中国人为什么这么喜欢月亮

Jessi

Why we Chinese have grown such a firm attachment to the Moon?

Never thought about this question till was asked by the examiner in the IELTS speaking test the day before.

In part 3 was asked by the examiner: do you believe any life in the other planets? I said, yes I do, but considering the distance, we can not detect them because of the limitation of the existed technology. Even though the advanced technology enabled us traveling as fast as light in the future, to go most of the stars would still be unrealistic, since we would die long before we reach the destination, say thousands of light years! “But is there anyone living on the Moon? Some Chinese?” he asked. I must have been confused by his question, and I said “yes, we launched space craft to moon last year, but it didn’t actually landed on the moon, just took some photos and gathered scientific data.” But the examiner didn’t give up and proceeded “a Chinese living there, on the Moon, 嫦娥. Can you tell me is that true and why she lives there?”. Oh, Jesus Christ, I never expected such a question, but I cannot keep silent, so I said “because she was one of the Heaven King’s granddaughters, and she fell in love with a man on the earth, which was against the Heaven role, so she was sent to the cold moon as a punishment.”

“So, you tell me, why Chinese people love the Moon so much? You even got Moon Festival” he asked. Why, I didn’t know the reasons either, a shame. Then I said, “Because it’s beautiful, like the other beautiful things in the world, the Moon inspires artists’ creativity, since there are so many songs, poems aspired by the beauty of the Moon. Another reason might connect with the Chinese culture & tradition, and if I want to fully understand I have to go back thousands of years, just like God in western culture.”

That’s the end of the test.

This test really put me in shame, as a Chinese, I didn’t even know our own culture Now, I realize that I should learn well Chinese history & culture before I seek understanding the western’s, or other word, Canadian, because I am afraid otherwise, I would sooner or later be assimilated into their and losing our own identity.

Amber

你说得真好耶

Skywalker

呵呵，写得真好，在我看来，楼主的英语水平可以拿满分了，真是羡慕、、、、、、、、、、

zhangyl

Why we Chinese have grown such a firm attachment to the Moon?

Never thought about this question till was asked by the examiner in the IELTS speaking test the day before.

In part 3 was asked by th ...
Jessi 发表于 2009-11-10 11:53

                               
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As you said, not many Chinese understand our culture completely. In China, English is more popular than Chinese. When we enter university, Chinese is not the main course for most of the majors.

The Chinese culture is losing for the next generation. Even in Chinese Taipei Chinese culture is better than that in mainland.

Sigh!

zhangyl

BTW, you did a great job in your test.

Jessi

3# amwwhway
Thanks, you can also write as well as me if you keep practicing

Jessi

As you said, not many Chinese understand our culture completely. In China, English is more popular than Chinese. When we enter university, Chinese is not the main course for most of the majors.

Th ...
zhangyl 发表于 2009-11-10 22:48

                               
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You are right. Following western things became so prevalent that it seems among youngsters to be out of fashion if they did not. Celebrating Christmas, Halloween or other western festivals is not to be blamed as long as they turely understand and appreciate their oringin or culture, otherwise it would be too blind.
Agree with you that some chinese culture & customs are even better preserved in Taiwan and Hongkong.

未飘落的雪

It's great!

月明

“But is there anyone living on the Moon? Some Chinese?” he asked.

a Chinese living there, on the Moon, 嫦娥. Can you tell me is that true and why she lives there?

this is a very cute examiner.  it is hard to answer such kind of questions. your response is quick!

Jessi

9# 月亮河
Am really ashamed, 嫦娥 was the one who betraied her love, not as what a said

Ruibin

This reminds me of the last Moon Festival in Canada.

I was asked by my colleagues about moon cakes, then why Moon Festival is at mid autumn, and then why the Chinese festivals are not drop in fix calendar dates, it even extended to what is the difference between Chinese calendar and globle calendar...

Fortunately my knowledge is OK to answer, and they also agreed that Chinese calendar still respects the "month" related to the "moon", however globle calendar no longer does.

Jessi

11# Ruibin
you not being defeated by the difficult questions.
Yeah, you are right that Chinese affection on the Moon is also reflected on the lunar calendar, since you remind me that the regular calendar we use globally was once called solar calendar indicating the Earth orbiting the Sun, while the lunar calendar implying the Moon orbiting the Sun, thus difference in speeds of the Sun and Moon resulted in the viriation in the length of the year.
Found myself not just ignorant in culture but in natural science as well.

fylzj

Jessi

13# fylzj
Thanks, wish to share more in this forum

飄逸的花瓣

I want to say that, I like moon because I always can imagine the moon just like a book fulls of fairy tales. And at the clear night, I wonder if I really see the fairies dancing on the dark side of the moon.

( I'm always so crazy )