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  • Why Do Chinese People Really Care about Sun Protection?

    Recently, I watched videos of an American couple traveling in China to practice listening to English. Their language and perspectives are always very interesting. However, in one of their latest videos, they claimed that we wear sun-protection masks because we want fair skin to look like superior white-collar workers. I have to say, this stereotype is too shallow and misses the real cultural and scientific reasons.

    First, Chinese people have unique sun-protection methods, such as umbrellas, face masks, and arm sleeves. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), strong sunlight is considered a “heat toxin.” TCM teaches us to balance our body’s energy. We need some sun to stay healthy, but we must avoid the scorching heat to protect our skin and maintain our body’s balance.

    Second, it’s about science, not social class. Many parts of China experience extremely strong sunlight. For example, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, where the couple was traveling, has a very high UV index. Also, our skin is prone to developing dark spots. Wearing hats and UV masks is simply a smart, practical way to protect our skin from long-term damage.

    Third, let’s talk about culture. The vloggers misunderstood Chinese history. In traditional Chinese opera, white faces actually represent cunning and treacherous villains – not superior people. The ancient Chinese did appreciate smooth, fair skin, but that was more a sign of a healthy, indoor lifestyle than a means of showing off social class.

    In short, Chinese sun protection is about TCM, health, environmental conditions, and traditional wisdom – not about trying to look superior. This video reminded me that we should never judge other cultures based on old stereotypes or one-sided statements.

    PS:
    I drank too much coffee today and couldn’t fall asleep, so I came here to write something. And I even captured a video of my betta fish, Little Orange, in case old friends miss it. The video has not yet been fully uploaded. I’ll show you guys tomorrow.

  • 《园冶·卷三·墙垣》梳理

    This chapter describes garden wall design, favoring simple elegance and practicality over fancy carvings, and includes construction techniques for four types: whitewashed, brick, lattice, and stone.

    白话文:
    园林的围墙,多用夯土版筑,或用石头砌成,也有用荆棘编成篱笆的。其中,编篱笆比花屏更显野趣,深得山林的自然之味。至于园内花丛边、水岸边,或是夹道、环山的墙垣,该用石头还是砖块,该镂空还是磨光,都要因地制宜。顺应雅致、合乎时宜,才能让人赏心悦目,这才是园林的佳境。

    历来有些墙垣,全凭工匠雕琢花鸟仙兽来卖弄精巧,这不仅让园林显得俗气,就算放在宅院厅堂前也不合适。而且这种雕花墙容易招来鸟雀筑巢,杂草像藤蔓一样堆积,怎么清理也弄不干净,一碰就坏,实在让人无可奈何。这都是市井俗人、乡野愚夫的做派,高雅之士应当慎重避开。世人建园,常顺着地基的偏斜随便砌墙。为什么不通过调整墙体的宽窄,来衬托房屋的端正呢?可惜很多工匠根本不懂这个道理。

    (一)白粉墙
    传统的粉墙多用纸筋石灰。有些讲究的人为了追求墙面光滑,还会用白蜡打磨。现在可以用江湖中的黄沙,加上少许优质石灰打底,再盖上一层薄石灰,用麻帚轻轻擦拭,墙面自然明亮如镜。如果沾上污渍,用水一洗就掉,这种墙被称为“镜面墙”。

    (二)磨砖墙
    像隐门后的照壁、厅堂正面的墙,都可以用磨好的方砖斜角拼砌;或者把方砖裁成八角形,中间镶嵌小方砖;也可以用整砖和半砖相间,拼出如锦缎般的图案。墙顶用几层磨光的飞檐砖封边即可。切记不要在上面雕刻花鸟仙兽,那样太俗,缺乏画意。

    (三)漏砖墙
    凡是需要观景或借景的地方,适合建这种墙,既有遮挡外部、隐藏内部的作用,又能透景。古人用瓦片砌成的连钱、叠锭、鱼鳞等老式花样,现在都该摒弃。这里列出几种新样式:菱花式、绦环式、竹节式、人字式等,共计十六种。建漏砖墙首要的是坚固,有些样式也可以用在栏杆上。如果怕样式重复,最好还是用磨砖来砌。

    (四)乱石墙
    各种乱石都可以用来砌墙,但以黄石最好。大小石块交错搭配,很适合穿插在假山之间。如果用青石板,可以用油灰来填缝,这种做法被称为“冰裂纹”。

    原文:
    凡园之围墙,多于版筑,或于石砌,或编篱棘。夫编篱斯胜花屏,似多野致,深得山林趣味。如内花端、水次,夹径、环山之垣,或宜石宜砖,宜漏宜磨,各有所制。从雅遵时,令人欣赏,园林之佳境也。历来墙垣,凭匠作雕琢花鸟仙兽,以为巧制,不第林园之不佳,而宅堂前之何可也。雀巢可憎,积草如萝,祛之不尽,扣之则废,无可奈何者。市俗村愚之所为也,高明而慎之。世人兴造,因基之偏侧,任而造之。何不以墙取头阔头狭就屋之端正,斯匠主之莫知也。

    (一)白粉墙
    历来粉墙,用纸筋石灰,有好事取其光腻,用白蜡磨打者。今用江湖中黄沙,并上好石灰少许打底,再加少许石灰盖面,以麻帚轻擦,自然明亮鉴人。倘有污渍,遂可洗去,斯名“镜面墙”也。

    (二)磨砖墙
    如隐门照墙、厅堂面墙,皆可用磨成方砖吊角,或方砖裁成八角嵌小方;或小砖一块间半块,破花砌如锦样。封顶用磨挂方飞檐砖几层,雕镂花、鸟、仙、兽不可用,入画意者少。

    (三)漏砖墙
    凡有观眺处筑斯,似避外隐内之义。古之瓦砌连钱、叠锭、鱼鳞等类,一概屏之,聊式几于左。

    漏砖墙式之一(菱花漏墙式)、漏砖墙式之二(绦环式)、漏砖墙式之三、漏砖墙式之四(竹节式)、漏砖墙式之五(人字式)、漏砖墙式之六至十六。

    漏砖墙,凡计一十六式,惟取其坚固。如栏杆式中亦有可摘砌者。意不能尽,犹恐重式,宜用磨砌者佳。

    (四)乱石墙
    是乱石皆可砌,惟黄石者佳。大小相间,宜杂假山之间,乱青石版用油灰抿缝,斯名“冰裂”也。

  • One of My Favorite Small Gardens

    This is the Merchant Guild Hall. Built in 1715 during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, it tells the story of Shanghai’s shipping development before the Opium War. It’s just 3 kilometers from the Bund, and only 642 meters from the tailor market, which is popular with foreigners. Yet, it remains largely unknown.

    However, today, the main character isn’t the building itself, but rather the small garden right beside it.

    In Chinese gardens, three things are essential: vitality, Yi Jing, and Feng Shui.

    Vitality is obvious to the naked eye, so I won’t dwell on it. Yi Jing is a poetic state of mind, an artistic conception that is hard to convey, so I’ll let the words on the screen do the talking. As for Feng Shui, it’s a bit complex. But in short, it’s about letting nature flow through the air, or arranging the space to live comfortably with nature.

    All of this revolves around one core idea: “Though created by human hands, it looks as if it was formed by nature itself.”

    I’ve traveled all across the Jiangnan region, the heartland of Chinese gardens, and this corner is one of the finest examples I’ve ever seen, even if it’s a reconstruction or a newly built one.

  • 《园冶·卷三·门窗》梳理

    Garden doors and windows should be flexibly designed according to specific local conditions to serve as elegant, uncarved frames that capture natural scenery and evoke poetic moods.

    白话文:
    门窗的形制应顺应当时当地来,其镂空设计不仅能让屋宇焕然一新,更是园林追求雅致的重要体现。虽然施工主要依靠泥瓦工匠,但整体调度仍需要有审美眼光的人来把控,这样才能触景生奇、富有情致,让人透过轻纱看到碧水,透过弱柳窥见青翠。

    巨大的奇石迎客,仿佛开辟了另一番天地;修长的竹子摇曳生姿,竹影婆娑,让人恍惚间以为隔着水面传来了乐声。这样的绝佳意境理应被巧妙收纳,世俗的尘埃自然无法侵入。

    切记不要在门框上过度雕花镂刻,而应将心思用在打磨窗棂与院墙上。让每一处门窗都通向虚空,使每一个方框都能截取侧面的美景。因为担心这些精妙的法则失传,所以我特意将这些样式记录留存下来。

    原文:
    门窗磨空,制式时裁,不惟屋宇翻新,斯谓林园遵雅。工精虽专瓦作,调度犹在得人,触景生奇,含情多致,轻纱环碧,弱柳窥青。伟石迎人,别有一壶天地;修篁弄影,疑来隔水笙簧。佳境宜收,俗尘安到。切记雕镂门空,应当磨琢窗垣。处处邻虚,方方侧景。非传恐失,故式存余。

  • Another Reason Why Chinese People Visit Temples

    A few days ago, I told a friend from New Jersey about an experience I had at the Jade Buddha Temple. He thought I was a Buddhist.

    I explained that I went there just for the vibes and the lotus flowers. He didn’t question further, but I could see the confusion on his face.

    Well, for many Chinese people, visiting a temple is just like an architecture student visiting St. Peter’s Basilica.

    Buddhism and Taoism, blended with Confucianism, are deeply woven into our language and history, so we’ve been learning about and influenced by them since we were kids.

    That’s why many people go to temples for cultural reasons, not religious reasons.