Knowledge Point 01: The “Five Elements” Theory in Ancient China Encompasses Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth
The “Five Elements” theory in ancient China classified all things in nature into five basic elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. These elements mutually restrict and nourish each other, forming the basis of all things in the universe.
Detailed Explanation:
The Five Elements theory is an important component of ancient Chinese philosophical thought. It believes that all things in nature can be attributed to the five basic elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.
These five elements have a relationship of mutual generation and mutual restraint, such as metal generating water, water generating wood, wood generating fire, fire generating earth, and earth generating metal, as well as metal restraining wood, wood restraining earth, earth restraining water, water restraining fire, and fire restraining metal.
This relationship of mutual restriction and nourishment constitutes the basic operational laws of all things in the universe and has had a profound impact on agriculture, medicine, philosophy, and other fields in ancient China.
Knowledge Point 02: Cai Lun Improved Papermaking, Promoting One of the Four Great Inventions of Ancient China
Papermaking, one of the Four Great Inventions of ancient China, was improved and promoted by Cai Lun during the Eastern Han Dynasty, greatly promoting the dissemination and development of ancient civilization.
Detailed Explanation:
Papermaking is one of the Four Great Inventions of ancient China, and its emergence greatly promoted the dissemination and development of ancient civilization. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Cai Lun improved the traditional papermaking process by utilizing waste materials such as bark, rags, and hemp waste, and going through processes such as crushing, rinsing, and drying to produce high-quality, low-cost paper.
This new papermaking method not only increased the production and quality of paper but also reduced costs, enabling paper to be widely used. Cai Lun’s improvement had a profound impact on culture, education, politics, and other fields in ancient China and made important contributions to the progress of world civilization.
Knowledge Point 03: The “Qin, Qi, Shu, Hua” Refer to the Guzheng and Go in Ancient Chinese Literature and Art
In the “Four Arts” of ancient Chinese literature and art—qin (musical instrument), qi (board game), shu (calligraphy), and hua (painting)—qin refers to the guzheng, and qi refers to Go, both of which embody the cultural essence of ancient China.
Detailed Explanation:
The “Four Arts” of qin, qi, shu, and hua are highly esteemed by ancient Chinese scholars and gentlemen. They not only represent the level of cultural art in ancient China but also reflect the aesthetic tastes and humanistic qualities of ancient Chinese people.
Among them, qin refers to the guzheng, an ancient stringed instrument with a melodious sound capable of expressing rich emotions; qi refers to Go, an ancient strategy game that exercises thinking ability and strategic awareness through the play of black and white stones.
As important components of the “Four Arts,” the guzheng and Go not only occupy an important position in ancient Chinese culture but also have a profound impact on later generations.
Knowledge Point 04: The Four Great Inventions of Chinese History Include Printing, Fireworks, the Compass, and Papermaking
The Four Great Inventions of Chinese history—printing, fireworks, the compass, and papermaking—not only promoted technological progress in ancient China but also had a significant impact on the development of world civilization.
Detailed Explanation:
The Four Great Inventions of Chinese history—printing, fireworks, the compass, and papermaking—are important milestones in the development of ancient Chinese technology. These inventions not only promoted technological progress in ancient China but also had a significant impact on the development of world civilization.
The invention of printing enabled books to be mass-produced and disseminated, promoting cultural exchanges and collisions of ideas; the invention of fireworks promoted the development of military technology and changed the way and form of warfare; the invention of the compass provided an important navigation tool for navigation, promoting world trade and cultural exchanges; and the invention of papermaking greatly promoted the dissemination of culture and the progress of civilization.
These Four Great Inventions are not only outstanding representatives of ancient Chinese technology but also valuable treasures of human civilization.
Knowledge Point 05: The Most Famous Long Mythological Novel in China Is “Journey to the West”
The most famous long mythological novel in China, “Journey to the West,” tells the legendary story of Tang Monk and his three disciples on their quest for Buddhist scriptures, attracting countless readers with its rich imagination and unique artistic charm.
Detailed Explanation:
“Journey to the West” is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of China and one of the most famous long mythological novels. It tells the legendary story of Tang Monk and his three disciples on their quest for Buddhist scriptures, showcasing the glory and courage of human nature through their various trials and adventures along the way.
This novel has attracted countless readers with its rich imagination and unique artistic charm and occupies an important position in the history of Chinese literature, having a profound impact on later generations of literature and art.
At the same time, “Journey to the West” is also an important part of ancient Chinese mythology, conveying the ancient Chinese understanding and perception of the world and life through storytelling.
Knowledge Point 06: The Four Ancient Civilizations Include Babylon, Ancient Egypt, India, and China
The Four Ancient Civilizations—Babylon, Ancient Egypt, India, and China—are among the birthplaces of human culture and the cradle of the development and growth of numerals, having a significant impact on the development of world civilization.
Detailed Explanation:
The Four Ancient Civilizations—Babylon, Ancient Egypt, India, and China—are among the earliest civilizations in human history. These countries not only have a long history and splendid culture but are also the cradle of the development and growth of numerals.
Babylon’s cuneiform writing and numeral system, Ancient Egypt’s hieroglyphics and calendar, India’s Arabic numerals and the concept of zero, and China’s oracle bone inscriptions and decimal numbering system have all made important contributions to the development of world civilization.
The achievements of these ancient civilizations have not only promoted the progress and development of human society but also left valuable cultural heritage and spiritual wealth for later generations.
