China’s pasty-faced warriors and wizards may soon be headed back to their indoor lairs.
Chinese Internet company Netease received approval Tuesday from the Ministry of Culture to offer the World of Warcraft online role-playing game, according to portal Techweb. The Chinese government agency’s Web site showed the game had passed its content examination.
World of Warcraft will still need an approval from another regulator, the General Administration of Press and Publication, or GAPP, before it can be relaunched. Analysts said that it’s very likely the game will be relaunched in late August or early September.
In April, World of Warcraft’s owner, Activision Blizzard of the U.S., picked Netease to replace a company called The9 in running the game in mainland China. NetEase and Activision Blizzard jointly issued a public letter stating that the first batch of game servers will be opened in late June.
But the game has been unavailable in China since June 7 as its operators awaited regulatory approval. That has led to grumblings among fans of a game that — as anyone who has stepped foot in an Internet café in China can tell you — borders on an obsession.
Showing posts with label Chinese Culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chinese Culture. Show all posts
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Friday, 15 May 2009
Development of Fireworks in China
Fireworks originated in China some 2,000 years ago. The most prevalent legend has it that fireworks were discovered or invented by accident by a Chinese cook working in a field kitchen who happened to mix charcoal, sulphur and saltpeter (all commonly found in the kitchen in those days). The mixture burned and when compressed in an enclosure (a bamboo tube), the mixture exploded.
Some sources say that the discovery of fireworks occurred about 2,000 years ago, and other sources place the discovery sometime during the 9th century during the Song dynasty (960-1279), although this could be confusion between the discovery of gunpowder by the cook and the invention of the firecracker.
It had been suggested that fireworks may have originated in India, but in the October 18, 2003, online edition of The Hindu, an Indian national newspaper, the Chinese are credited with the discovery of gunpowder.
A Chinese monk named Li Tian, who lived near the city of Liu Yang in Hunan Province, is credited with the invention of firecrackers about 1,000 years ago. The Chinese people celebrate the invention of the firecracker every April 18 by offering sacrifices to Li Tian. During the Song Dynasty, the local people established a temple to worship Li Tian.
The firecrackers, both then and now, are thought to have the power to fend off evil spirits and ghosts that are frightened by the loud bangs of the firecrackers. Firecrackers are used for such purposes today at most events such as births, deaths and birthdays. Chinese New Year is a particularly popular event that is celebrated with firecrackers to usher in the new year free of the evil spirits.
To this day the Liu Yang region of Hunan Province remains the main production area in the world for fireworks. It is important to remember the geographic origin of fireworks, because often detractors of the fireworks industry say that fireworks are produced in China to take advantage of cheap labor. But the reality is that the fireworks industry existed in China long before the advent of the modern era.
Generally Marco Polo is credited with bringing the Chinese gunpowder back to Europe in the 13th century, although some accounts credit the Crusaders with bringing the black powder to Europe as they returned from their journeys.
Once in Europe, the black powder was used for military purposes, first in rockets, then in canons and guns. Italians were the first Europeans who used the black powder to manufacture fireworks. Germany was the other European country to emerge as a fireworks leader along with Italy in the 18th century. It is interesting to note that many of the leading American display companies are operated by families of Italian descent such as the Grucci family, Rozzi family, and Zambelli family.
The English were also fascinated with fireworks. Fireworks became very popular in Great Britain during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. William Shakespeare mentions fireworks in his works, and fireworks were so much enjoyed by the Queen herself that she created the position of “Fire Master of England.” King James II was so pleased with the fireworks display that celebrated his coronation that he knighted his Fire Master.
Some sources say that the discovery of fireworks occurred about 2,000 years ago, and other sources place the discovery sometime during the 9th century during the Song dynasty (960-1279), although this could be confusion between the discovery of gunpowder by the cook and the invention of the firecracker.
It had been suggested that fireworks may have originated in India, but in the October 18, 2003, online edition of The Hindu, an Indian national newspaper, the Chinese are credited with the discovery of gunpowder.
A Chinese monk named Li Tian, who lived near the city of Liu Yang in Hunan Province, is credited with the invention of firecrackers about 1,000 years ago. The Chinese people celebrate the invention of the firecracker every April 18 by offering sacrifices to Li Tian. During the Song Dynasty, the local people established a temple to worship Li Tian.
The firecrackers, both then and now, are thought to have the power to fend off evil spirits and ghosts that are frightened by the loud bangs of the firecrackers. Firecrackers are used for such purposes today at most events such as births, deaths and birthdays. Chinese New Year is a particularly popular event that is celebrated with firecrackers to usher in the new year free of the evil spirits.
To this day the Liu Yang region of Hunan Province remains the main production area in the world for fireworks. It is important to remember the geographic origin of fireworks, because often detractors of the fireworks industry say that fireworks are produced in China to take advantage of cheap labor. But the reality is that the fireworks industry existed in China long before the advent of the modern era.
Generally Marco Polo is credited with bringing the Chinese gunpowder back to Europe in the 13th century, although some accounts credit the Crusaders with bringing the black powder to Europe as they returned from their journeys.
Once in Europe, the black powder was used for military purposes, first in rockets, then in canons and guns. Italians were the first Europeans who used the black powder to manufacture fireworks. Germany was the other European country to emerge as a fireworks leader along with Italy in the 18th century. It is interesting to note that many of the leading American display companies are operated by families of Italian descent such as the Grucci family, Rozzi family, and Zambelli family.
The English were also fascinated with fireworks. Fireworks became very popular in Great Britain during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. William Shakespeare mentions fireworks in his works, and fireworks were so much enjoyed by the Queen herself that she created the position of “Fire Master of England.” King James II was so pleased with the fireworks display that celebrated his coronation that he knighted his Fire Master.
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Background to 'Monkey' the TV series
This famous comic fantasy novel features some of the most well known characters in Chinese fiction, and is set in the Tang Dynasty (7th Century).
The novel is a fictionalized account of the legendary Chinese Buddhist monk, Xuanzang, who made a pilgrimage to India in order to bring the Buddhist scriptures to China.
In ‘Journey to the West’ the holy but helpless and rather peevish, Tripitaka (who is the novels version of the monk Xuanzang) sets off on a pilgrimage with a motley group of helpers found for him by the Bodhisattva, Guanyin, in order to protect him on his journey.
These disciples include the mischievous Monkey King, Sun Wukong, who was thrown out of Heaven for stealing the peaches of immortality belonging to the Queen Mother of the West.
Also in Tripitaka’s band of helpers are two former celestial generals, called Pigsy and Sandy, who must redeem themselves fort their past misdemeanours.
Pigsy, a creature of huge appetites was once an immortal but was banished to earth as punishment for his drunken behaviour during a celebration with the gods. Sandy too was exciled to the mortal world, being changed into a river monster after smashing a crystal goblet belonging to the Queen Mother of Heaven.
Along the way the intrepid travellers are beset time and time again by a variety of monsters and mythical creatures who believe that if the eat the saintly Tripitaka they will achieve immortality. Each time Tripitaka is rescued from his peril by his band of followers, particularly the Monkey King who has the ability to transform into a fish, a bird or a dragon fly at will whilst wielding his magic cudgel.
The journey takes 14 years at the end of which each of the disciples is granted their place in Heaven.
The novel is a fictionalized account of the legendary Chinese Buddhist monk, Xuanzang, who made a pilgrimage to India in order to bring the Buddhist scriptures to China.
In ‘Journey to the West’ the holy but helpless and rather peevish, Tripitaka (who is the novels version of the monk Xuanzang) sets off on a pilgrimage with a motley group of helpers found for him by the Bodhisattva, Guanyin, in order to protect him on his journey.
These disciples include the mischievous Monkey King, Sun Wukong, who was thrown out of Heaven for stealing the peaches of immortality belonging to the Queen Mother of the West.
Also in Tripitaka’s band of helpers are two former celestial generals, called Pigsy and Sandy, who must redeem themselves fort their past misdemeanours.
Pigsy, a creature of huge appetites was once an immortal but was banished to earth as punishment for his drunken behaviour during a celebration with the gods. Sandy too was exciled to the mortal world, being changed into a river monster after smashing a crystal goblet belonging to the Queen Mother of Heaven.
Along the way the intrepid travellers are beset time and time again by a variety of monsters and mythical creatures who believe that if the eat the saintly Tripitaka they will achieve immortality. Each time Tripitaka is rescued from his peril by his band of followers, particularly the Monkey King who has the ability to transform into a fish, a bird or a dragon fly at will whilst wielding his magic cudgel.
The journey takes 14 years at the end of which each of the disciples is granted their place in Heaven.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)