I. Cultural Icons of Shaanxi4 Introduction6 Zhougong Temple: A Symbol of the Virtues Throughout the Millennia10 Terracotta Warriors: The Eighth Wonder of the World13 Wuzhangyuan: A Plain Remembered for Immortal Faith and Commitment17 Dayan Pagoda: Master Xuanzang and His Pilgrimage Westward20 Guanzhong Academy: Where the Guanzhong School Endures24 Qinling Mountains: Burning a Plank Road28 Lishan Mountain: King You Tricking His Lords with Beacon Fires32 Huashan Mountain: A Peak with Breathtaking Precipitousness36 Hukou Waterfall: The Flow That Inspires the Yellow River Cantata40 Pagoda Mountain of Yan’an: A Lighthouse of the Chinese Revolution43 Bell Tower of Xi’an: A Legend of Trapping a Sea-TurtleII. Customs of Shaanxi48 Introduction50 Biangbiang Noodles: A Fantastic Dish with a Fantastic Name54 Guokui Flatbread: A Wartime Ration of Old57 Chinese Chili Oil: The Soul of Shaanxi Cuisine61 Paomo: Served in a Big Bowl with a Warm Heart64 Oversized Bowls: Filled with Shaanxi People’s Hospitality66 Handkerchiefs as Headwear: A Blossom on Women’s Heads69 Single-Slope Rooftops: A Water-Saving Architectural Style72 Not Marrying Outsiders: Parental Love for Shaanxi Girls to Be Married74 Preference for Squatting: A Life Style Unique to Shaanxi77 Shaanxi Opera: Singing the Enflamed Passion of Shaanxi PeopleIII. Unique Arts of Shaanxi82 Introduction84 Shaanxi Opera: The Revival of an Ancient Art88 Meihu: Singing for the Revolution91 Xintianyou: “Ballads of the Soul” on the Plateau93 Shaanxi Paper-Cutting: The Woman Who Made Miracles Out of Paper96 Huyi Farmer Painting: An Echo of Picasso in the East99 Fengxiang Painted-Clay Sculpture: A “Living Fossil” Out of the Loess101 Tri-Colored Glazed Pottery of Tang: A Shining Pearl Among Ancient Chinese Ceramics104 Shadow Puppets: Light and Shade Coming to Life107 Dough Sculptures: The Wonders of Flour109 Ansai Waist-Drum Dance: Performance on Tian’anmen SquareIV. Outstanding Figures of Shaanxi114 Introduction116 Xuanyuan the Yellow Emperor: The Forefather of Huaxia119 Cangjie: The Legendary Inventor of Chinese Characters122 Sima Qian: Historian Par Excellence125 Sun Simiao: A Great Physician of Unimpeachable Character128 Zhang Zai: Champion of Social Values and Principles of Life132 Lu Yao: Faithful to the Ordinary World135 Chen Zhongshi: Life and Literature on the White Deer Plain138 Li Zhensheng: “Lord of Wheat” in Modern TimesV. Accomplishments and Inventions of Shaanxi144 Introduction146 Qin Highway: The Precursor to the Modern Highway System150 Zhengguo Canal: Two Thousand Years Nurturing the Guanzhong Plain154 The Imperial Academy: The Confucian Ideals of Governance158 The Silk Road: A Bridge Between the East and West163 The Ten Computational Canons: A Tome of Ancient Chinese Mathematical Wisdom166 National Northwest Associated University: Dedication to the Nation and to the Progress of Civilization169 CHINA RAILWAY Express: An Unusual Postman172 Fuping Dried Persimmon: The Delicious Taste of Prosperity175 Charming Xi’an: Dreaming Back to the Tang DynastyVI. Spirit of Shaanxi180 Introduction181 The Yan’an Spirit: Serve the People Wholeheartedly184 The Westward Spirit: Fulfilling Personal Ideals While Serving the Needs of the Country
