Putian wood carving, one of the four well-known     1     (category) of the art of Chinese wood carving, originated in the Tang and Song Dynasties.     2     (serve) as a national intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产) item in China, it is a traditional folk carving technique of southeast China’s Fujian Province.

Zheng Chunhui, Lin Jianjun and Chen Yushu are three     3     (exception) representatives of wood carving masters. Zheng is a provincial-level inheritor (继承人) of the wood carving art,     4     not only excels in traditional wood carving technique,     5     expresses his love for his family and nation through his works. To promote the art, Zheng opened a unique wood carving gallery, which is the     6     (one) in Putian run by an individual and free to the public. The delicately made wood carving works by Lin     7     (shine) at a BRICS summit (峰会) several years ago, and meanwhile, the Chinese-style antique furniture pieces that are made by Chen     8     (show) at many international exhibitions over the past few years.

Putian city is home     9     over 2,600 wood carving companies, and the wood carving works     10     (create) there were sold to more than 20 countries and regions around the world last year.

Chinese speakers tend to use “spear and shield”     1    (describe) anything that’s contradictory. Actually, now the Chinese phrase for “contradiction”     2    (call) Mao Dun or “spear and shield”.

Nearly 2, 000 years ago, there was a man living in the State of Chu. One day, he went to a market to sell spears and shields—two most common     3    (weapon) at that time. When a small crowd gathered around the seller to look at his goods, the man     4    (decide) to advertise his shields first. He said, “Please look at my shields. They are certainly the     5    (strong) ones you can ever find in the world.”

Then some of the potential buyers came closer to have a careful examination of the shields,     6     they couldn’t see anything special about them. The seller then moved on to brag about his spears. “Now please have a good look at my spears. They are the sharpest weapons     7    have ever been produced. So, no matter how firm a shield is, my spears will pierce (刺穿) through it     8    (easy).” After listening to the seller’s pitch, a man stepped forward and said, “You just told us that your shields are the strongest in the world and then you claim your spears are the sharpest. How about     9    (use)your spears on your shields?” The seller was unable to respond.

So today, instead of saying “you are contradicting yourself”, Chinese will say “you are attacking your shield     10     your own spear”.

Reviving the Old Book

Song Jing, a 34-year-old “book doctor”, has been working in the restoration division for ancient books at the National Library of China in Beijing for eight years. Song made her way to the ancient books division after graduating     1     Beijing University in 2015.

At the moment, Song and her colleagues are working on restoring a copy of Yongle Dadian, an encyclopedia     2     (create) in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). After receiving the challenge, it took Song and her colleagues six months     3     (research) and decide on     4     to restore the books. To restore them to their original form, they need to gather information from     5     (variety) sources, such as images and texts, before they can make sure their original binding (装订) style and repair them accordingly.

In the past, restorers had to rely on their experience to determine the appropriate materials to use. As technology     6     (develop), they are able to use a new method to finish the task through microscopes. However, ancient-book restoration still requires essential manual     7     (skill), including cutting and brushing paper and binding. Apart from this, the restoration process requires strong control. If the pressure is not properly controlled during the brushing process, the paper will tear;     8     if the touch is too light, the paper won’t adhere.

“    9     (hopeful), I can be of some help in inspiring more young people to find their lifelong passion in     10     field of cultural heritage preservation,” said Song.

Baduanjin, a form of     1     (fit) Qigong, has been popular with Chinese younger generations, thanks to its health benefits.

Jiang Xi, a fashion designer, took up Baduanjin, posting videos of her     2     (practice) it on social media, and     3     (attract)more than 10, 000 followers in the last four months. Most of her followers are     4     (age)between 20 to 30.

“When practicing Baduanjin, all you need to do is to focus on your body and health, move slowly in a comfortable rhythm, and liberate yourself from the anxiety of living alone in big cities,” said Jiang Xi.     5     her influence and persuasion, Jiang Xi's older brother Jiang Nan also became a vlogger of Baduanjin, in     6     the siblings living in different cities have found new kinship ties.

Actually, besides Baduanjin, martial arts, which bring benefits to health     7     (maintain), also have large young followers. Feng Junhua is the organizer of martial arts practicing in Xiaogang Park in Guizhou Province. He gathers youngsters     8     (interest) in martial arts and finds a comfortable place in the park to let them relax their bodies.

Traditional martial arts and regimens have brought a concrete and natural way of life consistent with their inner     9     (self). This is     10     young people and traditional Chinese culture blend.

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.

Chinese Loong Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is a vibrant and festive celebration     1     (mark) the beginning of the lunar calendar. This annual event is deeply     2     (root) in Chinese culture, symbolizing renewal, family reunions, and guiding in of good fortune.

The festivities typically span 15 days,     3     colorful parades, dragon and lion dances, and dazzling fireworks shining the streets. Families come together for plentiful feasts, exchanging gifts, and paying     4     (respect) to ancestors. The air is filled with the sounds of joyous laughter and traditional music.

One of the     5     (much) iconic features of Chinese New Year is the red decorations brightening homes and streets. Red symbolizes good luck and     6     (prosper) in Chinese culture. People also participate in the tradition of giving and receiving red envelopes containing lucky money, known as “hongbao,” as     7     gesture of good wish and well-being.

As the Year of the Dragon, Loong Year is particularly auspicious, believed to bring strength, vitality, and success. People across the globe join in the festivities, creating a sense of unity and     8     (share) celebration.

Chinese Loong Year is a time-honored tradition that     9     (exceed) borders emphasizing the importance of family, cultural heritage,     10     the hopeful anticipation of a prosperous year ahead.