I

Chinese archaeologists started a new excavation of the famous terracotta army site on June 13th, hoping to fi nd more clay fi gures and unravel some of the mysteries left behind by the "First Emperor." It was the third excavation in the pit -- the fi rst and largest of three pits at the site near Xi'an, capital of northwestern Shaanxi Province -- since 1974 when the terracotta army was discovered by peasants digging a well.

The most important discovery on the fi rst day is two four-horse chariots that are standing in tandem very closely which is the first time find such an existence in the excavation history. In addition, another important discovery was that a few newly-u nea r thed terracotta warriors were richly colored. Archaeologists soon used plastic sheets to cover them for protection.

The 230 by 62-meter pit was believed to contain about 6,000 life-sized terracotta f igures, more than

1,000 of which were found in previous excavations. The State Administration of Cultural Heritage has approved a fi ve-year excavation plan submitted by the Qinshihuang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum.

Archaeologists hoped they might find a clay figure that appeared to be "in command" of the huge underground army. They are also hoping to ascertain the success of decades of preservation ef for ts to keep the undiscovered terracotta fi gures intact and retain their original colors.

The army was one of the greatest archeological fi nds of modern times. It was discovered in Lintong county, 35 km east of Xi'an, in 1974 by peasants who were digging a well. The first formal excavation of the site lasted for six years from 1978 to 1984 and produced 1,087 clay fi gures. A second excavation, in 1985, lasted a year and was cut short for technical reasons.

www.chinatimesmag.com

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FocusChina starts 3rd dig-up of terracotta warrior 1Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum: To Dig or Not? 2The First Emperor of China-Qin Shi Huang 3Movie Related to the First Emperor and His Mausoleum 4To Be a Real Terra Cotta Warrior 5

PeoplePhotographer Interview: Swanky Hsiao 6Four Beauties of Ancient China 8

CultureChinese Idiom-Chengyu 9

FoodHow to Make Fried Rice-The Easiest Easy Chinese Recipe 10Panacea-Chinese Green Tea 11

JokesFour Chinese Jokes 12

ArtsThe Finest of Cuts 13Jade In China 13

DiscoveryC h i n a ' s T o p 1 0 A r c h a e o l o g i c a l Discoveries in 2008 14

TravelGo to Xi'an 15

CONTENTS

China starts 3rd dig-up of terracotta warrior

2

A HEATED debate over whether to excavate one of the Qin Shi Huang’s tombs dotting the outskir ts of China's ancient capital of Xian has resurfaced with a respected economist weighing in on the advantages of opening the royal grave in 2006.

"The cultural enlightenment from excavating the tomb of Qinshi Huang will surpass the pyramids of Egypt," Zhang Wuchang of Hong Kong University says in an article that has sparked the debate.

"Not starting excavations is the same as having nothing. Only by excavating will we find value capable of contributing to society." Zhang's article, posted on his website in 2006, drew heated reaction with Xinhua news agency reporting that over 240,000 people had weighed in with their own opinions.

According to Zhang, by opening up Qinshi Huang's tomb, the imperial tomb that accompanies Xian's famed Terracotta Warriors, tourism revenues in Shaanxi province would double.

However, Duan Qingbo,head of the excavat ion team of the Qinshi Huang mausoleum disagreed with Zhang's idea. "Many view this kind of thinking as the main problem facing China today." he says. "A lot of officials are only thinking about money and the benefits that such an excavation will bring to them. Meanwhile they ignore the science. If any dig is going to

be undertaken we have to ensure that what is found can be preserved, otherwise we will be killing the chicken that lays the golden egg."

Over 40 million people have visited the mausoleum of Qinshi Huang, China's first emperor and ruler of the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-207 BC), since the discovery of the Terracotta warriors in 1974. In the fi rst half of 2006, 356,000 foreign visitors and 12.6 million domestic tourists visited Xian, both up around 13 per cent from the previous year, bringing in revenues of 8.49 billion yuan (US$1.1 billion), according to the Shaanxi Economic Information Centre.

Other leading candidates for excavation include the Han Yangling mausoleum of Han Dynasty (206 BC-24 AD) emperor Jing Di and the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) Qianling mausoleum of emperor Gaozong and empress Wu Zetian.

Modern surveys indicate that the main burial vaults of the three imperial tombs remain undisturbed, Duan says. Historic records however suggest that grave robbers cleaned out at least 17 of the Tang tombs in China's "Valley of the Kings", most of the nine nearby Han tombs and even Qinshi Huang's tomb that lies east of Xian.

Meanwhile, Duan recalls the late 1950 excavation of the Ming Dynasty mausoleum near Beijing that was supposed to have brought China to the forefront of world archaeology.

The dig was a disaster due to poor

quality work that was worsened by the intervening Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) when Red Guards destroyed some of the fi nds, including the remains of the dead emperor.

Shaanxi province once applied to excavate Qianling in 2000, but was turned down by (China's cabinet) based on the opinions of archaeologists around the country. But now techniques are getting better and new techniques mean that the time is nearing when the state-protected imperial tombs may be excavated.

According to writ ten records, the Qianling tomb holds the Gaozong emperor's most precious possessions including paintings, silks, lacquer objects, ceramics, wooden objects, silver, gold and jewelled articles.

Qinshi Huang's tomb is even more elaborate with historical records saying the coffin of the first emperor is encased in molten copper and sits in a large tomb chamber full of fi ne vessels, precious stones and rarities.

The ceiling of the chamber is studded with jewels that represent the stars, sun and moon, while on the floor rivers of mercury represent the earth.

"Certainly recent initial surveys have found high concentrations of mercury under the tomb chamber," Duan says. "But we will never know how accurate the historical records are until actual excavation takes place."

Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum: To Dig or Not?Written by Robert J Saiget(bt.com) Edited by Steve Cheng

be undertaken we have to ensure that what

Written by Robert J Saiget(bt.com) Edited by Steve Cheng

Vis found can be preserved, otherwise we will be killing the chicken that lays the golden

Over 40 million people have visited the mausoleum of Qinshi Huang, China's

quality work that was worsened by the intervening Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) when Red Guards destroyed some of the fi nds, including the remains of the dead emperor.

Shaanxi province once applied to

be undertaken we have to ensure that what quality work that was worsened by the

VSDuan Qingbo

Zhang Wuchang

3

SEmperor Qin Shi Huang (259 BC - 210

BC) fascinates people when they talk about the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors and Horses - his two greatest achievements to China. As the fi rst emperor of China, he indeed has a profound influence on Chinese history and culture.

How did he come to the throne?Emperor Qin Shi Huang, born as Ying

Zheng in 259 BC, was the son of the king of the Qin State. At the age of thirteen, he succeeded his father's regality. Ying Zheng was very aggressive and ambitious at an early age. He assumed full power at 22 by ridding himself of his premier, Lu Buwei, who acted as regent while he was a minor. He wanted to unify and subjugate all the states like Han, Zhao, Wei, Chu, Yan and Qi by the powerful political, economic and military strength of the Qin State. Ying Zheng realized his ambition and built the fi rst feudal and centralized empire in Chinese history in 221 BC. This was what we called - the Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 206 BC). Ying Zheng was the first emperor of a united China, so he proclaimed himself Qin Shi Huang.

"Qin Shi Huang" When Ying Zheng unified China, he

considered his achievement surpassing the legendary "San Huang (three emperors)" and "Wu Di (five sovereigns)". He created a new

title for himself: "Huangdi" together with "Shi (means the fi rst)", hence get the name "Qin Shi Huang" or "Qin Shi Huangdi", which means he was the first emperor of China. He hoped his descendants would follow in his steps to rule China for eternity.

Achievements and DefectsIn order to consolidate the nascent empire,

Qin Shi Huang reformed politics, economy and culture. In politics, he abolished the hereditary vassal enfeoffment system and established prefectures and counties, ruled directly by the emperor. Based on the original rules of the Qin State, the emperor adopted some regulations of other rival states to form a workable law of the Qin Dynasty. In economy, he claimed that both the agriculture and commerce were very important. People should have them developed together. Besides, tax system began to function and coinage and metrology were all standardized. In culture, the emperor unified the Chinese characters in writing, which promoted the development of the Chinese culture. However, he also suppressed scholars who were not to his liking. Consequently, many scholars involved were killed in Xian Yang.

The symbol of the Chinese ancient civilization, the Great Wall bears witness to Qin Shihuang's centralism. He ordered conscript laborers to link together the defensive works against marauding nomads already built by the former states. That was the forerunner of the modern Great Wall. Another world-famous achievement is the Terracotta Warriors and Horses in Xian, which was discovered nearby the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Both are the wonders of China. But during their construction, countless conscripts lost their lives

（please read The Legend of Meng Jiang Nu）. It's really wasting manpower and resources.

Decline of the First EmperorQin Shi Huang longed for longevity, so he

sent his ministers to go on quests seeking for an elixir of immortality. However, death claimed

him before he could find success on that matter. The emperor departed from the world of the living in 210 BC while traveling. The Peasant Uprising led by Chen Sheng and Wu Guang broke out soon after Hu Hai, the second generation, got onto the throne. Accordingly, the Qin Dynasty came to an abrupt end in 206 BC. Qin Shi Huang is truly an epoch-making historic emperor in China's history.

The Legend of Meng Jiang Nu—A Love Tragedy to Prove the Emperor's Cruelty

Meng Jiang Nu was a very pretty lady living in the Qin Dynasty. She married a handsome young man named Fan Qi Liang. But soon after their marriage, Fang Qi Liang was forced to leave Meng Jiang Nu to build the Great Wall. After his departure, the couple lost contact for nearly a year. When winter came, Meng Jiang Nu sewed clothing for her husband, but she was forced to endure danger and countless hardships on her journey to the foot of the Great Wall to meet her husband. Once at the Great Wall, she was told that her husband had already died of hunger and exhaustion. Even worse, his body had been built within the base of the Great Wall. Meng Jiang Nu stayed by the Wall and wept for days and nights. Her cries touched the Heaven above. Suddenly, 300 miles wall collapsed and her husband's body appeared, amidst the rubble in front of her. Out of extreme grief, she buried her husband and then jumped to her death into the sea.

The First Emperor of China——Qin Shi Huang

4

1.the terra cotta warrior(1990)—古今大战秦俑情

China 3000 years ago. It's the time of the Qin dynasty. The emperor seeks immortality by busily letting his alchemists search for a formula and building the famous terracotta army from the bodies of outlaws and the condemned. This is the time Mong Tiang Fong(Yimou Zhang) and court lady Twon(Li Gong) fall deeply in love. Such a thing is not tolerated at the court and when their relationship is discovered both are sentenced to death. In the meantime the alchemists have discovered the formula of immortality, but decide to destroy their work. However Twon gets possession of one immortality pill which she manages to give to Tiang Fong before he's made a terracotta warrior too. China 1930. While on location a fi lm crew discovers parts of the grave of emperor Qin guarded by the terracotta warriors. Tiang Fong, being immortal, awakes...

Movie Related to the First Emperor and His Mausoleum

2.the myth (2005)—神话

Intrepid archeologist Jack (Jackie Chan) and ambitious scientist William (Tony Leung Ka Fai) set out on an adventure that leads them to the greatest discovery in Chinese history. Their journey starts in Dasar, India, where they stumble upon an ancient sword from the Qin Dynasty, and a magical gemstone that appears to be able to defy the force of gravity. These finds not only lead them to a mythical mausoleum, but also connects Jack to his dark past life. Through strange and provocative dreams, Jack sees himself reincarnated as Meng Yi, a general who fell for the First Emperor's beautiful consort Ok Soo (Kim Hee Seon) some 2,000 years ago. As Meng Yi commands his troops in an increasingly desperate war against rebels, he also has to battle his own inner desires in choosing between eternal love and loyalty...

3.the mummy tomb of the dragon emperor(2008)—木乃伊3：龙

帝之墓

The blockbuster global "Mummy" franchise takes a spellbinding turn as the action shifts to Asia for the next chapter in the adventure series, "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor." Brendan Fraser returns as explorer Rick O'Connell to combat the resurrected Qin Emperor (Jet Li) in an epic that races from the catacombs of ancient China high into the frigid Himalayas. Rick is joined in this all-new adventure by son Alex (newcomer Luke Ford), wife Evelyn (Maria Bello) and her brother, Jonathan (John Hannah). And this time, the O'Connells must stop a mummy awoken from a 2,000-year-old curse who threatens to plunge the world into his merciless, unending service...

5

I 'm a real Terra Cotta Warrior.

Pablo, a t ou r i s t f rom Ger ma ny plunged into the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses' No.1 Pit in Xian wearing his self-made terracotta figure costume on Sep 16th，2006. He is the first tourist jumping into the pit; for tunately, no damage is caused to the cultural relic.

H a v i n g a s t r o n g f a v o r t o t h e C h i n e s e t e r r a c o t t a f i g u r e s a n d d reaming to t ake photos with them, Pablo visited the Museum of Qin Terror Cotta Warriors and Horses the second time on Sep 16th. He made a simulated costume like ter racot ta f igure wears and wore it secretly in the museum. Before the security guards saw him, he sprang the guardrail and stood among

the terracotta f igures like one of them followed with numerous visitors took photos of him. After strong dissuasions, security men lifted him out of the pit.

It is because he is so obsessed with the terracotta f igures that he behaved in this way. As he has no purpose of making damage to the rel ic, he was on ly cr it icized. It is s t ipulated that anyone who plunges into the pits will be punished according to the damage degrees to the relics. No mat ter how c ra z y one i s to t he cu l t u ra l rel ics , he should have the st rong protect ive consciousness to them. Hopefully, no simi la r behav ior wi l l appea r i n the future.

To Be a Real Terra Cotta Warrior

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66

1. How did you get into photography?I like to take photos, even when I was a

child. Now I major in computer science, not photography or art.

In May 2006, I bought my first DSLR Canon 30D and a Tamron 18-200mm lens. Then, I started to learn photography by self-study. I read lots of photography books and photography articles on the Internet.

As I upload photos to my Flickr album, lots of people say they like my photos and give me comments. I’m very happy that others love my work. So I bought more equipment and I take more photos!

But I have to admit, I think I’m still an amateur!

2. How do you find models for your shoots?When I started, I went to shows and took

photos of showgirls and cosplayers. In Taiwan, there are many shows and activities where you can practice your photography, like computer shows, game shows, and cosplay shows.

Then I joined photo-shooting activities held by photography websites. They will invite models and I can take photos with these more professional models.

3. Your favorite photo in your Flickr

photostream?My favorite photo is this portrait of Mikako.

She is my favorite model and this is the fi rst time I met her in a beauty photography competition.

I won an award with this photo. Because this was my first time entering a photography competition, I was really encouraged by the win.

4. Which celebrity would you most like to take

pictures of?

The supermodel Gemma Ward.She has very special face and a perfect

body. I like her works with lots of great photographers on fashion magazines and wonder if one day I can take photos like that.

5. The best story you can tell us that arose

from one of your shoots?This photo of Daphny had been picked up

by a Wikipedia editor to represent Taiwanese people. Although the image used by Wikipedia was changed to a Taiwanese celebrity’s photo,

Photographer Interview: Swanky Hsiao

As we were searching Flickr for images to use in our poses gallery, one photographer’s

name kept cropping up. Swanky. He has taken thousands of photos of beautiful Asian

girls, and he is the subject of our fi rst ever photographer interview.

Swanky Hsiao comes to us from Taipei, Taiwan. He is a PhD student majoring in

computer science. “I am also a photographer, but I am not a professional one,” he says.

3 5

Source: asianpose.com

77

the experience of seeing my work on Wikipedia was very interesting to me.

6. What tips would you give to someone

picking up a camera for the first time?Move your feet and get as close as possible

to your main subject. Be passionate about photography and make light your friend!

7. Can you name some photographers you’ve

encountered on Flickr who deserve more

attention?The list is too long so I just pick some of

whom I like most.I really learn a lot from all of them!東方顏 , 友善的小徐 (Shengyuan Hsu),

HaoJan, Jersey Yen, mark chang, akenisa, Miss Aniela, merkley???, zemotion, _rebekka, 米 死

米 (MSM), *Zara

8. Your favorite pose?I like this wink and pout pose.

What others say:“ Swa n k y i s one of my favor i t e

photographers – although he says taking pictures is only a hobby, his photographs are some of the best China, or rather all of Asia has to offer!” -Ella 甜蜜蜜

“I like to appreciate Swanky’s portraits by looking through the models’ eyes; every photo looks comforting and beautiful.” -AehoHikaruki (translation)

“Portraits at a certain level capture the model’s spirit.” - 艾 薩 克 也 / Hello Kit (translation)8

8

Four Beauties of Ancient China

Wang Zhaojun Wang Zhaojun was living during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220AD), Wang Zhaojun is believed to have lived around 30 BC. The time was known for many problems with the "barbarians" to the West, known as the Xionghu and later Hun tribes. The Xionghu chief demanded to marry one of the concubines from the Han court. Wang volunteered, sacrifi cing herself for the peace of the land. The Emperor agreed to send Wang, finding out only too late that she had been his most beautiful concubine rather than his most ugly. Because of her courage, the China and Xionghu existed in relative peace for 60 years.

Diao Chan Diao Chan is believed now to simply be a character written in a story called Romance of the Three Kingdoms during the Ming dynasty, but this fictional character continues to hold a place in Chinese history. During the later part of the Han Dynasty, a tyrant warlord named Dong Zhuo destroyed many parts of the land, including causing the death of Diao Chan's parents. She was adopted by an offi cial named Wang Yun. But when Dong Zhuo threatened the life of her new father, she stepped up and used her beauty to become a concubine to Dong Zhuo and a wife to his best warrior, Lu Bu. Through manipulating jealousy between the two, she convinces Lu Bu to kill Dong Zhuo and the warrior is killed for his betrayal.

Studying women in Chinese history, one must start with the Four Beauties. They are legendary females who are well known in Chinese history for how they used their looks to help a greater cause. Most of the time was the downfall of some evil tyrant. Thus, their stories are not just of their beauty but of their cleverness as well.

These four women have been depicted in literature, art, screens, music, and stories to young girls. Many paintings from China have tried for centuries to depict their true beauty in their portraits. Movies, Chinese Operas, and even songs have been written about their lives.

Yang Guifei As wife to the son of the emperor in the Tang Dynasty, she

came in contact with Emperor Xuanzong. It should be noted that it was not unusual for Chinese custom to have a very young son, especially a Prince, marry a woman older than him as his fi rst wife. The Emperor fell in love with Yang but could not show affection for his daughter-in-law. So instead, he declared she becomes a nun and through his right as Emperor, he brought her into his court and eventually made her his top concubine. However, there was unrest in the country and while the Emperor spent his time thinking about Yang Guifei, his empire was falling apart. Yang was blamed for his downfall and the Emperor's men and advisors demanded she be killed or they would no longer protect him. He gave into the demands and Yang Guifei sacrifi ced her life so that the Emperor and the empire might continue.

Xi Shi Xi Shi was the fi rst of the four beauties, lived during the period

of time known as the Spring and Autumn Period, 722 BC - 481 BC. The period got its name from writings by Confucius and is a time of many warring states. The king of her land was defeated by King Fu Chai, the ruler of a neighboring state, and he was not only long imprisoned but also humiliated. In order to revenge, he recruited the most beautiful woman of his lands, Xi Shi, and trained her in the ways of espionage and seduction. With her help, King Fu Chai killed his general of the army, and the imprisoned king, Gou Jian was set free. King Gou Jian made efforts to strengthen his land and fi nally brought King Fu Chai’s rule to an end. On her way to King Fu Chai’s land, she met her love, Fan Li, but she left him for her land.

One thing that the four beauties have in common is their intimate relations with the potentates, and they fi nally bring the emperors or kings to an end. As a result of this, beautiful women are unfairly considered “a terrible disaster” by some men, like “Helen of Troy” in western countries. But for men, who can resist the smile of the beauties?

Xi Shi Diao Chan Wang Zhaojun Yang Guifei

9

Chinese is nowadays becoming popular all over the world due to China’s increasing inf luence on the world. For those who want to learn Chinese, they usually are frustrated by complex Chinese characters. But they must learn chengyu, a more complex part of Chinese, if they want to see the essence of Chinese language. Chengyu are a type of t radit ional Chinese idiomatic expressions, which were widely used in Classical Chinese and are still common in Chinese writing and Spoken Chinese today. According to the most stringent definition, there are about 5,000 chengyu in the Chinese language, though some dictionaries list over 20,000. But learners need not be frightened by the fi gure, because only a few of them are commonly used in modern Chinese. Most of chengyu are derived from ancient l iterature, stor ies, myth and history. When learning chengyu, people can also obtain some k nowledge of Chinese literature, historical facts, and some interesting stories. For example, “不耻下问” (literally, “not ashamed to learn from one's subordinates”) comes from the

most famous classical work, Analects of Confucius, which has inf luenced China for more than two thousand years. “杯酒释兵权” (literally, “relinquish one's military command over a glass of wine”) is about an incident that took place in Song Dynasty of ancient China. “自相矛盾” (literally, “using one's spear to thrust one's own shield”) tells a story about a man who boasted the spear and shield he sold, and finally put himself in trouble. As an essential part in Chinese language, chengyu, offer people various information that has accumulated for thousands of years, just like an encyclopedia. When learning chengyu, people would f ind it easier to understand chengyu after studying the context from which the chengyu was born. The meaning of a chengyu usually

Typical Chengyu

四面楚歌 (literally, “hearing the Chu Songs from four sides”) Explanation: Use this to describe someone who is helplessly surrounded or defeated After the overthrow of the Qin Dynasty, vicious wars broke out between the army led by Xiang Yu, the king of Chu, and the army led by Liu Bang, the king of Han. The Chu army was defeated and retreated to Gaixia where the Han Army besieged it. At that time, Xiang Yu had only a few troops left and provisions were running out. One night, the Han army sang songs to Chu to weaken their spirits. Xiang Yu wondered why there were so many Chu natives in Liu's army! He thought Liu Bang had taken over Chu's territory. On realizing that he had lost the upper hand, Xiang Yu bid farewell to his favorite concubine, Yu Ji. Then he led the rest of his army of 800 men, and made a run to the south. When he reached the bank of Wujiang River, there were only more than 20 men left and they were pursued by thousands of Han soldiers. Realizing he was defeated completely, he pulled out his sword and committed suicide.

四面楚歌 Explanation: Use this to describe someone who is helplessly surrounded or defeated After the overthrow of the Qin Dynasty, vicious wars broke out between the army led by Xiang Yu, the king of Chu, and the army led by Liu Bang, the king of Han. The Chu army was defeated and retreated to Gaixia where the Han Army besieged it. At that time, Xiang Yu had only a few troops left and provisions were running out. One night, the Han army sang songs to Chu to weaken their spirits. Xiang Yu wondered why there were so many Chu natives in Liu's army! He thought Liu Bang had taken over Chu's territory. On realizing that he had lost the upper hand, Xiang Yu bid farewell to his favorite concubine, Yu Ji. Then he led the rest of his army of 800 men, and made a run to the south. When he reached the bank of Wujiang River, there were only more than 20 men left and they were pursued by thousands of Han soldiers. Realizing he was defeated completely, he pulled out his sword and committed suicide.

Stories of Chengyu自相矛盾 (literally, “using one's spear to thrust one's own shield”)Explanation: Said of someone's words or action confl ict, one who can not justify himself. Once upon a time, there was a man who wanted to sell his spear and shield. He held the spear and said, "My spear is the sharpest one in the world, and it can thrust through any shield no matter how fi rm the shield is." Then he pointed at his shield and shouted: "It is the fi rmest, soundest, strongest shield in the world; no spear can thrust through it regardless of how sharp it is." When onlookers heard this, they couldn't help laughing at him. One of them asked: "You said your spear is the sharpest and your shield is the firmest. How about thrusting your spear through your shield. What will happen then, eh?" The man was speechless.

Chinese Idiom—

Cheng yu

surpasses the sum of the meanings carried by the four characters, as chengyu are often closely linked with the myth, story or historical fact from which they were derived. chengyu do not follow the usual grammatical structure and syntax of the modern Chinese spoken language, and are instead highly compact and synthetic. So chengyu may be misused by foreign students learning Chinese, and even for Chinese students, they make mistakes, too. “瓜田李下” literally means “melon fi eld, under the plums”, but it has a deeper meaning that implies suspicious situations. It tells people not to adjust your shoes in a melon fi eld and not to tidy your hat under the plum trees in order to avoid suspicion of stealing. The literal meaning of the idiom is impossible to understand without the background knowledge of the origin of the phrase, and reading background stories is also a necessary step during the process of learning chengyu. Learning chengyu is learning the wisdom of Chinese ancestors. Many chengyu tell people what should be done and what should not. “光明磊落” requires people to be straightforward and upright men, and “开卷有益” tells us that reading is always beneficial. Chengyu are compact in form, and common people maybe easily remember them, so that they can be passed down from generation to generation. As a result, the wisdom is also passed down.

10

Basic Fried Rice Ingredients2 green onions, fi nely chopped 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon salt Pepper to taste 3 tablespoons oil for stir-frying, or as needed 4 cups previously cooked rice, at least 1 day old 1 – 2 tablespoons light soy sauce or oyster sauce as desired (see Add the Seasonings for more suggestions)

Methods1. the most important tip in making fried rice is to use rice that has been previously cooked. Using

previously cooked rice helps keep the dish from turning out wet or mushy. While you can use rice that has been cooked the night before, 2 or 3-day old rice is even better. Gently rub the rice between your fi nger to break up any clumps (this will help the rice cook more evenly).

2. In a small bowl, lightly beat the eggs with a fork or chopsticks until they are frothy. 3. Heat a frying pan or wok on medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons oil, swirling so that the

bottom of the pan is coated. When the oil is hot, reduce the heat to medium and add the eggs. Cook the eggs, stirring, until they are lightly scrambled but not too dry. Remove the eggs and clean out the pan.

4. Add 1 tablespoon oil, swirling so that the bottom of the pan is coated. Add the rice. Stir-fry for 2 - 3 minutes, until the rice is heated through.

5. Stir in the soy sauce or oyster sauce as desired.Note: Traditionally, the Chinese do not add soy sauce to rice. If you like, you can serve the dish

plain, without the soy or oyster sauce. Another option is to add a small amount (1/2 - 1 teaspoon) of XO sauce or thick soy sauce, or to use 2 - 3 teaspoons of dark soy sauce - these will give the rice a darker color.

6. When the rice is heated through, add the scrambled egg back into the pan. Add the green onion. Stir-fry to heat everything through.

7. Enjoy your work, chef! Basic Fried Rice makes a nice alternative to plain steamed rice as a side dish. Here it is paired with a Basic Beef Stir-fry.

How to Make Fried Rice—The Easiest Easy Chinese Recipe

Recipe from chinesefood.about.com

Photographs from Rhonda Parkinson

The classic Chinese comfort dish, it's believed that fried rice (Chao Fan) originated in the city of Yangzhou in eastern Jiangsu province. Made with barbecued pork, shrimp and spring onions, Yangzhou Fried Rice is still the standard by which all other fried rice dishes are judged. But you don't need to follow a special recipe to enjoy fried rice - it's a great way to use up leftovers. This basic fried rice recipe makes a nice alternative to steamed rice as a side dish, or you can turn it into a main meal by adding meat/seafood and vegetables. (If you are adding other ingredients, increase the number of eggs to three).

step1step2step3

step4、step5、step6

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2

34 55 6

2 large eggs 1 teaspoon salt Pepper to taste 3 tablespoons oil for stir-frying, or as needed

2 large eggs 1 teaspoon salt Pepper to taste 3 tablespoons oil for stir-frying, or as needed

11

Is any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea? The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea.

Here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:

·cancer

·rheumatoid arthritis

·high cholesterol levels

·cariovascular disease

·infection

·impaired immune function

The Secret of Green TeaThe secret of green tea lies in the fact it

is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.

Other BeneFtsNew evidence is emerging that green tea

can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.

Harmful Effects? To date, the only negative side effect

repor ted f rom d r in k ing g reen tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thir ty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.

How much Green Tea should you drink?

T h e r e a r e a s m a ny a n s we r s t o this quest ion as there are researchers investigating the natural properties of green tea. Given all the conflicting evidence that scientists get from their investigation, it is probably safe to plan on drinking four to five cups of green tea per daily. If you're a real devotee, by all means drink more; but whether or not you'll derive added health benefits remains to be determined by further research.

How to Brew a Cup of Green TeaProducing the perfect cup of green tea

is a tricky process. If not handled properly, those same polyphenols that provide health benefits can ruin the flavor, making the tea taste "gassy." It's particularly important not to overbrew. While it's best to follow the manufacturer's instructions for each variety of green tea, here are some general instructions:

·Use one tea bag, or 2 - 4 grams of tea, per cup.

·Fill a kettle with cold water and bring to a boil.

·After unplugging the kettle, allow it to stand for up to 3 minutes.

·Pour the heated water over the tea bag or tea, and allow it to steep for up to 3 minutes. If using a tea bag, remove the bag.

·Allow the tea to cool for three more minutes.Source:chinesefood.about.com

Panacea－Chinese Green Tea"Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one." (Ancient Chinese Proverb)

12

There Is No Use Chanting Buddha, Ma

Zhai Yongling had a mother who was a devout Buddhist. She would recite the scriptures from morning to night.

One day, Yongling got an idea. He pretended to have something to talk to his mother about so he called her while she was chanting the name of Buddha. His mother heard Yongling calling her so she stopped and answered him. However he kept on calling her.

His mother fi nally lost her temper and shouted: "Stop it! Why do you keep calling me like that?"

Yongling laughed and replied:" Well, you see, mother, you get angry just because

I've called you a few times. Image how angry the Buddha will be when he hears you chanting his name thousands of times a day."

Three Brothers From ChinaThere were 3 brothers from China, Bu,

Chu and Fu. When they moved to America, they decided to change their names.

Bu changed his name to Buck. Chu changed his name to Chuck. And Fu... Well, he had to go back to China.

The Farthest And The NearestAfter a party, the guests discussed

how far they needed to travel before they could reached their beds. One particularly

drunk guest said, "I'm the nearest." A few other guests muttered: "No,

the host is the nearest." The drunk guest mumbled: "Not so. He has to walk all the way to his bedroom. All I have to do is to collapse on the fl oor here."

Marco PoloSpeaking of t ravels, I heard that

when Marco Polo first opened the trade routes to China, he was quite impressed with their rockets. Now, these weren't quite the fireworks we now know, but they did shoot into the air, explode and make some pretty patterns. Strangely, no matter where he went, there were people who made fireworks, but he had trouble finding someone to demonstrate them for him.

"Not here!" they said. It was very confusing. Unt i l ol' Marc came upon an ancient military for tif ication at the community of Chu'Lai. Here, fi reworks were launched every night, and Marc was very impressed!

But still he wondered, "Why here?" At the end of every week, people came from great distances, bringing their own fi reworks to launch. So Marco Polo asked his guide why everyone came here to launch their fi reworks.

Marc's guide replied, "Why honored sir, we always set off fi reworks on the Forts of Chu'Lai."

4

1

3

2

Buck,Chuck and Fu..

13

During the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the ancient county of Guangling was radiant in festive atmosphere, dressed up and plentiful with colorful paper-cuts and red lanterns hung high.

In mid 2008 the people of Guangling were pleased to learn that the Chinese Ministry of Culture had classifi ed their style of colorful halftone paper-cuts as being among the second group of China’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Paper-cutting in Guangling originated in the early Tang Dynasty (618-907), took on a distinct form during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and matured during the reign of Emperor Daoguang of the

Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Derived from traditional embroidery, the Guangling style incorporates single and multiple colors with elements of traditional Chinese painting.

Guangling paper-cuts, natural white and dyed, are famous for clear, graceful lines, while also featuring a robust and vigorous appeal. The delicate product is reputed as a “unique skill of the traditional Chinese art” for its vivid composition, lifelike expression, exquisite craftsmanship, rarefied material and color, and elaborate packing.

As one of the three famous represen-tatives of traditional Chinese paper-cutting, Guangling holds a position displaying the

traditional arts and crafts from Shanxi Province with its unique style, bright colors, vivid composition, graceful lines, lifelike expression, and fi ne craftsmanship.

To increase awareness and public appreciat ion for the a r t , a paper-cut museum, the largest of its kind in China, was established in Guangling. What’s more, the county’s Jiaoshan Village was designated by the State as the “Home of International Paper-Cutting.” A newly-rising cultural industry, paper-cutting has served to showcase the folk custom, traditional and modern, while also serving as a major means to benefit local residents during the farming off-season.

The Finest of Cuts

The Arts

Jades are extremely hard stones. They were shaped and carved using ropes and bamboo with grains of sand. The piece was coated with sand rubbed back and forth with the rope or bamboo to slowly wear away the stone. A single piece could take months to produce. Today, modern diamond tipped tools, drills, and grinders make the job much quicker. The art of Jade carving has been in existence in China since 3500 BC. The most famous Jade works were produced in Suzhou, which still produces some of the finest Jade and Stone carvings in the world. Nephrite Jade that was used by the Chinese came from East Turkistan. Throughout history, China has gained and lost control of that region which had greatly affected the supply and quality available to the craftsmen. During the periods of low supply, smaller pieces were produced. Craftsmen were required to produce Snuff Bottles using very low quality Jade, much of which had off-color inclusions. These inclusions were frequently worked into the design of the piece. Many of these low-

grade pieces are extremely valuable today. Jade ranges in color from pure white to black, and from pale yellow to dark green. It has a very creamy appearance, and has always been considered more valuable in Chinese society than any other substance.Jadeite is very similar to Jade in appearance, however it is a completely different substance. It is harder, more translucent, and has a crystalline structure. Jadeite is found in all the colors of Jade, but also in shades of purple and blue. Most of the Jadeite used in China comes from Burma. New Jade and Serpentine Jade is basically anything that might pass for Jade, but isn't Jade!

were produced. Craftsmen were required to produce Snuff Bottles using very low quality Jade, much of which had off-color inclusions. These inclusions were frequently worked into

Jade In China

14

1. The Yangguanzhai ruin in

n o r t hwes t C h in a ' s S h a an x i

Province

The only ent i re round-moat site for a settlement of the Miaodigou Cultural Period (4,000-3,500 B.C.)

2. The Bronze-Age graveyard in

northwest China's Gansu Province

A site of g raves of the Qijia Cult u re (2 ,000 -1,900 B.C.), a civilization from the upper reaches of the Yellow River

3. Sa l t -making s i t e in eas t

China's Shandong Province

Dating back to the Shang (16th century to 10th century B.C.) and Western Zhou (1046-771 B.C.) dynasties, the site is the largest group of sites of salt-making found in the coastal area of China

4. Zhougong Temple in northwest

China's Shaanxi Province

A large-scale burial site of

Zhou Gong (around 1,100 years B.C.), an outstanding politician, s t r a t e g i s t a n d t h i n k e r i n Western Zhou Dynasty. The site owns the most relics of scripts on tortoise shells and animal bones found in China.

5 . T h e B r o n z e - A g e s i t e i n

s o u t h w e s t C h i n a ' s Yu n n a n

Province

The la rgest site of the baluster-style architecture in the Bronze Age, provid ing prec ious examples for t he research of the prehistorical settlement types.

6. The ruins

of an ancient

c i t y o f t h e

Western Zhou

Dynasty and

the Warring

States Period (475-221 B.C.) in

central China's Henan Province

The discovery of the site and related relics is of great significance to the research of the settlement and culture of the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 B.C.)

7. The capital of Wu State in the

Spring and Autumn Period in east

China's Jiangsu Province

T h e o n l y s i t e fo r t h e c a p i t a l o f t h e W u S t a t e confirmed today. The 2 km-long stone city wall is proved to be the earliest and largest Great

Wall found in south China.

8 . A t o m b o f

the Spring and

Autumn Period

in China's Anhui Province

It was the tomb of a seigneur i n the Spr ing and Aut um n Period. The structure and design inside were rare among similar discoveries of the same period.

9. A graveyard of the Spring and

Autumn Period in Henan Province

It was conf i rmed to be the mausoleum of a king of the Han State of the late Warring States Period. The arrangement of the tombs is important to the research on the patriarchal clan and burial systems of the state.

10. Ruins of an ancient city of

the Tang and Song dynasties in

southwest China's Sichuan Province

The brick-paved street and barrel-drains conserved well were discovered in the site. Other relics, including porcelains and Buddha statues made in that period, were found there. Such a large scale site of the Tang and Song dynasties is very rare in China.

China's Top 10 Archaeological Discoveries in 2008

Discovery

1

2 3

4 55 6

7 8 9 10

15

Xi'an was one of the most important cradles of Chinese civilization. The famous “Silk Road” that linked China with central Asia and the Roman Empire starts in Xi’an in the east. The city served as the fi rst capital of a unifi ed China and capital of 11 dynasties periodically from the 11th century BC to the early 10h century AD.

Located between rivers and mountains in the center of the fertile Guanzhong Plain in Shaanxi province, Xi'an--the provincial capital--is the natural place to nurture the nation's civilization. Back in the Neolithic Age, about 6,000 years ago, as excavations show, a matriarchal clan was formed at Banpo village in the region.

Thousands of years later, the Zhou kings established their capital in settlements only a few miles from the present-day city. In 331 BC, Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of unified China, set about expanding the settlement of Xianyang, about 15 miles northwest of the city. This town,

established under earlier Qin rulers as the capital, became heavily populated, so that in 313 BC, Emperor Qin decided to move his court to the south bank of the Wei River. A vast palace was begun. However, the work was never completed in his lifetime, and some years later when the Qin fell to the Han (306 BC), this and most of the other palaces were set ablaze and destroyed.

The conqueror, Liu Bang, fi rst emperor of the Han Dynasty, established his capital only a few miles north of modern day Xi'an.

From about 35 AD, the town went into a decline that lasted about fi ve and a half centuries, until, in 583 AD, the Sui emperor, Wen Di, established his capital southeast of Changan. The area fl ourished and developed so quickly under the Tang Dynasty that in time it became the most prominent city in Asia, with a population of about a million people living in a vast, well-planned area protected by large walls with ramparts.

For over a millennium from the Second Century BC, China's silk was transported from

Xi'an to central Asia and Europe. Although damaged by several wars, Xi'an, covering 880 square miles and with a population of 3,915,000 still contains a host of historical sites.

SHAANXI PROVINCIAL MUSEUM (Forest of Stele)

The Shaanxi Provincial Museum is an expansion of the Forest of Stele, located on the site of the ancestral temple of the Tang Dynasty. The garden-style museum of ancient architecture is kept to protect the cultural relics and for the display and study of antiquities. The Forest of Stele was fi rst founded in 1090, during the Song Dynasty. It is the oldest and richest collection of stele in China. The steles are in such large quantity that they are likened to a forest, hence the name. The forest consists of six large exhibition halls, seven corridors and a stele pavilion. There are more than 1,000 stele from eight dynasties from the Han down to the Qing. They are of great value to historians and for the study of calligraphic development.

Go to xi’an

16

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