1. Chapter 30. Nine Traditional Skills of the Cultured Chinese Section 7. Arts and Entertainment The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 30. Nine Traditional Skills of the Cultured Chinese 1

2. Outline Introduction A historical review of the nine traditional skill areas What’s in, what’s coming back, and what’s out Road ahead 2 The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 30. Nine Traditional Skills of the Cultured Chinese

3. Introduction Nine traditional cultural areas ⁻Guqin (the traditional Chinese musical instrument), Go (a traditional game), Chinese calligraphy, Chinese painting, Swordsmanship, Poetry, Healing, Tea, and Liquor A cultured Chinese is expected to develop expertise in (and appreciation for) each of these nine areas. 3 The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 30. Nine Traditional Skills of the Cultured Chinese

4. A historical review 4 The guqin, Go, calligraphy and painting are mentioned most often; collectively, they are called the four arts of a scholar. The guqin: ⁻over 3,000 years; ⁻a hollow instrument made of platane wood and seven strings made from silk threads; ⁻Elegant, express different emotions, and facilitate reflection The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 30. Nine Traditional Skills of the Cultured Chinese

5. A historical review 5 Go : ⁻invented several thousand years ago; ⁻A type of board game with two players ⁻with white and black playing pieces ⁻applying strategies to build blockades and break through opposing blockades ⁻played by a wide range of people, common, cultured and royal alike. The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 30. Nine Traditional Skills of the Cultured Chinese

6. A historical review 6 Chinese calligraphy: ⁻particular attention is paid to strokes, overall structure, and the pressure one applies to the brush; ⁻a heart-felt image that is thought to reflect a person’s character; ⁻a subject on the imperial examination during some periods. The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 30. Nine Traditional Skills of the Cultured Chinese

7. A historical review 7 Chinese painting: ⁻Usually painted with water colors; ⁻typically comprised of a picturesque scene and a poem in Chinese calligraphy; ⁻Subjects include mountains, rivers, flowers, birds or people; ⁻two main schools: meticulous painting; and free sketch painting. The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 30. Nine Traditional Skills of the Cultured Chinese

8. A historical review 8 Poetry: ⁻with cultural significance equals or even surpasses the four major arts; ⁻used to express various emotions; ⁻often written to commemorate special occasions, such as military victories, deaths, reunions with old friends, etc.; ⁻the most influential poetry was written during the Tang(618-907) and Song(960- 1279) dynasties; ⁻Li Bai and Du Fu, two great poets. The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 30. Nine Traditional Skills of the Cultured Chinese

9. A historical review 9 Swordsmanship : ⁻not just a fighting skill, but also an artistic form of self-expression and mental exercise; ⁻different movements are used to convey the inner state of the individual; ⁻different styles of swordsmanship. The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 30. Nine Traditional Skills of the Cultured Chinese

10. A historical review 10 Healing ⁻refers to the idea of food therapy; ⁻the Chinese believe that drug therapy is inferior to food therapy. Tea ⁻Like wine, teas are complex and require sophistication to understand and appreciate. The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 30. Nine Traditional Skills of the Cultured Chinese

11. A historical review Liquor ⁻consumed on all types of occasions; ⁻a drink for both the elite and common man alike. Chapter 30. Nine Traditional Skills of the Cultured Chinese 11

12. What’s in, what’s coming back, and what’s out 12 Traditional beliefs about the skills a cultured Chinese person should develop have evolved: ⁻healing, tea, and liquor have become even more popular in the modern era; ⁻Go also remains extremely popular, but exists in multiple forms now; E.g., Chinese Chess or card games The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 30. Nine Traditional Skills of the Cultured Chinese Photo: A vendor and an urban management inspector (Cheng guan) are playing Chinese chess along a street Shanghai.

13. What’s in, what’s coming back, and what’s out ⁻Poetry, Chinese calligraphy, and Chinese painting are making a comeback, albeit among a smaller proportion of the population; ⁻the guqin, swordsmanship are on the way out. The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 30. Nine Traditional Skills of the Cultured Chinese 13 Photo: A craftsman is drawing a sugar painting (an eatable painting made of sugar) of a rabbit for a girl.

14. Road ahead One cannot fully understand the Chinese without understanding how they value and practice these nine skills. Those who can distinguish themselves by mastering even one of these skills will be held in high esteem by their peers. We do not see the trends stated in this chapter changing in the near future. 14 The Chinese Way, Ding and Xu, 2014 Chapter 30. Nine Traditional Skills of the Cultured Chinese