日韩精品久久一区二区三区_亚洲色图p_亚洲综合在线最大成人_国产中出在线观看_日韩免费_亚洲综合在线一区

US EUROPE AFRICA ASIA 中文
Opinion / Featured Contributors

History of Chinese Valentine's Day comes alive in Longnan

By Harvey Dzodin (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-08-09 16:25

History of Chinese Valentine's Day comes alive in Longnan

Longnan girls perform spinning thread on the stage in Longnan city of Gansu province, August 3, 2016.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Most Chinese people, some foreigners and all Chinese retailers and restaurateurs know the 7th day of the 7th lunar month is Qixi or Qiqiao, Chinese Valentine’s Day, but few know its ancient romantic origins. Thanks to the Chinese NGO, Cultural Exchange Organization of Presenting China to the World, dedicated to spreading China’s rich heritage far and wide, diplomats and representatives from three continents were able to see history come alive in Gansu Province’s Longnan City to bear witness to a ceremony performed by talented amateur thespians.

The venerable holiday, which this year occurs on August 9th, has its origin in a time so distant that myth, legend and reality inextricably intertwine. One thing is certain, however: Qixi is the most romantic of all Chinese festivals.

As passed down by word-of-mouth from generation to generation the story has several variations but basically recalls the love between handsome Earthbound Cowhand, Niulang and beautiful heavenly fairy, Weaver Maid Zhinv, who excels in needlework. Being from different worlds they couldn’t marry and were separated by a river. Their devotion to love touched the magpies and thousands of them formed an avian bridge enabling the lovers to reunite. Even Heaven was moved, and the couple was permitted to meet once a year on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. Hence “Qi Xi” or “Double Seventh”.

In ancient China, Qi Xi was adored by girls, especially those who were unmarried. They offered fruit, flowers, sewing kits and incense to the two lovers and begged the gods for a good marriage. Unlike today, when one can order everything online, sewing and needlework were critical domestic skills.

In feudal society, Qi Xi lasted 7 days and 8 nights. It was one of the only opportunities for girls to leave home and go out in groups to publically exhibit their talent and beauty.

History of Chinese Valentine's Day comes alive in Longnan

Girls perform sewing and needlework on the stage in Longnan city of Gansu province, August 3, 2016.?[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

At the opening ceremony Provincial Vice-governor Xia Hongmin praised the festival for preserving and protecting this national intangible cultural heritage treasure. He said its continued performance and celebration will accelerate efforts to have UNESCO confer on it coveted world intangible cultural heritage status.

Newly-arrived Algerian Ambassador Ahcène Boukhelfa said he was deeply moved by the ceremony evoking in him “a great emotion”. His most important memory is “the hospitality and kindness of the people, and the efforts of local authorities to develop and promote Longnan.” He said that he was privileged “to witness an important aspect of Chinese popular culture which contributes to the magnificence of the diverse traditions of ancient China”.

Longnan is rich in history and resources. It has seen human activity for 7,000 years. It is the birthplace of Fu Xi, the first of the Three Sovereigns of ancient China who reigned during the 29th century BCE and to whom is attributed authorship of the I Ching. It is a virtual cornucopia of agricultural products, most recently, olives, but also a wide variety of ingredients integral to Traditional Chinese Medicine, so much so that it’s been called “nature’s medicine cabinet”. And it’s richly endowed with resources such as gold, copper and manganese.

Cui Jianghong, Secretary General of Cultural Exchange Organization of Presenting China to the World said the visit to Longnan is just one of many activities. All have a common thread: “carrying forward the excellent culture of the Chinese nation, promoting Sino-foreign cultural exchanges, facilitating international economic cooperation, enhancing friendship and exchanges with people from other countries, and serving as an important window for China and the world to know more about each other”.

The author is a senior adviser to Tsinghua University and former director and vice-president of ABC Television in New York.

 

Most Viewed Today's Top News
The unique loanwords in our daily life By zoe_ting

In our daily life, more and more loanwords appear and change our habits in Chinese expression. Loanwords sound very similar with their original English words, and the process of learning them is full of fun to foreign students.

Going "home" for the first time in four years By SharkMinnow

It has been a while since I've contributed to this Forum and I figured that since now I am officially on summer holiday and another school year is behind me I would share a post with you.

...
主站蜘蛛池模板: 日韩在线免费视频观看 | 午夜理伦三级理论三级在线观看 | 91久久夜色精品国产九色 | 国产99一区二区 | 99久久精品免费观看区一 | 国产福利不卡 | 午夜精品久久久久久久99黑人 | 在线一区视频 | 国产久视频观看 | 午夜影网 | 国产一区二区在线免费观看 | 日本高清香蕉色视频在线观看 | 国产欧美性综合视频性刺激 | 免费的av| 国产欧美精品一区二区三区四区 | 欧美国产日韩在线 | 天天看片网 | 日本高清在线免费 | 午夜神器18以下不能进免费观看 | 久久特级毛片 | 久久av一区 | 伦一区二区三区中文字幕v亚洲 | 国产成人理在线观看视频 | 国产成人一区二区 | 曰韩在线视频 | 国产精品爱久久久久久久电影 | 毛片99 | 天天看天天干 | 国产精品乱码一区二三区小蝌蚪 | 国产精品久久久久久久久久久久久 | 欧美一区免费 | 亚洲第一a亚洲 | 国产亚洲精品久久久久久打不开 | 欧美性猛交一区二区三区精品 | 四虎影视免费观看免费观看 | 涩涩色中文综合亚洲 | 日韩欧美一区二区在线观看 | 久久久久久久蜜桃 | 日韩欧美中文在线 | 免费看那种视频 | 日韩欧美精品在线 |