中国传统文化Traditional Chinese Culture1 书法艺术The Art of Calligraphy2 中国画的含意The Significance of Chinese Paintings3 重新发现孔子Rediscover Confucius4中医和西医的差异Differences between Chinese and Western Medicines5 戏曲的作用The Role of Operas6中国人崇尚的颜色:黄和红China’s Favorite Colo r: Yellow & Red：7筷子的重要性The Importance of Chopsticks8 茶的格调The Elegance of Tea Drinking1. 书法艺术The Art of Calligraphy有批评家指出，不同的书法风格有不同的政治寓意。
拿王羲之的书体来说。
他的书法在他有生之年被批评为非正统的书体，然而在他去世几十年之后又被认为是正统的书体。
Some critics suggest that different genres of Chinese calligraphy have different political implications. Take Wang Xizhi for an example. His calligraphy was repudiated as unorthodox during his lifetime but, only a few decades after his death, was established as an orthodox genre.从历史上看，中国书法和政治紧密相连。
2000多年前，秦始皇建立了官方的汉字体系。
新的简化文字使得书法不那么复杂了。
它允许人们使用带有更多直笔的文字，因此用毛笔写起来更加容易。
这种书体被称为隶书。
逐渐地，其他书体也出现了，最终形成中国书法的五大书体：篆书、隶书、楷书、行书、草书。
Historically, Chinese calligraphy and politics were closely intertwined. Over 2,000 years ago, Emperor Qin Shihuang, established the official Chinese writing characters(汉字). The new, simplified characters made writing calligraphy less complicated. It allowed people to use characters with more straight strokes(笔划), thus making it easier to write with brushes(毛笔). This created the Li genre. Over time, other variations were also developed, which eventually lead to the formation of the five genres in Chinese calligraphy. These were the Zhuan, Li, Kai, Xing and Cao genres(五种书体).中国老百姓很喜欢书法。
很多人把它作为提高文化修养的一种方式。
老人用书法来健身。
他们觉得当聚精会神写字的时候，精气上升，身体康健。
Ordinary Chinese people like calligraphy a lot. Many people practice calligraphy as a way to raise their cultural accomplishment. Older people use calligraphic writing as a method to keep fit. They believe that when a person concentrates on writing calligraphy, his inner well-being is stimulated.2. 中国画的含意The Significance of Chinese Paintings中国画虽然大都有相似的主题，但是可以现场表演，非常有趣。
牡丹、梅花、山川、屋舍都是中国画常见的主题。
在很多重大的庆祝和纪念活动中总能看到画家的身影。
It`s interesting that Chinese paintings can be created on the spot, even though most of them havesimilar subjects. Peony(牡丹), plum blossoms(梅花), mountains, creeks(溪水) or cottages(屋舍) are very popular. There are often painters at significant celebratory and commemorative events.中国画的一大特点是具有教育功能。
早在2000年前人物画就用来纪念英雄或鞭笞奸臣了。
唐朝的大臣试图在绘画中加入儒家思想。
宋朝出版一份官方的绘画指南，从而提高了人物画、山水画和器物画的作画标准。
这份指南把绘画分为10种类型，涵盖了各种宗教信仰、孔孟之道和国家政权。
这种分类方法从官方角度定义了绘画的价值和重要性所在。
Their educational function is, in fact, a unique feature of Chinese painting. Human profiles were used as a method to either glorify heroes or condemn traitors 2,000 years ago. Tang Dynasty officials even tried to bring painting into Confucian ideology. The Court of the Song Dynasty published an official guide to paintings. This raised criteria not only for human profiles but also for landscape and object paintings. It classified paintings into ten categories covering religious beliefs, Confucianism and state power. This classification gave an official definition of the value and significance of the paintings.山水画旨在描绘五岳名山，而瓜果和禽鸟画用来象征或赞颂神明。
这样的作画方式，通过借物喻人来传达道德观念。
比如说，牡丹和孔雀代表财富，梅、兰、竹、菊代表优雅和涵养，松柏代表忠诚。
The purpose of landscape paintings was to portray the five mountains, while fruit and birds were used to exemplify or eulogize the Gods. In this case, the subjects were used as references to people in order to deliver moral messages. For example, peony and peacocks（孔雀）represented wealth and fortune; plum blossoms, orchids(兰花), bamboo, and chrysanthemum(菊花) represented elegance and accomplishment; and pine trees and cypresses symbolized loyalty.艺术家通常反对实用思想。
他们喜欢赋予作画主题以含义。
竹子象征诚实，而松树象征永不放弃的精神。
艺术家也喜欢山水画。
山水画不需要很多训练，它完全取决于画者的个人性情、笔法和自身感触。
大多数的现代业余绘画爱好者常作山水画。
他们主要的绘画目的是休闲和自我陶醉。
比较有成就的艺术家们可以有机会公开展示他们的画作。
这可能就是他们绘画生涯的巅峰了。
Artists are usually against pragmatism. They like to give meaning to the subjects they paint. Bamboo symbolizes integrity and pine trees symbolize never giving up. Artists also like landscapes. It doesn`t take a lot of training to paint landscapes. It all depends on the painter`s personality and ability, as well as his unique touch. Most of today`s non-professional painters follow the landscape style. The objective of these painters is purely entertainment and self-satisfaction. The more successful artists have the opportunity to exhibit at public functions. That is probably the climax of their painting careers.3. 重新发现孔子Rediscover Confucius孔子是中国古代的一位伟大的思想家、教育家、政治家，也是儒家学说的创始人。
他的重要影响一直延续至今。
Confucius was a great philosopher, an educator, a politician, as well as the founder of confucianism, which still has a tremendous influence over people today.儒家思想似乎又风行起来了。
