英语畅谈中国文化50主题 18

　　18. Chinese Beauty
A: I heard there were four beautiful women in Chinese history — Xi Shi、Wang Zhaojun、Diao Chan and Yang Yuhuan. Were they really so beautiful?
B: None of the one thousandth to two thousandth your old portrays¹ of these four women are reliable because there are no photographs to verify the accuracy. These four women are known not just for their pretty looks, but also because each of them played a critical role during the life times.
A: That’s amazing. What did these beautiful women do?
B: Both Diao Chan and Xi Shi gave their lives for the removal of some tyrants² in imperial court. Wang Zhaojun offered to marry a man from a far away tribe for the sake of peace and harmony amongst people of different ethnic³ backgrounds. Yang Yuhuan was a concubine who hung herself during the mutiny for the benefit of the overall situation. So these women are remembered not just for their good looks, also for the intelligence, bravery and dedication⁴.
A: Is there any change in people’s perception of the beautiful woman today?
B: I heard that the Chinese Film Academy likes to recruit female students in Qingdao and Harbin. Girls from these places are handsome with round and sexy body curves. Gong Li is a typical example. She is regarded as beautiful both in China and in the West. Traditionally, Hangzhou is known for its pretty women. Hangzhou is situated⁵ in the picturesque⁶ southern China. Women there are cute and elegant. Film actress Zhou Xun is an example. She is good at acting⁷ as a traditional girl who is restricted by established values, but who is ready to die for love.
A: Which of the above category does the international star Zhang Ziyi fit in?
B: Zhang Ziyi is from Beijing. So she is unrelated to any of the above. She rose to stardom through hard work rather than God’s blessing⁸. Initially⁹, American thought she was sexy and beautiful. But many Chinese did not agree because she did not meet any of the traditional criteria¹⁰. Subsequently, some patriots¹¹ accuse these people of being jealous. They said China does not have many people who have earned international recognition. Zhang Ziyi is one of the few that has, and therefore it is unpatriotic not to accept her.
A: This is quite like the beautiful women in Chinese history. As soon as their looks were linked to national interest, they were accepted by all as beautiful.

1 portrays   

v.画像( portray的第三人称单数 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• The museum collection vividly portrays the heritage of 200 years of canals. 博物馆的藏品让运河200 年的历史再现眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The film portrays Gandhi as a kind of superman. 这部电影把甘地描绘成一个超人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 tyrants   

专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物

参考例句：

• The country was ruled by a succession of tyrants. 这个国家接连遭受暴君的统治。
• The people suffered under foreign tyrants. 人民在异族暴君的统治下受苦受难。

3 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

4 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

5 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

6 picturesque   

adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的

参考例句：

• You can see the picturesque shores beside the river.在河边你可以看到景色如画的两岸。
• That was a picturesque phrase.那是一个形象化的说法。

7 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

8 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

9 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

10 criteria   

n.标准

参考例句：

• The main criterion is value for money.主要的标准是钱要用得划算。
• There are strict criteria for inclusion in the competition.参赛的标准很严格。

11 patriots   

爱国者，爱国主义者( patriot的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Abraham Lincoln was a fine type of the American patriots. 亚伯拉罕·林肯是美国爱国者的优秀典型。
• These patriots would fight to death before they surrendered. 这些爱国者宁愿战斗到死，也不愿投降。