Owner: Hello,
I just came here today and I’m here to add a barrel of oil.
●Place: Air's villa.
Place: Air's villa.
Time: on the Mid – Autumn Festival.
Time : Mid-Autumn Festival
People: Air and Rich
Characters: Air and Rich
Rich is from American. He is an exchange student. Now he is studying at Beijing University. He majored in culture of China. His best friend, Air, a designer, works for a photo workshop. Today is Mid – Autumn Festival. So Air invited him to dinner at home.
Rich is a American. He is an international student. Now he is studying at Peking University. He majors in Chinese culture. His best friend, Air, a designer, works in a photography studio. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. So Air invited him to Home is a guest.
(Air listens to the music when she hears the doorbell.)
(Air is listening to the music when she hears the doorbell.)
A: That must be Rich. (She goes to open the door.)
That must be Rich. (She goes to open the door.)
B: Hi, Air .
Hello, Air.
A: Welcome. It's so nice of you to come.
Welcome, it's so nice of you to come. .
B： Air, thanks for inviting me to the dinner. Today is Mid – Autumn Festival. I bought a bunch of roses for you. Beautiful flowers for beautiful girl.
Air , thank you for inviting me to be your guest. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. I bought a bouquet of roses for you, beautiful flowers for a beautiful girl.
A: It's nothing. Thank you for your roses.(she hands him a present.) A little present for you.
You’re welcome. Thank you for the roses.(she hands him a present.) A little present for you.
You’re welcome. Thank you for the roses. p>
B： (he unwraps the present to find four mooncakes in boxes.)
Oh, it's wonderful. Thanks. You shouldn't have bought this.
( He opened the gift and found four mooncakes in the box) Oh, that's great. Thank you! You shouldn't spend money like this.
A: oh, my pleasure. It's just a little present for yo
u.
Oh, you're welcome. It's just a small gift for you.
(They sit in the living room.)
(They sit in the living room.) Sitting in the living room.)
Can I get you some coffee or tea or a cold drink?
Can I get you some coffee or tea or a cold drink?
B : Thanks. Coffee is ok.
Thanks, coffee is ok.
A: Black coffee or white coffee?
Coffee without milk or with milk Milky coffee?
B: white coffee, please. Thank you.
Coffee with milk, thank you.
A: Ok.
(She goes to the kitchen to make coffee. A few minutes later, it's done. She comes back.)
(She goes to the kitchen to make coffee. A few minutes later, it's done. She comes back.)
(She goes to the kitchen to make coffee. A few minutes later, the coffee is ready. She comes back.) )
Rich, here you are.
Rich, here’s your coffee.
B: Thank you, Air.
Thank you , Air.
A: You are welcome. Take your time. Maybe it is hot.
You’re welcome. Take your time, maybe the coffee is a little hot.
B: No problem. Air, you know, I'm interested in different culture. Chinese festival is very interesting, too. Would you mind telling me about the Mid – Autumn Festival?
It doesn't matter. Air., you know, I'm very interested in different cultures. Chinese festivals are also very interesting. Can you tell me something about the Mid-Autumn Festival?
A: Ok, speaking of eating mooncakes, we have to talk about the story between Chang-Er and Hou Yi.
Okay, speaking of eating mooncakes, we have to talk about The story about Chang'e and Hou Yi.
B: Is that true?
Is that story true?
A： No. It's not true. It's only legend.
No. It's not true. It's only a legend.
B： Oh, I see . What is it?
Oh, I understand, what is it?
A: Long, long ago, the Earth once had 10 suns circling it.
A long time ago, the earth once had 10 suns orbiting it.
B: What? 10 suns circling it?
What? 10 suns circling it?
B: What? 10 suns circling it?
p>
A: Yes. But I told you it was only a legend. One day all 10 suns came out at once. The temperature of the earth went up quickly.
Yes. But I I tell you, it's just a legend. All 10 suns appeared at once in a day. The temperature of the earth quickly increased.
B: Wow. I guess many people, plants and animals died. The high temperature must kill them.
Oh! I think many people, plants and animals died. This high temperature must kill them.
A: Yes. It was a skillful archer who saved the earth.
Yes. It was a skillful archer who saved the earth.
B: Who is he?
He is Who?
A: Hou Yi.
Hou Yi.
B: How did he save the earth? Is he a sprint?
How did he save the earth? Is he a god?
A: No. He only shot down nine suns. Everything will be ok.
No, he only shot down nine suns. Nine suns fell. Everything was fine.
B： He did a good job.
He did a good job.
A： Yes. As his reward, the Heavenly Queen Mother gave him a bottle of magic liquid.
Yes. In order to reward him, the Queen Mother gave him a bottle of magic liquid.
B: What? What's for?
What? What does it do?
A: If you had it, you would cure illnesses or make you live forever.
If you drank the magic medicine, you could cure illnesses or make you live forever. It can make you live forever and live forever.
B: oh, my god. Are you kidding?
Oh, my god. Are you kidding?
A: I'm serious. In many Chinese stories, people want to live longer. So they want to get something magic.
I'm serious. In many Chinese stories, people want to live longer. So they want to get something magic.
I'm serious. In many Chinese stories, people want to live longer. They wanted to live longer, so they all wanted to get such magical things.
B: I see. What did he do then?
I see. What did Hou Yi do then?
A: It's pity that he paid no attention to her advice.
Unfortunately, Hou Yi did not follow the Queen Mother's advice.
B ： You mean that he drank that all.
You mean that he drank all the potion.
A： No. I mean, in front of the fame and fortune, he became a bad-tempered, selfish man.
No. I mean, in the face of honor and wealth, he became a bad-tempered, selfish man.
B: Oh , I see. As the saying goes: Money is the root of all evil.
Oh. Got it, there is a proverb that says: Money is the root of all evil.
A : I couldn't agree more. So his wife, Chang-Er could not bear to live with her husband. Then she stole his liquid, drank them and fled to the moon. This is the beautiful woman in the moon, the Moon Fairy .
I couldn’t agree more. So his wife, Chang’e, couldn’t bear to live with him anymore. Then she stole the potion, drank it, and fled to the moon. This is the story of the beautiful woman on the moon.
B: Interesting!
Interesting!
A: Ok, this is the legend that I know. Maybe you will find another sto
ry like this. But I'm not for sure.
Yes, this is just the legend I know. Maybe you can find other stories like this, but I'm not sure.
B: Thanks. Thank you
A: Oh, Rich. Would you like more coffee?
Oh, Rich. Would you like more coffee?
p>
B： No. Thanks. Air, why not tell me the mooncakes itself? (He points to the cakes in the box.)
No, thank you. Air, why not tell me the mooncakes itself? (He points to the cakes in the box.)
No. Tell us about the mooncake itself? (He pointed to the mooncake in the box).
A: It's a neat idea. In China, it is important for us to have dinner together on Mid-Autumn Festival .
Good idea. In China, on the Mid-Autumn Festival, it is very important for us to have a reunion dinner together.
B： Really? I find that many Chinese are busy with their work. When their parents ask them to have dinner, they always have many excuses. I mean they don't want to come back.
Really? I find that many Chinese people are busy Their job. When they ask them to go to the reunion dinner, they always make excuses. I mean they don't want to come back.
A: Yes. You are right. But many people think today is the time of reunion. It is said that the moon is at its brightest and fullest. It's very interesting. This year the festival falls on 18 th September.
Yes, you are right, but many people I think today is the time for reunion. It is said that the moon today is the brightest and roundest. It is very interesting. This year's Mid-Autumn Festival is on September 18th.
B: Yes. Air. I hear that the seasonal round cakes have many different fillings. Is that true?
Yes. Air, I heard that this seasonal pastry has many different fillings. Is that true?
A: Yes. It is true. Lotus seed paste, red bean paste and so on. Are you hungry? In fact, I'm hungry.
Yes, it is true. Lotus seed paste or red bean paste Stuffing and so on. Are you hungry? Actually, I am.
B: I'm hungry, too. I can't wait to have them right now. Air, what is this? ( He points to the c
akes.) Ah,
I'm very hungry too. I can't wait to eat it right away. Air, what is this? (He pointed at the pastry)
A: Ah! It's a surprise. I asked the bakery to stamp them with your name so that I'll give you a big surprise.
Ah! That was a surprise. I asked the bakery to stamp them with your name on the moon cakes, I just want to give you a big surprise.
B: Thanks
Thank you.
A: But I have to make some tea.
But I need to make some tea first.
B: Why?
Why?
A: Some doctors tell us that the mooncakes are loaded with calories , so it's not for the fat people who are on a diet.
Some doctors tell us that moon cakes contain more calories, so they are not suitable for obese people who are on a diet.
B: Oh, what's the best way to have them?
Oh, what's the best way to eat them?
A: Ok, the best way to wash down one of these cakes is with a cup of Chinese tea, especially Jasmine or Chrysanthemum tea. Tea aids the digestion. It's jasmine tea or chrysanthemum tea. The tea can help digestion.
B: Thank you very much.
A: Just for a few minutes. I make tea. Wait a moment, I'm going to make tea.
B: Go ahead.
(Air goes to the kitchen.) (Air goes to the kitchen.)
●Excellent comments on the conversation:
In the conversation during the Mooncake Festival, a saying was mentioned - immortality, but many friends didn’t know how to express it. Maybe they only had the concept of Journey to the West in their minds, such as what There are things like elixirs, but I don’t think about the original intention of immortality, so there is a momentary pause in the expression, which is normal.
A: The Heavenly Queen Mother gave him a bottle of magic liquid.
B: What? What's for?
A: If you had it, you would cure
illnesses or make you live forever.
B： oh, my god. Are you kidding?
A： I'm serious. In many Chinese stories, people want to live longer.
So they want to get this magic something.
B: I see.
This dialogue is very good Comparing the elixir to a magical medicine eliminates the need to think about the elixir.
It also adds to the mystery of the conversation. Then, compares immortality to if you eat this magical medicine. The medicine will cure the disease and enable you to live in the world forever. Isn't this a good way of expression?
And the whole sentence uses the subjunctive mood, which makes it more difficult to express. People think the grammar is very good, right!
●Attachment: The legend of the Mid-Autumn Festival:
Mooncakes are to Mid-Autumn Festival what mince pies are to Christmas. The seasonal round cakes traditionally have a sweet filling of lotus seed paste or red bean paste and often have one or more salted duck eggs in the center to represent the moon. And the moon is what this celebration is all about. Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th month, it is the time when the moon is said to be at its brightest and fullest. This year the festival falls on October 1.
There are two legends which claim to explain the tradition of eating mooncakes. One Tang Dynasty myth holds that the Earth once had 10 suns circling it. One day all 10 suns appeared at once, scorching the planet with their heat. It was thanks to a skillful archer named Hou Yi that the Earth was saved. He shot down all but one of the suns. As his reward, the Heaven
y Queen Mother gave Hou Yi the Elixir of Immortality, but she warned him that he must use it wisely. Hou Yi ignored her advice and, corrupted by fame and fortune, became a tyrannical leader. Chang-Er, his beautiful wife, could no longer stand by and watch him abuse his power so she stole his Elixir and fled to the moon to escape his angry wrath. And thus began the legend of the beautiful woman in the moon, the Moon Fairy.
The second legend has it that during the Yuan Dynasty, an underground group led by Zhu Yuan Zang was determined to rid the country of Mongolian dominance. The moon cake was created to carry a secret message. When the cake was opened and the message read, an uprising was unleashed which successfully routed the Mongolians. It happened at the time of the full moon, which, some say, explains why mooncakes are eaten at this time.
Mooncakes are usually stamped with Chinese characters indicating the name of the bakery and the type of filling used. Some bakeries will even stamp them with your family name so that you can give personalized ones to friends and family. They are usually presented in boxes of four which indicate the four phases of the moon. Traditional mooncakes are made with melted lard, but today vegetable oil is more often used in the interests of health.
Mooncakes are not for the diet-conscious as they are loaded with calories. The
The best way to wash down one of these sticky cakes is with a cup of Chinese tea, especially Jasmine or Chrysanthemum tea, which aids the digestion.
Eating mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival is like Westerners eating mincemeat on Christmas Like bread, it is essential. Round mooncakes are usually filled with sweet lotus seed filling or red bean filling, and a golden salted duck egg yolk is added in the center of the filling to represent the moon. And the moon is the theme celebrated during the Mid-Autumn Festival. People celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival together on August 15th of the lunar calendar every year. It is said that the moon on this day is the brightest and roundest of the year. This year's Mid-Autumn Festival happens to fall on October 1 of the Gregorian calendar (China's National Day).
There are two legends about the origin of the tradition of eating mooncakes. One is a myth from the Tang Dynasty, which tells that the earth was surrounded by 10 suns at that time. One day 10 suns appeared in the sky at the same time, and the huge heat almost scorched the earth. Thanks to an archer named Hou Yi who shot down nine suns, the earth was saved. In order to reward Hou Yi, the Queen Mother gave Hou Yi an elixir of immortality, but the Queen Mother warned him that he must use it properly. However, Hou Yi ignored the Queen Mother's warning. He was blinded by fame and fortune and became a tyrant. Hou Yi's beautiful wife Chang'e could no longer stand by and watch his atrocities, so she stole Hou Yi's elixir of life and flew to the moon to escape Hou Yi's wrath. Since then, there has been a legend about the Moon Palace Fairy Chang'e, the beautiful woman on the moon.
The second legend tells that in the Yuan Dynasty, the rebel army led by Zhu Yuanzhang planned an uprising to get rid of the Mongolian rule. They used mooncakes to deliver secret messages. The secret message inside can be found by breaking open the mooncakes. In this way, the rebel army successfully launched an uprising and drove away the rulers of the Yuan Dynasty. This uprising occurred on August 15th, so the custom of eating mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival spread among the people.
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In Chinese dichotomy, the sun is yang (positive, active, or male) and the moon is yin (negative, passive, or female). According to the book Chou Li, the Chou emperors (1122-249 B.C.) had the custom of praying to the moon on the 15th night of the eighth lunar month. In the Ching dynasty , there were a sun altar in eastern Peking and a moon altar in western Peking; at the time of every autumnal equinox, the emperor offered sacrifices and prayed to the moon at the moon altar.
Before switching to the Gregorian calendar officially in 1911, the Chinese had used a lunar calendar since time immemorial; and even today, the Chinese still celebrate their traditional festivals by the lunar calendar. In each lunar month, the first day (the new moon) and the 15th day (the full moon) are major events; and the 15th day of the first month (the Lantern Festival) and the 15th day of the eighth month (Mid-Autumn Festival, September 9th this year on the Gregorian calendar) are the largest celebrations besides the Lunar New Year and the Dragon Boat Festival.
The Chinese Cupid is called "the old man under the moon" ( る?ρ? ) and uses a red thread to tie a man's and woman's feet together to make them man and wife--be they from hostile families or widely separated places.
The most lunatic mortal in Chinese history could have been the great poet Li Po
(A.D. 701-762), who once invited the moon to have a drink with him and his shadow to form a band of three. Li finally drowned in a lake in an effort to catch the moon when he was drunk one night. Other Chinese legends about the moon abound.
Legends of the Moon
Moon cakes go best with oolong or jasmine tea.
Hou Yi ( ? ) was a great archer and architect, who shot down nine extra suns that had suddenly appeared in the sky and thus kept the earth from being scorched. He also built a palace of jade for the Goddess of the Western Heaven. For this, he was rewarded with a pill containing the elixir of immortality, but with strings attached--he must fast and pray for a year before taking it. His wife, Chang O, whose beauty was surpassed only by her curiosity, discovered and swallowed the pill and in no time soared to the moon and became a permanent resident there. Upon reaching the moon, Chang O, in dismay, coughed up the pill, which turned into a jade rabbit that, day and night, pounds out a celestial elixir for the immortals.
Another permanent lunar resident of Chinese origin is Wu Kang (?), a shiftless fellow who changed apprenticeships all the time before disappointing his last master, who was an immortal. From him Wu learned to be immortal himself, but he was punished by being required to chop down a cassia tree in the moon, an impossible missio
n. The cut in the tree heals completely the same day, so Wu Kang is still chopping away for eternity. Some Chinese crave to drink his cassia blossom wine.
The Chinese believe that the moon is at its largest and brightest, and Chang O at her most beautiful, on the 15th night of the eighth lunar month. They are at least half-right, for at that time most of China is in the dry season and the moon looms brightest. It's also cool then, a perfect time to celebrate the harvest which has just concluded; hence, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also called the Harvest Festival. The festival is a time for family reunions to appreciate the moon (吉る, shangyue) and eat moon cakes Together. Bathed in bright moonshine and with the company of chrysanthemum and cassia blossoms, poets eat crab meat and moon cake, drink tea and wine, and versify the night away.
Moon Cakes
Moon gazing
The Chinese custom of eating moon cake was first recorded in the reign of the emperor Hsi Tzung (A.D. 874-889) of the Tang dynasty and became popular in the Sung dynasty (A.D. 960-1279 ) The moon cake is traditionally made in the shape of a full moon, symbolizing union and perfection, is usually about the size of a doughnut, and is stuffed with a variety of fillings such as bean paste, egg yolk, lotus seeds, dates, pineapple, walnuts, almonds, and sesame. The crafty Chu Yuan-chang, founder of th
e Ming dynasty, instigated a rebellion against the Mongol rulers by concealing a call to revolt in moon cakes, leading to the downfall of the Yuan dynasty.
There are many styles of moon cake in China; the most popular in Taiwan are the Cantonese, Soochow, and Taiwanese styles. The Cantonese moon cake is thicker and heavier, while the Soochow and Taiwanese ones have a crispy skin. In the last couple of years a new breed of refrigerated, unbaked moon cake has been gaining popularity, especially among youngster; and durian, coconut meat, vanilla, tea, and coffer have added as ingredients.
Most Chinese consume moon cakes given to them by relatives, friends, employers, or public relations people. Hence, brands matter. Among the most famous are Kee Wah, Maria's and shin Tung Yang. Moon cakes go best with oolong or jasmine tea.
It takes the moon about 29 1/2 days to revolve around the earth, and the Chinese lunar month is either 29 or 30 days. An extra month(called a leap month) is necessary about every three years. There will be a second eight lunar month in 1995. The 15th of the first eight lunar month is celebrated as the Mid-Autumn Festival, which has been designed a public holiday by the Republic of China government. Have a nice holiday, and remember moon calkes taste best when shared by family members or lovers, or both.