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春生、夏长、秋收、冬藏，天之正也。传统文化蕴与时节、人事之中，在无形之中影响着我们的日常生活。而当今时代，传统文化值得我们重新审视和学习。

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October 19, 2023

Episode40: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn… and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.So, Mat, what’s your big question today?(Mat) Hello and welcome to another episode of China Lifestyle Journeys. Today, we are exploring the fascinating world of Traditional Chinese Medicine, also known as TCM.  Now, I don’t know much about TCM, but I do know that it has been practiced in China for thousands of years, but apart from that, I don’t really know anything else. So Jocelyn, where should we start with this topic?(Jocelyn) OK, so let’s start with the basics. TCM is an ancient traditional system of healthcare that considers the overall connection between the body, mind, and spirit. Instead of just treating individual symptoms or diseases, TCM focuses on promoting overall well-being and restoring balance in all aspects of life.  To better understand this, let’s take an example. Imagine someone experiencing frequent headaches. In standard Western medicine, the focus would be on finding a specific treatment for the headache, such as painkillers. However, in TCM, the doctor (or practitioner as they are sometimes called) would take a step back and look at the person as a whole. They would consider various factors like the person’s lifestyle, diet, emotions, and even the environment they are in.For instance, the headaches could be seen as a sign of an imbalance in the body’s energy flow, or Qi (气). The TCM practitioner may explore different techniques, like acupuncture or herbal remedies, to restore the flow of Qi and bring the body back into harmony. They might also suggest lifestyle changes, such as stress management techniques or dietary adjustments, to address underlying factors that could be contributing to the headaches.(Mat) OK, I think I understand this, the TCM doctor is trying to improve my overall health, so that I won’t get any more headaches in the future. But what if I just want the headaches to be cured now, today? I don’t want to wait around for a long time, trying to improve my overall health. I just want... Can you get rid of this headache? Please help me. Can TCM help me in this situation?(Jocelyn) Of course, that’s the great thing about TCM. It can certainly help with immediate symptom relief, like your headache.  But the main focus is on long-term well-being, so a lot of TCM treatments like acupuncture, herbal remedies, and other modalities aim to help with immediate concerns while also considering the underlying imbalances for lasting results. So basically, in the future, you’ll get less headaches. In essence, TCM recognizes that our well-being is influenced by multiple factors and aims to address the root causes of imbalances rather than just alleviating symptoms. Some people describe this as a more holistic approach to healthcare.(Mat) OK, so now that I have a better understanding of TCM’s approach to helping with overall well-being. I’m quite interested and curious about the specific concepts and methods that form the foundations of TCM. What are these key principles that I’ve heard about orsome kind of beliefs that guide TCM practices? Or to put it in a really simple question, how does it work?(Jocelyn) That’s a great question! TCM is based on two important ideas: Qi and Yin-Yang. Qi is like a special energy that flows through our bodies and keeps us healthy. TCM treatments focus on making sure this energy flows smoothly to keep us balanced. Yin and Yang are like opposites that need to be in harmony. Yin is connected to things like darkness and rest, while Yang is connected to light and activity. TCM practitioners use these ideas to understand and treat imbalances in the body. Their goal is to bring everything back into balance and help us stay healthy.(Mat) Wow, it sounds a bit complicated now. I think I get the part about Qi and energy, because I think we’ve talked about that in another episode. But this Yin and Yang? Light and dark? I don’t really get what you’re talking about here. I think you’ll need to explain it with an example.(Jocelyn) OK, let me try to put it in a simple example. In TCM, Yin and Yang represent two opposite forces that need to be in balance within our bodies. Think of someone who has trouble sleeping, finding it hard to fall asleep and feeling restless at night. This imbalance is like having too much of the active and warm Yang energy. To restore some balance, TCM may suggest introducing more calming and cooling Yin elements. This can be achieved by practicing relaxation techniques like meditation or drinking special herbal teas known for their soothing effects. The goal is to find a balance between Yin and Yang energies to promote better sleep and overall health.(Mat) OK, it’s starting to make more sense now. It actually sounds like quite a natural way of healing, combined with some good philosophy.You know what? I think I might try it next time I’ve gota headache.Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

October 19, 2023

第40期：人命至重，有贵千金。一方济之，德逾于此。你了解中医吗?

中国古代科学内容丰富。随着时代的发展，其中大多数已经融入了现代科学体系。而目前仍然自成体系并且拥有强大生命力的，当属中医药学。中医药学是利用中国古代的阴阳五行体系，来说明人体的生理现象和病理变化，阐明其中的关系并进行诊疗的学科。中医的生理病理学以五脏六腑、经络气血为基础展开。中医的五脏六腑是人体脏器的总称。“五脏”包括肝、心、脾、肺、肾。肝的主要功能是疏泄和藏血。疏泄是指肝可以疏通全身之气，使身气和畅，情绪稳定。藏血是指肝可以贮藏血液和调节血量，防止出血。心主血脉和神明。心脏与血脉密切相连，调控着全身血液的运行。同时，心脏主管思维、感觉、记忆等与意识相关的活动。脾的主要功能是运化水谷和统血摄血。运化水谷指的是脾将食物消化吸收，转化为营养物质，以供养全身。统血摄血则是控制血液在脉中正常运行，防止出血。肺的主要功能是呼吸和治节。呼吸功能很好理解，指的是肺控制着呼吸的节奏和深度，进行外部氧气和机体产生的二氧化碳的交换。治节指的是肺调节全身的气机，与皮毛相应，使人体各部分的功能相互协调。肾主藏精和生长发育。藏精指的是肾贮藏精气，以供养全身。生长发育则是控制人体的生长、发育和生殖能力。人体的精气有两种，一种是先天之精，受之父母，是人体的根本；另一种是后天之精，主要是脾胃从人体摄入中转化的各种营养物质，是维持人体精力体力的重要基础。肾主水、主骨，生髓、生发，肾脏虚亏会导致精气神不足 。六腑包括胃、胆、小肠、大肠、膀胱、三焦。六腑的功能是受盛和传化水谷。“水谷”即饮用水和谷物，通俗地说，就是人体摄入各种水和食物，然后六腑接受、运输和转化这些营养能量。胃的主要功能是分解和消化食物。胆的主要功能是排泄胆汁，帮助消化和代谢。小肠的主要功能是消化和吸收食物中的营养物质 。大肠的主要功能是吸收经过小肠消化后的食物残渣，吸收多余水分，将身体的废弃物排出体外。膀胱的主要功能是贮存和排泄尿液。三焦分为上、中、下三焦。上焦是心肺，中焦是脾胃，下焦是肝、胆、肾、膀胱、大小肠等。三焦是人体运行的主要通道，三焦负责疏通全身气节，调节全身气、血、津液的运行，促进人体的新陈代谢。如果三焦不通，会出现气、水液代谢异常。五脏和六腑互为表里，密不可分。而串联起五脏六腑的桥梁就是经络。它们通过经络系统连成一体，共同完成各种生理活动。例如，肝与胆相表里，肝的疏泄可以促进胆的排泄胆汁，所以成语中才有“肝胆相照”的说法；脾与胃相表里，相辅相成，互相制约和依存，因此我们在日常生活中往往将“脾胃”连起来说；肾与膀胱相表里，肾的气化作用可以促进膀胱的贮尿和排尿。中医的诊疗主要包括诊断和辩证两个方面，望闻问切是中医诊断疾病的最基本方法。望诊就是尽可能详细地观察病人的面色、舌苔、表情神情、体态姿态等外部特征，获取有用的身体信息和病情状况，为后续的诊疗提供依据。闻诊包括两个方面，一是听声音，包括听病人的呼吸声、咳嗽声、喘息声等；二是闻味道。闻病人口腔的气味、身体的体味以及腋下的味道等。通过听和嗅取得的病情信息可以和望诊了解的信息相结合，以便医者进一步判断。问诊，顾名思义就是问询。医者会详细地询问病人身体感觉、症状、既往病史、家族病史、遗传病等情况获取病情资料。通过询问，医者可以初步确定用药方案和禁忌。切诊的“切”就是通过亲自接触病人身体来判断症状。最基本的切诊方法就是切脉，观察病人的脉象是否平稳。更进一步的切诊方法是用手接触病人感到不适的身体部位，比如腹部疼痛的病人，可以轻轻按压腹部，找到他具体疼痛的位置，判断患处有没有硬块等等。切诊相比其他三种诊断方法，更偏向内部，主要用来了解病人的气血运行状况和内部器官的状况。对病人病情有了基本的了解之后，医者就可以对患者的证候作出初步判断了，这个过程就是辩证。中医将病人的证候分为阴阳、表里、寒热、虚实四组八类，统称“八纲”。慢性、抑制性的疾病属于阴证。病情较急、代谢旺盛的属于阳证。同时存在发热、恶寒症状，且脉象浮弱、舌苔无明显变化的属于表证。出现单一的发热或恶寒症状，且脉象较沉、舌苔改变明显的属于里证。寒证则分为外寒和内寒。外寒指的是寒邪侵袭引起的恶寒、发热、脉象浮紧等证状；内寒指的是阳气虚衰导致脏腑功能减弱，主要表现为面色苍白、肢体寒冷等。外感热邪或阴虚阳盛所表现出的生理亢奋、热躁，属于热证。人体正气衰弱，五脏功能减退表现出的证候，如气短、心悸等，属于虚证。患者因疾病出现的痰多、气喘、腹痛等属于实证。通过望、闻、问、切四诊初步了解患者病情之后，医者再根据疾病性质、疾病发生部位及深浅等情况综合分析和辨别疾病的证候，并根据患者表现的证候进行对证治疗。中医，不仅是治疗疾病、维护身心健康的重要宝库，更是世界各国人民认识和了解中华文化的重要窗口。展望未来，中医将继续发挥其独特的价值，为人类的健康和幸福作出更大的贡献。

October 12, 2023

Episode39: Tai Chi

Tai ChiWelcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn… and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.So, Mat, what’s your big question today?(Mat) Hello and welcome to another episode of our show. Today, we’ll be looking at the mysterious world of Tai Chi, a Chinese martial art1 that has becomevery popular all around the world. Now, I have to admit, I don’t know much about Tai Chi, actually before I came to China, I had seen people doing it in my hometown in London in the mornings. Sometimes you see old people doing it in parks in London really early in the morning. Then I came to China, I saw lots of old people doing Tai Chi in parks inChina in the morning. So you can probably guess my first question, before we look at the history in the details. What’s the thing with parks? Why do people always seem tobe doing Tai Chi in parks?(Jocelyn) Ok, I guess that’s a good question to begin with, so Tai Chi and parks, what’s the connection? Tai Chi is often practiced in public parks in China (and in other countries) because it provides a peaceful and natural environment that helps people relaxed. Relaxation andmeditation2 are important features of Tai Chi (and we’ll talk more about this later). Also, the peaceful and natural surroundings of parks provide an ideal setting for Tai Chi practice, as they create a sense of connection with nature (another important aspect of Tai Chi). And of course, in most cities, it’s easy to find a local park and they're usually free to use. That’s why Tai Chi is commonly practiced in parks.(Mat) OK, that makes sense, so it sounds like Tai Chi is more than just a physical exercise. You just mentioned relaxation, meditation and a connection with nature. Can you tell me more about these aspects of Tai Chi?(Jocelyn)  Absolutely, Mat. Tai Chi is more than just a physical experience; it’s also a way of promoting3 mental and spiritual well-being. And the practice involves slow, flowing movements that are coordinated with4 deep breathing and focused attention. And this combination of movement, breathing, and mindfulness can help us to reduce stress and anxiety, improve mental clarity and focus, and enhance overall feelings of calm and relaxation. Tai Chi is also sometimes described as a moving meditation, because the focus is on being present andletting go of5 distracting thoughts. And as for the connection with nature, many of the movements in Tai Chi are inspired by animals or natural elements, such as trees or water. Practicing Tai Chi in a natural setting can help to deepen this connection and enhance the overall experience.(Mat)  That's quite fascinating. So, if someone wanted to start practicing Tai Chi, wherewould they start? Is there any special equipment or clothing they need?(Jocelyn) Ok, so if someone is interested in starting to practice Tai Chi, I would recommend finding a local Tai Chi class or teacher. Tai Chi is best learned through practice and guidance from an experienced instructor6. And you can ask around in your local community or search online for Tai Chi classes near you. When you find a class, just wear comfortable clothing (like something you’d wear for jogging) and comfortable shoes and of course, bring an open mind. Tai Chi is accessible to7 people of all ages and fitness levels8, so don’t worry if you’ve never done it before. Just be patient with yourself and enjoy the experience of learning something new.(Mat) Now there's one thing I really don't understand. Sometimes Tai Chi is described as a martial art, a traditional form of fighting, like Kung Fu or Chinese boxing9. But when I see those people in the park, doing their slow relaxing movements, as you said earlier, inspired by animals or natural elements, such as trees or water – it doesn’t really look like fighting to me.(Jocelyn) I understand your confusion, Mat. Tai Chi is indeed a martial art, but it’s a unique form of martial art that focuses on defence rather than attack. The slow movements that you see in the park are just one aspect of Tai Chi, which are used to cultivate internal strength and balance10, but Tai Chi also includes more dynamic movements and self-defence techniques that are used in combat11 situations (but you don’t usually see these being practiced in parks). But for most people, it’s all about fitness and well-being, relaxation and meditation.(Mat) Now, I think I've heard the expression ‘Tai Chi Master12’ before, ‘He’s a Tai Chi Master.’ – now I know that in some martial arts, like Japanesekarate13, there are different coloured belts, and black belt means Master. So what about Tai Chi? How do you become a Tai Chi Master? Is there some kind ofgrading system14?(Jocelyn) Actually, there isn’t a standard grading system for Tai Chi, like in some martial arts. In Tai Chi, the mastery15 of the art is often judged by one’s experience, skill and understanding of the principles of Tai Chi. Usually, someone is considered a Tai Chi Master after many years of dedicated practice and experience. It’s a title that’s earned through hard work, dedication and deep understanding of the art.Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.Key words and expressions:1. Chinese martial art 中国武术Chinese martial art, often called Kung Fu, is a traditional fighting system from China that combines physical techniques like kicks, punches, and forms with mental and spiritual aspects for self-defence and personal development.e.g. He had been practicing Chinese martial art for years, mastering various forms and techniques to become a skilled fighter.他已经练习了多年的中国武术，掌握了各种招式和技巧，成为了一名熟练的武者。2.  meditation n. [C or U] /ˌmedɪˈteɪʃən/ 默念，冥想the act of giving your attention to only one thing, either as a religious activity or as a way of becoming calm and relaxede.g. prayer and meditation          祈祷与冥想3. promote v. /prəˈməʊt/促进, 推广to encourage people to like, buy, use, do, or support somethinge.g. The government is actively working to promote Chinese culture around the world through initiatives like cultural exchange programs. 政府正在积极通过文化交流计划等举措来推广中国文化，使其传播到世界各地。4. coordinate with…  相配，协调to match or look attractive togethere.g. The bed linen coordinates with the bedroom curtains.床单和卧室的窗帘很相配。5.let go of 放开，放手to stop holding something or someonee.g. He let go ofher hand and ran across the street. 他放开了她的手，跑过马路。6.  instructor n. /ɪnˈstrʌktər/ 教练a person whose job is to teach people a practical skille.g. a driving / ski / swimming instructor 驾驶／滑雪／游泳教练7.  be accessible to 可进入的，可接近的；可得到的able to be reached or easily gote.g. The internet has made it possible for people all over the world to be accessible to Chinese culture through online courses, cultural forums, and virtual museum tours.互联网使得全世界的人们通过在线课程、文化论坛和虚拟博物馆参观变得更加容易，从而能够接触到中国的文化。8. fitness levels 体能水平“Fitness levels” is the term used to describe a person's physical health and capability.e.g. His fitness levels improved significantly after months of regular exercise and a balanced diet.在经过几个月的定期锻炼和均衡饮食后，他的健康水平显著提高了。9. Chinese boxing中国拳法“Chinese boxing” is a term that refers to traditional Chinese martial arts or combat systems, which include various styles and techniques such as Tai Chi. These martial arts emphasize physical control, technique, and often incorporate principles of internal energy.e.g. Chinese boxing, also known as Kung Fu, is a traditional martial art practiced for self-defense and physical fitness. 中国拳法，又称功夫，是一种传统的武术，用于自卫和身体健康的练习。10.  internal strength and balance 内在力量和平衡“Internal strength and balance” refers to the physical and mental qualities that promote stability, poise, and resilience from within a person’s body and mind.e.g. Practicing yoga regularly can help improve one’s internal strength and balance, both physically and mentally. 定期练习瑜伽无论是在身体上还是在精神上都可以帮助提高一个人的内在力量和平衡。11. combat n. [C or U] /ˈkɒmbæt/ 战斗，搏斗a fight, especially during a ware.g. There was <a style="color:#4990E2;text-decoration:none;">fierce</a> combat between the two <a style="color:#4990E2;text-decoration:none;">sides</a>. 双方展开了激烈的战斗。12. Tai Chi Master 太极宗师，太极大师A Tai Chi Master is an expert in the ancient Chinese martial art of Tai Chi, known for its flowing movements and holistic health benefits. These Masters are respected for their deep knowledge and skill in promoting physical and mental well-being through Tai Chi practice.e.g. The Tai Chi Master gracefully demonstrated the art's fluid movements, leaving the audience in awe of his skill and poise.太极大师优雅地展示了这门艺术的流畅动作，令观众对他的技巧和风度赞叹不已。13. karate n. [U] /kəˈrɑːti/ 空手道a sport, originally from Japan, in which people fight using their arms, legs, hands, and feet. The level of skill a person has is shown by what colour belt they wear.e.g. She has been practicing karate for five years and recently earned her black belt. 她已经练习空手道五年，最近获得了黑带。14. grading system评级制度A grading system is a way to assess and score individuals' performance, commonly in education, using letters, numbers, or symbols to indicate their level of achievement.e.g. The university uses a letter-based grading system, with A being the highest grade for excellent performance and F indicating failure.该大学采用字母评分制度，其中A代表卓越的表现，是最高分，而F表示不及格15.mastery  n. [U] /ˈmɑːstəri/ 完全的控制complete control of somethinge.g. her mastery of the violin她对局势的牢牢掌控

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Episode40: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

第40期：人命至重，有贵千金。一方济之，德逾于此。你了解中医吗?

Episode39: Tai Chi

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