Studying is a significant part in people’s lives. A Chinese proverb says that “ It is never too old to learn.”In the whole life, a person will spend a long time on study. It it better to study alone or study in groups? These two different methods of study have their own advantages and disadvantages, it’s very difficult to make a decision in both distinctive ways. In my opinion, it depends on the person’s personality and the project of study.
Most study involves two sides: individual work and group activities. But for different projects people need use different methods. For examples, if a person is working on some calculations project, it is better to study alone. The numbers are subtle, so the person must escape from the world and concentrate on them. The study with no distraction definitely will bring people high efficiency .
Study with groups also has its advantages. Nowadays, team work is an important skill and experience for a person. A person can always learn something from the other people, sometimes others’ ideas will give a person wonderful sparkles and creative clues. This can’t be achieved by those who study alone. For some projects especially like learning a foreign language, it is better to study in groups. Especially for studying spoken language, the group members can have conversations with each other, obviously which is much better than talking to oneself.
To draw a conclusion, both studying alone and studying in group have their own advantages. People can choose different method according to different content, time and place.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Films
Entertainment is an important part for most people. Nowadays, movies have been the most popular entertainment due to the following reasons.
First, people can gain emotional satisfaction. Movies definitely offer people this kind of chance. The stories in the movies always are created to be dramatic, people can immerse themselves in the movies without worrying any real things happening on them. People can express your love, your hate, your laugh and your tears to the characters in the movies, no matter how wealthy or how poor the real life is, no matter how beautiful or how tough the real life is, anyone can enjoy the same life in the movies.
Second, people also can learn a lot of knowledge from the movies. Most of movies have very good background of arts, histories and something else. And the movies from different countries can also help people to know the world of other countries, which not anybody can visit in person.
Furthermore,watching movies can increase communication among families and friends, this is the third reason. Movies definitely create more topics for the people. In addition, the actors or actress always are the most people. It can be imaged how boring people’s lives will be without movies and movie stars,.
Last but not the least, movie is an inexpensive entertainment, it can be afforded by most of people. If you can have a good time without paying too much, most people must choose to the cinema.
To sum up, because people can gain emotional satisfaction and knowledge from the films, the films can help people to communicate with each other, and they are not expensive, films became the most popular entertainment.
First, people can gain emotional satisfaction. Movies definitely offer people this kind of chance. The stories in the movies always are created to be dramatic, people can immerse themselves in the movies without worrying any real things happening on them. People can express your love, your hate, your laugh and your tears to the characters in the movies, no matter how wealthy or how poor the real life is, no matter how beautiful or how tough the real life is, anyone can enjoy the same life in the movies.
Second, people also can learn a lot of knowledge from the movies. Most of movies have very good background of arts, histories and something else. And the movies from different countries can also help people to know the world of other countries, which not anybody can visit in person.
Furthermore,watching movies can increase communication among families and friends, this is the third reason. Movies definitely create more topics for the people. In addition, the actors or actress always are the most people. It can be imaged how boring people’s lives will be without movies and movie stars,.
Last but not the least, movie is an inexpensive entertainment, it can be afforded by most of people. If you can have a good time without paying too much, most people must choose to the cinema.
To sum up, because people can gain emotional satisfaction and knowledge from the films, the films can help people to communicate with each other, and they are not expensive, films became the most popular entertainment.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Seal Carving
Seal carving is a unique part of the Chinese cultural heritage. It reveals the charm of an Eastern tradition and condenses in it the Chinese aesthetics that has lasted thousands of years.
The art can be traced back to more than 3,000 years to the Yin Dynasty when the cutting of inscriptions on tortoise shells were the only way that the ideas of human being could be recorded. During the period of Spring and Autumn when the sovereign of a state delegated power to his ministers or generals, he needed an object as the token of authorization. The art developed rapidly in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC) when people engraved their names on utensils and documents to claim ownership or for verification in social contacts. After the Han Dynasties, as paper became more popular, people started to stain seal engravings with colors, and then print them onto papers. For this purpose, red ink paste was created. Later the seal gradually departed politics. After the Tang Dynasty, it is also used in the autographs on paintings and calligraphic works and it has become an object of artistic appreciation in its own right.
Seals carving as works of art should excel in three aspects - calligraphy, composition and the graver's handwork. The artist must be good at writing various styles of the Chinese script. He should know how to arrange within a limited space a number of characters (some compact with many strokes and others sketchy with very few) in a perfect balance to achieve a vigorous or graceful effect. Like a master calligrapher, sometimes, he needs to exaggerate the thickness or thinness of a stroke, elaborately straighten or curve it, or even deliberately deform an ideogram to create an artistic effect. He should also be familiar with the various materials (stone, jade, gold, brass, wood or ivory) so that he may apply the cutting knife with the right exertion, technique and even rhythm. For the initiated to watch a master engraver at work is like seeing a delightful stage performance.
In the long-lasting Chinese culture, seals with other stationery produce an artistic atmosphere for the scholars' study. Seals, musical instruments, chess, calligraphic works and paintings together constitute the poetic environment of Chinese intellectuals' rooms.
The art can be traced back to more than 3,000 years to the Yin Dynasty when the cutting of inscriptions on tortoise shells were the only way that the ideas of human being could be recorded. During the period of Spring and Autumn when the sovereign of a state delegated power to his ministers or generals, he needed an object as the token of authorization. The art developed rapidly in the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC) when people engraved their names on utensils and documents to claim ownership or for verification in social contacts. After the Han Dynasties, as paper became more popular, people started to stain seal engravings with colors, and then print them onto papers. For this purpose, red ink paste was created. Later the seal gradually departed politics. After the Tang Dynasty, it is also used in the autographs on paintings and calligraphic works and it has become an object of artistic appreciation in its own right.
Seals carving as works of art should excel in three aspects - calligraphy, composition and the graver's handwork. The artist must be good at writing various styles of the Chinese script. He should know how to arrange within a limited space a number of characters (some compact with many strokes and others sketchy with very few) in a perfect balance to achieve a vigorous or graceful effect. Like a master calligrapher, sometimes, he needs to exaggerate the thickness or thinness of a stroke, elaborately straighten or curve it, or even deliberately deform an ideogram to create an artistic effect. He should also be familiar with the various materials (stone, jade, gold, brass, wood or ivory) so that he may apply the cutting knife with the right exertion, technique and even rhythm. For the initiated to watch a master engraver at work is like seeing a delightful stage performance.
In the long-lasting Chinese culture, seals with other stationery produce an artistic atmosphere for the scholars' study. Seals, musical instruments, chess, calligraphic works and paintings together constitute the poetic environment of Chinese intellectuals' rooms.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Zoo
Nowadays, many cities have zoos, due to the large space and cost, some people think a zoo has no useful purpose. I don’t agree this statement, actually, I think having a zoo can benefit both human beings and animals for the following reasons.
First, a zoo is one of the best place to teach children about nature. Due to the size growing of the cities, more and more wild animals are rarely seen around us. For the younger children, a visit to the zoo not only brings them a lot of fun, but also offer the best chance to know what the animals are, which they definitely can’t learn from the books or video resources. In the zoo, children can watch the animals, hear the animals, even can touch some animals with permission. The zoo also can have some very precious and rare species which you hardly have chance to see. For example, you can see the polar bear and panda bear in San Diego’s zoo, which means you don’t need go to the polar and China to see these animals. It is also a good chance for parents to communicate with their children when they introduce all kind of animals to their child at zoo.
Second, having a zoo benefits the animals, too. With the development of science, human have more and more knowledge about the animals, from feeding to breeding, a zoo can build up a very good environment for the animals. Some precious and rare animals can be generated very well under the care of the experienced animal keeper. In fact, because of the environmental pollution and human’s hunting or some other reasons, over one hundred of various animals die out from the earth annually, some animals only can be seen in the zoos.
To sum up, I do think a zoo has very useful purpose, I can not imagine if one day there’s no zoos in the cities any more, how can children and adults know a animal just by the books.
First, a zoo is one of the best place to teach children about nature. Due to the size growing of the cities, more and more wild animals are rarely seen around us. For the younger children, a visit to the zoo not only brings them a lot of fun, but also offer the best chance to know what the animals are, which they definitely can’t learn from the books or video resources. In the zoo, children can watch the animals, hear the animals, even can touch some animals with permission. The zoo also can have some very precious and rare species which you hardly have chance to see. For example, you can see the polar bear and panda bear in San Diego’s zoo, which means you don’t need go to the polar and China to see these animals. It is also a good chance for parents to communicate with their children when they introduce all kind of animals to their child at zoo.
Second, having a zoo benefits the animals, too. With the development of science, human have more and more knowledge about the animals, from feeding to breeding, a zoo can build up a very good environment for the animals. Some precious and rare animals can be generated very well under the care of the experienced animal keeper. In fact, because of the environmental pollution and human’s hunting or some other reasons, over one hundred of various animals die out from the earth annually, some animals only can be seen in the zoos.
To sum up, I do think a zoo has very useful purpose, I can not imagine if one day there’s no zoos in the cities any more, how can children and adults know a animal just by the books.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Dragon
Chinese dragon has been a potent symbol of power and good desire a few thousands years. In ancient China, the dragon was considered as the ruler of weather and water. Many Chinese villages had temples for their local “dragon king”. In times of drought or flooding, the local gentry and government would lead the community in offering sacrifices to appease the dragon in order to ask for a rain or flood stopping. The dragon was also a symbol of imperial authority. In many dynasties, the kings and princes wore the garments with dragon pictures, and the sculpture also was used in and outside the palace.
In modern times, beliefs of dragon still are in deep heart of every Chinese. Although we Chinese know the dragon is just a creature, but people still express their desires by dragon. Most of Chinese still use the term “descendants of dragon” as a sign of ethnic identify, and all the parents use the proverbs “Hoping one’s son will become a dragon”(Be as successful and powerful as a dragon). And people like using dragon to be decorations, too, The dragon kites also have been used for a long time in large celebrations. As I said, dragon is in the deep heart of every Chinese, so we can understand why so many Chinese even the government immediately reacted the Nike’s advertisement. In the advertisement, a NBA star slew a dragon, and beat up a Kungfu master, which many Chinese think as a serious disrespect of Chinese culture.
In modern times, beliefs of dragon still are in deep heart of every Chinese. Although we Chinese know the dragon is just a creature, but people still express their desires by dragon. Most of Chinese still use the term “descendants of dragon” as a sign of ethnic identify, and all the parents use the proverbs “Hoping one’s son will become a dragon”(Be as successful and powerful as a dragon). And people like using dragon to be decorations, too, The dragon kites also have been used for a long time in large celebrations. As I said, dragon is in the deep heart of every Chinese, so we can understand why so many Chinese even the government immediately reacted the Nike’s advertisement. In the advertisement, a NBA star slew a dragon, and beat up a Kungfu master, which many Chinese think as a serious disrespect of Chinese culture.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Papercuts
Papercut is an art form originating in China. Around the first century, the Chinese invented paper, the most flexible, versatile and adaptable material. The first papercut dates back to the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties (386-581). As a handicraft generally made by women, nearly every native girl, in the past, mastered the craftsmanship, which was even used for selection of brides-to-be.
The handicraft is rich in content. The themes usually include everything in people's daily life from dumb things to the surroundings, such as pomegranates, lotuses, peach blossoms, mice, fish, worms, fighting roosters and rabbits eating carrots, familiar objects depicted.
Papercuts are very popular in the countryside, as its initiation and spread had a close relationship with Chinese rural ceremonies or festivals – Chinese New Year celebrations, weddings, ancestor worship and other religious celebrations. People pasted papercuts on walls, windows and doors at wedding ceremonies or festivals to enhance the festive atmosphere. Papercuts can also be used as ornaments on gates, windows, walls, columns, mirrors, lamps and lanterns as well as gifts. Certain designs and colors were created to bring good fortune and wealth into the homes of those who displayed them. For example, the child, lotus and bottle gourd designs suggest a family with a large number of children and grandchildren. To get rid of the old and make way for the new, every household puts up papercuts on the newly plastered window paper on the eve of Chinese New Year. The designs of the twelve animals are indispensable.
The handicraft is rich in content. The themes usually include everything in people's daily life from dumb things to the surroundings, such as pomegranates, lotuses, peach blossoms, mice, fish, worms, fighting roosters and rabbits eating carrots, familiar objects depicted.
Papercuts are very popular in the countryside, as its initiation and spread had a close relationship with Chinese rural ceremonies or festivals – Chinese New Year celebrations, weddings, ancestor worship and other religious celebrations. People pasted papercuts on walls, windows and doors at wedding ceremonies or festivals to enhance the festive atmosphere. Papercuts can also be used as ornaments on gates, windows, walls, columns, mirrors, lamps and lanterns as well as gifts. Certain designs and colors were created to bring good fortune and wealth into the homes of those who displayed them. For example, the child, lotus and bottle gourd designs suggest a family with a large number of children and grandchildren. To get rid of the old and make way for the new, every household puts up papercuts on the newly plastered window paper on the eve of Chinese New Year. The designs of the twelve animals are indispensable.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Tomb Sweeping Festival
Tomorrow is Tomb Sweeping Festival. We call it Qingming in Chinese language which means clear and bright. It is the most important festival in spring. During the festival, people visit the gravesites of their ancestors, pay respects to the dead at their tombs and hold memorial ceremonies in honor of their ancestors. This is one of many ways to demonstrate filial piety. As part of honoring the dead, people would also spend some time cleaning the gravesite area. They would uproot the weed near the gravesite, plant some new trees, wipe the tombstones and decorate the tombstone with fresh flowers.
But it is not just a day for mourning the dead. The festival is celebrated two weeks and the dates usually turn out to be the 4th, 5th, or 6th of April, thus people also go out to celebrate the new season, the onset of warmer weather, the start of spring plowing as well as of family outings. Nowadays, Qingming is not just a day of remembrance; it is also a day to celebrate the coming of spring. With the coming of spring, nature wakes up, dressing the world in green. All is new, clean and fresh. Therefore, Qingming is also a happy occasion for outdoor activities, such as picnic, tug-of-war, kite-flying, swinging, dancing, etc. This might be an important reason why this festival has been very popular for thousands of years.
But it is not just a day for mourning the dead. The festival is celebrated two weeks and the dates usually turn out to be the 4th, 5th, or 6th of April, thus people also go out to celebrate the new season, the onset of warmer weather, the start of spring plowing as well as of family outings. Nowadays, Qingming is not just a day of remembrance; it is also a day to celebrate the coming of spring. With the coming of spring, nature wakes up, dressing the world in green. All is new, clean and fresh. Therefore, Qingming is also a happy occasion for outdoor activities, such as picnic, tug-of-war, kite-flying, swinging, dancing, etc. This might be an important reason why this festival has been very popular for thousands of years.
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