Can knots be a form of art? It is in China. It is used for decoration (装饰 ) on clothing or to hang on a wall. Skilled knot artists make knots that you might see sold in stores that you can take back with you.

What Is a Chinese Knot?

A Chinese knot is a knot that is tied and woven (编织) from a single length of rope to be different shapes. Most knots have two cords (粗线) entering the knot from the top and two leaving from the bottom. Each kind of knot is named after its shape or the symbolic meaning that it carries.

Knot artists can use different colors, but they prefer deep red ones. The color red means good luck in China.

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At first, people may have made them to record information before people started to write. One hundred thousand year old tools have been discovered that were probably used to tie and untie knots.

It is known that they were used for artistic decoration and to express thoughts and feelings in the Tang Dynasty (618—907). The traditional art form was carried on by people as part of their culture.

Ancient and Modern Use of Artistic Knots

Even today, Chinese knots are rich in symbolic meaning, and they hold value when given as gifts or passed down through families. For example, in ancient times and even now lovers may give a knot as a symbol of their love. The “true love knot” and the “double happiness knot” are given or used at weddings to express love and growing old together.

Along with being symbolic gifts or messages, knots are still used if people wear traditional Chinese clothing. They are used as jewelry such as earrings and necklaces.

Zong Qinghou was a very special person in China who recently passed away, leaving many people sad about his loss. He was born in 1945 into a simple family but grew up to be an amazing businessman and a kind-hearted man who always thought about others before himself.

Zong Qinghou first started as a worker in a school factory, showing us from the start that he was dedicated and worked really hard. He didn’t just dream about success; he chased it with all he had. In the late 1980s, Zong decided to take a big step by starting his own small business. He sold ice cream and drinks. This might seem like a small thing, but it was the beginning of something huge. His small business grew into the Wahaha Group, a big name in China known for making delicious drinks. One of their most famous products is a nutritional drink for kids, which became a hit and helped make Wahaha a big success.

What makes Zong really special, though, isn’t just how successful his business was. It’s about how he used his success to help others. He cared deeply about other people. Even when he became very wealthy, he chose to live a simple life. He didn’t spend his money on expensive things for himself. Instead, he gave a lot of his money to help others. In 2020, the company spent 942 million yuan on the construction (建设) of more than 1,360 apartments for its workers in the Shangcheng district of Hangzhou. In the same year, when businesses in China had trouble due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he called for enterprises to take more responsibility to ensure the interests of employees are met and to keep employment steady. In 2023, he urged private enterprises to keep investing and developing their businesses to protect jobs. People saw him as a kind businessman who didn’t just focus on making money but also on making a difference.

Zong Qinghou’s life teaches us some important lessons. Success isn’t just about making money; it’s also about working hard, staying humble, and helping others. Zong believed in putting the interests of his country and its people first. His story is a reminder to all of us that we should try to make a positive difference in the world and in the lives of the people around us. He was a true role model, showing us how to live a life that is not only successful but also meaningful.

Body language is communication without words. It includes facial expressions, eyes, touching, and tone of voice, as well as the space between two or more people.     26    

One of the most common forms of body language is gestures. Some children throw their hands up in the air or walk off with heavy feet to show they are angry.     27     Each child is different, so it is important to spend time with a child to learn her gestures and meanings.

Another kind of body language is facial expressions. It is easy to know when children like or dislike something.     28     Reading facial expressions, together with asking the right questions, will help you better understand. what she is thinking or feeling.

A child’s use of space depends on her family and cultural environment. If a child is raised in a family that is very physically affectionate (举止亲昵的), she will be more comfortable with physical contact. However, a child raised in a non-physically affectionate family may be uncomfortable in the same situation.     29     Knowing the differences in different children will help you understand each child.

The tone of a child’s voice will help to understand the message she’s sending.     30     If a child is saying she is happy, but her tone sounds different, you may want to ask a few questions to see if she is being honest.