Also See: Continued from yesterday
Yuansiao was a wonderful influence upon the spoiled daughter of the Emperor. But that first New Year away from her parents was especially difficult for her. She saw families being together, walking around on the streets, going shopping and eating happily together. Although she was treated well and had all the material things a gal could possibly ask for, she longed for the simple farm house and the warmth of being with her parents. Thus, on New Year's Day, she told the Emperor that she had had a dream. In her dream, the Fire God appeared and threatened to burn down the city unless the Emperor was able to appease his anger. What must be done was that firecrackers were to be set off on the 15th day of the month and lanterns, big and small, were to be made. These lanterns were to be bright and elaborately decorated and must be hung throughout the streets of the city. As the Emperor got busy, setting people to work making lanterns and firecrackers, Yuansiao took the opportunity to go home unnoticed.
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How surprised her parents were to have her home as they too missed her tremendously. She stayed home until the 15th day of the Lunar New Year and arrived back at the palace just in time to see the city alive with excitement and celebration as people set off firecrackers and carried bright, beautiful and decorated lanterns.
You might be quite puzzled reading this story. Did I make it up? Well, sort of. There are several stories attached to the celebration of Lantern Festival and I decided to embellish one that might be quite unknown to most of you.
(To be continued tomorrow...)
ILLUSTRATIONS: COURTESY OF EXPLORER PUBLICATIONS
Also See: 接續昨日
ILLUSTRATIONS: COURTESY OF EXPLORER PUBLICATIONS
元宵對被寵壞的公主產生極好的影響,但離開父母的第一個新年特別難熬,她看到家家戶戶團圓,一起快樂地逛街、購物和用餐,雖然她備受善待並擁有一個女孩所能要求的一切物質生活,但她仍渴望回到純樸的農家享受和父母同在的溫暖。所以,在新年那天,她告訴皇帝她做了個夢,在她的夢裡,火神出現並威脅燒掉這座城市,除非皇帝能平息祂的怒氣。他們必須在這個月的第十五天施放鞭炮,並製作大小不同的燈籠,這些燈籠要明亮且精心裝飾,並掛在城裡各大街小巷。由於皇帝忙著下令人們製造燈籠和煙火,元宵趁沒人注意時回家。
當她回家時,十分想念她的父母非常驚訝。而她一直在家待到農曆新年的第十五天才及時趕回皇宮,看到人們施放煙火和提著明亮、漂亮的燈籠,全城因為籠罩在興奮和慶祝的氣氛中而生氣蓬勃。
讀這個故事時你可能很困惑,它是虛構的嗎?嗯,有那麼點兒。好些故事都和元宵節的慶祝有關,所以我決定美化一個多數人都比較不熟悉的故事。
ILLUSTRATIONS: COURTESY OF EXPLORER PUBLICATIONS
(明日待續...)
At an unusual event, a group of people gather and sit together without interacting or checking their phones. Instead, they concentrate on nothing at all and empty their minds for the Space-Out Competition. Originally proposed by South Korean artist Woopsyang in 2014, this event is a form of performance art. It challenges the social expectation to remain constantly busy in this fast-paced world, offering competitors a pause from their routines. For 90 minutes, players are scored on how well they “space out” based on artistic and technical aspects, with their heart rates monitored every 15 minutes. Then, the audience votes for
A: Taiwanese-language pop singer Jody Chiang is finally staging a comeback after having “turned off the microphone” for nine years. B: Yeah, she’s set to perform for the National Day celebration at the Taipei Dome this Saturday. A: As the best Taiwanese-language singer, it would be a big loss if she continued her hiatus. B: Recently, Chiang revealed that she quit singing in 2015 due to cancer. A: That’s shocking. But it’s great to see her healthy and able to turn the mic back on again. A: 台語歌后江蕙「封麥」9年後,終於即將復開唱了。 B: 對啊她本週六將參加國慶晚會,在大巨蛋開唱。 A: 江蕙可是最棒的台語歌手,如果不唱歌太可惜了。 B: 她最近才透露,其實2015年是因為罹癌才會「封麥」。 A: 真是令人震驚!能再看到她健康地「開麥」太好啦。 (By Eddy Chang,
A: Apart from Taiwanese-language pop diva Jody Chiang’s comeback, South Korean girl group (G)I-dle is also performing in Taiwan this weekend. B: I know. They have concerts at the Taipei Arena on Saturday and Sunday. A: Actually, to meet their fans’ high demand, they’ve added one more show on Friday. B: They’re even adding a show? That shows how popular they are. A: My favorite group member is Taiwan’s Susan Yeh, known by her stage name “Shuhua.” Let’s go cheer her on. A: 本週末除了江蕙復出,南韓熱門女團(G)I-dle也將開唱唷。 B: 我知道,他們本週六、日將在小巨蛋開唱。 A: 應粉絲的要求,他們本週五還會加場。 B: 還加場?不愧是韓流人氣女團。 A: 我最喜歡台灣團員葉舒華!我們快去幫她加油吧。 (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Park is a great example of how art can be combined with environmental conservation. __1__ on the ocean floor of the Caribbean Sea, this aquatic gallery was the brainchild of British sculptor and ecologist Jason deCaires Taylor in 2006. The park features sculptures that function as man-made coral reefs, with holes and shelters to attract marine life, thus forming a strikingly beautiful __2__. The sculptures are placed in a way that diverts visitors from nearby natural reefs. This creative approach to ecological preservation demonstrates how art can inspire, educate, and contribute to the sustainability of our environment. The