Paper,zhi,was a Chinese invention.

纸的发明源于中国。

2,000 years ago,Chinese invented paper-making.

2000 多年前，中国人发明了造纸术。

This zhi was made of silk and was so expensive that only the emperor and aristocrats could afford to use it.

这种纸用蚕丝作原料，价格昂贵，只有皇帝和贵族才能使用。

1,900 years ago,a eunuch called Cai Lun improved the paper-making process.

1900 多年前，一个叫蔡伦的人改进了造纸术。

He made cheap jinzhi out of tree bark and rags.

他利用树皮、破布，造出了轻便又廉价的纸。

The improvement in paper-making spread zhi far and wide,and many different types of zhi were invented by Chinese people.

造纸术的改进使纸广为流传，也出现了很多品种。

Xuan paper,a kind of high quality rice paper,best shows the charm of traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy.

宣纸最能展示中国画的魅力。

Jute paper is used to transcribe Chinese classics.

黄麻纸多用来书写中国古老的经书。

Later,Chinese zhi spread to the West via the Chinese Silk Road.

后来，中国的纸经过丝绸之路传向西方。

Thousands of years of culture and civilization were recorded on zhi,and passed to different parts of the world.

千百年来，文明被记录在纸上，传递到世界各地。… Read the rest

Gunpowder (huo yao) is another ancient Chinese invention.

火药是中国的一项古老发明。

It was invented by accident.

它的发明很偶然。

More than 1,000 years ago,people experimenting in a pharmacy made the discovery.

1000多年前，在药房做实验的人发现了这一发现。

They found that if sulphur,charcoal and potassium nitrate were mixed together with a certain proportion,the mixture would explode.

他们发现，如果将硫，木炭和硝酸钾按一定比例混合在一起，混合物就会爆炸。

Gunpowder changed the style of wars. The steel age ended and gunpowder-based weapons are now widely used.

火药使作战方式发生变革，从冷兵器开始向火器发展。

More than 600 years ago,primitive guns were used in China.

600 多年前，中国便有了原始火炮。

Cannon balls were propelled by the thrust of the huo yao explosion.

利用火药燃烧产生的推力发射炮弹。

Now,huo yao is also widely used in fireworks.

今日的火药广泛应用于烟火。

The splendid fireworks at the Beijing Olympic Games garnered wide acclaim and admiration from the audience.

2008 年北京奥运会上，无数绽放在空中的美丽烟火，令人惊叹不已，带给人全新的美感。… Read the rest

A compass,zhǐ nán zhēn,indicates north and south.

指南针可以指示南北。

It was invented by Chinese 2,000 years ago.

2000 多年前，中国人发明了它。

The ancient zhǐ nán zhēn looked like a spoon.

古代的指南针就像一把汤勺。

When the spoon was put on the plate,its handle could point to the south using magnetic fields.

把它放在平滑的盘子上，依靠磁铁的原理，当它静止的时候，勺柄就会指向南方。

Then Chinese used a little steel needle to replace the spoon. This made the zhǐ nán zhēn easier to carry.

后来，中国人用小钢针代替了汤勺，指南针就更轻便了。

Six hundred years ago,Zheng He,a famous eunuch of the Ming Dynasty,traveled to Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean seven times. Zheng even reached the Red Sea with the help of the zhǐ nán zhēn.

600 多年前，郑和先后七下西洋，最远到达红海沿岸与非洲东海岸，便是依靠指南针的导航。

The invention boosted the development of navigation.

指南针的出现促进了世界航海时代的发展。… Read the rest

The lunar calendar (nong li) is the traditional Chinese calendar and is often used in agriculture.

农历是中国的传统历法，农业上使用的历书。

According to nong li,the crescent appears on the first day of each month and full moon comes out at the middle of the month.

新月是农历一个月的第一天，满月到了，就是农历的月中。

The cycle lasts for about 30 days.

这样循环一个月，大概要 30 天。

24 days mark 24 divisions of the solar year in nong li,according to the different positions of the Sun.

农历，又根据太阳的位置，设立了二十四节气。

For example,the division ‘Lichun’ or ‘the beginning of Spring’,reminds people that Spring is coming.

例如，立春，提醒人们开始进入了春天。

‘Jingzhe’ or ‘the walking of insects’ means that the weather is getting warmer.

惊蛰时，天气渐渐暖和，小虫子都出来活动。

‘Lixia’ or ‘the beginning of Summer’ is the point that crops are blooming.

立夏，农作物开始旺盛地生长。

‘Dahan’ or ‘the great cold’ is the end of severe Winter.

大寒以后，天气逐渐暖和了。

All these create a circle.

至此，地球绕太阳公转了一周，完成了一个循环。

Year after year people experience the mysteries of nature with nong li.

一年又一年，人们根据农历观察自然，体会大自然的神秘。… Read the rest

This character means moon with wax and wane.

月亮这个形象意味着月圆月缺。

Mythical meanings are attributed to yue liang in Chinese legends.

在中国，月亮被赋予了许多神话色彩。

Legend has it,that Chang’e,the wife of Ancient Chinese hero Hou Yi,stole her husband’s elixir and ate it.

传说，后裔的妻子嫦娥偷吃了丈夫的仙丹。

Then she became a fairy and flew to the yue liang.

独自飞上天成仙了。

She lived alone on the yue liang with only the company of a rabbit.

她孤独地生活在月亮上，只有一只兔子陪伴。

Worshipping yue liang is an ancient custom in China.

在中国，有祭拜月亮的习俗。

A round yue liang represents family reunion and often reminds people of their family.

圆圆的月亮又象征着团圆，人们看到月亮就会思念家人。

An ancient Chinese poem says,raise my eyes to the yue liang,lower my head and think of home.

正如中国有首古诗所说，“举头望明月，低头思故乡。

 … Read the rest

Sun,tài yáng,brings light and vitality to the world.

太阳为人类世界带来了光明和生机。

Legends say that there were ten tài yáng in the sky in ancient times.

传说在中国的远古时代，天上曾经有十个太阳。

People couldn’t put up with the hot weather brought by ten tài yáng.

人们难以忍受这样的高温。

A hero named Houyi shot down nine tài yáng with his bow.

英雄后羿挺身而出，用弓箭射掉了九个太阳。

The Chinese created a calendar according to shadows produced by the last tài yáng.

根据对太阳光影的测量，中国人创立了自己的历法。

The Chinese have created 24 solar terms according to the circulation laws of tài yáng.

中国人还根据太阳的运行规律，制定了二十四节气。

They are used to guide farming activities.

依靠它来指导农田耕作。

The rise and set of tài yáng represents hope in the hearts of Chinese people.

日升日落，太阳代表着中国人心中的希望。… Read the rest

Kong Qiu（Confucius）,the historical Chinese saint,is considered to be the greatest teacher of China.

东方圣人孔子，被中国人称为最伟大的老师。

His teacher was Lao Tzu.

他的老师就是老子。

Kong Qiu said that Lao Tzu was a dragon who hid in the clouds.

孔子称颂老子像一条神龙，隐藏在云雾之中。

He learned from Lao Tzu all his life but could not understand all his great wisdom.

孔子用一辈子的时间跟他学习，也不能完全领悟他的伟大和智慧。

2,500 years later,his work has been translated into many foreign languages.

2500 年后，老子的著作成为被翻译成最多语言的中国读物。

Lao Tzu believed that people should learn from nature and keep a harmonious relationship with nature.

老子认为人类要向自然学习，注意保持天地万物的和谐发展。

Beside a river,Lao Tzu told Kong Tzu that a saint should act like flowing water.

在一条小溪边，老子告诉孔子，圣人应当像眼前的流水。

Water gives life to others but does not fight with others.

水善于滋养万物，而不与万物争夺利益。

A saint makes no error and no one hates him.

所以，圣人没有过失，也没有人来怨恨他。

Therefore,he can make great achievements.

他才能成就大业。

In China,Lao Tzu is considered the elite of teachers.

在中国，老子被认为是师祖。… Read the rest

Sun Tzu,who lived in China during the Spring and Autumn Period,is regarded as the ultimate master of war.

春秋时期的中国，孙子被誉为兵圣。

His great military work,The Art of War,has been read for more than 2,000 years.

他写了一部流传了 2000 多年的军事论著—《孙子兵法》。

Sun Tzu believed that competition between economies and logistics is the nature of war.

孙子主张战争制胜的本质是经济和后勤上的较量。

Only if the nation is prosperous and its people are strong enough will they win the war,otherwise the war will bring huge damages to the nation and people.

国富民强才能取得战争的胜利，否则会给本国人民带来巨大的伤害。

Gathering information on your enemies is the key to winning wars.

战争制胜的关键是要收集敌军的信息。

The victorious general must be familiar with his enemies just as with himself and direct troops according to the newest situation.

要像熟悉自己一样熟悉敌人，随时根据敌人的行动改变作战部署。

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without force.

战争制胜的最高境界是不战而屈人之兵。

His spirit reminds us that peace is the common objective we should pursue.

现在，孙子的思想依然提醒着我们，和平才是人类的共同目标。… Read the rest