A Number Of Suggestions About Mastering Chinese
August 10, 2010 | Leave a Comment
As the famed Chinese expressing goes, “a journey of a thousand kilometers starts with one step.”Well, it absolutely is not going to require a “thousand miles” to learn Chinese, but the time is now ripe for more English speakers to have that very first action.I could guarantee you that Chinese actually is not quite difficult to learn.
It’s a fool-proof truth that learning a foreign words takes determination of hard work. This is validated much more, specially when there’s a huge distinction lying between one’s native tongue and the second language.
Nevertheless, knowing several Basic steps for the strategies and skills of studying a new language will make all the difference regarding how long you are able to go in studying Chinese.
Influenced by personal Chinese language mastering and teaching experiences and others, here are 2 ideas and techniques on studying the Chinese language. By adopting one, or mixing two of these steps and techniques, you could optimize the learning efficiency , decrease the time invested, and at that time, study with fun and joy.
Tip No.1: keep in mind Chinese language, while difficult, can be simple to master.A lot of people take for granted that Chinese language is the most difficult language on the planet. To some degree, this is true. Nonetheless, what most non-Chinese speakers neglect to recognize is that Chinese enjoys one of the simplest grammars on this planet. Additionally, Chinese sentence system, to a large level, corresponds to that of English (subject verb object). In any case, Chinese language isn’t a lion in the way.
Tip No.2: You shouldn’t be afraid to make mistakes.Getting self-conscious and embarrassed can be quite a roadblock in learning the Chinese language. Keep in mind, even when you’re making awkward mistakes, most people will be ready help you rather than laugh at you. Generally speaking, when you’re making mistakes, you’re making improvement .
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Tips On Learning Chinese
August 3, 2010 | Leave a Comment
While English has long been the universal language of business, Chinese is spreading like wild fire. For those attempting to do business in foreign countries, English is mandatory, but the tables are shifting. Soon, Chinese very well may be the language of trade. For those trying to learn this frustrating language, there are a few things you should know from a foreigner who’s learned Chinese.
Computer classes, programs, or tutors will help improve your Chinese. However, the best way to learn Chinese is by going to China. Simply immersing yourself in a foreign culture will automatically cause your learning curve to jump higher. Once you’re in China you’ll pick up on the language quickly since most people still don’t speak English.
Another benefit to living in the country is you will learn about the culture and traditions. While the language is important, if you don’t have a handle on the way the Chinese people think and act, you’ll be missing the whole point of communicating with them. The meaning behind certain phrases, the rules of the road, manners, none of this information can be gleaned from tutorials.
Once you are in China, there is a plethora of ways you can pick up the language other then simply talking to those around you. For one thing, you can listen to the local radio stations or watch the movies showing. While it may be difficult to understand at first, you’ll slowly learn new words and you can have fun doing it too. If you’re really struggling to understand the movie, turn on subtitles. In addition, movies are a great way to learn more about the culture.
While you’re in China you’ll be busy exploring, making new friends, and learning the language. It will be an adventure you’ll treasure forever. While you’re there though, you’ll want to make sure you’ve taken care of everything back home before you leave. The last thing you want on your plate is to have to deal with mortgage bills past due or burglaries. The best way you can ensure your home is safe is through having a home security system.
For more information about Dallas Home Security stop by the Smith Security site where you can find out all about Atlanta Home Security Alarms and we may be able to help.
The History Of The Chinese Amulet
July 30, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Chinese culture is ancient, with long-standing traditions. The Chinese people frequently interacted with others in ancient times, trading with people the world over and welcoming visitors from other nations to the Emperor’s court. This changed in the early 1400s when China’s policies of open international relations were quashed.
The country isolated itself and its people from the rest of the world. To a large extent, this closed door policy lasted for centuries, only beginning to change in the 1970s when China agreed to begin trading with the Western world again. The long isolationist policy of the Chinese government allowed the Chinese people to maintain a connection with ancient traditions that most other cultures do not come close to having.
The relationship that the present-day Chinese have with their historical cultural roots rivals that of any other traditional people the world over. For this reason, traditions that may have otherwise fallen by the wayside over the centuries are still alive and strong in the current Chinese culture and practice.
Chinese traditional medicine is among these ancient practices. Mysticism and religious beliefs with ancient origins are also still strong in everyday Chinese life. Among the practices common in Chinese rituals and rites are the use of amulets and talismans in every walk of life.
The Chinese amulet can take a variety of forms. Among the most common are those with Taoist roots. Taoism is a philosophical and religious practice that strongly influences Chinese fold religions. While Taoism is a common element of Eastern Asian cultures, the rural Chinese practices associated with Taoism have been able to develop somewhat independently from those found in other parts of Asia, due in large part to the Chinese government’s historical isolationism policies.
China’s folk Taoism still focuses on many of the traditional Taoist principals. Moderation, compassion, and humility are considered the Three Jewels of the Tao, also known as the path or way of life. Taoists emphasize the human relationship with nature and believe there is harmony and balance to achieve in living as a human in the natural world, through respect and reverence of the natural forces in everyday life.
These beliefs have led the Chinese people to commonly use amulets with religious or spiritual significance as decorative symbols in their homes. They also commonly wear these symbols as adornments and protective charms. They believe they promote a oneness with the universe and can provide beneficial spiritual presence in the life of the wearer.
Taoists also believe in the presence of ancestral spirits. The folk religions of the Chinese place specific importance on the worship or reverence of ancestors. They believe that the present generation draws its strength from their ancestors and that failure to properly revere one’s ancestral heritage brings about a disconnection with the harmony that is sought by all things in the universe. Chinese amulets play a strong roll in ancestral shrines and the rituals practiced in association with the shrines.
Chinese amulets can also be found in the practices of Chinese alchemy, astrology and traditional medicine. In each case, these amulets are believed to hold special significance for the wearer and help to solidify the connection between humans and the natural world, spiritual realm, or cosmic universe.
The use of amulets by everyday people in the practice of Feng Shui, the martial arts, and other traditional mechanisms of Chinese culture and religion is still commonplace.
When China reopened its doors to the Western world in the 1970s, the traditional and spiritual practices of the Chinese people began to slowly take hold in other parts of the globe. Though the migration of Chinese people to other parts of the world prior to the 1970s had brought these practices to light in other cultures to a certain extent, it wasn’t until the general policies on trading and cultural interaction began to change that many of these traditions became widely known outside of China.
As other people in the world began to discover the martial arts practices, Taoist-influenced folk traditions, and the spiritual and metaphysical practices of the Chinese people, traditional Chinese amulets became increasingly popular among non-Chinese throughout the world. They commonly appear in the homes of many non-Chinese the world over. They are frequently worn by peoples in various countries and have particularly found prominence in the Western world, where they were until just a few decades ago completely unknown to most.
The belief that amulets featuring traditional symbols from Chinese alchemy and astrology can influence the health, peace, and general well being of the wearer have made them a strong symbolic gift for many. The popularity of Feng Shui in home decorating and design in the Western world has also made the use of amulets common for inclusion in home decor.
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Prehistoric Chinese Civilization Shown With Tours Of Xian To Neolithic Banpo Museum
July 10, 2010 | Leave a Comment
As revealed by the Xian Tours to Banpo Museum, a prehistoric settlement preceded the grandeur of dynasties evidenced by the other historical sites of Xian. The achievements of the people living in the Neolithic period also called the New Stone Age are showcased by the museum. The museum is located on the archaeological site discovered in the early 1950s. This museum is the first museum built on the actual site of a prehistoric archeological find in China. Human evolution from the hunter gatherer life style to agricultural mode of production marks this age. The uncovered settlements are examples of the Yanshao culture and are considered to be part of its Banpo phase extending from 5000 to 4000 BC.
Residents in Banpo lived in villages in clans or tribes. Agriculture, fishing and hunting were their main sources of food production. The clan dwellings was surrounded by a moat. Banpo culture is renowned for its fine painted potteries. Not only are the pottery wares of different kinds but they are also meticulous in craft and detailed patterns. The settlement excavation lasted four years and it was first opened for public viewing in 1958. Around four hundred sites of this settlement type have been discovered around the Yellow River Basin, and of these this Banpo site is the largest. The arrangement of the Neolithic village reveals an organized way of life and a good idea for Xi’an Tour.
The settlement has a residential area, a pottery manufacturing area and a cemetery. Some of the houses were partially underground. Traditional wall-construction methods using wood and mud can be seen in these early specimens. The cemetery revealed that inhabitants lived until they were 30 years of age and how they were buried were not uniform. The kilns showed that both fine-grained and coarse clay. The painted pottery was decorated with images inspired by reality.
Xian Tour to the Banpo Museum showcase three exhibition halls and a model village. The first hall displays their tools, vessels and works of art. The second exhibition hall displays for auxiliary exhibitions about prehistoric cultures, arts, customs. Special shows are held there on ethnology, folklore and the history of art in the prehistoric period. Amongst the most striking items is a bottle with a pointed bottom used to collect water and a steamer made from pottery to cook food. Visitors can visit the site of pottery kilns where the people made their renowned pottery. The Banpo Clan Matriachal Village is a model village whose matriarchal theme has been called a tourist oddity by some tourist guides. On the other hand, some may want to see this model just for that reason.
China in the Neolithic Age
The Neolithic people began large scale use of agriculture and started domestication of animals. They built the first civilized settlements. During this era, simple tool making out of stone and wood took off. Archaeological research has discovered that several cultures were spread across China at the time. They are believed to have independently evolved despite some communication amongst them. The Yangshao were based in the mountains of northern and western China. They are known for their painted pottery.
The Neolithic period began from about 12,000 BC and lasted until around 2,000 BC. Discoveries about this age are still being made. Agriculture was practiced more in the southern Yellow River region where millet was the main produce. Normally different cultures has different traits, but some have been found to have similar characteristics.
Cultivation and livestock husbandry evolved during this period. The tools showed skillful craftsmanship. Dwellings became patterned and populations grew. Painted pottery was the precursor of more sophisticated painted pottery of later periods. An emerging class hierarchy was revealed in the use of pottery and jade. The eastern communities developed the pottery wheel in China.
The use of handicrafts was a distinctive characteristic of this age. The development of clans was another major change. Recent discoveries revealed they made music with flutes, made millet noodles and made alcohol from grain. The Banpo people contributed to evolution of civilization. Xian Tours to the Banpo Museum provide a glimpse of a major foundational era in human evolution.
If you are contemplating Xian Tours you should consider a visit to Banpo Museum
Revival Of New Year Traditions In Asia
February 2, 2010 | Leave a Comment
find out about the various customs which are celebrated by reviving them during Chinese New Year.
The Chinese people hold on to their age old traditions with their molar teeth. As a community the people of China take a lot of pride in their culture and tradition and have made all possible efforts to uphold their sacredness by keeping them alive at regular intervals.
New Year is one time in China when you will see all types of traditional activities. In fact at this time most of what the Chinese people do is related to their ancient customs. There are a number of things that the Chinese indulge in which are a part of welcoming a New Year. You will witness many strange customs which will bring this fact to light that Chinese are certainly a race who have preserved their culture well.
The celebrations are carried on in large scale during the New Year in China for another reason. The mass media is very competent in reporting all the happenings of this time to the whole world. The western people find these traditions strange with a magical air about them. Their interest heightened they come to China in large number to witness these traditions thus giving a great push to the China’s tourism industry.
The traditional celebrations formally begin a night or two before the actual New Year arrives and go up to the 15th day of the first month of the New Year. This is a great time to have fun and do business in China as people are happy and cheerful and ready to spend their money as well!
Every home receives a systematic cleaning for welcoming the New Year. The ill fortunes of last year are thrown away and the house is decorated and purified for welcoming the good fortune of the coming year.
Doors and windows are painted red as per tradition. Red is the color of New Year in China. The traditional belief is that it wards away all sorts of evil spirits and omens and keeps the house protected from any harm.
If you visit China during the New Year you will find a good number of decorations in all houses. There are couplets as well as paper cuttings which are the signs of contentment and wealth and so on. There are different wall papers, paintings and scrolls which people put up to beautify their homes.
The New Years Eve holds a special meaning in Chinese culture. This day all the family members come together in one place for dinner. A special dish is made for this meal which is known as jiaozi which has dumpling in the boiling water.
Once the complete family is together they eat the dinner and then play a lot of games to keep themselves awake the whole night. In the modern times they even watch television which telecasts special program for New Year. They also believe that if they keep the lights burning the whole night their parents will have a long life.
The New Year day starts with a variety of interesting activities like exchanging presents and greetings, lantern parade, Kung fu, concerts and so on. These celebrations are carried on for full two weeks. At the end of the fifteenth day they have the fireworks and dragon dance which brings an end to the celebrations on a full moon night.
Chinese traditions vary slightly according to geographical regions. If you are interested in learning more about the Chinese New Years dragon click on the preceding hyperlink.
Meanings Associated With Eastern New Year Decorations
January 24, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Explore how the Chinese people decorate their homes and streets on the New Year with unique art work and crafts.
In the lunar calendar, the Chinese New Year plays a vital role and you wouldn’t be surprised to see Chinese families decorating their dwellings with various Chinese New Year crafts prepared for this particular festival. From inside the houses to outsides on the city streets, China shines in color throughout the season.
Few of the New Year decorations seen are pretty flowers to platters of food and some other variety of decorations that arekept for the festival. There are specific decorative items that have become signs to mark this time of the year. The collection of decorating items is wide and colorful.
Plants and flowers play a significant role in the New Year decorations in China. Besides Chinese people are known for their attachment to the nature. During the New Years event, houses of Chinese people are seen blooming with different flowers and plants that symbolize growth and wealth that promise to come in the coming year.
For decorating purposes, the most commonly used plants and flowers are the plum blossoms at such times. This is because, they just start to blossom during this season and they are arranged beautifully together with bamboo and pine springs. This symbolizes a special closeness between families and friends around this time.
Reliability and perseverance are amongst the symbolic virtues the plum blossoms are supposed to represent. The bamboo represents compatibility due to its flexible nature and the evergreen pine is the classic symbol of longevity. Other commonly used flowers include the azalea, narcissus, water lily and the peony.
Certain types of fruits have also established themselves as prominent New Year decoration symbols and are a must in every home. Oranges and tangerines top the list and are often brought over by visiting friends. The tangerines are taken as a symbol of maintaining a long relationship and happiness.
The best portionof the Chinese New Year is perhaps the candy tray; at least this is correct as far as the kids are concerned. The candy tray is a specially designed decoration item for this time of the year. This sweet treat is also known as the tray of togetherness and consists of an interesting variety of some of the most delicious candies.
This candy tray also has another ritual following it up where an adult takes a candy and replaces it by keeping a red envelope in the tray that contains of some kind of good luck icon for the peopleoffering it. Generally the candy tray consists of candied melon of different variety like lychee nut, peanuts, coconut, and cumquat etc. all of which have special meanings.
Many of the New Year decorations are focused around the particular animal symbol of the year. This has been a Chinese tradition for centuries now and still goes on even now.
Chinese new year for kids is fantastic experience . If you want to learn how to make your own Chinese new year decorations click on the hyperlinks.
Simple Facts Of Traditional New Year Greetings From Orient
January 24, 2010 | Leave a Comment
In the following article you will get some information about wishing a happy and prosperous New Year in ancient and modern day China.
Are you getting a lot of Guo Nian Hao from people as you near China in the beginning of the year? It simply means Happy New Year in Chinese language. You will also get a number of New Year greetings in February in China as conventional Chinese New Year falls in the beginning of February which is absolutely different from western concept and comes as a surprise to many.
The difference in date regarding New Years is all because Chinese follow lunar calendar. Their New Year depends on the moon cycle rather than the date like 1st of January. The Chinese people celebrate their New Year in a traditional manner where they follow a lot of old customs and it’s a time for joyful celebrations.
Since the beginning of the lunar year is an important occasion you will find everybody to be greeting each other irrespective of whether they know the person or not. Go to any market place and you will have the entire staff wishing you Guo Nian Hao. In fact this is the voice of the nation during the festive season.
There is nevertheless a particular time limit during which the use of this greeting prevails. The time period is the first five days of the New Year. After that the use of this greeting is not considered to be part of the tradition. However Guo Nian Hao is not the only Chinese New Year greeting that surface during this time of the year.
Since it is the beginning of a New Year people are generally wishing and praying for affluence in the year to come, both for themselves as well as others. You will often find people wishing each other congratulations and success which is something along the lines of Gonxi Facai; Hokkien Keong hee huat chye in Chinese.
Another common greeting that has been part of the traditional set of Chinese New Year greetings is one wishing the other person for an plentiful harvest in the coming year.
There is another form of Chinese New Year greeting which is known as red envelop. According to this the children are given some money in envelop instead of saying any greeting. Red envelop is known to keep evil away from your life in future.
Changing times have given birth to new traditions with regards to Chinese New Year greetings. Every one has their own ways of greeting each other. The use of greeting cards has flourished during recent years although this practice has never been part of the ancient tradition.
With the introduction of Internet wishing New Year for people of China has become very easy by sending e-cards. There are huge fireworks shows held for the common people by the government during New Year.
Chinese new year greeting can vary depending on your location. If you would like to read further on Chinese New Years activities please follow the links.
Traditions Related To Oriental New Year Fireworks
January 18, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Learn about the Chinese thoughts and values in regard to the firework use during Chinese New Year festival.
Noise pollution is the last thing that the Chinese people think about throughout the long festival of New Year. The reason for this is that they burst fireworks in large quantity to give a sound welcome to the year to come.
Chinese New Year is a time when everyone is together with their family and friends in order to celebrate the festival. This festival holds vast importance in the life of the people in China. On the last day of the celebration they burst firecrackers to round off the final day of the festival.
It is a time when ancient customs are brought back into light and age old traditions are revamped and reintroduced so as to keep them alive. The use of fireworks is also amongst one of the ancient traditional practices of China which hold great significance in the eyes of the locals. The history of the use of fireworks goes back to a long time ago and their use is totally embedded in the Chinese culture with regards to the arrival of the New Year.
Traditional fireworks
There are quite a few stories that are embedded in Chinese society in regards to the tradition of the use of fireworks. While using the fireworks what they normally believe is that the dragon brings rain in summer so that the crops can grow. So it is of utmost importance to wake up the dragon which is still sleeping with all the noise.
Everything has a direct relation to the nation’s economy. China being an agricultural country requires ample amount of rains. They have combined this need with a festive belief of cracker bursting to make merry during the New Year and create huge noise without the apprehension of noise pollution.
Warding off Evil Spirits
There are other stories regarding the noise as well. They mean to keep themselves free from the influence of wicked spirits with the noise made by the firecrackers. In the beginning of the year itself they plan to free themselves from evil spirit and make the coming year lucky for them.
Another important activity during the time of Chinese New Year is the traditional parade. The people in the parade have firecrackers which they throw towards the dragon’s feet. The idea is that the noise of the cracker will wake the dragon up.
Another beautiful custom related to the fireworks is the dragon dance. It is a spectacular view for anyone coming from abroad to see a colorful dragon doing dance steps. The dragon dance represents the spirit of Chinese ancient traditions. This amazing show has a dragon dancing at the center and firecrackers bursting all around it.
The concept of firecrackers has to do both with evil as well as good spirits. Some think that the loud noise drives the evil away whereas some feel that all that noise keeps the good spirits from coming in. But the traditional Chinese faith lies in the former concept.
Chinese New Years fireworks are a fantastic experience to be enjoyed by everyone . If you would like further info on the Chinese new years zodiac please click on the links.
Eastern New Year Rat And Its Virtues
January 15, 2010 | Leave a Comment
The rat holds a special place in Chinese tradition. Find out about the Chinese New Year of the rat and why it is considered to be so special.
People wouldn’t happily accept any associations made with the rat in particular because it is an animal that is associated with filth,shadiness and small structure. Westerners wouldn’t really go with getting linked to a rat. On the contrary, Chinese thinkers who are famous for their observational skills would completely prove you wrong and give a different character analysis of a rat.
Intelligence is an important the attributes of the rat. The Chinese philosophers have observed that the rat is not only hardworking but also extremely creative creatures who love absolutely like to control things. It has been realized that rat people go for perfection. These are but a few of their characteristic traits that have been observed.
As has been the Chinese tradition for centuries that each year has a special animal assigned to it. There is a whole system and a legend behind the assigning of the animals to the years. Basically there are 12 animals that function on a twelve year rotation according to the lunar calendar that the Chinese use.
In the Chinese cultural heritage, the rat holds a position of honor and reverence. According to the Chinese history, the twelve animals that rotate based on the lunar calendar were made to contest in a race. From the beginning of the race, the ox was leading but he was unaware of the fact that the rat was riding on his back all the while. When the ox was about to finish the race first, the rat hopped off his back and took the victory.
The year of the rat marks the beginning of the whole animal myth. Hence, when the year of the rat reappears, it is rare occasion because it means that an entire cycle is completed and a new one has started.
The rat is thus famous for his creative personality and stewardship. The cunning animal is admired for its ability to dig through all sorts of trouble and find a way to achieve its purpose. Sharpness of mind is a key feature of the rat’s personality.
Chinese thinkers have come up with a personality sketch of the rat symbol and thus people now are more in favor of accepting any comparison to the Chinese perception of the rat’s persona. However, it is definitely simple to picture why the idea is difficult for the westerners because, the west have their own perception of the tiny creature.
Yet another feature about the twelve animals of the lunar cycle that might be contradictory and interesting is the compatibility question. What led to these connections is still quite unfamiliar, but the Chinese thinkers do have reasons for their beliefs about which animal is compatible to which one or whether they will have fights
It’s amazing to know that the rat has great compatibility with the monkey. But where do the philosophers get this conviction is still unknown. However, these beliefs prevail in China. From the ancient era, the year of the rat is believed to be the sign of protection and wealth.
The original Chinese new year rat has important symbolic significance. To read further on Chinese new year crafts follow the hyperlinks.
Welcoming Songs Of Oriental New Year
January 13, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Here is a synopsis on how Chinese traditional songs are chosen and sung during the season of the Chinese New Year.
The moon’s signals indicating that the year is coming to an end and the new one is about to start excites the Chinese people. As they follow the lunar calendar moon cycles are important to them. New Years never has a full moon night but you could hear people singing traditional songs that are made for the New Year.
The Chinese New Year plays an indispensable important role in the life of Chinese people. During this time they lose all the negativity from their lives by burying their past and waits with open arms to embrace good fortune and prosperity in the New Year. The spirit is high and they wish each other good at this time so the entire atmosphere is positive.
It is no surprise that they have a list of Chinese New Year songs that have been created for the purpose of celebrating the coming of the New Year. For your information the Chinese New Year is considered as the most important event of the year according to their lunar calendar. And this is not just now, rather the Chinese New Year celebrations have been going on for many years in the same fashion.
With regards to the songs that the Chinese people have composed in order to address the New Year, they are basically termed as an emotion of happiness and love. The songs clearly show the affection that the people of China still have for their ancient rituals and their nationalistic spirit and the pride that they take in their country.
China, since centuries have been involved in wars but this is not what constitutes the characteristics of a Chinese man. Chinese people are known to be in love with peace and nature. The wide range of Chinese New Year songs speak about their patriotism and spirit for their nation and some songs speak about their concept of life and their life-styles.
These traditional New Year songs are sung in praise of the Chinese people and hence they give a boost to their pride. They love to boast about their rich tradition and heritage. Songs are heard from streets to corners and even from indoors. During this festive time, relatives and friends gather in a particular place and sing popular songs together with high spirit.
When songs and dances are performed, people also invest on costumes and dressing in a traditional manner. People who do not belong to the Chinese culture might find it weird, but it’s a package which comes along with the Chinese culture.
These New Year old songs are all classics that have been sung for ages. But modern day songs especially composed for the New Year by renowned artistes are only sung in especially organized concerts. This belongs to the Chinese tradition as well and people try to preserve it.
Singing Chinese new year songs are a traditional way of welcoming in the new year. If you want to read further on Chinese fireworks follow the hyperlinks.