I'm a Chinese, I can answer your questions about China.

Originally posted by ceci2006
What also fascinates me is your comments on Russia. Is part of that rivalry between Russia and China because of how both countries relate to each other on a politically historical basis? Does China see Russia decadent because of ideological or economic reasons?

Does the political ideology of China include historical leanings? I mean, does pride in history help politics in any way, shape or form?

And, yet another question: I have always been fascinated by the Peking Opera. Do they still perform it in China? I do know that Peking Opera does feature stories from Chinese history, do they not?

Once more, I am gratified by your meticulous explainations you have given all of us. I am enjoying this thread because I have learned quite a deal from your words. And it has broadened my horizons about your country.
[edit on 1-6-2006 by ceci2006]

Communism is the basic foundation for the two country to cooperate. From birth to PRC established, Chinese Communist Party was always helped and conducted by CPSU. In the Korea War, China contributed soldiers and Russia supplied weapon. There was long-term cooperation history. Now China is one of the few Communist country, and is changing slowly and interiorly. There are still many similar characteristics between the two countries.

I'm not sure how Russia is going now. I just means, it seemed decadent than its former heyday.

Yes, history is surely influencing every aspects of Chinese, involving politics. It's deep to every Chinese heart. I haven't analyzed it seriously.

Peking Opera still performs in China. But its fan are always older people. Few young people like it.

Peking Opera does feature stories from Chinese history. Some came from history. Some came from novels and myth.

Thank you very much for your wishes.

Originally posted by chinawhite

You have voted Earthlism for the Way Above Top Secret award. You have two more votes this month.

EDIT:

Hi Earthlism,

how much is a decent laptop in shanghai

we can buy a cheap decent laptop for 4,000-5,000 RMB.

Mainstream is from 6,000 to 12,000 rmb.

Top performance with cool feeling is from 12,000 to 25,000.

Thank you for voting me.

Do you really eat fetuses?

Originally posted by AccidentallyOnPurpose
Do you really eat fetuses?

lol, i don't know if chinese ppl do it, but at the least americans do something similar!

do a search for the new Tom's cruise new born child news related ,before his born, and you will learn, that they have planned to do a "placenta party", where the close friends was invited to eat some exotic disches perfomed with her wife's placenta!! in fact the same article i red say this is a each more comon habit in UK and USA.
so,,,how weird can this be?..lol who knows?...some day we will se in any snack-bar like placenta juice or a fetus sandwich!!
sorry for the OffTopic, but i can't resist to wrote this info

Originally posted by Xenophobe
Earthlsim,

It seems that the Chinese Government may have censored your post!

I had some difficulty translating some of the steps involved in the (obviously secret) Yang Rou Chuan recipe, especially step #4. I wasn't sure if that was supposed to be cumin or hot chili powder.

Thankfully, asmilesnail was able to smuggle a version of this, obviously secret recipe, though Chinese customs a few days ago for me. Using his recipe, and what I could decode from your recipe, I have concluded that step #4 should read: "Sprinkle the skewered mutton with a liberal amount of hot chili powder".

I don't want to get you into trouble with the Chinese authorities over this subject, as you are a valuable contributor to the ATS boards, so I won't be discussing this any further. In other words: "Ixnay on the inesechay eciperay"!

Xenophobe

No, it's just a misunderstanding.

Such contents won't be censored for it have nothing to do with politics.

Step 4 was omited in original article for the writer thought it is a obvious step and everyone know.

As supplement, the second paragraph depicted it particularly.

Actually, asmilesnail have explained it very clearly. I just repeated some tricks.

meat select: drawleg meat of lambs is best.

Pieces: Don't too big, and string them by alternating with fat and thin.

Fire: Anchracite coal is best.

Recipe: cumin is the most important, others should be selected according your taste. But the cumin formulation used by Xinjiang Yang Rong is a secrat. I don't know too.

Baking: Roll it frequently in the process. Add recipes when the meat is 80% ripe, then continue and complete it.

If only oven can select, have to do as asmilesnail said.

[edit on 1-6-2006 by Earthlism]

Originally posted by Umbra Sideralis

Originally posted by AccidentallyOnPurpose
Do you really eat fetuses?

lol, i don't know if chinese ppl do it, but at the least americans do something similar!

do a search for the new Tom's cruise new born child news related ,before his born, and you will learn, that they have planned to do a "placenta party", where the close friends was invited to eat some exotic disches perfomed with her wife's placenta!! in fact the same article i red say this is a each more comon habit in UK and USA.
so,,,how weird can this be?..lol who knows?...some day we will se in any snack-bar like placenta juice or a fetus sandwich!!
sorry for the OffTopic, but i can't resist to wrote this info

Please forward all posts involving Tom Cruise to the Extra Terrestial section. TY

Originally posted by Baphomet79
The last post I read from you Earthalism, made me completely change my opinion about you. Do NOT emigrate to America, China needs level headed thinkers like you who passionately care about the future of your country. Of course you are free to do what you like, but you seem to be intelligent and rational; something that every country needs to throw off the oppresive power of a government such as the CPC.

On a more sad note, as I previously stated, but now with sympathy not anger, what your government has you believe about what happens away from the East Coast of China. Your government is a tyrranical regime that exploits all it can to maintain power. But YOU have the power to change that. I look forward to continuing our discussion.

P.S. I hope you read the edit to my last post; as it said I had a bookmark to page 4 of the thread, I did not even see there was a page 5. So once again my apologies.

Edit Number 2: Despite I love ADVISOR's Avatar, this was not in response to his message; just my own fault for mis-judging people and not looking around. Once again an apology to Earthalism.

It doesn't matter, Baphomet. Don't worry about it.

You and all of other friends have been showing me so many fascinating words and sentences, which very benefit me.

I'm going to review grammar book, for I always felt confusion when I wrote.

What does it means of "what happens away from the East Coast of China" ?

I will express my views about chinese ethnic later.

[edit on 2-6-2006 by Earthlism]

Originally posted by Majic
Allowing posts in different languages would make it impossible to moderate. This website is English language-based, and this is the standard by which everyone follows.

A rather odd thought came to mind as I read through this thread: I'm an American, and my favorite TV series of all time is Haibane Renmei, which was made in Japan. My favorite character in that series is Kana, who is Chinese.

In light of the histories of the U.S., Japan and China, and all the things that have happened between our countries over the years, I think it's ironic that, for me at least, these three countries would come together in such a fashion.

I also think that perhaps it is a sign.

We are more alike than different.

I get it. I promise it won't happen again.

Haibane Renmei, seemed interesting. It's fresh to me.

Tks for your introduction.

I want to ask some questions.

Whether my IP address can be seen by any members or visitors? how difficult to trace my IP address to lock my specific location?

I heard according to Maya bible, human will be destroied in 2015, have you ever heard of it?

Earthlism, the moderators and administrators can track your IP when you access the site, but they take privacy very seriously. They don't retain it, and they won't sell it. Members can't access your IP through ATS, but they can access that information any number of other ways, through third parties.

If you worry that your safety is in danger, simply for expressing your opinion, I encourage you to do what you feel is best. I've read through this thread, and I see nothing that should be cause for alarm on your part, you've said nothing incriminating.

I enjoyed reading this thread quite a bit, as they say, you learn something new every day. Today, I learned several new things, thanks to some insightful questions, and some fine answers.

I have a couple of questions, if I may.

Do you see a lot of Confucian influence on modern Chinese society? I know the philosophy of Confucius was the guiding light for most of Asia for a long time, but it seems to have been replaced by religious conflict between Buddhists and Muslims and Christians, as well as corporate philosophy (which is not much different than the law of the jungle). It seems to me that China was most prosperous, and most virtuous, when it took inspiration from Confucianism for government as well as personal moral philosophy. Has the Chinese government pushed Confucian ideals to try to keep civil order, to regain some of the past glory?

Along those same lines, does modern Chinese society care for the elderly? It's a problem for us here, in the states, we've got an aging population and nobody wants to treat them like human beings.

Finally, I wanted to add my voice to those who have said your English is fine. I've had no problems understanding you. English, as a language, is very hard to master because it really makes no sense. I love it because it's huge, and ugly, and beautiful at the same time. It's got character, like a clever mongrel dog.

Anyway, welcome to ATS. Judging by your posts on this thread you have a love of erudition, and for that reason I think you'll fit right in.

Originally posted by WyrdeOne
Earthlism, the moderators and administrators can track your IP when you access the site, but they take privacy very seriously. They don't retain it, and they won't sell it. Members can't access your IP through ATS, but they can access that information any number of other ways, through third parties.

If you worry that your safety is in danger, simply for expressing your opinion, I encourage you to do what you feel is best. I've read through this thread, and I see nothing that should be cause for alarm on your part, you've said nothing incriminating.

Thank you for your explain. I'd like to know more that can they trace my IP to my specific location? I have a feeling that they can.

I do feel unsafe for this. In Chinese official circles there are a quota, Communist Party won't touch you, you can live your life all along, but if they want to beat you, you have no way to escape. There are many complaints even extreme speech in Chinese Forum, though they are continually deleted by moderators. I don't think they all will be traced and detained, for they have not so much energy. But danger is surely exist. If 1 percent of possibility happen, it means 100% to the victim. So I have to worry my safety.

if they aim at you, they won't care about the laws. Chinese law have not effect to protect citizens in many scene. It's out of your imagination. One of my friends have ever been detained for half a year, and After a active writer in Chinese forum was detained years ago, I stopped talking about Chinese issues related to politics. I had decided to release my thought after I immigrate. I never speak so much before in Chinese forum. I love my family so much and I won't carry any hurt to them.

I'll change a new ID when I closed this threads recently. I'm sorry if this will make somebody uncomfortable.

Originally posted by chinawhite
Actually they are given rights Han chinese only dream of.
Tax reduction, more allocated areas for higher education and the redemption from the one child policy

chinawhite is right. That may be astonish you. There is also a misunderstanding.

Chinese ethnic conflicts is very diffrent from American. Han people occupy absolute part, 90.56%, of Chinese. Other ethnics haven't camparative strength to pose a threat to Han people. There were some comflicts happened in history after PRC established, but soon vanished in the high pressure of CCP.

In order to stabilize the minorities, CCP united overlords of their regions, and maintained their superior position. If there were oppression, that's from upper classes to lower classes, not Han people to minorities.

In shanghai, citizens complained Xijiang people were protected by law, and they wouldn't be punished when they caught by theft. This made Xijiang theft famous all of the country.

Other advantages chianwhite said are also fact.

There were no ethnic conflits relatively. if have, they were appeared insignificant compared to sorrow ordinary people suffered.

Can you imagine that, In ten years disaster period, after Zhangzhixing, a famous independent thinker, was killed by government, the murderer walked in front of her parents, and said, your daughter was killed for betrayal, and you have to pay the bullet fare to take your daughter's body back. Kill our talented people and force their relatives to pay the fare of the bullet which killed their lover. This is how absurd and miserable things. I couldn't hold back my tears every times when I read this. There are so many more miserable things which made my eyes glistened with tears. Sometime Chinese didn't really unconcern of tragedy, they just beared too much sorrow and had to turn to numbness. Chinese people didn't lack genius. They just can't grow up and can't release their power.

For I will be out in weekend, maybe I can't respond in two days.

[edit on 2-6-2006 by Earthlism]

Originally posted by AccidentallyOnPurpose

Originally posted by Umbra Sideralis

Originally posted by AccidentallyOnPurpose
Do you really eat fetuses?

lol, i don't know if chinese ppl do it, but at the least americans do something similar!

do a search for the new Tom's cruise new born child news related ,before his born, and you will learn, that they have planned to do a "placenta party", where the close friends was invited to eat some exotic disches perfomed with her wife's placenta!! in fact the same article i red say this is a each more comon habit in UK and USA.
so,,,how weird can this be?..lol who knows?...some day we will se in any snack-bar like placenta juice or a fetus sandwich!!
sorry for the OffTopic, but i can't resist to wrote this info

Please forward all posts involving Tom Cruise to the Extra Terrestial section. TY

Actually, my comprehension is the same as Umbra Sideralis, and I don't know what it is means of "Tom Cruise to the Extra Terrestial ".


WyrdeOne and dowhite,

I'd like to express my comprehension about Confusian influence when I come back two days later.

Thanks for all friends' support.


[edit on 2-6-2006 by Earthlism]

Originally posted by Earthlism

Originally posted by SteveR
Here's my question. How many people speak English in China? Are many people learning it?

Chinese students are trying hard to study English, and more and more people can speak English, but they still occupy a little proportion.
Most of English learners are able to read, but bad at hearing and speaking.
English is do restricting Chinese improvement.

Thanks Earthlism!

What do you think of Hu Jintao?

Steve

Originally quoted by Earthlism
Thank you very much for your wishes.

You're very welcome, Earthlism. And as always, thank you for answering my questions. I am very appreciative of your efforts.

I've been fascinated by Chinese history, culture and society, so I would like to ask you something more along these lines.. Throughout history, the Mongolians and the Chinese were always at war. How does the Chinese view the Mongolians in the present day?

I am seeing a different side of China from your posts. And it has benefitted me from participating on your thread. Your explainations gave me other interesting issues to explore in my researches in history.

Again, as always good luck with your scholarship and English.

Take good care,

Ceci


[edit on 3-6-2006 by ceci2006]

Everything is traceable; I'm sure they've been tracking you all along, but I've read though your stuff and also agree you said nothing wrong. I'm sure China will do right by its people one day, I'm sure there focus is on the economy and development. China is a huge country and cannot be transformed over night. My first job was working for a man that came from China and opened his own restaurant. He was one of the most decent human’s beings I've ever worked for; he cared about all his employees and treated us like family. I'm sure no leader of any country wants to see there people suffer without a good reason as to why. But there are those exceptions like Iraq's former dictator. I believe once the terrorist and those counties that support them are taken care of we can move on to global peace. It would be nice if every country no longer had to fork out mass amounts of money for a military and we could then use those resourses to for advancement of all humans, every government has it flaws, even the USA system isn't the best, it's always best with a mix of capitalism with socialism. For example is the USA were to change its medical system to a social program like Canada, we could eliminate the greed factor. I once went to a Eye Doctor to have a check up, I could read the smallest line on the eye chart with both eye's, I had no blind spots in my Peripheral vision, but yet he said I had a stigmatism and if I didn’t start wearing glasses, I would be blind in ten years, well that was 20 years ago and I still see the same way, but he sold me some glasses and told me to wear them for 3 weeks without taking them off except at bed time, I never wore them and if I had it probably would have messed my eyes up. My wife had sever side pains and was pregnant, all the signs of an atopic pregnancy, and her doctor even had an atopic pregnancy her self, but her doctor probably needed the surgery money and was willing to put my wife life at stake to gain a buck, because after her atopic ruptured she was rushed to the hospital and after the master surgeon came out and said if she had any signs like sever side pains, they could have given her pills to dissolve the baby or made a small incision and removed it that way. Well she told her doctor and every doctor at the hospital when she visited because the pain was too great. The hospital doctors told her to check with her doctor and kept putting her on bed rest. If we paid doctors a salary instead of per surgery or per visit, it would eliminate the above situations, but then it could create lazy doctors since they don't have to really do anything to get paid, but then you could have each patient’s case study by an outside agency to determine if surgery is necessary. So my point being is your country is developing and will improve over time, America isn't perfect either, but it’s improving also. I honestly think America needs another part of congress, we should have the President, Senate, Congress, and a Scientific Senate added which is selected by intelligence and experience by the universities themselves and voted on by the people. The real problem with every country and its people is greed and power, power can corrupt and greed is the root of all evil. So my last point is were just all screwed no matter where you live, just make the best of it. BTW if we pay doctors a salary it should be determined off an average of what they make now. Checks and Balances it’s what it’s all about. Are current elected dictator Bush has been giving so much money away to the rich he put our country into a historic debt, now there cutting programs for the poor to help the rich get richer (the reverse Robin Hood Bill), doesn't make sense but Bush never did, You would think in a modern society we would try to help each other out. That's what I like about democrats; they still understand a country for the people. To me republicans think of us as corporate slaves. Remember the American Dream is just that a Dream for Most

[edit on 3-6-2006 by Pendar]

Originally posted by WyrdeOne
Do you see a lot of Confucian influence on modern Chinese society? I know the philosophy of Confucius was the guiding light for most of Asia for a long time, but it seems to have been replaced by religious conflict between Buddhists and Muslims and Christians, as well as corporate philosophy (which is not much different than the law of the jungle). It seems to me that China was most prosperous, and most virtuous, when it took inspiration from Confucianism for government as well as personal moral philosophy. Has the Chinese government pushed Confucian ideals to try to keep civil order, to regain some of the past glory?

Along those same lines, does modern Chinese society care for the elderly? It's a problem for us here, in the states, we've got an aging population and nobody wants to treat them like human beings.

Confucianism is the philosophy that ruled China for thousands of years.It is a code of ethics dealing with human relationships which became a way of life. In the early modern China, there did exist some critique about how Confucianism block the development of economy. But in my opinion, the order generated by the Confucianism in the society is so harmony that Chinese government cant overlooked. Thus, you can find a lot articles which advocated Confucianism in text books from primary to university, things like Filial Piety, self sacrifice, loyalty, duty, respect to elders... It is not like a religion, it a way of life. There is little doubt that Confucianism is a very good philosophy dealing with the relationship harmony.

Confucianism indeed brought glories to China in history.But it also leaded the country closed and backward. For a culture, its effect to a nation must be to maintain, to develop or to restrict. The most glorious thing Confucianism brought to China is that it maintain the whole China for thousands of years. After that ,it started to restrict it. From the begining of Confucianism, it was a restrictive but not outspread thinking. Culture is not law or policy. But it is much more powerful than both. In the process of amending a law, there must be the nation's experience and wisdom. In the places of absence or limitation of the law, traditional culture would always override the law. That is why Chinese government, on the one hand, wants to maintain it. On the other hand, it also called for "open up".

Most Chinese respect and gratitude to elders. It is a traditional virtue. However, you can still find some exceptions, such as young people sitting at the elders'sit on the bus. Most of us look down upon those people. You can find that in the Chinese internet forum , if someone posted such kinds of pictures which had not show respect to elders, there must be thousands of replies to disgrace these people.

what do you think above Earthlism!~ I am also a Chinese!~cheers~~~~~~~~~~

[edit on 3-6-2006 by asmilesnail]

[edit on 3-6-2006 by asmilesnail]

In my penult posts, I was excited which made my expression a little prejudiced.

One should hold accountable to his(her) action, so does race. All nation suffered many miseries in their past, which can't be taken as excuse for current defects.

Pendar:

"All screwed no matter where you live, just make the best of it."

It's excellent. I agree it absolutely.

asmilesnail:

cheers! Are you in China?

Confucianism.

Yes, Confucianism is a code of ethics dealing with human relationships which became a way of life. It's not belief. It had no direct conflict with Buddhism and Taoism, on the contrary, it coexisted with them.

Taoism originated from Lao Tzu, a saint in the same period with Confucius (B.C. 551--479). Taoism believe there is a fairy land, and Taoist engaged in making pills of immortality and exercising Taoist Qigong, which was the real cabalistic Qigong. Taoism think human is a part of the nature, our body can interplay with nature, and our soul can surf freely in the universe by some means.

Buddhism (B.C. 6th) created in India in the same period as Confucianism, and was introduced to Chinese in around A.D. 1th. and bloomed in the Southern and Northern Dynasties (A.D. 420-580). So there were about 1,000 years from Confucianism creation to Buddhism blooming in China.

There were no bloodshed caused by Buddhism introduction and spreading, due to Confucianism was n't a real belief and Taoism characterized elegant and disinterested in "saving people". Buddhism was nonviolence too.

Confucianism have helped enormously in creating Chinese feudal system. Confucianism concentrate on relations among people. It not only harmonize relations of people, but also try to stabilize relations of people. "officials are obedient to emperor, children are obedient to parents, wives are obedient to husbands ". It regulated people in special positions in the whole society frame. It's a large and detailed system, and emperor is the top tip. For more persuasion, Chinese emperors claimed their rights were granted by the God, and they are representatives of the God. God here means fairies described by Taoism and spreaded throughout the country. (Here is a combination of Confucianism and Taoism, and one of the reasons why they coexisted.) The result is Chinese people worshiped their emperors.

(continue tomorrow)

Confucianism is a series of moral rules and behaviorals norms which is closely coupled with Chinese Feudal System. The combination made China stable and centralized. Stability helped Chinese to lessen quarrel and concentrate their power on development. Centralization contributed to form and maintain large empire and put resources together in use.

Conversely, thousands of years Feudal System had helped enormously in perfecting Confucianism, for they depended on Coufucianism so much.

Confucianism is closely related to Chinese Feudal System. Ignore this, you can't understand it clearly and can't understand what dilemma Confucianism faces nowadays.

Confucianism didn't negative demonology. It was just unconcern about it. Confucius said, "Didn't do a man well, why to worry about death? ", and "Respect the demonology and give them a wide berth." Taoism filled up tha gap. From the "divine right" to lots of folklores and fairies speaded widely in the Chinese country. Taoism set up the ghost knowledge system of Chinese.

Taoism is relatively elegant. Taoism don't think life is a burden as Budhhism and Christianism does. Taoism advocated enjoying life freely and easily. Peripateticism and naturalness is the core thought of the writing of Chuang Tzu, the second important people of Taoism. Taosim encouraged people to exercise Taoist Qigong to achieve sublimation of life. It had no intention to "save people" or persuade people believe it.

On the other hand, there are multiple kinds of Qigong in that period, which played a important role in Chinese ancients lives.

So, we can see Confucianism and Taoism can coexist harmoniously.

[edit on 4-6-2006 by Earthlism]