How are you? Have you had a good weekend?

This week, except going to the hospitals, I have been studying something new and I am attracted by it. :-)

First of all, I am attracted by Bible deeply. :-) I am just reading the beginning part of it. I am impression on its beautiful language and many interesting stories.

-- I just know that God thinks the rainbow is the bridge between him and human being. :-)

-- I just read something that God wishes the elder people to look after the younger ones, and the younkers should help the elders ? That makes me think of the similar ideas of Confucius by his theory to rule the country by Xiao and Ti. :-)

If speaking that the former gives me many inspirations on painting and makes me realize why the sunshine is the most beautiful thing, then, the latter has pushed me to re-read the classical books that Chinese ancestors have created for us.

Secondly, I am attracted by the Chinese classical philosophy once more.

-- I am impression on the idea relates to water and mountains, soft and strong, gentle and violent by Lao Zi; I have some new understanding about Confucius' Wen Gu Er Zhi Xin - look for the old so as to learn the new. An interesting feeling is that if we had no Confuciusin the history, we would not know how to speak Chinese yet.:-)

Meanwhile, I am also attracted by the enjoyable feeling of reading the original books by the sages once and once.

-- A strong feeling is that the original book by the sages is not too difficult to read. The problem is that the too many different explanations by the posterities have made the simple things complex.

-- A good example is that the too many different explanations on the Tao Te Ching of Lao Zi, have made it to be a Xuan Xue -- something too metaphysical to understand it.

-- A lot of the confusions are not because of the theory of Lao Zi itself, but for the too many different explanations by different people according to their own purposes, meanwhile, because of the ancient language, too.

I am thinking, if we would really like to learn something true or truth, we have to read the original books via mastering their languages. For me, I have to improve my English level, for you, may be have to improve your Chinese.

Base on this idea, I have made some innovation on the Chinese Learning Column of my little web site. This weekend, I have started to introduce Chinese idioms, slangs and adages for you.

Language is a necessary tool of learning the other cultures; language level decides what we can learn truly.

How do you think of my ideas? Do you agree with me?

I am just a student on Art of Painting, Music, English and Management, to work on the web site in my free time. I would really like to do a few things with what I have learned to make this little web site to be an Electronic Bridge of Inter-Art & Cross - Culture Exchange, Chinese Language Learning & Friendship. To help the others while to improve myself.

I would like to appreciate you for your understanding, directions, supports and help.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, you are welcome to write to shirley@ebridge.cn or leave your message on Message Board.

Shirley Yiping Zhang
Sunday, Oct 31, 2010