Part V Reading
Passage 1
Taoism Culture in China
Taoism is the native religion of China，it also be called Daoism or Taochiao.Taoism is China’s traditional philosophy.The primary religious figures in Taoism are Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu，two scholars who dedicated their lives two balancing their inner spirits.
The most common graphic representation of Taoist theology is the circular Yin Yang figure.It represents the balance of opposites in the universe.When they are equally present，all is calm.When one is outweighed by the other，there is confusion and disarray.The Yin and Yang are a model that the faithful follow，an aid that allows each person to contemplate the state of his or her lives.More a mode of living than an actual theology，Taoism asks that each person focuses on the world around him or her in order to understand the inner harmonies of the universe.It is a kind of religious system heavily focused on meditation and contemplation.The Tao surrounds everyone and one must listen to find enlightenment.
Traditionally，Taoism has been attributed to three sources，the oldest being the legendary‘Yellow Emperor’，but the most famous is Lao Tse’s Tao Teh Ching.According to tradition，Lao Tse was an older contemporary of Kung Fu Tse (Confucius).The third source is Chuang Tse’s(untitled)work.But the original source of Taoism is said to be the ancient I Ching，The Book Of Changes.The Tao was written in a time of feudal warfare and constant conflict.Lao Tzu was reflecting on a way which would stop the warfare，a realistic path for humanity to follow which would end the conflict.And so he came up with a few pages of short verses，which became the Tao Te Ching.This is the original book of Tao.
Words:
1.Chuang Tzu n.庄子
2.disarray n.无秩序；杂乱；衣冠不整 vt.使混乱；弄乱；使脱去衣服
3.graphic a.形象的；图表的；绘画似的
4.harmony n.和谐
5.humanity n.人类；人道；仁慈
6.Kung Fu-tse (Confucius) n.孔子
7.Lao Tzu n.老子
8.meditation n.冥想；沉思，深思
9.outweigh vt.比…重（在重量上）；比……重要；比……有价值
10.Tao Teh Ching n.道德经
11.The Book Of Changes n.《易经》
12.verse n.诗，诗篇；韵文；诗节vi.作诗
13.Yellow Emperor n.黄帝
Exercises:
1.Oral practice
1)Make a presentation about Lao Tzu 、Chuang Tzu 、Kung Fu-tse with your partner in details.
2)Try to summarize the process of the original source of Taoism.
2.Translate the following sentences into English.
1)评论家说这个图画小说巧妙地表达了在灾难中幸存者的勇气。（graphic）
2)我们应该和动物和谐共处。(harmony)
3)许多工作繁忙的主管已开始练习瑜伽和冥想。(meditation)
4)这座山据说是传说中国王休息的地方。(legendary)
5)这首诗描述了春天的3个征兆。(verse)
Passage 2
The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month，usually in February or March in the Gregorian calendar.As early as the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25)，it had become a festival with great significance.
This day’s important activity is watching lanterns.Throughout the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220)，Buddhism flourished in China.One emperor heard that Buddhist monks would watch sarira，or remains from the cremation of Buddha’s body，and light lanterns to worship Buddha on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month，so he ordered to light lanterns in the imperial palace and temples to show respect to Buddha on this day.Later，the Buddhist rite developed into a grand festival among common people and its influence expanded from the Central Plains to the whole of China.Till today，the lantern festival is still held each year around the country.Lanterns of various shapes and sizes are hung in the streets，attracting countless visitors.Children will hold self-made or bought lanterns to stroll with on the streets，extremely excited.
“Guessing lantern riddles” is an essential part of the Festival.Lantern owners write riddles on a piece of paper and post them on the lanterns.If visitors have solutions to the riddles，they can pull the paper out and go to the lantern owners to check their answer.If they are right，they will get a little gift.The activity emerged during people’s enjoyment of lanterns in the Song Dynasty(960-1279).As riddle guessing is interesting and full of wisdom，it has become popular among all social strata.
People will eat yuanxiao，or rice dumplings，on this day，so it is also called the “Yuanxiao Festival”.Yuanxiao also has another name，tangyuan.It is small dumpling balls made of glutinous rice flour with rose petals，sesame，bean paste，jujube paste，walnut meat，dried fruit，sugar and edible oil as filling.Tangyuan can be boiled，fried or steamed.It tastes sweet and delicious.What’s more，tangyuan in Chinese has a similar pronunciation with “tuanyuan”，meaning reunion.So people eat them to denote union，harmony and happiness for the family.
In the daytime of the Festival，performances such as a dragon lantern dance，a lion dance，a land boat dance，a yangge dance，walking on stilts and beating drums while dancing will be staged.On the night，except for magnificent lanterns，fireworks form a beautiful scene.Most families spare some fireworks from the Spring Festival and let them off in the Lantern Festival.Some local governments will even organize a fireworks party.On the night when the first full moon enters the New Year，people become really intoxicated by the imposing fireworks and bright moon in the sky.
Words:
1.Buddhism n.佛教
2.glutinous a.粘的；粘性的；胶状的
3.jujube paste n.枣泥
4.lantern n.灯笼
5.riddle n.谜语
6.sarira n.舍利子
7.sesame n.芝麻
8.stilt n.高跷
9.strata n.社会阶层
10.stroll n.漫步; vi.散步；闲逛; 巡回演出; vt.散步；闲逛
11.the Central Plains n.中原
12.the Gregorian calendar n.阳历
13.the Lantern Festival n.元宵节
14.the lunar calendar n.阴历
15.the Western Han Dynasty n.西汉时期
Exercises:
1.Oral practice
1)Make a presentation about other Chinese Traditional festivals that you know with your partner.
2)Try to say some traditional activities about Dragon Boat Festival.