Heatable Brick Beds Warm NE China Homes

In northeast China’s chilly winter, getting into a warm bed is made possible by an ancient heatable brick bed that could date back more than two thousand years     1     is still widely used today. These beds not only bring warmth to local residents, but also continue the folk culture of northeast China.

The bed is made of bricks or other forms of fired clay with     2    width of about1.7 m to 2.3 m and a length that can be determined according to the length of the bedroom. It uses a ducted heating system similar to the Roman hypocaust,     3    (compose) of a stove, a bed and a chimney. The stove     4    (use) to burn firewood. Smoke and heat generated by burning firewood pass through an internal hollow and curved flue system to heat the bed above. Smoke is eventually discharged outward through the chimney. The bed retains heat well,     5    enables people     6    (have) a comfortable sleeping environment in the cold winter. In addition,     7    (sleep) on the heatable brick bed for a prolonged period is good for the blood     8    (circulate) and metabolism of the body, and can relieve some diseases such as arthritis and waist and leg pain.

The heatable brick bed is not only used as a bed, but also a living area for the family. People     9    (routine) have their meals and family     10    (gathering) on the bed in cold winters. The bed is a symbol of home that embodies the emotion and love they feel towards their families.

Flower arrangement is the combination of several elements to produce visually pleasing display of fresh, silk, or dried flowers. General design principles include unbalance, and harmony,     1     often involves the use of light, space, and accent. Despite parts of the world use     2    (vary) design techniques for flower arrangement.

The art of Chinese traditional flower arrangement, originally     3    (serve) as offerings at temples and decorations in the palace, has survived over the centuries. “    4     a history of more than 3,000 years, the image of flower arrangement sometimes is still limited bunches of flowers in flower shops.” Zhang Yan,     5     master of the art, said.

In recent years, Zhang has been     6    (devoted) popularizing the traditional flower arrangement, hoping people will be familiar with the art, take pride in its centuries-old history and hold an ability     7    (appreciate) the beauty in life.

In Zhang’s view, Chinese traditional flower arrangement is not only a decoration, but also a form of psychological     8    (treat) for modern busy bees. The art emphasizes simplicity, and the arranger must decide on     9     is truly necessary in his or her work and life. The healing effect of the art     10    (realize) when the arranger comes to terms with what they truly want.