Task; Final task
Topic; Chinese Tattoo

Content:

·        History of Chinese culture

(a)  Traditional Chinese Medicine

(b) Chinese Food

(c)  Kung Fu

(d) Map of the world heritage sites in China

·        Specific aims and Objectives

·        Modern Influence into the old culture

·        Experimental Design and Methods

·        Summary 

·        Reference

                                       History of Chinese culture

Background and Significance.        

China is one of the Four Ancient Civilizations (alongside Babylon, India and Egypt), according to Chinese scholar Liang Qichao (1900). It boasts a vast geographic expanse, 3,600 years of written history, as well as a rich and profound culture. Many aspects of Chinese culture can be traced back many centuries ago. Chinese culture is so diverse and unique, yet harmoniously blended, and presents itself an invaluable asset to the world.

Bellow shows various types of Chinese “national traditions & the heritage of China" and” the arts in China". Topics include: Traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese food, China's festival and China’s Kung Fu.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Acupuncture and Moxibustion

In China, you’ll find a confusing mixture of modern and traditional medical practices. You may be confused, amused and even frightened by the traditional practices that you see and by the medical advice that you’ll receive.

Though the main ideas and techniques are thousands of years old, the traditional medical practices are still important, and are even being adopted around the world.

The Most Common Techniques in Chinese Traditional medicine.

§  Acupuncture: This strange and famous medical technique involves inserting needles at precise meridian points.

§  Cupping: This ancient practice isn’t just a Chinese tradition, it has been practiced for hundreds and thousands of years across Eurasia and North Africa. The Chinese style uses the acupuncture meridians. It is used to remove yang from the body, and it is appropriate for conditions such as bronchitis, heat stroke, and hot weather-related conditions.

§  Herbal Medicine: In many ways, Chinese herbal medicine is similar to Western herbal medicine, though the emphasis is on promoting the yin-yang balance.

§  Massage: It seems like there are massage parlours everywhere, and there are various styles that are all thought to be good for the health, some of which are more appreciated by Chinese than foreigners.

§  Medicinal Cuisine Therapy: The emphasis in this traditional method of meal preparation, special recipes, and way of eating is to promote the yin-yang balance.

§  Moxibustion: This is another surprising technique and is used to add Yang to the body. It is appropriate for women with birthing problems, older men, and cold weather-related health issues. The mugwort smoke is thought to have medicinal properties.

§  Qigong: Meditation and special exercise, such as qigong and tai chi also manipulates the qi balance and the body fluids in the body.

Chinese Food.

Food has a special meaning to the Chinese people. The "waste not, want not" ethos means that a surprising range and variety of plants and animals, and every part of a plant or animal is used. This has given rise to a remarkable diversity in regional cuisine, but to Westerners it can be overwhelming - surprising, fantastic, delicious, horrifying or disgusting - but above all, different.

China's Regional Cuisines

China can be divided into many geographical areas, and each area has a distinct style of cooking. The ingredients used in the food are based on the natural agricultural products of the region.

In Northern China, for example, wheat is eaten more than rice as a staple food. Food using wheat as its main ingredient, such as noodles and dumplings is prevalent there. China's Southern cuisine uses far more rice, with such staples as rice noodles and zongzi - sticky rice wrapped in leaves. Southern food, is typically more  spicy, and many minorities eat chilies every day.

Regional Cuisine

    

     Chuan Cuisine                 Cantonese Cuisine                Xiang Cuisine

          

         Lu Cuisine                      Min Cuisine                       Zhe Cuisine

              

         Su Cuisine                    Hui Cuisine                            Muslim Food                                                   

       Northern Food                Tibetan Food                                       

    

                                                                        

     Mongolian Food                     Taiwan Food

Major Chinese Food

Chinese New Year Food

Chinese New Year Foods are very important to Chinese people. All family members come together to eat at this time. Chinese New Year foods are not only delicious but it is traditional to eat certain foods over this festival. Chinese Dumplings, Fish, Spring Rolls, Nian GAO are usually seen as delicious and eaten at this time.

Chinese Vegetarian Food

Most Chinese vegetarians are Buddhists, following the Buddhist teachings about minimizing suffering. In addition, many Yoga enthusiasts in China are vegetarians or vegans. Nowadays, in order to keep healthy and fit, more and more Chinese people who are not vegetarians or vegans, tend to eat vegetarian food from time to time.

Chinese Medicinal Food

Medicinal food is food with the function of dietetic therapy, which is made by taking medicine and food as materials and processing them through cooking. It is the product of the combination of Chinese traditional medical knowledge and cooking experience.

 Popular Chinese Dishes

China is abundant in tourism sources. Delicious foods are indispensable in a good tour. With long history, unique features, numerous styles and exquisite cooking, Chinese Cuisine is one important part of Chinese culture. Chinese dishes are famous for colour, aroma, taste, meaning and look.

Most Unbelievable Chinese Foods

Chinese pride themselves on eating a wide range of foods, and Chinese cuisine often has an interesting history. This article lists five unique Chinese foods, which you can taste when traveling in China.

Halal Food in China

Chinese halal food blends the original Middle East flavours with traditional Chinese dishes, creating its own style. Small Muslim restaurants can be found in almost every city and town all over the country.

Kung Fu

 

Shaolin Kung Fu

Chinese kung Fu, also known as wushuor Chinese martial arts, is one of the most well-known examples of traditional Chinese culture. It is probably one of the earliest and longest lasting sports which utilizes both brawn and brain. 

Chinese Kung Fu History

The theory of kung Fu is based upon classical Chinese philosophy. Over its long history it has developed as a unique combination of exercise, practical self-defence, self-discipline, and art.

It is estimated that Chinese Kung Fu can be dated back to primeval society. At that time people used cudgels to fight against wild beasts. Gradually they accumulated experience in self-defence. When the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BC) began, hunting was considered as an important measure of kung Fu training.

Kung Fu Stars

Bruce Lee (1940 - 1973)

Bruce Lee was a Chinese-American martial artist and actor, who is considered by many as the most influential martial artist of the 20th century, and an important cultural icon. He used Wing Chun, a branch of Chinese kung Fu, as his base, learned from the influences of other martial arts, and later created his own martial art philosophy — Jeet Kune Do. His films are The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, Way of the Dragon, Enter the Dragon, and Game of Death.

 

Jackie Chan (Born 1954)

Jackie Chan is a Hong Kong martial artist, actor, and singer. He began his film career as a stuntman in the Bruce Lee films. Now a cultural icon, he is widely known for injecting comedy and stunts into his martial arts performances. Jackie has received stars on the Hong Kong Avenue of Stars and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2008 he sang at the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. He has starred in over 100 films, and some famous ones include Rumble in the Bronx, Rush Hour, and Who Am I.

 

Jet Li (Born 1963)

Born in Beijing, Jet Li was a five-time national wushuchampion. After retiring from wushuat the age of 17, he demonstrated his skills in cinema, and won great acclaim in China as a debut actor with the film Shaolin Temple. He went on to star in many martial arts films, of which the most notable are the Once Upon A Time in China series, portraying famous folk hero Wong Fei Hung. His roles in Hollywood films include being a villain in Lethal Weapon 4, acting alongside Sylvester Stallone in The Expendables, as well as Hero, Fearless, and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.

World Heritage Sites in China

As of 2010, 40 noteworthy Chinese sites were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritages List. Twenty-nine of these were inscribed as World Cultural Heritage Sites, while seven were inscribed as World Natural Heritage Sites, and four were inscribed as both Cultural and Natural Heritage Sit

Map of World Heritage sites in China  

 

Types of Tattoos

1. Calligraphy style Chinese tattoos:

     

                                       

 These tattoos contain any word, character, line or text in calligraphy form. Chinese calligraphy is considered as one of the highest forms of Chinese art and Chinese tattoos symbolise graceful, balanced, playful and other unique styles.

2. Chinese dragon tattoos:

                                         

These tattoos are very colourful, captivating and striking to the eyes. These tattoos are mostly worn by men and represent traits and attributes of a dragon. Dragon tattoos represent courage, strength and independence.

3. Chinese Buddha tattoo:

   

                                        

Chinese Buddha tattoo is the best way to show your love. These tattoos are not very colourful but still have the ability to attract others attention.

4. Chinese angel tattoos:

    

                                  
           

Angels are commonly referred to as messengers of god and are among the most popular tattoo designs. Angel tattoos with wings and hands are very famous. These tattoos will look best on your back and usually girls are fond of such designs.

5. Single letter Chinese tattoos:

   

                                       

These tattoos are very simple and look classy.

6. Unique Chinese tattoos:

                                        

Some Chinese tattoos are unique and they do not have any replica. They are made only once by the Chinese artists and they refuse to make it again. Get a unique Chinese design made so that you do not find any other person with the same design which you have.

7. Chinese animal name tattoo:

                                     

 You can show your love towards this animal by getting it tattooed in Chinese. These look attractive and adding more patterns and colours to it will make it more eye catchy.

8. Flower Chinese tattoos:

                                   

                            These tattoos usually give a feminine look.

9. Chinese Koi fish tattoo:

                                     

                                     

The Chinese koi fish symbolise courage and ability to overcome difficulties and attain life’s goals. The koi fish design tattoo upstream means that the person is still striving in his or her life and downstream means that the person has overcome all his difficulties.

10. Chinese black dragon tattoo

                               

Chinese black dragon tattoo though attractive signifies fierceness and wisdom.

Experimental Design and methods.

Final works

Summary.  

TATTOO CULTURE

Tattoo Culture examines the rituals and social significance of tattooing in cultures around the world. The record of human history shows that tattoos have served in many various and diverse cultures as rites of passage, marks of status and rank, symbols of religious and spiritual devotion, decorations for bravery, sexual lures and marks of fertility, pledges of love, punishment, amulets and talisman, protection and as the marks of outcasts and convicts.

REFERNCE:

Carrie E. Reed, "Early Chinese Tattoo", Sino-Platonic Papers 103 (2000). Nice piece on tattoo for various reasons in the Song, Tang and earlier periods.

Marco Ceresa, "Written on Skin and Flesh: The Pattern of Tattoo in China - Part One: Generalities", Studi in Onore Di Lionello Lanciotti (Naples: Instituto Universitario Orieentale, 1996) 329-340 (not seen).