China has a wealth of literature (in simplified Chinese 中国文学), including the prose and verses. The origin of the Chinese literature came from Shang Dynasty’s Oracle words.
In fact, the original forms of Chinese literature were folk songs and legends and also historical events. Gradually, it became in the form of articles, poems, songs, etc. After hundreds and even thousands of time, people added a lot of different features to these articles and literature, like parallel structure, personification, etc.
Talking about Chinese literature, the first collection should be definitely the Book of Songs (in simplified Chinese诗经). “The Book of Songs” is China’s earliest collection of poetry. This book was actually originally called “Poems”, having a total of 305 poems. Therefore, sometimes people would call this book the “Poetry 300”. Since the Han Dynasty, the Confucian regarded this book as the classic book.
“Songs of the South” (in simplified Chinese 楚辞) is the book recording poems or songs written during China’s Warring States Period. Most of the poems came from poets from the Chu country. To China, it was the second poetry collection only to “The Book of Songs”. Together with the “The Book of Songs”, the “Songs of the South” was main resources for the study of Chinese ancient History nowadays.
In fact, as mentioned above, the Songs of the South was composed by poets from Chu Country in the Warring States Period. Therefore, most of the songs recorded in this book mainly were South folk songs, ancient myths at the southern China, etc.
Tang Poems (in simplified Chinese 唐诗)refers to poems written in the Tang Dynasty. The Tang dynasty in China was regarded as the most abundant classical dynasties. Therefore, poems which are well-known nowadays are generally Tang Poems.
Most of the poems in Tang Dynasty were included in the “Full Tang Poems Collection”. However, other collections were established and different versions were found. Among these versions, the most well-known collection which is very famous nowadays is the “Three Hundred Tang Poems.”
In fact, according to the time of the creation of the poems, the Tang poems could be divided into four phrases, namely the Early Period, the Prosperous Period, the Middle Period and the Late Period.
Word Poetry (in simplified Chinese 词) is a form of art. The Word Poetry initially started in the Northern and Southern Dynasties and the basic shape of the poetry was formed during the Tang Dynasty. Word Poetry reached the peak during the Song Dynasty. Therefore, many people would call Word Poetry the Song Words and there are a lot of famous lyrics formed during this Dynasty.
In fact, the form of Word Poetry in the past was different from that in Song. In the past, a lot of restrictions were added to the art and this made the Words came out become not very creative.
Yuan Song (in simplified Chinese 元曲) is a very popular form of Chinese art and it is actually a popular form of opera in the Yuan Dynasty. Together with Tang Poems and Song Words, Yuan Song has a very important position in Chinese Literature and it affects a lot of people from past to now.
Yes, as mentioned above, Yuan Song actually refers to the opera during the Yuan Dynasty. Then, you might ask, what are the special things about these operas so that they are so famous and even become a branch of Chinese Literature? Well, actually, Yuan Songs follow a lot of rules and patterns and there are a lot of special common characteristics among these songs.
Chinese mythology (in simplified Chinese中国神话) is one of the most valuable treasures of Chinese history and Chinese culture. These myths were passed from generation to generation through word of mouth or in writing in various forms such as written down in the fable, fiction, religion, dance, opera, etc. In some ways, these ancient myths would be treated as to be truth which actually happened in history. These myths could first be found in books like the Book of Mountains and Seas casual, the Book of History, Records of the Grand Historian, Book of Rites, Songs of the South, Lu Shi Chun Qiu, Mandarin, left Chuan, etc.
Actually, characters and stories mentioned in Chinese mythology (in simplified Chinese中国神话) are quite contradictory to the modern understanding and some of them are therefore regarded as absurd and its authenticity has been questioned. The following is the view of some scholars about the source of the myths.
Talking about the miscellaneous myths, the scolars think that the myths were the combination and fusion of many original myths between different groups of people and after generations of transformation, the story becomes richer in content, and may also be changed beyond recognition.
The creation myth of Chinese Mythology (in simplified Chinese 中国神话) is actually a combination of China’s Confucian literature, Daoist literature and folk beliefs, but between different versions of the myths there would always be a situation of conflict. When discussing about who is the creator of the world, there would usually be some common ones, who are the God, the sky, Nu Wa, pangu and the Jade Emperor. These different people have different characteristics and different thing such that people would believe they are the creator of the world.
Hou Yi (in simplified Chinese 后羿), or Yi, is the legendary Xia Dongyi tribal leader’s who is very good at archery. According to the legends, Hou Yi was the one who to overthrow the rule of the Xia. However, due to his poor governance, he was soon killed by other people. On the other hand, Hou Yi is also the legendary hero occurred during the Yao’s Period, which is quite far away from the Xia period. Therefore, people always get confused with these two guys and since they are just legendary heroes and there are still no real evidence or remains showing the presence of these two people, their actual identity and also the relationship between these two Hou Yi was still a mystery.
Chang’e (in simplified Chinese 嫦娥) is actually the wife of Hou Yi, the hero who shot down 9 suns in the sky. In fact, after Hou Yi shot down the suns and became the hero, he was chosen to be the leader of the country. During the first few years of Hou Yi’s governance, people got a good life and the country could have a peaceful development and was quite prosperous. However, after decades of governance, Hou Yi changed and he became a dictator. He refused to give out power to other people and he would like to life forever and become the leader of the country forever, therefore, he tried to steal some special medicines from the Queen of the West.
Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Susan Shirk, Professor of Political Science at UC San Diego, for a discussion of her new book, China: Fragile Superpower. A former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Clinton administration, Professor Shirk analyzes how Chinese domestic politics affects its international behavior and how US foreign policy responds to and influences China’s international behavior. She also discusses how her work as a scholar of Chinese politics and society informed her work in Washington. Series: “Conversations with History” [9/2007] [Show ID: 13167] Video Rating: 4 / 5
In this succinct, modest, and refreshingly forthright book–now revised and updated for the new century–Starr introduces to the uninitiated reader the background, basic data, and issues at stake in China’s crisis-ridden present and future.
The death of Deng Xioaping in February 1997, revelations about Chinese influence in our election campaigns, and Chinese eagerness to acquire advanced American technology, are only some of the developments that show how urgently we need to know and unde
Theme song of Singapore TCS version of Legend of the Eight Immortals staring Steve Ma, Phyllis Quek, Jaycelyn Tay and many more…(full credit to Grace) Video Rating: 4 / 5
www.wudanggongfu.com. WuDang Taoist Traditional Kung Fu Academy.Master Yuan XiuGang performing the wudang taoist kungfu form–8 immortal staff. Eamil wudangkungfu@163.com. Cell Phone:0086–13597886695. Video Rating: 4 / 5
Perfect wisdom and universal compassion are the two faces of realization. In this afternoon workshop, we will learn traditional methods to generate the undivided heart and mind of compassion. We will explore the uninterrupted life of Guan Yin (Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) through hearing, reflection and silence. The afternoon will include chanting, bowing, sutra copying, and meditation on the forms of Guan Yin.
People of all physical abilities and levels of meditation experience are welcome. Please eat lightly and wear loose, comfortable clothing.
Question by Shell: Where can I get information on ancient China on modern day China?
I need it for a project in social studies, and I have to compare modern day China to ancient China and I can’t find any websites that helps me with it! I have to compare Government, Buildings, Food, Clothing, Language, and Innovations. Can someone post some links to some websites that might help? Or just give me some of YOUR ideas! That would be really helpful! Thanks!
Best answer:
Answer by Ann http://blue.butler.edu/~jfmcgrat/china/timeline.htm
www.historyforkids.org/learn/government/
library.thinkquest.org/
modern day
www.jucee.org/China/A-view-of-Modern-Day-China.html
Searches related to: modern day china modern history china every day china time day china china independence day
china national day lonely china day moon day china may day china
Hope some of these help…maybe thru these it will lead you to more……Good Luck
This book is the perspective of China’s far deep civilization in westerners’ mind.It was recommended by New York Times and TIME as the most popular textbook of China’s history and culture in western world.
Please select the highest quality available for a better viewing Some views of the Silk Road I took during my recent trip. Part 1: From Lanzhou to Dunhuang. Better viewed in HQ. Enjoy!
Image by Eastenhuh
… used to be a women’s college opened by missionaries. Here’s a comment from my father to make history more alive:
Before Japanese invaded ShangHai in WWII, my mom graduated from a normal college (2-year college) at GuiYang and was enrolled by this famous university in the picture. So she took a long trip from GuiYang to Nanjing with a few friends. It would take 10 days to two weeks one way for the traveling via bus and boat. She arrived Nanjing and attended the school for only two months. Then the famous ShangHai battle with Japanese started. So she left Nanjing in a hurry and travel with the crowd back to GuiYang. It was quite an experience for her when she was only about 18 years old. She never attended any formal 4-year college ever since. She stayed at GuiYang. Two years later, she met my dad, who was appointed as the security chief of the city.
Ancient Bronzes Event on 2012-03-23 09:00:00
Address will be provided upon registration Fri., Mar. 23, 2012, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
This workshop, organized in conjunction with the Victor M. Leventritt Lecture Elusive Originals: Greek Bronze Statues and Roman Marble Copies, brings together archaeologists, art historians, conservators, and scientists to discuss Greek and Roman bronzes, both sculptural and utilitarian. Short talks will address bronze composition, methods of production, contexts of use, and history of research.
Continue reading Ancient Bronzes 225 words, reading time ~ 54 secs
