概述 Introduction
中华民族是一个古老的民族，也是一个有深厚文化底蕴的民族。中国的传统艺术门类繁多、雅俗共赏，从悠扬动人的民间音乐到细腻缠绵的地方戏曲，从疏洁淡雅的水墨画到刚柔并济的书法，无不闪烁着智慧之光，令人赞叹不已。
China, a nation of long history with profound culture, inherited and developed a great variety of traditional art forms which suit both refined and popular tastes. From the melodious and pleasant folk music to the elaborate and touching local dramas, form the simple but elegant inkwash painting to the flexible and power calligraphy, one can always discern the light of sparkling wisdom. Traditional Chinese arts have tremendously impressed the world.
舞狮
舞狮大约起源于南北朝时期，到了唐朝，狮子舞已发展为上百人集体表演的大型歌舞。舞狮在中国是一项传统体育项目，也是一种传统文化艺术，从北方到南方，从城市到乡村，逢年过节及庆典盛事，都可以看到欢快的舞狮。民间认为舞狮可以很好地把百姓的欢喜心情表达出来，也最能烘托热闹气氛。舞狮尤以广东地区一带最为盛行。用来舞动的狮子外形威武，动作刚劲，神态多变，广东人称它为“醒狮”。中国百姓对狮子有图腾般的崇敬感，狮子在民间有很多传说，其位置仅次于龙，因此舞狮也就带有了不少神秘色彩。人们相信狮子是吉祥瑞兽，而舞狮能够带来好运，所以每逢节日和喜庆活动，都会舞狮助兴，祈求吉利和如意。专用于节庆场合纳福迎祥的舞狮，代代相传，从古代民间传统的娱乐活动，发展成为具有健身功能的体育运动。舞龙和舞狮的热闹场面在中国的电影中也是很常见的。
Lion Dance
The lion dance originated in the northern and southern Dynasties, developing into large scale singing and dancing performed by hundreds of people collectively in the Tang Dynasty.
The lion dance is a traditional sport in china, as well as a kind of traditional culture and art. Form the North to the South, form cities to countries, people can see cheerful lion dances on New Year’s Day and on other festivals and celebrations. Folk people believe that the lion dance can express people’s feelings of joy, and it can also set off lively atmosphere. The lion dance is more popular in Guangdong area. The lion which is used to perform has mighty appearances, vigorous movements, and variable bearings. People in Guangdong call it the “awaking lion”.
The Chinese people have a totemistic worship of the lion and have a lot of legends about lions. The li0on’s position is only next to the dragon so that it brings a mystery to the lion dance. People believe that the lion is a lucky beast that expresses joy and happiness. Therefore, the lion dance plays an important role at official celebrations and happy events to summon luck and fortune. This feat is passed on form generation to generation, form an ancient traditional entertainment activity to an athletic sport. The lion dance and dragon dance often appear in Chinese films.
吉祥图案
中国民间，流传着许多含有吉祥意义的图案。每到年节或喜庆的日子，人们都喜欢用这些吉祥图案装饰自己的房间和物品，以表示对幸福生活的向往，对良辰佳节的庆贺。
中国的吉祥图案始于距今3000多年前的周代，后来在民间流传开来。今天，吉祥图案任然是中国人生活中不可缺少的内容。
中国的吉祥图案内容及其广泛，这里介绍最常见的几种：：“双喜”字，是双喜临门，大吉大利的意思，民间常在办喜事时采用。
“寿”字，字头经过加工美化，变成对称的图案，是长寿的意思。
“福寿双全”，是由蝙蝠和寿字组成的图案。“蝠”与“福”同音。表示幸福长寿。
两个“有”字组成的对称图案，意思是顺也有，倒也有。在中国农村常用来贴在收藏谷物的器具上，表示丰收富裕。“百吉”，也叫“盘长”。它无头无尾，无始无终，可以想象为许多个“结”，谐“百吉”之音，作为百事吉祥如意的象征，也有福寿延绵，永无休止的意思。“五福捧寿”，图案中5个蝙蝠环绕一个寿字。五福是长寿、富贵、康宁、道德、善终。
“四合如意”，4个如意从四面围拢勾连起来，象征诸事如意。
Images of Blessing
There are many images which are meant to give good blessings in China. In the festivals or celebrations, people like decorating their houses and devices, for the blessing of a happy life and to celebrate the festivals.
The images of blessing in China started in the Zhou Dynasty around 3000 years ago. Until today, the images of blessing are still an important content of the Chinese life.
The content of the images of blessing are quite broad, but here we introduce several kinds that are more popular:
Shuangxi—double happiness. It means happiness and luck. It is normally used in weddings.
Shou—longevity. It has been designed and prettified to be symmetrical, which means health and long life.
Fushoushuangquan—Luck and health. It has the image of a bat and the word shou. In Chinese, the pronunciation of the bat is similar to that of luck, therefore it has the meaning of luck and long life.
A symmetrical image with two you. The you means having and wealthy in Chinese. In the counties of China, people post the image on the utensils for storing food, meaning a good and fruitful harvest.
Baiji is also called panchang. It can be imagined as the endless ties, which have the similar pronunciation as jie in Chinese. The meaning of baiji is endless luck in life.
Wufupengshou—Five bats bring long life. There are five bats surrounding the word shou. Taking the pronunciation of the word bat, it means five different kinds of good aspects: long life, wealth, health, virtue, and happy end.
Sihe ruyi—Four s-shaped wands are enclosed and connected with each other on four sides, symbolizing everything goes as one wishes.
小孩儿满月与抓周
在中国，小孩儿的满月酒和抓周仪式独具特色。在孩子的成长过程中，这两个仪式有里程碑式的纪念意义。
小孩儿出生满一个月的那天，孩子的家人一般要招呼亲朋挚友，邀请他们一起来庆祝孩子满月。按照中国的传统，这一天，家里会充满了喜庆和节日的氛围，满月酒要办得热热闹闹才行。不过最近这些年，这个习俗在城市尤其是年轻夫妇中有逐渐被淡化的趋势。但是，小孩儿满月对于每个家庭来说，任然都是一个非常值得纪念的高兴的日子。
“抓周儿”中的在“周”是小孩儿满一周岁的意思。关于：“抓周儿”，最早记载于北齐。“抓周儿”也就是在小孩儿满周岁那天，吃中午的长寿面之前，摆上经书、笔、墨、纸、砚、算盘、钱币、账册、首饰、花朵、胭脂、吃食、玩具等，如果是女孩儿则要加摆铲子、勺子（炊具）、剪子、尺子（缝纫用具）、绣线、花样子（刺绣用具），再由大人将小孩抱来，令其端坐，父母及他人不给予任何的引导或暗示，任孩子随意挑选，看他先抓什么，后抓什么，并以此为依据来预测孩子可能存在的志趣和将从事的职业以及前途。
One-Month-Old Feast and One-Year-Old Catch (Zhuazhou) of Babies
In China, the one-month-old feast and one-year-old catch of a baby are of unique Chinese characteristics. These two ceremonies are of milestone-like significance in the growing process of a baby.
On the day when a baby is a month old, the family of the baby will invite their friends and relatives to a ceremony to celebrate the occasion \. In a traditional one-month-old ceremony, there will be a rejoicing and festive atmosphere in the family and the feast is supposed to be lively and joyful. However, in recent years this custom has been gradually abandoned among city dwellers, especially among young couples. Nevertheless, the one-month-old ceremony of a baby still remains a memorable and happy moment for every family.
Zhou in the word zhuazhou means “a baby is one year old”. The earliest historical record about zhuazhou appeared during the Dynasty of northern Qi. On the day when a baby is a year old, The family of the baby will lay out sutras, brush pens, ink sticks, paper, ink slabs, abacus, copper coins, account books, jewelries, flowers, rouge, foods, toys, etc. For girls, scoops, scissor-cut(articles for embroidery) will be added. The parents then put the baby in front of these articles and make it sit up. Nobody will give any instruction or cue to the baby so that it is left free to choose by itself. Watching the baby catch the articles it likes, the family can then make predictions about its potential interests, future career and development.
十二属相
中国民间有一个传统习俗，人一出生，就有一种动物作他的属相。属相，也叫“生肖”，是中国民间传统的纪年和计算年龄的方法。
中国古代的纪年法是帝王年号与“干支”并用，其中“干支纪年法”从史书上有明文记载的公元前841年（庚申年），一直沿用到现在。“干”是“天干”，由10个字组成，这10个字是：甲、乙、丙、丁、戊、己、庚、辛、壬、癸。“支”是“地支”，由12个字组成，这12个字是：子、丑、寅、卯、辰、巳、午、未、申、酉、戌、亥。把天干的10个字和地支的12个字按顺序配合起来，可以得到60种排列，如：甲子、乙丑、丙寅……这60 种排列周而复始，循环使用，每60年叫做“一个甲子”。如公历的2001年，是农历的辛巳年，公历的2002年，是农历的壬午年，而60年后，2061年又是辛巳年，2062年又是壬午年。从东汉（25-220）时开始，人们又用鼠、牛、虎、兔、蛇、马、羊、猴、鸡、狗、猪12种动物来配十二地支，组成了十二生肖，也叫十二属相。这就是：子鼠、丑牛、寅虎、卯兔、辰龙、巳蛇、午马、未羊、申猴、酉鸡、戌狗、亥猪。这样，子年是鼠年，丑年是牛年，寅年是虎年……于是，每个人一出生，就有一种动物作他的属相。子年出生的属鼠，丑年出生的牛，寅年出生的属虎，以此类推。
现在，中国人在用公历纪年和计算年龄的同时，任然习惯用属相纪年和推算年龄。
Twelve Symbolic Animals
It is traditional in China, when a person is born, one animal (shuxiang) is used to symbolize this year. Shuxiang, also called shengxiao (any of the 12 animals representing the Earthly Branches), is a traditional way in China to number the years and to record a person’s age.
The ancient Chinese people invented the method to designate the year by the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. The Heavenly Stems consist of ten characters: jia (Heavenly Stem one), yi(Heavenly Stem Two), bing(Heavenly Stem Three), ding(Heavenly Stem Four), wu(Heavenly Stem Five), ji(Heavenly Stem Six), geng(Heavenly Stnm Seven), xin(Heavenly Stem Eight), ren(Heavenly Stem Nine), and gui(Heavenal Stem Ten). And the Earthly Branches are composed of 12 characters: zi(Earthly Branch One), chou(Earthly Branch Two), yin(Earthly Branch Three), mao(Earthly Branch Four), chen(Earthly Branch Five), si(Earthly Branch Six), wu(Earthly Branch Seven), wei(Earthly Branch Eight), shen(Earthly Branch Nine), you(Earthly Branch Ten), xu(Earthly Branch Eleven), and hai(Earthly Barch Twelve). Combining each of the 10 Heavenly stems with one of the 12 Earthly Baranches in sequence creates 60 chronological symbols. For example, jiazi(Heacenly Stem One Earthly Bratch One), yichou(Heavenly Stem Two Earch Two),Bingyin(Heavenly Stem Three Earthly Branch Three), etc. These 60 symbols are used in circles and thus each year has a chronological symbol. For example, 2001 corresponds to xinsi, 2002 to renwu in the lunar calendar; after 60 years, 2061, once again, corresponds to xinsi, and 2062, to renwu .Later, people used 12 animals (rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monken, rooster, dog and pig) to correspond to the 12 Earthly Branches, forming the 12 symbolic Animals, namely, Earthly Branch One Rat, Earthly Branch One Rat, Earthly Branch Two Ox, Earthly Branch Three Tiger, Earthly Branch Four Rabbit, Earthly Branch Five Dragon, Earthly Branch Six Snake, Earthly Branch Seven House, Earthly Branch Eight sheep, Earthly Branch Nine Monkey, Earthly Branch Ten Rooster, Earthly Branch Eleven Dog, Earthly Branch Twelve Pig. Thus the zi year is the of the Rat, and the chou year is the year of the Ox, and the yin year is the year of the Tiger, etc. therefore, when a person is born, he has an animal. The year 2002 was a renwu year under lunar calendar, also the Year of House, and so children born ini this year are all House babies.
Even though the Chinese People now number the years and their age under the Gregorian calendar, they still continue to use the symbolic animals. As long as people know a person’s probable age and his symbolic animal, people can infer his exact age and year of birth.
文房四宝
自古以来，人们写字作画离不开纸、墨、笔、砚。这四种文具被称为“文房四宝”。
中国文房四宝的品种十分丰富。其中最著名的是宣纸，徽墨，湖笔和端砚。
纸 宣纸是一种名贵的纸张，早在唐代，就已经作为贡品献给皇帝。由于这种纸的产地在安徽省的宣城附近，所以被人们称为“宣纸”。宣纸洁白、细密、均匀、柔软，拉力大，吸水性强，墨色一落到纸上，就能很快渗透，最能表现出中国书法和绘画的特点。由于宣纸存放很长时间都不会破碎、变色，也不易被虫蛀，所以，很多中国古代的宣纸字画保存了几百年、上千年，仍然完好无损。
墨 历代的中国书画家对用墨都十分讲究。安徽徽州生产的徽墨是中国最好的墨。徽墨从唐朝开始生产，到现在已经有1000多年的历史。由于制作徽墨的原料中加入了名贵的中药和香料，有的还加入了黄金，所以，这种墨不但色泽黑润，而且香气浓郁，保存几十年后仍然可以使用。
笔 文房四宝中的笔指毛笔。毛笔的生产和使用可以追溯到几千年以前。毛笔的原料主要是兽毛和竹管。制作一只好的毛笔要经过70多道工序，制笔工人们要从千千万万根羊毛、兔毛、黄鼠狼毛中一根一根地挑选，然后进行搭配组合，才能制成优质的毛笔。中国最有名的毛笔是浙江湖州生产的湖笔。湖笔有200多种，是中国文房四宝中的珍品。
砚 砚是研墨的工具，在中国已有3000多年的历史。端砚、歙砚、洮河砚、澄泥砚并称中国四大名砚。其中最著名的是端砚，由广东省肇庆市端溪出产的端石制成。端砚出墨快，墨汁不易干燥结冰。端砚不但是名贵的工艺品，还是献给皇帝的贡品。
纸、墨、笔、砚对中国文化和传统书画艺术的发展起到了非常重要的作用，一直到今天，人们仍称它们为 “文房四宝“。
Four Treasures of the Study
In the old days, one needs paper, ink stick, Chinese brush and ink stone to write or paint. They are called “four treasures of the study”.
There are a great number of varieties of them, and the best known ones are the paper of Xuancheng, the ink stick of Huizhou, the Chinese brush of Huzhou and the ink stone of Duanxi.
Paper
The best paper used for writing or painting with a Chinese brush is called Xuan paper since it was produced in a piace near Xuancheng in Anhui Province. Being high quality paper, it was used as a tribute to the emperor early in the Tang Dynasty(618-907). Xuan paper is white, smooth, refined, even, soft, resilient and absorbent. As soon as the ink touches the paper it quickly seeps in, which can best present the characteristics of Chinese calligraphy and painting. As Xuan paper can be preserver for a long time without decay or change of color, and is insect proof, many ancient calligraphic works and traditional Chinese paintings have been preserved intact for several hundred years or even a thousand years.
Ink Stick
Chinese calligraphers and artists paid particular attention to the quality of the ink stick. The best ink stick is produced in Huizhou, Anhui province. It was first produced in the Tang Dynasty more than a thousand years ago. Some Chinese medicine and perfume or even gold flakes are mixed into the materials in order to make better ink stick . Ink made by such a stick is particularly black with some fragrance. Ink stick made in Huizhou can still be used after scores of years.
Chinese Brush
The production and use of the Chinese brush can be dated back several thousand years. A Chinese brush is made primarily of hairs from a beast and a small bamboo pipe. It takes 70 processing methods to make a good Chinese brush. Tens of thousands of hairs of a sheep, rabbit or weasel have to be chosen one by one and bound together to make the brush. The best-known Chinese brush is manufactured in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, which produces more than 200 types.
Ink Stone
The ink stone is used for grinding the ink stick in order to make ink. The ink stone has a hietory of 3000 years in China. Ink stones produced in Duanxi, Shexian County, Taohe River and Henan, Hebei and Shanxi provinces (Chengni ink stone) are the best-known types. Ink produced on an ink stone of Duanxi take less time to prepare and will not easily dry up. In ancient times, the ink stone of Duanxi was not only a precious artistic object but also a tribute to the emperor.
Paper, ink stick, Chinese brush and ink stone have played very important roles in the development of traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting.
丝绸
中国是最早生产丝绸的国家。传说是黄帝的妻子嫘祖发明了养蚕、缫丝和织绸的技术。考古学家们认为，中国的桑蚕丝织技术，至少有4000多年的历史。丝绸很早就成了古代宫廷贵族的主要衣料和对外贸易的重要商品。
中国古代丝绸品种丰富多彩。自从2000多年以前，汉代著名的外交家张骞打通了通往欧洲、西亚许多地区的“丝绸之路”，华美的中国丝绸就开始源源不断地输往欧洲和西亚各国。西方人十分喜爱中国丝绸，据说，公元一世纪，一位古罗马皇帝曾穿着中国的丝绸袍去看戏，顿时轰动了整个剧场。从此，人们都希望能穿上中国的丝绸衣服，中国也因此被称为“丝国”。
丝绸美化了人们的生活，也促进了中国和世界各国的友好往来。
Silk
China is the earliest country to have produced silk. Legend has it that Lei Zu wife of Emperor Huangdi, invented sericulture, silk reeling and weaving. Chinese archaeologists believe the technology of silk weaving has at least a history of 4000 years. Silk fabrics had been the main materials to make clothes for the noblemen and their families as well as an important commodity for export since long ago.
There were various kinds of ancient Chinese silk. As early as the Han dynasty of 2000 years ago, Zhang Qian, a famous diplomat of the time, opened up the “Silk Road” leading to West Asia and Europe. It was along this road that silk was continuously transported to those countries. Westerners were very fond of Chinese silk. It is said that During the first century AD, a Roman emperor went to a theater wearing silk, which made a great stir in the audience. Since then, people wished to wear clothes made of Chinese silk. China, therefore, was called the “Silk Country”.
Silk has made people’s life beautiful and promoted friendly exchanges between China and other countries.
扇子
扇子是人们消暑纳凉的工具。在炎热的夏季，它能给人带来阵阵清凉。自古以来，中国的扇子就带着艺术品的风韵，具有独特的民族风格。
大约在3000多年前的商周时期，中国就有扇子了。中国扇子的种类非常多，有纸扇、绢扇、葵扇、羽毛扇、竹编扇等。扇子的形状也有方有圆，还有梅花、海棠、葵花等形状。
在扇面上题诗作画，是中国扇子的一大特色。从古到今，中国许多著名的书法家、画家都喜欢“题扇”、“画扇”，留下了不少精美的佳作。
在中国最常见的是折扇，拿在手里既方便又潇洒。中国生产折扇最有名的地方时杭州。杭州折扇往往采用名贵的材料做扇骨。著名的黑纸扇、檀香扇、象牙扇，不但是中国扇子中的佳品，在世界上也很有名。
Fan
In summer, the fan can drive away summer heat and help bring cooling breeze. Since old ages, the Chinese fan has been carrying artistic and unique national style.
The fan first appeared in China, about 3000 years ago, in the Shang and Zhou dynasties. There are many kinds of Chinese fan, such as paper fan, silk fan, palm fan, feather fan, bamboo-knitted fan, etc. Regarding the shapes of the fan, there are rectangular, round, pentagonal, hexagonal and sunflower-shaped fans.
Writing poems and drawing pictures on the cover of a fan is another characteristic of the Chinese fan. From ancient times till now, many famous Chinese calligraphers and painters enjoyed themselves in doing so, which has left us a lot of excellent works.
The folding fan is the most common in China. It is convenient to carry and handsome to look at. Hangzhou is the most famous place for producing fans in China. The frame of the Hangzhou folding fan is usually made of precious materials. The famous black paper fan, sandalwood fan and ivory fan are not only the notable products among Chinese fans but also famous around the world.
石狮
狮子是中国人心目中的“灵兽”，被誉为“百兽之王”。在中国，随处都可以见到石雕的狮子。
由于中国人把狮子视为吉祥、勇敢、威武的象征，所以人们在修建宫殿、府第、房屋及陵墓时，总喜欢用石头雕成各种各样的狮子，安放在门口，用来“驱魔避邪”，把守大门。在古代，设置石狮子是有一定规矩的，一般门左边的是雄狮，雄狮的右脚踩着一只绣球象征威力。门右边的是雌狮，雌狮用左脚抚慰小狮子，象征子孙昌盛。
在中国历史上，北京曾是五个封建王朝的都城，因此，在北京城内外，遗存下许许多多各式各样的石狮。其中，天安门前的那对最大，中山公园社稷坛门外的那对最古老。人们常说“卢沟桥的狮子—数不清”，可见卢沟桥的石狮之多。现在人们在北京看到的石狮，大多是明清时代的工匠们雕刻的，显得比较温顺。如果要看汉唐时期强健威猛的石狮，只能到中国的另一个古都西安去观赏了。
如今，石狮作为威武和吉祥的象征，又出现在繁华的街市和银行、商厦、公园的门前。据说，狮子爱玩“夜明珠”，所以，石狮的口中多半都含着一颗能活动的圆球
Stone Lion
In the minds of the Chinese, the lion is the Magical Beast King of all animals. Wherever one goes, one can see lions made of stone.
As the Chinese regard lion as a symbol of auspiciousness, bravery and power, stone lions of all kinds are often placed in front of palaces, mansions, houses and tombs to guard against evil. But there were rules about it in ancient days. Normally, a male lion was placed on the left side of the gate with its right paw on a ball, which is a symbol of power. A female lion was placed on the right side of the gate with its left paw fondling a small cub, which is a symbol of a prosperous.
In Chinese history, Beijing served as the capital for five dynasties. So, there exists numerous stone lions of various types in and outside the city. The largest pair stands in front of the Tian’anmen Gate, while the oldest pair guards the entrance to the Altar of Land and Grain in Zhongshan Park. The balustrades of Lugou Bridge in the western suburbs of Beijing are carved with numerous lions, hence the saying, “as many as the lions of Lugou Bridge, too numerous to count”. The stone lions we see today in Beijing were mostly carved during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. They look rather mild. Powerful and fierce-looking stone lions carved ini the heyday of the Han（206 BC-220 AD） and Tang dynasties (618-907) can be found only in Xi’an, another ancient capital.
Today, stone lions also appear at the entrance to banks, office buildings, parks or even in the street. The lion is said to be fond of the legendary luminous pearl. So, most stone lions have a movable stone pearl held in the mouth.
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