​ 中英版Hello, China! 《你好,中国》35 Mid-Autumn Festival(中秋节)

The Mid-Autumn Festival,Zhongqiujie,is a festival for families to get together in China.

在中国,中秋节是一个全家团圆的节日。

It falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month,when the full moon returns to the sky.

按照中国的农历,每年八月十五月圆的那天就是中秋节。

On this day,people eat a moon-shaped dessert caked a Moon Cake. All the family members sit together,eat Moon Cakes and fresh fruits,and enjoy the sight of the round and bright moon.

这一天,人们喜欢吃一种圆形的、像月亮一样的点心,叫做月饼;再配上新鲜的水果,一家人围坐在一起,欣赏天上又圆又亮的满月。Those who cannot return home look at the round moon and think of their family.

就算是那些无法回家的人,也会在中秋节那天抬头望向那一轮圆圆的明月,寄托对故乡的思念。

Chinese people all around the world share the same tradition.

这是海内外所有中国人的共同情感。

Just like an ancient Chinese poem says,the moon was rising from the sea and all the people were sharing this moment.

就像中国一首著名的诗里所说的:“海上生明月,天涯共此时。… Read the rest

​ 中英版Hello, China! 《你好,中国》34 Qixi Festival Chinese Valentine’s Day(七夕节 中国情人节)

The Qixi Festival,also known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day,falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month on the Chinese calendar.

每年的农历七月七日是中国的情人节——七夕。

There’s a romantic love story associated with Qixi.

关于七夕有一个浪漫的传说.

It says that a fairy named Zhi Nv,who lived in heaven,fell in love with a cow herder named Niu Lang during her trip to earth. Zhi Nv decided to settle down on earth and lead an ordinary life with Niu Lang.

仙女织女到人间游玩和人间的牛郎相爱了,织女决定在人间和牛郎过平凡却幸福的生活。

However,love between ordinary people and fairy gods is forbidden.

神仙和凡人之间的爱情是不被允许的。

They were punished by the heavenly gods and turned into stars located on opposite sides of the galaxy,watching each other from the impassable distance.

他们遭到天界的惩罚,被化作牵牛星和织女星分隔在银河两岸,遥遥相望。

They are permitted to meet each other only on the seventh day of the seventh month each year.

每年只有在农历七月七日这一天才能相会。

Magpies gather and make a bridge across the galaxy for them.

这天,喜鹊会飞到银河上搭起一座鹊桥,让他们团聚。

Qixi is the most romantic one among all the traditional Chinese festivals.

七夕是中国传统节日中最浪漫的节日。

Chinese recall the loyalty of love and wish for happiness on the festival.

这一天,中国人缅怀对爱情的忠贞,包含着对全家幸福的期许。… Read the rest

​ 中英版Hello, China! 《你好,中国》33 Dragon Boat Festival and its tragic origins(端午节及其悲剧起源)

In ancient time,there was a great poet called Qu Yuan.

在中国有位伟大的诗人叫屈原。

He couldn’t bear the anguish when his mother land was invaded,so he drowned himself in the river.

他不忍看到祖国被侵略,投江而死。

Local residents rode boats to salvage and drop the rice balls into the river to distract fishes’ attention from Qu’body.

当地百姓划船捞救,还投米团来吸引鱼。

Later people memorialized Qu’s patriotism by rowing and making Zongzi on the Dragon Boat Festival,Duanwujie. That’s how the tradition of dragon boat racing and eating Zongzi were started.

后来,人们为了纪念他,每年端午节都会划船、包粽子,就有了赛龙舟和吃粽子的习俗。

A nation practice on Duanwujie is to put wormwood on the front door to repel evil things.

古时端午节的风俗是在门口挂药草以预防疾病,驱除不好的事情。

In some places people drink realgar wine and children wear sachet.

有些地方还喝雄黄酒(药酒),小孩子戴香包。

Now the family gets together on Duanwujie.

现在过端午节时常常是一家人团聚在一起。

Nowadays people have a variety of other activities to celebrate this traditional festival.

现在人们过端午节时还会以其他各种方式来度过这个传统节日。… Read the rest

​ 中英版Hello, China! 《你好,中国》32 Qingming Festival(清明节)

The Qing Ming festival is a day of reverence for Chinese.

清明节是中国人的祭祀节日。

People hold ceremonies for ancestors,and sweep their tombs on April 5th every year.

在每年的四月五日左右,人们祭祖和扫墓。

According to tradition ,during the Tomb Sweeping,people put food in front of the tombs,add new soil on the tomb.

按照旧时习俗,扫墓时人们来到墓地,将食物供祭在亲人墓前,为坟墓培上新土。

Decorate the tombs with some fresh branches and knock head.

折几支嫩绿的新枝插在坟上,然后叩头拜祭。

A traditional Chinese painting named Riverside Scene on the Qing Ming festival,drawn nine hundred years ago,shows the prosperous atmosphere and activities on that day.

900 多年前的一幅中国画《清明上河图》描绘了当时人们在过清明节时的繁荣景象和节日风俗。

People returned from Tomb Sweeping with horses and packages in the picture.

人们骑着马、挑着担,从扫墓的地方归来。

Now it is a public holiday in China.

现在,清明节已经成为中国的法定假日。

Although ceremonies have changed a little with time.

虽然随着时间的推移,祭祀的习俗可能稍稍改变,

Chinese still express their grief for the deceased.

用自己的方式寄托对故人的哀思。… Read the rest

​ 中英版Hello, China! 《你好,中国》31 Spring Festival and its colorful traditions(春节及其丰富多彩的传统)

Spring Festival,Chun Jie is the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar.

春节是中国传统历法确定的一年中的第一天。

When Chun Jie is approaching people are busy purchasing good,cleaning the house,cooking traditional food,making Spring Festival couplets,and hanging spring festival pictures.

临近春节时,人们忙着采购物品,清扫房屋,做各种传统食物,贴春联,贴年画。

Having a family dinner is the main activity on Chun Jie.

春节最重要的内容是吃团圆饭。

Dumplings are essential to the dinner. Dumplings represent reunion and goodwill.

饺子是必不可少的,它代表团圆吉祥。

The whole family gathers to enjoy quality family time.

一家人围坐在一起享受亲情带来的温暖。

On Chun Jie,Lunar New Year’s Day,people in new clothes visit each other,and give money to kids to send good wishes.

春节当天,人们都换上了新衣服走亲访友,孩子们会收到长辈给的钱,保佑平安。

During Chun Jie holidays all kinds of celebrations are held,including temple fairs,performances,an Lantern exhibitions which lasts nearly half a month.

逛庙会,演节目,闹花灯庆祝活动持续半月左右。

 … Read the rest

​ 中英版Hello, China! 《你好,中国》30 Acupuncture and Moxibustion(针灸)

Acupuncture,which is called zhen jiu in Chinese,is a medical treatment that originated in China.

针灸是中国所特有且神奇的治疗方法。

Zhen means“needles that pierce one’s body”. Jiu means ‘moxibustion’,a special treatment in traditional Chinese medicine. Plant leaves were once used to smoke certain parts of the human body.

针,直接刺入皮肉;灸,用植物的叶子来熏烤身体的特定部位。

Traditional Chinese medicine describes the energy flow within the human body as a network. It is called jingluo.

中医把人体内的能量流通描述成网络的状态 ,并叫它“经络”。

The major nodes on the network are called xue wei or an acupuncture point.

经络上的主要节点叫做穴位。

Traditional Chinese doctors believe that stimulating the xue wei can promote energy circulation and expel illness.

中医认为,针灸在穴位上的刺激能调动体内能量循环,从而排除疾病。

For example,having zhen jiu on zu san li can promote digestion and having zhen jiu an nei guan is good for one’s heart.

比如,针灸足三里穴位有健脾等多种作用。针灸内关穴位对心脏会有疗效。

Chinese people have been using this medical treatment for thousands of years.

中国人使用这种治疗方法已经有几千年了。

The tiny needles reveal the mysteries of human body.

小小的针灸即打开了人体庞大的内部信息。… Read the rest

​ 中英版Hello, China! 《你好,中国》29 Traditional Chinese medicine(中医)

Traditional Chinese medicine,zhong yi,is a therapy and a theory on how to stay healthy.

中医是中国传统的医疗方法和养生理论。

Diagnosis in zhong yi comes from various forms of observation,including visual,auditory,olfactory,tactile and questioning.

望闻问切是中国特有的诊断方法。

The doctor observes a patient’s tongue,voice,inquires about the patient’s habits and medical history and feels the patient’s pulse to make a diagnosis.

观察舌头的颜色,听患者语言气息的强弱,询问生活习惯和病史,用手指按住手腕上的脉搏体察它跳动的频率以观察病情。

Therapies in zhong yi,emphasize tactile stimulation.

注重自然接触是中医治疗的特点。

Doctors give massage.

推拿是中医用手直接治病。

Tools for Gua Sha and cupping are easily found in daily life.

刮痧和拔罐所用的工具也都是生活中随处可取的。

Herbal medicines are selected from natural plants and are processed to cure different diseases.

中草药是从自然植物中选材,经过加工处理,通过多种搭配来治疗很多病症。

Zhong yi prescribes to the belief that the human body has its own functioning system.

中医认为人体是一个整体。

People are healthy as long as their body system remains balanced.

只要做到整体平衡,人体就是健康的。

 … Read the rest

​ 中英版Hello, China! 《你好,中国》28 Chinese sword(中国剑)

If you want to select a gentleman like weapon,the sword (jian) is the best choice.

如果从冷兵器中选出一位绅士那一定非剑莫属。

In ancient times,jian was a symbol of social status.

在古代,剑是身份地位的象征。

Nobles not only had to study cultural knowledge but also swordsmanship.

贵族不仅要学习文化,还要学习剑术。

A good jian is cast using complicated procedures.

铸造一把好剑需要复杂的工艺。

Chinese like to compare the jian with mysterious things,like dragons,thunder and lightning.

中国人喜欢把宝剑比作龙、雷、闪电等具有神秘感的事物。

Chinese also like to protect justice,equality and other dreams of a better future using jian.

也用剑捍卫仁义、善良、公平这些美好的梦想。

Jian is a weapon but swordsmanship is an art.

剑是武器,剑术是一种艺术。… Read the rest