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Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

The Chinese culture, one of the oldest cultures in the history of mankind.A culture in which superstitions are part of their culture and tradition.For the Chinese population , these games were something special, we had to show the world the beauty of ancestral traditions and the modernity of a China that opened the doors to the world.In this article, continuation of Historical Meaning in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (1/2), we will discover the meaning of each inaugural performance.Let's begin to unravel this and other curiosities related to the Historical Meaning in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2).

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

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Historical significance at the Beijing Inauguration 2008 | The Start

You could not expect less from the Chinese organization, hundreds of people on stage, perfectly coordinated, lights, sound, technology and especially history. The opening of the Beijing Olympics 2008 , showed the world the technological and economic progress of a great power such as China.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

To begin we will say that the date for the Inauguration of the Olympic Games, is not pure chance.August 8, two thousand eight (8/8/8) was the date chosen for its relationship with good luck.In the Asian country the number «8» is the lucky number then, the more eight you have the better you rage in life.If the floors that occupy plants with the number eight are more expensive.

The lights go out, a wick of powder runs throughout the stadium or I clean while a clock goes back in time, fire falls fall through the cornices, while a meteor crashes into the center of the stadium, leaving hundreds of little lights blinking as a trail.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

The clock giving backward in time.

The beginning of time, the rebirth of life, the appearance of man.That is the first guino that the Chinese people give to their long and exciting history, such as the Powder.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

Fire, the beginning of the story

But those lights are accompanied in total synchrony with a rumble of drums , it is a traditional Chinese instrument called Fou, originating from the Xia Dynasty .A percussion instrument made of clay and bronze and considered the oldest in the country.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

Traditional Chinese music makes an appearance , 2,008 Fou percussionists in unison interpret a traditional piece.2008 fou surrounded by LED lights, creating an incredible spectacle of light and sound.With each blow of the hand a light effect, a privilege for sight and hearing.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

Suddenly the darkness and silence until with the Fou and the leds of these, the account begins back.On reaching 0, the lights are turned on and with rhythmic thumping of the fou, a sound of footsteps , maybe someone is approaching.Beijing in the direction of the Olympic stadium.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

Footsteps over the sky of Beijing

When the footsteps arrive, an explosion of light, pyrotechnics and technology, simulating a rain of fire to form in the center of the stadium the image of the Olympic hoops.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

Children wearing the typical costumes of the different Chinese Dynasties

Another important moment of the ceremony loaded with great symbolism was the moment of raising the flag of the People's Republic of China, when tribute was paid to the different Chinese dynasties.the traditional costumes of the 62 ethnic groups of the country.

Historical significance at the Beijing Inauguration 2008 | Culture

Representation

From here the show begins, a review of the most important inventions of Chinese culture starting with the role .

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

The representation of a giant scroll in the center of the stadium, a large scroll that is slowly unfolding and that will be the thread of the whole ceremony.In the center of the parchment a huge blank sheet, this Little by little, the leaf is decorated with your hands.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

The first writings were made on wooden tablets

Later the printing of texts will appear, a group of Chinese scribes with written tablets, as a sample of the first materials for the es Crimping, give way to the impression of literary texts, a guino to the great philosopher and thinker Confucius , with the representation of the Analects .Symbols that like a wave, leave happening creating philosophical sentences.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

Analects de Confucio

Next the parchment changes, now the images they represent are allegorical to the important Silk Road , where a woman dances, surrounded by dancers carrying reeds, a clear allusion to the 7 trips of the eunuch Zheng He.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

Silhouette of the ship commanded by Zheng He.

The representation on the parchment of images with clear allusions to the invention of the chi compass na and the Chinese navigation.This allegorical part of the trips ends with the dancers surrounding the scroll, while forming the silhouette of the ship that Zheng He commanded.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

The Chinese compass

Finished this representation we pass at traditions of Imperial China , a traditional Chinese dance with costumes from the different Yepocas dynasties of Chinese history, adorned with the representation of their mythology and religion, where the representation of the dragons should be highlighted.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

Representation of Chinese Dragons

Finally, and after making a plea for the future, the new space explorations, peace and unity, a group of master experts in the art of T ai Chi (traditional Chinese gymnastics), gives us a beautiful synchronization and coordination of smooth movements and incredible plasticity.

Meaning

Chinese scribes before the invention of the paper, used strips of wood or bamboo strips for a hard point to write.The system did not facilitate writing and much less the file of the annotations.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

The invention of The brushes made with hair made it necessary to look for new materials to write on, trying on different types of fabrics, silks, fabrics, rice straw and even cotton.It is believed that it was the eunuch Cai Lun, who I create the first papermaking process in the second century BC, during the period of the Han dynasty.

  • LA CALIGRAFIA

The Traditional Chinese writing consists of thousands of signs or characters.Its origin dates back to at least three thousand years.There are different theories about Chinese spelling and its origin.The Chinese tradition attributes its invention to Cang Jie, Emperor Minister Huang Di, it is said that I believe the characters that make up Chinese calligraphy from the observation of the footprints of different birds.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

Calligraphy and impression

Other legends place their origin in a system of rope knots, while others are attributed to the wise Fu Xi with the creation of 8 trigrams which are groups of three lines, some whole and others cut and ordered around a center, called yin-yang.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

The 8 trigrams-The yin yang

  • CONFUCIUS ANALECT

The Analects are talks and reflections that the philosopher Confucius gave to his disciples, these reflections, talks and even discrepancies that they kept their students, they were collected in writing, receiving the name of « Discussions on words «, better known in the West as Analects.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

The analectas

The analectas still have a lot of influence within the Chinese culture and even in other Asian countries.

  • THE SILK ROUTE

Silk was one of the most prestigious merchandise and desired by both Eastern and Western culture.Silk making was a secret kept by fire that only the Chinese knew, so it gave it that characteristic.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

Silk Road

The Romans already knew this fabric and were great consumers of it. The Silk Road was a trade route that linked East to West.The trade was primarily based on diamonds, rubies, jades, pearls, fabrics, linen, ivory, lacquer, spices, porcelain, coral, glass, amber , etc.

  • THE TRIPS OF ZHENG HE

Zheng He Chinese military and explorer, I go to the history of China for the different trips I made between 1405 and 1433, often called the Chinese Colon.I make different expeditions starting in Nankin I get to explore countries like Indonesia, India, Ceilan, the Mozambique Channel, the Arabian Peninsula, the Gulf of Persia and part of Africa.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

Zheng's Travels He

There are known up to seven trips made by the western ocean. I have a fleet of 317 ships , becoming the largest fleet compared to those of the European era, its troop was formed by some 30,000 men.

The trips made by Zheng He, served to establish strong commercial, cultural and diplomatic ties .In addition to developing a technological power and organizational capacity.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

Zheng He

The Chinese interest was not colonialism since China had never felt the need for expansion, simply its trips were based on expanding geographical knowledge, knowing and trade with other cultures and establish cordial relations with the new territories they reached.

  • LA BRUJULA

In the times of the Combatant Kingdoms, the Chinese already knew or knew that magnetism always indicated the north, therefore knowing the north, they knew how to place themselves geographically.Thus the first device capable of indicating was born the address, this device was called Sinan.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

Sinan-Compass China

The sinan was formed by a polished and magnetic spoon and a bronze plate where directions or cardinal points were marked.The spoon always pointed to the north as it was magnetized and the handle of the spoon, logically indicated the south.

Tai Chi is a kind of martial art that was created in Imperial China and that has been followed by millions of people for a few decades from all over the world.In China, tai chi is practiced in any park in the city, it is usually practiced in large groups, being a true spectacle to see thousands of people performing their smooth and fluid movements.

Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

The true origin of tai chi was the practice as a body fight body, with or without weapons, but practice today is more aimed at the physical and psychological benefits The realization of this practice, provides being practiced by the majority of the elderly population of China.

You may also be interested:

In History Today Online we have selected some links from our website, which we hope will be of interest to you.

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Historical significance in the Inauguration of Beijing 2008 (2/2)

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