Now， more and more Chinese and foreigners start studying Confucian culture。

現在，越來越多的中國人和外國人開始學習儒家文化。

The thoughts of using rites and music to educate people received plenty of explanation among works of later Confucian scholars。

禮樂教化思想在后世儒家學說中得到了充分的表述。

Mencius was the most famous scholar of the Confucian School after Confucius。

孟子是我國古代繼孔子之后最著名的儒家學者。

The most obvious feature of the Confucian culture structurally is ethic centrality。

儒家文化在結構上最大的特點是倫理中心主義。

Ancient people—oriented doctrines are often associated with the Confucian School。

一提到古代民本主義，人們往往會把它與儒家聯系起來。

Let’s Talk！

開始交流吧！

Emily： How about traditional Chinese culture？

艾米麗：中國傳統的文化怎么樣？

Mike： The 5000－year－long civilization is the source of pride of every Chinese。

麥克：中國人以五千年的文明為驕傲。

Emily： I know Confucius and Dr。 Sun Yatsen are the representatives。

艾米麗：我知道孔子和孫中山的思想。

Mike： Yes， we can see the traditional Chinese culture presents many precious ideas and qualities。

麥克：是的，我們看到中國傳統的文化呈現出許多寶貴的思想和品質。

Emily： They lay stress on the importance of kindness and the idea that the world is for all。

艾米麗：他們提出仁愛和天下為公的思想。

Mike： These thoughts have survived many vicissitudes。

麥克：這些思想歷經滄桑。

Emily： I’ve been told Confucius was a great philosopher in ancient China！

艾米麗：我聽說孔子是中國古代偉大的哲學家。

Mike： Thought of Confucius in Chinese history of great significance， has already affected more than two thousand years in China， Confucius’s position in history is also very high。

孔子的思想在中國歷史上具有重大意義，已經影響了中國兩千多年，孔子在歷史上的地位也很高。

Emily： I heard that Confucius was 196。8 cm tall。

艾米麗：聽說孔子身高196。8cm。

Mike： It is rare for such a height in ancient times。

麥克：古時候的人這樣的身材很少見啊。

Emily： Are there some historic records？

艾米麗：有史料記載嗎？

Mike： There was a history record in Confucius of Sima Qian。

麥克：司馬遷的《孔子世家》里有記載。

Emily： May be the measuring tools at that time were different。

艾米麗：可能古代的測量工具與今天的不同吧。

Mike： In any case， Confucius was a typical strong man of Shangdong。

麥克：但不管怎樣，孔子肯定是個典型的山東大漢。

Emily： Maybe。

艾米麗：也許吧。

the Imperial Palace

故宮

故宮位于北京市中心，舊稱紫禁城。是明、清兩代的皇宮，無與倫比的古代建筑杰作，世界現存最大、最完整的木質結構的古建筑群。來到中國怎能不去故宮一游呢，現在就帶你走進故宮，暢游一番。

Realize the Imperial Palace

認識故宮

1故宮簡介及影響

The Imperial Palace， popularly known as the Forbidden City， which has witnessed twenty－four emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties ruling China for some 500 years—from1420 to 1911， is the most splendid architectural complex in the world， also the brightest pearl in the human history。

Ancient Chinese people fully displayed their wisdom in building the Forbidden City。 The Forbidden City is surrounded by 10－metre high walls and a 52－metre wide moat。 Measuring 961 meters from north to south and 753 meters from east to west， it covers an area of 720，000 square meters。 Each of the four sides is pierced by a gate， the Meridian Gate （Wu men） on the south and the Gate of Spiritual Valor （Shenwu men） on the north side， being used as the entrance and exit by tourists today。 Once inside， visitors will see a succession of halls and palaces spreading out on either side of an invisible central axis。 It is a magnificent sight， the buildings with glowing yellow roofs against vermilion walls， not to mention their painted ridges and carved beams， all contributing to the sumptuous effect。

Known as the Outer Court， the southern portion of the Forbidden City centers is on the halls of Supreme Harmony， Central Harmony， and Preserving Harmony。 These are flanked by the halls of Literary Glory and Military Eminence。 It was here that the emperor held court and conducted his grand audiences。

Mirroring this arrangement is the Inner Court at the northern end of the Forbidden City， with the Palace of Heavenly Purity， the Hall of Union， and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility straddling the central axis， surrounded by the Six Palaces of the East and West and the Imperial Garden to the north。 Other major buildings include the halls for Worshipping Ancestors and of Imperial Splendor on the east， and the Hall of Mental Cultivation， and the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility on the west。 These contain not only the residences of the emperor and his empress， consorts and concubines but also the venues for religious rites and administrative activities。

In total， the buildings of the two courts account for an area of some 163，000 square meters。 These were laid out precisely in accordance with a code of architectural hierarchy， which designated specific features to reflect the paramount authority and status of the emperor。 No ordinary mortal would have been allowed or even dared to come within close proximity of these buildings。

Today， the Forbidden Palace is open to the public。 Splendid paintings on the royal architecture， grand and deluxe halls， and surprisingly magnificent treasures will be displayed before you。

2故宮的著名景點

（1）the three Harmony

Inside the Hall of Supreme gate， there are the Hall of Supreme Harmong palace， the Hall of Complete Harmony palace and the Hall of Preserving Harmony palace。 These three palaces are the maintain architecture of the palace museum。

The Hall of Supreme Harmony太和殿

The Hall of Complete Harmony中和殿

The Hall of Preserving Harmony保和殿

（2）the four entrances

There are four entrances into the city。 The Meridian Gate to the south， the Shenwu Gate （Gate of Military Prowess） to the north， the Donghua to the east， and the Xihua Gate to the west。 The Forbidden City was surrounded by a ten meter high city wall and enclosed by a moat of 52 meters wide。 At each corner of the city wall， there is a magnificent watchtower。 All of them were used for protecting the emperor and his imperial family。

Wu men午門Shenwu men神武門

Donghua men東華門Xihua men西華門

故宮作為中國歷史的代表，有著深刻的封建韻味。它作為建筑的代表，完全體現了中國勞動人民的智慧與勤勞。它經歷著中國的興衰榮辱，伴隨著中國走過每一個階段。所以一提到故宮，每個中國人都會有種驕傲的感情，它在那里展示著曾經的輝煌，卻也提醒著當日的沒落。

Key words ＆ Sentences

關鍵詞句全知道

The Imperial Palace， also called the Forbidden City， was the home of 24 emperors from the mid－Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty。

故宮又名紫禁城，從明朝中期到清朝末，有24位皇帝在這里生活過。

A visit to the Forbidden City will enrich the visitors’ knowledge of history， economy， politics， arts as well as architecture in ancient China。

參觀故宮會使我們對古代中國的歷史、經濟、政治、藝術和建筑有一個更深刻的了解。