Learning Traditional Chinese Culture

[JSCh]

Teenagers play Chinese instrument Zheng in China's Hubei
Xinhua | 2016-04-24 20:08:47 | Editor: Luan

XIANGYANG, April 24, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Teenagers dressed up in traditional costumes play the Chinese instrument Zheng in the Gulongzhong scenic spot in Xiangyang, central China's Hubei Province, April 24, 2016. Nearly 1,000 teenagers participated in the performance. (Xinhua/Wang Hu)

 

[JSCh]

Roundup: Secondary schools in Africa embrace Chinese language lessons
Source: Xinhua | 2016-04-21 22:58:01 | Editor: huaxia

Shao Dan, a Confucius Institute teacher in South Africa, was teaching the Chinese language at a secondary school, 40 km east of Pretoria, South Africa, on Feb. 25, 2013. (Xinhua/Li Qihua)​

NAIROBI, April 21 (Xinhua) -- As ties between China and Africa grow in trade as well as in people-to-people exchanges, the interest in Chinese language learning has grown from among university students to teenagers in African countries.

Teaching of Chinese language in secondary schools has been introduced to African countries including South Africa, Tanzania and Madagascar, and this trend is expected to grow further.

SOUTH AFRICA

A total number of 500 schools in South Africa will offer Mandarin as a second additional language in the next five years, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said this week.

There are currently 15 schools in the country offering Mandarin, the minister said in a written reply to a parliamentary question.

"In the next five years, it is envisaged that 500 schools will offer Mandarin as a second additional language," Motshekga said.

"One hundred teachers will be sent to China per year for purposes of methodological and cultural enrichment," she said.

The roll-out of Mandarin teaching was incrementally implemented in schools with Grades 4-9 and 10 in January 2016, to be followed by Grade 11 in 2017 and Grade 12 in 2018, according to the Department of Basic Education.

Under the South African Schools Act of 1996, education is compulsory for all South Africans from the age of seven (grade 1) to age 15, or the completion of grade 9. Further Education and Training takes place from grades 10 to 12.

Currently, schools offering Mandarin are in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, according to the department.

Schools in other provinces will follow suit, it added.

The Chinese government will donate 2, 000 textbooks to assist in teaching mandarin in schools until a South African textbook is developed, Motshekga said earlier.

TANZANIA

Six secondary schools and three universities are taking part in a pilot program of the Chinese language teaching in Tanzania, backed by 12 Chinese teachers.

The Confucius Institute at University of Dodoma serves as the coordinator of the program.

Speaking during the launching of the Chinese language and culture pilot program in Dar es Salaam last month, Tanzania's Deputy Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Leonard Akwilapo, encouraged the secondary school students learning Chinese.

"If you learn well Chinese language and culture, you will also acquire technological knowledge and skills of the Chinese who are very successful in this area," Akwilapo told students of Zanaki Secondary School in Dar es Salaam.

He said the government would ensure the program, supported by the Chinese government, would be "sustainable".

"We are training teachers at the three universities so that they can take over from the Chinese volunteers," the official said.

Zanaki Girls Secondary School Head Mistress, Juliet Matowo, said some 300 students aged 14-18 are learning the language at the school.

"There is a lot of interest among our students to learn the language," Matowo said, adding many students have ambitions to further their studies in China in the future.

A Tanzanian college student performs Chinese calligraphy at "the Final Competition of Chinese Bridge -- Chinese Proficiency Competition in Tanzania" in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on May 29, 2015. (Xinhua/Zhang Ping)​

MADAGASCAR

At Le petit Nid School in Madagascar's capital Antananarivo, half of a total of 3,000 students in the school, aged 8-17, have enrolled in the Chinese language lessons.

"We are responding to the expectations of parents on equal opportunity for their children, (that's) why we have advocated for compulsory courses of Chinese language," Le petit Nid School CEO, Sahoby Ramahafalisoa, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

When the Chinese classes were introduced in the school in 2013, only 210 students enrolled for the lessons, but the number has grown to some 1,500 for this year.

"This number is increasing... Parents of students have openly appreciated the integration of Chinese courses in our school program," Ramahafalisoa said.

The teaching is being staffed by Malagasy graduates from Antananarivo Confucius Institute.

Ramantsarazaka Hery Zo is the head of the five-member team teaching Chinese lessons. "No school in Madagascar, except le Petit Nid, has integrated the Chinese language as compulsory courses into its school program that presents many benefits to our students," he said.

"Aware of the challenge and benefits of speaking this language, they (the students) attach great importance to the course," Zo told Xinhua.

The Chinese embassy to Madagascar has been supporting the school and its Chinese language teaching at the school, donating books and equipment.

Ramahafalisoa said at least three or four of the students got a scholarship to study in China every year.

 

[JSCh]

Feature: First Confucius institutes in Germany mark 10th birthday
Source: Xinhua | 2016-05-01 21:58:12 | Editor: huaxia

German middle school students practise to use brush to write their own names in Chinese characters in Hannover Nov. 2, 2008. (Xinhua/Zheng Qihang)​

BERLIN, May 1 (Xinhua) -- As the first established Confucius institutes in Germany mark their 10th birthday in 2016, more than 20 directors and co-directors gathered here to share experiences under the theme of "New 10 years, New Position".

Meanwhile, the participants on Friday also reached consensus on strengthening communications and sharing resources in the future.

Since 2006, about 16 Confucius institutes, each with their own characteristics, have settled in Germany. Some are primarily involved in Chinese language teaching, some in academic exchanges, while some focus on cultural transmission.

In last 10 years, the Confucius institutes in Germany carried out lots of Chinese language and culture promotion activities.

Xu Yan, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, said that cultural exchanges between China and Germany should not be entirely from the Chinese perspective, but has to be "down to earth".

A win-win situation can be achieved through cooperation, said Xu.

The Confucius Institute at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, which has successfully integrated into German society after 10 years of efforts, will host its 10th anniversary celebration in Nuremberg City Hall on May 2.

Minister Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Germany Dong Qi said the growing demand for Chinese learning also sets a higher request on the level of teachers and teaching content.

According to Qi, each year about 30,000 people in Germany are now learning Chinese. More and more German universities began to set up Chinese major for training teachers.

The Confucius Institute, a non-profit public educational organization under China's Ministry of Education, provides funding, teachers and teaching materials for overseas Chinese language and cultural courses.

Confucius institutes, first established in 2004, usually work with local universities and colleges in providing courses. Confucius classrooms focus on primary, middle and high schools.

 

[JSCh]

Confucius Institutes help over 70,000 LatAm youngsters learn Chinese language, culture
Source: Xinhua | 2016-05-02 22:37:46 | Editor: huaxia

Former Chilean President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle speaks during the opening ceremony of the Regional Center of Confucius Institutes for Latin America, at the Confucius Institute of the Santo Tomas University, in Santiago, capital of Chile, May 12, 2014. (Xinhua/Jorge Villegas) ​

SANTIAGO, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Confucius Institutes in Latin America provide not only Mandarin courses but also cultural events for locals, serving as an important bridge between the region and China, a Chilean education director told Xinhua during an interview.

More than 70,000 young Latin Americans are currently studying Mandarin at 45 Confucius Institutes in the region, and many other Latin Americans take part in Chinese cultural events organized by the institutes, said Roberto Lafontaine, director of the Santiago-based Regional Center of Confucius Institutes in Latin America.

Chile was the first country in the region to host a Confucius Institute eight years ago, Lafontaine said, adding that his center now has branches in Mexico, Costa Rica, Cuba, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, as well as in the English-speaking Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas and Jamaica.

"More than a million people (in Latin America) participate in cultural activities organized by the Confucius Institutes," said Lafontaine.

Among these events in Chile was the presentation of a play about the life of famed Chinese admiral and explorer Zheng He in the 15th century, following presentations in Brazil and Argentina.

​

Image taken on April 16, 2016 shows a student taking a Chinese language class at the Confucius Institute in Bogota, Colombia. (Xinhua/Jhon Paz)
​

For Latin Americans, China used to be an exotic and mysterious land, yet "today there is a growing interest in its development", Lafontaine told Xinhua.

People want to know more about China's fashion trend, architecture, literature, film, among others, and the Confucius Institutes offer them an opportunity to know more about the Chinese culture, he said.

Different from many Confucius Institutes operating within universities, some institutes choose to reach out to local communities and streets, Lafontaine added.

"We want students in public or private primary or middle schools to have access to the Chinese language and culture, as well as the elderly, which allows us to expand knowledge about China to a much greater degree," he said.

Lafontaine said his regional center is opening Confucius Institutes in all Chilean cities, which is expected to reach 14 by the end of the year.

 

[TaiShang]

Roundup: Secondary schools in Africa embrace Chinese language lessons
Source: Xinhua | 2016-04-21 22:58:01 | Editor: huaxia

Shao Dan, a Confucius Institute teacher in South Africa, was teaching the Chinese language at a secondary school, 40 km east of Pretoria, South Africa, on Feb. 25, 2013. (Xinhua/Li Qihua)​

NAIROBI, April 21 (Xinhua) -- As ties between China and Africa grow in trade as well as in people-to-people exchanges, the interest in Chinese language learning has grown from among university students to teenagers in African countries.

Teaching of Chinese language in secondary schools has been introduced to African countries including South Africa, Tanzania and Madagascar, and this trend is expected to grow further.

SOUTH AFRICA

A total number of 500 schools in South Africa will offer Mandarin as a second additional language in the next five years, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said this week.

There are currently 15 schools in the country offering Mandarin, the minister said in a written reply to a parliamentary question.

"In the next five years, it is envisaged that 500 schools will offer Mandarin as a second additional language," Motshekga said.

"One hundred teachers will be sent to China per year for purposes of methodological and cultural enrichment," she said.

The roll-out of Mandarin teaching was incrementally implemented in schools with Grades 4-9 and 10 in January 2016, to be followed by Grade 11 in 2017 and Grade 12 in 2018, according to the Department of Basic Education.

Under the South African Schools Act of 1996, education is compulsory for all South Africans from the age of seven (grade 1) to age 15, or the completion of grade 9. Further Education and Training takes place from grades 10 to 12.

Currently, schools offering Mandarin are in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, according to the department.

Schools in other provinces will follow suit, it added.

The Chinese government will donate 2, 000 textbooks to assist in teaching mandarin in schools until a South African textbook is developed, Motshekga said earlier.

TANZANIA

Six secondary schools and three universities are taking part in a pilot program of the Chinese language teaching in Tanzania, backed by 12 Chinese teachers.

The Confucius Institute at University of Dodoma serves as the coordinator of the program.

Speaking during the launching of the Chinese language and culture pilot program in Dar es Salaam last month, Tanzania's Deputy Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Leonard Akwilapo, encouraged the secondary school students learning Chinese.

"If you learn well Chinese language and culture, you will also acquire technological knowledge and skills of the Chinese who are very successful in this area," Akwilapo told students of Zanaki Secondary School in Dar es Salaam.

He said the government would ensure the program, supported by the Chinese government, would be "sustainable".

"We are training teachers at the three universities so that they can take over from the Chinese volunteers," the official said.

Zanaki Girls Secondary School Head Mistress, Juliet Matowo, said some 300 students aged 14-18 are learning the language at the school.

"There is a lot of interest among our students to learn the language," Matowo said, adding many students have ambitions to further their studies in China in the future.

A Tanzanian college student performs Chinese calligraphy at "the Final Competition of Chinese Bridge -- Chinese Proficiency Competition in Tanzania" in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on May 29, 2015. (Xinhua/Zhang Ping)​

MADAGASCAR

At Le petit Nid School in Madagascar's capital Antananarivo, half of a total of 3,000 students in the school, aged 8-17, have enrolled in the Chinese language lessons.

"We are responding to the expectations of parents on equal opportunity for their children, (that's) why we have advocated for compulsory courses of Chinese language," Le petit Nid School CEO, Sahoby Ramahafalisoa, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

When the Chinese classes were introduced in the school in 2013, only 210 students enrolled for the lessons, but the number has grown to some 1,500 for this year.

"This number is increasing... Parents of students have openly appreciated the integration of Chinese courses in our school program," Ramahafalisoa said.

The teaching is being staffed by Malagasy graduates from Antananarivo Confucius Institute.

Ramantsarazaka Hery Zo is the head of the five-member team teaching Chinese lessons. "No school in Madagascar, except le Petit Nid, has integrated the Chinese language as compulsory courses into its school program that presents many benefits to our students," he said.

"Aware of the challenge and benefits of speaking this language, they (the students) attach great importance to the course," Zo told Xinhua.

The Chinese embassy to Madagascar has been supporting the school and its Chinese language teaching at the school, donating books and equipment.

Ramahafalisoa said at least three or four of the students got a scholarship to study in China every year.

Mei li Zhong Guo!

 

[ahojunk]

China Exclusive: Xinhua Dictionary chronicles China's changes, character by character
Source: Xinhua 2016-05-11 18:21:54
by Xinhua writers Bai Xu and Wei Mengjia

BEIJING, May 11 (Xinhua) -- In China, there is a book that is as popular as the Bible in the West, and its popularity has persisted for decades.

Last month, the Guinness World Records recognized the Xinhua Dictionary, published by China's Commercial Press, as the "most popular dictionary" and the "best-selling regularly updated book."

Since its first edition came out in 1953, the dictionary had sold 567 million copies globally as of last July.

It was the first dictionary written in Mandarin Chinese, as opposed to the Classical Chinese widely used before the May Fourth Movement in 1919. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, 11 editions of the dictionary have been published. Most, if not all, Chinese people use the reference book in primary school when they start learning Chinese characters.

"Where there are Chinese books, there is the Xinhua Dictionary," said Yu Guilin, director of the Chinese language center of the Commercial Press.

EVOLUTION

The dictionary was first compiled to standardize Mandarin Chinese and aimed to eliminate illiteracy in China. "It has many pictures so people can easily understand," Yu said.

Through rapid economic growth and drastic social change, the dictionary has been revised every five to seven years, he added.

Revision is not easy. In the edition from 1971, when China was in a fanatic drive to eliminate old ways of thinking, customs and traditions, compilers were not sure if words like "your majesty," "monk" and "eunuch" should be retained.

Zhou Enlai, the Chinese premier at the time, told editors that the words should be kept. "A dictionary is a reference book," he said. "Our people need to know history. Historical things should be introduced to them faithfully."

Outdated expressions have been removed, such as "commune" and the "General Line of the Party" -- terms used mainly in the 1960s and 1970s to refer to directives.

New characters and words were added in each revision. Yu said that in the dictionary published in the 1950s there were 8,000 entries, while by the 11th edition the number had risen to 13,000.

Internet buzz words have been also included, such as the suffix "-gate" to denote scandal, as in "Watergate," and "slave," which is defined as "someone who has to work hard to pay off a loan."

For these new terms, editors sometimes have to rack their brains to give a precise explanation. Yu remembers that in 1998, the new character "ju," a kind of hair treatment, was added to the dictionary.

But editors had no idea how to define it correctly. "An editor, Jia Caizhu, visited a hairdresser twice and tried the treatment before they could describe the process properly," Yu said.

Now, on page 254 of the dictionary, the character is defined something like this: "A treatment for hair care and dye by applying cream to the hair, before heating with hot air. The cream is washed off after the hair cools."

As awareness about animal protection has grown, some entries have also changed. Explanations like "the meat is edible" were deleted from entries about certain animals, while editors added information about their protected status.

BY THE READERS, FOR THE READERS

Readers sometimes give suggestions for revisions as well.

"We have a motto: give all people a chance to compile the dictionary," Yu said.

As education has improved over the decades, fewer pictures have appeared in the dictionary, but several still remain, including one of a lotus root.

Compilers once received a letter from a reader named Peng Yun, who said he was from a village in east China's Jiangxi Province. He questioned the picture of lotus root in the 1998 edition of the dictionary.

"Many of us grow lotus in our hometown," he wrote. "After observing for more than ten years, I have never seen three stems from one joint of a root. I have also consulted some older people who agree with me."

An editor went to a pond to check the reader's claim, and the picture was changed for the next edition.

The dictionary was originally a paperback, then switched to a leather binding and, finally, to a hard cover, but its price has always been low.

Some sources claim that to ensure the dictionary is affordable for everyone, its price was set to that of a half kilogram of pork. Yu said he had heard this story, and though the prices are similar, he could not confirm that this was anything other than a coincidence.

At a bookstore next to the Commercial Press, an 11th edition printed in 2015 sells for 19.9 yuan (about three U.S. dollars), while half a kilogram of pork on Walmart's online market is 18 yuan.

The dictionary has bilingual versions for Mongolian, Korean, Uygur, English and Japanese, and a mobile phone version is being developed.

"The dictionary has influenced generations of Chinese," Yu said, adding that there are plans to establish a museum about the book's history. "Times are changing. So long as people are thirsty for knowledge, Xinhua Dictionary will always be edited, updated and published."

 

[ahojunk]

Confucianism keeps convicts on the straight and narrow
By Zhang Yi (China Daily)Updated: 2016-07-20 07:45

Liu Fengguang, professor of Confucianism at Qufu Normal University, gives a lecture on Confucius' teachings in Yunhe prison in 2011. Photos Provide To China Daily


"If we incite people to do good by issuing decrees and meting out punishment, all we shall do is create those who fear the stick rather than those who revere doing right; but if we lead people on a just path with morality, we will breed a people imbued with an awareness of shame and they will submit themselves to governance."

Although those words were uttered by the Chinese sage Confucius about 2,500 years ago, they still have great resonance today, especially for the inmates of Yunhe prison in Shandong province.

In the past 24 years, more than 3,200 prisoners have "graduated" from the Yunhe Confucius Distance Learning College, which offers courses that expound on the sage's philosophy and are designed to rehabilitate offenders and prepare them for life outside prison. So far, about 1,000 of the graduates have found work in the low-end technology sector.

The college has distilled the basic concepts of the philosophy into 14 classes, one for each of the known works of Confucius, and it takes about two years to complete the entire course of study. The emphasis is placed firmly on restoring the inmates' sense of right and wrong.

The prison college, established in 1992, was the first of its kind in China. In addition to lectures by prison officers and online classes, Confucian scholars from across the country are invited to visit the prison once a month and teach classes for three days.

"If the prisoners sit around without doing anything, they are likely to get into fights. The idea of providing higher education was the result of a debate about how to make the best use of their time," said Liu Dengcai, the prison's deputy governor.

Although the Confucius teaching project has won plaudits from educationalists and penal experts, when the founders decided to turn their idea into reality, they had a hard time persuading institutions to provide teachers.

"The teachers feared the prisoners would be unwilling to learn anything they taught," said Liu Dengcai, deputy governor of Yunhe prison, Shandong province.

Having discussed the idea with a number of colleges and universities in Shandong, Liu and his colleagues eventually decided to work with Qufu Normal University, which provided intellectual support.

Working with university teachers, the prison officers adapted the sage's teachings to produce new textbooks that would make it easier for inmates to grasp the basic concepts of Confucianism.

Liu believes prison mangers need to understand the maxim: "Strict punishment and lenient treatment should be complementary to each other in order to maintain good governance."

For the prisoners, one overarching Confucian concept concerning the production of moral individuals is perfect for educational purposes. It requires people to display benevolence, righteousness and propriety, in addition to trustworthiness, loyalty and filial piety.

"I will never forget a lecture given by Bao Pengshan, a renowned scholar of Confucianism. He told us a great man should be one who is able to rectify his mistakes," said "Hao Xue" (his name has been changed to protect his privacy), an inmate who completed the course in Yunhe in 2010. "Bearing this line in mind, I want to reshape my personality and try to be a man of noble character."

Inmates at Yunhe prison leave after a class in the four-story teaching building in the prison compound. In recent years, about 200 inmates have enrolled in the Yunhe Confucius Distance Learning College every year.


Rehabilitation

According to Liu, the nation has a high number of convicted offenders, which means prisons are crowded and maintaining order can be a challenge. Despite that, the courses in Confucianism remain a cornerstone of the approach to rehabilitation in Yunhe prison.

"Most importantly, our main task is to re-educate the prisoners and place them firmly back on the right track," he said.

In 2008, the college achieved a major breakthrough when it was authorized to act as an exam center for students who are unable to take exams in the normal way. Inmates can take the national "self-taught" exam - for those outside the formal education system - while in prison, and the credits they gain can be used as evidence of a reformed character when the authorities are considering the reduction of their sentence.

In recent years, the success of the Yunhe project has prompted six other rehabilitation centers to offer similar courses. The latest was established at Luzhong prison, in central Shandong, in May.

One of the essential Confucian concepts emphasizes conscientious ethical behavior to cultivate close, loving relationships, especially between families, friends and neighbors, according to Wang Hanyu, a lecturer who has taught Confucian philosophy at a number of corrective centers and prisons in the province.

The practice of educating inmates through moral teaching rather than punishment accord with a resurgence of Confucian thought in modern society.

Wang, who is also deputy secretary-general of the Research Society on Confucius Business Theory in Shandong, believes the Chinese word xiao, which means "filial piety", is an important component of the concept that underpins family relationships.

"The concept is firmly rooted in the minds of every person in China and has been adopted by most households nowadays. It has a huge bearing on every inmate too. It makes it easier for people to empathize with the prisoners, which in turn helps them to return to their families and reintegrate into society when they are released from prison," she said.

Li Xiang (his name has been changed to protect his privacy), an inmate at Yunhe who completed the two-year course in 2012, said he has benefited from the courses. "I've learned the way a person should behave. As the philosopher said, 'Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you'," he said.

"The words of the Master have taught me how to treat other people and how to be tolerant in daily life. I want to make reparation to those I hurt before and try my best to repay those who have helped me to rebuild my life."

 

[Mangus Ortus Novem]

Confucianism keeps convicts on the straight and narrow
By Zhang Yi (China Daily)Updated: 2016-07-20 07:45

View attachment 322164
Liu Fengguang, professor of Confucianism at Qufu Normal University, gives a lecture on Confucius' teachings in Yunhe prison in 2011. Photos Provide To China Daily


"If we incite people to do good by issuing decrees and meting out punishment, all we shall do is create those who fear the stick rather than those who revere doing right; but if we lead people on a just path with morality, we will breed a people imbued with an awareness of shame and they will submit themselves to governance."

Although those words were uttered by the Chinese sage Confucius about 2,500 years ago, they still have great resonance today, especially for the inmates of Yunhe prison in Shandong province.

In the past 24 years, more than 3,200 prisoners have "graduated" from the Yunhe Confucius Distance Learning College, which offers courses that expound on the sage's philosophy and are designed to rehabilitate offenders and prepare them for life outside prison. So far, about 1,000 of the graduates have found work in the low-end technology sector.

The college has distilled the basic concepts of the philosophy into 14 classes, one for each of the known works of Confucius, and it takes about two years to complete the entire course of study. The emphasis is placed firmly on restoring the inmates' sense of right and wrong.

The prison college, established in 1992, was the first of its kind in China. In addition to lectures by prison officers and online classes, Confucian scholars from across the country are invited to visit the prison once a month and teach classes for three days.

"If the prisoners sit around without doing anything, they are likely to get into fights. The idea of providing higher education was the result of a debate about how to make the best use of their time," said Liu Dengcai, the prison's deputy governor.

Although the Confucius teaching project has won plaudits from educationalists and penal experts, when the founders decided to turn their idea into reality, they had a hard time persuading institutions to provide teachers.

"The teachers feared the prisoners would be unwilling to learn anything they taught," said Liu Dengcai, deputy governor of Yunhe prison, Shandong province.

Having discussed the idea with a number of colleges and universities in Shandong, Liu and his colleagues eventually decided to work with Qufu Normal University, which provided intellectual support.

Working with university teachers, the prison officers adapted the sage's teachings to produce new textbooks that would make it easier for inmates to grasp the basic concepts of Confucianism.

Liu believes prison mangers need to understand the maxim: "Strict punishment and lenient treatment should be complementary to each other in order to maintain good governance."

For the prisoners, one overarching Confucian concept concerning the production of moral individuals is perfect for educational purposes. It requires people to display benevolence, righteousness and propriety, in addition to trustworthiness, loyalty and filial piety.

"I will never forget a lecture given by Bao Pengshan, a renowned scholar of Confucianism. He told us a great man should be one who is able to rectify his mistakes," said "Hao Xue" (his name has been changed to protect his privacy), an inmate who completed the course in Yunhe in 2010. "Bearing this line in mind, I want to reshape my personality and try to be a man of noble character."

View attachment 322165
Inmates at Yunhe prison leave after a class in the four-story teaching building in the prison compound. In recent years, about 200 inmates have enrolled in the Yunhe Confucius Distance Learning College every year.


Rehabilitation

According to Liu, the nation has a high number of convicted offenders, which means prisons are crowded and maintaining order can be a challenge. Despite that, the courses in Confucianism remain a cornerstone of the approach to rehabilitation in Yunhe prison.

"Most importantly, our main task is to re-educate the prisoners and place them firmly back on the right track," he said.

In 2008, the college achieved a major breakthrough when it was authorized to act as an exam center for students who are unable to take exams in the normal way. Inmates can take the national "self-taught" exam - for those outside the formal education system - while in prison, and the credits they gain can be used as evidence of a reformed character when the authorities are considering the reduction of their sentence.

In recent years, the success of the Yunhe project has prompted six other rehabilitation centers to offer similar courses. The latest was established at Luzhong prison, in central Shandong, in May.

One of the essential Confucian concepts emphasizes conscientious ethical behavior to cultivate close, loving relationships, especially between families, friends and neighbors, according to Wang Hanyu, a lecturer who has taught Confucian philosophy at a number of corrective centers and prisons in the province.

The practice of educating inmates through moral teaching rather than punishment accord with a resurgence of Confucian thought in modern society.

Wang, who is also deputy secretary-general of the Research Society on Confucius Business Theory in Shandong, believes the Chinese word xiao, which means "filial piety", is an important component of the concept that underpins family relationships.

"The concept is firmly rooted in the minds of every person in China and has been adopted by most households nowadays. It has a huge bearing on every inmate too. It makes it easier for people to empathize with the prisoners, which in turn helps them to return to their families and reintegrate into society when they are released from prison," she said.

Li Xiang (his name has been changed to protect his privacy), an inmate at Yunhe who completed the two-year course in 2012, said he has benefited from the courses. "I've learned the way a person should behave. As the philosopher said, 'Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you'," he said.

"The words of the Master have taught me how to treat other people and how to be tolerant in daily life. I want to make reparation to those I hurt before and try my best to repay those who have helped me to rebuild my life."

Whoever follows the Tao will cultivate Virtue.

Confusiasim is but one application of the Great Tao.

Great work. We must apply the principal of Consfuscian Virtue in our factories and offices. In every walk of life.

Wealth without Virtue creates vulgarity and selfishness.

 

[ahojunk]

Confucius birthday, an important cultural event. I missed updating this thread yesterday!

========
China observes 2,567th anniversary of Confucius' birth
2016-09-29 15:09 | Xinhua | Editor: Mo Hong'e

People dressed in traditional Chinese costume perform at a ceremony to mark the 2567th birthday
of Confucius, in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 28, 2016. (Photo/Xinhua)​

A grand ceremony was held in Qufu City, hometown of Confucius, in east China's Shandong Province on Wednesday to celebrate the 2,567th anniversary of the birth of ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius.

More than 2,000 people recited classic quotes from "The Analects," a collection of Confucius' famous sayings, in front of the Confucius Temple.

The participants, including government officials, UNESCO officials, scholars, students and descendants of Confucius, from over 20 countries and regions, marched toward the Confucius Temple wearing yellow ribbons.

The ceremony started around 9:30 a.m. Dancers wearing Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-220 A.D.) costume staged a ritual dance. Representatives presented flower baskets in front of a statue of Confucius, and all participants bowed three times toward the statue.

The Qufu government organized experts to conduct research on the current name, time, venue, procedure, code of etiquette, sacrificial offerings and ritual dance of the ceremony, to ensure it was suitable occasion.

Ceremonies were held also in a number of Chinese cities throughout China on Wednesday.

In Changchun, about 20 descendants of Confucius participated in a ritual ceremony held at the city's Confucius Temple.

After the ceremony, Jin Haifeng, a professor with the college of Liberal Arts of Changchun University, gave a lecture on ancient Chinese civilization.

On Wednesday, a Confucianism museum opened to the public in Quzhou City in east China's Zhejiang Province. The museum displays ancient books and materials on Confucianism, and in the future will invite Confucianism experts from home and abroad.

The museum will serve as an education base for traditional Chinese culture and etiquette training.

Some foreigners also attended the ceremony in Quzhou. David Peter Maclellan, an advisor of the Confucius Institute at Saint Mary's University in Canada, said Confucianism is helpful for solving the basic problems of a country and a society.

Kong Xiangkai, a descendant of Confucius, told overseas students attending the ceremony that he hoped people around the world could strive to realize the peace and social harmony in Confucius' teachings.

Confucius (551-479 B.C.), an educator and philosopher, founded Confucianism, a school of thought that deeply influenced later generations. He was also the first Chinese person to set up private schools that enrolled students from all walks of life. He is believed to have been born on September 28.

 

[ahojunk]

2567th birthday of Confucius marked around China
2016-09-29 08:49 | Xinhua | Editor:Li Yan

Confucius, a great Chinese thinker and philosopher, has his birthday celebrated around the country here on Wednesday 28 September 2016.

Ceremony to mark the 2567th birthday of Confucius, in Cangzhou, Hebei Province, Sept. 28, 2016.

Ceremony to mark the 2567th birthday of Confucius, in Cangzhou, Hebei Province, Sept. 28, 2016.

Ceremony to mark the 2567th birthday of Confucius, in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province, Sept. 28, 2016.

Ceremony to mark the 2567th birthday of Confucius, in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province, Sept. 28, 2016.

Ceremony to mark the 2567th birthday of Confucius, in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province, Sept. 28, 2016.

Ceremony to mark the 2567th anniversary of the birth of ancient Chinese sage and educator Confucius in the Confucius Temple in Qufu, hometown of Confucius in Shandong Province, Sept. 28, 2016.

Ceremony to mark the 2567th anniversary of the birth of Confucius in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 28, 2016.

Ceremony to mark the 2567th anniversary of the birth of Confucius in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 28, 2016.

 

[ahojunk]

Nationwide Confucius events are reaction to crisis of values: analysts
By Deng Xiaoci (Global Times) 09:38, September 30, 2016

People dressed in traditional Chinese costume at a ceremony to mark the 2567th birthday of Confucius, in Cangzhou, Hebei Province, Sept. 28, 2016. Confucius, a great Chinese thinker and philosopher, has his birthday celebrated around the country here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Yuan Liwei)


Analysts said the unprecedented celebrations to mark the 2,567th birth anniversary of Confucius across the country shows the Chinese people long for a cultural revival.

In a ceremony held in Confucius' hometown, Qufu, in East China's Shandong Province on Wednesday, more than 2,000 people recited excerpts from The Analects, a collection of Confucius' famous sayings, in front of the Confucius Temple. The participants included government officials, UNESCO officials, scholars, students and descendants of Confucius, from over 20 countries and regions.

Similar ceremonies were also held in cities across China on Wednesday. In Changchun, North China's Jilin Province, about 20 of Confucius' descendants participated in a ritual in the city's Confucius Temple. A Confucius-themed museum was also opened to the public in Quzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province on the same day, displaying ancient books and materials on Confucianism.

In Jinan, Shandong Province, contestants (college students from Shandong) were seated by the T-stage and recited the eulogy for the great educator and philosopher, the China Youth Daily reported.

Over 900 Uyghur students from a primary school in Wushi county in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, also recited passages from The Analects in front of Confucius' portrait.

"The ceremonies show Chinese people are trying to restore their culture after experiencing a crisis of values in the 20th century due to the impact of Western culture," Yao Zhongqiu, a professor at Beihang University and a Confucian scholar, told the Global Times.

"After years of cultural introspection, the Chinese people finally realized the value of Confucian philosophy and have become more confident than ever about it," said Yang Chaoming, head of the Confucius Research Institute.

Confucianism belongs not only to the ethnic Han but to all ethnic Chinese. It plays a significant role in building social harmony and a common civilization, Yang added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke at an international seminar in 2014 to mark the 2,565th anniversary of the birth of Confucius, saying that culture is the soul of a nation, and called for mutual understanding between civilizations.

 

[ahojunk]

Israelis learn Chinese way of keeping healthy
CCTV English
Published on 8 Dec 2016

Ways for traditional Chinese culture can be seen now in many countries around the world, while many Confucius Institutes are being established. That will reflect the man worldwide to learn Chinese language and culture.

 

[ahojunk]

Teenaged poetry champion Wu Yishu reflects China's rising interest in traditional culture
2017-02-09 16:26:59 Global Times Web Editor: Shi

Screenshot from CCTV's program “Chinese Poetry Conference”

Teenage girl Wu Yishu became the subject of hot discussion on the Chinese Internet during the Spring Festival holidays after she wowed audiences in China with her profound knowledge of classical poetry.

After three rounds of competition, the 16-year-old won the final round of Chinese Poetry Conference's nine-day-long second season on Tuesday night, standing out from 100 poetry enthusiasts from all ages and walks of life.

China Central Television's first poetry-themed TV show, Chinese Poetry Conference aims to promote classical poetry in today's modern era through competition.

With professors from well-known universities acting as judges on the show, this had led to some enlightening dialogues concerning traditional poetry between them and the show's hostess.


Young champion

A student from the High School Affiliated to Fudan University, Wu loves wearing outfits similar to those worn during the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220). With her straight black hair, arched eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes, Wu is widely seen as the "perfect image of a talented woman from ancient times."

Aside from her stunning knowledge and understanding of various lines of poetry, what has earned Wu the most praise was her calm and modest behavior during the competition.

During a part of the show on February 1 in which she went up against the previous round's champion, Wu recited a line of poetry that her opponent had used earlier. After the hostess pointed this out, Wu quickly recited another line from the Classic of Poetry, the oldest extant collection of Chinese poetry, without hesitation. This quick and calm reaction made her famous overnight.

This part of the show was based on Feihualing, an ancient drinking game often played by scholars in ancient China. Added this season, the game has the hostess select a Chinese character and the two remaining competitors will then have to recite a verse of poetry that contains this character.

"Her heart has absorbed the charm of poetry. Wu is also modest. She just stands there, calm and relaxed. She makes you feel a poetic sentiment just by being there," Meng Man, an associated professor at Minzu University of China and one of the show's judges, said.


Cultural confidence

Interest in classic poetry and literature has been gaining ground recently, in part due to increased exposure among government officials.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, for example, often enjoys referring to classics at various occasions such as official meetings, visits to local areas and when dealing with international affairs. In a speech extending Spring Festival wishes during a reception in Beijing on January 26, Xi recited lines from a poem by Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet Wang Wei and ended with a poem from Song Dynasty (960-1279) poet Wang Anshi.

Additionally, during his speech at the opening ceremony of the B20, a part for the G202016 Summit in Hangzhou, Xi called on international members to be brave economic pioneers by reciting two lines from a Song Dynasty poem: "The tide riders surf the currents/ the flags they hold up never get wet."

"Culture confidence" is a keyword that Xi has used often in recent years. It refers to the concept that Chinese must build up confidence in their own traditional culture, which naturally includes classic poetry and literature.

During a visit to Beijing Normal University in September 2014, Xi pointed out that he did not want to see Chinese classic poetry and essays be replaced by Western works in textbooks.

"I think 'Desinicization' is pathetic. We should have these classics deeply rooted in students' minds. They should be the cultural genes of the Chinese nation," Xi said as quoted by The Beijing News.


Taking the bad with the good

While Xi is certainly looking at the big picture when advocating classical education, the increasing number of ordinary citizens who have begun to pay more attention to traditional culture is partly due to this emphasis toward culture confidence and partly because they are focused on their children's future.

"Though we studied ancient poems and literature at school, it was treated like an assignment rather than something that we wanted to do. English and Math were seen as more important than traditional Chinese literature back then," Li, a mother of a 3-year-old boy, told the Global Times. "This generation and my parents' generation didn't pay much attention to ancient classics, but now we have begun to realize their value."

Li added that while some of the values found in ancient works are not suitable for today's society, such as children unquestioningly obeying their parents or women playing a subservient role to men, there is still plenty to be found that can prove beneficial for a child's education.

Even TV dramas featuring classic poetry have received applause. Take the 2011 hit period drama, Legend of Zhen Huan, as an example. The classic poetry recited by characters often ended up being quoted quite often by audiences online.

This classic revival hasn't been without negatives, however. The high demand over traditional culture and literature has led to an increase in training courses, but many of these are low quality classes only looking to capitalize on a popular trend.

Other industries too are guilty of the same. China has seen numerous "ancient towns" pop up in the name of cultural education, but are actually little more than amusement parks.

In an editorial published Wednesday in the People's Daily, the paper attacked this trend.

"They wave the banner of promoting traditional culture in their search for profit, but neglect the educational side of things … some make up historical facts and figures… and some just copy the past blindly and mechanically."

The editorial proposed that tradition shouldn't just be the object of study, but something that is an integral part of modern society.

"The best way to carry on and develop traditional culture is to integrate its essence into daily life."

 

[TaiShang]

Ancient teachings aid modern lifestyles
China Daily, February 8, 2017

​

Students in traditional costume participate in a series of activities known as the 'six skills', which formed the basis of elite education in China during the Zhou Dynasty (BC 1046-BC 256), when Confucius was alive.[Cai Xiaomeng / For China Daily]

Two years ago, a 50-square-meter room in Sandefan village of Jinan, the capital city of East China's Shandong province, was rarely visited by local residents.

However, since it was converted into a base for lectures about the teachings of Confucius, China's best-known ancient sage and educator (551-479 BC), the room has become a mecca for villagers.

The lectures usually feature stories that highlight Confucian beliefs, mainly those related to filial piety, loyalty, integrity and benevolence.

Yan Binggang, deputy head of the Advanced Institute for Confucian Studies at Shandong University, visits the village once a week to deliver free lectures. He has made a habit of relating stories about people being punished for bad behavior, such as disrespecting one's parents and refusing to honor promises.

"Your attitudes toward your parents will have an impact on your children and when your children grow up, they will tend to treat you in the same way you treated your parents," Yan said, adding that many people are unable to hold back their tears when he shares stories about filial piety.

The room, known as the Confucius Classroom, is one of more than 3,000 centers in Shandong that are promoting Confucian thought, which is viewed as an important part of traditional Chinese culture.

Reinforcing values

Concerned that the teachings of China's best-known sage will lose ground as a result of the country's rapid development and ongoing urbanization, the government is moving to reinforce traditional cultural education nationwide.

Confucian teaching rests on the belief that humans are fundamentally good, and can be taught and changed by personal and communal endeavor and self-cultivation. The sage's maxims, such as "How happy we are to meet friends from afar", "Harmony should be cherished" and "Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you", have remained popular in China for thousands of years.

In 2013, President Xi Jinping visited the hometown of Confucius, Qufu city in Shandong, and made a speech after attending a discussion with Confucian experts.

In his address, Xi said research into the philosopher and his beliefs should make the past serve the present, discarding the less-valuable while keeping the essential so the thoughts of the renowned philosopher will continue to exert a positive influence today.

In 2014, Xi made a speech at the opening of an international conference to commemorate the 2,565th anniversary of Confucius' birth, becoming the first Chinese president to address an international conference dedicated to the works of the great sage.

If a country - no matter which country - does not cherish its own thinking and culture, its people lose their souls and it will not be able to stand, Xi told the audience.

​

Children read ancient stories at the Confucius Temple in Jilin, Jilin province. [Zhu Wanchang / For China Daily]

Setting a trend

In Shandong, more than 2,800 villages and 700 residential communities have already set up Confucius Classrooms. Now, other provinces and regions are following suit.

Jiangsu province aims to develop a foundation to promote comprehensive teaching of moral philosophy via courses in classic Confucian thought.

In Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, all the schools under China's nine-year compulsory education system have launched activities that focus on reading traditional classics.

"Confucian teaching must come out of the ivory tower to reach people in the countryside, who are often not educated," Yan, from Shandong University, said.

As the birthplace of the sage, Qufu works to revive Confucian culture in every part of the city.

Walking around the Confucius Temple, one notices the the contrast between the roads that run alongside. Banbi street, a slate road to the west is dotted with ginkgo trees, echoing the ancient walls of the temple, while Gulou street on the east is dotted with shops, creating a modern atmosphere.

Like the two roads, the local authorities are creating new ways to promote traditional culture and exploring special ways to revive the Confucian spirit.

Since 2014, local people have been invited to join the ceremony held annually at the Confucius Temple to honor the sage and to promote love, sincerity, filial piety and benevolence.

Kong Xianglong, head of Linqian community near the Confucius family cemetery, a major scenic spot in Qufu, said almost all of the community's 1,800 residents know a fundamental tenet of Confucian teaching - that people who are untrustworthy in word are also likely to be untrustworthy in deed.

"Around 80 percent of the residents in Linqian work in tourism-related businesses. Years ago, conflicts frequently occurred between tourists and business owners, but now the disputes have disappeared, thanks to the efforts to spread Confucian thought," Kong said.

Parents and children wear traditional robes to celebrate Spring Festival in Jinan, Shandong province.[Zhu Zheng / Xinhua]

Growing influence

Now, every one of the city's 405 villages has a Confucius Classroom. Shi Junzhen, a 60-year-old resident of Qianjia village, is proud of his daughter-in-law because of the efforts she made to help his wife when she was in the hospital in July.

"There are many good stories about filial piety in our village, partly because we are enlightened by Confucian teaching," he said.

Yang Hong, head of Shuyuan village, said the local Confucius Classroom also acts as a platform to narrow the distance between officials and residents.

"The villagers actively voice their opinions about village management and the officials listen to their opinions patiently. Our village has seen great changes in every aspect - for example, people are friendlier to their neighbors and the village is much cleaner," he said.

"Confucianism is always in Chinese people's blood, no matter how the social structure changes. What we want to do is to awaken beliefs that are buried in people's hearts. It's a long process, one that can only be done over generations and generations. We cannot push hard. We can only begin with concepts that are close to people's lives, such as guiding them to be filial, caring and friendly," Yan, from Shandong university, said.

Local sages

Yan said new ways need to be explored to build up a system that will produce a "self-sufficient" system of teaching in villages. "Cultivating new-style village sages who are respected by the villagers might be a good way," he said.

Zhao Jieping, a retired primary school teacher, is famous in Sandefan village because he took care of his mentally disabled younger sister for two decades. The villagers have selected the 67-year-old retired primary school teacher to assess the qualities of candidates for the roles of local sages.

"The villagers respect and trust Zhao, so his opinion will influence them substantially," said Zhang Jiang, the village head.

In the deep winter, the Confucius Classroom at Sandefan village was a little chilly, but several elderly men were writing Spring Festival couplets for villagers as China's most-popular annual holiday approached.

The influence of Confucius was evident in most of them, but most especially in the one that carried one of the best-known maxims of the ancient sage: "Great virtue can carry all things".

@ahojunk , @+4vsgorillas-Apebane , @Dungeness , @AndrewJin , @oprih

 

[ahojunk]

Teenaged poetry champion Wu Yishu reflects China's rising interest in traditional culture
2017-02-09 16:26:59 Global Times Web Editor: Shi

View attachment 375805
Screenshot from CCTV's program “Chinese Poetry Conference”

Teenage girl Wu Yishu became the subject of hot discussion on the Chinese Internet during the Spring Festival holidays after she wowed audiences in China with her profound knowledge of classical poetry.

After three rounds of competition, the 16-year-old won the final round of Chinese Poetry Conference's nine-day-long second season on Tuesday night, standing out from 100 poetry enthusiasts from all ages and walks of life.

China Central Television's first poetry-themed TV show, Chinese Poetry Conference aims to promote classical poetry in today's modern era through competition.

With professors from well-known universities acting as judges on the show, this had led to some enlightening dialogues concerning traditional poetry between them and the show's hostess.


Young champion

A student from the High School Affiliated to Fudan University, Wu loves wearing outfits similar to those worn during the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220). With her straight black hair, arched eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes, Wu is widely seen as the "perfect image of a talented woman from ancient times."

Aside from her stunning knowledge and understanding of various lines of poetry, what has earned Wu the most praise was her calm and modest behavior during the competition.

During a part of the show on February 1 in which she went up against the previous round's champion, Wu recited a line of poetry that her opponent had used earlier. After the hostess pointed this out, Wu quickly recited another line from the Classic of Poetry, the oldest extant collection of Chinese poetry, without hesitation. This quick and calm reaction made her famous overnight.

This part of the show was based on Feihualing, an ancient drinking game often played by scholars in ancient China. Added this season, the game has the hostess select a Chinese character and the two remaining competitors will then have to recite a verse of poetry that contains this character.

"Her heart has absorbed the charm of poetry. Wu is also modest. She just stands there, calm and relaxed. She makes you feel a poetic sentiment just by being there," Meng Man, an associated professor at Minzu University of China and one of the show's judges, said.


Cultural confidence

Interest in classic poetry and literature has been gaining ground recently, in part due to increased exposure among government officials.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, for example, often enjoys referring to classics at various occasions such as official meetings, visits to local areas and when dealing with international affairs. In a speech extending Spring Festival wishes during a reception in Beijing on January 26, Xi recited lines from a poem by Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet Wang Wei and ended with a poem from Song Dynasty (960-1279) poet Wang Anshi.

Additionally, during his speech at the opening ceremony of the B20, a part for the G202016 Summit in Hangzhou, Xi called on international members to be brave economic pioneers by reciting two lines from a Song Dynasty poem: "The tide riders surf the currents/ the flags they hold up never get wet."

"Culture confidence" is a keyword that Xi has used often in recent years. It refers to the concept that Chinese must build up confidence in their own traditional culture, which naturally includes classic poetry and literature.

During a visit to Beijing Normal University in September 2014, Xi pointed out that he did not want to see Chinese classic poetry and essays be replaced by Western works in textbooks.

"I think 'Desinicization' is pathetic. We should have these classics deeply rooted in students' minds. They should be the cultural genes of the Chinese nation," Xi said as quoted by The Beijing News.


Taking the bad with the good

While Xi is certainly looking at the big picture when advocating classical education, the increasing number of ordinary citizens who have begun to pay more attention to traditional culture is partly due to this emphasis toward culture confidence and partly because they are focused on their children's future.

"Though we studied ancient poems and literature at school, it was treated like an assignment rather than something that we wanted to do. English and Math were seen as more important than traditional Chinese literature back then," Li, a mother of a 3-year-old boy, told the Global Times. "This generation and my parents' generation didn't pay much attention to ancient classics, but now we have begun to realize their value."

Li added that while some of the values found in ancient works are not suitable for today's society, such as children unquestioningly obeying their parents or women playing a subservient role to men, there is still plenty to be found that can prove beneficial for a child's education.

Even TV dramas featuring classic poetry have received applause. Take the 2011 hit period drama, Legend of Zhen Huan, as an example. The classic poetry recited by characters often ended up being quoted quite often by audiences online.

This classic revival hasn't been without negatives, however. The high demand over traditional culture and literature has led to an increase in training courses, but many of these are low quality classes only looking to capitalize on a popular trend.

Other industries too are guilty of the same. China has seen numerous "ancient towns" pop up in the name of cultural education, but are actually little more than amusement parks.

In an editorial published Wednesday in the People's Daily, the paper attacked this trend.

"They wave the banner of promoting traditional culture in their search for profit, but neglect the educational side of things … some make up historical facts and figures… and some just copy the past blindly and mechanically."

The editorial proposed that tradition shouldn't just be the object of study, but something that is an integral part of modern society.

"The best way to carry on and develop traditional culture is to integrate its essence into daily life."

.
Interest in classical Chinese poetry should be cultivated: poll
By Li Yan (People's Daily Online) 13:48, February 14, 2017

The just-concluded "Chinese Poetry Competition" television show has rekindled Chinese people's interest in classical Chinese poetry. A recent survey suggests that most Chinese people still believe it essentially important to cultivate interest in the subject.

China Youth Daily recently conducted a poll of 2,000 people aged between 18 and 35, which showed that 18.5 percent often read or study classical poetry, 70 percent believed an interest in classical poetry should be fostered in society, and 75.5 percent thought classical poetry education should be strengthened.

Of the respondents, 51.2 and 48.8 percent of the respondents were male and female respectively, and 30 percent were from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or Shenzhen. Another 16.4 percent came from other first-tier cities, while 32.7 percent came from second-tier cities and 16.3 percent were from third- and fourth-tier cities; the remainder were from rural areas.

"Classical poetry has become increasingly interesting [to me] as time passes. I can recite simple lines [taught] in primary and middle school," a bank clerk born in the 1990s said.

A total of 59.8 percent of those polled said the popularity of internet culture has affected the popular perception of classical poetry.

"Understanding the meaning of poetry is different from using it in real life because our language environment has changed, which has made it hard to popularize classical poetry. Moreover, internet slang is on the rise," one respondent explained.