急急急：帮忙啊~我的作业~~~~~~~~
Weapons of Ancient China
By Mark Beale
Dao (saber)
Dao is the most widely used weapon, in part due to the fact that it is generic term given to many different weapons. It is usually referred as the first of the "eighteen kinds of weapons." Most weapons that have blades and are used to slice, cut, hack, and chop are considered to be dao. It can be short, in which case the blade is attached to a handle. It can also be long, in which case the blade is attached to a long shaft. Some weapons, such as broadswords, are still considered dao, even though their English names suggest otherwise.
Dao was first used in China during its bronze age. During and after the Western Zhou Dynasty (11th century BC-771 BC), it was briefly replaced by bronze jian (sword), which is easier to wield in combat. During the seven years of turmoil which resulted in the end of the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-206 BC) and the beginning of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25), the importance of cavalry increased dramatically and jian, used primarily to stab, was no longer adequate. During that time, long dao, which has a one sided blade attached to a long shaft, was popularized. Short dao, or the broadsword, was also frequently seen among infantry. Dao remained in use in Chinese armies until the twentieth century.
Qiang (spear)
Qiang is one of the long weapons that evolved from mao. It is commonly referred to as the "king of the hundred weapons". It is basically a long shaft with a steel or bronze tip.
Qiang is one of the longest used weapons in China. It was first used during prehistoric times in the mao form. It was popularized during the Shang Dynasty (17th century BC-11th century BC) and had a bronze tip. The bronze tip was replaced by a steel one towards the end of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 BC-256 BC). During the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25), ji (halberd) fell out of use in war and qiang became the most important long weapon. It was coexisted for a time along with firearms and was used until the end of the Qing Dynasty (1616-1911).
Jian (sword)
Jian is often called the "sovereign of blades".
Jian was most commonly used during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 BC-256 BC). According to historical records, many famous jian of great quality were made during this time at the requests of the emperors and dukes. Many famous works were also produced regarding swordsmanship, such as Yue Nu Jian (Yue Nu Sword) from the Spring and Autumn Era of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty and Jian Dao (Way of the Sword) from the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25). Although by the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) jian is no longer used in war, men of position still wear it to show their stature, Daoists still use it to begin incantations, and martial artists still use it in combat. Because martial artists still use it in combat, many styles of swordsmanship gradually evolved. For example, there is Tai Ji Jian (Tai Chi Sword), Wudang Jian (Wudang Sword), and Zui Jian (Drunken Sword).
Tai Ji Jian (Drunken Sword)
Zui Jian
Wudang Jian (Wudang Sword)
Ji (halberd)
Ji is a weapon with a steel or bronze tip mounted on the end of a long shaft, next to which is attached a curved blade. Because of the attachment of the curved blade, the weapon can be used to both stab and slash. The shaft of ji used in chariots is longer than those used by infantry and cavalry. When two curved blades are attached on opposite sides of the tip, the weapon is referred to as double ji.
Ji was first used during the Shang Dynasty (17th century BC-11th century BC), when it was made of bronze. It was popularized during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 BC-256 BC), when it was made of steel instead. By the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25), it fell out of use in war, and by the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589) it was replaced in its entirety by qiang (spear). Afterwards, it was used only as a weapon carried by ceremonial guards and as a weapon for martial artists.
Weapons of Ancient China
By Mark Beale
Dao (saber)
Dao is the most widely used weapon, in part due to the fact that it is generic term given to many different weapons. It is usually referred as the first of the "eighteen kinds of weapons." Most weapons that have blades and are used to slice, cut, hack, and chop are considered to be dao. It can be short, in which case the blade is attached to a handle. It can also be long, in which case the blade is attached to a long shaft. Some weapons, such as broadswords, are still considered dao, even though their English names suggest otherwise.
Dao was first used in China during its bronze age. During and after the Western Zhou Dynasty (11th century BC-771 BC), it was briefly replaced by bronze jian (sword), which is easier to wield in combat. During the seven years of turmoil which resulted in the end of the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-206 BC) and the beginning of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25), the importance of cavalry increased dramatically and jian, used primarily to stab, was no longer adequate. During that time, long dao, which has a one sided blade attached to a long shaft, was popularized. Short dao, or the broadsword, was also frequently seen among infantry. Dao remained in use in Chinese armies until the twentieth century.
Qiang (spear)
Qiang is one of the long weapons that evolved from mao. It is commonly referred to as the "king of the hundred weapons". It is basically a long shaft with a steel or bronze tip.
Qiang is one of the longest used weapons in China. It was first used during prehistoric times in the mao form. It was popularized during the Shang Dynasty (17th century BC-11th century BC) and had a bronze tip. The bronze tip was replaced by a steel one towards the end of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 BC-256 BC). During the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25), ji (halberd) fell out of use in war and qiang became the most important long weapon. It was coexisted for a time along with firearms and was used until the end of the Qing Dynasty (1616-1911).
Jian (sword)
Jian is often called the "sovereign of blades".
Jian was most commonly used during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 BC-256 BC). According to historical records, many famous jian of great quality were made during this time at the requests of the emperors and dukes. Many famous works were also produced regarding swordsmanship, such as Yue Nu Jian (Yue Nu Sword) from the Spring and Autumn Era of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty and Jian Dao (Way of the Sword) from the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25). Although by the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) jian is no longer used in war, men of position still wear it to show their stature, Daoists still use it to begin incantations, and martial artists still use it in combat. Because martial artists still use it in combat, many styles of swordsmanship gradually evolved. For example, there is Tai Ji Jian (Tai Chi Sword), Wudang Jian (Wudang Sword), and Zui Jian (Drunken Sword).
Tai Ji Jian (Drunken Sword)
Zui Jian
Wudang Jian (Wudang Sword)
Ji (halberd)
Ji is a weapon with a steel or bronze tip mounted on the end of a long shaft, next to which is attached a curved blade. Because of the attachment of the curved blade, the weapon can be used to both stab and slash. The shaft of ji used in chariots is longer than those used by infantry and cavalry. When two curved blades are attached on opposite sides of the tip, the weapon is referred to as double ji.
Ji was first used during the Shang Dynasty (17th century BC-11th century BC), when it was made of bronze. It was popularized during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 BC-256 BC), when it was made of steel instead. By the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25), it fell out of use in war, and by the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589) it was replaced in its entirety by qiang (spear). Afterwards, it was used only as a weapon carried by ceremonial guards and as a weapon for martial artists.
The History of Table Tennis
Like many other sports, table tennis began as a mild social diversion. Descending, along with lawn tennis and badminton, from the ancient medieval game of tennis. It was popular in England in the second half of the nineteenth century under its present name and various trade names such as Gossima and Whiff-Whaff. After the name Ping-Pong (an imitation of the sound made by the ball striking the table and the vellum bats that were used) was introduced by J. Jaques & Son, the game became a fashionable craze.
The game was popular in Central Europe in 1905-10, and even before this is a modified version had been introduced to Japan , where it later spread to China and Korea. After a period when it had dropped out of favor in Europe, the game was revived in England and Wales in the early twenties. by that time 'Ping-Pong' had been registered as a trademark, so the earlier name of table tennis was re-introduced. National associations were formed and standardization of the rules began, both in Europe and the Far East.Then, over the next sixty years, table tennis developed into a major worldwide sport, played by perhaps thirty million competitive players and by uncountable millions who play less seriously. However, the game itself has not changed in essence since its earliest days, though it is faster, more subtle and more demanding than it was even only twenty years ago.
Ping-pong Diplomacy
One of the first public hints of improved U.S.-China relations came on April 6, 1971, when the American Ping-Pong team, in Japan for the 31st World Table Tennis Championship, received a surprise invitation from their Chinese colleagues for an all-expense paid visit to the People's Republic. Time magazine called it "The ping heard round the world." On April 10, nine players, four officials, and two spouses stepped across a bridge from Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland, ushering in an era of "Ping-Pong diplomacy." They were the first group of Americans allowed into China since the Communist takeover in 1949.
In various ping-pong games, the most famous is the world championship competition, which was held once a year at the beginning, now, it is held twice a year ever since 1957.
In 1904, a shanghai shop keeper called Wang Dao WU, brought 10 sets of table tennis tools home, the game was therein introduced to china.
History of Swimming
The English are considered the first modern society to develop swimming as a sport. By 1837, regular swimming competitions were being held in London's six artificial pools, organized by the National Swimming Society in England. As the sport grew in popularity many more pools were built, and when a new governing body, the Amateur Swimming Association of Great Britain, was organized in 1880, it numbered more than 300 member clubs.
In 1896, swimming became an Olympic sport for men with the 100 metres and 1500 metres freestyle competitions held in open water. Soon after, as swimming gained popularity, more freestyle events were added, followed by the backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and finally, the individual medley.
The first modern Olympic Games had only four swimming events, three of them freestyle. The second Olympics in Paris in 1900 included three unusual swimming events. One used an obstacle course; another was a test of underwater swimming endurance; the third was a 4,000-metre event, the longest competitive swimming event ever. None of the three was ever used in the Olympics again.
For a variety of reasons, women were excluded from swimming in the first several Olympic Games. In 1896 and again in 1906, women could not participate because the developer of the modern games, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, held firmly to the assumption, common in the Victorian era, that women were too frail to engage in competitive sports. It was only at the 1912 Games when women's swimming made its debut at the prompting of the group that later became known as the International Olympic Committee.
From the humble beginning with four swimming events, the Olympics have developed to 32 swimming races, 16 for men and 16 for women. The Special Olympics, competitive swimming for people with disabilities, has 22 events for men and 22 for women.
