National Geographic Museum Blog

The lineup for the Feb. 20th film festival:

“Simple” Chinese words and phrases relating to our upcoming exhibit!

Hero – 2002
英雄
yīng xióng [yeeng sh-ong]

Dirty Ho – Lan Tou He – 1979
烂头何 simplified / 爛頭何 traditional
làn tóu hé [lahn tow huh]

[18] Legendary Weapons of China – 1982
十八般武艺simplified / 十八般武藝 traditional
shíbā bān wǔyì [shuh bah bahn woo yee]

A big thank you to Alan Miranda!

While it was snowing outside in DC these past few weeks, most of us stayed inside and watched the snow fall. Not the Marshall Family of Spotsylvania, Virginia– they made the first of what we hope are many warriors. Do you think they will be able to make all 8,000? Now, that would be a sight!

What are you YouTube-ing?

Enjoy an afternoon of great Chinese kung fu film at this showcase. Each film will be introduced by Craig D. Reid, a respected authority on martial arts films, who selected these pop culture classics reflecting the life of China’s first emperor. Tickets for the 02/20 event can be purchased here: http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?organ_val=22070&pid=6679420

Noon – Hero (2002/107 min/Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles) Jet Li plays a mysterious, nameless hero who defends the Emperor Qin from a team of assassins.
2:15 p.m. – Lao Tou Ho (1979/97 min/Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles) In one of the best kung fu films of the 1970s, an injured prince teaches kung fu to a vagabond who must now protect the prince from assassins.
4 p.m. – Legendary Weapons of China (1982/100 min/Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles) During the Boxer Rebellion, ruthless assassins hunt down a rogue clan member who views the Boxers as detrimental to the spirit of Chinese martial arts. Starring and directed by the renowned Liu Chia-liang. Dr. Reid calls this the best kung fu film ever.

GGGGrrrrrrrrrrrrrr……. Let’s all welcome in the Year of the Tiger with a growl. As it’s also Valentine’s Day, you may want to direct that growl at loved one. Enjoy the day, enjoy the parties and let’s all celebrate a year centered on one of the greatest animals on earth. Learn more about tigers and other big cats on Nationalgeographic.com.

This is a re-post of an earlier entry but with so many new visitors, we thought we’d bring them back for a while!

1.) It took workers 36 years to produce the army meant to protect the Emperor in the afterlife.
2.) The clay for the figures came from Lishan, the mountain near the emperor’s tomb.
3.) The average weight of a warrior is about 440 pounds (200 kilos) and the average height is 5’9” (1.8 meters).
4.) The bodies of the warriors are hollow.
5.) The head, arms, and hands of the warriors were made from an ancient molding technique.

The following websites should help with the visualization of the actual Qin TCW wardrobe – 服饰 fú
shì [foo sheh].

中国华文教育网－先秦
http://www.hwjyw.com/zhwh/ctwh/zgfs/ld/200705/t20070521_1104.shtml
Early Qin
中国华文教育网－秦汉
http://www.hwjyw.com/zhwh/ctwh/zgfs/ld/200705/t20070521_1106.shtml
Qin – Han
中国华文教育网－秦汉
先秦
中国
Zhōng guó [dsjong gwoh]
China/Chinese
(abbreviation for) China/(surname)
华
Huá [hwah]
Hua/magnificent/splendid/flowery
文
wén [when]
language/culture/writing/formal/literary/gentle
教育
jiào yù [je-ow you]
to educate/to teach/education
网
Wǎng [wahng]
net/network
秦
Qín [chin]
(surname)/name of a dynasty
汉
Hàn [Hahn]
Chinese/name of a dynasty
先
Xiān [shen]
early/prior/former/in advance/first
服饰
fú shì [foo sheh]
dress and adornment/trappings

This is a re-post of an earlier entry but with so many new visitors, we thought we’d bring them back for a while!

1. The First Emperor’s birth name was Ying Zheng.
2. When the First Emperor ascended the throne upon the death of his father, he was only 13 years old.
3. The First Emperor created the title of “emperor” and all subsequent rulers of China used the title.
4. The positions of the bodies and hands of the warriors indicate which type of weapons they used.
5. The First Emperor was paranoid and is thought to have slept in a different palace every night to avoid assassination attempts.

We are counting down the New Year with some photos that we love taken from the blogger preview held in November. Send in your comments and vote for a favorite! Thank you to Foocheung for this great photo.

Due to inclement weather, the Museum was closed on Saturday, February 6, and Sunday, February 7. Alternate viewing hours for these ticketholders will be held on Friday, February 19 from 3pm-9pm and on Saturday, February 20 from 5:30-9pm, weather permitting. Please plan on entering the exhibition by 8pm at the latest. You do not need new tickets for these viewing hours. Please present your existing ticket when you arrive. Visitors will be allowed to enter the exhibition as they arrive and as space allows. If you are unable to attend these alternate viewing hours and would like a refund, please send your ticket(s) to: National Geographic, 1145 17th St NW, Washington DC, 20036, Attn: Ticket Office. Although the Museum was open, road and transit conditions made it difficult for many ticketholders to travel to the Museum on the following dates: February 5, 8, 9, and 10. The Museum will also honor these tickets during the alternate viewing hours listed above. Updates for the rest of the week will be posted as soon as possible. Call 202-857-7588 for the most up-to-date information. Review our inclement weather policy.