Chinese Culture

I've been eating a lot of Chinese food lately and watching a lot of old Chinese movies on youtube. I've decided to become better exposed to Chinese culture by memorizing 6 Chinese songs which to me exemplify the many faces of China and Chinese culture. I also plan to memorize the Bodhisattva vows in Mandarin.

National Anthem of the People's Republic of China (Mandarin)

义勇军进行曲

I'll Make a Man Out of You, from Mulan (Mandarin)

男子汉

A Man of Determination/ On the General's Orders (Mandarin)

男兒當自強/ 將軍令

The melody is very old and often associated with 19th century Kung Fu master Wong Fei Hung because its in the hundred odd films that revolve around him. He was one of the Ten Tigers of Canton, a hero in the anti-Imperialist struggle of the day, and a master of martial arts and Traditional Chinese Medicine. The song was given words for Jet Li's "Once Upon a Time in China" series. Makes me want to do pushups.

The Internationale(Mandarin)

國际歌

In That Far Away Place (Mandarin)

在那遥远的地方

A beautiful, beautiful song that makes me cry. Sung by John Denver and Paul Robeson! Known by all Chinese people.

Has the power to make a Chinese person very emotional. Can make most Chinese women fall in love.

Rainy Night Flower (Minnan/Hokkien)

雨 夜 花 

A beautiful, beautiful song that makes me cry. I find its lyrics beautiful. The song has subtle political significance I won't go into here. Basically, I feel I should learn at least one song in a dialect that is not Mandarin.

A flower on a rainy night A flower on a rainy night Fell on the ground in wind and rain Out of everyone's sight It sighs day and night It has fallen not to return again.  A flower on the ground A flower on the ground Who pays attention to it? Merciless rain, merciless rain It has no concern for our future It is not mindful for our frailty Covering our destiny with darkness Causing us to fall from the branch Out of everyone's sight  Raindrops, raindrops Lead us into the pool of suffering Not mindful of our frailty Covering our destiny with darkness Causing us to fall from the branch 

Out of everyone's sight.