中國智慧-文化面面觀 課件匯總 UNIT 6 Chinese Festivals and Family-UNIT 10 Chinese Commitment and Inheritance

UNIT6ChineseFestivalsandFamilyLearningObjectivesGiveaspeechonaChinesefestivalLearnaboutexpressionsonfestival1TalkaboutChinesefestivals23QuotationsIfyoutakemythandfolklore,andthesethingsthatspeakinsymbols,theycanbeinterpretedinsomanywaysthatalthoughtheactualimageisclearenough,theinterpretationisinfinitelyblurred,asortofenormousrainbowofeverypossiblecoloryoucouldimagine.--DianaWynneJonesTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsUnderstanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingQuotations

Folkloreistheperfectsecondskin.Fromunderitshide,wecanseealltheshimmering,shadowyuncertaintiesoftheworld.--JaneYolenTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsUnderstanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingFolkloreandCustomsofFilialPietyandReunionFestivalsTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsUnderstanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingMostChinesepeoplearefamiliarwiththeDoubleNinthFestivalasadaytohonorandshowrespecttotheelderlyinChina.However,forthepeopleofFujianprovince,thereisanotherspecialdaydedicatedtofilialpietytowardstheaged,knownasthe“AogaoFestival”.ThisuniquefolktraditionalfestivaliscelebratedinFuzhouandisalsoknownasthe“FilialPietyFestival”.Onthe29thdayofthefirstlunarmonth,everyfamilyinFuzhouwakesupearlytocookaspecialsweetporridgecalled“Aogaoporridge”.Thisporridgeismadefromglutinousrice,brownsugar,peanuts,reddates,waterchestnuts,sesame,longan,andotheringredients.Familiesusethisporridgetoworshiptheirancestorsandofferittotheirrelativesandfriendsasagift.The“AogaoFestival”originatesfromthelegendof“Mulianwhoallegedly

rescuedhismother”.Accordingtothelegend,Mulian’smotherwaslockedupinacellintheunderworld.Mulianusedtobringdeliciousfoodforhismother,buttheguardswouldalwayseatitbeforeshecouldhaveany.Totricktheguards,Mulianmixedwaterchestnuts,peanuts,reddates,longans,brownsugar,andglutinousricetomakesweetporridge.Heputitinabowlwithahandfulofblacksesameandsentittohismother.Whentheprisonguardfoundtheporridgewasblack,heasked,“what’sthis?”Muliancasuallyreplied,“It’sAogaoporridge.”InFuzhoudialect,“gao”,whichsoundsthesameas“9”,means“dirty”.Theguardbelievedthattheporridgewasdirtyanddidnotdaretoeatit.Eventually,Mulian’smotherwasabletoenjoytheAogaoporridge.Therefore,thesweetporridgeisknownas“Aogaoporridge”becauseofitsblackcolorand“FilialPietyporridge”becauseofMulian’sdevotiontohismother.Additionally,inFujianculture,thefirstlunarmonthisdividedinto“three9s”,withthe9th,19th,and29thbeingknownas“uppernine”,“middlenine”,and“l(fā)astnine”,respectively.Thus,theporridgemadeonthe29thisalsoreferredtoas“l(fā)astnineporridge”.AsMulian’smotherwas29yearsoldwhenshewasimprisoned,Fuzhoupeopletraditionallybelievethatindividualswithanagecontaininga“9”maycourtmisfortuneandrequiremoreblessings.Asaresult,ithasbecomeacustomforpeoplewhoseagecontainsa“9”(suchas9,19,29,oranynumberendingin9)orisamultipleofnine(suchas18,27,36,oranynumbercovertlycontaining9)toeatabowlofthreadnoodlesforgoodhealthandpeaceonthisday,similartocelebratingtheirbirthdays.Additionally,marrieddaughtersareexpectedtosendabowlof“Aogaoporridge”witheggsandpigtrotterstotheirparents’homesasasignofrespect.Besidethetraditionalactivitiesofmoonworshipingandeatingmooncakes,XiamenpeoplehavedevelopedauniquecustomtocelebratetheMidAutumnFestival,knownastheBoCake.Legendhasitthatmorethan300yearsago,whenGeneralZhengChenggongstationedtroopsinXiamen,hissoldiersoftenfelthomesickduringtheMidAutumnFestival.Inordertoboostmoraleandprovideasenseofcomfort,Zheng’ssubordinate,HongXu,inventedadicegamblinggameandhelda“Mid-AutumnFestivalCake”party.Thegamewasplayedwithsixdiceandabowl,allowingsoldierstorollthediceinturn.Dependingonthenumberofredspotsonthedice,playerscouldwindifferentprizessuchasZhuangyuan(thefirstprize),Bangyan(thesecondplace),Tanhua(thethirdplace),Jinshi(thefourthplace),Juren(thefifthplace),orXiucai(thesixthplace).Ifallsixdiceshowedfourpoints,thewinnercouldclaimallthemooncakesonthetable.Ifthesixdiceshowedallthenumbersexceptfour,thelightswouldbeturnedoff,andeveryonewouldgrabthemooncakesinthedark.ZhengChenggongapprovedthatfromthe13thto18thdayofthelunarcalendar,thearmywouldtaketurnstoplaytheBoCakegameonasingleordoubleday.Overtime,thisgamehasbeenwidelyadoptedamongthepeopleandhasevolvedintoafascinatingfolkcustomactivity.InXiamen,theBoCakeisalsoknownas“MidAutumnFestivalBocake”or“Expocake”andhasbecomeanintegralpartofthecity’sMidAutumnFestivalcelebrations.Inthepast,theBoCakegamewasmostlyplayedamongcloserelatives,friends,orswornbrothersandsistersinXiamen.ParticipantswouldpooltogethertheirresourcestopreparemooncakesandgiftsasprizesandthengathertoplaytheBoCakegame.Thewinnerofthefirstprizewouldberesponsibleforpreparingaboxofmooncakesasoneoftheprizesforthefollowingyear’sBoCakegame,andfamilieswithnewlybornboyswouldpreparetwoboxesofmooncakesasanotherprizes.Inthisway,thenumberofcakeswouldincreaseeveryyear,andthetraditionoftheMid-AutumnFestivalBoCakehasbeenpasseddownfromgenerationtogeneration,becomingauniquefolkcustomactivityinXiamen.OnthenightoftheMid-AutumnFestival,everyfamilyinXiamenplaysthisfun-filledgame.CakeshopsinXiamenproducealargenumberofcakesduringthisevent,includingpies,Guangdongcakes,biscuit-stylecakes,oracombinationofthethreestyles.TheBoCakegameisnotjustforentertainmentduringthefestival,butitisalsobelievedtopredictpeople’sluckinthefollowingyear.PlayingBoCakeisahappyandauspiciousactivitythatbringspeopletogetherinjoyandcelebration.Nowadays,thegameisnotonlypopularamongXiamenpeoplebutalsoinfluencesthesurroundingareas,graduallyformingauniquemooncakecultureofMinnanpeople.ThefullmoonnightoftheMid-AutumnFestivalbecomesatimeofreunion,love,andfunforfriendsandfamilymembers.Theaforementionedlocalfestivalsandfolkcustomshighlighttheimportanceoffilialpietyandreunionamongthelocalpeople.Anothersignificantfestivalforreunionisthewintersolstice,whichisoneofthe24solartermsinChinaandfallsaroundDecember22eachyear.Fujianpeopleplacegreatimportanceonthisreunionfestival,anditiscustomaryforthewholefamilytocometogethertomake“roundness.”Tomakethese“roundness,”glutinousriceisgroundintoflourandlefttodryinthesunforseveraldaysbeforetheWinterSolstice.Onthenightbeforethefestival,theglutinousriceflourismixedwithboilingwatertomakeapaste,andthewholefamilysitsaroundthetabletoformthepasteintoball-shapeddumplingsinanactivitycalled“rubbingroundness,”whichsymbolizesreunion.Onthemorningofthewintersolstice,thewell-prepared“roundness”ismixedwithbrownsugarandusedinworshipingthegodsandancestors.Aftertheworship,theentirefamilysharesthefoodtogether.Legendhasitthatawoodcutteroncefellintoadeepcreekwhilecuttingfirewoodinthemountains.Hewasstuckinthecreekandcriedforhelp,butnobodycametohisaid.Aftertenyearsoflivinginthecreek,hewascoveredinhairandcouldfly.However,hehadlosthismemoryandwasunabletorecognizehisfamilymembers.Thewoodcutter’sfamilytookgoodcareofhim,feedinghimrounddumplingsmadeofglutinousriceflourandwater,whichgraduallyhelpedhimregainhismemoryandreconnectwithhisfamily.Sincethen,thecustomofrubbingroundnesshasbecomepopular,anditservesasareminderoftheimportanceoffamilyandreunionduringthewintersolstice.TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsoriginate:v.formaltocomefromaparticularplaceorstartinaparticularsituation起源于e.g.Howdidtheplanoriginate?originatefrome.g.Alotofourmedicinesoriginatefromtropicalplants.originateine.g.ManyChristmastraditionsoriginatedinGermany.originatewithe.g.TheideaoriginatedwiththeancientGreekphilosophers.originatease.g.Thetownoriginatedasasmallfishingport.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsallegedly:adv.usedwhenreportingsomethingthatpeoplesayistrue,althoughithasnotbeenproved據(jù)傳e.g.TheincidentsallegedlyoccurredbetweenJanuary1995andOctober1996.rescue:v.tosavesomeoneorsomethingfromasituationofdangerorharm營救e.g.Survivorsofthecrashwererescuedbyhelicopter.devotion:n.thestronglovethatyoushowwhenyoupayalotofattentiontosomeoneorsomething熱愛e.g.Alannahasalwaysshownintensedevotiontoherchildren.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsstation:v.tosendsomeoneinthemilitarytoaparticularplaceforaperiodoftimeaspartoftheirmilitaryduty駐扎e.g.Iwasstationedoverseasatthetime.boost:v.toincreaseorimprovesomethingandmakeitmoresuccessful促進e.g.Thenewresortareahasboostedtourism.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsgrab:v.totakeholdofsomeoneorsomethingwithasuddenorviolentmovement抓住e.g.Igrabbedmybagandranoff.integral:adj.forminganecessarypartofsomething構(gòu)成整體所必需的e.g.Vegetablesareanintegralpartofourdiet.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationspredict:v.tosaythatsomethingwillhappen,beforeithappens預言e.g.Saleswerefivepercentlowerthanpredicted.predict(that)e.g.NewspaperspredictedthatDaviswouldbere-elected.predictwhether/what/howetce.g.Itisdifficulttopredictwhatthelong-termeffectsoftheaccidentwillbe.bepredictedtodosomethinge.g.Unemploymentispredictedtoincreaseto700,000bytheendoftheyear.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsauspicious:adj.showingthatsomethingislikelytobesuccessful猜疑的e.g.Saccani’sexcellentrecordingisanauspiciousstarttowhatpromisestobeadistinguishedmusicalcareer.regain:v.togetsomethingback,especiallyanabilityorquality,thatyouhavelost恢復e.g.Thefamilyneverquiteregaineditsformerinfluence.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsMulianRescuesHisMotherorMulianSavesHisMotherFromHellisapopularChineseBuddhisttalefirstattestedinaDunhuangmanuscriptdatingtotheearly9thcenturyCE.ItisanelaborationofthecanonicalYulanpenSutrawhichwastranslatedfromIndicsourcesbyDharmarak?asometimebetween265and311CE.MulianseeksthehelpoftheBuddhatorescuehismother,whohasbeenrebornintheHell.Muliancannotrescueherbyhisindividualeffort,however,butisinstructedbytheBuddhatoofferfoodandgiftstomonksandmonasteriesonthefifteenthdayoftheseventhlunarmonth,whichestablishedtheGhost.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingWhileMulian'sdevotiontohismotherreassuredEastAsiansthatBuddhismdidnotunderminetheConfucianvalueoffilialpietyandhelpedtomakeBuddhismintoaChinesereligion,italsoreflectedstrongundercurrentsoffilialpietythatexistedthroughoutIndianBuddhismasevidencedthroughitscanonicaltextsandepigraphicalremains.TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsI.Choosethebestanswertoeachofthefollowingquestions.1.Aogaoporridgeismadeofthefollowingmaterials,exceptglutinousrice B.peanuts C.waterchestnuts D.salt2.Whichofthefollowingnumberdoesnotcontaintheovert“9”?19 B.27 C.29 D.393.Whichofthefollowingnumberdoesnotcontainthecovert“9”?18 B.27 C.28 D.364.Theforkcustom,MidAutumnFestivalBocake,isbelievedtohavesomethingtodowith________.A.Zuo

Zongtang B.ZhengChenggong C.QiJiguang D.LinZexuUnderstandingthetextLanguageExercisesReadingTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsI.Choosethebestanswertoeachofthefollowingquestions.5.Theactivitiesinthe“Mid-AutumnFestivalCake”partyincludethefollowing,exceptplaythegamblinggameofrollingthedice eatcakesC.dance D.drinktea6.Theactivity,“rubbingroundness”,isusuallydoneduringthefollowingfestival.A.thewintersolstice B.AogaoFestival C.MidAutumnFestival D.DoubleNinthFestivalUnderstandingthetextLanguageExercisesReadingTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsII.Discussthefollowingquestionsinsmallgroups.Manyfestivalsaresetspeciallyforshowingrespecttoaparticulargroupofpeople,pleasefigureoutone,excepttheDoubleNinthFestivalandAogaoFestival,andsharewithyourpartner.2.DoyouknowanylocalforkcustomactivitylikeBoCake?Pleasefindoneandintroducetotheclass.3.PleasemakeacomparisonofthefestivalsforreunionbetweenChineseandaforeignculture.UnderstandingthetextLanguageExercisesReadingTextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsI.TranslatethefollowingparagraphintoEnglish.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReading在英格蘭，圣誕節(jié)和新年照例要喜氣洋洋地慶祝一番，交換禮物，舉辦晚餐和晚會。當然，我與這些享受一概無緣，我的那份快樂就是目睹姐姐們下樓走到客廳去會友；然后，聽著樓下彈鋼琴或豎琴的聲音，男管家和男仆來回走動的腳步聲，上茶點時玻璃和瓷器碰撞的叮當聲，隨著客廳門開閉時斷斷續(xù)續(xù)傳來的談話聲。當我聽厭了，便會從樓梯口退到孤寂的保育室：在那里，雖然有點悲傷，但我并不痛苦。

ChristmasandtheNewYearhadbeencelebratedatEnglandwiththeusualfestivecheer;presentshadbeeninterchanged,dinnersandeveningpartiesgiven.FromeveryenjoymentIwas,ofcourse,excluded:myshareofthegaietyconsistedinseeingmysistersdescendtothedrawing-roomtomeettheirfriends;andafterwards,inlisteningtothesoundofthepianoortheharpplayedbelow,tothepassingtoandfroofthebutlerandfootman,tothejinglingofglassandChinaasrefreshmentswerehanded,tothebrokenhumofconversationasthedrawing-roomdooropenedandclosed.Whentiredofthisoccupation,Iwouldretirefromthestairheadtothesolitaryandsilentnursery:there,thoughsomewhatsad,Iwasnotmiserable.TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsI.TranslatethefollowingparagraphintoEnglish.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReading說實話，我一點也不想進去湊熱鬧，因為就是去了我也很少被注意到。隨后，我把洋娃娃放在膝頭呆坐著，直到爐火漸熄，還時不時地環(huán)顧四周，以確保除了我沒有更可怕的東西光臨這陰暗的房間；當余燼變成暗紅色時，我匆匆忙忙地脫去衣服，鉆進小床，躲避寒冷和黑暗。我總是把我的玩偶帶到床上，人總得愛一些什么，在缺乏更值得愛的東西的情況下，我便設想以珍愛一個褪了色的玩偶來尋求樂趣，盡管這個布娃娃已經(jīng)破爛不堪。Tospeaktruth,Ihadnottheleastwishtogointocompany,forincompanyIwasveryrarelynoticed.Ithensatwithmydollonmykneetillthefiregotlow,glancingroundoccasionallytomakesurethatnothingworsethanmyselfhauntedtheshadowyroom;andwhentheemberssanktoadullred,Iundressedhastilyandsoughtshelterfromcoldanddarknessinmycrib.TothiscribIalwaystookmydoll;humanbeingsmustlovesomething,and,inthedearthofworthierobjectsofaffection,Icontrivedtofindapleasureinlovingandcherishingafadedandshabbygravenimage.TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsI.TranslatethefollowingparagraphintoEnglish.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReading可我當時是帶著何等荒謬的真誠來溺愛這小玩偶呀！我相信只有把它裹進我的睡衣里我才能入睡。當它安全而溫暖地躺在那里時，我便覺得快樂多了，而且相信它也會快樂。WhatabsurdsincerityIdoatedonthislittletoy!IfirmlybelievedthatIcouldnotsleepunlessitwasfoldedinmynight-gown;andwhenitlaytheresafeandwarm,Iwascomparativelyhappy,believingittobehappylikewise.TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsII.Fillintheblankswiththewordsprovided,andchangetheformifnecessary.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingLanternFestival,alsocalledShangyuanFestival,isaChinesetraditionalfestivalcelebratedonthefifteenthdayofthefirstlunarmonth.Tocelebratethisfestival,FuzhoupeoplewouldgotoNanhoujie,wherehand-madelanternsinFuzhou______(originate),tobuyandwatchallkindsoflanterns.This______(develop)intoalocalcustom.ThelanternsinNanhoujiecameintobeingintheSongDynastyandfullygrewintheMingandQingdynasties,______(rank)firstinthelanternfestivalofPekingthestatecapital.Cominginallshapesandforms,suchasallkindsofanimals,fruits,vegetablesandflowers,thelanternsarebrightincolorandeye-catching,richintheuniquelocalflavorofFuzhou.FromthelunarnewyeartotheEveofLanternFestival,localpeopleoriginated

hasdeveloped

ranking

TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsII.Fillintheblankswiththewordsprovided,andchangetheformifnecessary.Understanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReading______(give)lanternsasgifts.ParentswouldcustomarilygivetheirmarrieddaughteralanternbecauseintheFuzhoudialect,“deng(lantern)”and“ding(baby)”______(bear)asimilarsound.Togivealanternmeanstohaveababy.ThelanternmarketinNanhoujie______(start)onthethirddayofthefirstlunarmonthandendsontheLanternFestival.Themostexcitingpartisfromtheeighthdaytothetwelfthdayandthereisaproverbwhich______(say),“Theeighthdayofthefirstlunarmonthisthebesttimetowatchlanterns.ThenightoftheLanternFestivalisalsoanightoffunforkids.Parents______(light)lanternsfortheirchildrentojointhelanternparadeofkidsintheneighbourhood.Since2007,Fuzhou______(hold)“NanhoujieLanternShow”beforeandaftertheLanternFestivalinNanhoujieandotherplaces.Attheendof2008,FuzhouNanhoujie______(grant)thetitleof“HomeofChineseFolkCultureandArt”bytheMinistryofCultureforitslanterns.wouldgive

bear

starts

says

wouldlight

hasbeenholding

goes

wasgranted

TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsUnderstanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingIII.Retellthestorymentionedin“FolkloreandCustomsofFilialPietyandReunionFestivals”.IV.SpeakonthefollowingtopicsinEnglish.CanyoupleasecompareaChinesefestivalwithaforeignone?Pleasepayattentiontobothsimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenthetwo.Whatisthesignificanceandfunctionoffestivals?Pleasedoresearchonthistopicandpresentyourfindingstotheclass.PleaseconductaresearchonfestivalsthatareheldtomemorizethedeceasedinChinaandaforeigncountry.Basedonyourresearch,provideyourthoughtsonthedifferencesbetweenthetwofestivals.TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsUnderstanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingV.CriticalthinkingYouarerequiredtoconductacarefulstudyontheattitudesofChineseandforeignculturestowardstheelderlyandidentifyanydifferencesthatexistandtheirunderlyingcauses.Furthermore,youneedtoanalyzethetraditionalcaregivingresponsibilitiesoffamilymemberstowardstheelderlyinChinaandWesternsocietiesandreflectontheimpactofmodernizationandeconomicdevelopmentontheseduties.Also,findafestivalorcelebrationdedicatedtotheelderlyinaWesterncountry,andcompareitwithChinesetraditionsoffilialpiety,emphasizinganysimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweentheseholidaycelebrations.Throughwell-supportedresearchandevidence,youarerequiredtodemonstrateanuancedunderstandingoftheculturalandhistoricalfactorsthathaveimpactedpeople’sattitudestowardstheelderlyandfilialpietyinbothcultures.TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsUnderstanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingIntroductiontoCharlesDickens

CharlesDickens(bornFebruary7,1812,Portsmouth,Hampshire,England—diedJune9,1870,Gad’sHill,nearChatham,Kent)Englishnovelist,generallyconsideredthegreatestoftheVictorianera.HismanyvolumesincludesuchworksasAChristmasCarol,DavidCopperfield,BleakHouse,ATaleofTwoCities,GreatExpectations,andOurMutualFriend.TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsUnderstanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingDickens’stimelesstaledepictsthelifeofEbenezerScrooge(playedbyAlastairSim),arich,self-obsessedmiser.OnChristmasEveheisgivenonelastchanceforredemptionwhentheghostofhisequallymiserlybusinesspartner,JacobMarley(MichaelHordern),comesbacktowarnhimofthepotentiallydevastatingconsequencesofhiscruelbehaviour.AfterreceivingvisitsfromthespiritsofChristmaspast,present,andfuture,Scroogeisconvincedtochange.Heimmediatelysetsaboutmendinghisways,becominggenerousandthoughtfulandtherebyfindingredemptionandjoy.TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsUnderstanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingQuestionsforcriticalthinking:Inthefirstfourparagraphs,DickensgivesavividdescriptionofScrooge.Pleaseanalyzewhatkindofrhetoricaldeviceusedhere,andillustrateitwithexample.WhydidScroogesaythatChristmaswasahumbug?Doyouagreewithhim?Pleasesupportyourcommentswithexplanation.WhydidScrooge’snephewbelieveChristmaswasagoodtime?Doyouagreewithhim?Pleasesupportyourcommentswithexplanation.WhatreasondidScroogegivetorefusediningwithhisnephewonChristmas?PleaseexplaintherealreasonaccordingyourunderstandingofScrooge’scharacteristics.CouldyouexplainthereasonwhyScrooge’snephewwantedtoinvitehimtodinneronChristmas?ChineseFestivalsandHeroesUNIT7LearningObjectivesGiveaspeechonminority’sfestivalLearnaboutexpressionsonChineseFestivals1Talkaboutlocalbeliefandlegend23QuotationsLiveeverydayasifitisafestival.Turnyourlifeintoacelebration.--ShriRadheMaa

TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsUnderstanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingQuotationsAfterplayinglady's-maidtothenewcomer,andputtingmycakesintheoven,andmakingthehouseandkitchencheerfulwithgreatfires,befittingChristmaseve,Ipreparedtositdownandamusemyselfbysingingcarols,allalone;regardlessofJoseph'saffirmationsthatheconsideredthemerrytunesIchoseasnextdoortosongs.--EmilyBront?TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsUnderstanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingLocalCustomandBelief

TextWords&ExpressionsQuotationsUnderstanding

thetextLanguageExercisesReadingInadditiontothemajorfestivalscelebratedthroughoutChina,suchasChineseNewYear,theLanternFestival,theQingming(TombSweeping)Festival,andtheWinterSolstice,therearealsonumerousfestivalsthatshowcasetheuniqueculturesandtraditionsofdifferentregions.Thisarticlewillexploretwosuchfestivals-theMazuFestivalandtheWuFanFestival-andprovideinsightsintothelocalcustoms,delicacies,andactivitiesthatarepartofthesecelebrations.FujianprovinceandTaiwanIslandareknownfortheirfishingcommunities,whobravetheopenseaeverydayinsearchoftheirlivelihood.Toprotectthemduringtheirvoyages,thefishermencreatedaseagoddessknownas“Mazu,”whoisalsoreferredtoasthe“QueenofHeaven,”“PrincessofHeaven,”and“VirginofHeaven.”MazuwasbasedonarealwomanwhowasbornonMeizhouIslandinPutianCity,Fujianin960AD.HercompassionandcourageinrescuingsailorsfromshipwrecksearnedherthereputationofbeingtheGoddessoftheSea.Tohonorher,fishermencelebrateherbirthdayonMarch23rdofthelunarcalendarandherdeathdayonSeptember9thofthelunarcalendar,whicharecollectivelyknownasthe“MazuFestival.”Duringthisfestival,fishermenofferprayersandmakeofferingsatMazutemples,participateinculturaldiscussionsandhandicraftexhibitions,watchfolksongsanddances,andindulgeintheflavorsofFujiancuisine.ThelegendofMazu,theseagoddess,isbothmagicalandtouching.Accordingtothetale,MazuwasborninPutian,FujianProvinceduringtheearlyNorthernSongDynasty.Herfather,knownas“Linwell-doer,”wasanhonestandkindman.WhenMazu’smotherwaspregnantwithher,shehadadreaminwhichGuanyinBodhisattvagaveherapill.Afterswallowingthepill,adazzlingredlightshoneintotheroom.Afewdayslater,shegavebirthtoalittlegirlwhonevercried.Thus,herparentsnamedher“MoNiang,”whichmeans“silentgirl.”MoNiangwasabeautifulandintelligentchild,whoexcelledinreadingandhadakindheart.Shesawthatmanyfishermenwerelivinginhardshipandthatplaguesweredestroyingtheirfamilies.Shesaidtoherparents,“Iamdeterminedtolearnmedicinetosavetheafflicted.”And,shedidjustthat.Withherexcellentmedicalskills,MoNiangsavedmanyfishermenandgainedgreatrespectandhighreputation.Oneday,MoNiangandsomegirlswereplayinginthecourtyardnearanancientwell.Thewell’swaterwasasclearasamirror.Whiletheywereplaying,theysawamanrisingoutofthewell.Theothergirlswerescaredandranaway,butMoNiangkneltquietlytoworshipthedivineman.ThedivinemanstaredatMoNiangforawhile,gaveheracopperamulet,andheroseintothecolorfulclouds.Fromthatmoment,MoNiangbecameanimmortal.Shetravelsaroundthesea,oftenhelpingpeopleandfishermenindistress.Sometimeafter,localfishermenbuiltatempleonMeizhouIsland,herhometown,andsetthedaysofherbirthanddeathastheanniversary.Peoplerespectfullycallher“Tongxianlingnv,”meaning“spiritgirlthatcanreachgreatsage,”andgenerallyrefertoheras“Mazu.”ThesemythsandlegendsrevealthedeepreverenceandfaiththatfishermenhaveforMazu.DuringtheYuanDynasty,thedevelopmentofmaritimetradeledtomoreelaborateceremoniesandtheconstructionofMazutemplesnearthesea.Intimesoftrouble,fishermenwouldcallouttoMazuforprotection,andevenperformplaystohonorthegoddessandseekherblessings.TheimageofMazuisoneofbenevolence,withacrownonherheadandwearninganimperialrobe.DuringtheMazuFestival,elderlywomendressintraditionalclothing,WiththeirhairinaflatbunandcladinredclothesandblackpantsinthestyleofMazu.ThereasonforthisissaidthatMazuwor