Chapter 1 Confucius: Supreme Sage and Foremost Teacher ……………………1
A Great Thinker …………………………………………………………………………2
An Outstanding Statesman ………………………………………………………………4
China?s First Educator ……………………………………………………………………5
Key Terms ……………………………………………………………………………7
Exercises ……………………………………………………………………………11
Chapter 2 Lao Zi: The Founder of Taoism …………………………………………13
Dao………………………………………………………………………………………14
Naturalness………………………………………………………………………………15
Non-action ………………………………………………………………………………16
Non-contention …………………………………………………………………………17
Key Terms …………………………………………………………………………18
Exercises ……………………………………………………………………………21
Chapter 3 The Contention of a Hundred Schools of Thought …………………23
Confucianism ……………………………………………………………………………23
Taoism …………………………………………………………………………………26
Mohism …………………………………………………………………………………29
Legalism…………………………………………………………………………………30
Key Terms …………………………………………………………………………35
Exercises ……………………………………………………………………………45
Chapter 4 Taoist Religion ……………………………………………………………47
Origins of Taoist Religion ………………………………………………………………47
Primitive Taoist Religion ………………………………………………………………49
Development of Taoist Religion ………………………………………………………51
Principal Tenets and Practices of Taoist Religion ………………………………………54
Techniques of Longevity and Immortality………………………………………………56
Eight Immortals in the Taoist Religion …………………………………………………58
The Most Sacred Taoist Mountain—Dragon-Tiger Mountain …………………………59
Religious Taoism and Chinese Culture …………………………………………………60
Exercises ……………………………………………………………………………61
Chapter 5 Buddhism in China ………………………………………………………63
Teachings of Buddha ……………………………………………………………………63
Hinayana Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism…………………………………………65
The Spread and Development of Buddhism in China …………………………………66
Monastic Community and Buddhist Holidays …………………………………………73
Buddhism and Chinese Culture …………………………………………………………74
Exercises ……………………………………………………………………………76
Chapter 6 Chinese Classical Literature ……………………………………………77
Mythology ………………………………………………………………………………77
Poetry ……………………………………………………………………………………83
Prose……………………………………………………………………………………101
Fiction …………………………………………………………………………………108
Drama …………………………………………………………………………………118
Key Terms …………………………………………………………………………126
Exercises …………………………………………………………………………139
Chapter 7 Traditional Chinese Arts ………………………………………………143
Characters………………………………………………………………………………143
Calligraphy ……………………………………………………………………………145
Traditional Chinese Painting …………………………………………………………151
Traditional Chinese Operas ……………………………………………………………158
Folk Performing Arts …………………………………………………………………168
Traditional Musical Instruments ………………………………………………………171
Exercises …………………………………………………………………………175
Chapter 8 Science & Technology in Ancient China ……………………………177
Four Great Inventions …………………………………………………………………177
Other Impressive Ancient Inventions …………………………………………………181
Mathematics……………………………………………………………………………183
Agronomy ……………………………………………………………………………183
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) …………………………………………………185
Acupuncture and Moxibustion…………………………………………………………193
Exercises …………………………………………………………………………199
Chapter 9 Traditional Chinese Festivals …………………………………………201
Spring Festival …………………………………………………………………………201
Lantern Festival ………………………………………………………………………205
Qingming Festival ……………………………………………………………………206
Dragon Boat Festival …………………………………………………………………208
Double Seventh Festival ………………………………………………………………210
Mid-Autumn Festival …………………………………………………………………212
Double Ninth Festival …………………………………………………………………214
Exercises …………………………………………………………………………215
Chapter 10 Traditional Chinese Cuisine …………………………………………217
Features of Chinese Food………………………………………………………………217
Eight Regional Cuisines ………………………………………………………………220
Top 10 Chinese Dishes Most Missed by Overseas Chinese …………………………226
Table Manners …………………………………………………………………………230
Chinese Chopsticks ……………………………………………………………………231
Chinese Tea ……………………………………………………………………………233
Chinese Wine …………………………………………………………………………235
Exercises …………………………………………………………………………237
Chapter 11 Traditional Chinese Handicrafts ……………………………………239
Ceramics ………………………………………………………………………………239
Porcelain ………………………………………………………………………………243
Embroidery ……………………………………………………………………………253
Carpets …………………………………………………………………………………255
Ivory Carving …………………………………………………………………………257
Jade Carving……………………………………………………………………………258
Wood Carving …………………………………………………………………………259
Clay Modeling …………………………………………………………………………260
Cloisonné ………………………………………………………………………………262
Lacquer-Ware …………………………………………………………………………263
Batik……………………………………………………………………………………264
Kite-Making……………………………………………………………………………265
Paper-Cutting …………………………………………………………………………266
Exercises …………………………………………………………………………267
Chapter 12 Chinese Folk Sports……………………………………………………269
Sports in Ancient China ………………………………………………………………269
Ethnic Sports …………………………………………………………………………270
Traditional Physical Activities…………………………………………………………270
Categories of Modern Chinese Martial Arts …………………………………………271
A Brief History of Chinese Martial Arts ………………………………………………272
Distinguished Forms of Chinese Martial Arts …………………………………………273
Exercises …………………………………………………………………………283
Chapter 13 Chinese Classical Gardens ……………………………………………285
A General History of Chinese Classical Gardens ……………………………………285
Components of Chinese Classical Gardens ……………………………………………291
The Summer Palace ……………………………………………………………………298
The Imperial Summer Resort in Chengde ……………………………………………301
The Humble Administrator?s Garden in Suzhou ………………………………………304
Exercises …………………………………………………………………………307
Key to Exercises …………………………………………………………………………309
References ………………………………………………………………………………321