最新文件 僅供參考 已改成 word文本 方wo|l||||l||H|fl^^^^^^^^^^M|B||HH^n^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H|BI|B^^^^^^^^^^^BHH^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^BB便更改PartIWisdomandBeliefsUnit1ConfucianthoughtonheavenandhumanityConfucius(551-479BC),knowninChinaasKongzi,givennameQiuandaliasZhongni,wasanativeofZouyi(present-dayQufuinShandongProvince)oftheStateofLuduringtheSpringandAutumnPeriod(770-476BC).Agreatthinker,educatorandfounderofConfucianism,ConfuciusisanancientsagetotheChinesepeople.HiswordsandlifestorywererecordedbyhisdisciplesandtheirstudentsinTheAnalects(Lunyu).ConfuciusonHeaven:thesourceofEverythingIntheShang(1600-1046BC)andZhou(1046-256BC)dynasties,theprevalentconceptof“Heaven”wasthatofapersonifiedgod,whichinfluencedConfucius.Generally,however,Confuciusregarded“Heaven”asnature.Hesaid,“Heavendoesnotspeakinwords.Itspeaksthroughtherotationofthefourseasonsandthegrowthofalllivingthings.”O(jiān)bviously,heavenequalednature,intheeyesofConfucius.Moreover,naturewasnotalifelessmechanismseparatefromhumans;instead,itwasthegreatworldoflifeandtheprocessofcreationoflife.Humanlifewaspartandparcelofnatureasawhole.ConfuciusonPeople:renandliRenandLiarethetwocoreconceptsofConfuciuMsdoctrineaboutpeople.WhenhisstudentsFanChiaskedhimaboutren,Confuciusreplied,“l(fā)ovepeople”.ThisisConfucius,mostimportantinterpretationofren.Loveforthepeopleisuniversallove.Confuciusfurtheremphasizedthatthiskindofloveshould“beginwiththeloveforone,sparents”.Hebelievednoonecouldlovepeopleingeneraliftheydidnotevenlovetheirownparents.Confuciusregarded“filialpietyandfraternalduty”astheessenceofren.TheDoctrineoftheMean(Zhongyong)quotesConfuciusassaying,“Thegreatestloveforpeopleistheloveforone'sparents.”Healsosaid,“Childrenshouldnottravelfarwhiletheirparentsarealive.Iftheyhavenochoicebuttodoso,theymustretainsomerestraint.”Hedidnotmeanthatchildrenshouldnotleavetheirparentsatall.WhathemeantwasthatchildrenshouldnotmaketheparentsanxiousS.. T.....aboutthemwhileawayfromhome.Confuciussaidagain,“Childrenshouldthinkoftenoftheageoftheirparents.Theyshouldfeelhappyforthehealthandlongevityoftheirparents.Theyshouldalsofeelconcernfortheagingoftheirparents”Byren,Confuciusmeantuniversallovebasedonloveforone’sparents.Howshouldpeopleloveoneanotherthen?Confuciussaid,“Oneshouldbeawarethatotherpeoplemayhavesimilardesiresasoneself.Whilefulfillingone'sdesires,allowotherstofulfilltheirdesiresaswell.”Hefurthersaid,“Donotdotowardothersanythingyouwouldnotwanttobedonetoyou.”Thusfromoneselftoone'sfamily,fromfamilytosociety,oneshouldextendlovetoallpeople.Mencius(c.372-289BC),agreatConfucianscholar,bestsummarizedrenas,“l(fā)ovingone'sparents,lovingthepeople,lovingeverythingintheworld”Lireferstorituals,traditionsandnormsinsociallife.Ofthese,Confuciusregardedburialritualsandancestralworshipritualsasthemostimportant,becausetheyrosefromhumanfeelings.Hesaid,“Achildshouldnotleavehisparents'bosomuntilheisthreeyearsold.”Henaturallylovehisparents.Theritualofwearingmourningforadeceasedparentforthreeyearswasanexpressionofthechile’sloveandremembrance.ConfuciusontheStateoflifeBeforeConfucius,onlythenobilityhadtherighttoeducation.HewasthefirstfigureinChinesehistorytoinitiateprivateeducation.Accordingtohistoricalrecords,Confuciustaughtformanyyearsandtrained3,000disciples.Atotalof72ofthemexcelledinthe“sixarts”,i.e.,ritual,music,archery,(carriage)driving,calligraphy,andmathematics.Agreateducator,Confuciushasbeenadmiredbylatergenerationsasthe“sageofsages”.Confuciusbelievedthebasicgoalofeducationwastocultivate“personsofvirtue”,whoshouldhavesoundcharacterandupliftedminds.Suchpeopleshouldbeabletoshoulderimportantsocialresponsibilitiesandtomakecontributionstosociety.Confuciusregardedloftyideals,greatvirtue,loveofpeople,andthe“sixarts”asthegeneralprinciplesofeducation.Ofthese,virtuewasthemostimportant.Hisstudentswereinvolvedinavarietyofprofessions,includingpolitics,trade,education,diplomacy,ritualceremony,andclassifyingancientbooks.Whatevertheydid,theyallwantedtoimprovetheirlearningofthehumanitiesandtoenhancetheirvirtue.Unit2Laozi’sphilosophyofNon-actionThebookLaoziwaswrittenaroundthesixthcenturyBC.TheauthorisgenerallybelievedtobeLaoDan,orLaozi-areclusewholivedduringtheSpringandAutumnPeriod.FewrecordsS.. T.....havesurvivedaboutLaoDan,whowassaidtohaveonceheldalowcivilpositionintheroyalcourt,inchareofthearchivalrecordsoftheZhouDynasty.Yet,duetohisgreatlearning,evenConfuciuswassaidtohavetraveledmilestoconsulthim.Laozi,alsoknownasClassicoftheWayandVirtue(DaoDeJing),consistsofjustover5,000Chinesecharacters.Its81chaptersaredividedintotwoparts,Dao(theWay)andDe(Virtue).Shortasitis,thebookhasplayedatremendousroleinthedevelopmentofChineseculture.ItbecamethebasisofDaoism,theschoolofphilosophyparalleltoConfucianisminancientChina.ThethoughtofLaoziformedthefoundationofDaoism,themostinfluentialindigenousschoolofreligioninChina.Ithasalsoexertedadirectimpactonthecharacteristics,trendsofthoughtandaestheticsensibilitiesoftheChinesenation.TodayLaozistillplaysaroleinthedevelopmentofChinesethinking.NaturalnessandNon-action“Naturalness”isanimportantconceptofLaozi’sphilosophy.Itreferstoanaturalstateofbeing,anattitudeoffollowingthewayofnature.Laoziemphasizedthateverythingintheworldhasitsownwayofbeinganddevelopment:birdsflyinthesky,fishswiminthewater,cloudsfloatinthesky,flowersbloomandflowersfall.Allthesephenomenaoccurindependentlyandnaturallywithoutfollowinganyhumanwill,andhumansshouldnottrytochangeanythingnatural.Laoziadmonishedpeopletogiveuponanydesiretocontroltheworld.Followingthewayofnatureisthewaytoresolvingconflictsbetweenhumansandtheworld.“Non-action”isanotherimportantconceptofLaozi,sphilosophy.Itistheguaranteeof“Naturalness”.Laozisaid,“(DaoortheWay)actsthroughnon-action,”bywhichhedidnomeanthatoneshoulddonothingandpassivelywaitforsomethingtobeachieved.Neitherdidhedenyhumancreativity.Whathemeantisthathumanenterprisesshouldbebuiltonthebasisofnaturalness,notonmanyattemptstointerrupttherhythmofnature.Humancreativityshouldbeincompliancewiththewaysofnature.ThephilosophyofNon-contentionOnthebasisof“naturalness”and“non-action"，Laoziproposedtheviewof“overcomingthestrongbybeingweak”.TheeraLaozilivedinwasrepletewithendlesswars.Therefore,warwasanimportanttremeforphilosophers,andant-warthinkingwasthenorm.EventhegreatstrategistSunziadvocated“winningawarwithoutfightingit”,nottomentionthegreatthinkerConfucius,whostronglychampionedagovernmentbasedonlove.TheircontemporaryMozi(c.468-376BC),founderofMohism,alsocondemnedwarswhilecallingfor“l(fā)oveforall”.AccordingtoLaozi,warspringsfromhumanity,sbloateddesires.ConflictarisesoutofS.. T.....people,sstrugglestosatisfytheirdesires,andconflictescalatesintowar.Therefore,Laozi'sphilosophyisbasedon“non-contention”.Tohim,humanstrivingandcompetitivestrifeistherootcauseofdecline;desiringnothingisthenaturalwayoflife.Laozisaid,“Thegreatestvirtueislikewater”Hecomparedhisphilosophyof“non-contention”towater,todistinguishitfromthelawofthejungle.Hesaid,“Waternourisheseverythingbutcontendsfornothing.”ToLaozi,humanstendtoseekhigherpositionswhilewateralwaysflowstolowerplaces.Drivenbydesire,humanslikewhatevertheythinkissuperiorwhiledespisingwhatevertheythinkisinferior.Yetwateralwaysflowsdownward.Asthesourceoflife,waternourishesalllivingthingsonEarth.Nolifecanexistwithoutwater.Watercontributestotheworldwithoutregardforgainorloss.Remaininglow,levelandtranquil,waterembracesandreflectseverythingunderheaven.Thewayofwateriscompletelydifferentfromthewayofpeoplewithaviddesires.ButthephilosophyofLaoziisbynomeansweak.Onthecontrary,itisfullofstrength.AccordingtoLaozi,wateraccumulatesgreatstrengthinitsweaknessandquietude.Itsstrengthcanbreakdownallbarriersintheworld.Hesaid,“Nothingintheworldisweakerthanwater.Yetnothingisstrongerthanwaterwhenitcomestobreakingsomethingstrong.”Waterisatypicalexampleoftheweakwinningoverthestrong.Waterisinvinciblebecauseitdesiresnothingandcontendsfornothing.Unit3ChineseBuddhistCultureWhoamI?WhereamIfrom?WhereamIgoing?Menaremortal.Butdeathisnotanonce-and-for-allthing.TheyentertherotatingWheelofSixRealms:Heaven,Human,Asura,Animal,HungryGhost,Hell.Documentsstoredincomputercanbecanceledatwill,butwhatwehavedoneinourlife,andactuallyinourinnumerablelives,cannot.Whathasbeendonehasbeendone.Theinformationisstoredinyourtrue“self”,notthephysicalone,andwillaccompanyyoulifeafterlife,anddetermineswhichRealmyouenter.Onlywhenwearecompletelyfreefromlust,hatred,andfolly,canwemanagetobreakawayfromthecaptureoftherotatingWheel,andachieveperpetualenlightenment,discoveringyourtrue“self”.InBuddhismthereisn,tanydominatinggodwhocontrolsyourdestiny.Wearethemakerofourownfate.Whatweareatpresentisaresultofwhatwehavedoneinthepast;andwhatwewillbeinthefutureisdecidedbywhatwearedoingatpresent.Whatwehavedoneformthe“karma”,which,likeagene,decidesonyourS.. T.....futurestory.Butthis"gene"canofcoursebemodified,bydoinggooddeedsandobtaininghealthybiologicalandspiritualenergy,soastochangeourfuturecourseofcareer.Weare,therefore,ourownmaster.WhatarethebasicrequirementsforaBuddhist?FiveProhibitionsforthelaymen:Don,tkill;Don,tsteal;Don,tseekaberrantsensualpleasures;Don,ttalkirresponsibly;Don'tdrinkalcohol.CreativityandExchangeUnit4TheSilkRoadThesilkroadreferstoatransportrouteconnectingancientChinawithCentralAsia,WestAsia,Africa,andtheEuropeancontinent.ItappearedasearlyasthesecondcenturyBCandwastraveledmainlybysilkmerchants.Theterm“SilkRoad”,orndieSeidenstrasse”inGerman,wasfirstnoteddownbytheGermangeographerFerdinandVonRichthofenattheendofthe19thcentury.ThesilkroadbeganinChangfan(present-dayXi'an,capitalofShaanxiProvince),passingthroughGansuandXinjiangtoCentralAsia,WestAsia,andtolandsbytheMediterranean.TherewerenosignsofcommunicationbetweenancientChinesecivilizationandMediterraneancivilizationinearlierhistory.InabouttheseventhcenturyBC,theancientGreeksbegantolearnaboutanancientcivilizationtotheeast,yetknewlittleaboutit.BeforetheSilkRoad,accordingtoarcheologicalfindings,therehadalreadyexistedanintermittenttraderouteonthegrasslandsfromtheYellowRiverandtheIndusRiverdrainageareastotheEuphratesandtheTigris,andtheNiledrainageareas.YetrealcommunicationbetweenChina,CentralandWestAsiancountries,AfricaandtheEuropeancontinentdidnotdevelopuntiltheopeningoftheSilkRoad.S.. T.....ZhangQian,TrailBlazerThepioneerwhoblazedthetrailoftheSilkRoadwasZhangQian(c.164-114BC).InZhangQian’stime,theChinesehaslittleknowledgeaboutCentralandWestAsiancountries,AfricaorEurope,althoughtheywereawareoftheexistenceofmanydifferentcountriesandculturesinfarawayplacestothewest.DuringthereignofEmperorWu(r.140-135BC),therewere36smallkingdomsintheWesternRegions(present-dayXinjiangandpartsofCentralAsia).AllofthemwerelaterconqueredbytheHuns,whothenposedadirectthreattotheWesternHanandblockedthedynasty'spathwest.Underthesecircumstances,EmperorWuappointedZhangQiantoleadateamofmorethan100envoystotheWesternRegions.ThemissionwastounitetheIndo-ScythicpeopleagainsttheHuns,whooncekilledtheirchieftain.ZhangQian’steamsetoutin138BC.NosoonerhadtheyenteredtheHexiCorridor(northwestofpresent-dayGansuProvince),thantheywerecapturedbytheHuns.Afterbeingheldunderhousearrestforovertenyears,ZhangQianandonlyoneotherremainingenvoymanagedtoescapeandreturntoChanganin126BC.TheiraccountsabouttheWesternRegionswerearevelationtoHunemperorandhisministers.Inthenexttwodecades,EmperorWulaunchedthreemajorcampaignsagainsttheHuns,forcingthemtoretreatfromtheWesternRegions.In119BC,theemperorsentZhangQianonasecondmissiontotheWesternRegions.ThistimeZhangQianwentfurtherwest,whilehisdeputiesreachedmorethanadozencountriesinSouthandWestAsia,andtheMediterranean.ZhangQian'stwomissionstotheWesternRegionsopeneduptheroadtothewest.EmperorWuadoptedaseriesofmeasurestostrengthentieswiththeWesternRegions,includingencouragingHanPeopletotradethere.Soontheroutewasbustlingwithcaravansofcamelscarryinggoodsofalltypesandreverberatingwiththetinklingoftheirbells.ThroughtheSilkRoad,tradeflourishedbetweenChinaandCentral,SouthandWestAsiancountries,AfricaandEurope.In166,envoysfromRomearrivedviatheSilkRoadinChang,an,weretheysetupanembassy.S.. T.. .........................................................................................................................................................................................ArtandAestheticsUnit5Music:GoverntheCountry,NourishtheMindThetraditionofChinesemusicdatesbacktoremoteantiquity.Governingthecountryandnourishingthemindthroughmusicaretwoofthemainfunctionsofthistradition.GovernanceThroughMusicAccordingtoancientChineseculture,ritualsprovidedthenormsofconductofpeople.Thegoalwastomaintainsocialorder.Musicwasforthemind’scultivationandexpression.Itspurposewastoenhancepeople’soutlookonlifeandimbuethemwithenergyandcreativity,suchthattheycouldenjoyamoreharmoniousandhappierspirituallife.Individualcontentmentwouldthenleadtosocialharmony,aswellastoamoreharmoniousrelationshipbetweenpeopleandnature.ThehighestlevelofancientChinesemusicwastorepresentspiritualwithnature.TheprominentstatureofmusicinancientChinaexplainstheemergenceofsophisticatedinstrumentsfromearlytimes.Chimebellswereoneexample.FirstusedintheShangDynasty,theybecamequitepopularduringtheWesternZhouDynasty（1046-771BC）.In1978,afinesetofchimebellswasunearthedinHubeiProvince,fromthetombofMarquisYi,alocallordinasmallstatecalledZengduringtheWarringStatesPeriod.TheMarquisYichimebellsconsistof65bellsarrangedinthreerows.Thefirstrowincludes19niubells,andthesecondandthirdrowsinclude45yongbells.Thebellsineachrowdifferfromoneanotherinshapeandsize,emanating（發(fā)出）differenttones.Inaddition,thereisaseparateandmuchlargerbellusedtoadjustpitch.Likethebells,thefromismadeofbronze,weighingasmuchasfivetonsormore.Thetotalweightofthebellsismorethan440kilograms.Whilethebellsbearinscriptionstotalingmorethan2,800Chinesecharactersrelatingtomusicandthemakingoftheinstrument,theframeiscarvedwithexquisitepatternsinrelief（浮雕）andfretwork（回紋細(xì)工）.Instrumentsofsuchascaleandsuchfinecraftsmanshipwerequiterateintheworldatthetime.Fivemusicianswereneededtoplaytheinstrument.Eachbellproducestwotoneswhenstruckattherespectivesoundpointsasmarked.Theentiresetofchimebellsisabletoproduceallthetonesofamodernpiano.S.. T.....ConsolingtheMindwithMusicTheChinesezithertendstocreateatranquilair.ThecompositionWildGeeseLandingontheShallowShoreissuchanexample.Witharelaxedrhythm,thefirstpartofthepiecedepictsacalmYangtzeRiverunderaclearautumnsky.Thesecondpartprogressesintolivelierrhythmstoimitatethechirpingofmanybirds.ThethirdpartpresentsathematicsceneofwildgeeseleisurelylandingontheshallowshoresoftheYangtze,asagentlebreezemakesthewaterripple.ToChinesemusiciansandmusiclovers,thecontentmentofthewildgeeserepresentsthehumanheart.Thezitherwasalsoinstrumentalincommunicationbetweenancientscholarsandartist.Thefamouszithercomposition,ThreeStanzasofPlumBlossoms,wasbasedonanEasternJinDynastystoryofthepoetWangZiyou（王子猷）（c.338-386）andthefluteplayerHuanYi（桓伊）（?-383）.OnedaythepoetwastakingaboattripwhenheoverheardsomeoneontheriverbanksayHuanYiwaspassingby.Althoughthetwohadnevermetbefore,theyadmiredeachotheraspoetandfluteplayer.Despitehislowerrankofoffice,ZiyousentafamilymembertorequestHuanYitoplaytheflute.Withouthesitation,HuanYidismountedfromhiscarriageandplayedThreeStanzasofPlumBlossoms,whileZiyoulistenedfromhisboat.Afterfinishing,HuanYimountedhiscarriageanddroveon.Ziyou,too,continuedwithhisboatjourney.Thetwoofthemexchangednotasingleword,yetbothwerecontentwiththecommunicationoftheirheartsthroughthemusic.Theflute,sthreestanzaswerelaterconvertedintoacompositionfortheChinesezither,whichhasbecomeoneofthebest-knownmusicalworks-asanexpressionofotherworldlyfeelingsthroughitseulogyoftheplumflower’spurity,fragranceandresistancetothecold.Unit6FlyingstrokesofCalligraphyTheevolutionofChinesecharactersfont甲骨文theOraclebonescript一金文Jinwen（Inscriptionsonbronze）S.. T.....t篆書Sealscriptt隸書Officialscriptt楷書Regularscriptt草書Cursivescriptt行書runningscriptWangXizhiandPrefacetotheLantingPavilionCollectionIntheHallforCultivationofMindofthePalaceMuseum,thereisaThree-treasurerStudy,whichderivesitsnameforthethreemostvaluablecalligraphicworkshousedhere.Thesethreetreasures,mostvaluedandadoredbyEmperorQianling(r.1736-1795)oftheQingDynasty,wereASunnySceneafteraQuickSnowbyWangXizhi,Mid-AutumnbyWangXianzhiandBoyuanbyWangXun(349-400).Asfatherandson,WangXizhiandWangXianzhihaebeenknownasthe“TwoWangU,theirworksuniversallyrecognizedasthepeakofChinesecalligraphy.Unit7Porcelain-CallingCardofChineseCultureInEnglish,thecountryand“porcelain”sharethesamename-nChina”.ThisprovesthatEuropeanshavelongknownofChina,srelationshiptoporcelain.PorcelainfounditswaytoEuropeinthe15thcentury,occupyinganimportantpositionintheexchangesbetweenChinaandothercountries.TheKeiselRandyMuseuminGermanyhousesablue-and-whitebowldatingbacktotheMingDynasty.Throughouthistory,China,alongwithotherAsiancountries,andEuropemaintainedabusyandvasttradeinporcelain.From1602to1682,theDutchEastIndiaCompanytransportedmorethan16millionarticlesofporcelaintoEurope.PorcelaingarneredagoodreputationforChinaforitssophisticationandelegance,andplayedanimportantroleinthewaveoftheEuropeanidealizationofChinaduringthe17thand18thcenturies.IntherococostylepopularinEuropeofthattime,onecouldsense,fromtimetotime,theinfluenceof“Chinesevogue”representedbyChina,sstylesofporcelainandgardens.S.. T.....PorcelainisofgreatsignificanceinthehistoryofChinesecivilization.Potterywasthepredecessorofporcelain,whileglazedpotterywasthebasisfortheemergenceofporcelain.Aroundthefirstcentury,porcelainproductionfirstemergedinChina,andbyTheSongDynastyithadbecomemature.Song-DynastyporcelainrepresentedtheacmeofChineseporcelaintechnique.Fivefamouskilns,theJun,Ding,Guan,Ge,andRu,wereallcreativeandoriginalintheirrespectiveproducts,andtheirporcelainwarehasbeenimitatedbylatergenerationsthroughouttheages.IntheYuanDynasty,JingdezhenbecamethecenteroftheChinesePorcelainindustry.PureBlue-and-WhitePorcelainPureandelegantbeautyisthegoalthatporcelainpursues,andthisidealisbestexplainedintheproductionofblue-and-whiteporcelain.Blue-and-whiteporcelainisatypicalartifactofporcelaininChina.AmongtheporcelainexportedduringtheMingandQingdynasties,80percentwasblue-and-white.Chinese-madeblue-and-whiteporcelainwareemergedlongbeforethefoundingoftheTangDynasty,butitwasnotuntiltheYuanDynastythatthistypeofporcelaincametobeproducedinquantity,withtheattendantmasterpieces.TheMingDynastywitnessedthematurityoftheart,andalargenumberofvaluablepieceswereproducedinthisperiod.Jingdezhen,asmalltownthatcreatedtheenchantingblue-and-whiteporcelainoftheYuanDynasty,becameitsporcelain-producingcenter;andinthesubsequentMingDynasty,theimperialkilnswereestablishedhere.Blue-and-whiteporcelainisnowthemostrepresentativeofChineseporcelain.Toproduceblue-and-whiteporcelain,cobaltoxideisrequisite.Itisemployedtodrawonthewhiteroughcastbeforeglazeisapplied.Afterkilningatahightemperature,theroughcastturnsintoblue-and-whiteporcelain,sincecobaltoxideturnsbluewithheat.Thewhitesurfacewithbluepatternsandashinysheenofglazeproducesapure,elegantandtransparenteffect.Unit8PekingOpera:ArtistryofPerformersTheDelightsofPekingOperaMasksChina,sPekingOperaradiateswiththebeautyofresplendentcolor-vivid,intenseandglamorous.Thisartisticbeautycomesnotonlyfromthecostumesbutalsofromthemasksofexaggerated,dazzlingdesigns,gleamingwithred,purples,whites,yellows,blacks,blues,greens,S.. T.....everydiversecolorimaginable.Masks,appliedtothetworolesofthe"jing"ornpainted-facerole”andthe“chou”or“clown”,servetwopurposes.Oneistoindicatetheidentityandcharacteroftherole.Forexample,a"redface"meansthepersonisloyalandbrave;a"blackface"signifiesthepersonisstraightforward;and“awhiteface"identifiesthepersonascraftyandevil.Theotherpurposeistoexpresspeople,sappraisaloftherolesfromamoralandaestheticpointofview,suchasrespectable,hateful,noble,ridiculous,etc.PekingOperaPerformance:Sing,Speak,Act,andFightTheperformanceofaPekingOperaactorcanbesummarizedintofourbasicaspects,ofsinging,speaking,acting,andfighting,thecoreofwhichisacombinationofsongandchoreography.SingingisofutmostimportanceintheperformanceofPekingOpera,becausefirstofall,PekingOperaisasingingart.AnyfamousPekingOperaboastsseveralwonderfulariasthatarewell-knownandpopularwithaudiences.ThecharmofthemelodiesusuallyembodiesthesublimerealmoftheartofPekingOpera.UnabletoappreciatethemagicofPekingOperaarias,onewouldfailtoenjoytheprofoundbeautyoftheartitself.Speakingreferstocharactermonologsanddialogs,whichservetopropelthedevelopmentofthestory.Speaking,likesinging,needstobeexecutedinanappealingway.Actingandfightingmeanthatactorsemployphysicalmovementstoexpresstheemotionsofthecharactersandthecircumstances.Actingincludesbodymovementsandeyemovements,solodancingorgroupdancing,etc.Mostofthedancingischoreographedmovementsfromeverydaylife.Fightingischoreographedmartialartsandacrobaticstodepictfightorbattlescenes.AstheartofPekingOperadependsonmovementtodepictevents,actorsaregivenmuchroomtoperformonthestage.IntheoperaPickinguptheJadeBracelet,theyoungwomanSunYujiaoandtheyoungscholarfallinlovewitheachother,theireyesaffixedoneachotherasifathreadconnectedthem.Then,asMatchmakerLiuusesherpipetopullthe“virtual”lineupanddown,theyoungcouple,seyesaccordinglymoveupanddown.Theseactionsproducegreathumorandaddmuchsignificancetotheperformance.Actingandfightingservethewhole"play"orthe“worldofimages”,butatthesametimetheyarethemselvesabeautifulartinbothformandskill.Forexample,inKingChuBidsFarewelltoHisConcubine,artistMeiLanfangperformedaswordS.. T.....danceinamiraculouslyskillfulway,whichbecameverypopularwithaudiences.Thisisatypeofbeautyinform.Asforthebeautyofskill,thisusuallyincludessomeverydifficultacrobaticmovements,oftenreferredtoas“superbskills”.TheuniquenessofperformancesinPekingOperaliesinthefactthatthesinging,speaking,acting,andfighting,allfocusononeortwoactorsintheplay.Theseperformersusedtobecalled"jue’er”,hence“mingjue”wasusedtorefertofamousactorsoractresses.Inthissense,theworldofimagerycreatedinPekingOperamainlyreliesonthesinging,speaking,acting,andfightingofactors,especiallyintheperformanceofthefamousplays.ThisisthebiggestdifferencebetweenPekingOperaandotherformsofperformingartsintermsofaestheticappreciation.Andtheremark-"PekingOperaistheartofperformers”一welldescribesitsquintessence.TheBeautyofa“VisualWorld”Depictinga “visualworld”isadistinctivefeatureofPekingOpera.Itsvirtuallyconsistsoftwoaspects:oneisvirtualmovements,andtheothervirtualsettings.Virtualmovementreferstoimitatingactionsonstage.Forexample,ridingahorse.Onstage,anactorcannotridearealhorse,butcanonlyholdawhipandimitatethemovementofgallopingbywalkingaroundthestage,turningthebody,wieldingthewhip,andpullingthereins.Avirtualsettingmeanscreatinganimaginedenvironmentonstage.Forexample,rowingaboat.Asthereisnowaterorboatonthestage,anactorusuallytakesanoarand,throughactions,makestheaudience“see”therowingofaboatonwater.OneisAttheCrossroalchisoperadescribesthestoryoftwoyamenrunnersescortingJiaoZantoprison.Onthewaytheystayataninnforthenight.RenTangh