An enlightening trip to the Shaolin Temple

精彩導讀

少林寺是世界著名的佛教寺院，被譽為“天下第一名剎”。因其歷代少林武僧潛心研創和不斷發展的少林功夫而名揚天下，素有“天下功夫出少林，少林功夫甲天下”之說。在文中，作為一名美國女孩，作者有幸和男友去少林寺旅游，了解到少林文化的內涵。

Autumn is a tourist season，and many foreigners gather to see Beijing's historic sights.But another attraction deserves mention—the Shaolin Temple.Think of Kung Fu Panda， Jet Li and Bruce Li—kungfu counts among China's most popular cultural exports to the West，and Westernersappear to havea lasting love with it.

Kungfu， or Chinese martial arts， includes hundreds of fighting styles and different classification，with the most famous perhaps beingthe difference between“Northern Kicks”and“Southern Fists”.

My Chinese boyfriend loves kungfu movies，and said that when he was a child heused to watchthem during his summer and winter vacations.When I asked him why， he said kungfu is “full of feelings”， and the theme song of Jet Li's 1982 movie Shaolin Temple even brings tears to his eyes.In fact，the Shaolin Temple in central China's Henan Province has its own brand of kungfu，which is why we went to visit it.

We had a short conversation with a monk （和尚）after we arrived there.When my boyfriend inquired （詢句）into studying kungfu at the temple for several months， the monk replied studentsin their thirtiesare a rarity， and usually they are younger.In fact， we met with some students who seemed to be in their teens，but I am not sure how studying kungfumatchestheir study schedules.

When wesaid goodbye tothe monks， I extended （伸出）my hand but they didn't shake it—my gesture was considered inappropriate （不合適的）.I later learned that I should have put my palms（手掌）together and bowed.

We met two pilgrims （朝圣者）on our way up the mountain.Both travelers cheered us on with the Chinese words “jiayou” and gave us a walking stick.A Buddhist nun （佛教尼姑）showed me how to take the walking stick correctly by grabbing it from the top.On our way down，I passed the walking stick on to an elderly lady for her journey，wondering if she had practiced kungfu in her younger years.

When I came out from the monastery （寺院），I began to understand that kungfu is not just about demonstrating some deft （靈巧的）moves，but a philosophy and a way of life that are cultivated both inside and outside of Shaolin's walls.

譯文助讀

秋天是旅游旺季，許多外國人聚集在這里觀看北京的歷史名勝。但另一個景點值得一提，它就是少林寺。想一想功夫熊貓，想一想李連杰，想一想李小龍，在向西方輸出最流行的中國文化中，功夫起到舉足輕重的作用，西方人似乎對它有著持久的熱愛。

功夫，或中國武術，包括數百種格斗風格和不同的分類方法，其中最著名的可能是“北腿”和“南拳”的區別。

我的中國男友喜歡看功夫電影，說他小時候常在暑假和寒假看。當我問他為什么時，他說功夫“充滿感情”，李連杰1982年的電影《少林寺》的主題曲甚至讓他流淚。事實上，中國中部河南省的少林寺有自己的功夫品牌，這就是我們去參觀的原因。

我們到達少林寺后和一個和尚進行了簡短的交談。當我男朋友詢問是否可以在寺院學習幾個月的功夫時，和尚回答說，三十多歲的學生是罕見的，他們通常更年輕。事實上，我們遇到了一些學生，他們似乎十幾歲，但我不知道他們學習功夫的時間是怎么和他們的文化學習時間相配合的。

當我們向和尚道別時，我伸出我的手，但他們沒有握手——我的手勢被認為是不合適的。后來我知道我應該把手掌放在一起并且鞠躬。

我們在上山的路上遇到了兩個朝圣者。兩位旅行者用中文為我們加油，并給了我們一根手杖。一個尼姑教我如何正確地拿手杖，要從上面抓住它。在我們下山的路上，我把手杖遞給了一位年邁的女士，想知道她年輕時是否練過功夫。

當我從寺院出來的時候，我開始明白功夫不僅僅是展示一些靈巧的動作，而且是在少林寺內外培養的一種哲學和生活方式。

Language study

Vocabulary

1.appear to do sth似乎要做某事

2.the difference between...and...……和……的區別

3.used to do sth過去常常做某事

4.in fact事實上；實際上

5.in one's thirties在某人三十幾歲時

6.say goodbye to sb和某人告別

Difficult sentence

In fact，the Shaolin Temple in central China's Henan Province has its own brand of kungfu，which is why we went to visit it.事實上，中國中部河南省的少林寺有自己的功夫品牌，這就是我們去參觀的原因。

【點石成金】句中含有兩個復合句，which引導非限制性定語從句，在從句中作主語；why引導表語從句，this is why...表示 “這是……的原因”。

句式仿寫

昨天他病得很厲害，這就是他不去上學的原因。（用上which引導非限制性定語從句和why引導的表語從句）

Critical reading

What does the author know about the cultural meaning of kungfu and the Shaolin Temple？