Unit 3 The meaning of colour Welcome to the unit To learn to talk about your favourite colour and explain your reason To find out different meanings of colours in different cultures To discuss particular colours that are used for special events The world is full of colors. Without color, the world would be a far less interesting place. Which color do you like best and why? Purple purple black green gray blue the Colour? Why red pink yellow brown white orange Of all the colors, I prefer red color. Because, as far as I am concerned, red can represent many things and has many symbolic meanings in China. Usually, Chinese like to associate happy and successful things with red. For instance, in Chinese there are phrases such as “红利”、“红火 ”、“红包” (to express happy or fortunate things) “披红”、“开门红”、“满堂红” (to express successful things or good wishes for the future). Also, as we all know, our national flag, to which we salute every day, is five-star red flag. The red color of the flag represents the revolution, the blood and lives of revolutionary martyrs. There are many other examples of the red colors popularity in China. So, in my opinion, red is the most widely-used color in china and its my favorite color. Discussion: What does red, yellow, blue or other colors mean? Red signifies the choleric temperament. Red is generally taken to be the color of life, of the glowing sun and of fire. Love and joy, rage and anger are the polar values of the color red. Red is said to make the blood boil, to increase the pulse rate, to raise the blood pressure and the rate of breathing. Red is also the color of desire. Red generally supports the circulatory functions and is applied with success to combat anemia, asthma, diseases of the larynx, certain skin diseases and chronic coughs. Yellow is the symbol of the sun at the zenith. Yellow is the brightest of all colors. In the psychology of colors, yellow stands for detached serenity. Yellow reflects light in all directions, thereby creating an impression of liberation; it cancels out any feeling of heaviness or oppression. Professor Luscher writes that the color yellow drives us forward towards new, modern frontiers, and that it is therefore future oriented. Yellow Blue is the color of peace and infinity. Blue profoundly calms and relaxes us. Our bodies and minds are conveyed to a state of peace, repose and softness. Blue Orange is the color of cheerfulness and gaiety. Being a color mixed from red and yellow, it stands for kind-heartedness and warm-heartedness of an individual. Orange symbolizes the rising sun; it makes us alert and cheerful. It causes stimulation, warmth and happiness. Orange fills us with joy and cheerfulness. It affects both our bodies and our minds. Orange In our daily life, people often can imagine something from a certain kind of color. So, have a try and tell your classmates, what can you imagine from the following colors (use some adjectives to describe it)? color What you imaginecolor Red Orange excited, enthusiastic, noble happy, energetic, active color What you imaginecolor Yellow Purple Green Blue Gray Black bright, hopeful, joyful mysterious, gentle, elegant peaceful, comfortable, fresh wise, outgoing, fresh depressed, pessimistic serious, calm, firm Look at the pictures and answer questions: 1. What is this building? 2. Can you describe the national flag of any particular country? 3. Why does each country have its own national flag with its own pattern and colors? 1. It is the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the USA. 3. Each country has a unique culture, tradition and history. The pattern and colors of the national flags are chosen to symbolize these elements. German Indonesia Canada 1. Do you know what the name the flower is? Tulip 2. What do you know about this flower? The tulip was originally a wild flower, growing in Central Asia. It was introduced in Western Europe and the Netherlands in the 17th century. Now it is the national flower of Netherlands. Why do you think many people like tulips? Many people like tulips because of their bright colors and frilly petals. Tulips have become a huge business in the Netherlands. Tourists from all over the world come to enjoy these flowers in spring every year. Beijing Opera 1. What colors are used for different roles in Chinese opera? 2. What do the terms sheng dan jing and chou in Beijing opera refer to? 1. In Chinese opera, differently colored faces represent different personalities. For example, red means bravery and loyalty. White represents cunning. Black suggests fierceness or violence. 2. These are four different types of roles in Beijing opera. sheng and dan are the positive male and female roles. jing refers to the supporting role. chou is the clown or someone who has negative features. Match the masks with the characters: Zhang Fei 张飞 Cao Cao 曹操 Guan Yu 关羽 A Brief Introduction of Beijing Opera B