咱们国家的茶真的是有成百上千种，任祥老师在书里是按照地域来分的，安徽、湖南、云南、江苏、浙江、广东、福建、台湾都盛产茶叶。而我自从来了北京，就特别爱喝茉莉花茶，老是去吴裕泰选，后来我发现茉莉花茶其实是产自福建。再后来我就爱上了福建的岩茶，比如肉桂、水仙等等。身边好茶者是广东潮汕人，他每次都会给我们泡上一壶凤凰单丛，其滋味浓醇鲜爽，润喉回甘，具有独特的山韵。想起我当年在英国读书的时候，每天早上喝一杯英式早茶，下午喝一杯伯爵茶，我还曾经专门地去伦敦的Piccadilly体验英式皇室下午茶，虽然也有正宗的英式下午茶点，比如咸口的手指三明治，经典的英式松饼司康，还有水果塔或海绵蛋糕等茶点，但比起咱们国家成千上百种茶，还有不同温度的冲泡方式，以及各色茶点，还是略逊一筹的。

除了喝茶文化以外，茶叶种类和种植技术的研究，可说是茶友们最关心的。中国地大物博，植物种类繁多，地方习俗不一，技术推陈出新。茶叶的种类大致可分为：绿茶、黄茶、红茶、白茶、黑茶、花茶、青茶、古树老茶和野生茶。制作方法上又粗略地分为：绿茶的发酵度在5％以下，比如碧螺春、龙井；18％的如包种茶；20％的为高山茶；青茶也叫半发酵茶，发酵度在30％的是乌龙茶；40％的比如是铁观音；60％的比如说白毫乌龙，现在又叫东方美人茶；80％的就已经属重发酵茶，比如说普洱茶；而红茶则是85％以上，属于全发酵茶。烘焙是制茶过程中最重要的环节，可借此改变茶碱多寡的口感，通常以发酵居中的茶叶种类，加以烘焙轻重技巧，再分成生茶、半熟茶或熟茶的区别。早年的普洱茶饼以青色或墨绿色为生茶，近年才因为茶艺工序的进步，而有了黑色或红色的熟茶茶饼问世。

爱喝茶的人，总喜欢炫耀自己了解的茶叶知识，比如茶的名字，产地的名字，特色茶的名字，茶树的品种，茶区的高低纬度，弄清楚这些基本功，并喝得出来才算是入门。层次再高的，则去了解采收的节气、杀青、凋萎、发酵、温度控制、阳光利用、含水量、化学变化、炒菁、揉捻、渥堆、复揉、烘焙、闷黄、转色、干燥，说出来的才算是半个行家。更高层次的，则要评出茶叶的形状、色泽、香气、滋味、山头；分析得出来的，才算是真正的懂茶的人。近年也风行自然生长的野茶，利用清晨阳光和水气的滋润，一片一片翻转，喝的时候，就那么大片大片地直接冲，有种难能可贵、朴拙的清新。

任祥老师说她比较感兴趣的其实是茶具的线条。其中钟爱最古老的白瓷盖碗：它的比例玲珑有致，弯曲的弧度和口唇接触的位置也都合适完美，是她心中最传统也最美的茶杯线条。茶具中，每个壶的材质都不同：铜、竹、陶、瓷都有。每一个铜壶，都是年代久远的古董，显示了先民的美学造诣和高超的金属工艺。竹子有着朴素的意境，瓷器比较细致秀气，陶壶则有着粗犷原始的气度。

同样的茶，在不同的主人手里，有完全不一样的意境，品茶的当下，连茶主人也是值得细细“品”的。能被邀请到值得细品的人家喝茶是一种福气，不但能够俗虑一清，心境、情境也都不同了。有人说心乱如麻的人泡出来的茶偏苦，心情美好的人泡出来的茶偏甜，甚至还有人看泡出来的茶叶的走向来占卜算命。

品茶的学问很大，任祥老师聊到她和朋友吃饭和品茶过后不一样的感受：与朋友聚会吃饭时，每个人都有一堆话，要抱怨的、要炫耀的、要批评的、要议论的······吵吵闹闹地吃顿饭回来，听到更多的消息，也起了更多的杂念。但若是与朋友去茶会品茶，茶席的安排素雅清幽如禅坐，有一种让人深潜安静的气氛，音量也就随着心情沉淀下来，是一种很适合现代人陶冶性情、享受自在的活动。

日本的茶道也源于中国，其实是公元805年引进到日本的，一向讲究礼数，气氛严谨，难免丧失了品茶的自在随意。我到日本旅行的时候喝到的更多的是抹茶，甚至在很多饮料里也有不少的茶元素。不论是英国精致的下午茶，还是日本的茶道，在我这个外行眼里都比不上咱们国内的茶道博大精深。茶席则不只是品茶，一般也会安排一个主题，比如欣赏书法、说故事，或者月琴、南管的演奏，所请的也都是功夫高深的名家，让茶友的心灵上也有所收获。

我们以茶会友的生活是由来已久的文化活动。宋代点茶风行，上至王公贵族，下至黎民百姓。无不沉醉在一碗茶汤浮起的汤花中。茶会雅集突破时空和空间的阻隔，让我们隔着重重的时光，依然能触碰到宋人骨子里的风雅，在一碗茶汤里相逢。我想这才是生活该有的样子吧。

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello again, and today we are looking once more at the rich and fascinating culture of tea. We will be exploring two countries that love tea, China and England. So I have a question to start with. I’ve seen it many times in China, those tiny little cups and that mini-teapot, that kind of like miniature tea set that makes tiny cups of tea. What is that?

(Jocelyn)

Ah, yeah you’re talking about Gongfu Cha. And it's a very traditional and fancy way of brewing and serving tea. Basically, you use these cute little teapots and tiny cups to make and drink tea. The whole process can take hours, but it's not just about drinking tea - it's also about enjoying the way it smells, tastes, and looks. Gongfu Cha is like a special ceremony, and people usually do it for big events or when they want to impress their guests.

(Mat)

OK, yeah, I’ve had this tea actually. But why are the cups so small? In England we drink tea in big cups, especially when we are thirsty. Those little cups, they are like half a mouthful. And I mean that's not very helpful if I'm thirsty, is it? I need to drink about 50 cups.

(Jocelyn)

Well, the small cups are actually a deliberate part of the Gongfu Cha tradition. They're designed to make you slow down and really savour and enjoy the tea. With small cups, you can only take small sips, which makes you appreciate the taste and aroma more. And it's not about quenching your thirst, it's about enjoying the experience. So each step in the process is carefully designed and planned, so from the way the tea is prepared to the way it's poured and served.

(Mat)

Oh, I see. That makes more sense now. I guess it's not just about the taste of the tea, but also the presentation, right? Actually, we have something similar. You must've heard of something called Afternoon Tea in England, right? I guess you’ve tried it. It's that really fancy tradition where you have tea, sandwiches, cakes and pastries in the afternoon, kind of between 2 pm and 5 pm. It's not just about the food, it's also a chance to relax and hang out with your friends and family in posh surroundings like a hotel or famous restaurant. So surely then, you must agree that English afternoon tea is one of the most famous tea traditions in the world.

(Jocelyn)

Yeah, of course I've heard about English Afternoon Tea.  I’ve had it many times in London. It’s quite fancy and posh and often expensive too! So I have to say, it's not really about the tea, isn’t it? It’s more about the cakes and sandwiches, and hanging out with friends and family in a fancy place. But with Gongfu Cha, tea is the main focus. It’s not just something you do in the afternoon to pass the time. It’s a whole ritual around brewing and serving the actual tea. The tea is the star of the show. So I’d like to say Gongfu Cha is really all about the tea. But in your English afternoon tea, tea is not the star.

(Mat)

OK, but I have something else. You know the English idea of a "tea-break." Well I think the whole concept of tea breaks was invented by the English. You know, the short break from work or other activities to have a cup of tea. I remember reading somewhere that this originated in the early 20th century as a way for workers to take a break during their busy day.  And like many workplaces, schools, and all kinds of institutions have this fixed tea-break times thanks to the English!

(Jocelyn)

OK, that’s quite funny. So just think about it, tea has been a part of Chinese culture for thousands of years, enjoyed by emperors, poets, and scholars who would take breaks from their busy work schedules to have a cup of tea. There are so many classical Chinese literary references about tea. One famous Chinese poem by Lu Tong called "Taking Tea" describes this idea. And he wrote this poem more than a thousand years ago. Even back in those days, tea breaks were a way to relax during a work or study day. So, while the English may have the concept of a designated "tea-break" in the modern English-speaking world, the Chinese have been taking tea breaks for thousands of years.

(Mat)

We have some famous literary classical references to tea and tea-breaks.

(Jocelyn)

Really? Then tell me one.

(Mat)

I’m sure Shakespeare has one. Let me think. Oh no, actually Shakespeare never wrote about tea, as tea was not actually introduced to Europe until after the time of Shakespeare. Actually Shakespeare had never heard of tea, and he didn’t even write about coffee either because there was no coffee in Shakespeare’s time. Em, let me think then. Oh, Charles Dickens! He wrote about tea in all of his novels. His characters were always drinking tea.

(Jocelyn)

Ok, then when was Charles Dickens writing his novels?

(Mat)

Charles Dickens. Em, he wrote most of his novels in the mid-19th century, the 1800s.

(Jocelyn)

The mid-19th century, that’s not really ‘classical literature’ – that’s almost modern by Chinese standards. But let’s stay on this idea. Art and literature. Many calligraphers believe that drinking tea can help focus their artistic abilities by calming the mind. In the same way, painters often enjoy tea to inspire creativity and relaxation. Tea is really connected to many traditional creative arts.

(Mat)

OK, I think the main point we’ve learned today is that tea is important in both Chinese culture and in English culture but in some similar but also different ways.

(Jocelyn)

I agree, and it's amazing how something as simple as a cup of tea can have such an important impact and influence on the art, literature, and daily life of two countries so far apart. I guess the great thing is that both China and England love tea so much and see it as a national treasure. So at least we share that.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

中国是茶的发源地，是世界上最早发现茶和食用茶的国家，在三千多年的西周，就开始有人工培育茶园的出现。

当时的人们把茶叶当作一种可食用的蔬菜，这就是“吃茶”的开始。直到现在，南方很多地区，还习惯把“喝茶”叫做“吃茶”。

明末清初，在东印度公司的协助下，英国把大量的茶叶运输到本国。在英国皇室的引领下，喝“下午茶”的文化开始在英国兴起、传播和普及。另外，像美国、法国等国家，纷纷将茶与本国饮食习惯相融合，形成自身独特的茶文化，美国最典型的代表就是“冰茶（iced tea）”，法国甚至还会将酒类与茶叶相互融合，做成各种饮品。

 “功夫茶”是中国潮汕地区一种喝茶的方式，从它的名字上就可以看出，喝这种茶是需要一定时间和精力的。

喝上一道正宗的功夫茶，需要至少需要十几种茶具，经过二十几个泡茶的步骤，除此之外，功夫茶对于茶具，冲泡的步骤都是有一定的要求，而对于喝“功夫茶”的人来说，最重要的是要学会“品”茶，如果要想体验到茶香，需要三个步骤，一口啜，二口品，三口回味，最后茶才能落肚。

“下午茶”起源于英国，这个过程是一天中人们享受安逸时光，全身心放松不可多得的机会。英国人通常在下午四点左右的时间喝茶，除了喝茶以外，还会有各种甜品供人们食用，使用的茶具与西方人喝咖啡的用具差别不大。

喝下午茶是英国为数不多的非正式社交场合，虽然不像晚宴等正式场合，但是也有一定的礼仪要求。人们的交谈过程中要低声细语，喝茶的过程中女性举止要仪态大方、得体，男士要彬彬有礼。

中国作为茶的发源地，在漫长的历史长河中，茶叶通过茶马古道和海上丝绸之路传播到世界各国，同时，在茶的分类、制茶方式和饮茶习惯上都在影响其他的国家。随着茶与当地文化的融合，也逐渐产生了不同的饮茶文化。

选自文章《中西方茶文化有何差异？基于中西方的“茶”文化，探析其发展历程》

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat) 

Hello and welcome back once again, today we are talking about one of the world’s most popular drinks - tea. We’ll be talking about tea culture in both China and the UK. So here we go. It’s tea time. So of course I’m English and the English typically drink their tea with milk, which is added to the cup before the tea. So it’s milk first, then tea. We usually use loose-leaf tea in a teapot, not tea bags, to prepare it.  So how do Chinese people usually drink tea?

(Jocelyn)

In China, most people, we always use the loose-leaf brewing style. And sometimes in a teapot, but more often in individual cups, and these are big enough for one large serving of tea, like a large cup of tea in the UK. And we add the loose-leaf tea to the cup and pour the hot water directly into the cup. Chinese tea is usually enjoyed without milk or sugar, so the focus is really on the taste and aroma of the tea itself, the specific type of tea. So it's all about savouring the flavours and experiencing the unique health benefits that different teas can provide.

(Mat)

We have lots of different types in England, we have the famous English breakfast tea, which is normally enjoyed with milk and sugar. We also have Earl Grey tea, which is flavoured with something called bergamot, it gives tea this kind of citrusy sweet lemon taste. There’s also Darjeeling which has a delicate floral aroma, and another one Assam, which is quite strong and sharp, and that's often enjoyed with milk and sugar. So we’ve got loads of types of tea. Can you beat that?

(Jocelyn)  

You said you had lots of types, that’s only four! Can I beat four? Well let me see, off the top of my head, we classified Chinese tea by the degree of fermentation. First of all, we have Green Tea, like龙井or碧螺春or毛尖. We also have Black Tea like your English tea. We have滇红; we have金骏眉. We also have Oolong Tea, like大红袍、铁观音、凤凰单枞. We also have White Tea. We have白毫银针、白牡丹、寿眉. We also have Yellow Tea. We have君山银针. We also have Dark Tea:普洱茶、六堡茶. Last but not least, we have Scented Tea, like茉莉花茶、玫瑰花茶、菊花茶.

So that’s about 20 almost! I could probably go on, name a few more. Actually in China we have hundreds if not thousands of different tea varieties. Tea has been a part of Chinese culture for thousands of years, so there's a deep history of growing and drinking tea that has created many different varieties and styles over the centuries. China has such a diverse geography and climate. All the different regions have different growing conditions for different types of tea plants. So you end up with different types of tea being planted in different areas.

(Mat) 

OK, actually I think you win on this one. In England we only started drinking tea in the 17th century and we don’t grow any tea ourselves, we import it from other countries. We can’t grow tea because our climate isn’t warm enough. So we don’t have many kinds of tea and those that we do have are actually grown in other countries, so technically, they are not even our own teas.

(Jocelyn) 

There’s something else I forgot to mention too, Chinese tea has a lot of health benefits, it can also be good for your health. Tea contains natural antioxidants and other compounds that may help protect your body against certain health conditions. For example, green tea is known for its potential to reduce the risk of heart disease by helping to lower blood pressure or cholesterol levels. So I think that Chinese tea is probably healthier than your ‘English tea’.

(Mat) 

That's not completely true. English tea has its own special health benefits too. It can cure a broken heart. It’s good for the soul. It's like a warm hug in a cup.

(Jocelyn) 

Alright, you win this one. I will admit, there is something quite comforting about a cup of English tea, with milk.

(Mat)

So finally then, I have a good English expression with the word tea. Have you heard of the expression "not my cup of tea?" It means something you don't like, something you don’t enjoy. You know, like, going to the opera is just not my cup of tea. Eating spicy food, oh it’s not really my cup of tea. So the next time someone offers you something you don't like, tell them, "Sorry, it's just not my cup of tea!" So Jocelyn, have you got a tea expression? Can you beat that one?

(Jocelyn)

Well if you want to end with a ‘tea’ expression, I have one too. "I wouldn't do it for all the tea in China." means that someone would never do something, no matter what. "I'm so afraid of heights. I wouldn't go bungee jumping for all the tea in China."

So we’ll end it there, thanks for listening to our episode today on tea, we hope you learned something new and interesting about the fascinating history, culture, and language surrounding this lovely drink! And we haven’t quite finished with tea … we have a future episode on tea where we’ll be talking about the traditional rituals of tea drinking, so watch out for that one.

中国人同英国人在日常交际中，会存在一些语言上的障碍，虽然现在是全球一体化的时代，许多中国人会讲一口流利的英文，但在不同的文化背景下，中英两国人在交流中会产生一些歧义。中国人同英国人在谈论茶文化时，在翻译理解上也会产生差异。

茶在中国属于名词，其嫩叶经过加工成为我们喝的茶叶。茶的英文名称为“tea”，在英国“tea”不仅只是名词中的茶，它还可以用作动词，意思为“喝茶”“用茶招待”。除此之外，“tea”还会被理解为“茶会”或“茶点”。英国人喜爱喝茶，茶从中国传入英国后，英语中也专门出现了关于“teatime”的词汇如“breakfasttea”“afternoon tea”“tea break”，分别为“早茶”“下午茶”“茶歇”。但有些词汇组合在一起却不是我们理解的字面意思，当我们听到客人想要“black tea”时，我们千万不能拿黑茶，因为“black tea”在英国是红茶的意思。许多人认为茶的英文说法为“tea”，那么“红茶”则应该为“redtea”。这是不对的，我们所说的红茶在英文中为“blacktea”，这是根据茶的颜色命名的。红茶冲泡之后茶汤颜色比较浓重，近似黑色，所以红茶在英国被叫做“blacktea”。而中文里的黑茶在英文中的表达则是“dark tea”。

茶在中英文化中也有一定的喻义。在中国，有许多人会将订婚叫做“受茶”，结婚用的礼金也会被叫做“茶礼”或“茶金”。人们用茶来表示对婚姻从一而终的想法。茶在英国也有其特定的喻义，茶在刚刚传入英国时，是十分昂贵的物品，只有皇室或贵族阶级才能享用，因此茶代表了富贵，“all the tea in China”也代表了无法估量的、巨大的财富。“a cup of tea”被英国人用于描述喜欢的人或物，从这个词组上我们可以看出英国人对茶的喜欢程度。“take tea with somebody ”也不是和某人喝茶，而是同某人打交道或起冲突的意思。茶在英国最开始被广泛的传播是因为其药用功效，茶能提神醒脑，后来茶也衍变出安抚、安慰的意义，英文“tea and sympathy”表示的就是对不幸者的安慰与同情。

在英文中，也有一些带“tea”的词组却没有关于茶的意思，如“tea basket'这个词组不是指茶篮子，而是指午餐食品。在同英国人交流相关的茶文化时，定要注意这些转义的词汇的应用。

摘自《中英茶文化对比及其在跨文化交际中的应用》

欢迎大家来到《传家》栏目。让我们一起走进传统的生活方式，感受生活之美，寻找我们每个人的“传家”。今天读到《茶与壶的记忆》，想和大家聊聊中国茶。我其实对茶不算很懂，身边不乏爱茶的人，总是有口福喝到不同的好茶，后来我也就开始慢慢地开始学着喝茶，甚至有的时候开始挑选不同设计师的茶具。其实比起现在讲究茶道的朋友们，任祥老师说上一代人喝茶可真简单多了。他们使用的茶具就只有一个厚厚的玻璃杯，杯上绘着传统的梅、兰、竹、菊的图案，加上半透明的塑料盖，盖子中央还鼓起一个圆凸点，方便用手揭开它。喝茶就先烧一壶水，水开了让它在炉子上多滚几分钟，再抓一小撮茶叶放到玻璃杯，提起滚烫的开水冲下去，冲到杯底约五分之一就盖上，这就是冲茶。然后等到该泡茶了，开水再滚一下，把冲好的茶水加到八分满，过一下，再端起来喝。大多数喝茶的人都是端起杯子吹个三四下，然后缓缓地喝下一口，满足地吐口气，似乎表示这又是美好一日的开始。那杯茶，一整天，一次次加水，从浓喝到淡。上一代人，大多就是这样喝茶的。浓茶喝得出恬淡的滋味，淡到快没味了还能用滚烫的水享受它的温度。那是一种俭朴自在，爱物惜物的生活态度。 任祥老师谈到“老人茶”，其由来，大概是只有老人才有闲工夫慢慢品尝吧！但喝“老人茶”的不一定都是老人，周遭的环境也无法让人感受到静心品尝的乐趣。我个人感觉有点像我们说的功夫茶。木桌的旁边，立着烧开水的铁架子，底下是酒精灯，上面放着好大的铝壶，还有一个好小好小的紫砂壶，以及各种挖掏茶叶的道具。最粗糙的金属大壶，配以最名贵的宜兴小壶，不成比例，看起来很不协调。他们泡茶时，小壶内塞满了茶叶，注入热开水后还要提起大铝壶将小壶淋上好几遍，因此木桌的中间还挖了一个洞，铺上沉亮的不锈钢板，底下接一条塑料管，好把淋下来的水接到水桶里。小壶的茶泡好后，先倒入一个有嘴的陶杯，再由主人倾入客人的小杯。喝了几回之后，主人就用一个挖具把拥挤的茶叶从小壶里挖出来，再塞满新的茶叶，重新注入水。如此几遍，周而复始。如今生活文化越来越讲求品位，茶道的风气趋向于安静自在，泡出好茶的高手也越来越多。他们用心地推广茶道艺术，与茶相关的活动、以茶会友的茶会也很蓬勃，而且茶会上的一切，都看得出细致的美学层次。比如说花艺的构图、布料竹类的装饰、研发的茶点心，都精致而有创意，更能烘托出会场的气氛。这种茶会，不像日本茶道那么讲究拘谨的礼数。有人形容日本茶道是“和敬清寂”；而我们的茶道则是“人情义理”，这样的形容是很贴切的。当我们静心品茶时，仿佛是禅坐，最适合现代人忙里偷闲，陶冶性情，享受俗虑一清、自由自在的喜悦。时令节庆，四季烟火。匠心手艺，齐家心语。生活中的每个美好瞬间都值得铭记。在宏大与细微、寂静与繁华中，找到我们的初心。《传家》之旅，福慧“传家”。 

今天读到任祥老师的这篇文章：《礼尚往来——谈送礼的艺术》。书里是这么写的：“儒家典籍《礼记》有云：‘礼尚往来，往而不来非礼也，来而不往亦非礼也。’指的是别人以礼相待，也要以礼回报。其实咱们中国本就是礼仪之邦。可惜的是，这个好的风尚逐渐被这快速而忙碌的时代所淡忘。所以今天就来谈谈送礼的艺术。

什么样的礼物是合时宜的呢？来看下面几个例子：

我的同学Lisa，老家在台湾，婚后住在洛杉矶。她的母亲呢，听说洛杉矶冬天很冷，觉得出去买菜穿棉袄既轻便又保暖。所以为了取悦亲家母，特别去买了不怕脏又耐用的棉袄，千里迢迢地寄了过去。

结果住在洛杉矶的亲家母特别爱打扮、特别时髦，觉得这种深色的、肥大的棉袄穿上去会让老她10岁，收到礼物，她特别生气，而且为了报复，等Lisa过40岁生日的时候，她把它转送给Lisa作为生日礼物。从此三方的关系就破裂了。Lisa本是一番美意，但这一件棉袄却造成了情感的破裂，到现在都无法弥补。

第二件事，是美食作家王轩一。他也有一个送礼的故事。他小时候，和家里的兄弟淘气，会在收到的礼物上做一个很小的记号。他妈妈并不知情，予以转送了出去。结果过了一阵子，那件礼物又原件回到了自己家里。这表示这份礼物特别不讨喜，才会被人送来转去。还有一次，在牌桌上，我听到某太太拿着百货公司的赠品当礼物送人的故事。收到礼物的太太呢，“梆”的一声就把手上那张不要的牌给扔了出去，好像那张牌就是那件不受欢迎的礼物。所以说，贪图便宜或者转出自己不要的东西当礼物送人，结果就是这么不堪。

还有一次，我去长辈家贺寿，走到入口处就看到楼梯旁边扔了两盆花。进门一看则是花团锦簇。我问了佣人才知道，丢在门口的两盆花一盆是白花，老太太一看就特别生气。另外一盆，则是开过了头。老太太说：“快谢了的花还拿来送人，太没有诚心了。”这不免让我替那两个送花的人感到委屈。送花其实一般都是通过花店，如果自己没有亲眼见到真的是挺惊险的。礼多人还怪，多么划不来。

另外一位朋友说他收到了一瓶珍贵的酒，可惜是假的。送礼的人可能是要巴结他，特地去买了一瓶即将失传的酒。送者其实花了很大的功夫才找到这瓶酒，但是因为不在行也不知道那是假货，而收者比送者在行多了，一看就知道是假酒。本来是一番美意，却因此有可能毁了一桩生意。

我不敢说什么物件一定是合时宜的礼物，但以上例子则说明了什么是不合时宜的送礼态度。首先是要了解咱们送礼的对象，大致要了解对方的背景才不会送错。其次是，己所不欲，勿施于人。再来就是，如果委托像花店这样的地方送礼，就一定要讲明用途的性质，才能避免忌讳，如果能自己亲自去挑选则更好。最后是，自己不内行的东西千万不要碰，因为风险太大，花了大钱还有可能得罪人。

最后，谈谈礼物的包装。我们收到的礼，大多都是一样的包装、一样的名片。大概是在我三年级的时候，有一次家里收到了一份包装不同于当时千篇一律的礼物，我忍不住马上就想看看里面藏了什么礼物。以后的每一个节日，我常常会收到亲朋好友送来的各种礼物，因为要回礼，我总坚持让每一份礼物都尽可能地完美呈现，收到的是一份叫做快乐气氛的礼物。对我而言，送礼若是能兼顾气氛的掌握，即是送礼的最高艺术。

(Mat)

Hello and welcome to another discussion about Chinese culture. Today we are talking about giving gifts. Now, giving gifts, of course, is an important part of Chinese culture and is closely connected to some traditions. So, today we’re going to talk about the Dos and Donts of gift-giving in China. So, let’s start with a few basic rules. If I want to give a gift in China, what do I need to know?

(Jocelyn)

Well, first of all, it's important to choose an appropriate gift. In China, gifts should be thoughtful, meaningful, and appropriate for the person receiving the gift. For example, if you are giving a gift to someone you do business with, you might want to give a high quality, expensive gift that shows how much you value your business partnership. But if you are giving a gift to a friend, it’s probably better to give a personal, thoughtful gift that reflects your close relationship.

(Mat)

OK, so I buy expensive things for people I have a work relationship with and I buy more meaningful things for my friends. Can you give me some examples?

(Jocelyn)  

Sure, for a business associate or client, you could give a fancy brand pen, a high-quality leather notebook, or a really special bottle of wine. For your friend, you might choose something like a special edition book from their favourite author, something that shows that you know their taste.

(Mat)

Ok, that makes sense. So what about presenting the gift? I can remember, many years ago, I came back to China after a trip home to England. I brought some gifts from England for my workmates. And I remember one of the gifts was wrapped in some paper. And when I gave to my workmate, she just took it. She said thanks and then she put it in her desk. She didn’t open it. And I thought this was quite weird. Actually I thought it was quite rude. So why did she do this?

(Jocelyn)  

Well, that’s interesting. I understand why you might find it strange, but I also know what she was doing. In China, it's actually quite common for people to wait until they're alone to open gifts. This is because opening a gift in front of the giver may seem like you're being greedy or you’re anxious. So it's also a way to show respect and appreciation for the gift by taking the time to open it in private. So, if you give someone a gift in China and they don't open it right away, don't worry. They're just following the cultural etiquette. Another thing is, when you give a gift, present it with both hands as a sign of respect.

(Mat)

That's really interesting. So, generally speaking what kind of gifts are considered appropriate in China? And are there any things that I shouldn’t give as a gift?

(Jocelyn)  

Well, there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a gift. First of all, don’t give anything in sets of four like a set of four cups or four bottles of wine, as the number four is considered very unlucky in China. Also, avoid giving anything in white, as it is associated with death and funerals. On the other hand, the colour red is considered lucky and is always a good choice. Other things to avoid are clocks and watches, as they symbolize running out of time or death. Sharp objects like knives or scissors are also not good gifts, as they symbolize cutting off relationships. Good gift options include special tea, high quality alcohol, local specialty foods, and small souvenirs from your home country.

(Mat)

That's good to know. What about the value of the gift? Does that matter? Because in my culture, in England there is a common saying. We say ‘it’s the thought that counts’. And this means that when someone buys you a gift, the most important thing is that they were thinking about you. They wanted to buy or give you a gift. What they bought or how much they spent doesn’t matter at all. It’s not important. The kind thought is enough. That’s the main thing.

(Jocelyn)  

In China, the value of the gift is also very important. It's important to give a gift of equal or even greater value than the one you received from that person in the past. However, it's also important to avoid giving gifts that are too expensive, as this can be seen as showing off your own wealth or an attempt to buy someone's favour, you know, trying to impress someone.

(Mat)

Okay, that's really helpful. But what if I'm not sure what kind of gift to give?

(Jocelyn)  

Well, if you're not sure what to give, it's always a good idea to ask someone who knows the person well for advice. It's also a good idea to do some research on local customs and traditions before giving a gift.

 (Mat)

And then what about me? If I receive a gift from someone, is there anything special I should do?

(Jocelyn)

Yes, of course. When you receive a gift, it's important to thank the person who gave it to you with sincerity and respect. It's also a good idea to give them a gift of your own at a later time. This helps to build a strong and respectful relationship with that person.

无论是中国人还是外国人，在送礼的时候都有一些规矩与禁忌，一些要做的和要避免的事情，这就是英文中的Dos and Donts，因此才能送给别人合适的礼物，也就是appropriate gift。在商务场合，送礼更讲究high quality和expensive，高质量和贵重的礼物也能在一定程度上也能促成生意合作。而给亲朋好友准备礼物的时候，要体现更多personal和thoughtful的特点，表示你和对方很熟悉，知道对方的喜好，也认真为对方准备了礼物。

中国人在收到礼物后往往不会立刻打开，而在一些西方国家，如果你收到礼物之后不直接打开，而是放在一边，送礼的人会认为你的表现weird and rude：奇怪，甚至是非常粗鲁。对方会觉得你不关心收到的礼物的是什么，你也不在乎送礼人的心意。这种现象恰恰体现了中国文化中矜持、含蓄与谦虚的特点。在中国，如果你当面打开别人送的礼物，颇有greedy or anxious贪心或急切的感觉。如果礼物恰巧不合心意，有的时候难免会表现出来一些负面的情绪，这可能会让在场的双方陷入尴尬的境地。

送礼中的禁忌也是不同文化中的禁忌。在中国，the number four数字4谐音“死”，因此被认为是不吉利的；送clocks and watches也是不礼貌的行为，因为“送钟”谐音“送终”。而在许多欧美国家，数字13是最不吉利的数字，这钟现象与西方的历史和宗教都有一定的联系。

中国人讲究礼尚往来，因此give a gift of equal or even greater value，也就是回礼的时候要送对方等价甚至更贵重的礼物，这不仅是一种必要的礼貌，也是维持人际关系巧妙平衡的重要做法。

Chinese Weddings

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

 (Mat) 

Today we’re talking about weddings. Now, I think that there are actually two different things to talk about here. So first of all, marriage itself, the idea of marriage in traditional Chinese culture, and then the actual wedding itself. So we’ll talk about what happens on the wedding day and we’ll do that later. But first of all then, tell me something about the meaning of marriage in traditional Chinese culture.

(Jocelyn) 

OK, I think we can start with an old definition, from Shen Fu, who was a famous Chinese writer in the Qing Dynasty.

His definition goes something like, ‘a happily married couple seek to remain together for a long time, two people of the same heart and mind, relying on each other, indifferent to the affairs of the world’.

I think this helps to describe the true Chinese attitude toward marriage, ‘two hearts, joined together, moving in the same direction’. So I think this captures the traditional Chinese idea of a ‘loving couple’ – which is the essence of a happy marriage.

(Mat) 

OK. I can’t say that I’m an expert on marriage or weddings. I know something about the typical English idea of marriage, it’s quite simple. If two people like each other, they date for a while, and if they really like each other, they probably live together. And then they might decide to get engaged, and then married. That’s it. It’s usually just two people deciding that they want to be together. Is it different in China?

(Jocelyn) 

Yes, I think it’s different in China. Marriage isn’t just a union between a man and a woman, but also a union between the two families. Even today, two families will often sit down together. And marriage and family are tightly linked. So it’s not just two young people in love who want to be together, it’s actually the two families becoming connected. So in Chinese culture, family and community are highly valued. So marriage isn’t just between the two people, but also between the two families. Parents often play a big role in choosing a partner based on things like family background, education, and social status. Even today, families will often meet and get to know each other before agreeing to a marriage, to make sure it will be a good and stable match. So, in Chinese culture, marriage is seen as an important connection between families as well as individuals.

(Mat) 

Now, I’ve been to many weddings in England and quite a few weddings in China. And when we think of the wedding day rituals, ceremonies and customs, I think there’s one really obvious difference. Most of my experience in Western European cultures is that there isn’t really one typical ceremony, it differs between countries and cultures. But one thing I do see is the wedding traditions in Western Europe are often closely linked to religious beliefs, and just as there are many different types of religion, so obviously there are many different wedding day traditions and customs. So what are the most important Chinese wedding customs?

(Jocelyn) 

Well, there are various different wedding traditions in China, because there are some cultural differences between different regions. For example, Southern Chinese culture isn’t exactly the same as regions in the North. And China has many different ethnic groups, and each of these has its own traditions. So weddings are not usually religious ceremonies in China.

So the easiest thing for me is to explain the most common traditions actually.

One important custom is choosing an auspicious or ‘lucky’ wedding date. This is because Chinese culture places a lot of importance on the calendar, and selecting the right date is believed to bring good luck and fortune to the couple.

Another common custom is the clothing worn by the bride and groom. The bride usually wears a red dress, which symbolizes good luck, prosperity, and happiness. The groom typically wears a black or blue suit, which represents a sense of stability and dignity.

During the actual wedding ceremony itself, we often see something called tea ceremony. During this traditional ritual, the couple serves tea to their parents and other elder relatives as a sign of respect and gratitude. This is a way of thanking their parents for their love and support, and acknowledging the important role that they have played in their lives.

Overall, these customs are deeply rooted in Chinese culture and are intended to bring good luck, happiness, and prosperity to the couple on their wedding day and throughout their marriage.

(Mat)

Now I’m sure that food plays an important part in Chinese weddings.  I’ve been to quite a few wedding banquets. I can’t actually remember any of the individual dishes though, I just remember that there was a lot of food. So, what can you tell us about the food that is typically served at a Chinese wedding?

 (Jocelyn) 

Of course food is important. In addition to typical dishes like steamed fish, as well as roasted duck, and pork belly, there are other popular dishes like "dragon and phoenix", and this is actually made with two types of meat: chicken and either lobster or shrimp, symbolizing balance between feminine and masculine energies.

You’ll always find many common wedding dishes, things like braised abalone, a fancy seafood dish, and sweet and sour pork, whole roasted baby pig and things like that.

One interesting dessert that is often served at Chinese weddings is the wedding cake, which is traditionally made from sticky rice flour and filled with the sweet bean paste.

(Mat) 

I remember something else from the weddings I’ve attended. I remember putting money in these red envelopes and giving these to the bride and groom. This seemed to be an important part of the wedding. Tell me more about this.

(Jocelyn) 

Ah yes, you're referring to the tradition of giving red envelopes, or hongbao, as we call them in Chinese. It's a long-standing custom in China and is still very popular today.

The red envelopes are typically filled with money, and they're given as a gift to the bride and groom. The amount of money in the envelope can vary, but it's usually an even number as it’s lucky in Chinese culture.

This tradition is a way for guests to show their support and blessing for the newlyweds. It's also seen as a way to help the couple start their new life together – its’ a nice amount of money.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

Key words and expressions:

rely on…

依靠，依赖

例如：I rely on you to set a good example.  我指望你来树立一个好榜样。

indifferent to…

对…无兴趣、不关心

例如：People have become indifferent to the suffering of others.  人们已经变得对别人的痛苦漠不关心。

文中indifferent to the affairs of the world指的是恩爱的夫妻同心同德、互相依赖，并不关注纷扰的世事。

capture v. /ˈkæptʃər/

to show or describe something successfully using words or pictures

这里的capture当作动词使用，不是常用的捕获的意思，而是（用文字、图片）准确记录或表达的意思

例如：His paintings capture the essence of France.  他的画描绘出了法国的神韵。

essence n. /ˈesəns/

the basic or most important idea or quality of something

本质，要素

例如：conflict is the essence of drama. 冲突是戏剧的要素

date v. /deɪt/

作动词，这里指的是约会

例如：We've been dating for six months. 我们已经约会六个月了。

union between A and B

A和B之间的结合

例如：Marriage is a union between one man and one woman. 婚姻制度是一个男人和一个女人的结合。

match n. /mætʃ/

If two people who are having a relationship are a good match, they are very suitable for each other.

文中做名词，意思是相称、登对的人或物

例如：Jo and Ian are a perfect match for each other. 乔和伊恩真是天造地设的一对。

differ between…

在…之间存在差异

differ作动词，意思是不同于，还可以和from/in/with等介词搭配

例如：The length of seat belts differ between cars.  不同车之间安全带的长度也不同。

ethnic group

族群，民族

ethnic做形容词，意思是种族的，民族的

例如：ethnic clothes/jewellery/cooking 具有民族特色的服装/珠宝首饰/烹调

auspicious adj. /ɔːˈspɪʃəs/

showing signs that something is likely to be successful in the future

吉利的，吉兆的；inauspicious 不吉利的

例如：an auspicious beginning for the campaign 这场活动有一个好的（吉利的）开头

place(put) a lot of importance on…

对…非常重视

例如：People put a lot of importance on getting and maintaining a job. 人们非常重视找工作和保住工作这件事。

dignity n. /ˈdɪɡnəti/

a calm and serious manner that deserves respect

庄重；庄严；尊严

例如：It's difficult to preserve your dignity when you have no job and no home.  一个无家无业的人难以保持自己的尊严。

pork belly：pork是猪肉的意思，belly是腹部，猪腹部的肉也就是五花肉

braised abalone：braised指烹饪方式中的炖，abalone是鲍鱼的意思

long-standing adj. /ˌlɒŋˈstændɪŋ/

having existed for a long time

存在已久的

例如：a long-standing dispute 长期存在的纠纷

even number

（数字中的）偶数；even在这里取双数的，偶数的意思

odd number 奇数

古人非常看重婚姻，因此对于结婚的时刻也颇有讲究。他们认为一天中的黄昏是吉时，因此男方通常会在黄昏时到女方家中迎娶新娘。结婚的“婚”就是由黄昏的“昏”演变而来的。

古代婚礼最完整的仪式有六项，六项礼节分别为：纳采、问名、纳吉、纳征、请期、亲迎。这六项礼节环环相扣，最终促成了两个新人的结合和一个新家庭的诞生。

纳采其实是求婚和获得女方家人同意的礼仪。男方派遣媒人到女方家，带上礼物，达成初步的婚约。

问名是询问女子姓名和生辰八字，以占卜凶吉的礼仪。男方派遣媒人到女方家，询问女子的个人信息。后来，纳采和问名通常同时进行，合并为一个礼仪。

如果在宗庙占卜时得到好的结果，占卜师会将结果告诉女方，这个过程就是“纳吉”。

纳征是正式订婚礼仪，男方派遣媒人送礼物到女方家，双方达成结婚意向。

请期是请求确定最终的婚礼日期。男方会首先占卜吉日吉时，然后派遣使者告知女方确定的婚礼日期。

在中国传统婚礼中，亲迎是婚礼最后一个环节，也是最重要的环节。亲迎就是迎亲，新郎要到女方家里接新娘，女方家人会阻拦、戏弄并要求新郎撒钱通过。同时，新娘会慢慢打扮，聆听父母训诫之词。将新娘接到婚房之后，双方会喝交杯酒，表示从此同心同德。然后新郎新娘要向父母、神位和彼此鞠躬敬意，这是拜堂之礼。第二天早晨，新妇会为公婆献上婚后第一顿早茶以示孝顺。三天后，女方回娘家探亲，称为“回门”，还要和男方一起拜访女方的亲戚，称为“认亲”。

现代中国婚礼受到西方文化和习俗的影响，融合了中西元素。比如，现在婚礼仍有商定婚期和了解对方背景信息的环节，但定情之物变成了西式珠宝，婚礼着装也变成了西装和婚纱。

小时候，我就挺喜欢跟着父母参加各种各样的婚礼。其实小孩儿并不了解婚礼的内涵。但是每次都能看到漂亮的新娘子，吃到好吃的，还可以收获喜糖和各种各样花花绿绿的小玩具，就已经足够开心了。在暖场环节，主持人还会问一些尴尬但不失有趣的问题，平时严肃的长辈也开始“显露”本性，金句频出。当然，婚礼上也有很多感动人的时刻。比如父母真情流露的眼泪。真挚的感情永远是那么打动人心。

现代婚礼，还有一个比较重要的的环节，那就是新娘扔捧花。接到新娘捧花的人，会被认为是下一个结婚的人。面对捧花，不同的人反应往往是两极分化的。期待婚姻的人收到捧花会非常开心，而年纪尚小、还没有婚嫁打算的人收到捧花则往往会有点害羞，甚至脸红。无心插柳柳成荫，想要捧花的人收不到捧花，不想要捧花的人却偏偏会收到，充满了戏剧性。这也许是婚礼的看点之一吧。

婚礼是人生中最重要的时刻，婚礼是一份约定、一份责任和一份相守。愿天下有情人终成眷属。美好的婚礼是一对新人幸福的开始，希望从婚礼开始，走向更广阔的天地。

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello again, today we’re talking about Chinese characters! As our listeners may already know, Chinese characters have a long and rich history, and are an essential part of the Chinese language and culture. Today, I'll be asking some important questions about this fascinating aspect of Chinese culture. Let’s start with the basics. How many Chinese characters are there? Is it hundreds? Thousands? 

(Jocelyn)

Well, the thing about Chinese characters is that there are a lot of them. Like, seriously, a LOT. The exact number is kind of hard say exactly, but it's somewhere in the region of 50,000-60,000 characters.

Andof course, you don't need to know all of them to be able to read and write in Chinese. In fact, you only need to know a few thousand to be considered literate. But still, it's kind of crazy to think about just how many characters are out there!

(Mat)

So if there are over 50,000 of them, I guess they’ve been around for a long time. I don’t think they are a modern invention are they? So tell me something about the history of Chinese characters.

(Jocelyn)

Chinese characters have a fascinating history that goes way back in time. The earliest known examples of Chinese characters were carved onto bones and other objects during the Shang Dynasty, which was over 3,000 years ago! And these characters were originally pictographs, which means they looked like pictures of the things they represented. For example, the Chinese character for "sun" originally looked like a circle with a dot in the middle, representing the image of the sun. And the character for "tree" looked like a simple drawing of a tree, with roots, a trunk, and branches. Over time, the characters evolved and became more complex and today, some characters look like the things they represent, but many have evolved into more complicated characters. 

(Mat)

For someone who grew up with English as a first language, I am very familiar with the English writing system, ABC, spelling, you learn the alphabet and then you can read words, even new words, words you’ve never seen before, you can sound out each letter and then say the word, even when you don’t know what it means. Now, can we do this with Chinese characters? 

(Jocelyn)

Well, when it comes to writing systems, Chinese and English are pretty different. The big thing is that Chinese uses characters that represent whole words or ideas, while English uses letters that stand for sounds – and these sounds make up the word. It's definitely easier to sound out new words with English because you learn the alphabet and then you can say the letters to read a word or say it out loud. But when it comes to Chinese characters, it's a little different. Chinese characters don't really follow the same rules as English words, and we can't just sound them out based on the characters themselves or the lines within the character. Instead, each character represents a word or an idea, and they're often made up of multiple parts that give us a clue about the meaning. So yeah, it's quite different. When we learn aChinese character we have to learn how to read and write it, what it means and how to pronounce it, and then we have to remember all these elements. 

(Mat)

Yeah that sounds much more challenging than learning the English alphabet. Now when I look at Chinese dictionaries and textbooks I often see something like ‘traditional characters’ or ‘simplified characters’. So what’s the difference between traditional and simplified Chinese characters?

(Jocelyn)

OK, that is a good question. There are two types of Chinese characters: traditional and simplified. Traditional characters are the older version of the characters, and they're still used in some parts of China, for example in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, but most people nowadays use simplified characters, and these are kind of like a newer version that was introduced in the 1950s to make writing easier and faster.

The main difference between the two types of characters is that simplified characters have fewer strokes than traditional characters, fewer lines. Andwhich means they're generally quicker and easier to write. For example, the traditional character for "horse" (馬) has 10 strokes, while the simplified version (马) has only 3 strokes. 

So if you're learning Chinese, it's important to know that both traditional and simplified characters exist, but you’ll find simplified characters much easier to learn and use, especially if you’re just starting to learn Chinese.

(Mat)

OK, so finally then, let’s give some advice to anyone thinking of learning Chinese characters. How can I learn Chinese characters?  

(Jocelyn)

Oh you want to learn Chinese characters? That's awesome! It's definitely not the easiest thing in the world, but with the right approach, you can totally do it.

First of all, start with the basics. Learn the most commonly used characters first, like numbers, colours, and simple everyday objects.  

Another tip is to use visual flashcards. You can make your own, or use an app or website with pre-made digital ones.Flashcards are great for memorization, and they'll help you learn characters faster. Learning Chinese characters requires a lot of memorization, so it’s a good idea to use some tools to help us. 

But you have to practice writing them out by hand too. So, get a notebook and a pen, and start copying these characters down. It may feel tedious at first, but the more you practice, the better you will get. 

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

Key words and expressions:

essential adj. /ɪˈsenʃəl/

very important and necessary

必不可少的，非常重要的；也可以作名词，意思是要点；要素；必需品

例如：Computers are an essential part of our lives. 计算机是我们生活中非常重要的一部分。

fascinating adj. /ˈfæsɪneɪtɪŋ/

extremely interesting

极有吸引力的，迷人的

例如：I found the movie fascinating. 我觉得那个电影非常有意思。

in the region of

（数量）在…左右

region 一般指区域，在这里是范围的意思

例如：The plan will cost in the region of six million dollars. 这项计划将花费大约六百万美元。

literate adj. /ˈlɪtərət/

able to read and write

有读写能力的，受过良好教育的；经常和numerate（识数的）进行搭配。

literate的反义词是illiterate，意思是不识字的，文盲的

例如：All students should be numerate and literate when they leave school.  所有的学生毕业时都应具备计算和读写的能力。

be carved onto…

被刻在…上面

carve是雕、刻的意思，当作动词使用

例如：He carved his name on his desk. 他在书桌上刻了自己的名字。

pictograph n. /ˈpɪk.tə.ɡrɑːf/

a picture drawn on painted rock, especially in ancient times

象形图画

例如：a pictograph of a pine tree 一幅代表一棵松树的象形图画

be familiar with…

对…很熟悉

例如：Most people are familiar with thiscomputer software. 很多人对这个软件很熟悉。

traditional/simplified characters：繁体字/简体字

introducev. /ˌɪn.trəˈdʒuːs/

to put something into use for the first time

文中是首次引入的意思，而不是常用的“介绍”

例如：The company introduced a new system for hiring writers. 公司引进了一项新的制度来雇人写作。

approach n. /əˈprəʊtʃ/

the way you deal with a task, problem, or situation

方式方法，常与to连用表示做…的方法

例如：He took a very scientific approach to management. 他采取了一种非常科学的管理方法。

flashcard：闪卡，教学用的抽认卡

app

读作/æp/，是application（应用程序）的缩写

例如：She developed an app to help them. 她开发了一个应用程序来帮助他们。

pre-made

预先做好的，预制的

形容词；pre指的是在…之前

例如：pre-made food预制菜

tediousadj./ˈtiːdiəs/

taking too long and not interesting

冗长的，单调乏味的

例如：It was a hard and tedious job. 这是一项艰苦而乏味的工作。

汉字是目前世界上最古老的仍在使用的文字。即使只从商代后期算起，汉字也已经有三千三百多年的历史了。

关于文字的起源，历来有多种不同的说法，其中最重要的说法是仓颉（cāng jié）造字说。这一说法最早见于战国晚期的文献。后世认为，仓颉是炎黄始祖黄帝的史官，他创造了汉字。

从文字形成的客观规律来说，汉字显然不可能是一个人单独创造出来的。但是在汉字形成的过程中，尤其是在最后阶段，很可能有个别人做出了非常重要的关键性的作用。仓颉也许就是这样的人。

从形体上看，汉字主要经历了由繁到简的变化。

中国文字的演变，大体经历了甲骨文——金文——大篆——小篆——隶书——草书——行书——楷书等几个阶段。

古文字所使用的字符，本来以图画图形为主。古人为了书写方便，把它们逐渐改变成用比较平直的线条构成的符号。从隶书开始，汉字的字形就和我们如今看到的比较接近了。楷书通行之后，汉字字体就基本没有变化了。汉字的书写难度不断降低，适应了文字使用的客观要求。

除了汉字自然演变中的简化，建国以来，汉字还经历了几次人为简化。20世纪50年代，我国进行了大规模的文字简化工作，这也是目前我们看到的文字形体。简化字的创造，极大地降低了识字认字的难度，对语言文字和文化知识的普及发挥了巨大的作用。

汉字的书写按照从左往右的顺序，因此汉字适合用右手书写。由于用笔和书写习惯的不同，每个人书写汉字的笔迹都是不同的。由此，汉字书写从基本的交际功能发展到审美价值。书法也就诞生了。

书法对于每一个中国人来说，就是“一千个读者眼里有一千个哈姆雷特”。每一个人，对于“好看的字”的理解都是不一样的。但很少有一门文艺品类，能够像书法一样和每个中国人都有如此紧密的联系。

书法为心画。书写者写的每一个字都是书者情感的倾诉、胸怀的抒发以及抱负的展示。写字的笔迹，可以反映一个人的个性。

我没有系统性地学过书法，我对书法的浅薄理解，其实来源于我儿子的书法课。和硬笔书法不太一样，写毛笔字之前需要认真地准备文房工具。笔墨纸砚都比较讲究。比如，要将宣纸认真地铺好，不能有褶皱，而且要将毛笔的毫毛理顺，还要将墨水配制为合理的比例。刚开始学写毛笔字的时候，我儿子有点毛躁，总是铺不好纸，而且经常会把墨水滴到纸上。一旦有了这样那样的一些小失误，他就开始不耐烦了，有时候还会胡写一通。时间久了，虽然写字的时候我发现他还是会有这样那样的失误，但是他的心明显地“定”了许多。教写字的师傅告诉我，写字的过程，其实就是孩子修炼心性的过程。在一横一折、一撇一捺之间，孩子的心境也就随之平和了。

汉字是中华民族的文化胎记，它穿越了五千年的时空，在中华民族的血脉中奔腾不息。在一笔一划之间，每一个汉字背后都隐藏着悠久的历史演变。每一个方块字在历史的长河中浮浮沉沉，在龟壳上，在竹简上，在无数人的笔下熠熠生辉。