Chinese calligraphy(shu fa) refers to writing art and techniques with writing brushes.

中国书法，通常是指用毛笔书写的艺术和技法。

1,600 years ago,a boy named Wang Xizhi worked hard at calligraphy. He washed his writing brushes in a pool and the pool turned black.

1600 多年前的王羲之勤练书法，他涮洗毛笔的墨汁把池塘都染成了黑色。

Eventually he became a prominent calligrapher in China.

后来他成为了中国最受尊崇的书法家。

Writing brushes,Chinese inks,rice paper and ink slabs are the basic tools of calligraphy.

笔、墨、纸、砚是书法的基本工具。

Proper technique for handling the writing brushes and maintaining the proper angle between the tips of brushes and the paper are required.

书法讲究握笔的姿势，注意笔尖和纸的角度。

The structure of each individual character and overall arrangement are both important.

也讲究单个字的结构和整体布局。

Calligraphers have created plenty of masterpieces which have been passed from generation to generation.

几千年里，书法家们创作了诸多传世名作。

One of the masterpieces is the“Orchid Pavilion Preface”by Wang Xizhi.

王羲之的《兰亭集序》便是其中之一。

Shu fa represents the aesthetic taste and philosophy of Chinese scholars.

书法蕴含着中国文人的审美情趣和人生哲学。… Read the rest

Long long ago,a person was playing gu qin. A woodcutter heard the song and said,” I feel the mountains and rivers in the music”.

古时，有一个人在弹琴，一个打柴人听过之后说：“我感受到高山和江河”。

The player was happy that man understood what is in his heart and made friends with him.

弹琴人很高兴有人能听懂他的心，于是他们成为了朋友。

The body of gu qin is made of wood and the strings are made of silk.

古琴以木为体，蚕丝为弦。

Playing gu qin in an elegant environment brings people back to nature.

在优雅的环境里弹琴，能让人回归自然。

Playing gu qin can purify the soul.

弹奏古琴可以使人内心安宁，净化自己的灵魂。

It represents wisdom,talent an emotion.

在中国人的眼里，古琴是一种才智、才艺和才情的化身。

In 1977,a recording of Flowing Water was broadcasted on the Voyage 1 and Voyager 2 spacecrafts in outer space.

在 1977 年，中国古琴曲《流水》通过太空探测器旅行之 1号和 2 号，传向外太空。… Read the rest

Chime bells,bian zhong,are the most majestic and holy ancient instrument in China.

说到中国的古代乐器，最为庄严神圣、气势宏伟的非编钟莫属。

As a symbol of power,they were used for sacrificial ceremonies or other crucial ceremonies,starting 3,500 years ago.

编钟出现于 3500 年前的中国，它经常在祭祀、战争等重大庆典时演奏，是贵族权利的象征。

Bian zhong were composed of bells with different scales. The bells are played by mallets and create the sounds of seven musical scales,much like the piano.

编钟是由大小不同的铜钟组成，用木槌敲击能发出与钢琴上七个音阶几乎相等的乐音。

What’s more amazing is that one bell can generate two notes when struck at different spots.

更为惊奇的是，敲击编钟不同的部位，能发出两个音调。

This set of bian zhong was discovered in the tomb of an ancient monarch.

这套编钟是在中国古代一个国君的墓葬中发现的。

The ancient treasure finally saw the light of day.

尘封了几千年的瑰宝得以与世人相见。

Its exquisite cast and pure sound revealed the high level of ancient Chinese civilization and wisdom.

它的铸造之精美，音质之纯正体现了中国古人的智慧与文明。… Read the rest

Chinese music originated from nature.

中国音乐来自自然。

The sounds of the wind blowing through the trees,birds chirping and water flowing are the inspiration of Chinese yin yue.

风吹过树林的声音、鸟叫的声音、水流的声音都启发了中国音乐。

Xun,an ancient egg-shaped instrument made of pottery,can imitate the sound of the wind by blowing through the holes.

用陶土制成的埙，可以发出风吹洞穴的声音。

The bone flute,which was made 8,000 years ago,could also imitate the sounds of nature.

8000 年前的骨笛，也在模仿自然界的声音。

There were 125 instruments in the private orchestra of a noble more than 2,000 years ago,according to archaeological findings. 考古发现在 2000 多年前一个贵族家里的乐队有 125 件乐器，规模巨大。

Various categories make up Chinese yin yue,some involving more modern elements.

中国音乐发展到现在种类丰富，今天中国音乐融合进去了更多现代元素。

However,the natural beauty of Chinese yin yue has endured from classic styles to the modern form classic styles to the modern compositions.

然而，从古典到现代，始终未变的是它的自然之美。… Read the rest

Scenes of dancing were drawn on pottery in China some 5,000 years ago.

5000 年前，陶器上就记载了中国人舞蹈的画面。

At that time,people danced at ceremonies for worship.

那时，人们在祭祀的时候跳舞。

There was a concubine who could dance on a tray in the imperial palace about 2,000 years ago. She danced so lightly that she supposedly would fly away when the wind blew.

大约 2000 年前的中国宫廷，有一位皇妃能在托盘中跳舞，好像风一吹就要飞了。

Legends say that an emperor made his soldiers dance when he returned in triumph.

历史上还有一位皇帝，每当凯旋归来的时候，就让士兵跳舞庆祝胜利。

The dance was powerful and vigorous.

这种舞蹈刚劲有力。

People also dance on festivals,celebrations and weddings.

人们也在节日、丰收、结婚等喜庆的节日里跳舞。

You can see abundant styles of wu dao in China,a country composed of many ethnic groups.

中国是多民族融合的国家，在这里你能看到丰富多彩的舞蹈。

Wu dao shortens the distance between people.

舞蹈，让人和人之间的距离更近了。

 … Read the rest

Chinese frescoes date back to the prehistoric period some 10,000 years ago.

中国壁画最早可追溯到距今一万年前的史前时期。

People carved images of human activities and natural views on rocks.

人们在岩壁上刻画下人类活动与自然景物。

Excavated from tombs built 2,200 years ago,the bi hua remains clear,vivid and colorful.

2200 多年前，中国古墓出土的壁画，线条流畅、色彩艳丽、形象生动。

Legend has it that an ancient painter drew a dragon on the wall and when he added eyes to the drawing the image turned into a real dragon.

传说古代有位画家在墙壁上画的龙十分神似，待画上眼睛之后竟然变成真龙。

With the introduction of Buddhism to China,bi hua on the subject of religion rapidly developed.

后来佛教传入中国，宗教壁画迅速发展。

The bi hua,or frescoes,in the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes are the most famous ones in China.

中国最出名的壁画群在敦煌莫高窟。

They are a collection of masterpieces of numerous painters in the past 1,000 years. They tell historical tales and religious stories.

它是无数画匠千余年来的杰作，集中描绘了宗教、历史、故事与传说。… Read the rest

Red,green,black,white,heavy,light,dry and wet changes of water and ink on paper show the mysteries of traditional Chinese painting,guo hua.

红、绿、黑、白、浓、淡、干、湿，水墨在纸上的变化显示着中国画的奥秘。

Tools and materials involve writing brushes,ink,colored ink,rice paper and silk.

绘画的工具和材料通常有毛笔、墨、颜料、宣纸、绢等。

The hardness or softness of brushes,paper absorbency and color determine the features of guo hua.

毛笔的软硬，纸张对于水分的吸收，颜料的色彩表现都充分影响了中国画的特征。

Water,ink and lines are the most essential factors for guo hua.

中国画注重水墨与线条。

Unlike Western paintings,guo hua doesn’t use three dimensions or realism.

和西方油画比较起来，中国画不追求立体和写实。

Instead,paintings involve a unique Chinese view of scenery.

这是因为中国人观看景物有自己的独特方式。

It’s very common that a Chinese painting is attached with a poem.

国画画面上常伴有诗句。

If you understand guo hua you will have a better understanding of Chinese people.

了解了中国画也就了解了中国人。… Read the rest

Jingju,or Peking opera,is an ancient performance art with a history of 200 years.

京剧是一个有着 200 多年历史的古老戏曲。

Jingju has four kinds of roles according to different identities and personalities.

按照人物的身份、性格，京剧把所有角色分为四类。

The lyrics of jingju are performed with swinging or rhythmic speaking,accompanied by dozens of musical instruments.

京剧的台词使用歌唱或富有音乐性的念白。用于京剧伴奏的乐器有几十种。

Now,jingju still enchants many Chinese people and foreigners with its unique charm.

今天，京剧依然用它独特的魅力让很多人着迷。… Read the rest