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1、137Unit 7 Ethnic Minorities of ChinaChina has a long history behind it,the civilization being an important contributor tothe evolution of mankind.China is also a multinational country.The cultures of itsethnic minorities are vital components of Chinese civilization.Today,the 56nationalities,includin
2、g the Han nationality,live on Chinas 9.6 million sq.km ofterritory.Although 55 ethnic minorities take up just 8.41%of the Chinese population,they are widely dispersed over 50%to 60%of the land,mostly on plateaus,grasslandsor in forests.The areas where the ethnic minorities live have beautiful scener
3、y grand mountains,deep forests,huge rivers and lakes with abundant natural resources.Along with theHan people,these minorities have added to the profound Chinese civilization withtheir own fascinating cultures.Among these minorities,53 have their own languages,21 have written ones,andalmost all have
4、 their own religious beliefs and festivals.The ethnic minoritiesrepresent different areas and different cultures of the minority groups living in China:the Tibetan,Qiang and Tu peoples on Qinghai.Tibet Plateau,the Daur,Ewenki,Hezhen and Mongolian peoples in north China,the Dai,Dong and Miao peoples
5、inthe south,and the Uygur,Kazak and Hui in Chinas west.Their beautiful costumeswith unique accessories,diverse food customs,fascinating traditions,celebrations andhistory represent significant elements of Chinese civilization.Such diversity is thebasis from which China,as a multinational country,con
6、tinues to develop.Chinassustainable development and prosperity can also be ascribed to this diversity.Reader AMongolian:The People on HorsebackThe Mongolian people used to be one of the nomadic tribes on the grassland in northChina.In the early 13thcentury,the Mongolian people led by Genghis Khan,un
7、ifiedall tribes on the Mongolian Plateau,and thus formed a group,the Mongoliannationality.Today,the Mongolian people in China mainly live in the Inner MongolianAutonomousRegion,andautonomousareasinXinjiang,Qinghai,Gansu,Heilongjiang,Jilin and Liaoning 5.81 million people in total.Geographically,the
8、Mongolian plateau has a dry grassland climate.As it is in Chinasnorth,which is high,cold,dry and snowy,the plateau is not suitable for farming.Yetthe vast grasslands are ideal for developing animal husbandry.For this reason,animalhusbandry has long been the foundation of Mongolian people,the best ba
9、sis of their138life.For hundreds of years,the Mongolians have lived a nomadic custom of migrationof following the grass and water,leaving footprints in the countrys many pastures.They lived in yurts that can be easily installed and dismantled.Now most Mongolianshave settled down in brick or earthen
10、houses,and grasslands tourism has become apassion.Nadam,in Mongolian,means amusement and games.Every July or August,a Nadamfestival is held on grasslands as an age-old custom,a sporting competition to displaywrestling,archery and horse-racing skills.These days,it has more contents and inaddition to
11、a celebration for a good harvest,the festival incorporates trade activities.Traditional wrestling,archery and horse-racing are still considered three necessaryskills for Mongolian men to possess.Wrestling is probably the most popular and most loved sport among Mongolianpeople.After Genghis Khan was
12、made the leader of all Mongolians,he madewrestling a criterion of selecting army generals.Average people made wrestling animportant event in their holidays.The outcome of a match does not depend on thewrestlers weight.In Mongolian style,one loses if three body parts above the kneetouch the ground at
13、 the same time.Winners win titles,“giant”for one who beats allrivals for two years in a row,while“lion,”“elephant”and“eagle”are rankings below.In history,wrestling was not only a competition;it was a method of choosing ason-in-law.To Mongolian people,wrestling is a contest of strength,courage andwis
14、dom.Wrestlers may travel a long distance to the Nadam Festival.The champion will winmuch respect from people and love from girls.The wrestling competition is anelimination series with just one round between two wrestlers.Wrestlers wear high-topboots,leather vests with decorative metal spikes,very lo
15、ose pants and red,yellow orblue silk ribbons around their necks.Upon thunderous applause from spectators,theystalk in“eagle steps”around the arena first,brimming with confidence and singing awar song.The winner receives a prize:a sheep,tea bricks or even a beautiful,outfitted stallion.The horse race
16、s are equally compelling.The Mongolian people have a reputation ofbeing“a nationality on horseback.”Horses,a fundamental part of their life,areindispensable in whatever they do,whether its battling,hunting,herding or doingtrade.The Mongolians learn to ride horses at a very young age.A high level of
17、ridingskill makes life much easier.Through a thrilling horse race,they demonstrate thefinest animals and exhibit marvelous riding skills.The two types of horse races aregallopingandtrotting.Thelatterisonlyforadultswithsophisticatedqualities-beautiful appearance,steady gait and faster gait than the o
18、thers.Meanwhile,the galloping race may have several hundred juveniles in attendance.Its simple:thefirst to finish the run will win the prize and praise.Bows and arrows,necessary inbattling and hunting,have been loved since ancient times,and represented manhood.139Archery,like horse racing,is also an
19、 important program at the Nadam Festival.Thearchery competition has two forms,still archery and archery on horseback they differin range,arrows and bows,their weight and length,and pulling force.Archery onhorseback is done at a run.Brave Mongolian men in tight-sleeved robes,bend theirbows to shoot o
20、n galloping horses.Sometimes several bows may be shot at the sametime.Excellent marksmen win resounding applause from spectators.The Mongolian people sing a unique tune called Urtiin duu(long-song),an age-oldform characteristic of nomadic culture and local grassland custom.Each line in thetune has t
21、wo parts,improvised by singers about life experience or feelings,sung atvaried rhythms.Most of the lyrics involve the beauty of grasslands,fine horses,herdsof camels,sheep or oxen,azure sky,white clouds,rivers and lakes.Generally,Urtiinduu is accompanied by a Mongolian stringed instrument called ma
22、tou qin(horse-head violin).Urtiin duu has fewer lyrics but a drawn-out tune,which soundsvery melodic and expressive.Whats most special about it is that the singer can singthe high and low tones at the same time,a technique called hu mai.Urtiin duu isviewed as a living relic of Mongolian folk music.F
23、or hundreds of years,the Mongolian people have sung Urtiin duu about life,MotherNature and for a much-blessed future.When the soul of Mongolian music,themelodious and highly expressive Urtiin duu mai singing are heard across thegrasslands,the charm of the grasslands is highlighted to its finest details.