Wk#01 (8/27-8/31)

三年中文: 古代與現代漢語文選
第一週時間表      題目: 中國的民間傳說與神話   |  成語: 溫故知新

Monday  8/27:_________________________________________________________
1) 介紹課程 chinese4u.edublogs.org中文播課網站
Do you have an edublog account? 
2) 課堂活動: 
-成語: 用中文解釋意思; 造一個句子: 溫故知新
-第一個題目- 中國民間神話
3) 第一週閱讀課文: (Go to MandarinSpot.com  – online annotation tool)
Wk#1.1: 作為歷史悠久的文明古國,中國有豐富多彩的民族傳統節日。每一個節日都有它的歷史淵源和美妙傳說。它們反映了民族的傳統習慣和道德風尚,是千百年來一代代歲月長 河中歡樂的盛會。中國主要的傳統節日有春節、元宵、端午、中秋節等等。
你知道嗎? – Group Brainstorm Activity (Think about the topic in question – do you have enough background knowledge? If not, you should do some research and read in English. Do you have the right vocabulary to discuss this topic – what are the words you need – make a list.)
端午節是什麼時候?為什麼慶祝端午節?你知道端午節有什麼活動或者習俗嗎?

HOMEWORK to be completed before Wednesday’s class on 8/29:
1.
 Follow up with Group Brainstorm Activity – background reading and vocabulary acquisition
2. Complete reading assignment:
第一週閱讀課文 Wk#1 Reading:
(close reading for word by word as well as general comprehension; take notes for vocabulary items and key words; note proper names; practice using your own words to recount the narrative – bring your notes, either written or typed, in hard copy or on your leptop to class)
About 端午節: (selected from http://content.edu.tw/primary/fellowship/tn_nt/traday/tra04.htm)
Wk#1.2 傳說 – 端午節時值夏季,正是疾病開始流行的季節,因此端午節的由來,可追溯為驅邪避惡,以求身心的平安,後來加入愛國詩人屈原、白蛇傳、鍾馗的傳說,更增添了端午節的重要與感性 。
Wk#1.3 屈原的故事 – 屈原是戰國時代楚國人,二十六歲就當了楚懷王的大臣,忠心愛國。楚懷王死後,其子聽信奸臣的話,屈原曾多次上書楚王,闡述國是,無奈楚王不信,遠離屈原,屈原因感懷局勢動盪、國事不振,不願與奸臣們同流合污,竟投汩羅江自盡。據說屈原是在五月五日投江,人們便在每年的五月五日端午節時划龍舟、吃粽子,以紀念屈原的愛國情操,又因屈原是名詩人,所以端午節又稱詩人節。
Wk#1.4 習俗 – 龍舟競賽、吃粽子、雞蛋直立、喝雄黃酒、打午時水、掛香包、菖蒲、艾草。

Wednesday 8/29:_______________________________________________________
1) 討論閱讀功課 Wk #1.2 – 1.4
2) Voicethread Reading Assignment:

想要找時間練習口語嗎? Chinese Conversation Hour -什麼方式時候最好?
Thursday, 9/6 from 5:00-6:00, Chinese House invites you to tea and Baozi!

HOMEWORK to be completed before Friday’s class on 8/31:

1.
Post an English translation of WK#1.2 and Wk #1.3 under Comments;
2. Complete Voicethread reading assignment: record
1) your reading of the text, and
2) a recount of the paragraph using your own words
under slide 1, slide 2 and slide 3 for Wk #1.2, Wk#1.3 and Wk#1.4
3. Complete 第一週閱讀課文:
Wk#1.5 鍾馗的故事 – 鍾馗乃唐朝人物,其生前曾應武舉狀元,但因其貌不揚,被取消狀元資格,鍾馗因此自殺。死後唐朝天子因後悔而追封為驅魔大師,派他消滅天下孽。地上的人知道了鍾馗的故事,又知道地上的妖魔鬼怪都怕他,所以每到了端午節這天,傳說妖魔鬼怪會出現,就把它的畫像掛起來,端午節多懸鍾馗之像謂能驅邪鎮惡之意。
Wk#1.6 白蛇傳 – 白蛇仙姑因愛戀許仙,被如來佛長期囚禁,乃憤然掙斷枷鎖,奔向人間,在青蛇協助之下,與謫貶下凡的許仙結為夫妻,法海禪師尾隨下凡,累施暗害,倒行逆施,拆散美滿姻緣,白蛇怒顯神通水漫金山,勇鬥凶神惡將,仍抵不過法海的紫金缽,被壓在西湖邊的雷峰塔底。故事纏綿悱惻,為中國四大傳說之一。

Friday 8/31:___________________________________________________________
1) Review Voicethread reading
2) 討論閱讀功課 Wk #1.5 – 1.6
3) Voicethread Speaking Practice – Choose either the story of Zhongkui or the story of the White Snake; use your own words to re-tell the story – record on the corresponding slide – about 2-5 minutes

HOMEWORK to be completed before Wednesday’s class on 9/5:
1.
Post an English translation of WK#1.5 and Wk #1.6 under Comments for Week #1
2. Complete Voicethread  Speaking Practice assignment (no reading of the text): record a recount of the story Zhong Kui and the White Snake under slide 4 or slide 5.

Group Translation Project: (starting working—-not due until next Friday 9/7 – submit under Week#2 Comments for grading)
Group 1:Riccardo, Rachel
Group 2: Taili, Sam, Kari
Group 3: Phil, Shelby

Translate the following into Chinese by next Friday (9/7) before class:
T-1. Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, and together with Chinese New Year and  Mid-Autumn Festival forms one of the three major Chinese holidays. Since the summer is a time when diseases most easily spread, Dragon Boat Festival began as an occasion for driving off evil spirits and pestilence and for finding peace in one’s life. The festival was later enriched by the legend of the patriot Qu Yuan.
T-2. The festival’s significance as a time for warding off evil and disease is symbolized by a number of customary practices such as hanging calamus and moxa on the front door, and pasting up pictures of Chongkui.
T-3. Adults drink Xionghunag wine and children are given fragrant sachets, both of which are said to possess qualities for preventing evil and bringing peace. Another custom practiced in Taiwan is “fetch noon water” in which people draw well water on the afternoon of the festival in the belief that it will cure illness. And if you can successfully stand an egg on its end exactly at 12:00 noon, then the coming year will be a lucky one.
T-4. The most popular dish during Dragon Boat Festival is Zongzi, originally eaten in memory of the patriot Qu Yuan, but gradually evolving into a snack eaten during normal occasions as well. Of all the major holidays celebrated in China, Dragon Boat Festival has the longest history.

 

 

10 thoughts on “Wk#01 (8/27-8/31)

  1. 1.2 The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated in the summer. It originates from a time when a lot of sickness was spreading, and people wanted to rid themselves of evil in order to have more mind/body peace. Now, the stories of the patriotic poet Qu Yuan, the White Snake, and Zhong Kui, give the Dragon Boat Festival even more meaning.
    1.3 Qu Yuan’s Story: Qu Yuan lived during the Warring States period. By the time he was twenty-six he had already become a high level chancellor, and dutifully served his country. When the emperor died, however, his son and successor listened to a treacherous official. Qu Yuan did not want to go along with this bad example and so he wrote letters petitioning the actions of the government. They didn’t work and he decided that rather than conform to the evil, he would throw himself into a river and commit suicide. It is said that he did this on the fifth day of the fifth month, so now people celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival on that day by racing dragon boats and eating zongzi to commemorate Qu Yuan’s patriotism and poetry. As a result, the Dragon Boat Festival is often called the Poet’s Festival.

  2. 1.2 Legend – The Dragon Boat Festival is a summer festivity, right when people start to get sick. That explains the origins of the festival, started as a way to keep physical and mental health. Following the Dragon Boat Festival are also the patriotic poet Qu Yuan, the tale of BaiShe, the KongKui’s legend which all contribute to raising the importance and perspective of the festival.
    1.3 The Story of QuYuan – QuYuan was a Chu compatriot during the Era of the Warring States. Other than being loyal to the love for his country, at the age of 26 he served the King Huai of Chu as his chancellor. Following the death of King Huai of Chu, if his son heard of traitors, QuYuan would write many times a letter to the King of Chu, (…). Legend has it QuYuan jumped in the river the 5th day of May. Because of that, even more people every year, on May 5th, get on the Dragon Boats and eat Zongzi to commemorate QuYuan’s patriotic character. Moreover, because QuYuan was a poet, the Dragon Boat Festival is also called the Poets Festival.

  3. 1.2 English Translation
    The Dragon Boat Festival occurs in the summer, a time of year when diseases spread. The festival originated from people’s desires to stave away evil and illness in hopes that their health would be good. In later years, additional patriotic poets have added their own tales to the origin of the festival adding importance and sentimality, these tales include those of Qu Yuan, The Legend of the White Snake, and Zhong Kui.
    1.3 English Translation
    Qu Yuan lived during the Warring States Era, he was 26 years old when he became chancellor for King Huai of the Chu and he devoutly served his country. After King Huai died, his heir gave ear to the words of the corrupt officials instead of the numerous petitions Qu Yuan sent forward about the country’s state of affairs. Qu Yuan was helpless when the King of Chu did not believe him and kept him far from his side. Because Qu Yuan felt the state of affairs full of unease, politics losing vitality, and himself was unwilling to follow the example of the corrupt officials, he went so far as to throw himself into the Gu Luojian river. It is said that he committed suicide on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar year.

    1.4 English Translation
    Dragon Festival customs include dragon boat racing, eating stuffed sticky rice, standing eggs up, drinking mighty mulled rice wine, ladling water from the well at noon, hang bags full of fragrant herbs that include sweet sedge and Asian wormwood.

  4. 傳說 – 端午節時值夏季,正是疾病開始流行的季節,因此端午節的由來,可追溯為驅邪避惡,以求身心的平安,後來加入愛國詩人屈原、白蛇傳、鍾馗的傳說,更增添了端午節的重要與感性 。

    Folklore – The Dragon Boat Festival takes place in the summer, a time when illness starts to spread, and thus we can trace the festival’s origins back to a time when people ‘drove out devils’ to avoid evil, in order to secure the well-being of the body and mind. Later the tale of the patriotic poet Qu Yuan, the tale of the White Snake, and the legend of Zhongkui were all added to increase the importance and sentiment of the festival.

    屈原的故事 – 屈原是戰國時代楚國人,二十六歲就當了楚懷王的大臣,忠心愛國。楚懷王死後,其子聽信奸臣的話,屈原曾多次上書楚王,闡述國是,無奈楚王不信,遠離屈原,屈原因感懷局勢動盪、國事不振,不願與奸臣們同流合污,竟投汩羅江自盡。據說屈原是在五月五日投江,人們便在每年的五月五日端午節時划龍舟、吃粽子,以紀念屈原的愛國情操,又因屈原是名詩人,所以端午節又稱詩人節。

    Qu Yuan’s Tale – Qu Yuan was a Chu statesman during the Warring States Period, and at the age of 26 was King Huai of Chu’s cabinet minister, and a loyal patriot. After King Huai’s death, his son was swayed by a treacherous court official. Since Qu Yuan had already wrote several letters to the King of Chu, regarding state affairs, the King of Chu had no choice but to mistrust him, and kept himself away from Qu Yuan, as Qu Yuan constantly and passionately spoke about the poor state of the nation, and was unwilling to wallow in the mire with the treacherous court official. He unexpectedly threw himself into the Luojiang River to kill himself. It is said that Qu Yuan threw himself into the river on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, and soon after people began to race dragon boats on the river on that day every year, and eat wrapped rice cakes. In order to commemorate Qu Yuan’s patriotic sentiment, and because Qu Yuan was a famous poet, the Dragon Boat Festival is also known as the Poet’s Festival.

    習俗 – 龍舟競賽、吃粽子、雞蛋直立、喝雄黃酒、打午時水、掛香包、菖蒲、艾草。

    Customs – Race dragon boats, eat wrapped rice cakes, balance eggs, drink realgar wine, fetch water from the well at noontime, hang fragrance bags, sweet sedge, and Asian mugwort.

  5. Wk 1.2
    Duanwujie falls during summer, just when communicable diseases are at their most contagious! Due to this, Duanwujies origin lies in driving out bad things and exorcising evil spirits, in order to ensure the well being of body and mind. Later on, the folkttales of patriotic poet Quyuan, Baishezhuan, and Zhongkui were added appended to the tradition, increasing Duanwujie’s importance and emotional significance.

    Wk 1.3
    Quyuans story – Quyuan lived in the state of Chu during the Warring States Period. At the early age of 26 he became the ruler of Chu’s advisor, he was loyal and patriotic. After the leader of Chu died, his wife listened to the counsel of traitors. Quyuan had sent official letters of complaint to the leader many times, expounding on the state of national affairs, but nevertheless the ruler of Chu did not believe him, and distanced himself from Quyuan. Quyuan, because he was very moved by the state of affairs, and national affairs were stable, was unwilling to roll around in the muck with the traitors and participate in their immoral crimes, so he committed suicide by throwing himself into the river. It is said that Quyuan threw himself into the river on May 5th. Every year on the 5th day of the 5th month during Duanwujie, people float dragon boats, eat sticky rice zongzi, and commemorate Quyuan’s patriotic character. Because Quyuan was a poet, Duanwujie is also called the poets holiday.

  6. 1.5 English Translation
    Zhong Kui lived during the Tang dynast. During his life, he took the provincial military exam and received the highest scores. However, because he was not beautiful enough, his qualifications were revoked. Because of this, Zhong Kui killed himself. After he died, the Tang Emperor felt regret for the loss of Zhong Kui, thus he bestowed upon him the posthumonous title of The Great Master Who Exercises Evil and appointed him to drive out the evil spirits of the realm. People on earth know Zhong Kui’s story, and also know that the demons and ghosts who lurk on the earth are all afraid of him. Thus every Dragon Boat Festival to this day, legends say that the demons and ghosts come out the portrait of Zhong Kui stands up. Every Dragon Boat Festival Zhong Kui’s portrait is hung, it is said to drive out evil and calm the thoughts of spirits.

    1.6 English Translation
    Madame White Snake was an immortal because she loved Xuxian. Buddha cast Madame White Snake in a long term imprisonment and in resentment shattered her chains and fled to the human world. Green Snake aided her and in her banishment from Heave, Madame White Snake married Xuxian. A Budddhist monk, Fa Hai, had followed on her heels as she descended from Heaven and devised a way to backstab Madade White Snake, for she had gone against the tide of things. He broke up the blissful, predestined marriage she had with Xuxian. Madame White Snake’s rage was palpable as she diffused the water from Jinshan. She bravely fought the demonic general, yet she could only resist Fa Hai’s purple alms bowl; she put pressure on him at the shore of Lake Xihu with a the Leifeng Pagoda a backdrop to their battle. The tale is truly heartbreaking. Of China’s Buddhist legends, it is but one.

  7. 1.5 ZhongKui’s Story: ZhongKui lived during the Tang Dynasty and was a top scorer in the Imperial Examination System and a successful military person, but he was also very ugly. Because of this, his scores were cancelled, and consequently, he committed suicide. After his death the emperor regretted cancelling the scores and gave him a title of driving out evil. People on earth knew ZhongKui’s story and knew that ghosts and demons feared him. So, during the Dragon Boat Festival, when the demons supposedly appear, people hang up pictures of ZhongKui to drive out the evil.
    1.6 Tale of the White Snake: An immortal white snake fell in love with a mortal, and was thus imprisoned by a monk . She ran away to the human world and asked for help from her friend the Green Snake. She and the mortal got married, but the evil monk followed them and killed them, breaking up their happy marriage. The White Snake was very angry so she demonstrated her magic powers by flooding JinShan, fighting the evil forces. But she couldn’t fight against the evil monk and was buried under Leifong Pagoda next to the west lake. This sad story is one of the four important Chinese legends.

  8. 1.5 ZhongKui’s Legend – ZhongKui is a historical figure from the Tang Dynasty. He was the top scorer of the military exam but, because of his far from pleasant looks, ZhongKui got disqualified from the exam. This led him to commit suicide. After his death, the Tang Emperor, full of regret, proclamed ZhongKui the “master exorcist” with the job of driving away all of Earth’s evil. The people in our World knew about ZhongKui’s story, they also knew that all the ghosts and devils feared ZhongKui. Because of that, it is said that every eve of the Dragon Boat Festival, the ghosts and devils can appear to hang up ZhongKui’s portrait (…).
    1.6 The Tale of the White Snake – The White Snake was an immortal lady who, because of her love for XuXian, got imprisoned by Buddha. One day however, filled with anger, the White Snake broke her chains and ran to the human world. With her assistance, (…) she married XuXian. But she was followed down to Earth by FaHai the Monk, who was sent to kill her. Doing all things wrong, the White Lady had to break up the happy marriage and, as an angry woman, unleash her magical power on JinShan, where she fought bravely the king of the evil demons.
    Not being able to resist to FaHai’s purple alms bowl, she got thrown to the WestLake, on the LeiFeng Pagoda. This very saddening story represents a pillar of Chinese Buddhism.

  9. Zhongkui

    Zhongkui was a historical figure of the Tang Dynasty. During his life he was the top scorer in the provincial military examination, but because of his frightening physical appearance, his credentials as top scorer and holder of an examination certificate were revoked. He consequently committed suicide. After his death, the son of the Emperor, due to his deep regret, conferred a title posthumously on Zhongkui in order to appease the spirit of the great master, and dispatched him to extirpate the evils of the world. The people of the earth all know the story of Zhongkui, and know also that the ghosts, devils, and ghouls of the world all fear him. So every year when Duanwujie arrives, and legends say that the ghosts and devils appear, you need only hang up a portrait of Zhongkui. During Duanwujie, hanging images of Zhongkui serves to exorcise evil spirits.

    Baishezhuan

    Because the immortal Baishe fell in love with Xuxian, she was imprisoned for a long while by the Tathagata Buddha. She angrily struggled against her fetters, in order to hurry to the human world. With the assistance of Qingshe, she banished herself from Heaven and descended to the mortal world of Xuxian to marry him, but the monk Fahai had followed her in her descent, and proceeded to betray her, making a mockery of the natural order, and breaking up a beautiful marriage that was preordained by fate. In Baishe’s anger, her considerable magical power inundated the city of Jinshan, bravely struggling against the evil demon, leaving only Fahai’s violet alms bowl, which was crushed beneath the Leifeng Pagoda on the west bank of the lake. A tragedy beyond words, this is one of China’s four great folktales.

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