Knowledge Point 01: The Longest Marathon Took 54 Years
A marathon race amazingly took 54 years to complete, referring to the legendary story of a Greek soldier named Pheidippides, who is hailed as the “Father of the Marathon.”
Detailed Explanation: Although the standard distance for a modern marathon is 42.195 kilometers, there was a special marathon in history that took an astonishing 54 years to finish. This story is not a real race record but stems from a battle during ancient Greece.
It is said that during the Greco-Persian Wars in 490 BC, the Greek soldier Pheidippides ran from the Marathon Plains to Athens to deliver the news of victory before collapsing and dying. This distance later became the standard distance for marathon races.
The phrase “took 54 years” is more of a legendary and symbolic way to convey the profound and lasting impact of this battle on the Greek people.
Knowledge Point 02: Soy Sauce Originated in the Qin and Han Dynasties
Soy sauce, as a traditional Chinese condiment, has a history dating back to the Qin and Han dynasties, spanning over two thousand years.
Detailed Explanation: Soy sauce is a condiment made from fermented soybeans, wheat, and other ingredients. It has a bright red color and a rich, mellow taste, making it deeply loved by Chinese people.
According to historical records, the origin of soy sauce dates back to the Qin and Han dynasties, when people had already mastered the technique of making soy sauce through soybean fermentation.
Over time, the production process of soy sauce has continuously developed and improved, evolving into the various flavors and varieties we know today. Nowadays, soy sauce has become an integral part of Chinese food culture, widely used in the cooking and seasoning of various dishes.
Knowledge Point 03: There Are Six Types of Chinese Calligraphy, Including Regular Script, Cursive Script, etc.
Chinese calligraphy, as one of China’s traditional arts, boasts a wide variety of styles, mainly including regular script, cursive script, seal script, clerk’s script, running script, and standard script.
Detailed Explanation: Chinese calligraphy is an important component of Chinese traditional culture. It is not only an artistic expression of words but also a symbol of the Chinese nation’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
In the world of calligraphy, regular script is solemn and rigorous, cursive script is unrestrained and wild, seal script is ancient and elegant, clerk’s script is steady and robust, running script is smooth and natural, and standard script is standardized and normative.
These six calligraphy styles each have their unique characteristics, complementing each other and together forming the rich diversity of Chinese calligraphy art. Both ancient scholars and modern calligraphy enthusiasts can feel the charm and connotation of Chinese culture through studying and practicing calligraphy.
Knowledge Point 04: Westerners Often Call the Earth Gaia
Westerners often refer to the Earth as Gaia, a term derived from Greek mythology, symbolizing the “Mother Earth,” implying that the Earth is the cradle of life and the source of all things.
Detailed Explanation: Gaia is an important goddess in Greek mythology, revered as the “Mother Earth.” In mythology, Gaia gave birth to deities such as Uranus, the god of the sky, and Pontus, the god of the sea, and is considered the creator of the universe and the origin of life.
Therefore, Westerners often call the Earth Gaia to express their reverence and love for the Earth. This term is not only poetic and romantic but also reflects humanity’s awe and admiration for the Earth’s vitality and creativity.
In modern society, with the enhancement of environmental awareness and the popularization of sustainable development ideas, the term Gaia is increasingly used to urge people to pay attention to Earth environmental protection and ecological civilization construction.
Knowledge Point 05: The Four Treasures of the Study Refer to Brush, Ink, Paper, and Inkstone
The Four Treasures of the Study are important tools for writing and painting in traditional Chinese culture, including the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
Detailed Explanation: The Four Treasures of the Study are an indispensable part of traditional Chinese culture. They are not only basic tools for writing and painting but also important carriers of cultural heritage and artistic creation.
The brush, as a representative writing tool, has various types and characteristics. Ink is an essential pigment in calligraphy and traditional Chinese painting, capable of presenting rich variations in ink color through grinding and application.
Paper serves as the carrier for writing and painting, and its texture and grain have a crucial impact on the quality of the work. The inkstone is a tool for grinding ink, and its material and craftsmanship directly affect the quality of the ink and the writing effect.
As an important symbol of traditional Chinese culture, the Four Treasures of the Study are still widely used in the fields of calligraphy and traditional Chinese painting.
Knowledge Point 06: The First Surname in “The Hundred Surnames” is Zhao
“The Hundred Surnames” is an ancient Chinese children’s enlightenment book, with the first surname being Zhao.
Detailed Explanation: “The Hundred Surnames” is a widely circulated and influential children’s enlightenment book. It is arranged according to a certain phonetic and rhythmic pattern, making it catchy and easy to remember.
In “The Hundred Surnames,” the first surname is Zhao. This is not only because the Zhao surname holds an important position and influence in Chinese history (such as the royal family of the Song Dynasty) but also reflects the compilers’ emphasis on surname culture and tradition.
By studying and reciting “The Hundred Surnames,” children can gradually understand Chinese surname culture and family concepts, thereby enhancing their sense of identity and belonging to Chinese culture.
Knowledge Point 07: White Face Makeup in Opera Often Represents Villains
In traditional Chinese opera, white face makeup often represents characters with evil, treacherous, or cunning traits.
Detailed Explanation: Traditional Chinese opera is a comprehensive performing art that integrates singing, recitation, acting, and martial arts. In opera, actors use makeup, costumes, and performance skills to portray various character images.
Among them, white face makeup, as a special makeup technique, is often used to represent characters with evil, treacherous, or cunning traits. These characters usually have complex and changing personality traits and behaviors, requiring the actor’s superb performance to reveal their inner world and personality characteristics.
Therefore, white face makeup has important symbolic meaning and aesthetic value in traditional Chinese opera.
