇家宫苑中的亭子，常用琉璃瓦覆顶，金碧辉煌。亭子的最大特点就是:体量小巧、式样丰富。

亭子的顶部形状多样，常见的有方形、圆形、六角形、八角形。除此之外，还有设计精巧的扇形、梅花形、五角形等。

而从结构上来说，我国古亭以木构架居多，称为“木亭”。木亭中以木构架黛瓦顶和木构架琉璃瓦顶最为常见。黛瓦顶木亭是我国古典亭子的主要形式，可谓遍及大江南北，庄重、质朴、典雅、俊逸，各具特色。琉璃瓦顶木亭多见于等级较高的皇家园苑，或一些坛庙、宗教建筑中，色彩鲜艳，华丽辉煌。

石亭也是我国古亭中较为常见的一种。相较于木亭，石亭的寿命更长一些，目前中国现存最早的一些亭子都是石亭。早期的石亭多是模仿木结构造法，以石料雕琢成相应的木构架建成。直到石结构逐渐成熟后，石材料的特征才得以发挥。明、清时，石材的特性渐为突出，构造方法上相对简化，出檐较短，形成质朴、粗犷的风格。

铜亭就是铜制的亭子。全部用铜铸造的亭子并不多见，因为铜亭造价昂贵。在古代往往只有王公贵族才能用的起。现存在北京颐和园内佛香阁旁的铜亭，就是一座难得一见的全铜铸造的亭子。

亭子的四面通透、开敞，不安装隔扇，更不安装木板，这样的亭子就叫做“凉亭”。凉亭便于观景，更适合在炎热的夏季里乘凉纳爽。

半山亭主要按形象来命名，它是指依附其他建筑而建的一种亭子，比如六角亭、八角亭、圆亭、方亭等，都可以依附于其他建筑或墙体而建，并且因为是依附于其他建筑或墙体，所以只要建成半个亭子的形式就可以了，因而得名“半山亭”，意谓“有靠山的半亭”。

从亭子的组合来看，还有一种鸳鸯亭。“鸳鸯”往往是成双成对的代名词。因此鸳鸯亭就是指两亭相连或是一亭两顶形式的亭子。两个鸳鸯亭也不是完全一样的，而是在细节上互相补充，体现了一种“你中有我，我中有你”的融合之美。

比鸳鸯亭亭子数量更多的是凤凰亭。凤凰亭一般来说大多由三座亭子相连，一亭居中为主，两侧两亭为翼，三者结合犹如凤凰展翅，加上飞翘的檐角，美妙至极。

亭子，是人类历史文化遗产中极为重要的一部分。中国古亭以其独特的结构体系、优美的艺术造型、丰富精巧的艺术装饰闻名于世，在中国建筑史和文化艺术史上写下了光辉的一页，受到了各国建筑师、艺术家和广大人民群众的高度赞赏。

Acupuncture
Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.
So, Mat, what’s your big question today?
(Mat)  
Hello and welcome back to another episode. Today, we're exploring the world of Chinese acupuncture, a traditional healing practice that I know almost nothing about. So Jocelyn, for someone like me who knows absolutely nothing about this acupuncture, where should we begin?
(Jocelyn) 
Well Mat, I can’t believe you know ‘absolutely nothing’ about acupuncture. I’m sure you know something. Let me ask you a question, have you ever tried acupuncture?
(Mat) 
Yeah, I tried it once, but that was about 15 years ago I think. I remember I had a muscle pain in my leg (I think from too much cycling), and someone recommended I try acupuncture, so I gave it a try.
(Jocelyn) 
OK, then. So you actually have some experience of acupuncture. Tell me what you remember about it.
(Mat) 
Well, all I can really remember is an old man got some very sharp needles, and he stuck them into my leg, then he got some cotton on the end of the needles, and he set fire to the cotton. So there was like fire and the needles got hot and then I moved my leg and it really hurt. That was it. I never tried it again.
(Jocelyn) 
Ah, I see. Well, that's just one experience (and it doesn’t sound so pleasant) but you have to understand that acupuncture is much more than just heating needles. Let’s start with the basics. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical practice that dates back over 2,000 years, and it has evolved into a highly refined and effective method of healing. It's based on the belief that the body has a network of energy pathways known as meridians, when the flow of energy, or qi, in these meridians becomes disrupted or blocked, illness or pain can occur.
(Mat) 
OK, so let’s stop here for a minute. I think you need to tell me more about these, what are they called, meridians and this qi thing.
(Jocelyn) 
Sure, let me explain. According to traditional Chinese medicine, qi is a kind of energy that flows through the body along these invisible pathways called meridians. And when this energy, ‘qi’, is flowing smoothly, the body is healthy, but if there is any kind of blockage or imbalance in the flow of qi, it can lead to illness or pain. So the main idea behind acupuncture is to stimulate specific points along these meridians, and these invisible lines, to unblock or rebalance the flow of qi in the body.
(Mat) 
I see, so the idea is to unblock and free the flow of this energy, called qi, in the body by stimulating specific points along these special lines, these invisible meridians. That sounds interesting. But if these meridians are invisible, how does an acupuncturist (I’m guessing that’s a word), how does an acupuncturist know where to put the needles?
(Jocelyn) 
That's a good question, Mat. Acupuncturists (yes, that is the right word for someone who does acupuncture), they are trained to locate these specific points along the meridians. And they use a combination of knowledge of the body's anatomy, many special techniques, and knowledge of the meridian system to find these points. These points are located on the surface of the body and are often connected to underlying structures, such as muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. Once the acupuncturist locates the correct points, they insert very fine needles into the skin at those points, to stimulate the flow of qi and promote healing. It's actually a very precise practice that requires a lot of knowledge and skill. And the skill is not so much about knowing how to put the needle in, it’s about knowing where to put the needle, finding the exact right spot, being able to locate the meridians. And it’s this that can take many years to learn.
(Mat) 
OK, so an acupuncturist is really an expert on the human body and these meridians and qi. But is acupuncture widely used today in China?
(Jocelyn)  
Yes, acupuncture is still widely used in China today and is considered an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine. Many people in China continue to use acupuncture as a form of healthcare and it’s often available in hospitals and clinics throughout the country. In recent years, acupuncture has also gained popularity in other parts of the world as a complementary or alternative form of medicine. So there is a growing body of scientific research that supports the effectiveness of acupuncture for a variety of conditions, and many people find it to be a safe and effective treatment option.
(Mat) 
OK, so it actually sounds like a good job, being an acupuncturist. So let’s say I wanted to become an acupuncturist, what would I need to study and how long would it take?
(Jocelyn) 
Actually there’s no real answer to this question, just like many traditional skills it can take a lifetime to be considered an expert, but most people start out by studying traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture techniques. This typically involves a formal education programme, which lasts for a few years and then you’d need a few years of practice and experience. So, after all you’ve learned today Mat, let me ask you. Are you willing to try acupuncture again? Will you give it another chance?
(Mat) 
Emm, I’ll try it again, but only if it doesn’t hurt like last time. And no fire this time!
(Jocelyn)
I can show you a very good place with expert acupuncturists who have many years of experience. I guarantee you’ll be quite impressed. It won’t hurt and there won’t be any fire!
(Mat) 
OK, that’s a deal. I’ll give it another go!
Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

针灸是中医重要的诊疗手段，包括针法和灸法。

针法是用特制的金属针，按一定穴位，刺入患者体内，运用操作手法以达到治病的目的。

灸法是把燃烧着的艾绒，温灼穴位的皮肤表面，利用热刺激来治疗。

针灸的起源与人们的日常生活经验密切相关。远古时期，先民们偶然与一些尖硬物体如石头、荆棘等碰撞，会出现意想不到的疼痛减轻的现象。古人开始有意识地用一些尖利的石块来刺身体的某些部位，以减轻疼痛。后来，人们掌握了挖制、磨制技术，能够制作出一些比较精致的、适合于刺入身体以治疗疾病的石器。这种石器后来被称为砭石。砭石治病，最初主要用于刺破脓包溃疡，所以又被称为针石。《山海经》说：“有石如玉，可以为针”，是关于针石的早期记载。随着古人智慧和社会生产力的不断发展，针具逐渐发展成青铜针、铁针、金针、银针，直到如今用的不锈钢针。

灸法的起源要晚一些。因为灸法需要用到火，所以灸法产生于人类会使用火之后。先民们取火主要有钻木取火或敲击燧石取火两种形式，取火的时候往往以艾绒为引火材料。这种用艾绒点火的方法，为艾灸的发明提供了必要条件。

战国秦汉时期，针灸学实现了从实践经验向理论高度的深化。针刺工具由砭石、骨针、竹针发展到金属针，扩大了针灸疗法的适应范围。《左传》有记，扁鹊在给虢国太子治尸厥时，就使用了针砭、火灸的疗法。

后来，《黄帝内经》问世，这是是我国现存的中医学著作，奠定了针灸学理论基础。在《黄帝内经》中，又进一步把人体的主要经脉总结为12条，并对每条经脉的循行部位，以及经脉和疾病、治疗的关系进行了总结。经络学说认为，经络遍布于人体各部位，不仅分布在体表，而且进入体内与各脏腑相连接，并周而复始地循环运行，担负着运送全身气血，沟通身体内外的功能。在经络学说的基础上，又演化出腧穴的概念。腧穴是指脏腑经络之气注输于体表的部位，也是针灸、推拿等疗法主要的施术部位，俗称穴位。腧穴都处在经脉运行的径路上，分布于身体表面的特定部位，针灸这些部位，可经由经络对身体起刺激作用，进而调整人体内部的机能，增强防病能力。

中医认为，腧穴具有疏通作用，而且这种疏通作用是双向的。既可以从内通向外，反应病痛；也可以从外通向内，接受刺激，防治疾病。从这个意义上说，腧穴又是疾病的反应点和治疗的刺激点。

但并不是什么情况都适合通过针灸治疗。

针灸的部位，皮肤应当健康完整。当患者的皮肤出现破损或者细菌感染的时候，不能够进行针灸。此时针灸，反而会使得局部的炎症和病症加重。孕妇、高龄产妇等患者也不能够进行针灸，腰腹部的一些穴位有舒筋活络的作用，在妊娠期当中进行针灸，孕妇很容易出现流产的情况。儿童特别是婴幼儿，身体比较脆弱，面对针灸往往有恐惧心理，也不容易配合，所以儿童一般也不适合接受针灸治疗。

针灸是传统中医药学的重要组成部分，也是古代传统科学技术的宝贵遗产。最初它只是一种医疗手段，后来逐渐发展为一门学科，千百年来为大众健康发挥了重要作用。近些年，针灸技术发展迅速，针灸理论研究逐渐深化，在全球范围内也获得越来越广泛的认可与青睐。相信这项医疗技术将会继续以和而不同的多元化方式促进现代医学发展，服务全世界。

Hot Springs

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Welcome back, listeners! Today we're talking about hot springs - and I have to say that I have a bit of a personal story to share about my experience with hot springs. A few years ago, I went to a hot spring in the mountains on a freezing cold winter day. It was freezing cold outside, but the water in hot spring was really warm. Everything was going well until I realised I had lost my towel! So there I was, in the hot spring, in the water, without a towel, without a gown, just my swimming shorts, trying to stay warm in the water. I was afraid to stand up, I thought I might freeze to death. So I guess my question is why would people want to do this in the middle of winter.

(Jocelyn)

Well, Mat, despite your unfortunate towel mishap, hot springs are popular all year round in China. Historically, in China, hot springs have been appreciated for their therapeutic and relaxation benefits for over 3,000 years. In fact, some of the earliest known written records about hot springs can be traced back to China's Shang Dynasty, which dates back to the 16th century BC. At that time, hot springs were believed to have supernatural powers and were considered a gift from the gods. People would travel long distances to soak in the waters, hoping to cure all sorts of ailments, from arthritis to skin diseases.

(Mat)

Now wait a second, I’m having my doubts already, are you trying to tell me that hot springs are magical? Because that night when I lost my towel, I don’t remember any magic, I just remember the cold air and the warm water. Supernatural powers? Are you sure?

(Jocelyn)

No Mat, hot springs are not magical in the literal sense. That belief was held centuries ago. Today, we understand that the benefits of hot springs are largely due to the presence of minerals and certain elements in the water, because the water is usually natural spring water from deep within the earth, so the water is very special, there is the heat and pressure of the water itself. The minerals in the water can have a positive impact on the skin, as well as on joint or muscle pain. And the heat and pressure can help to improve circulation, reduce stress, and promote relaxation. So while hot springs may not have supernatural powers, they definitely have some really impressive health benefits.

(Mat)

OK, so if someone wants to experience this for themselves, what are some of the most popular hot springs in China, and why are they well-known? And when is the best time of year to go? Surely it’s not in the middle of winter like when I went.

(Jocelyn)

There are many popular hot springs in China, but some of the most well-known are the Huaqing Hot Springs in Xi'an and the Dunhuang Hot Springs in Gansu. Each of these hot springs has its own unique features and benefits, such as mineral-rich waters or stunning natural surroundings. As for the best time to visit, it really depends on the location and climate. Generally speaking, spring and autumn are considered the best times to visit hot springs in China, as the weather is mild and pleasant. However, some hot springs are particularly enjoyable in winter, especially if you want to experience the contrast between the hot water and the cold air. Just don’t lose your towel or gown like you did, Mat.

(Mat)

So what are some tips or advice you would give to someone who is visiting a hot spring for the first time? Other than if it’s winter – don’t lose your towel.

(Jocelyn)

OK, if you're visiting a hot spring for the first time, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, make sure you know the etiquette, such as showering before entering the hot spring. At most hot springs they have signs displaying the rules and etiquette – so that is usually easy to find out. As well as this, as you know Mat, it's also a good idea to bring a spare towel, maybe a gown or some flip-flops for your feet. And it’s really important to stay hydrated.  A lot of people don’t realise how important staying hydrated is in hot springs, they think that being in the water keeps them hydrated, but actually the high temperature of the water can cause excessive sweating, which can lead to dehydration – so drink plenty of water when you visit a hot spring.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

远古时代，人们发现温泉、利用温泉首先从“泡汤”开始，是时“远近男女来此沐浴者，络绎不绝，近泉之地，夏无青草，冬无坚冰，解衣磅礴，水面风声”。 中国历史上温泉较大规模的利用，源于秦汉而盛于唐。唐太宗是位文韬武略兼备、文治武功齐具的皇帝。他的传奇经历也与温泉结下了不解之缘，早年他东征经过辽宁鞍山汤岗子温泉，亲率士兵泡温泉，展开“浴战活动”，以练兵和欢娱身心。唐后，在宋、元、明、清帝王和文人的推动下，温泉文化得到了进一步丰富和发展。宋真宗关心庐山“黄龙温泉”的建设，亲自赐其名为“灵阳净慧禅院”。宋仁宗赵祯南巡时曾到过湖北咸宁温泉沐浴。

温泉的利用与人们的日常生活、人类文明的进步息息相关，温泉文化有着明显的时代烙印，反映着地区特色、经济文化发展水平和人们对温泉的形成、特性、成分、功效的认识水平。古往今来，温泉文化作为中华文化的重要组成部分，凝聚了中华文化的许多精髓，主要包括重视生命质量的温泉养生保健文化、愉悦身心的温泉休闲文化、千姿百态的温泉景观文化以及温泉地名文化、温泉帝王文化、温泉宗教文化、温泉诗歌艺术文化、温泉民俗风情文化等。我国的温泉文化源远流长、灿烂辉煌，为世人所青睐。

摘自《温泉文化源远流长灿烂辉煌》

温泉是泉水的一种，特指从地下涌出的、泉口温度显著高于当地平均气温的地下水。温泉水含有丰富的微量元素和矿物质，如果合理使用，对人体有很多益处。温泉主要有天然温泉和人工温泉两种。天然温泉，顾名思义，就是直接涌出的、简单处理就可以使用的温泉。而人工温泉则是指虽然有地下水，但却不能直接使用，需要人工用钻井开采，因此又被称为“温泉井”。

温泉水和一般的纯净水有三个主要的区别：

首先，气味不同。因为温泉中含有各种元素，所以有些温泉会有异味。比如，含有硫磺的腾冲温泉，闻起来就会有臭鸡蛋的味道。不过这是正常现象。

其次，也因为温泉富含矿物质，浓度也比较高，所以浮力也比纯净水更大，人泡在水中会感觉到被“托”起来的感觉，非常舒服。

第三，温泉水的浓度和人的体液接近，手指脚趾泡久了也不容易起皱。

中国是世界上最早利用温泉水热资源的国家。中国大规模使用温泉的历史，起源于秦汉而盛于唐。唐太宗的传奇经历也与温泉结下不解之缘，早年他东征经过了辽宁鞍山汤岗子温泉，便亲率士兵泡温泉，展开“浴战活动”，以练兵和欢娱身心。唐太宗晚年积劳积虑、屡患风寒，很重视温泉水的使用。贞观十八年，他在骊山营建宫殿，命名为“汤泉宫”。贞观二十年，他又写了《温泉铭》，表达了用温泉水治风疾的愿望。

唐朝还设置了专门的温泉管理部门。《旧唐书》记载，京城昭应县的西边有温泉，一把手叫“温泉监”，属正七品下；二把手叫“温泉丞”，属从八品上。因为此时温泉资源开发较少，所以泡温泉一般是皇亲大臣们的特权，泡温泉是贵族身份的象征。如号称“天下第一温泉”的华清池，就是唐代皇家的行宫。

明清时期是温泉文化大发展的时代，温泉文化基本普及到了全国各个区域。泡温泉的活动也渐渐扩展到民间。李时珍在《本草纲目》中将我国的矿泉分为热泉、冷泉、甘泉、酸泉和苦泉，是我国最早的温泉分类学者。著名地理学家、旅行家徐霞客也到过不少温泉作实地考察记录。

温泉依温度之高低不同可分为三类：高于75℃者为高温温泉，介于40℃至75℃者为中温温泉，低于40℃者为低温温泉。我们常说的“泡”温泉，泡的一般都是中温温泉。

新中国成立以来，国家开发了许多天然温泉，目前我国天然温泉的数量已经超过3000个，人工温泉数量更多，是世界上温泉资源最丰富的国家之一。因此，现在很多地方都有了泡温泉的生活习惯。

不过，泡温泉也有一些注意事项和禁忌，需要我们了解。

泡温泉有让身体舒缓、促进排汗的作用。但高血压、心脏病患者长时间泡会血压下降导致头昏眼花甚至会跌倒。因此，老年人、心血管疾病患者在泡温泉之前要合理评估自己的健康状况，最好和家人相伴而行，如有不适应要立即上水静养。即使是身体健康的普通人，每次泡温泉最好也不超过20分钟。

同时，泡温泉的时候应该避免在水中打闹、起身的时候应当缓慢谨慎。

温泉池也不等于浴池，因此在泡温泉之前应当先洗澡。女士除了洗澡，还要卸妆后才可以进入温泉。这样做，一方面可以保护自己的皮肤，避免皮肤过敏。同时也维护了泉水质量，所以，进入温泉之后洗头、搓澡都是非常失礼的行为。

从古到今，从达官贵族到寻常百姓，泡温泉早已成为世界上最古老的休闲与养生的方式之一，这项活动之所以能够历久弥新，是因为人类的亲水天性，以及温泉天然的疗愈作用。不仅如此，文人墨客还为温泉写下千古名句，透过蒸腾的雾气，积淀已久的故事与文化被娓娓道来。

The Five Elements

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello and welcome to another episode. Today, we'll be looking at something called the Five Elements. Now, I have to admit, I don't know much about the Five Elements, actually I’d even say that I know absolutely nothing about this. I don’t even know where to start with this episode Jocelyn, so I’m going to ask you to suggest a good starting point.

(Jocelyn)

OK, sure thing, Mat. So, in traditional Chinese culture, the Five Elements are the five basic substances that make up the universe: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Each element is associated with certain qualities and characteristics, and together they form a system that helps to explain and understand the natural world. The Five Elements are also used in various Chinese practices, such as acupuncture, feng shui, and Chinese astrology. So, understanding the basics of the Five Elements can help us to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of traditional Chinese culture.

(Mat)

OK, so I understand so far, they are … five basic substances that make up the universe: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, and they're used in various Chinese aspects of Chinese culture, I guess, to help explain and understand the natural world. To me it sounds like something related to ancient natural philosophy, these elements that make up the universe, so what kind of importance do they play in our daily lives today?  

(Jocelyn)

That's a great question, Mat. The Five Elements play an important role in Chinese culture and are believed to be present in everything around us, including our bodies. So each element has its own unique characteristics and is associated with different organs, emotions, and even seasons. For example, wood is associated with the liver and the emotion of anger, fire is associated with the heart and emotion of joy, and earth is associated with the stomach and emotion of worry, metal is associated with the lungs and the emotion of grief, and water is associated with the kidneys and emotion of fear. By understanding these associations, we can use the Five Elements to help maintain balance and harmony in our daily lives.

(Mat)

Hang on, now I’m really confused, wood is associated with the liver AND anger and a season? It’s getting quite confusing already. Is there an easier way to look at this?

(Jocelyn)

OK, I understand how it seemed overwhelming at first, Mat. But basically, the Five Elements are a way to categorise and understand different aspects of the natural world, including our own bodies and emotions. Each element represents a group of related characteristics, such as colours, shapes, tastes, and seasons. By understanding the basic associations of each element, we can start to see patterns and connections in the world around us, and even in ourselves. So, while it may seem complex, the Five Elements can ultimately help us to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of the world we live in. 

(Mat)

I’m even more confused now. You’re telling me that each element represents a group of related characteristics, such as colours, shapes, tastes,  seasons AND parts of the body. I think I need some kind of real world example, maybe the way that Chinese people think about this in their daily lives, I think that would be quite helpful, because right now, I’m still quite confused.

(Jocelyn)

OK, Mat. let me put it another way for you. Let's take the example of a person who is feeling angry and irritable. According to the Five Elements, the emotion, anger is associated with the element of wood, which is also associated with the liver. So, a Chinese doctor might suggest that the person eat foods that are good for the liver, like leafy greens, and avoid foods that are bad for the liver, like alcohol. They might also suggest practicing certain exercises or meditations that are believed to help balance the liver and the emotions. So, in this way, the Five Elements can provide a framework for understanding and addressing issues in our daily lives, including physical and emotional health.

(Mat)

OK, that makes more sense. So does every Chinese person understand this complex relationship, the system of five elements and all the different emotions, foods, seasons, shapes, colours and everything like that? Does everyone understand that?

(Jocelyn)

Well, no not really. Not every Chinese person has a deep understanding of the Five Elements and how they relate to different aspects of life. However, the Five Elements are an important part of traditional Chinese culture and are widely used in practices such as Traditional Chinese Medicine or acupuncture. Many people in China may have a basic understanding of the Five Elements and how they relate to health, wellbeing, and the environment. And just like any cultural and traditional practice, there are people who have a deeper knowledge or expertise in the Five Elements and its applications, so if you visit a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, he or she will have a much better understanding of how all of this works.

(Mat)

OK, well I can honestly say that I’ve learned quite a lot in this episode, at the beginning I knew absolutely nothing but I think now I have some understanding of the five elements.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

五行是指木、火、土、金、水五种元素，是中国古代哲学思想的重要内容。五行学说肇始于夏商之际，完善于春秋战国，影响持续至当今社会。它虽隶属于中国古代自然哲学的范畴，但在其发展过程中，却广泛地渗透到中国的社会制度、思想文化、自然科学与语言文字等各个领域。

五行的产生源自古人对中原地带五时气候特点和生化特点的抽象。这一观点目前被越来越多的人所关注与认可。最早记载“五行”学说的是夏商时期的《尚书·洪范》，这里不仅提到了构成万物的五种基本物质，还介绍了它们所具有的特点以及与之相联系的五种味道。至春秋时期，古代思想家们进一步探索这五行之间的关系，提出了“五行相克”的理论，到战国时期，继五行相克理论之后，又提出了五行相生。所谓五行相生，是指：木生火、火生土、土生金、金生水、水生木。

五行概念出现后，以“五”来规范认识自然万物以及人事制度等就变成一种模式。《尚书》所载的典章制度大多以五为律。从尧典开始就有五品、五典、五服、五礼、五刑等记载。在漫长的中国历史中，历代学者对五行在中国文化的发展中所发挥的作用虽然褒贬不一，但均无法否认它对中国文化的规范与影响。正如近代思想家梁启超所言，五行思想形成以后，“建以万斛狂澜之势，横领思想界之全部”。

摘自《五行与中国传统文化》

在一般的印象中，我们总觉得阴阳五行是神秘之学，是故弄玄虚。但阴阳五行正是古人对现实生活、生产经验的抽象概括。

远古时代，人们每天必然经历两种情况：早晨醒来，太阳升起，天空明亮；傍晚日落，天色渐暗，黑夜来临。周而复始，日复一日，年复一年。随着人类思维的发展，人们便用“阴”和“阳”的概念来概括两种截然相反的自然现象。后来，人们对“阳”和“阴”的含义又给予引申和丰富，使它们逐渐具有“天和地”、“男和女”、“君和臣”、“父和子”、“夫和妻”等等含义。

“五行”是指水、火、木、金、土五种物质。“五行”概念,源起于人们对“世界是什么构成的”这个问题的追问。五行说认为世界是由物质构成的。然后进一步说明是由水、火、木、金、土五种物质构成的。尽管这个说法在今天看来很不准确，但是五行说抛弃了鬼神观念，从朴素的唯物观出发，对客观存在的万物作出了抽象概括。在当时来说，这具有巨大的进步意义。

后来，思想家们进一步探索这五行之间的关系，提出了“五行相生”和“五行相克”的思想。

所谓五行相生，是指：木生火、火生土、土生金、金生水、水生木。木生火，这是我们都了解的常识。火燃烧以后会留下灰烬，灰烬属于土。金属矿藏大多埋在地下，因此说土生金。相对比较难理解的，应该是“金生水”。古人通常解释为：用金属制作的工具更容易掘土挖井而得到水。而所有的植物生长时都需要水，植物属于木类，所以说水生木。

克是“战胜”的意思。“五行相克”即指五行中的某一行可以战胜另一行，分别是：木克土、金克木、火克金、水克火、土克水。

五行相克也往往是从生活经验中得出的。植物种子最初埋在地下，当它发芽生长时就会冲破土地钻出地面，意味着木战胜了土。用金属工具可以更锋利地削砍植物，是金克木。金属矿石虽然十分坚硬，一旦在火上高温加热，便会熔为液态，这便是火克金。水能灭火，这是水克火。堆土可以挡住水流，俗话说“水来土掩”，这便是土克水。

由此可见，早期的五行学说，都是古人在现实生活、生产中获得的直观经验，既不神秘，也不是故弄玄虚。

到了战国，一些思想家对于阴阳五行学说进行了新的阐释，使之有了更丰富的含义，齐国人邹衍就是其中的代表人物，他提出“五德终始”学说，以此来解释人类社会的演变规律，在当时影响深远。

邹衍认为人类社会的发展演变符合“五行相克”规律。他把推动社会发展的动力称为“德”。这种动力可以分别用水、火、木、金、土表示，称为“五德”。而五行分别对应着五种颜色，分别是黑、赤、金、白、黄。社会的发展变化、王朝的兴替就是依照五行相克的次序，循环往复、终而复始进行的。

邹衍认为，王朝更替，上天必定先在民间降下一些征兆来。

黄帝统治天下时，上天让生活在泥土中的大蚯蚓和大蝼蛄出现。这表明“土”的力量强盛。

到了禹的时候，上天使草木在秋冬季节不凋零。这是“木”的力量发挥了作用。

商汤时期，上天降世的征兆是从河里捞出了兵器。这是“金”的力量。

等到周文王兴起，一些红色的乌鸦落在周人的祭坛上。这便是火的力量。

按照邹衍的学说，下一次替代周朝的王朝应为“水德”，以黑色为代表色。

秦始皇统一全国建立秦朝后，为了证明政治上的合法性，采纳了五行学说，对国家制度进行了大幅地修改：

秦始皇将一切官服、军服都改为黑色，因此后代有“秦人尚黑”的说法。同时，秦始皇还将黄河的名称改为“德水”。但这一切都没有改变秦朝的短命而亡的事实。

虽然阴阳五行常常与巫蛊（gu三声）、占卜等封建迷信活动联系起来，但是它却为古人理解万事万物之间的相互联系和作用关系提供了系统的思考方法。阴阳五行学说是中国古代传统哲学思想的结晶，它源于天象研究，却应用于人类生活，其中蕴含着古时候人们对于朴素真理的追求和对自然规则的敬畏。

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.
So, Mat, what’s your big question today?
(Mat) 
Hello and welcome back once again to another episode. Today we’re talking about the Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional holiday celebrated in China. Now, I can remember when I first came to China, I heard people talking about this festival and I remember thinking, what is this festival? Is it about a dragon in a boat? Is it a dragon and a boat or is it a boat in the style of a dragon? So, Jocelyn, can you answer this first question for me.
(Jocelyn) 
Yes, the Dragon Boat Festival, or Duānwǔjié, actually takes its name from special type of boat related to the festival. It’s long thin boat that looks like a dragon when it’s moving through the water. So that gives us the name dragon boat festival.
(Mat) 
So it’s a festival about boats, named after a type of boat? That doesn’t sound very traditional, surely there’s more to the story than a boat that looks like a dragon.
(Jocelyn) 
Yeah of course there is, let me tell you the rest of the story. So, let’s start with the basics. The holiday is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese lunar calendar (remember – the lunar calendar is not directly mapped to the Western calendar – and the dates move around a bit each year. The date is usually somewhere around late May or in June. It's a public holiday in China and is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the year. The festival has a long history dating back over 2,000 years, and it's traditionally been a time to honour the memory of a famous Chinese poet named Qu Yuan.
(Mat) 
Ah so it’s about a poet. Not about a boat. Or maybe it’s about a poet who had a boat and wrote poems about boating?
(Jocelyn) 
Okay, well that’s a good guess, but no, not really. Qu Yuan was a poet and politician who lived in ancient China during the Warring States period. He was a loyal patriot who was very vocal and active about creating a better and more honest society. Unfortunately, his ideas were not well received by the ruling powers, and he was eventually exiled from his home state of Chu (Chu is an old name for the part of China that is now the area around Hubei province). So while he was in exile, Qu Yuan wrote many famous poems, including one called "Li Sao," which means "Encountering Sorrow." And the poem expresses Qu Yuan's love for his homeland and his sadness at being separated from it.
(Mat) 
That's a really interesting story. But where does the boat come into the story? Did he escape on a boat or something like that?
(Jocelyn) 
Okay, nice idea, but not really. Well, according to the legend, when Qu Yuan learned that his homeland had been conquered by a neighbouring state, he drowned himself in the Miluo River as a form of protest (so in many ways it’s kind of a tragic story). The local people who admired him so much, raced their boats to save him, but they were too late. The hero of our story drowned in the river. To commemorate Qu Yuan's sacrifice, people began holding dragon boat races on the  anniversary of his death, which is believed to be the 5th day of the 5th lunar month (that’s why the festival falls on that date). And they also throw zongzi into the water to give Qu Yaun food, (these are sticky rice dumplings wrapped in leaves). And the people thought that the fish might eat those dumplings, so they wrapped them in bamboo leaves, just to stop the fish eating them.
(Mat) 
Wow, now that's really fascinating. Tell me more about these dumplings. What did you call them? Zongzi?
(Jocelyn) 
Well, they are made of sticky rice that has been stuffed with different fillings, like meat or sweet bean paste. Then, they are wrapped in bamboo leaves, tied with string and boiled or steamed for a while. And the result is a delicious and fragrant dumpling that is perfect for a meal or as a snack. There are many different styles of zongzi, such as the Cantonese-style zongzi, which are usually larger and filled with a variety of meats and vegetables. The northern-style zongzi are typically smaller and filled with red bean paste, dates, or other sweet fillings. So ‘zongzi’ as a snack is more about the shape, the style of cooking and the bamboo wrapping. Just like most Chinese snacks there’s quite a lot of regional variations in taste (sweet or salty), and ingredients – because obviously people in different regions have different food preferences, but everyone all over China enjoys zongzi in one form or another.
(Mat) 
That sounds really cool. So, it seems like the festival is still really important to Chinese people today.
(Jocelyn) 
Exactly, it's a very important cultural event, it's a time for people to come together with their families and friends. It's also a time to reflect on the importance of patriotism, loyalty, and the struggle for a better society.
(Mat) 
Well, it certainly sounds like a great celebration. Now I know a lot more about it and I can’t wait to get my teeth into some of those zongzi.
 
Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.
 
农历五月初五，是中华民族古老的传统节日——端午节。两千多年来，端午节逐渐成为集全民健身、防疫祛病、避瘟驱毒、祈求健康为主题的综合性节日，主要有祭祀屈原、纪念伍子胥、插艾蒿、挂菖蒲、喝雄黄酒、吃粽子、龙舟竞渡、除五毒、佩香囊等诸多习俗。在这其中，最具代表性，也是最富刺激性、最为壮观的，当属龙舟竞渡习俗。
龙舟竞渡，又称赛龙舟，每年在端午前后举行。各地持续时长差异较大，短则一日，长则月余，湖南沅陵则形成长达“三个‘半月’”的龙舟月格局。龙舟竞渡与端午节其它习俗彼此配合，形成完整的文化景象。比赛时，河面上，一只只龙舟你追我赶，劈波斩浪；龙舟健儿，奋力向前，竞显风流；河岸上，人潮涌动，彩旗招展。号子声、锣鼓声、击水声、人语声、助威声交织一片，场面壮观，呈现出人与自然和谐依存的景观。龙舟竞渡结束后，各地往往会举办庆祝活动，形式多样，包括文艺表演、燃礼花、放河灯等。
龙舟竞渡习俗是各地端午文化的重要表现形式，是各地百姓在漫长的生活实践中创造的社会产物，蕴含着中华民族的传统文化道德风尚和价值观念，对弘扬自强精神，强调人与自然和谐相处，强化人们的文化认同与社会和谐，加强民族团结具有重要意义。
摘自《百舸竞争流——端午龙舟竞渡习俗》

农历五月初五是端午节，又叫作“端阳节”、“重五节”。“端”有“开端”“初始”之意，再加上五月在天干纪年中属于“午”，所以称为“端午”。关于端午节的来源，最重要的也最主流的说法是为了纪念屈原。屈原是战国时期楚国的爱国诗人，他本是楚怀王的大臣，当时秦国一家独大，屈原力主联齐抗秦。但也因此在朝中树敌，其他人向楚怀王进谗言，屈原遭到了流放。眼见朝政败坏，忧国忧民的屈原写下了《离骚》《九歌》《天问》等不朽名篇。后来秦国攻陷了楚国都城郢都，屈原的政治理想破灭，抱石投汨罗江而死。屈原投江之后，楚国渔民在汨罗江中驶船，敲锣打鼓驱赶鱼虾，还把糯米饭团等食物投入江中喂食，以免鱼虾啃食屈原的遗体。这就是赛龙舟和包粽子的由来。龙舟竞渡中国盛行于南方地区。龙舟下水前必须先在五月初一举行迎龙头、点睛的仪式，下水前还要请水神、接龙船、祭江，才开始比赛。赛后还要举行谢江仪式，感谢水神庇佑。传统龙舟竞渡为两船竞赛，分左右水道，船首有两人，一人挥旗，一人敲锣或打鼓，船尾有一人，负责把舵，其他的选手分散在船的两侧划船。号声响起，两队奋力竞发，谁先抢到终点浮标上的旗帜，就算获胜。 粽子是端午节的主要食物。在往期的节目中咱们介绍了粽子的特色和种类。今天咱们来谈谈包粽子的粽叶，粽叶有很多种，比较典型的有芦苇叶和竹叶，南方盛产竹子，故多用竹叶，而北方多用芦苇包粽子。端午时至盛夏，蚊虫疫疾开始横生，因此端午也被视为“恶日”，端午许多习俗活动都有趋吉避凶的含义。挂蒲艾。菖蒲是水生草本植物，因其形如剑，又称为“剑草”，象征驱庵，是端午节的代表性植物。它有特殊的芳香，具有镇咳、镇静等多种疗效。艾草也具有香气，它在传统的中医领域使用得更为广泛，艾炙就是以艾草作为燃料，它具有清热、解毒、活血、利尿等多种功效，因此别名“医草”。端午时节，家家户户端午节都会洒扫庭院，并把菖蒲与艾草绑成一束，悬挂于大门旁或屋檐下。而北方地区则会将柳树枝条折下，插在门口。有情致的人家，还会喝“雄黄”酒。雄黄是一种硫化物，具有解毒杀虫的功效。端午节的时候，人们会把少量雄黄浸泡于酒里，制成雄黄酒然后饮用，许多民众还会把雄黄酒洒在家里的四周，并在额头上用雄黄酒画上“王”字，称为“画额”，据说这样做各种有毒的动物就不敢接近了。佩戴香包。端午节佩戴香包，可以驱除邪祟、求取吉祥。香包就是将各色绸布制成囊状，里面放置香料，用针线缝合，再串以布绳，系挂于颈间。传统香包最典型的造型就是老虎。虎是百兽之王，取勇猛、镇邪之意。端午时节，人们互相问候往往都会用“端午安康”而非“端午快乐”，因为这个节日的本身就包含着一些悲剧的色彩，节日的主题也离不开缅怀。“安康”包含了平安、吉祥、祥瑞的寓意，代表着我们对未来生活的美好祝愿。因此在这一天，别忘了说一声“端午节安康”！

(Mat) 

Hello and welcome to another episode, today we are talking something very important, education. Now as parents, we both have first-hand experience of our kid’s education, I think this will be a good opportunity to compare our attitudes towards educating children. Now I’m sure we’ll have some very ideas on this topic, because of our cultural background, I’m English and you’re Chinese; so we’re not trying to show how one way is better than the other, I think it’s just going to be interesting to explore the differences. So Jocelyn, my first question is very general, in a few sentences can you summarise your view of ‘the main aim or goal of education’?

(Jocelyn)

Yes, I agree with your point, we’re not trying to prove that one way is better, I think we’ll be highlighting that there are some differences and maybe even some similarities. So, for me, I guess I have a typical Chinese parent’s attitude towards education. So to summarise I’d say that education is highly valued and considered to be the key to success in later life. The main aim of education is to go to a good school with the best possible teachers, and to use all the available resources to get the best education possible (and that often means paying tuition fees for the best schools). There should be a lot of peer pressure to perform well, and the competition should be quite intense, because this can push a student to perform at their very best. The ultimate goal is to get into a good university and secure a good job in the future. That's why students in China tend to be very focused and hardworking in their studies.

(Mat) 

That’s interesting and it does differ to my answer. I would say that generally for most parents in the UK, education is also important, but I think there's a greater emphasis on developing individuality and creativity. We encourage students to find their own passions and interests, and to follow them within the framework of their education and these passions might lead to future career decisions. Of course, academic achievement is still important, but there's far less pressure to achieve a certain standard. We also have a more relaxed approach to learning, with a focus on independent thinking and critical analysis. So as parents, we value subjects like music, visual arts, drama as much as maths science and English. Would you say that’s true of Chinese parents?

(Jocelyn) 

I think generally, Chinese parents won’t encourage kids to focus on the arts as much as academic subjects like maths, science, and Chinese. There’s a good reason for this, it’s because in Chinese education, there is a strong focus on high school and university entrance exams (Zhong kao and gao kao), and success is often measured by getting good scores in these exams. Pursuing artistic subjects, on the other hand, might be seen as wasting an opportunity, because these are not so important in these exams. So for this reason, Chinese parents can be quite controlling when it comes to their children's education paths and choices. They may try to influence their children's decision-making or even completely control it, as they believe it's their responsibility to ensure their children's success. So, while individuality and creativity are valued, academic achievement and a secure future are often prioritized above all else.

(Mat)

That’s interesting because my son Oscar (who is 18 now), has spent the last two years of high school studying music, art, drama and languages. He doesn’t do maths or sciences. As a parent, I just wanted to encourage him to follow his passions and explore his creativity. Of course, as a parent, I do worry about his future and whether he'll be able to find a job that he loves, but I believe that if he's happy and passionate about what he does now, he'll find a way to make it work in the future. But I understand how this attitude isn’t practical for most parents and students in China, just because the education system is structured differently. I think that’s a key point in our discussion today, our attitudes as parents are shaped and influenced by the education system we experiences ourselves and the learning environment our kids are actually in.

(Jocelyn)

Yes, that's a great point. I think it's important to understand that our attitudes towards education are shaped by our cultural and social backgrounds, experiences, and the specific education system we are a part of. While I totally agree that creativity and individuality are important, the education system in China is structured differently and therefore, the emphasis is more on academic achievement and getting into a good university to secure a good job in the future. It's not that we don't value the arts, it's just that pursuing them may not be the practical choice for many students in China. Ultimately, as parents, we all want the best for our children, and I believe that our different attitudes towards education reflect our best intentions and efforts to do the right thing for our kids in our very different contexts.

中国教育中，自古以来我们家长深受“学而优则仕”的思想的影响。家长很愿意自己的子女去从政，即使不能从政，也希望自己的子女能够在机关做事。应该说，我们的家长往往把家庭的未来寄托在子女的身上。所以，在培养目标上，子女在更多的时候是要依照家长的意愿来发展的。西方教育中，家长能够考虑到学生的实际情况。在培养目标上，他们希望子女可以根据自己的实际情况来选择适合自己的工作，也就是成为一个快乐的劳动者。

在西方的教育中，虽然也有处世的教育，但是在更多的时候，是去吸纳别人，去尊重别人，在与别人的交往中展现自我。家长也同样鼓励自己孩子保留自己个性化的一部分而不是学会去隐藏自己真实的东西。中国学生和西方学生对比起来比较老练，他们可以把前人积累的经验熟练的运用到实际生活中。西方学生比较张扬，在我们开来似乎是有些不够沉稳

中西方在教育文化方面的差异表现在许多方面，简单加以概括为：反映到思维方式上是抽象和具体的差别，反映到观念态度上则似乎可以理解为西方人更加实用，中国人多少更偏重一些精神感受。但是，这些文化的差异不能说谁优谁劣，这是客观形成的。

摘自《中外教育比较》

中国古代的教育正式开始于西周。在奴隶社会，贵族垄断了教育，所以西周时期形成了“学在官府”的局面，也就是官学制度。官学有国学和乡学之分。国学设在国都，是贵族子弟所进的学校。乡学是下层奴隶主和平民的学校。而奴隶则不能接受教育。同时周朝设立“大司徒”统辖全国教育，这是中国最早的教育行政机构。官学以“六艺”为主要教育内容。六艺是礼、乐、射、御、书、数的合称。

礼即礼仪，是古人日常的行为规范。周代的礼有五种，称为“五礼”，分别是吉礼：祭祀之礼；凶礼：丧葬之礼；军礼：军事礼仪；宾礼：诸侯朝见天子的礼仪；、嘉礼：日常生活礼仪，特别是婚姻、嘉奖的礼仪。

乐指音乐和与音乐相关的礼乐体系。西周诗与歌不分，我们熟悉的《诗经》其实都是可以吟唱的。所以周代的“乐”不仅指代音乐，还包含诗歌和舞蹈。

射就是射箭。射是古代考试的主要项目之一。

御就是驾驭马车的技术。

书是指识字、书法，也就是语言文字的内容。

数是“数”和“术”的合称，“数”是数字，“术”是解决问题的办法和技巧，具体而言是数学计算的知识。

到了春秋战国时期，新的教育组织形式“私学”开始发展起来，齐国的“稷（jì 四声）下学宫”便是那时私学的最高学府。这是世界上第一所由官方举办、私家主持运营的的高等学府。稷下学宫是“百家争鸣”的中心园地，有力地促进了先秦思想文化的繁荣。

孔子便是私学的代表人物，孔子主张“有教无类”，不管是什么身份的人，都有权利接受教育。在他的学生学生中，既有贵族富商，也有平民百姓。他带头推行大规模的私人办学，一定程度上打破了奴隶主贵族对教育的垄断，促进了教育的普及。

同时，孔子强调教育不可替代的社会作用，孔子说：“道之以政，齐之以刑，民免而无耻；道之以德，齐之以礼，有耻且格。”这句话是说，政令和刑罚虽然能让民众不敢做坏事，但他们没有羞耻之心；如果用道德和礼制教育民众，他们就具有了羞耻之心和行为准则。

孔子对后世的教育思想和制度产生深远的影响，因此被后世尊称为“至圣先师，万世师表”。

汉代，汉武帝采纳董仲舒的建议，罢黜百家，独尊儒术，儒家思想成为国家经济、政治、思想文化体系的支柱，儒家经典成为教育体系的核心内容。汉代官学与私学并举，汉武帝设置了“太学”，是国家最高学府。

提到教育制度，就不得不提与之对应的教育选拔制度了。汉代的察举制度，意在选拔孝廉兼备、贤良方正的人。但是因为察举制难有统一的客观标准，可操作空间大，所以最后往往都是由世家贵族垄断。南北朝时期的九品中正制同样采取考察才能与品德的方式。中正即在各州、郡、县等地方政府，设置大大小小的“中正”，负责当地人才的评价和选拔。由于中正职位都被世家大族垄断，考选全凭一人，同样造成“上品无寒门，下品无世族”的现象。

隋唐时期，为了改变寒门学子无出路，贵族当权的取士制度，创立并健全了科举考试制度。学校教育、社会教育、官员的任免，均服从于科举考试。科举制度不仅促进了唐代学校教育和社会教育的发展，而且也使寒门庶士有了从政的可能，推动了当时的政治革新，是教育制度和职官制度的一大进步。明清时期继续沿用科举制度，并且考试科目有了更加详尽的分类。

正式的科举考试分为三级：乡试、会试和殿试。

乡试通常每三年在各省省会举行，参加乡试的考生称为秀才。乡试及第之后便称为举人，乡试第一名称为解（jiè）元。

会试在乡试后的第二年春天举行，会试及第后称为贡士，第一名称为会元。

殿试是皇帝主试的考试。殿试及第后统称为进士。殿试分三个等级录取，又称为“三甲”。第一甲录取三名，第一名俗称状元，第二名俗称榜眼，第三名俗称探花。这一称呼一直延续至今。科举及第对古代士人来说是莫大的荣耀，唐代孟郊就写诗描写及第之后的喜悦心情：“春风得意马蹄疾，一日看尽长安花。”

清朝末期，清政府废除了科举制度，创办了新式学堂，并引进了西方教育模式，可谓是中国教育史的一次革命。同时，清政府也选派许多学生去国外留学，后来，这些留学生有不少都成为了中国科技、经济、政治、文化领域里的中流砥柱，为中国近代化发展作出了重要的贡献，如詹天佑、赵元任、梅贻琦。

漫漫历史长河中，中国演变出了一套完整的教育制度和教育规范，为中华文明的进步与繁荣奠定了坚实的基础。而之后新学派，新制度，也依然在延续中国教育的历史，为国家培育栋梁材，为未来造就新希望。

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello and welcome to another episode. Today, we're going to be exploring the topic of Chinese breakfast. Now I'm really excited about this topic because, I love food and food culture and I’ve tried lots of different Chinese dishes in different regions of China. So, now to start off with I’m going to ask you a challenging question Jocelyn. What do you think my three favourite Chinese breakfast items are?

(Jocelyn)

Well actually I know your number one favourite is Wuhan hot and dry noodles, because I know you lived in Wuhan for many years, we used to work together in Wuhan in the same school and it was quite a well-known fact that you loved hot and dry noodles!

(Mat)

Yeah, you’re right. Wuhan hot dry noodles are my number one favourite. Actually every foreigner I’ve ever met who has tried them, says they are amazing. And we’ll come back to this later, but you still haven’t guessed my number two and three.

(Jocelyn) 

OK, let me think…. Em…….. I’ll have a few guesses, so how about, youtiao(油条) and a bowl of soy milk, doujiang(豆浆). Maybe jianbing(煎饼), which is a type of savoury pancake filled with egg, scallions, and sometimes meat or vegetables. And what else? … Maybe something like dim sum, the popular breakfast food in Southern China, particularly in Guangdong province. Maybe one of those small, bite-sized dishes that are usually served as dim sum. Am I right?

(Mat)

Well yes and no. First of all, I really don’t like youtiao and soy milk. Jianbing is OK, but dim sum is definitely a yes. Now I used to live in Southern China so I really learned to love dim sum. Now there’s something I never really understood though, dim sum is meant to be a morning thing, a breakfast tradition, it’s even called morning tea sometimes, but I often saw people eating it in the afternoon and even late at night. So is it really breakfast or is it just served all day long and throughout the evening?

(Jocelyn)

OK. That's a good question. Dim sum is traditionally eaten for breakfast or brunch in Southern China, but just like other breakfast dishes, some people want to eat it during the day or even at night, so if the customers want it, the restaurants will serve it! Think about your traditional English breakfast, eggs, bacon, sausage, toast … can you buy that in the afternoon?

(Mat)

Yes – absolutely. No problem, on menus you will see ‘All Day Breakfast’ to show that it’s available at any time.

(Jocelyn)

So it’s exactly the same with dim sum.

(Mat)

Now dim sum always seemed interesting to me, all those little plates with just two or three items. So is there some kind of story or history behind this style of breakfast dining, these small plates with just two or three items on each plate.

(Jocelyn)

The story goes that many centuries ago, dim sum was served in teahouses for brunch. Travellers used to stop for a break to have tea or two small food items to eat with their tea. This eventually became known as "yum cha",饮茶. Dim sum culture grew quickly during the 19th century in Guangzhou, with chefs introducing different cooking styles and ingredients. So today, dim sum has a wide range of flavours and can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or even as a late-night snack as we just mentioned. So tell me which item is your favourite from the dim sum trolley? We still don’t know your number two and number three.

(Mat)

So my number two is those rice noodle rolls(肠粉), especially the BBQ pork version. And my number three is similar, it’s also from the dim sum trolley. It’s steamed pork buns (叉烧包).

(Jocelyn)

So your favourites are Wuhan hot and dry noodles(热干面), rice noodle rolls(肠粉) and steamed pork buns(叉烧包). Tell me why these are your favourites.

(Mat)

Well, let me tell you, Wuhan hot dry noodles are my all-time favourite because they have that unique texture and that amazing, it’s almost like peanut butter style sauce. Now as for the rice noodle rolls, I love that really soft texture on the outside of the rice noodles and then you can get that crispy BBQ pork inside. And last but not least, steamed pork buns, again so fluffy on the outside and soft, especially when they’re hot, and the pork filling is juicy - it’s just that perfect combination of texture and flavour. It’s really, it’s a wonderful breakfast item.

(Jocelyn)

You're making me hungry just thinking about these. I love all three of those dishes too, especially the hot and dry noodles. I think we need to take a trip to Wuhan soon to try some really authentic local hot and dry noodles.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

不论中外，对于早餐都有过类似的描述，那就是：“早餐是一天中最重要的一餐。（Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.）”

中式早餐一直以来都是花样极多的，在广东，有名的早茶点心足够让人吃上一整年还不重样。而在其余地区，豆浆、烧饼、油条绝对是“老三样”，喝一口热乎乎的豆浆，咬一口脆脆的油条，一整天的好心情就是从此开启。更不用说小笼汤包、蒸饺、天津大肉包等等面点了，各有各的美味。中式早餐也许花样极多，但是最终离不了的本心就是“热”这一点。中式早餐基本上都属于热乎乎的类型，跟东方人注重“养生之道”离不开干系。

西式早餐一般来说可以分为美式早餐跟欧式早餐。除了众所周知的面包跟吐司之外，欧洲人也喜欢用黄油涂在面包上，一口咬下去，配合煎蛋就是一顿非常美味的早餐。而在传统的英式早餐中，香肠、培根、番茄、蘑菇、鸡蛋、焗豆、面包等等，都是不可或缺的食材。作为英式早餐的绝对主角，香肠几乎在英国各个小镇都有不同的风味。其中，最最常见的便是康宝兰香肠和林肯郡肠。

当然，如果是比较讲究的家庭，有时候还会熬法式浓汤，早上也可以吃一顿热乎乎的，但是比起我们中式早餐来说，花样还是略少了一些。中西式早餐的不同也是因为传统文化的不同所造成的，因此，这也间接反映了中西方的区别。

摘自《中西方早餐的营养对比》

俗语说“早餐要吃好，午餐要吃饱，晚餐要吃少”。早餐是白日忙碌的开始，吃好了才能投入辛勤的工作之中。不过早餐时段，上班族总是忙碌的，往往没有时间细调慢煮。所以一顿好的早餐，应当兼顾营养和快捷。

要说早餐中的王者，当属油条和豆浆了。油条的口感和其他面饼主食相比挺不一样的，酥脆又有韧劲。这是因为油条在和面的时候会往里面加入一些可食用的膨松剂，加热的时候里边的膨松剂会产生很多的小气泡，让整个油条膨胀起来。而且油条必须要两根一起炸。如果只有一条面饼，整根都浸在热油里，很快就会被炸得定型。只有把两根面按在一起下油锅炸的时候，两根面粘连的部分才不会被炸硬，中间的面粉才有充分的空间膨胀，形成我们喜欢的口感。

豆浆则一定要黄豆现磨的才好喝。黄豆质地坚硬，如果当天直接加水搅打研磨，往往不容易将黄豆彻底打碎，打出来的豆浆残渣也很多，影响口感。因此，黄豆一定要提前一天用水泡发。只有这样，第二天打出来的豆浆才会绵密好喝。工业化时代，为了批量制作，很多快餐连锁品牌的豆浆都是直接用豆浆粉冲泡，虽说快捷，但说实话，口感远不如现磨的豆浆。因此，喝豆浆一定要赶早去那种手工现做的小店。现磨的淡淡的豆香味，是豆浆粉永远替代不了的。

包子也是最常见的、最经典的早餐食品之一。中国人吃包子的历史，至少可以追溯到先秦时期。秦昭王就有食用蒸饼的记录，蒸饼就是包子的雏形。

三国时期，包子有了自己正式的名称，叫作“馒头”。相传诸葛亮七擒七纵收服孟获后，行到泸水时，军队无法渡河，于是将牛羊肉剁成肉酱拌成馅，在外面包上面粉，做成人头的模样，祭祀后大军顺利渡河。这种祭品后来被称作“蛮首”，后来又称为“蛮（馒）头”。也就是说，古代的“蛮（馒）头”和我们现在所说的馒头不同，它指的是包子。

而“包子”这个名称的使用始于宋代。顾名思义，面皮里包着馅，所以称作“包子”。但人们仍然更习惯将包子称为馒头。比如《水浒传》第二十七回，武松路过母夜叉孙二娘的客栈，点了二三十个包子。武松掰开一个，问孙二娘：‘酒家，这馒头是人肉的，是狗肉的？’那妇人嘻嘻笑道：‘客官休要取笑。清平世界，荡荡乾坤，哪里有人肉的馒头，狗肉的滋味。我家的馒头是黄牛的。”可见当时“馒头”指的就是包子。

直到清代，馒头和包子才彻底区分开来。不过现在的苏北地区，还时常把包子称作“馒头”，比如说“生煎馒头”“蟹粉馒头”等等。

物质生活丰富的现代，包子的馅儿已经有了五花八门的种类。包子铺往往从早到晚都会售卖，但最好吃的还是早市出锅的第一屉（ti 四声）。

南方的最具代表性的包子是精致的小笼包、苏式汤包、虾仁包、蟹黄包。蟹黄汤包是鲜包和美味汤汁的完美结合，吃法也很讲究，千万不能直接放入嘴里食用，否则容易烫口，也很容易溅到汤汁。最好稍微晾一下，然后咬开一个口儿，吸完汤之后，让汤的味道在口腔里慢慢回味，再享用包子。

北方最经典的包子当属猪肉大葱包，吃的时候一定要配蘸料。北京老字号庆丰包子铺有三样经典蘸料，分别是香醋、蒜汁和辣椒油。在庆丰吃包子，一般都要配粥。除了最经典的大米白粥之外，还有南瓜粥、小米粥、绿豆粥、紫米粥、八宝粥等。

粥和馒头也是完美的搭档。只吃馒头味道难免单一，所以吃馒头往往会配上各种小菜。北方人喜欢吃萝卜丁、酱黄瓜、宝塔菜，南方则喜欢就着咸鸭蛋、豆腐乳来吃。

一日三餐，四季轮回，在车水马龙般快节奏生活的当下，都市人时常被淹没在繁忙的工作中，而健康、生动、活泼的生活同样很重要。琳琅满目的中式早餐里，人们总能找到适合自己的那一款，让一天中的幸福时刻从早餐开始。

(Mat) Hi and welcome to another episode. Today we are talking about traditional Chinese music and Western music, and we have a special guest, Steven, who will be my co-presenter for this special Children’s Day episode. So first of all, Steven, would y...

中国古代的音乐文化有着悠久的历史和丰富多彩的内容。出土文物证明，夏商时期中国就有了不同种类的乐器和乐舞活动。甲骨文中，也有不少字形和音乐有关。进入西周之后，中国的音乐开始蓬勃发展，出现了中国最早的一部诗歌总集《诗经》。谈到《诗经》，就不得不提“诗”和“歌”的关系了。现代音乐，歌词并不依赖文学作品，大部分歌词都是专为歌曲演唱创作的，并不属于诗歌。但是在古代，诗词和音乐密不可分，很多诗歌就是专为吟唱创作的，是音乐的一部分。《诗经》中保存着不少具有唱和形式的作品。唱和，也就是歌词的开头部分与后面的部分互相应和的形式。唱和形式可以分为三类：对唱。两方交替歌唱,或采取问答方式,或采取接续方式。帮腔。帮腔是紧接每句、每章或全篇歌词而出现的应和部分,一般采用“一唱众和”的方式。全篇以后的帮腔,有的就发展成尾声。重唱。依照别人所唱的全篇歌词重唱,歌词相同或者在结构上有一定相似性。对唱、帮腔、重唱的形式延续至今，我们去听音乐会的时候，仍然经常听到合唱团使用这些表现形式。除了诗歌作品的出现，先秦时期也已经有了完备的乐律知识，出现了五音十二律。五音即宫商角徵羽，大致相当于现代音乐简谱中的do、re、mi、sol、la。从宫到羽，按照音的高低排序，就形成了一个五音音阶。后来，再加上变宫和变徵，就形成了一个比较完整的七音音阶，称为七音。七音比较接近现在的五线乐谱。律，本指用来定音的竹管。古人将竹管截成十二个长度不同的管子，长管发音低，短管发音高，然后就可以吹出十二个不同的标准音，来确定乐音的高低。因此，这十二个乐音便被称为“十二律”。高中语文课上，我们学过《荆轲刺秦》：“高渐离击筑，荆轲和而歌，为变徵之声，士皆垂泪涕泣。又前而为歌曰：‘风萧萧兮易水寒，壮士一去兮不复还。’复为羽声忼慨，士皆瞋目，发尽上指冠。”由此可见，不同的音有不同的调式，不同的调式有不同的情感色彩，音乐效果也不同。变徵之声伤感悲戚，而羽声情感激昂。秦汉时期，古代音乐进一步发展，出现了两个专门的音乐机构“太乐”和“乐府”。太乐掌握国家重大仪式典礼的雅乐，以政治目的为主。而乐府掌管世俗音乐，主要任务是搜集和整理民间的乐歌资料。汉武帝时，乐府规模进一步扩大，乐府搜集的民间音乐从江湖来到了庙堂，盛行于朝廷和官府之中。乐府搜集的乐歌大致可以分为鼓吹曲和相和歌两种。鼓吹曲是用于宗庙祭祀、军队、仪仗典礼的节奏明朗的乐曲。鼓吹曲风格兼收并蓄，在中原乐曲的基础上，吸收了北方和西北少数民族的音乐风格。为了演奏鼓吹曲，乐府中设置了专门的职位——“鼓员”。汉高祖刘邦的《大风歌》“大风起兮云飞扬，威加海内兮归故乡，安得猛士兮守四方”，便属于鼓吹曲一类。相和歌则来源于各地流行的民歌，这是乐府歌辞的精华部分。相和歌以互相唱和为主。我们在小学时学过的名作《江南可采莲》就是一首相和歌。到了北宋，居民区“坊”和商业区“市”便不再有严格界限，往往混杂分布。由此，商业经济迎来了重大发展。汴京、临安等大城市都出现了固定的表演场所，俗称“瓦子”或“瓦肆”。大量的民间艺人出现，并且组成了自己的团体。搜集民间音乐的工作也由官府转移到民间艺人手里。宋词的勃兴，突破了唐诗的格律限制和意象表达，成为宋代乐曲最重要的吟唱内容，比如我们熟悉的大词人柳永，他的词作深受乐坊乐工的喜爱，在民间流传甚广，号称“凡有井水处，皆能歌柳词”。南宋出现了载歌载舞的戏剧，称为南戏，南戏吸收了民间音乐的精华，创造了许多经典的戏剧曲调。元朝统一之后，南北戏曲交流频繁，互相促进，最终造就了元代杂剧的繁荣。音乐的诞生，让人类的生命延长了一半。在很多时刻，音乐具有治愈人心的力量。不管我们来自哪里，有什么样的文化背景，从事什么样的职业，我们都能在音乐的世界里找到属于自己的精神天地。

Summer Days:

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello and welcome once again to another episode. Today we are talking about summer … or summer days. Now of course I’m English, I think that everyone knows that English summers are, well, let’s say ‘fairly mild’.  It’s quite common to have cool, grey and rainy days in the middle of summer. Now, I can remember many years ago, my first trip to China, it was in the month of August and I arrived in Shanghai. One of the things that shocked me most, wasn’t really ‘culture shock’ – it was weather shock, I couldn’t believe how hot it was. So Jocelyn, I know you spent a few years in the UK studying and living, did you have the same feeling in your first English summer? Did you experience weather shock?

(Jocelyn)

Well absolutely. I can vividly remember my first summer in England. I remember thinking, when is summer going to arrive. I kept waiting for the hot, sunny weather, but it never came. You know, I grew up in Wuhan, one of the hottest cities in summer in China, so my idea of summer is, how can I say it, … quite ‘extreme’ and my experience of summer in the UK was … well … extremely ‘mild’!

(Mat)

So I think we’ve both experienced ‘weather shock’ – but in quite different ways. There’s one thing I remember, after arriving in Shanghai in August and then travelling to Wuhan in the same month, I remember people seemed to be good at keeping cool in such hot temperatures.

(Jocelyn)

Yes, that's true. Over the years, Chinese people have developed many different ways to keep cool during hot summers. One of the simplest ways is to wear light cotton clothes, something like pyjamas. You probably saw people sleeping on bamboo mats to keep cool during hot summer nights. And for some people, especially in rural areas, sleeping outside is quite common.

(Mat)

Sleeping outside? Do people really do that? In England I can’t imagine anyone ever sleeping outside. It would, even in summer it would be too cold.

(Jocelyn)

Yeah, in China we did, sometimes, especially in some parts of China where the nights can be really hot and humid. And some people find it cooler and more comfortable to sleep outside, especially if there is a cool breeze. In fact, when I was growing up in Wuhan, I remember seeing people sleeping outside during the summer. They had a special bamboo bed that was set up under the trees and they would sleep there every night. Some people even slept on the Yangzi River bridges, because you get the cool breeze from the river – it’s like nature’s air-conditioner – and it’s free.

(Mat) 

Now there’s something else I remember about my first summer in Wuhan, and that’s the special summer snack food. I remember certain food items that were popular in summer. There was one that I love, still to this day, cold noodles, I love the flavours, the sesame sauce, the vinegar and chilli flavour – it’s amazing. But there’s another one that I really don’t like, cold green bean soup. Do people really like that?

(Jocelyn)

Green bean soup is actually a really popular summer food in many regions of China. And you have to understand that we don’t just have it because of the ‘flavour’ – it’s got a specific function. It's believed to have cooling properties, which can help to reduce body heat and prevent heat stroke during the hot summer months. Well in traditional Chinese medicine, green beans are considered to have a special "cooling" effect on the body and are often used in the treatment of fever, thirst, and other symptoms of heat-related illnesses. So we have this cold green bean soup as a remedy for the intense summer heat. I guess you don’t need things like that in England where the weather is so mild.

(Mat)

No, we don’t need any kind of remedy for summer weather, because it’s never really hot. I mean, we do like ice cream in summer, it’s kind of a tradition for us, when it’s sunny, which is not every day, go out for a walk and enjoy an ice cream. And I remember actually in China, I think I saw it in different cities, there’s a weird ice snack that I think I tried in Wuhan for the first time, it’s not ice cream. It’s actually made from ice and you kind of use a knife to cut the ice. Do you know the one I mean?

(Jocelyn)

Of course I know what you mean, you’re talking about shaved ice, which is a popular summer dessert in many parts of Asia, especially in China. It's made by shaving a block of ice into a fine, fluffy texture, and then adding various toppings like fresh fruit, and milk, or flavoured syrup, or sometimes even ice cream. And the dessert is very refreshing and is perfect for hot summer days. In China, there are many different varieties of shaved ice desserts, depending on the region and local ingredients. For example, in some areas, the shaved ice is topped with sweet red bean paste, while in others, it might be topped with fresh mango, strawberries, or other fruits. It's a typical summer treat for many people in China. So I think today we’ve really discovered that our summer habits are quite different, but that’s mainly because our summer weather is so different.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

夏日炎炎的夏季马上就要来临。提到英国的夏天，你的第一反应是什么呢？因为气候的关系，英国夏天很短，气温也不高。英国是个空调基本卖不出去的国家，英国夏天的平均温度不过23摄氏度左右，全年日照时间少。所以到了夏天，英国人喜欢去有阳光的热带岛屿和海边度假。中国的太阳很毒，人们躲之不及。每到夏天，很多中国人都会自然地在阳光下打起了伞，其实在英国的夏天，人们连帽子都不戴，脑袋仰得高高的。英国的太阳很少见，就算有，也总是暖暖的，热不起来，夏天的英国，只要太阳一出来，全国上下就立马变成度假区，人人脸上带着笑意，马路上敞篷车突然多起来，雪糕车也大街小巷地开始串门了，孩子们一听到那熟悉的音乐，就吵着要去买雪糕。

中国人的消暑也离不开食物，从南到北都有明显地域代表性的消暑品，从北京的酸梅汤、两广人夏天都有的糖水，四川人的冰粉、闽南人的烧仙草，甘肃敦煌的杏皮水......这还不是全部，这些来自民间的降暑清凉饮品，土味十足，却是中国民间特有的熬过一个又一个酷夏的清凉“神器”。

阳光是英国的奢侈品，它意味着度假般的快乐心情，意味着可以晒出性感古铜色皮肤，意味着雪糕车来了，还意味着可以烧烤……总之阳光能够引发出一连串的快乐生活方式。这样的符号连接，可能无法引起每一个中国人的共鸣，而中国人吃冰、席地而睡的消暑办法，在英国人看来也很新奇。

摘自《英国人夏天追着太阳跑》等

夏风多暖暖，树木有繁阴。到了夏天，万物都开始蓬勃生长。郁郁葱葱的树木，明媚的阳光，晴朗的天空，一切都显得那么美好。但对很多人来说，夏天有一个致命的缺点，那就是热。再加上夏季白日漫长，“热”的折磨要持续一整天。为了消暑，风扇、空调齐上阵。而要让身体从内而...

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello and welcome back to another episode. Today, we're talking about traditional Chinese night markets. Now when I first heard the expression ‘night market’, I got slightly confused. I grew up in London, a city with lots of markets many of them quite traditional, flower markets, food markets, fish markets, textile, fabric and clothing markets – now when I think of these markets, they all have one thing in common. They open really early in the morning, like REALLY early. Around 5 am, and you’ll get the best deal, maybe the best quality the earlier you go. So, many of these markets are actually closed by lunchtime. And they are not open in the afternoon. So for me, the idea of a ‘night market’ seems quite confusing. So, please explain this Jocelyn.

(Jocelyn)

Well, the traditional Chinese night market dates back to the Tang and Song dynasties, and they are still very popular today in contemporary China. So, to answer your first question, why are they ‘night markets’? – The most common explanation goes like this:  Traditionally, these markets were located in different parts of the city, and often near the city centre. These streets were very narrow and during the day they were very busy with people going about their business, carts going back and forth, in those days there were no cars of course, so as you can imagine, the streets were busy and bustling during the day, but became quieter at night. So local people started setting up stalls selling local snacks and handmade goods, like traditional handicrafts and art. It’s interesting that you mentioned that markets in London close around lunchtime, because Chinese night markets are usually open from around 5 pm to as late as 3 am in the morning.

(Mat)

OK, so that makes sense. So where are they located nowadays? Are they still in similar locations as the old original ones?

(Jocelyn)

If you visit any Chinese city, and head for the city centre, somewhere near the main shopping district, maybe in a residential side street, you’ll probably find a night market. They are easy to find because it’s night time and these markets have lots of stalls lining the streets and they are all brightly lit up. Some of them are quite big, covering more than one street, and some are really famous like WangFuJing(王府井) and Nanluoguxiang(南锣鼓巷) in Beijing.

(Mat)

OK, so what kind of things can I find in night markets? Are they famous or well-known for selling certain items?

(Jocelyn)

Well, night markets in China are famous for their food offerings. The most popular items are local snacks, such as dumplings, fried rice, noodles, and grilled meat skewers. We often call these by the simple generic term ‘BBQ’. These snacks are usually cheap and delicious, and they are cooked in the street, and you’re meant to buy them in the street and eat them in the street, so they are really like the best example of ‘Chinese street food’ - I think for many Chinese people, when we think about the true meaning of ‘street food’ – we think about food from a night market.

(Mat)

So it’s not just a market for buying things, it’s more like a fun and interesting place to hang out?

(Jocelyn)

Yes, you’re right, it’s not just about shopping, but also about experiencing the local food and culture. If you’re lucky, at certain times of the year you’ll find a night market that has traditional performances, such as lion dances, dragon dances, and musicians and even street theatre and Peking opera. These performances are a way to showcase local culture and talent.  

(Mat) 

So it sounds like night markets are probably really popular with tourists, a place where they can find local handicrafts, local snacks and even street performers.

(Jocelyn)

Absolutely. Night markets offer overseas visitors a unique glimpse into local Chinese culture, and domestic tourists also love these places as a way to explore unique regional culture when they travel, with their bustling atmosphere, diverse food offerings, and traditional performances. But they are not just tourist spots, they are still very important places for local people to get together and socialise and enjoy their own specific local foods and culture with their own community.

(Mat)

OK, it sounds great, so what tips do you have for anyone visiting a night market? Give us one essential tip that we need to know.

(Jocelyn)

Well, let me think, OK, one essential tip. If you visit a night market and buy an item that’s not food, say for example, a silk purse, an item of clothing, some jewellery like a bracelet, anything like this, remember the price is not fixed. You are expected to bargain with the seller. This is a very important part of night market culture. Bargaining and haggling with the stallholders, trying to get the best possible price. And this is all part of the unique busy energy that you will find in Chinese night markets.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

“夜市”这个词语对于我们国人来讲，想必并不陌生了。我们国家的夜市起源较早，有学者认为，早在西周时期，当时的“夕市”便有了夜市的雏形，最迟在两汉的时候便已有了夜市。另外一些学者认为，古代中国夜市最早起源于隋唐时期，尤其是在唐代中后期的时候，当时的夜市经济就比较发达，而到了北宋时期的东京，也就是今天的开封，更是把夜市经济的发展推向顶峰。

早在当年的开封府，古代中国的夜市经济就已经十分繁荣，人们可以在夜市上买卖杂货、品尝小吃、做游戏等。不过，由于不同的历史文化和生活习惯，不同地区的夜市文化和人们的行为也都是不一样的。暮色降临之后，中国夜市热闹非凡。对比中国夜市，许多西方城市的夜晚街头化身“空城”。比如在美国，到了下午六点左右，大部分城市里的店铺都直接打烊关门。人们准点下班回家做饭，一家人一起吃饭看电视。

中美“夜市”文化差异之所以这么大，其实也无可厚非，毕竟在相近的国土面积上，我们国家的人口众多，分布密集，这对“夜市”文化也有不小的影响。

摘自《中美夜市对比》

温饱是人的基本需求。但是在温饱之上，我们又有了对味道和口感的更高追求。夜市作为三餐的重要补充，为我们的生活增添了一抹亮色。

日常三餐的时段，虽然大大小小各类餐厅都很热闹，但每个人脸上都藏着一丝匆忙，因为解决“吃饭”这场重要的战斗之后，还要投入忙碌的工作之中。晚上则不同，结束了一天的忙碌，大家都想犒劳一下自己。逛夜市的时候，人们的心态平和闲适，没有白天那种紧绷感。

夜市的商贩也比白天要活跃，这些商家都是眼观六路、耳听八方的人才。他们能准确及时地捕捉到这些顾客的脚步和目光的停留，哪怕只有短短的一秒。做灌饼的阿姨轻轻一抬头，漏出浅浅的笑容，“进来坐，看看要吃些什么”，另一边，手里的动作也不停下，麻利地将面饼下油锅。夜色也给了食物“美颜”加成，锅与铲之间，腾腾的热气在夜晚格外明显；各个小摊上的照明灯比天空中的星星更加扑朔不定，光线下的美食也显得格外诱人。这便是生活中美好的时刻了。

一方水土养一方人，各地的夜市小吃加起来也有成千上万种了吧。今天我们来谈谈比较有特色的几种。

油炸臭豆腐。因为气味独特，臭豆腐堪称是最有杀伤力的小吃了，喜欢的人爱不释口，看到摊位就嘴馋。不喜欢的人远远地闻到臭豆腐的味道就拿出口罩全副武装。中国的臭豆腐以长沙最为有名，长沙人称为“臭干子”。臭豆腐的诞生，其实是一段“无心插柳柳成荫”的故事。

相传清朝康熙年间，安徽黄山的王致和进京赶考，结果名落孙山，闲居在会馆中，准备下次考试。但此时距下次考试时间还远，长期住在会馆，手里的钱也渐渐用完了。王致和幼年曾学过做豆腐，无奈之下，便在安徽会馆磨豆腐来卖。时值夏季，有时卖剩的豆腐很快发霉，无法食用，但王致和又不想就这样浪费了。他苦思良久，就将这些豆腐切成小块，加以晾晒，寻得一口小缸，用盐腌了起来，之后一心攻读，渐渐地便把这事忘了。

一段时间之后，王致和想重操旧业，偶然想起了这缸腌制的豆腐，赶忙打开缸盖，一股臭气扑鼻而来，取出一看，豆腐已呈青灰色，他好奇地尝了一口，结果这青灰色的豆腐却有一股浓郁的香气，拿去给邻里品尝，都称赞不已。这就是臭豆腐的由来。

烤苕皮。烤苕皮是川渝地区的特色小吃。顾名思义，即以烧烤的手法烹饪苕皮。川渝烧烤里，这是最常见的素串。红薯又称红苕，苕皮中的“苕”就取自这里。将苕皮煎至上色后表面会微微鼓起气泡，焦香的同时也保留了内在软糯的口感，再辅以酸豆角、肉沫，绝对是夜市里的明星产品。

鸡蛋灌饼是起源于河南信阳的传统小吃。做鸡蛋灌饼要用半发面的饼，而且要多放油以使饼出层数，上锅烙的过程中也需要不间断地将油舀起来淋在饼上。饼烙至半熟时，用筷子戳开一个口，一边转饼一边把鸡蛋液灌入饼内，这样可以让鸡蛋液均匀地进入到整张面饼，以确保吃的时候饼和鸡蛋均匀融合，咬的每一口都很充实。灌完鸡蛋之后就是整个制作过程中最关键的一步——烤。将烙好的饼放入烤炉烤半分钟，把油烤出去，这样饼子才酥脆可口，香而不腻。这一步很考验对火候和时间的把控能力。如果掌握得不好，饼子吃起来就会干瘪油腻。因为制作流程快，味道可口，如今鸡蛋灌饼已经成为最常见的夜市小吃。

广厦千间，夜眠仅需六尺，家财万贯，日食不过三餐。夜市，是人世间最具烟火气的地方。

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello and welcome to another episode. Today we're going to be exploring the topic of bamboo, now I will be honest, when I first saw the title of this episode ‘bamboo’ my reaction was, ‘bamboo?’ How can we do a whole episode on the topic of bamboo. It’s a plant, and pandas eat it. And that’s it. End of episode. So Jocelyn, tell me, how are we going to do a whole episode on bamboo?

(Jocelyn)

Well, I can understand why you might think that, but bamboo is actually a fascinating plant that has been really important in Chinese culture for many centuries. It has been used for everything from building materials to food, medicine, musical instruments and it’s really important in art and literature. So, don’t worry, we’ve got lots to explore when it comes to bamboo.

(Mat)

I’m still not sure. You haven’t really convinced me. When I think about bamboo I still just see a plant that pandas eat. So please, tell me what I’m missing.

(Jocelyn) 

OK – let’s start with symbolism. In Chinese culture, bamboo is a very important symbol. It stands for strength, resilience, and flexibility. It's like a strong person who can bend without breaking. Bamboo also represents other good qualities, like honesty, loyalty, and friendship.

So you can see the symbol of bamboo in many different parts of Chinese culture. It's in art, like paintings and calligraphy, and in things like ceramics or textiles as well as classical literature and poetry.  

Also, bamboo is associated with virtue of filial piety in Chinese culture. This is the idea that children should respect and care for their parents and grandparents, and it’s also considered one of the most important virtues in Chinese society.

In Chinese folklore, bamboo is often used as a symbol of filial piety because of its strength and flexibility. Just like how bamboo is strong enough to withstand harsh weather conditions, it also represents the strength and resilience needed to care for aging parents and grandparents. Additionally, the flexibility of bamboo reflects the idea that children should be able to adapt to their parents' changing needs and sacrifice their own interests for the well-being of their family.

Have I convinced you yet Mat? I can keep talking if you need more.

(Mat)

Wow, I think we could probably do two episodes on bamboo. But let’s just finish this one first. So, I see how bamboo is important as a symbol in Chinese culture. Now I understand the symbolism of filial piety, but you mentioned something to do with literature and poetry. Do you mean that people actually wrote poems about bamboo and stories about bamboo in traditional Chinese literature?

(Jocelyn)

Sure, there’s a type of poetry actually called ‘bamboo poetry’. It’s a well-known traditional style that focuses on the beauty and symbolism of bamboo. It became popular during the Tang Dynasty and continued to be written throughout the following centuries. These poems often describe the physical appearance of bamboo and its symbolic meanings in Chinese culture. They may also use metaphors to explore deeper themes related to human nature and the natural world.

One famous bamboo poem is "Bamboo and Rocks" by the poet Su Shi. And his poem explores the relationship between the strength of rocks and the gentle swaying movement of bamboo, meaning that being able to bend and adapt to different situations is just as important as being strong and staying firm in your beliefs. It's like how a bamboo tree can bend with the wind but not break, showing how it's important to be flexible and resilient in life.

(Mat)

Wow, to be honest, I had no idea that one plant, bamboo could inspire so much creativity. I’m quite impressed. So we’ve looked at symbolism in the creative arts, what’s the next thing we can explore relate to bamboo?

(Jocelyn)

Well, have you ever eaten bamboo? It’s quite an important ingredient in many classic Chinese dishes.

(Mat)

Emm, I’m not sure. Have I had it? I don’t remember ever ordering bamboo in a restaurant. 

(Jocelyn)

You may have tried a popular dish in China, Guangxi province called bamboo rice,竹筒饭. And it’s made with a hollowed bamboo tube filled with sticky rice and meat. And the bamboo container gives the rice a delicious almost sweet flavour. Bamboo shoots can be used in lots of other dishes, such as stir-fried dishes. I’m guessing that you’ve had  鱼香肉丝 before?

(Mat)

Yes of course, many times, it’s one of my favourites.

(Jocelyn)

Well bamboo is an important ingredient in that dish too. So, do you see Mat? We’ve already finished a whole episode on bamboo and we could probably talk on for even longer.

(Mat)

Yeah I’m quite surprised at how important a simple plant can be. It’s a really impressive cultural icon.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

竹子是一种多年生的禾本科木质常绿植物，在我国生长的历史悠久，分布广泛，与中国传统文化有十分密切的关系。由于竹子高耸挺拔，冬夏常青，中空有节，质地坚硬，它的这些自然秉性，对于善于以物明志，借物抒怀的民族来说，从中产生了丰富的启迪和联想。

竹子有“节”，这个“节”字和传统伦理观念中所讲究的节操、贞节、气节的“节”同字多义。人们喜欢用竹子有节来比喻人有气节，竹子空心，即虚心，谦虚自抑，虚怀若谷。这是我们民族所崇尚的一种美德。金人王寂在《次韵郭解元病竹二首》中写道：“生死挺然终抱节，荣枯偶尔本无心。比肩耻与蒿莱伍，强项不容冰雪侵。”这是赞竹，更是赞人；是自勉，也是勉人。然而，在中国历代文人咏竹名句中最为人传诵的是郑板桥的一首题所画“竹石”诗；“咬定青山不放松，立根原在破岩中。千磨万击还坚劲，任尔东西南北风。”诗中竹子坚韧不拔，泰然自若，是诗人正气凛然的象征。此外，竹子在中国传统文化中还有翠绿长青等多种文化意象。

可是，竹子（bamboo）在西方文化中并没有什么特別涵义，仅是一种植物而已，因为竹子常常与大熊猫的形象一起出现，是大熊猫的主要食物，他们大概也能将竹子和大熊猫联系起来。由于竹子主要生长在热带、亚热带和暖温带地区，在英国比较罕见，一般的英美人对竹子的生长了解甚少。汉语中竹子的文化意象未必能在英美人的头脑中产生某种联想。

摘自《竹（bamboo）的文化含义及翻译》

宁可食无肉，不可居无竹，无肉使人瘦，无竹使人俗。在中国人的物质生活和文化生活中，竹子一直扮演着重要的角色。

中国是竹子的故乡，竹子也在中国栽培广泛。竹喜温暖湿润的气候，对水热条件要求较高，因此主要产地是四川、重庆、浙江等南方地区。

竹子有上百个品种，比较有名的主要是以下几种：

寿竹。寿竹是我国产量较大的竹类，分布于四川、重庆和湖南。

寿竹的笋味甜，比起其他种类味道更加鲜美。竹竿可以制作凉席、竹椅、蒸笼和竹帘；竹上的枝条可以用来做扫帚。

箭竹。箭竹竹竿清脆，易砍伐，是我们的国宝大熊猫最喜爱的主要食物。

慈竹。慈竹高大、竹筒长、竹叶浓密。慈竹是一种丛生性竹子，往往成片生长，而且容易生存。生活中，我们看到的大片竹林往往都是慈竹。农家房前房后栽种的也大多都是慈竹。慈竹唯一的缺点可能是竹笋味较苦，不太适合食用。

斑竹。斑竹又名湘妃竹，斑竹叶面上有褐色的斑点。传说舜去世的时候，他的两个妻子伤心不已，眼泪洒在竹子上面，形成了一道道斑点，故名“湘妃竹”。

除了观赏之外，竹子还有丰富的药用和食用价值，可谓全身都是宝。

竹叶气味苦、性寒、无毒，是非常重要的药材，可以治疗口舌生疮、失眠、中风等。农家在夏秋两季的时候，会采摘新鲜的竹叶，晒干，煎水喝，是非常好的消暑品。

竹竿表面干燥，但是将竹子劈开，用火烤一下，里面可是有不少的竹汁呢。竹筒里的竹汁俗称竹沥，里面含有十多种氨基酸，味道清甜。同样可以食用，具有良好的镇咳去痰、消肿止渴的功效。

部分品种的竹子开花后，还会结成果实，称为“竹实”。竹子果实形状像小麦，皮青色，内含竹米，味甜，可以食用。竹实与水稻、麦、玉米等粮食作物相似，富含淀粉、蛋白质、脂肪，还含有18种氨基酸，是很好的药膳。

竹林中也有很多菌类，与竹子相伴而生，比如竹荪。食用竹荪已有悠久的历史，但是过去只能从野外采集，数量极有限，通常只有帝王贵族才能享用。而现在，竹荪已经进行了人工栽培，产量和质量均有显著的提高，已经成为了很多地方的家常美食。

竹子的幼芽也可以食用，也就是我们常说的竹笋。竹笋清脆爽口、滋味鲜美，而且营养丰富。根据采摘时节的不同，竹笋又可分为春笋和冬笋。立春前没有出土的竹笋叫做冬笋。到了每年的3月份，几场春雨之后，竹笋便会破土而出，这时候采摘的便是春笋。冬笋常年埋藏于土壤里，无法接触到阳光，外表呈黄色，个头又矮又粗。春笋是破土之后的竹笋，受阳光照射呈现淡淡的褐色，外形细长。二者口感也略有不同，春笋口感脆、嫩，有一点青涩味；冬笋口感细腻柔软，带有一点鲜甜。

除了观赏、食用这些实际意义，竹子在传统文化中也有着丰富的内涵。

竹子是硬朗挺拔、虚而有节的君子象征。竹与梅、兰、菊并称“四君子”，与梅、松并称“岁寒三友”。古代文人墨客常以竹子自喻，留下了许多经典的作品。比如郑板桥的《竹石》：咬定青山不放松，立根原在破岩中。千磨万击还坚劲，任尔东西南北风。

竹子更是有着厚积薄发的韧性。冬春交替之际，竹子蛰伏在大地下积蓄力量。可一旦破土而出，那便是势不可挡，一场春雨就能窜得很高。

竹子一节一节地往上长，就好比人一天天进步，日子越过越好。所以，老百姓就将对美好生活的期望形容成“竹子节节高”，竹子也被赋予了步步高升、学业有成、前程似锦、财运亨通等美好寓意。

愿我们每一个人都能傲然挺立在天地之间，不以物喜不以己悲，不念过往不惧未来，坦然勇敢地度过一生。

Chinese Painting

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello and welcome back to another episode. Today we will be looking at the topic of Chinese paintings. Now I know something about painting, because when I was a student I studied art and I learned how to paint, but I have never really understood Chinese painting. Let me explain, when I think about painting – I imagine lots of thick paint, in all different colours, portraits of people or dramatic landscapes. But when I think about Chinese painting, most of these elements seem to be missing. So, I guess my question is … why?

(Jocelyn)

Well, Chinese painting is different from Western painting because of its development over many thousands of years, and this really influences the style and materials. Chinese paintings usually show nature, like mountains, trees and animals. And the paintings are often simple and focus on balance and harmony. And the artist is not trying to paint a realistic portrait or landscape. In Chinese paintings, many things have deeper meanings. For example, a bamboo plant can show strength. And there is a lot of symbolism going on, so you need to be able to interpret this symbolism if you want to truly appreciate Chinese painting.

(Mat)

OK, so this seems like a good starting point. Tell me more about this symbolism.

(Jocelyn)

Symbolism in Chinese painting helps to tell stories and convey messages. Objects and animals in the paintings can have special meanings. For example, as I said before, bamboo can represent strength and flexibility, while a plum blossom can symbolize hope and perseverance. Birds might represent freedom and happiness. And the symbols help people understand the deeper message behind the painting. To appreciate Chinese painting, it's important to learn about these symbols and what they mean. This way, you can enjoy the beauty of the painting and understand the story the artist wants to share. 

(Mat)

OK, I think I have a clearer understanding already. A lot of Chinese paintings show mountains and trees and sometimes water, like a waterfall. So, what does that symbolize?

(Jocelyn)

Well, in Chinese paintings, mountains, trees and water, like waterfalls, often represent or show harmony with nature and the balance between different elements. Mountains can represent stability, strength, and a connection to the spiritual world. Trees can stand for longevity and resilience. Water, such as waterfalls or rivers, symbolizes the flow of life, change, and the passage of time. By including these elements in their paintings, Chinese artists try to express the beauty and power of nature, as well as the importance of living in harmony with it.

(Mat)

OK, so I think I get the content, the symbolism. But I’m still a little unclear about the materials. Why are most of the paintings just black without any colour?

(Jocelyn)

Well, most Chinese paintings use black ink because of the tradition and the unique look it creates. In traditional Chinese art, artists use ink and brushes to paint on silk or rice paper. And the black ink allows them to create different shades and textures with just one colour. Using only black ink also adds a sense of simplicity and elegance to the paintings. However, some Chinese paintings do have colour, but it's usually not as bright or bold as in Western art. The focus is more on brushstrokes, lines, and overall feeling of the painting, rather than on vivid colours.

(Mat)

Actually I know that calligraphy in a handwriting is a very important part of Chinese artistic tradition, sometimes when I see a traditional Chinese painting it almost feels like a combination, it’s part picture, part writing. Sometimes the paintings have words written on them, as part of the picture. Am I right here? 

(Jocelyn)

Yes, you're absolutely right! Calligraphy is a significant part of Chinese artistic tradition, and it's closely connected to painting. Both calligraphy and painting use similar tools, like brushes and ink, and share similar techniques. In many traditional Chinese paintings, you'll see words or poems written on them. And these can be either an important part of the picture or added later by the artist or collectors to express their thoughts about the artwork. The combination of picture and writing in Chinese paintings adds an extra layer of meaning, making the art form even more unique and poetic.

(Mat)

OK, I think we’ve done really well today. At the beginning of the episode I knew nothing about Chinese painting but now I think I’ve learned quite a lot.

(Jocelyn)

OK, don’t get too excited, Mat. Understanding all the different aspects of Chinese painting is very complex, even for most Chinese people. So, the most important thing is just to enjoy it. Don’t try to think too much about deeper meanings, just let the pictures speak to your feelings, and you’ll get a lot more out these wonderful works of art.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

中西方绘画艺术犹如两座形貌各异的山峰，虽然同样具有令人回味无穷的艺术感染力，但却各成一体。

中西方绘画在色彩运用和对色彩的感受上显然有所不同。中国传统的绘画是以墨调色，与西方绘画以油色烘染出的立体感、明暗透视等有巨大差异，在厚与薄、深与浅、淡与浓等多组矛盾中求得视觉性效果。中国古代画论中认为，墨具有五色：焦、浓、重、淡、清等；墨色之中又分为六彩：黑、白、干、湿、浓、淡。中国传统绘画黑白不分，是无阴阳明暗；干湿不备，是无苍翠秀润；浓淡不辨，是无凹凸远近。中国的绘画艺术以直觉的方式来感觉色彩的万千变化，而西方绘画艺术，整体上则是倾向于光学意义上的，更加富于几何精神和理性的思考。

西洋画是表象的，非常的写实，讲究的是对自然的真实表现。西方画家认识和把握自然的方式是纯客观的，始终贯穿着以科学精神为基础，画家观察研究自然的方法主要是对景写生。中国画重在写意，这个写意可不是大概其意，写的是意象、理想，写的是画境、意境。所以有那么一句”诗中有画，画中有诗”的说法。

几千年来，中国画瑰丽多彩、绵延相继，即使是在世界文化大碰撞、大融合的今天，也仍显夺目光彩，这是与中国画意象特性的审美观分不开的。

摘自《中西方绘画差异的分析》

欢迎大家来到《传家》栏目。让我们一起走进传统的生活方式，感受生活之美，寻找我们每个人的“传家”。

中国传统绘画一般称为丹青，主要指的是画在绢或纸上并加以装裱的卷轴画。它用的是中国独有的毛笔、水墨和颜料，依照长期形成的表现形式及艺术法则而创作的绘画。明末，西方油画传入中国，为了加以区别，所以称为“中国画”，简称“国画”。

从整体上来说，中国画有以下三个特点：

其一是其构图布局自由。根据主题的需要，突破时空的限制，如：《清明上河图》、《长江万里图》等，构图都采用了散点透视的方法，将远隔千里、时隔数日的内容集中表现在一个画面之中。

其次，中国画内容概括，主体突出。中国画的造型源于生活，但又高于生活，和西方写实的画法不同，中国画讲究对所画对象的提炼、取舍和加工，用笔墨和线条的勾勒抓住所画对象的关键点，但最后呈现的效果又不违反人们的视觉印象，也不违反生活的逻辑。

在具体技法上，中国画以线为主，以点、面为辅。

在开始创作的时候，中国画对笔、纸、颜料都十分讲究。中国画使用的笔简称毛笔，制笔的毫料有软毫、硬毫和兼毫三种。软毫笔以羊毫为多，鸡毫次之。硬毫笔包括狼毫、紫毫、獾毫及棕毫等。兼毫笔是以两种以上不同质的毫料兼制而成。

选笔的标准是“尖、齐、圆、健”。尖是笔锋尖锐，蘸墨后尖利如故；齐是修削整齐，笔尖铺开压扁，笔毛在同一水平线上；圆是圆浑饱满；健是刚健有力，无论画方画圆，顺笔还是逆笔，绝不停滞犹豫，提笔收笔都很干脆。

中国画用纸主要是宣纸、皮纸和绢。宣纸又分为生宣纸、熟宣纸、半生半熟纸三种。好的宣纸具有棉、白、细、匀的特点。生宣纸是没有经过处理的宣纸，吸水能力强，所以水墨渗透迅速。如果技法不熟练，落笔迟疑，那么会造成墨水过度渲染的情况。因此，生宣不适合新手使用。但如果技法纯熟，生宣创作的书画具有非常强的视觉效果。

熟宣纸是将生宣纸用适当比例配制的胶矾水刷制而成，吸水能力弱，容易控制笔墨，所以是最常用的书法、国画纸张。

半生半熟宣纸则是渗水能力介于生宣与熟宣之间的纸张。兼具了生宣和熟宣的特点，而且不用担心它过于生涩而不吸墨，也不用担心它渗水能力过强，笔墨晕成一团。因此，对于初学者，半生半熟宣纸也是不错的选择。

中国画使用的颜料有植物颜料、天然矿物质颜料和化学合成颜料三大类。植物颜料有花青、胭脂、藤黄等。矿物质颜料有朱砂石青、石绿、石黄等。随着化工技术的发展，现在市场上最多的其实是融合植物成分、矿物成分和化学制剂的合成颜料。和传统颜料相比，化学合成颜料配制方便，成本低，而且可以合成更加丰富多彩的颜色。植物颜料呈现的色彩统称为水色，水色是透明色，可以互相调和使用，覆盖力不强，色质不稳定，容易褪色。矿物颜料呈现的色彩统称石色，石色是不透明色，不同颜色之间难以兼容，覆盖力强，色质稳定，不易褪色。所以对色彩掌握不好的初学者，往往都是用植物颜料来练习。

苏轼曾说：“文以达吾心，画以适吾意。”传统的中国画不拘泥于物体外表的形似，不死扣光线明暗的变化，更多在于抒发作者的情趣志向。中国的绘画名家们用线勾勒出了轮廓、质感、体积，传递着东方绘画独特的意象之美。

时令节庆，四季烟火。匠心手艺，齐家心语。生活中的每个美好瞬间都值得铭记。在宏大与细微、寂静与繁华中，找到我们的初心。《传家》之旅，福慧“传家”。

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello and welcome back to another episode. And today we are talking about one of life's sweetest pleasures - cake! So, Jocelyn I’m sure you have something to say, what are your thoughts on Chinese cakes?

(Jocelyn) 

Well, if I’m totally honest, I think Chinese cakes are definitely better than English cakes. They are often lighter, less sweet, and have more diverse flavours than English cakes. For example, we have mooncakes, which are traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival. You must know them, and they are those round cakes with a pattern on top, and have a thin, soft crust with a sweet filling made of lotus seed paste or red bean paste, actually you can get all kinds of fillings.  

(Mat)

Let me stop you there for a moment … mooncakes, I can’t really get my head around the idea of mooncakes. I don’t really understand the concept. I mean, beans … beans in a cake. I’m English, so putting beans in a cake just doesn't seem right to me. When I think of cakes, I think of sweet, indulgent treats like chocolate cake or Victoria sponge, lots of sugar and butter, cream, not something savoury like beans. Beans belong on a plate, at breakfast time, with eggs and bacon and things like that.

(Jocelyn) 

Well, I think I understand your point of view, but you have to try mooncakes to appreciate them. They are not just cakes, they are actually a symbol of family reunion and good luck in Chinese culture. And the filling can be really delicious, it’s not always beans, you can have fillings like lotus seed paste, which is sweet and fragrant. You can get green tea fillings and nowadays you can even find mooncakes with chocolate fillings. So actually mooncakes are more diverse than you think. Plus, the crust, the outer layer is often made with butter and sometimes it’s sweet, so it's not always savoury like you think.

(Mat)

I see, well, I’m still not sure about the beans in a cake, but I’d love to try a chocolate mooncake. Now there’s another cake, one that is quite popular in England and in China. In China you call it egg tart but in England we call it custard tart, now these are almost the same thing. So it seems that we have one cake in common. So why are all our other cakes so different? I mean Chinese cakes are light and delicate and English cakes are really heavy and kind of seriously indulgent, almost like a complete meal, really filling.

(Jocelyn) 

I think that Chinese cakes are often lighter and more delicate because they tend to use less butter, sugar, and cream than English cakes. Instead, they use ingredients like rice flour, sweet potato starch, and bean paste, which give the cakes a more subtle and nuanced delicate flavour. Also, with Chinese cakes the focus is often on subtle balance and harmony of the softer flavours, rather than the overwhelming sweetness and richness that you get with many English cakes.  

(Mat)

Yeah I think you’re right, and I remember reading something else too, the climate and the ingredients available in England historically meant that preserving cakes for long periods of time was important, which led to the development of those really heavy fruitcakes and other cakes that could last for weeks or months, some English fruitcakes are so rich and heavy that they can last for up to a year. So I guess that probably influences our taste and the way that we expect a cake to taste.

(Jocelyn)

So, I know you like cakes Mat, so is there one Chinese cake that you’ve tried that has left an impression on you?

(Mat) 

I was waiting for this question, I remember, many years ago, I was in a restaurant in South China, I think it was in Guangzhou or somewhere, and I had something called gui hua gao(桂花糕), I don’t even know the English name. Actually it was longer than that, it was like yezi gui hua gao(椰子桂花糕). Don’t ask me to translate it – it was something like a coconut flower cake. Now, I must say it didn’t look like a cake at all, it looked like a … kind of a square, a square of jelly. But the flavour, wow. It’s one of the most amazing things I’ve ever eaten. It was soft and chewy. It tasted of coconut and flowers in a way that I can’t really explain, like at the same time. It was like coconut one second, flowers the next second. It was like something I’ve never tried before in my life, not like a cake, something quite unique, but kind of similar to a cake.

(Jocelyn)

That’s great, you have found a Chinese cake that you love, and you know what that means? You should keep trying more Chinese cakes because there are probably others out there that you’ll love. And that's the beauty of food, we can appreciate the unique qualities of both Chinese and English cakes. It's all about diversity and expanding our culinary horizons.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

好看的外形、喷香的味道、独特的口感，独具魅力的中式糕点已经传承和发展了千余年。在悠久的发展过程中，中式糕点逐渐形成了具有地域特色的点心流派，“京派重油轻糖，苏派精致浪漫，闽派嗜甜如命”相对准确地总结了中式糕点界三大派系的特点。

其中，京派喜欢把糕点称作“饽饽”，老字号糕点铺也叫饽饽铺。“稻香村”便是我们现在熟知的老字号饽饽铺之一。相较而言，苏式糕点种类丰富，工艺也相对复杂，更讲究时令与新鲜，一度严格遵循着春饼、夏糕、秋酥、冬糖的规律。而广式糕点与广东的饮茶文化密不可分，点心小巧精致、造型各异，口味清新多样、甜咸皆备。

其实，无论是哪种派别，中式糕点的诞生与流行，都与文化、礼仪和习俗息息相关。例如：饺子、年糕、元宵，是春节的传统食品；青团是清明时节的风味小吃；端午节吃粽子寓意祛祸避害；重阳节吃重阳糕有“重阳吃糕，百事俱高”之说等。

西式糕点的主要发源地是欧洲。据史料记载，古代埃及、希腊和罗马已经开始了最早的面包和蛋糕制作，西点制作在英国、法国、德国、意大利、奥地利、俄罗斯等国已有相当长的历史，并在发展中取得了显著的成就。

西式面点用料讲究。无论是什么点心品种，其面坯、馅心、装饰、点缀、等用料都有各自选料标准，各种原料之间都有适当的比例，而且大多数原料要求称量准确。

西点不仅营养丰富，造型美观，而且还具有品种变化多、应用范围广、口味清香、口感甜咸酥松等特点。在西点制品中，无论冷点心还是热点心，甜点心还是咸点心，都具有味道清香的特点，是由西点的原材料决定的。

摘自《吃点心，中国人有何讲究》《中式面点与西式面点有什么区别》

物产丰富、幅员辽阔的中国孕育了种类繁多、独具特色的中华饮食文化。在众多争奇斗艳的食品中，传统小吃绝对是其中最具特色的一类。传统小吃和一般的主食一样，可以果腹充饥。除此之外，它还是饮茶、饮酒的完美搭档，极大地丰富了我们的味蕾体验。

中国不同地区的气候差异性明显。南方降水多，以水田为主，主要粮食作物是水稻。北方降水少，以旱地为主，主要粮食作物是小麦。所以我们习惯在口味上将糕点分为南北风味。具体而言，则有京津、粤潮、苏沪这三大主流糕点流派。

以京、津为代表的糕点也称北式糕点。自元代开始，北京就一直是全国的政治中心，这为点心的发展提供了很好的基础。

北京糕点以京八件为代表。根据馅料不同分成“上四样”和“下四样”：

“上四样”上各印有“福、禄、寿、禧”四种字，各自馅料不同。经过百年的演变，上四样的馅料已经有了许多种不同的口味，最经典的一类馅料是这样做的：

“福饼”是枣泥馅的，“禄饼”是豆沙馅的，“寿饼”是白糖桂花馅的，“禧饼”是红糖桂花馅的。

“下四样”分别是：象征财富的银锭饼、寓意“吉庆有余”的鸡油饼、寓意早生贵子的枣花饼，以及祝愿“状元及第”的卷酥饼。

关于京八件，历史上有个有趣的故事。据说明穆宗在即位之前，经常派人到东长安街去买零食，即位做了皇帝之后，依旧对街头的美味念念不忘。甜食房的管事深谙皇帝的心意，便到那些糕饼店去“卧底”，一个个地偷学制作的方法，又花费不少银子采购原料进宫，仿制了一些出来。皇帝吃了之后，能尝出每种糕点的出处，并且还能很得意地告诉御厨们，这些“高价”的点心，在街上5文钱就能买到了。这就是京八件的原型。在几百年的时间里，不同风味、不同品种、不同制法互相影响磨合，“京八件”演变出了许多版本，形成了独具特色的“京味点心”，同时也从宫廷走入了大众餐桌 。

和北方相比，南方湿度大，雨热条件更好，甘蔗等糖类作物比较多见。制糖的技术就是从南方兴起的。这造就了南方点心重油重糖的特征。这一点在苏沪、宁波、扬州糕点中体现尤为明显，代表性的有苏式月饼、福建年糕、青团。

南方喜吃年糕，特别是过年的时候，寓意“年年高升”。年糕虽然基本都是以米为主料，却在各省衍生出了不同的形态与口味。比如福建年糕在过年前磨好，装袋压干水分、然后放入铁锅，加糖后不断以木棍翻炒，直到米糊转为褐色且呈膏状才倒入蒸笼，铁锅上留存着一层薄薄的粘黏，用锅铲刮下来吃，有着红糖的焦香与糯米的绵香，是孩子们心目中的人间美味。

地域有南北之分，但美食没有界限！一道道复杂工序的加工下，食材间互相碰撞、杂糅，在味道、形态和寓意上达到了巧妙的平衡，这就是中华美食的魅力所在。

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello and welcome back to another episode. Today we’re talking about a sweet treat that’s popular in China – preserved fruits. Now, preserved fruits are fruits that have been dried and preserved in sugar or syrup. So let’s start. Jocelyn, tell me something about preserved fruit.

(Jocelyn)

Of course. In China, preserved fruits have a long history, going back to the Tang Dynasty. The traditional method of making preserved fruits involves soaking fresh fruits in a sugar or honey solution and then drying them in the sun. And this process not only preserves the fruits but also enhances their natural sweetness and flavour.

(Mat)

Now I think I may have had something similar to this. I remember I was in a park in Wuhan and I saw an old man with a bicycle. And on the back of his bicycle there was a glass box and in this glass box there were many of these sticks, and on the sticks there were all of these like different coloured, they looked like little balls of things and I remember I saw one, there were these red balls covered in like clear sugar. I’m sure you know what I mean.  

(Jocelyn)

Ah yeah. I think you’re talking about Bingtanghulu(冰糖葫芦), which is a traditional Chinese snack, usually made with hawthorn berries that are coated in a hard, clear sugar syrup. And the berries are typically skewered on a stick and then dipped into the syrup to create a crunchy, sweet outer layer. And Bingtanghulu is often enjoyed during the winter months and is popular in northern part of China. And sometimes you can find in shops in packaged form, or other versions including fruits such as strawberries or kiwis. But ask any Chinese person and they will tell you that the street version is better. Did you try it?

(Mat)

Yes, I did. It was quite an experience, I remember those berries, the hawthorn berries, they were like really sour but that sugar coating made them taste sweet and crunchy. I had never tasted anything quite like that before. It’s like that really unique texture and flavour. The way the crunchy outer layer of the sugar, that sugar coating breaks when you bite it, and then you have that juicy, sour flesh inside, that hawthorn berry. I would say that of all the foods and snacks I’ve tried in China, this was probably the most unique. There’s nothing like that in England.

(Jocelyn)

Really? So in England don’t you have any preserved fruits?

(Mat)

Well in England, we also have a variety of preserved fruits, including like dried apricots, figs, raisins. And we often use them in baking, especially for cakes and puddings. So we see them more as an ingredient for cooking. We seldom eat them as foods on their own.

(Jocelyn) 

That’s interesting. It’s quite different in China, where we see preserved fruits as a snack on their own, and they come in a wide range of flavours and textures. And some preserved fruits are soft and chewy, while others are hard and crunchy. There are so many fruits that are used for preserving, including plums, dates, peaches, and so on.

(Mat)

Well in England, as I said before, we tend to think of preserved fruits as something to be used in cooking, in very small amounts, rather than like as a standalone snack. For example, we might use preserved lemons in a chicken dish, or we might add dried cranberries in bread, or even to a salad. So to eat preserved fruits on their own seems a bit weird to us.

(Jocelyn)

Oh, so I’m guessing you don’t give preserved fruits as gifts in England. You know, in China, preserved fruits are often given as gifts, particularly during the Chinese New Year. It is a way of sharing good luck and prosperity with friends and family. And because preserved fruits have a long shelf life, they can be enjoyed for weeks and even months after they’re made.

(Mat)

No. In England, we don’t have a tradition of giving preserved fruits as gifts, if you gave me a gift of preserved fruit, I wouldn’t really know what to do with it. I’d probably try to bake a cake with it.

(Jocelyn)

Oh really. What kind of cake then?

(Mat)

Well, in England, one very popular cake that we make with lots of preserved fruit is the traditional Christmas cake. It's like a rich and dense fruit cake typically made with ingredients like dried raisins, currants, candied fruit peel. We get all the fruit and we soak in alcohol - brandy or sherry for several days to infuse them with that alcohol and then really enhance their flavour. And then we mix them with like flour, butter, eggs, and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg. And then it’s baked slowly for several hours. It's a really indulgent cake, really strong flavours. And it’s great served with fresh cream or vanilla ice cream.

(Jocelyn)

OK I know what to buy for you as a gift. Some different preserved fruits. And then you bake a Christmas cake and let me try it.

(Mat)

OK. That sounds like a deal.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

果脯，又称蜜饯，采用果蔬作为原料，为了基本保持果品形状，用糖或蜂蜜腌制后加工制成的食品。果脯属于糖制品。糖制品是以果品为原料，用高浓度的糖保藏起来的制品，如苹果脯、杏脯、桃脯、梨脯、蜜枣以及糖制姜片、藕片等。果脯是我国传统名特食品中流传广泛，历史悠久的一个产品。由于果脯的质地柔软、光亮晶透、耐贮易藏味佳形美，因而不仅闻名国内，而且在世界上也享有盛誉。我国制作果脯蜜饯已有1000多年的历史，在我国的古籍中，关于用蜂蜜腌制果实的记载很多。这些记载皆是把鲜果放在峰蜜中熬煮浓缩，去除大量水分，用来长期保存水果，所以叫做“蜜煎”，以后逐步演变成“蜜饯”。后来逐渐用砂糖代替蜂蜜，成为今天的果脯蜜饯。因为果脯蜜饯加工的快速发展，果蔬的附加价值也更完整地体现出来。

1915年，在美国旧金山举办的巴拿马万国博览会上，“北京风味的果脯”以其精湛的技艺和独特口感，一举赢得了万国博览会金质奖。不过在英国，果脯类的食品通常不会单独食用，或者当作精美的礼品来送人，而是作为其他肉类或者糕点的调味品和配料，来给主食增加风味。不过，由于干果果脯具有天然、健康、美味等特点，越来越多的国外消费者也开始喜欢它们。这也使得干果果脯成为了海外市场上的一种热门产品。

欢迎大家来到《传家》栏目。让我们一起走进传统的生活方式，感受生活之美，寻找我们每个人的“传家”。

梅子，顾名思义就是梅树的果实。

梅树一般分为果梅和花梅两大类。花梅主要用于观赏，也就是我们常说的“梅花”。花梅虽然也会结果，但果子一般较小，也不适宜食用。而果梅则主要用于食用，也就是我们常说的“梅子”了。

根据成熟时间的不同，梅子可以分为青梅和黄梅。青梅的采摘旺季是五月前后，而黄梅要等到六、七月才会成熟，此时江南阴雨连绵，因此这种天气又被称为黄梅天。

新鲜的青梅有点酸涩，大部分人不会生食。我们在超市商店看到的青梅，都是经过腌渍、加工的。

中国人食用梅子，已经有数千年的历史。《礼记》中记载：“兽用梅”，意思是动物的肉要用梅子调味。在没有醋的时代，青梅发挥了重要的调味的作用。现在，梅子已经很少作为我们做饭煮菜的佐料了。但从南方地区的一些饮食习惯中，我们仍然可以看到梅子调味传统的遗留。比如，广东吃烧腊，都会配一碟酸梅酱；吃其他烧制、烤制的食物，也会撒上梅粉。

关于青梅，最知名的典故大概是“青梅煮酒论英雄”了。这是我国著名历史小说《三国演义》中的一则故事。

东汉末年，曹操挟天子以令诸候，势力日盛；刘备虽为汉室正统，却势单力薄，为防曹操谋害，刘备在住处后园种菜，亲自浇灌，一副庸庸碌碌的样子，暗自积攒实力。

一日，曹操派人请刘备赏梅喝酒。此次宴请，曹操是想试探刘备，看他是否有称雄称霸的雄心，于是主动聊起了当世的英雄。曹操直白地说：“当今天下英雄，只有你和我两个！”刘备一听，吃了一惊，手中的筷子掉到了地下。正巧这时雷声大作，刘备灵机一动，从容地俯下身拾起筷子，说是因为害怕打雷，才掉了筷子。此番之后，曹操对刘备的疑心打消了。这个小故事将刘备隐忍内敛、善于随机应变的个性展现得淋漓尽致。

不过这个故事中，有一个情节常常被后人误读。那就是“青梅煮酒”。很多人误以为加入青梅用火煮酒，如果这样理解就大错特错了！原文说的是：“盘置青梅，一樽煮酒。二人对坐，开怀畅饮。”“煮酒”在这里也不是个动作，而是一个名词，指的是经过煮制加工的酒，和直接酿造的“清酒”、“生酒”相对应。而“盘置青梅”则是将青梅盛在果盘中，青梅是下酒菜。不过后人加了梅子煮的黄酒，喝起来酸酸甜甜的，味道不错，所以这也算是阴差阳错带来的美味吧。

不同熟度的青梅有不同的腌渍方法。

五分熟的青梅，适合腌渍成脆梅，口感清爽。洗净后需轻轻拍打，让梅子稍有裂缝，加一些盐拌匀，放置一天一夜，其间仍需不时地翻动，之后用清水浸泡，并且不时地换水，待试吃没有苦味酸味时，捞起来沥干水分，加入白糖，拌匀后把汤汁倒出来，不断地熬煮到梅子略干即可。

九分熟的青梅，适合做梅子酒。梅子洗净在阴出晾干，以一比一的分量放入冰糖、米酒，浸泡约四个月，再加入冰糖即成。民间说法认为，梅子酒能改善尿酸偏高的情况。

梅花伴随人们度过料峭的春寒，而梅子则在春夏之交带给人们舌尖的愉悦。用心观赏，用心制作，用心品尝，方不辜负好春光。

时令节庆，四季烟火。匠心手艺，齐家心语。生活中的每个美好瞬间都值得铭记。在宏大与细微、寂静与繁华中，找到我们的初心。《传家》之旅，福慧“传家”。

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello again, today, we're talking about staple foods in Chinese cuisine. Now this can be a difficult topic for some people. Let me tell you why. I remember when I first came to China, we had a huge meal, a dinner, my workmates and I. Our boss took us to a very fancy restaurant, and we had like ten or twelve dishes, everything from beef, pork, chicken, fish, shrimps, vegetables, eggplant and things like that …so many different dishes. We were eating for over an hour, and I remember being quite full because I was trying all of these different dishes, and then someone asked me, ‘Mat, what do you want for your main food?’

And I thought ‘My what?’ I’ve just had like twelve different Chinese dishes. Twelve! Surely that was main food. What were those twelve dishes? Were they just a starter? What do you mean by main food? I was really confused by this question.

(Jocelyn)

OK, let me tell you. In China, we have a concept of 主食, which is the ‘staple food’ that goes with your meal, such as rice or noodles. This ‘staple food’ is the main source of energy in a meal. So it’s always eaten with other dishes. In Chinese food culture, having a balanced meal is important, and 主食 is a crucial part of that balance. Historically, food wasn’t always easily available all year round, sometimes people didn’t have an abundant supply of meat or fish or even fresh vegetables, especially in winter – so the concept of staple food, really comes from this, being able to have a filling meal even during times when food is not easy to find. Eating rice and noodles means that you have a steady reliable supply of food throughout the year.

(Mat) 

OK, that makes sense. Now I have another example that has kind of confused me at the time. I remember someone once said to me, people in North China eat wheat-based staples such as bread, dumplings,and noodles. And people in South China eat rice-based staples. What do people in your country eat? Now when I was asked this question I didn’t really know what to say. What do people in my country eat? I don’t think we eat a staple.

(Jocelyn)

OK, I understand that question from the perspective of a Chinese person and I can also understand why it would be confusing for you, as someone from England. So, in China the types of staple foods people eat can vary greatly depending on their cultural background or geographic location. For example, in the example you just mentioned, people in Northern part of China tend to prefer wheat-based staples, while people in Southern part of China tend to prefer rice-based staples. And this is very true and there are reasons for this. Remember China is a huge country, and regional differences in things like climate, farming have always been different.

If we draw a line across the middle of China, and make a rough North and South divide, because of the differences in soil and climate, different crops have traditionally been grown in the two regions. In the north, the harsh climate made it difficult to grow rice, so wheat became the staple crop. In the south, the warmer climate and fertile land made it easier to cultivate rice, so rice became the staple crop.

(Mat) 

Ah, I’m understanding this a lot more now. So, when I think about the food in my country, there isn’t a specific staple food because there is no traditional or cultural importance attached to one particular food item that is eaten regularly. I think the food in the UK consists of a diverse range of foods and dishes from different regions and cultures around the world, especially from around Europe. The UK has a long history of foreign trade and exchanging things, exchanging culture, especially with food. So I guess the concept of a single staple food doesn’t exist in the same way that it does in China. I mean we eat certain ‘high-carb energy foods’ ‘sometimes’ but not every day, like sometimes we eat bread, sometimes pasta, potatoes, we even eat rice sometimes, but we don’t eat them every day and sometimes we eat none. In fact, it’s really popular in my country for people to follow a zero-carb diet.

(Jocelyn)

Yeah so exactly, that’s why English people get confused when people ask them the about the ‘main food’, 主食.

(Mat) 

Yeah, it’s really confusing for most English people, and probably American people, I don’t think they have this concept of a staple. I'm also curious though, are there any customs or etiquette rules that are associated with Chinese staple foods? I've heard that in some parts of China, people take their staple food so seriously they won't even leave a single grain of rice in their bowl. Is that true?

 (Jocelyn)

Yes, its’ true. In some parts of China, it's a tradition to finish every single grain of rice on your plate. This is a way to show respect and gratitude for the meal, which is pretty cool. It's like saying, "I enjoyed this meal so much that I want to enjoy every last little bit of rice”.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

世界各地的饮食结构存在着较大的差异，例如今天欧洲人的主食是以肉食为主，而我们中国则以植物性的作物或者稻米、豆科类植物制品来补充人体所需的能量。

东亚地区包括中国南方的主食来源就是水稻。稻子是人类所知的最有用的食物，它解决了人类将近一半人口的粮食问题。稻子成熟后加工成米，经过蒸煮就成了我们日常所需的“饭”，放的水更多，煮的时间更长，就成了另一种形式的米制品一一粥。然而在这么多民族的共同努力下，米制品不仅仅只局限于“饭”和“粥”。人们把米磨成粉，以水调和制作出肠粉、河粉等米制衍生品。

欧洲的许多国家都位于北温带的温带海洋性气候区。这种气候适宜大范围牧草生长却难以种植不适宜谷物，因此，以牛羊为主的等畜牧业就相对发达，这种结构决定了西方人的肉食性特点，并且在此基础上形成了主食以肉食为主的饮食习惯。此外，相对中国而言，欧洲的大部分地区纬度较高，光照和热量摄入远不如亚热带温带地区的人来得容易，所以欧洲人的饮食始终坚持高热量、高营养。

如果说自然地理因素给了人们选择食物的大前提，那么长期以往的历史文明则在细节上影响人们对主食以及配合主食的食材的需求。中西方文明形态的差异导致人们对主食的选择不尽相同。农业社会为主的中国主要依靠植物性食品来获得养分他们长年定居、聚居，形成了热烈友好的饮食习惯，因此在饮食礼节上，中国人多崇尚热闹、欢快的气氛。而西方人在饮食礼节上好静，这大概跟工业文明的影响有一定的关系。

摘自《中西饮食文化中主食的差异性》

欢迎大家来到《传家》栏目。让我们一起走进传统的生活方式，感受生活之美，寻找我们每个人的“传家”。

民以食为天，米和面是最重要的主食。中国人可以把米和面做出无数种花样，造就了我们饮食文化的多元性。

在往期的节目中，我们聊过了面条，所以今天主要谈谈米。

米最常见也最基本的食用方法就是煮白米饭了。

煮米饭也就是在淘过的米里加入没过米的清水，在锅里煮。

煮米饭看似简单，但其实有很多学问。用不同的方法，煮出来的米的粘稠度、软硬度都有所不同。

想要米饭口感硬一些，就需要少加水；想要米饭口感软一些，就需要多加水。像我们家，我比较喜欢吃口感粘稠的米饭，而我老爸喜欢硬一些、颗粒分明的米饭。这时候就有一个小妙招，那就是开始蒸饭前有意将锅里的米饭堆出斜度，一边高一边低，那么浸水少的部分，口感略硬；浸水多的部分口感就会粘稠软糯。还有一个更简单的方法，那就是在锅盖的一侧放上一个钵子压着，也能达到同样的效果。

除了米饭本身的味道之外，煮米的时候我们也可以加点别的调味品，让米饭释放出一些不一样的口味。

比如，煮米饭的时候在水里滴几滴椰子油，可以让米饭口感有嚼劲，更有光泽，给米饭增添一些香味；加一些燕麦，可以促进消化，保护血管健康；加一些醋，可以防止煮出来的米饭变馊，更利于存放。

米饭的吃法也有很多种。白米饭配菜是最常见的吃法了。但简简单单的米饭配菜也能吃出很多花样。有的人喜欢米和饭分开吃，一口米一口菜。还有的人则喜欢把菜浇到米上，也就是我们常说的盖浇饭。还有的人，将菜和米饭搅拌均匀，再撒上一些佐料，这便是拌饭了。

除了煮成白饭，米还可以做成饭团、竹筒饭、粽子。粽子从口味上来说，大致可以分为甜粽子和咸粽子，从食材上来说，则可以分为肉粽子和素粽子。北方以甜米粽为主，而南方则以咸肉棕为主。我周围的南方朋友和北方朋友都互相把对方的食物视为异类。我吃过最好吃的粽子，大概是小学门口的紫米竹粽了，1块钱一个，因为是街边摊，所以也没有蜂蜜，只有白糖。卖粽子的阿姨会把粽子外面的竹筒打开，用白糖轻轻地裹一下，那味道别提多好吃了！嘴馋的时候，我上学、放学都会买一根。

米还可以研磨加工制成粉，成为米浆、粉片，制作成果稞、汤圆，或者以米饼、米卷等形式呈现，林林总总，真是丰富极了。

面粉往往是通过发酵的方式制作，而米粉则不同。制作米粉时，研磨与掺水的比例是关键。根据水分的不同，可以分为干粉和湿粉。干粉有时还会经过炒米这道工序，变成熟米粉或糕粉，吸水性较强。湿粉需要先泡米，加水磨成浆，再脱水烘干，质地细致。

至于由米加工而成的小吃，那可真是数不胜数：苏州人的船点；江西、云南人的美味米线；北方人的小米稀饭；岭南人的河粉；广东人的粥、煲仔饭、粉果、肠粉、茶果等。

米丰富了我们的饮食文化。细想想，如果没有米，那我们中国的美食可能就少了一大半。米的制作彰显了我们祖先精致的生活艺术，更凝结着劳动的汗水。减少浪费，是我们对食物最大的敬意。

时令节庆，四季烟火。匠心手艺，齐家心语。生活中的每个美好瞬间都值得铭记。在宏大与细微、寂静与繁华中，找到我们的初心。《传家》之旅，福慧“传家”。

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello and welcome back to another episode on Chinese culture. Today we’re going to talk about Chinese dining etiquette, so etiquette is just ‘doing things in a polite way’, in different situations, behaving in an appropriate and polite way.

Now, I remember the first time that I came to China, and my first big dinner with workmates. I remember I was quite nervous because I didn’t know anything about Chinese dining etiquette. So let's start with the basics. Let’s imagine that I am going to China for the first time, what do I need to know?

(Jocelyn)

The first thing to keep in mind is the seating arrangement. In a Chinese banquet or formal meal, the host usually sits at the head of the table, and the guests are seated based on their status or age, with the most senior guest sitting closest to the host. So remember the most important person sits at the head of the table.

(Mat)

Now, I’m a bit confused about this, because in a typical European dining situation, the table is like a rectangle, usually a long rectangle. So I know where the ‘head of the table is. It’s at that end. But in most formal Chinese dining situations, the table is round. So where is the ‘head of the table’ if the table is round? What’s the most important seat?

(Jocelyn) 

Yeah, I think you’re right, in traditional Chinese culture, the ‘head of the table’ or the best seat, the seat for the most important person is the seat facing the door, as it is believed to be the most important and prestigious position. So it's always best to wait for the host to direct you to your seat, regardless of the table shape. In fact, it’s quite normal for someone to take the job of assigning seats, someone who knows the rules, so don’t worry, there will usually be someone telling everyone where to sit. So it’s unlikely that you will sit in the wrong place.

(Mat)

OK, so every Chinese meal is eaten with chopsticks of course. And before I came to China for the first time I read in a book that it’s very rude to use your chopsticks in certain ways. And I was quite worried when I sat down for that first big dinner because I couldn’t remember the chopstick rules. So tell me something about this.

(Jocelyn) 

Yeah, in China, there are certain chopstick etiquette rules to keep in mind. One important rule is to never stick your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice. This is because it looks like incense burning at a funeral and is considered bad luck. Also, it's not polite to use your chopsticks to point or gesture at people, as it's seen as rude. Also, if you're not using your chopsticks, just rest them on chopstick holder or on the edge of your plate, and not on the table or in your food, and put them together neatly.

(Mat) 

Now what about finishing all the food on your plate? Because I've heard different people say different things. I remember someone at the table saying ‘don’t leave any food, let’s finish everything, otherwise it’s wasting food, and at other times I’ve heard people say, you know, don’t eat too much, otherwise you look like a greedy pig. So this is like confusing for me.

(Jocelyn) 

Ah, yes. I think it's common understanding that you must finish all the food on your plate in Chinese culture. Actually, this isn't really true. It's important to take only what you can eat, from the dishes on the table, and it's kind of impolite to waste food. If you can't finish all the food, it's acceptable to leave a small amount on your plate. However, it's also not polite to leave too much food, as it may be seen as wasteful. As for eating too much, it's not seen as a good thing to overeat, this is bad etiquette. So it's best to just take small amount of food and eat it at a medium pace, and if you want more, take more but in small amounts. Never take large amounts from the dishes on the table and pile them up on your plate or in your bowl. Just take little bits. Eat them, and repeat.

(Mat)

Now I remember once, a new workmate came to China from America. It was his first visit to China and it was his first big dinner. And there were many dishes on the table, the usual things, meat dishes, fish, vegetables and things like that. There was one dish, sweet and sour pork ribs. Now this American guy, he loved the ribs, he loved them so much that he didn’t really eat anything else, he just ate these sweet and sour ribs, lots of them! Now I thought this was fine, he liked the ribs. They were delicious, but after the meal, one of my Chinese colleagues said quietly to me, ‘Wow, did you see the American? He’s so rude, eating like that!’ Now that was confused. What was she talking about?

(Jocelyn) 

Well, in general, it's not considered polite to keep eating a lot of the same dish at a Chinese meal. Instead, it's better to try a little bit of everything that's offered on the table. If you keep eating a lot of the same dish, it may be seen as greedy or lacking manners. But, if it’s near the end of the meal or others are full, if someone says something like, ‘eat all the ribs, finish them, so we don’t waste anything’ – that’s totally OK.

(Mat) 

OK, that's good to know. Now what about paying for the meal? I’ve seen Chinese people literally fighting each other, physically fighting about paying the bill at the end of the meal. Now this is very very weird for an English person. So please explain this.

(Jocelyn) 

OK, in China, it's common for the person who invites others to dinner to pay the bill. However, there is also a common thing called "fighting for the bill", where everyone at the table will try to pay the bill. This is seen as a way of showing gratitude or respect for the host. It's not uncommon for people to get a little bit physical but they’re not really fighting. It’s more like a game or competition, and it’s not very serious. So in the end, the host will usually insist on paying the bill, but "fighting for the bill" is just a common gesture.

(Mat) 

Wow, so many rules. It seems like a lot to remember. So what if I forget these? And what if I break some of these rules? 

(Jocelyn) 

Well actually you don’t need to worry too much about it, because you’re not Chinese, you are not expected to know all the rules. Chinese people are quite flexible and understanding. So if a non-Chinese person breaks a few rules, it’s no big deal. Its’ totally OK. But if you can show your Chinese friends or workmates that you know the rules, they will be really impressed.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

现代社会礼仪无处不在，用餐不单是满足基本生理需要，也是很重要的社交经验。而中西方在餐桌礼仪方面的要求也有许多差别，了解了两者的不同以防止失礼于人。

从餐具使用上看，中餐使用筷子，西餐使用刀、叉，这是中西餐桌礼仪最基本的差异。在使用餐具时中西方均有不同的规范。吃中餐时，不可玩弄筷子，更不可以用筷子向人指指点点或打手势示意。绝对不可吸吮筷子或把筷子插在米饭中，这是大忌。吃西餐时，如手里拿着刀叉切勿指手画脚。说话或交谈时，应将刀叉放在盘子上才合乎礼仪。忌用自己的餐具为别人夹菜。

从座次安排上看，中西都讲究正式的宴请活动的座次安排。中国人请客时，年长者、主宾或地位高的人坐上座，男女主人或陪客者坐下座，其余客人按顺序坐偏座。西方人请客时，男女主人分坐两端，然后按男女主宾和一般客人的次序安排座位，即男女穿插安排。

从就餐氛围上看，中国人餐桌上的闹与西方餐桌上的静是中西餐桌礼仪最根本的差异。中国人一坐上餐桌，便滔滔不绝，相互让菜、劝酒，尽情地享受美味佳肴。这样的宴客方式才能体现主人的热情和诚恳，餐桌上的热闹反映了食客发自内心的欢快。这种“闹”能从某种程度上折射中国人家庭温馨、邻里和睦的“一团和气”。

西方人一坐到餐桌上便静静地切割自家的盘中餐。喝汤时不能发出响声，如汤菜过热，可待稍凉后再吃，不要用嘴吹。吃东西时要闭嘴咀嚼。不要舔嘴唇或咂嘴发出声音。进餐时可以与左右客人交谈，但不要只同几个熟人交谈。左右客人如不认识，可先自我介绍。别人讲话不可搭嘴插话。音量保持对方能听见的程度。咀嚼食物不要说话，即使有人同你讲话，也要等咽下食物后再回答。

世界上各种文化都是平等的，文化无优劣之分。避免用自己的文化、道德、价值观作为标准去衡量、评判，而应采用一种客观的、宽容的态度对待异国文化。

摘自《中西方餐桌礼仪异同》

衣食足而知荣辱。一日三餐看似平常，但实际占据了人一生中很大一部分时间。而与他人吃饭的时候，则也有许多讲究。

首先，在家中吃饭时，最基本的礼仪是，备餐要遵循由长辈到孩子的顺序。盛饭时，要先给爷爷奶奶等长辈盛饭，然后是叔叔阿姨，最后是孩子们。在备好饭菜之后，一般要等长辈先动筷。如果家里没有客人，长辈们也还不想吃，那可以简单说一声然后再吃。比如，奶奶我先吃了。在我很小的时候，在妈妈的影响下，我就养成了很好的习惯。米饭蒸好后，妈妈总会喊我去厨房端饭，饭后也会提醒我主动收拾。记得有一次出门真的很累，把饭菜端到饭桌上以后，我就开始吃了，结果妈妈看到以后，小声在我旁边说，“你怎么没有等爷爷奶奶回来就动筷了呢！你要是饿了我先给你拿一个蛋糕吃。”于是我就把碗筷恢复成原样了。所以，我当妈妈以后，也和我的孩子说，要给爷爷奶奶先端饭。

而正式就餐的时候，如果家中有客人，则需要注意一些细节。如果有需要搅拌的食物，比如凉菜，最好备一副公筷，不要直接用自己吃过的筷子搅拌。如果主人比较热情好客，想给对方夹菜，那么也最好询问对方一下，喜欢吃哪个菜，然后再夹。夹菜的时候同样应该用公筷，并且只夹一小份，避免对方吃不完，让客人尴尬。

个人用餐时，要避免吧唧嘴，或者将舌头伸出来吃饭，这些都是不雅观的行为。喝汤或者吃口感比较滑的食物，也要避免发出吸的声音。

在外宴请的时候，还需要讲究座次。座次有主客之分。主位最重要的是“主一”和“主二”位。“主一”是今天做东邀请宾客的人，也是主方最重要的人，主要负责陪侍，和客人交谈，商讨重要事宜。主一应当坐在离门最远的、面对着门的位置。因为“面门为上、居中为上”。主二则是主方负责处理琐事的人，负责跑腿上下应答的人，是主一的陪同方。主二应该坐在离门最近的地方，一般也是背对着门的地方。主二主要处理零碎的事情，坐在门边，进出房门比较方便。在餐桌上以右为尊，以靠近主人为尊。因此，最重要的两位客人，也就是“客一”和“客二”应分别坐在主人的右侧和左侧。然后在两位客人旁边再坐入主方人员，即主方和客方交叉而坐。避免多位客人或者多方主人连坐在一起。

礼节彰显了一个人、一个家庭乃至一个群体的精神风貌。好的餐桌礼仪会让对方如沐春风，达成关系的和谐，促成双方的合作。希望我们每一个人都能恪守餐桌礼仪，弘扬文明之风。