Meaningful Movements

Tai chiis not just a way to exercise- it’s a way to live.

XU WENBO/VCG

Tai chihas always been a symbol of Chinese culture and is becoming popular around the world. According to Xinhua, it is practiced by over 100 million people in more than 150 countries. It was recently added toUNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List(非物质文化遗产目录).

One thing that makestai chipopular is its health benefits. As you move, you breathe deeply and naturally, focusing your attention— just as in some kinds of meditation (冥想) —on your body. This helps you relax and find peace.

According to Harvard Health,tai chiis suitable for almost anyone because its movements are never forced-—It is all gain（好处）and no pain.

What makestai chieven more interesting might be the ideas behind it. The term “tai chi” comes fromTaoism, which means that inaction（无为）, as opposite to action, is the solution to problems. That’s whytai chimovements are slow and soft. It is not used to fight an enemy— it is used to protect yourself. That doesn’t mean it is weak though.Tai chiis to use softness to beat hardness.

Many movements intai chihave names that are related to animals. This suggests that people came up withthemby studying how animals move.

Tai chishows how ancient Chinese people saw the world. After a dark night, the sun will rise. Leaves fall in autumn but grow in spring. Everything keeps changing—that’s how we should see the world.

—TEENS (Dec. 28, 2020)

If you look closely around your city, you might see hanfu, the traditional clothing of the Han Dynasty. In a recently published report by online shopping platform Tmall, more than 2 million hanfu were sold in 2018. The number of hanfu buyers increased by 92% compared to 2017. The average（平均） age of the buyers is 21, with about 52% between 19 and 24 years old.

But why has this traditional clothing become popular among young Chinese people?

For some of them, it’s a costurne for relaxation. Li Ling, a 24-year-old college student, told CGTN that dressing in hanfu is a way for her to escape the troubles of real life. “Hanfu and modern clothing help me to show the different sides in me,” she explained.

Other young people like hanfu because there is a culture behind it. They regard it as a way to reconnect with traditions. Its wide sleeves, crossed collars and flowing robes bring people back to ancient times.

“What’s behind hanfu is the inheritance of the Chinese civilization(中华文明的传承),” Wang Peng, a 21-year-old costurne studio owner, told CGTN.

That’s probably why some fans have started to bring the traditional clothing abroad. Sohu reported about a Bilibili blogger（哔哩哔哩网站博主）who climbed Germany’s highest peak wearing hanfu this summer. She received praise from tourists.

“Many Chinese people are taking a liking for hanfu, as it makes them have a strong sense of national belonging.” Zhang Yiwu, a professor of Chinese literature at Peking University, told China Daily.

Ink wash painting, Peking Opera, paper cutting, puppets (木偶)... What will happen if we use these traditional art styles in animation (动画)?

(A)_______ fact, Chinese animators have been working on this. Their works are full of Chinese flavor (特色). Recently, restored 4K editions (修复的超高清版本) of several Chinese animations have come out to let audiences (观众) see what makes a classic.

Little Tadpole Looking for Mummy (《小蜊斜找妈妈》), which came out in 1960, is China’s first ink wash animation. You can enjoy its 4K edition on the video platform (平台). Getting ideas from the great artist Qi Baishi, the animators drew all the animals, plants and rocks in the film with ink and brushes. Though it was only about 15 minutes long, it took lots of work. Animators drew everything (B) ______ hand. (D) They used different kinds of lines and colors to bring everything to life, such as black tadpoles, red goldfish, pink lotus flowers and so on. The French newspaper Le Monde says the film is just like a poem.

The Legend of Sealed Book (《天书奇谭》), a cartoon film that first came out in 1983 and opened in cinemas on November 5, 2021. (C) It uses ink wash painting for its backgrounds, too. The cartoon film also borrows other arts. The makeup used in Peking Opera inspired the looks of the characters. It helps show their personalities. Lovely boy Dansheng looks like wawasheng, roles for kids in Peking Opera. A fox wears huadan makeup to make her more attractive.

There are other traditional art styles in animation like paper cutting and puppets, too. “It shows Chinese artists’ goals (目标) in animation — unique (奇特的), funny and beautiful,” said the director QianYunda.