Author: Will

A boy who has lived in China for 30 years has been to Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Chengdu, and other places. Love Chinese culture and food.

Wha IS Sun Wukong

Sun Wukong, as the core character in the Chinese classic “Journey to the West”, is a well-known mythical hero. He is not only the soul of this literary masterpiece, but also a symbol of wisdom and courage in Chinese culture, daring to resist authority, and pursuing freedom and justice.

  1. The birth and growth of Sun Wukong
    The birth of Sun Wukong is full of fantasy. According to legend, there is a magical fairy stone on the Flower and Fruit Mountain in Aolai Country, Dongsheng Shenzhou. It has been influenced by the beauty of nature and the essence of the sun and the moon for a long time, and it has the meaning of spiritual communication. The fairy cell inside burst one day and produced a stone egg as big as a ball. Because of the wind, it turned into a stone monkey. This is the initial form of Sun Wukong. He named himself “Monkey King” and led a group of monkeys to live a carefree life in Flower and Fruit Mountain.

However, Sun Wukong was not satisfied with the status quo. He longed for immortality, so he traveled across the ocean and experienced hardships. Finally, he became a disciple of Bodhi Patriarch and learned magical skills such as 72 transformations and somersault cloud. After returning from his studies, Sun Wukong not only had great skills, but also possessed extraordinary wisdom and courage, which laid the foundation for his legendary experience in the future.

  1. Sun Wukong’s personality characteristics
    Unruly and daring to resist: Sun Wukong’s biggest characteristic is his rebellious spirit. Whether it is the authority of the heavenly court or the threats of demons and monsters, he dares to challenge and is not afraid of power. This spirit is reflected in his series of behaviors such as making trouble in the heavenly palace, disrupting the peach banquet, and stealing elixirs, showing his heroic image of not fearing difficulties and daring to fight.
    Extraordinary wit and good at adaptability: Sun Wukong’s wisdom is also commendable. He is good at observation and can quickly see the essence of things; he is witty and flexible, and can always come up with solutions to problems at critical moments. Whether it is fighting wits and courage with the enemy or resolving various crises on the way to obtain scriptures, he has shown extraordinary wisdom and talent.
    Loyalty and righteousness, protecting the master: Although Sun Wukong has a bit of naughtiness and rebellion in his character, his loyalty to his master Tang Seng is impeccable. No matter how big the difficulties and challenges are, he always sticks to Tang Seng and protects him from harm. This loyalty and righteousness have established a taller heroic image in the hearts of readers.
    Humorous and humane: Sun Wukong is not a cold hero image, he also has a humorous side. On the way to obtain scriptures, he often amuses everyone with witty words and actions, making the originally boring journey lively and interesting. This humanized design makes the image of Sun Wukong more vivid and closer to people’s hearts.
  2. Sun Wukong’s legendary experience
    Sun Wukong’s legendary experience is mainly concentrated in “Journey to the West”, and the story of him accompanying Tang Seng to the West to obtain scriptures has become the main line of the whole novel. In the process of obtaining scriptures, they encountered 81 difficulties, and Sun Wukong, with his extraordinary ability and wisdom, turned danger into safety again and again, protecting his master and fellow apprentices on their way forward safely.

Among them, making trouble in the Heavenly Palace is one of Sun Wukong’s most well-known feats. Dissatisfied with the contempt and restraint of the Heavenly Court, he openly rebelled and fought fiercely with the heavenly soldiers and generals. Although he was eventually pressed under the Five Elements Mountain by the Buddha for five hundred years, his heroic deeds spread throughout the Three Realms and Six Paths, becoming a symbol of resistance to power and pursuit of freedom.

On the way to obtain scriptures, Sun Wukong made many extraordinary achievements. His stories of fighting the White Bone Demon three times, subduing Red Boy, and fighting the King of Gold and Silver Horns all showed his extraordinary wisdom and courage. He is not only a capable assistant to Tang Monk, but also the spiritual pillar of the entire team of obtaining scriptures.

  1. The cultural significance of Sun Wukong
    As the core character in “Journey to the West”, Sun Wukong’s image and significance far exceed the scope of literary works. He is not only a symbol of wisdom and courage in the traditional culture of the Chinese nation, daring to resist authority, and pursuing freedom and justice, but also a role model for people in modern society to pursue self-worth and realize their life ideals.

Sun Wukong’s rebellious spirit encourages people to challenge the status quo and pursue progress; his wisdom and courage inspire people to remain calm and firm in the face of difficulties and challenges. At the same time, Sun Wukong’s loyalty and righteousness also remind people to cherish family and friendship and protect the people and things around them.

In addition, the image of Sun Wukong is also widely used in literature, art, film and television and other fields. His story has been adapted into various forms of works and spread all over the world; his image has also become a messenger of cultural exchange and communication, deepening the understanding and friendship between different countries and nations.

In summary, as the core character in “Journey to the West”, Sun Wukong’s image and significance have surpassed the scope of literary works and become an indispensable part of the traditional culture of the Chinese nation. With his unique charm and profound cultural connotation, he has influenced generations of readers and audiences and has become an eternal classic.

Chinese Mythology: Pangu Creates The World

The legend of Pangu creating the world is one of the most famous stories in ancient Chinese mythology. It carries the ancients’ endless imagination and exploration of the origin of the universe and the birth of mankind.

  1. The origin and background of the legend
    The legend of Pangu creating the world was first seen in “Sanwu Li Ji” written by Xu Zheng of Wu during the Three Kingdoms period. In this ancient book, Xu Zheng constructed a magnificent picture of the beginning of chaos and the birth of heaven and earth with rich imagination and profound philosophy. This legend not only reflects the ancient people’s simple understanding of the formation of the universe, but also expresses their awe and worship of natural forces.
  2. The main content of the legend
  3. Chaos began, Pangu was born
    In ancient times, the universe had not yet formed, and the world was not divided. The whole world was in chaos, like a huge egg, pitch black, unable to distinguish up and down, left and right, and there were no sun, moon, and stars. However, in this chaos, a great life was born-Pangu. He slept in this chaotic “egg” for countless tens of thousands of years, until one day, he suddenly woke up and found that it was pitch black and hot all around, so he decided to use his own power to change everything.
  4. Pangu opened the sky and split the chaos with an axe
    After waking up, Pangu found himself in a small space and could not stretch his hands and feet. He angrily grabbed a large axe that he was born with and chopped around with all his strength. There was a loud bang, deafening, and the chaotic “egg” suddenly broke. The light and clear things in it slowly rose and became the sky; the heavy and turbid things slowly sank and became the earth. Pangu’s axe not only split the chaos, but also created a new era for all things in the world.
  5. Stand up to the sky and stabilize the world
    When the world was first opened, it was not stable, and Pangu was worried that they would close together again. So, he resolutely stood between the world like a pillar with his head on the sky and his feet on the ground. He grew one zhang taller every day, and the sky also rose one zhang taller, and the earth also grew one zhang thicker. In this way, Pangu used his body to support the heaven and earth, allowing them to gradually stabilize. After countless tens of thousands of years of hard work, the heaven and earth finally stabilized and no longer closed. And Pangu, in this process, became a giant who stood tall and upright.
  6. Pangu became everything and created the world
    After the heaven and earth were stable, Pangu also exhausted all his strength and finally fell to the ground. However, his death was not the end, but the beginning of another form. Pangu’s body underwent tremendous changes after his death: his left eye became a bright red sun, and his right eye became a silver moon; his hair and beard became shining stars; his head and hands and feet became the four poles and mountains of the earth; his blood became rivers and lakes; his tendons became roads; his muscles became fertile land; his skin and sweat hair became flowers, plants and trees; his teeth and bones became precious minerals such as gold and silver treasures. Pangu’s body thus became everything and created this colorful world.
  7. The significance and value of legends
  8. Exploration of the origin of the universe
    The legend of Pangu creating the world is a simple and bold exploration of the origin of the universe by the ancients. In ancient times when science and technology were not yet developed, people could not use scientific means to explain the birth and evolution of the universe, so they could only express their imagination and speculation in the form of myths and legends. This legend not only reflects the ancients’ awe and worship of natural forces, but also shows their spirit of courage to explore and dare to imagine.
  9. Praise for human creativity
    In the legend, Pangu is not only a hero who created the world, but also a god who created all things. He used his wisdom and strength to create the world and all things, providing the necessary conditions for human survival and reproduction. This legend not only praises Pangu’s creativity and selfless dedication, but also inspires people to be brave in creation, dare to innovate, and contribute their own strength to the progress and development of society.
  10. Promotion of cultural inheritance
    As an important part of ancient Chinese mythology, the legend of Pangu creating the world not only enriches the connotation and extension of Chinese culture, but also promotes the inheritance and development of culture. This legend has been praised and interpreted by literati and poets of all generations, forming a rich and colorful literary and artistic works. At the same time, it has also become one of the important symbols of the cultural identity of the Chinese nation, enhancing the cohesion and centripetal force of the nation.

IV. Conclusion
The legend of Pangu creating the world is one of the treasures in ancient Chinese mythology. It has attracted the attention and love of countless people with its unique charm and profound connotation. This legend not only allows us to appreciate the imagination and exploration of the ancients on the origin of the universe and the birth of mankind, but also allows us to feel the greatness and infinite possibilities of human creativity.

Jackie Chan’s Movies

As a superstar in the Chinese film industry, Jackie Chan has many representative films, each of which carries his unique style and unremitting efforts. The following are some of his classic film masterpieces:

Police Story series (1985-2013): This is one of Jackie Chan’s representative works in his personal style, especially the first one, which won wide acclaim for its extremely realistic action scenes and thrilling stunt design. Jackie Chan played the policeman Chan Ka-kui in the film, and won the audience’s applause with his outstanding performance and thrilling fighting scenes. This series of films shows Jackie Chan’s high attainments in the field of action films and his spirit of courage to challenge the limits.

Drunken Master series (1978, 1994): This is one of Jackie Chan’s famous works. With his unique drunken boxing performance and martial arts style full of comedy elements, he let the audience all over the world know this oriental kung fu superstar. In the film, Jackie Chan played Huang Feihong who became a martial arts master by learning drunken boxing. The classic action scenes in the film, such as the bell tower jump, are still talked about by the audience.

Rush Hour series (1998-2007): This is an important work for Jackie Chan to successfully enter the mainstream market of Hollywood. In the film, Jackie Chan cooperates with Chris Tucker to track down the criminal gang. The perfect combination of action and comedy is loved by audiences around the world. This series not only shows Jackie Chan’s international influence, but also proves his ability to cooperate tacitly with actors from different cultural backgrounds.

The Myth (2005): This is a love movie full of mystery, and it is also one of Jackie Chan’s representative works in the international film market. In the film, Jackie Chan plays a soldier and has a love affair with the heroine that spans time and space. The film has beautiful pictures and ups and downs in the plot. At the same time, it incorporates the action and adventure elements that Jackie Chan is good at, bringing a new visual enjoyment to the audience.

Project A: In this film, Jackie Chan plays the marine policeman Ma Rulong, who is sent to work on land after a conflict with his superiors in order to solve a smuggling case. The film shows the struggle between the police and criminals in a humorous way, and at the same time incorporates action and comedy elements, showing Jackie Chan’s talent in comedy performance.

“Fast Food”: Jackie Chan plays Barcelona, ​​a private detective who travels to Spain to investigate a case and gets involved in a gang dispute with the characters played by Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao. The film shows the adventures of the three people in a light-hearted and humorous way, and also has wonderful fighting scenes.

“Who Am I” (1998): In this film, Jackie Chan’s vertical slide down a tall building in Africa is still regarded as one of the most thrilling action scenes in film history. The film once again proves his spirit of daring to challenge the limit and his excellent action design ability.

“Chinese Zodiac”: This is one of Jackie Chan’s works trying a new style. The film tells the story of the twelve zodiac signs, each with different personalities and abilities. Jackie Chan shows his rich imagination and innovative action design talent in the film.

In addition, Jackie Chan’s representative works include “Dragon Brothers”, “Rumble in the Bronx”, “Baby Project”, “Shinjuku Incident”, etc. These films not only show Jackie Chan’s outstanding talent in action performance, but also reflect his extensive attempts and successes in different themes and styles. Every movie made by Jackie Chan carries his love and persistent pursuit of movies, and also brings countless unforgettable viewing experiences to the audience.

How old is Jackie Chan?

Jackie Chan, a world-renowned Chinese film and television actor, film director, pop singer, producer and screenwriter, has become a legend in the hearts of countless people since he entered the film industry in the 1970s with his unique action comedy style and unremitting fighting spirit. Regarding the question of Jackie Chan’s age, the following is a detailed discussion article.

Jackie Chan’s Age and Life Journey
Jackie Chan, whose real name is Fang Shilong and stage name is Jackie Chan, was born on April 7, 1954 and is now (2024) 70 years old. He was born in Hong Kong, China, and his ancestral home is Shandong. He is an indispensable and important figure in the Chinese film industry. Over the decades of filming, Jackie Chan has not only won a high reputation in China, but also shined on the international stage and became a business card of Chinese culture.

Early life
Jackie Chan’s early life was not smooth sailing. He was born in a wealthy mansion on the top of Victoria Peak, but his family was not rich. The family lived in a narrow and simple side room. Since childhood, Jackie Chan has shown a strong interest in martial arts, which has laid a solid foundation for his future acting career. In 1961, Jackie Chan, who was only 7 years old, was sent to the China Academy of Drama and began a decade of rigorous martial arts training. Although this experience was difficult, it also honed his will and laid a solid foundation for his future action performances.

Acting Career
In 1971, the 17-year-old Jackie Chan officially entered the entertainment industry as a dragon and tiger martial artist. At first, he could only play some inconspicuous roles in movies and was often injured. However, Jackie Chan gradually emerged in the film industry with his perseverance and talent. He personally performed various difficult actions, and this professionalism and fighting attitude won the love and respect of the audience. From “Drunken Master” to “Police Story” to the “Rush Hour” series, Jackie Chan has become a shining star in the international film industry with one classic work after another.

Achievements and Honors
Jackie Chan’s acting career has achieved brilliant achievements. He has not only been recognized by important awards such as the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Taiwan Film Golden Horse Awards many times, but also won the Oscar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016, becoming the first Chinese to win the award. This honor is not only an affirmation of Jackie Chan’s personal talent, but also a recognition of his contribution to the global film industry.

In addition to his acting career, Jackie Chan is also actively involved in public welfare and social activities. He established the Jackie Chan Charity Foundation, which is committed to helping people in need. At the same time, he has served as an image ambassador and promotion ambassador for large-scale international events many times, making important contributions to the international dissemination of Chinese culture.

The meaning behind Jackie Chan’s age

At the age of 70, Jackie Chan is still active in the film industry, and this spirit is admirable. His age is not just a number, but also a testimony to his brilliant life and unremitting efforts. In Jackie Chan, we see his persistent pursuit of dreams, his infinite love for his career, and his positive attitude towards life. Every performance of his is full of passion and vitality, as if the years have never left a mark on him.

In addition, Jackie Chan’s age also reminds us to cherish time and seize the present. In the journey of life, we may encounter various difficulties and challenges, but as long as we maintain firm beliefs and unremitting efforts like Jackie Chan, we will definitely be able to create our own glorious chapter.

Conclusion
Jackie Chan, the 70-year-old legend, has used his life to interpret what is the true fighting spirit and professionalism. His story has inspired countless people to move forward and pursue their dreams. In the days to come, we look forward to Jackie Chan continuing to bring us more excellent works and wonderful performances, and we also wish him good health, happiness and longevity.

Do Chinese People Know Ancient Chinese Characters?

In China’s long history, writing, as an important carrier of cultural inheritance, has evolved through multiple stages including oracle bone inscriptions, bronze inscriptions, small seal script, official script, and regular script. This evolution not only reflects the profound heritage of Chinese civilization, but also reflects the unique charm of Chinese characters as one of the oldest scripts in the world. Regarding the question “Can current Chinese people still understand the Chinese characters of the past?”, the answer is not generalizable, but depends on a variety of factors, including personal educational background, interests and hobbies, depth of research, and the specific “past” “Chinese characters” era, etc. Here’s an in-depth look at the issue.

  1. Universality and particularity of the evolution of Chinese characters
  2. Universality:
    Although Chinese characters have undergone significant changes in form from oracle bone inscriptions to modern Chinese characters, their basic character construction principles and character creation methods such as pictography, referring to things, understanding, and pictophonetic sounds have been retained to a large extent. This continuity allows modern people, when learning Chinese characters, to trace back to earlier character forms through their understanding of modern Chinese characters, thereby understanding the cultural meaning and historical background behind them.
  3. Particularity:
    However, the morphology of Chinese characters in different historical periods is significantly different, especially the writing style and stroke structure of early oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions are very different from modern Chinese characters. These words often require professional knowledge and training to accurately identify and understand. Therefore, it may be difficult for non-professional researchers or people without relevant training to directly read and understand these ancient texts.
  4. Modern Chinese people’s cognitive ability of past writing
  5. The influence of educational background
    In China, the basic education system generally includes the teaching of the history and evolution of Chinese characters, which provides students with a certain basic knowledge of Chinese characters. Through classroom learning, students can understand the evolution of Chinese characters from oracle bone inscriptions to modern Chinese characters, as well as the characteristics and representative works of Chinese characters in each period. This kind of education has given many modern Chinese people a certain knowledge and understanding of the Chinese characters of the past.
  6. Interests and research depth
    In addition to basic education, some individuals or scholars who have a strong interest in ancient culture, history, archeology and other fields will further study and learn ancient Chinese characters. They continue to improve their understanding of ancient Chinese characters by reading ancient books, visiting museums, and participating in academic seminars. These people tend to have higher abilities in identifying and understanding Chinese characters from the past.
  7. Assistance by technological means
    With the development of science and technology, modern people have also received more help in identifying and understanding ancient Chinese characters. For example, digital technology has allowed a large number of ancient documents to be preserved and displayed. Through electronic devices and professional software, people can easily check and compare Chinese character forms in different historical periods. In addition, artificial intelligence and machine learning technology have also been applied to the field of Chinese character recognition, providing researchers with powerful tool support by training models to identify and analyze ancient Chinese characters.
  8. Challenges and Solutions
  9. Challenges faced
    High professional threshold: For non-professional researchers, directly reading and understanding ancient Chinese characters requires a high level of professional knowledge and skill reserves.
    Scarcity and protection of documents: Some ancient documents have been seriously damaged or lost due to their age, making research difficult.
    Language barrier: Ancient documents often contain a large number of ancient Chinese vocabulary and grammatical structures, which are quite different from modern Chinese, making it more difficult to understand.
  10. Solution
    Strengthen education and training: increase the teaching content on the history and evolution of Chinese characters in the basic education stage to cultivate students’ interests and basic abilities; at the same time, provide more professional training and resource support for individuals or scholars who are interested in in-depth study of ancient Chinese characters .
    Utilize scientific and technological means: Give full play to the advantages of modern scientific and technological means such as digitalization and artificial intelligence to promote the identification, arrangement and research of ancient Chinese characters; at the same time, strengthen international exchanges and cooperation and share research results and resources.
    Protection and inheritance: Strengthen the protection and restoration of ancient documents to ensure that they are well preserved and passed on to future generations; at the same time, we will popularize the knowledge of ancient Chinese characters through holding exhibitions, lectures and other activities to improve the public’s cultural literacy and cognitive level.
  11. Conclusion
    Today’s Chinese people’s understanding of past Chinese characters is diversified. It is affected by personal education background, hobbies and research depth, and also benefits from the assistance of modern scientific and technological means. Although there are certain challenges and difficulties in directly reading and understanding ancient Chinese characters, by strengthening education and training, using scientific and technological means, and strengthening protection and inheritance, we can continue to improve our understanding of ancient Chinese characters.

Not All Chinese Are Atheists

The statement that Chinese people are atheists is not entirely accurate, because China’s religious beliefs and philosophical concepts are relatively complex and diverse. The following is a detailed analysis of this issue:

I. Historical and cultural background
Coexistence of multiple religions: China has always been a country with multiple religions, including Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, etc. These religions have deep historical roots and extensive influence in China, and they each have their own unique system of gods and beliefs. Therefore, Chinese people cannot be simply attributed to atheists.
The influence of Confucianism: Confucianism occupies an important position in traditional Chinese culture. It emphasizes people’s moral cultivation and social responsibility rather than the worship of supernatural powers. Although Confucian classics such as “The Analects” and “Mencius” mention concepts such as “Heaven” and “Emperor”, these concepts refer more to symbols of natural laws or moral laws rather than specific gods. This characteristic of Confucianism makes Chinese people pay more attention to practicality and ethics in religious beliefs, rather than mystery and supernaturalism.
Communist ideology: Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, China has implemented the ideology of communism, which has affected people’s religious beliefs to a certain extent. Communism emphasizes atheism and materialism, and opposes all forms of religious superstition and worship of gods. However, this does not mean that all Chinese people have fully accepted this concept, but that under the guidance of official ideology, atheistic ideas have been widely spread and popularized in China.

  1. Diversity of religious beliefs
    The popularity of Buddhism: Buddhism has a long history and a wide range of believers in China. Buddhist teachings emphasize concepts such as cause and effect, reincarnation, etc. These concepts meet people’s belief in supernatural powers to a certain extent. At the same time, Buddhist practice methods and meditation culture are also deeply loved and respected by the Chinese.
    The inheritance of Taoism: As a native religion of China, Taoism has distinct Chinese characteristics in its system of gods and practice methods. Taoism emphasizes the harmonious coexistence of man and nature, as well as the realm of immortality and enlightenment through practice. These concepts occupy an important position in Chinese traditional culture and have also attracted a large number of believers to follow.
    The richness of folk beliefs: In addition to mainstream religions such as Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, there are also rich folk beliefs and worship of gods in China. These beliefs are often closely related to regional culture, folk customs, etc., and have strong local characteristics and folk colors. For example, Chinese people generally believe in folk gods such as the God of Wealth and the Kitchen God, believing that they can bless the family with peace and wealth.
  2. The spread and influence of atheism
    The promotion of official ideology: Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese government has always emphasized the ideology of atheism and materialism. The promotion of this ideology has made atheism widely spread and popularized in China. However, this does not mean that all Chinese people have fully accepted this concept, but that under the guidance of official ideology, atheism has become one of the mainstream thoughts in Chinese society.
    The influence of the education system: China’s education system has also influenced people’s religious beliefs to a certain extent. In school education, atheism and materialism are taught as one of the important teaching contents. This way of education makes it easier for the younger generation to accept atheism in the process of growing up.
    The promotion of social change: With the continuous change and development of society, people’s religious beliefs are also changing. In modern society, more and more people are beginning to pay attention to their personal spiritual life and inner world, and no longer rely solely on traditional religious beliefs to meet their spiritual needs. This change has promoted the spread and development of atheistic ideas to a certain extent.
    IV. Conclusion
    To sum up, it is not accurate to say that Chinese people are atheists. China is a country where multiple religions coexist, and people’s religious beliefs are relatively complex and diverse. Although atheistic ideas have been widely spread and popularized in China, there are still a large number of people who believe in religions such as Buddhism and Taoism as well as folk beliefs. Therefore, when exploring the religious beliefs of the Chinese people, we should adopt a more comprehensive and objective attitude to recognize and understand this phenomenon.

At the same time, we should also see that whether it is religious or atheist, we should respect each other’s choices and freedom of belief. In a diverse and inclusive society, we should encourage people to choose their own beliefs and lifestyles according to their inner needs and values.

Jackie Chan’s Autobiography “I Am Jackie Chan”

In this bizarre and ever-changing entertainment industry, there is a person whose name is like a bright star, illuminating the sky of the Chinese and even the world film industry. He is Jackie Chan, a martial arts superstar who writes legends with sweat and persistence, and a pioneer who perfectly combines Chinese Kung Fu with film art. Below, I will tell the story of my growth, changes in my heart, and my outlook for the future in the first person.

  1. A fledgling: the struggle history of a martial arts boy

I was born in an ordinary family in Hong Kong and have been interested in martial arts since I was a child. At that time, I may not have realized that this love for martial arts would become the most precious wealth in my life. At the age of seven, I became a disciple of Master Yu Zhanyuan and began a ten-year training as a Peking Opera martial artist. During those days, although it was extremely hard, I got up at five in the morning to practice martial arts, and practiced somersaults, punching, and kicking day after day, but it was these rigorous trainings that laid a solid foundation for my martial arts and tempered my indomitable will.

In 1971, I officially entered the film industry and became a martial artist. At first, I only played some inconspicuous small roles in the movies, and even played a small role without lines. But I didn’t complain or slack off at all, because I knew that every shot and every performance was a test and exercise of my ability. I cherish every opportunity to be on camera, carefully figure out the role, and strive to improve my acting skills and martial arts level.

  1. Emerging: The pioneer of kung fu comedy

In 1978, I ushered in a turning point in my career. With the support of director Lo Wei, I starred in the movies “Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow” and “Drunken Master”. These two films quickly became popular with their unique kung fu comedy style, allowing me to emerge in the Hong Kong film industry. My wonderful performance in the film not only won the love of the audience, but also won the recognition of the industry. My original “Jackie Chan-style” Kung Fu comedy combines traditional Chinese martial arts elements with humorous plots, breaking the dullness and monotony of traditional Kung Fu films and bringing a new viewing experience to the audience.

Since then, I have become synonymous with Kung Fu comedy. In the following years, I starred in classic films such as the “Police Story” series and the “Project A” series. Each work is full of thrilling fighting scenes and fascinating storylines. With my outstanding performance and unremitting efforts, I gradually established my position in the Hong Kong and even Asian film industry.

  1. Going to the world: the rise of international superstars

In 1995, I successfully entered the Hollywood market with the movie “Rumble in the Bronx”. This film not only achieved impressive box office results in the United States, but also made me famous in the international film industry. Subsequently, I starred in Hollywood blockbusters such as the “Rush Hour” series and the “Shanghai Noon” series, and starred with international superstars such as Chris Tucker and Owen Wilson. My outstanding performance in these films not only won the love and recognition of foreign audiences, but also made me the first Chinese actor to be widely recognized in Hollywood.

While going global, I have never forgotten my roots and culture. I have always been working hard to incorporate Chinese elements into my films, so that the world audience can understand and know China through my works. Whether it is the dubbing of the golden monkey in “Kung Fu Panda” or the protection of national treasures in “The Chinese Zodiac”, I have tried my best to convey Chinese culture and values.

IV. Mental journey: the transformation from a martial arts star to a cultural ambassador

Looking back on the past few decades, I have experienced countless ups and downs and twists and turns. But it is these experiences that have made me more mature and strong and made me cherish every achievement and honor in front of me. I know that I am not only an actor but also a cultural disseminator and ambassador. I have conveyed Chinese stories, Chinese culture, and Chinese spirit to audiences all over the world through the platform of movies.

In addition to my acting career, I have also actively participated in public welfare and social activities. I established the Jackie Chan Charity Foundation to help those in need. Whether it is the earthquake-stricken areas or the impoverished mountainous areas, you can see me and my team busy. I know that everything I have is given by the society, so I always give back to the society and the public with a grateful heart.

V. Future Outlook: Keep moving forward and don’t forget your original intention

I have infinite vision and expectations for the future. I know that I still have a long way to go and many challenges to face. But I believe that as long as I keep my original intention and stick to my dream, I will be able to overcome all difficulties and achieve my goals and ideals.

In the days to come, I will continue to focus on my acting career and strive to bring more excellent works and wonderful performances to the audience. At the same time, I will continue to devote myself to public welfare and social activities and use my power to influence and change more people. I believe that as long as we are kind and courageous, we will be able to create a better and more harmonious world together.

VI. Conclusion: Gratitude and inheritance

Finally, I would like to thank all those who have supported and helped me. Thank you to my family, they have always been my strongest backing; thank you to my director, producer, screenwriter and crew colleagues, who have created these classic works with wisdom and sweat; thank you to my fans and audiences, it is their constant support and encouragement that gives me the motivation and confidence to keep moving forward.

At the same time, I also hope that my story can inspire more people to pursue their dreams and ideals. No matter how great the difficulties and challenges are, we must maintain our perseverance and courage. Because only in this way can we continue to move forward on the road of life.

Chinese Valentine’s Day: Qixi Festival

Among the many traditional festivals in China, the Chinese Valentine’s Day, with its unique romantic color and profound cultural heritage, has become a festival that symbolizes love and loyalty in the hearts of countless people. This day not only carries the beautiful legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl meeting across the Milky Way, but also integrates rich folk activities and customs, weaving a series of touching love paintings.

The Chinese Valentine’s Day is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. In the Gregorian calendar, the date of the Chinese Valentine’s Day changes every year due to the conversion relationship between the lunar calendar and the Gregorian calendar. Taking 2024 as an example, the corresponding Gregorian calendar date of the Chinese Valentine’s Day is August 10, Saturday, Beijing time.

  1. The legend of the Chinese Valentine’s Day: the love story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl
    The Chinese Valentine’s Day, also known as the Qiqiao Festival and the Daughter’s Day, can be traced back to the ancient worship of stars. After being polished by folk legends, it gradually evolved into an important festival with love as the theme. The most well-known is the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.

According to legend, a long time ago, there were two gods in the sky. One was the hardworking and kind-hearted Cowherd. Because of his poor family background, he was only accompanied by an old cow; the other was the beautiful and intelligent Weaver Girl, who was good at weaving brocade and was the best in the heavenly palace. One day, the Weaver Girl came down to earth to play, met the Cowherd and fell in love at first sight. The two of them, despite the prohibition of the Heavenly Court, secretly married and lived a happy life of the man farming and the woman weaving. However, the good times did not last long. The Queen Mother learned about this and was furious. She separated the two with the Milky Way and only allowed them to meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month at the Magpie Bridge.

From then on, every year on the night of the Qixi Festival, countless magpies flew over and built a magpie bridge across the Milky Way with their bodies, allowing the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl to meet again. This night, not only was the sky bright with stars, but the world was also full of romance and warmth. People looked up at the stars and prayed for the pair of unfortunate mandarin ducks, hoping that their love would be eternal.

As the traditional Chinese Valentine’s Day, the Qixi Festival not only carries the beautiful legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, but also integrates rich and colorful folk activities and customs. These customs and celebrations have their own characteristics due to differences in regional culture, and together constitute the rich and colorful cultural connotations of the Qixi Festival. The following is a detailed explanation of the customs of the Qixi Festival and the celebrations in various places.

  1. Common customs of the Qixi Festival
  2. Threading a needle to pray for dexterity
    Threading a needle to pray for dexterity is one of the most classic customs of the Qixi Festival. It originated in the Han Dynasty and was popular during the Southern Dynasties. It is the earliest way to pray for dexterity. There are two forms of threading a needle: one is that on the night of the Qixi Festival, the girls gather under the moonlight and use the moonlight to thread the needle. The girl who can thread the needle is the one who is clever; the other is that at noon on the Qixi Festival, the girls throw the needle on the water and observe the shadow of the needle in the water to see if they are clever. This is called floating needle or throwing needle. Threading a needle to pray for dexterity is not only an opportunity for girls to show their craftsmanship, but also a manifestation of their prayers for dexterity and wisdom from the Weaver Girl.
  3. Happy spiders respond to cleverness
    Happy spiders respond to cleverness is also a unique custom, which originated from the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. On the night of the Qixi Festival, girls will put some small spiders in the house, and then use needles and threads to make some small web-like objects and place them next to the spiders. If the spider can weave a web on the web object, it means that the girl is very talented and intelligent. The origin of this custom is that when the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl met, a little spider made a rainbow bridge for them.
  4. Throwing a needle to test the dexterity
    Throwing a needle to test the dexterity is another way to test whether a girl is clever. On the night of the Chinese Valentine’s Day, girls will put a small grass stick or a silver needle in a basin of clear water, and then see if they can float up or sink down. If they can float up or sink down, it means that the girl is very clever; if not, it means that the girl is not clever enough.
  5. Planting for children
    Planting for children is a custom of praying for offspring. On the night of the Chinese Valentine’s Day, married women will plant some crops such as wheat and beans in the yard, and then pray for healthy children. The meaning of this custom is to hope that the offspring can thrive like the crops.
  6. Celebrating the birthday of the cow
    Celebrating the birthday of the cow is a custom of thanking the cowherd. On the night of the Chinese Valentine’s Day, farmers will feed their cows with delicious grass, bathe them, comb their hair, hang ribbons, etc., to show their respect and gratitude to the cowherd. Because according to the legend, the old cow sacrificed itself to help the cowherd cross the Tianhe River to see the Weaver Girl, so that the cowherd could make shoes with its skin.
  7. Eating Qiaoguo
    Eating Qiaoguo is one of the customs to celebrate the Qixi Festival. On the night of Qixi Festival, every household will make some delicious cakes, such as shortbread, dumplings, glutinous rice balls, etc., and then share them with relatives and friends or enjoy them themselves. These cakes are usually decorated with various colors and shapes, implying auspiciousness and beauty. Eating Qiaoguo means hoping that you can be as sweet and happy as Qiaoguo.
  8. Appreciating morning glory
    Appreciating morning glory is a custom of appreciating natural beauty. The flowers of morning glory are red, white, purple and other colors, and are shaped like a star. The flower language of morning glory is loyal and eternal love, and it is also a witness to the meeting of the cowherd and the weaver girl. Therefore, on the night of Qixi Festival, people will go to appreciate morning glory and pin their yearning for beautiful love.
  9. Worship the Tianhe
    Worshiping the Tianhe is a custom of praying to the gods in the sky. The origin of this custom is that the Milky Way is where the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl meet. People worship the Milky Way and pray to the gods in heaven to bless their love to be smooth and long-lasting.
  10. Make a wish and promise
    Making a wish and promise is a custom of expressing wishes and promises. On the night of the Chinese Valentine’s Day, lovers will make their wishes and promises to each other under the moonlight, such as loving each other forever and growing old together, and then tie their fingers or wrists together with red thread or ribbons, implying loyalty and mutual understanding.

The ways of celebrating the Chinese Valentine’s Day in various places are rich and colorful, deeply influenced by local culture and traditional customs. The following is a detailed explanation of the ways of celebrating the Chinese Valentine’s Day in different regions:

I. Jiangsu Region

  1. Yixing, Jiangsu
    In Yixing, Jiangsu, the Chinese Valentine’s Day has a unique way of celebrating – the Xiangqiao Festival. Every year on the Chinese Valentine’s Day, people will come to participate in the activities of building the Xiangqiao. The incense bridge is a long bridge made of various thick and long wrapped incense (stick incense wrapped in paper), which can be up to four or five meters long and about half a meter wide. The bridge will also be equipped with railings and decorated with flowers made of five-color threads. After nightfall, people will worship the two stars (i.e. Altair and Vega) and beg for blessings and auspiciousness, and then burn the incense bridge, symbolizing that the two stars have walked across the incense bridge and happily met. This custom originated from the legendary magpie bridge legend, reflecting people’s yearning and blessing for loyal love.
  2. Guangxi Region
  3. Baise, Jingxi and other places in Guangxi
    In Baise, Jingxi and other places in Guangxi, there is a custom of bathing in the river on the Qixi Festival. Folks believe that the water on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month is very holy and clean, which can not only drive away evil spirits and avoid diseases, but also bring happy love and a happy life. This custom is closely related to the legend of the local seven fairies bathing in the world. People pray for blessings by soaking in water, hoping to obtain the protection and gifts of the gods.
  4. The custom of begging for skill in Yulin, Wuzhou and Guigang
    The custom of “begging for skill” is preserved in Yulin, Wuzhou and Guigang in Guangxi. Female friends will get together on the night of the Chinese Valentine’s Day to compete with each other by doing various handicrafts. They will make exquisite handicrafts, such as paper cutting and embroidery, to show their talents and wisdom. At the same time, they will also pray to the Seventh Sister to pray for their ingenuity and family happiness.

III. Zhejiang Province

  1. The custom of collecting dew in rural Zhejiang Province
    In rural areas of Zhejiang Province, it is popular to collect dew in a basin. Legend has it that the dew on the Chinese Valentine’s Day is the tears of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl when they meet, which has magical power. Women will wash their faces and hands with the collected dew, believing that this will make them quick-witted and bring good luck and happiness. This custom reflects people’s yearning and pursuit for a better life.

IV. Other areas

  1. The custom of Qiaogu in the Loess Plateau of Shaanxi Province
    In the Loess Plateau of Shaanxi Province, women often tie straw men in flowery clothes on the Chinese Valentine’s Day, which are called “Qiaogu”. They also hold competitions such as threading needles and cutting window paper-cuts to show their craftsmanship and talents. These activities not only add to the festive atmosphere, but also promote communication and friendship among women.
  2. The custom of eating Qiaoqiao rice in Juancheng, Caoxian, Pingyuan and other places in Shandong
    In Juancheng, Caoxian, Pingyuan and other places in Shandong, there is a custom of eating Qiaoqiao rice to beg for skills. Seven good girls will gather grain and vegetables to make dumplings, and put a copper coin, a needle and a red date into three dumplings respectively. After the begging activity, they gather together to eat dumplings. It is said that those who eat money are blessed, those who eat needles are skillful, and those who eat dates will get married early. This custom is full of fun and meaning, and is deeply loved by local people.
  3. The custom of dyeing nails in the southwest region
    In the southwest region, there is a custom of dyeing nails on the Qixi Festival. Women and children will use flowers and plants to dye their nails. This is not only a way of festival entertainment, but also closely related to fertility beliefs. They believe that nail dyeing can bring good luck and happiness, making life better.
  4. Mohele – Children’s toys for Qixi Festival in Kaifeng in the old days
    In Kaifeng in the old days, a children’s toy called “Mohele” was sold during the Qixi Festival. Mohele is a small clay doll, mostly in the image of a child wearing a lotus leaf half-sleeve dress and holding a lotus leaf. These small clay dolls are exquisitely made and lifelike, and are deeply loved by children. They are not only toys for the festival, but also convey people’s good wishes for the healthy growth of children.

V. Other celebration methods
In addition to the special celebration methods in the above-mentioned regions, there are many common celebration methods for Qixi Festival. For example:

Stargazing: On the night of Qixi Festival, people will look up at the starry sky, look for the position of Altair and Vega, and feel the vastness of the Milky Way and the mystery of the starry sky.
Praying: Whether single men and women or married couples, they will make wishes and pray to Vega or the stars in the sky on this day, hoping that their love will be sweet and happy and last forever.
Eating Qiaoguo: Qiaoguo is one of the traditional foods of the Qixi Festival. There is a custom of making Qiaoguo in various places. These Qiaoguo have different shapes and rich flavors. They are not only delicious but also symbolize auspiciousness and happiness.

The ways of celebrating Qixi Festival in various places are unique and colorful. Whether it is building a fragrant bridge, bathing in the river, catching dew, eating Qiaoguo, etc., these customs reflect people’s yearning and pursuit for loyal love and their expectations and blessings for a better life.