Everybody likes watching acrobats (杂技演员). The acts sometimes seem scary and dangerous, and there is thrill and wonder.     1     Chinese acrobatics troupes (表演团) travel internationally, they are not commonly seen by audiences outside the country. While in China you might want to see the     2     (amaze) feats of balance and skill.

The acrobats developed their styles     3     (base) on traditional ancient arts such as dance, theater, martial arts, and magic shows and they are distinctive and incorporate traditional skills and physical exercises. Chinese acrobats tend to emphasize balance and extreme     4     (flexible) more than the troupes do in Russia or the West. This might be due to the influence of martial arts styles. Chinese acrobats     5     (intensive) practice timing and coordination. The individual performers practice to cooperate precisely. They use martial arts skills in     6     thrilling and sometimes comedic fashion. The Beijing Red Theater’s “Legend of Kungfu” show is an example. Many of the shows will have traditional Chinese music that is recorded or performed live by musicians     7     (play) traditional instruments. The costumes or the themes may     8     (draw) from a familiar opera. The acrobats may perform scenes from popular legends, stories,     9     novels of the ancient past such as The Monkey King. You might not recognize the story or the music, but you’ll still enjoy the sound, color, and     10     (usual) costumes.

(许渊冲译)

Yours,

Li Hua

Among the Han people, which make up a vast majority of     1     (China) total population, the passage into adulthood is no longer celebrated,     2     in those very traditional families. In ancient times, this ceremony marked a person’s transition to adulthood and     3     (refer) to as the capping or hair-pinning ceremony.

This ceremony started from the clan society (氏族社会) and continued to be held until the Qing Dynasty. The Manchu rulers then felt that this ceremony was     4     (meaning) and thus abolished this ceremony which     5     (last) for thousands of years. From then on the Han people have to enter the stage of adulthood without knowing it. Nowadays, it is mainly in those minor ethnic groups that this life passage is still celebrated. In some parts of China, this ceremony is experiencing a     6     (revive).

When a young man reached 18 or 20 years old, the capping ceremony,    7     (consist) of several procedures, would be held. The hair of the young man should be done up and pinned, and after     8     three caps of different materials should be placed on the youth’s head. The hair-pinning ceremony,    9     the mother or another senior pinned the girl’s hair, would be held when a girl was 15 years old.

There are other interesting customs concerned. For example, boys of the Yao nationality have to pass about ten dangerous tests and take oaths (宣誓)     10     (conduct) bad deeds.

Literally translated as the “Songs of Heroes” dance, Yingge Dance is 300-year-old folk dance that originated from the Chaoshan area of South China’s Guangdong Province.     1     (dress) in colorful costumes, performers wave wooden sticks in their hands     2     dancing in orderly formations to the music. Based on the stories of the 108 Heroes of Liangshan Mountain from the classic novel Outlaws of the Marsh, it is a folk art combining a variety of forms,     3     martial arts and Chinese operas to dance.

In recent years, Chaoshan Yingge Dance has     4     (gradual) come into the public eye through transformations in performance form, style optimization, and opening up of information channels. In the Spring Festival of the Dragon Year, Yingge Dance once again     5     (dominate) the screens,     6     (it) dazzling and fiery wave of popularity continuing throughout the holiday, even sparking     7     brilliant cultural passion overseas.

On the first and second days of the Lunar New Year, the Nanshan Yingge Team from Guangdong’s Puning made appearances at     8     (icon) British landmarks-the Burlington Arcade and Trafalgar Square--     9     (bring) New Year greetings from Guangdong to overseas Chinese and foreign friends alike. The performances attracted over seven hundred thousand spectators and received     10     (cover) from over a hundred media outlets.

Luban lock is a traditional Chinese folk educational toy that was believed to be invented by Lu Ban,     1     structural engineer from the Spring and Autumn Period (770—476 BC). Lu was later became known as the “father of     2     (carpent)” in the country.

The concave and convex parts within the toy dovetail (吻合) perfectly. Luban locks come     3     different shapes and sizes, and with different internal structures. They are known for being easy to take apart     4     difficult to reassemble.

The interlocking burr puzzle with the simplest construction uses three rods (杆)     5     can be assembled into a three-way cross, in which each rod is perpendicular (垂直的) to the other two.

Its structural integrity relies     6     (sole) on its internal arrangement, removing the need for nails or cords. Similar to folding a piece of paper to create a standing shape, this seemingly simple yet ingeniously     7     (craft) toy encapsulates (概括) a reservoir of extraordinary wisdom.

Beyond its role as a toy, the principles behind the Luban lock’s interlocking structures have been extended into the realm (领域) of     8     (architecture) design.

In 2020, the craft of making this toy     9     (name) a Shandong provincial intangible cultural heritage item. In Tengzhou, Zaozhuang, the birthplace of Lu Ban, this ancient craft has been passed down over the centuries. Many workshops in the city can still be found     10     (manufacture) this lock today.

When we tell people that we opened a company that teaches people about traditional Chinese culture, and allows them to experience things like calligraphy, painting and tai chi, the     1     (react) we often get is “Why? You are British! You should teach British culture!” I would always say simply that I love traditional Chinese culture, and want to share that     2     others.

When talking about traditional Chinese culture, we are referring to the language, philosophies, food, arts and crafts, and customs from thousands of years ago up to the 21st century,     3     have been passed down through the generations. And as anyone who has heard anything about China     4     (know), with a history of an estimated 5,000 years, that covers a lot of culture! Traditional culture is still     5     (high) popular in China, and the philosophies of thousands of years ago are still visible and influencing the culture today, even if not     6     (recognise) by name.

The culture of China, both modern and traditional, can appear quite different and at times even difficult     7     (understand), which often leads to misunderstanding. But the more you learn and understand, the     8     (well) you know about China. Of course, that means more than taking one calligraphy class     9     trying out tai chi one afternoon, but each experience you have brings you closer to answering any questions you have and     10     (close) the gap between your perception and reality.