Blog Roundup - January 31, 2010

• An Acorn in the Dog's Food - Paul visits the Peruvian Civilizations Exhibit currently being held at the National Museum of Korea.
  
• Ben Ross' Blog - Ben explores the three bustling Chinatowns of New York City.
• China Hope Live - Joel touches upon the recent ban on cat and dog meat in China.
• How to Japonese - Daniel shares some tips and advice for aspiring translators.
  
• Konnichiwa - Bartman visits Nezu Shrine (根津神社).
  
• On the Fringe - Heather visits Qufu (曲阜), the home town of Confucius.
• Shizuoka Gourmet - Everything you need to know about wasabi (わさび).
  
• Tae Kim's Blog - Learn how to order fast food in Japan.
• Wandering Taiwan - Micki and Kristen visit the historic buildings and streets in Anping (安平) in Tainan City (台南).
• ZenKimchi Korean Food Journal - Learn how to make crispy bibimbap (비빔밥).

That's all for this week. The next blog roundup will be on February 7, 2010.

Blog Roundup - January 31, 2010

East Asian Archaeology News - January 30, 2010

• Chinese Terracotta Warriors Expected to "Conquer" Visitors in Canada (Xinhua)
• Sharp Find (JoongAng Daily)
• Terracotta Army to March into 4 Canadian Cities (CBC News)
• Tomb of Ancient China's "Defense Minister" Unearthed in Northwest China (Xinhua)
• Tomb Raiders Bulldoze Jiangsu Site (Global Times)

East Asian Archaeology News - January 30, 2010

Chinese Buzzwords & Slang

Language is constantly evolving. New words are coined on a regular basis, new expressions come into common use and Mandarin is by no means an exception. Language students and translators are often confronted with unknown terms and buzzwords and those living outside of the Sinosphere will be at a certain disadvantage. While it is generally accepted that immersion in a foreign language environment is one of the best ways to develop and maintain one's language skills, the Internet can offer a helping hand to those who wish to learn a new language or expand their vocabulary.

As a volunteer translator and Sinophile, living outside of a Mandarin-speaking environment has had a detrimental impact on my spoken Mandarin. The Internet has been a valuable source of information and has allowed me to continue to expand my vocabulary and keep up with the latest news and trends in Mainland China. When I embarked on my quest to learn Mandarin, I was taught using textbooks which were quite blatantly out of date. The Practical Chinese Reader series that I relied on in my first year at university gave me a good introduction to Chinese grammar and hanzi but it was clear that the recommended form of address, "comrade" (同志), wasn't going to cut it in 21st Century China.**

Likewise, many of the buzzwords and slang I learnt during my university days have fallen out of common use. New technologies and trends have sparked a new generation of idiomatic expressions and jargon, so to avoid being left behind in linguistic limbo, I have sought out a few blogs which focus partly, if not solely, on contemporary buzzwords and slang so that I can keep myself abreast of all the latest lingo.

Language learning is a never-ending process and only a fool would claim to know it all. Even after 10 years of Mandarin study, I feel like I have merely scratched the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Fellow Mandarin learners who feel the urge to keep up with all the latest trends and buzzwords should consider checking out the links below :

• ChinaHopeLive's Chinese Take-Out - Learn some slang and expressions to impress your Chinese friends.
  
• ForeignerCN.Com : Practical Chinese - An excellent source for learning colloquial expressions and figurative slang.
• Shanghai Daily's Buzzwords Blog - One of the best resources for learning about current political and social trends in China. Highly recommended!

If anyone knows of a blog, website or online dictionary that should be on this list, please feel free to let me know.

** It's interesting to note that the term 同志 is now used to refer to members of the gay and lesbian community, so it's probably best not to address anyone as "comrade" for fear of calling their sexual preferences into question.

Chinese Buzzwords & Slang

Blog Roundup - January 24, 2010

• An Acorn in the Dog's Food - Paul has fun with Korean measure words.
  
• ForeignerCN.Com - A short articles on the history and traditions of China's Laba Festival (腊八).
• Japan : Life and Religion - Doug does some research on traditional Shinto attire.
  
• Life in Taiwan - Tony reflects on a Taiwanese wedding he recently attended in Hsinchu (新竹).
• Lost on Jeju - The author writes about one of the few things he hates about living on Jeju Island (제주도).
• Maangchi - Maangchi shares an easy recipe for making your own home-made kimchi (김치).
  
• Mandarin Segments - Greg explores options for volunteer work in China.
  
• Muza-chan's Gate to Japan - Muza-chan posts some beautiful photos of decorated kumade (熊手), bamboo rakes sold as good-luck charms.
  
• Notes from Xi'an - Richard talks about the controversy surrounding Google's recent spat with the Chinese government.
• On the Fringe - Heather spends the day at a ski resort in Yishui (沂水) in China's Shandong Province (山东省).
• Shizuoka Gourmet - A simple and tasty recipe for kaki meshi (牡蠣飯), or oysters steamed with rice.
  
• Speaking of China - Jocelyn shares some advice on how to impress your Chinese boyfriend/girlfriend's family if you're invited to spend Chinese New Year with them.
• The Gaijin Gourmet - Learn how to make delicious tuna omusubi (御結び) rice balls.
  
• The View from Over Here - The author tries her hand at making kimchi bokkumbap (김치 볶음밥), a dish made from fried rice and kimchi.
  
• Tsukublog - Avi talks about hanabiramochi (花びら餅), a traditional Japanese sweet from Kyoto whose origin can be traced back to the Heian Period (平安時代).
  
• Wandering Taiwan - Micki and Kristen visit Loushan Village (羅山村) and learn how organic tofu (有機豆腐) is made.

That's all for this week. The next blog roundup will be on January 31, 2010.

Blog Roundup - January 24, 2010

On Second Thoughts...

I've given some thought to my proposal for weekly features and I think it's probably best if I scrap that idea. While I will continue to post weekly blog roundups and will start post bi-weekly archaeology news roundups, I think I prefer a more spontaneous approach to blogging.

Sorry, folks. I don't think I can commit to regular weekly features at this point in time.

On Second Thoughts...

East Asian Language Learning : Reviews Will Start Next Week

I was planning on posting a review of the Talk to Me in Korean podcast series today but due to a lack of free time this week, I've decided it's best to give myself another week to listen to some of their podcasts and check out the other features on the website. There's little point in posting a short and rushed review which fails to do the website justice, so the review will be posted next Wednesday instead.

East Asian Language Learning : Reviews Will Start Next Week

East Asian Archaeology News Roundup - January 19, 2010

One of the main stories in the news over the past week is the controversy surrounding the discovery of what some archaeologists believe may be the tomb of the legendary General Cao Cao (曹操). The validity of the claim has now been called into question and scholars and netizens have become embroiled in a heated debate regarding the identity of the tomb's occupant. Efforts are being made to determine if the tomb found in Xigaoxue (西高穴) is indeed that of the General.

• Identification of Cao Cao Tomb to be Proved (CCTV.Com)
  
• Expert Tries to Clear Controversy Over Cao's Tomb (CCTV.Com)
  
• Confirmation of Legendary Cao Cao Tomb Amid Controversy (Xinhua)
• Netizens Keep Digging into Tomb Ownership (China Daily)
  

In other news, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Archaeology has announced its top 6 archaeological discoveries of 2009, bronze mirror fragments with Chinese Wei Dynasty inscriptions were discovered in Nara and an exhibition of relics dating from the Three Kingdoms period (三国时代) is being held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

• CASS Announces China's Top 6 Archaeological Discoveries of 2009 (People's Daily)
• Bronze Mirror Fragments with Wei Dynasty Inscription Unearthed in Nara (The Mainichi Daily News)
  
• Three Kingdoms Relics on Display in Beijing (Xinhua)

That's all for this week's archaeology news roundup. The next roundup will be on Monday 25 January, 2010.

East Asian Archaeology News Roundup - January 19, 2010

Archaeology News - Postponed By a Day

This week's East Asian Archaeology News Roundup will be posted on Tuesday 19 January, 2010.

I would like to apologise to all my readers for the slight delay. The East Asian Archaeology News Roundup will be published every Monday starting from next week.

Archaeology News - Postponed By a Day

New Weekly Features

As from this week, readers can expect to see a number of new weekly features on this blog.

• Mondays - Archaeology and cultural heritage news.
  
• Wednesdays - Reviews of language learning resources and websites.
  
• Fridays - Recipes and/or restaurant reviews.
  
• Sundays - The Eye on East Asia blog roundup.

I will also continue to post news articles, film reviews and news on East Asian events in the Netherlands on a regular basis.

If you have any suggestions for a weekly feature that you would like to see on this blog, you're welcome to leave a comment with your suggestion.

New Weekly Features

Blog Roundup - January 17, 2010

• Bonkers in Honkers - Colin blogs about his recent trip to Japan.
  
• China Hope Live - Fun and games at a traditional Chinese wedding.
• Cooking in Japan - Kirsty shares a recipe for kenchin udon (けんちんうどん).
  
• Fear of a Red Planet - The author wonders whether anyone knows where Hu Jintao's (胡锦涛) hometown is.
  
• Fili's World - Fili visits some of Tokyo's ancient shrines and temples.
• Fool's Mountain - The Chinese psyche as seen from the point of view of Chinese food culture.
• Fukuoka Dreaming - Asawa shares a recipe for agedashi koya-dofu (揚げだし高野豆腐).
• Konnichiwa - Bartman posts some photos taken at the Momote-shiki (百手式) ceremony, a Shinto ritual which commemorates the Japanese Coming of Age Day (成人の日).
• Mutantfrog Travelogue - Curzon's lists the ten places in Japan that he would most like to live in.
• My Yaruki - Matthew takes his first steps in his quest to learn Korean.
  
• Notes from Xi'an - Richard explains what he likes about living in Xi'an (西安).
• Shizuoka Gourmet - A recipe for hiyashi ramen (冷やしラーメン), a ramen dish which is served cold.
  
• Speaking of China - Things to see and do at the Kaifeng Night Market.
• The China Beat - Kelly talks about her recent stint at the Terracotta Warriors exhibition in Washington DC.
• The Japanese Food Report - Harris shares a recipe for pork miso soup.
  
• Tsukublog - Avi explains the significance and traditions of Dondoyaki (どんど焼き), an annual ritual burning ceremony which takes place in mid-January.
  
• Wandering Taiwan - Micki and Kristen spend a day along the Jin Shan (金山) coast.
  
• Webs of Significance - A photo essay of the Lung Yeuk Tau (龍躍頭) heritage trail.
• ZenKimchi - Learn more about the some of the culinary treats on offer in Andong (안동).

That's all for this week. The next blog roundup will be on January 24, 2010.

Blog Roundup - January 17, 2010

China Festival of Lights

I'd like to apologise for the lack of updates this week. It has been insanely busy at work due to half the staff being off sick and I've been busy working on some translations for the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Archaeology.

But enough of excuses...

My partner and I will be visiting the China Festival of Lights this Saturday. The Festival of Lights is a lantern festival which is currently being held at Emmen Zoo. The festival was originally supposed to close on January 10th but due to popular demand, the organisers have decided to push the closing date back to February 7th.

Any readers who are living in the Netherlands and are eager to see some beautiful Chinese lanterns should check out the China Festival of Lights website for more information on how to get there and how to order tickets for this spectacular display. I will post photos and a brief summary of events on the blog on Sunday.

China Festival of Lights

Blog Roundup - January 10, 2010

• China Hope Live - Migrant workers and their gruelling morning commutes.
• China Translated - Tom talks about some of the top new Chinese words of 2009.
• Danwei - Translation of an article on the ageism faced by China's middle-aged job seekers.
  
• Fili's World - Fili shares some photos of the delicious food he ate during his time in Japan.
• Fukuoka Dreaming - Kaeru shares some photos of a recent visit to a sumo wrestling (相撲) competition.
• Goddess Carlie - Carlie lists her goals for 2010.
• Haikugirl - Haikugirl pays a visit to Toganji Temple in Motoyama (本山).
• Hungry for Words - Maki talks about omiyage (お土産) and the business of gift-giving in Japan.
  
• Japan Navigator - Ad lists some of the auspicious foods eaten in Japan at New Year.
  
• Jottings from the Granite Studio - Jeremiah reviews Eddie Cheng's book, Standoff at Tiananmen.
• Just Hungry - Maki shares a recipe for "seven herb porridge" (七草粥).
• Kyoto Foodie - The Foodie takes a look at French osechi, an interesting blend of French and Japanese cuisine.
• Maangchi - Maangchi's latest video recipe explains how to make cheongpomuk muchim (청포묵무침), a side-dish made from mung bean jelly.
  
• Muza-Chan's Gate to Japan - A short explanation and some photos of the kofun tombs in Sakai (堺市), Japan.
  
• Shanghaiist - Cary's first day in icy Harbin (哈尔滨).
• Shizuoka Gourmet - A recipe for meat and potato croquettes (コロッケ).
  
• Sleepy Tako - David visits Ako City (赤穂市) in Japan's Hyogo Prefecture (兵庫県).
  
• Speaking of China - Jocelyn answers a reader's question on discussing sensitive political issues with one's Chinese partner.
• The Hopeless Romantic - Claytonian recommends some anime series that anyone can enjoy.
  
• The View from Taiwan - Michael takes a bike ride along the east coast of Taiwan.
• Tsukublog - Avi talks about the "seven herbs of spring" (七草), which are traditionally eaten with rice porridge (粥) on January 7th.
  
• Wandering Taiwan - Micki and Kristen visit "Herb Alley" (青草巷) in Wanhua (萬華), Taipei.
  
• Webs of Significance - YTSL attends the annual Tam Kung (譚公) birthday parade held in Shau Kei Wan (筲箕灣).
• ZenKimchi Korean Food Journal - A simple recipe for making dogani tang (도가니탕), a soup made from ox bones.

That's all for this week. The next blog roundup will be on January 17, 2010.

Blog Roundup - January 10, 2010

Yamaguchi Tsutomu Passes Away at 93

Yamaguchi Tsutomu (山口彊) , one of the few people to have survived both atomic bombs in Japan, passed away on January 4, 2010, at the age of 93. A firm believer in love and in the dignity of human beings, Mr Yamaguchi spent his later years campaigning against nuclear proliferation and even called upon the United Nations General Assembly to ban all nuclear weapons.

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Tsutomu Yamaguchi was a respected teacher and a beloved father and grandfather. So far, so unusual. But Mr Yamaguchi, who has died in Nagasaki at the age of 93, was special. He was one of the small number of people to fall victim to both the atomic bombs that fell on Japan 64 years ago.

On August 6, 1945, he was about to leave the city of Hiroshima, where he had been working for a few weeks, when the first bomb exploded, killing 140,000 people. Stunned and injured, he fled to his home town, Nagasaki, 180 miles to the west. There, on August 9, the second atomic bomb exploded over his head.

A few dozen other people were in the same position, but none expressed the experience, or the indignation which it inspired, with as much emotion and fervour.

Towards the end of his life, Mr Yamaguchi became the only man to be officially registered as a hibakusha, or atomic bomb victim, in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

“I think that it is a miracle,” he told The Times, on the 60th anniversary of the bombings in 2005. “But, having been granted this miracle, it is my responsibility to pass on the truth to the people of the world. For the past 60 years, atomic bomb survivors have declared the horror of the atomic bomb, but I can see hardly any improvement in the situation.”

In the summer of 1945, he was 29, and working as a technical draughtsman designing oil tankers for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. His three-month secondment to a shipyard in Hiroshima was due to end on the morning of August 6, the day that the American B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped a 13 kiloton uranium atomic bomb which exploded above Hiroshima at 8.15am.

“I didn’t know what had happened,” Mr Yamaguchi went on. “I think I fainted for a while. When I opened my eyes, everything was dark, and I couldn’t see much. It was like the start of a film at the cinema, before the picture has begun when the blank frames are just flashing up without any sound. I thought I might have died, but eventually the darkness cleared and I realised I was alive.”

With burns on his face and arms, he and two colleagues staggered through the ruins of the city, where the dead and dying lay all around. At one point, the three men had to wade through a river, parting before them a floating carpet of corpses. They reached the station, and forced their way on to the train for Nagasaki. Reporting to work at the shipyard the next day, August 9, his story of a single bomb destroying an entire city was met with incredulity.

“The director was angry. He said: ‘You’ve obviously been badly injured, and I think you’ve gone a little mad.’ At that moment, outside the window, I saw another flash and the whole office, everything in it, was blown over.”

The next thing he remembered was waking from a delirium to hear crying and cheering at the broadcast by Emperor Hirohito announcing Japan’s surrender.

A post-war career as a teacher and a long retirement followed, and Mr Yamaguchi rarely spoke publicly of his experiences. He began to do so only in 2005 after the death from cancer of his middle-aged son, Katsutoshi, a death which his father attributed to his exposure to radiation as an infant.

“The son of 59 died, leaving the father of 89 behind,” he said. “He was still a baby to me. The death of my son takes away my will to live.”

Like most hibakusha, Mr Yamaguchi’s hatred of the bomb never expressed itself in anti-Americanism. One of his last visitors, as he lay dying of stomach cancer late last month, was the US film director, James Cameron, who is considering making a film about the atomic bombs.

“I believe in love, in human beings,” he said. “The reason that I hate the atomic bomb is because of what it does to the dignity of human beings.

"Look at the photographs of the aftermath of the atomic bombing, those dead bodies in the photographs. When you forget the dignity of individual human beings, that it is when you are heading towards the destruction of the Earth.”

Source : The Times Online.

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Rest in peace, Yamaguchi-san. May we all live to see the day when nuclear weapons are a thing of the past.

Yamaguchi Tsutomu Passes Away at 93

Chinese New Year Festivities in Rotterdam and The Hague

If you’re living in the Netherlands and are fond of Chinese culture, you might be interested to know that Rotterdam and The Hague will be hosting their annual Chinese New Year celebrations in mid-February. Chinese New Year, otherwise referred to as the Spring Festival (春节), will be celebrated on February 14, 2010. For those of you who are interested in celebrating the Year of the Tiger in style, here are some details regarding the festivities in Rotterdam and The Hague.

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Rotterdam :

The Chinese New Year festivities will be held on Wednesday 17 February, 2010, from 12:00 to 18:45 in and around Wijkpark (not so handy for those of us who need to work!)

12:00-12:45 - Opening ceremony at Wijkpark, including a speech from the Chinese ambassador and performances of traditional dragon and lion dances.

13:00-14:00 - Childrens’ karaoke.

14:00-18:00 – Variety show, including performances of Chinese opera, traditional Chinese music and dance, and demonstrations of Tai Chi and other sports.

18:00-18:30 - Chinese lantern competition for primary school children.

18:30 – 18:45 – Closing ceremony and fireworks display.

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The Hague :

The Chinese New Year festivities in The Hague will be held at the Stadhuis and The Hague’s Chinatown starting from 11:30 on Saturday 13 February, 2010.

11:30-12:00 - Opening ceremony with dragon and lion dances (Stadhuis).

12:00-12:45 – Performances by the Jiangsu Song and Dance Ensemble (Stadhuis).

12:45-13:15 - Dragon and lion dances make their way to The Hague’s Chinatown (Stadhuis and Chinatown).

14:00-17:00 - Performances by the Jiangsu Song and Dance Ensemble (Stadhuis)

17:00-18:00 - Fireworks and performances by residents and business owners of Chinatown (Chinatown)

Other events to watch out for are the Chinese Arts and Culture Market, which will be held next to the Bijenkorf from 12:00 to 18:00, as well as a variety of workshops and demonstrations in and around the Stadhuis and Chinatown.

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NOTE : The information above has been taken from the Chineseradio.NL and Chinesecultuur.NL websites and is subject to change. Details of the festivities in Amsterdam will be posted once they have become available.

This was originally posted on my personal blog, Analects of Confusion.

Chinese New Year Festivities in Rotterdam and The Hague

Blog Roundup - January 3, 2010

Before I post the first blog roundup of 2010, I would like to wish my readers a happy new year! 2010 is off to a good, but icy, start in this part of the world. The Year of the Tiger is only a few weeks away so I'll be posting some information about the upcoming Spring Festival events in the Netherlands within the next few days.

Without further ado, here is this week's blog roundup :

• Bruce Humes - Bruce posts some information on the upcoming Taipei International Book Exhibition.
  
• Daily Dose of Hangul - A short lesson on colours (색) in Korean.
  
• Daily Onigiri - ROK talks about New Year celebrations in Japan.
  
• Danwei - Danwei interviews The Guardian's Asia environment correspondent, Jonathan Watts.
• Fukuoka Dreaming - Things to see and do on a day trip to Dazaifu (太宰府).
• Haikugirl - Haikugirl treats herself to a birthday weekend in Yokohama (横浜).
• Japan : Life & Religion - Doug reflects on 2009 and lists his resolutions for 2010.
• Just Bento - Some practical advice for those who are considering making bento box lunches.
  
• Konnichiwa - Bartman 905 shares some photos of Christmas lights around Tokyo.
  
• Korean Cuisine - A delicious recipe for cucumber kimchi.
• Kyoto Foodie - The Kyoto Foodie shares a recipe for Kyoto-style o-zoni soup (お雑煮).
  
• Mutantfrog Travelogue - Curzon's thoughts on the Japanese community in Dubai.
• Osaka Insider - Tips on how to get the most out of your trip to Japan (or any other country for that matter).
• Red Cook - Ring in the Chinese New Year with some dill and crabmeat dumplings (茴香蟹肉蒸餃).
• Shizuoka Gourmet - Tips for using myōga ginger (茗荷) in your Japanese cooking.
• Soy Sauce Queen - The Queen shares a number of recipes for traditional Japanese New Year dishes.
  
• Speaking of China - Jocelyn talks about the importance of children and childbearing in Chinese culture.
• The Japanese Food Report - Harris lists 66 ways to prepare miso soup (味噌汁).
  
• The Peking Duck - Richard lists his top 5 China events of the decade.
• Tsukublog - Avi talks about how the Japanese prepare the house for the New Year (正月).
• Wandering Taiwan - Micki and Kristen visit the Confucius Temple (孔廟) in Tainan (台南).
  

Blog Roundup - January 3, 2010