Lesson 3: Welcome to Beijing table

Aspect of Chinese culture	Description of scene from video	How does the scene demonstrate Chinese culture?
Heritage	Traditional red Chinese door opening to reveal ancient temple located in Beijing, China. (0:09-0:11)	Red symbolizes auspice as its vibrancy attracts attention, which in turn attracts fame and prosperity. The ancient temple in Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace, its name a translation of the Chinese name Zijin Cheng. Zi, or "Purple", refers to the North Star, which in ancient China was called the Ziwei Star, and in traditional Chinese astrology was the heavenly abode of the Celestial Emperor. Also, the Palace Museum holds a total of 1,807,558 artifacts and includes 1,684,490 items designated as nationally protected "valuable cultural relics, thus containing a lot of Chinese culture.
Entertainment	Chinese opera singers singing with incredible vocal technique and beautiful symbolic movements. (3:16-3:23)	Chinese opera is a popular form of drama and musical theater in China with roots going back to the early periods in China, having evolved gradually over more than a thousand years. Costumes function first to distinguish the rank of the character being played. Exaggerated designs are painted on each performer's face to symbolize a character's personality, role, and fate. Traditional Chinese masks help viewers determine quickly the attributes of a theatrical character since the dominant colors on Chinese masks impart specific characteristics. This demonstrates Chinese culture in the entertainment aspect of Chinese history.
Chinese Calligraphy	Chinese man in black robe writing Chinese Calligraphy in an imposing manner in a Chinese ancient study room. (5:07-5:10)	Four Treasures of the Study refers to the ink brush, ink stick, paper and ink stone used in Chinese calligraphy and painting. In addition to these four tools, desk pads and paperweights are also used. Chinese Calligraphy is widely practiced in China and revered in the Chinese cultural sphere. It focuses not only on methods of writing but also on cultivating one's character, like patience and observance. For every stroke one makes, one stays focused in body and mind, a state that nurtures the spirit. Practicing calligraphy requires one to be diligent, persistent, and to be able to endure well. Also, Calligraphy is considered an art, hence it helps one learn to appreciate, find and create beauty in the Chinese culture.