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课件网) Unit 6 Crossing Cultures Reading Plus Learning Objectives In this lesson you will: 1. learn about three typical Chinese cultural symbols and their meanings. 2. compare the different meanings of the same symbol in Chinese and Western cultures. Free Talk What comes to your mind when Chinese culture is mentioned famous landmarks traditional opera paper cutting traditional food festivals These things that carry special meanings within a particular culture are called cultural symbols. Can you list more symbols of Chinese culture And what do they symbolize Chinese Knots: Symbolize unity, good luck, and happiness. Chinese Tea: Represents elegance, hospitality, and a peaceful lifestyle. Chinese Kung Fu: Represents strength, discipline, and Chinese martial arts philosophy. Chinese Dragons: Symbolize power, good fortune, and nobility. Giant Panda: Symbolizes peace and friendship. Bamboo: Symbolizes strength, flexibility, and integrity. Chinese culture is one of the oldest in the world, and it is rich in traditions and beliefs. Many of the things you see, hear, or even taste in China may be symbols with special meanings! Symbols of Chinese Culture Dragons In many Western stories, dragons are frightening monsters. However, people in China are not frightened of them! Instead, they think dragons are a symbol of power and good fortune. Chinese dragons are so popular in China that you can see them in many places, such as vases, buildings, money, clothes, paintings, and jewellery! The word for “dragon" even appears in names and idioms. For example, “to hope that one's children become dragons" means that parents hope their children will do well in life. In China, people think dragons are so powerful that they call themselves the descendants of the dragon! The colour red In China, red is a powerful colour with special meaning. Many people think it brings good luck and wealth, so you will see red decorations such as paper-cuts, couplets, and lanterns during festivals like the Chinese New Year. People think red is so lucky that they wear it during celebrations. At traditional Chinese weddings, both the bride and groom wear red. Red also has positive meanings in other cultures. For example, a red carpet shows importance, and red roses symbolize love. However, in Western culture, red could sometimes mean loss. If a company has “red ink" or is "in the red", it means that they are losing more money than they are earning. Lucky numbers Certain numbers are lucky in China because they sound like other Chinese words with positive meanings. “Six", for example, sounds like “flow". It symbolizes things going well. The number “two" is also lucky, because the Chinese believe that good things come in pairs. "Eight”sounds like a word which means “to make a fortune", and it symbolizes wealth. Lastly, “nine" has the same pronunciation as the character “久”, which means “long lasting”. So“nine” has come to ... ...
