英語本科從奧運(yùn)會(huì)看中西方文化差異

TheDifferencesBetweenChineseandWesternCultureinOlympicGames吉林農(nóng)業(yè)科技學(xué)院學(xué)士學(xué)位論文論文題目：從奧運(yùn)會(huì)看中西方文化差異年級(jí)專業(yè)：學(xué)生姓名：學(xué)號(hào)：指導(dǎo)教師：評(píng)閱教師：完成日期：吉林農(nóng)業(yè)科技學(xué)院JilinAgriculturalScienceandTechnologyThesisforBachelor’sDegreeTitle：TheDifferencesBetweenChineseandWesternCultureinOlympicGamesMajor：EnglishName：Number：Tutor：Date：PAGEIII摘要本篇論文探討了在奧運(yùn)會(huì)中體現(xiàn)出的中西方文化差異。隨著奧運(yùn)會(huì)參加國(guó)的增多，奧運(yùn)會(huì)已漸漸成為溝通中西方文化的橋梁。本文主要以北京奧運(yùn)會(huì)和雅典奧運(yùn)會(huì)為例，探討中西方文化在科技、體育、人文文化等三方面的差異。但是，隨著國(guó)際的交流與融合，中西方文化會(huì)在交流中共同發(fā)展，并共同為促進(jìn)世界文化發(fā)展作出貢獻(xiàn)。關(guān)鍵字：奧運(yùn)會(huì)；文化差異；跨文化交際AbstractThisthesisexploresthedifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternculture.OlympicGameshavealreadybecomeabridgebetweenChineseandwesterncultureasmoreandmorecountriestakepartinOlympics.ThisthesistakesBeijingOlympicGamesandAthensOlympicsGamesasanexampletodiscussthedifferencesinthethreeaspectsofsportsculture,scienceculture,andhumanisticculture.However,withtheinternationalcommunicationandintegration,Chineseandwesternculturewillbedevelopedincommoncommunication.Thiswillplayasignificantroletopromotethedevelopmentofcultureintheworld.KeyWords:OlympicGames;CulturalDifferences;InterculturalCommunicationContent摘要 IAbstract IIContent IIIChapter1Introduction 11.1TheintroductionofChinesecultureinBeijingOlympicGames 11.1.1TorchofBeijingOlympicGames 11.1.2EmblemofBeijingOlympicGames 21.1.3MascotofBeijingOlympicGames 21.1.4MedalofBeijingOlympicGames 31.1.5Picturescroll 31.2TheintroductionofwesterncultureinAthensOlympicGames 31.2.1EmblemofAthensOlympicGames 41.2.2TorchinAthensOlympicGames 41.2.3MascotinAthensOlympicGames 41.2.4Prehistoriccultureperiod 41.2.5Mycenaeancultureperiod 51.2.6Byzantinecultureperiod 5Chapter2DifferencesbetweenChinesecultureandWestcultureinBeijingOlympicGamesandAthensOlympicGames 72.1Differencesinsportsculture. 72.1.1CharacteristicsofChinesesportsculture 72.1.2CharacteristicsofWesternsportsculture 82.2Differencesinscienceculture 102.2.1CharacteristicsofChinesesciencecultureinBeijingOlympics 102.2.2CharacteristicsofwesternsciencecultureinAthensOlympics 112.3Differencesinhumanisticculture 122.3.1CharacteristicsofhumanisticcultureinBeijingOlympics. 122.3.2CharacteristicsofhumanisticcultureinAthensOlympics 14ChapterThreeReasonsforthedifferencesbetweenChineseandWesternculture 163.1Theimpactofthegeographicalenvironment 163.2Theimpactofthecultureorigin 163.3Theimpactoftheeconomicsystem 17Conclusion 18Bibliography 19Acknowledgement 20PAGE19Chapter1IntroductionThemodernOlympicGamesaremajorinternationalevents.TheOlympicGamesareconsideredtobetheworld’sforemostsportscompetitionwithmorethan200nations’participating.TheGamesoccureveryfouryears.TheoriginoftheOlympicGamesisancientGreece.Andit’snameduetoOlympia.TheoriginalofOlympicsisshroudedinmysteryandlegend;oneofthemostpopularmythsidentifiesHeraclesandhisfatherZeusastheprogenitorsoftheGames.Accordingtolegend,itwasHeracleswhofirstcalledtheGames“Olympic”andestablishedthecustomofholdingthemeveryfouryears.TodaytheOlympicGameshavealreadybecomeasymbolofpeaceandfriendship.Itisnotonlyacomprehensive,constantanduniversalactivitywhichmergesintophysicalculture,educationbutalsoreflectionofculturaltransmission.From241participantsrepresenting14nationsin1896,theGameshavegrowntoabout10,500competitorsfrom204nationsatthe2012SummerOlympicGames,nowitisnotonlyaplaceforsportscompetitionbutalsoagoodplacetoshowourowncultureandcommunicationwithothers’.1.1TheintroductionofChinesecultureinBeijingOlympicGamesThe2008BeijingSummerOlympicGameswasamajorinternationalmulti-sporteventthattookplaceinBeijing,China,fromAugust8to24,2008.Fromthedesignof“DancingBeijing”emblemtoclosingceremony,theBeijingOlympicGames1.1.1TorchofBeijingOlympicGamesThedesignofthe2008OlympicTorchwasbasedontraditionalscrollsandusedatraditionalChinesedesignknownasthe“PropitiousClouds”.Thetorchcreativeinspirationisfromthe“Originofsymbioticharmonyinclusive”and“propitiousclouds”pictorial.Theauspiciouscloudscultureconceptisonthemillenniumtimespan,theyrepresentthe“Originofsymbioticandharmoniouscommunion”.ImagesarerepresentativeoftheChineseculturalsymbols.TheshapeofthetorchwasborrowedfromtraditionalChinesescroll.Paper,oneoftheFourGreatInventionsofancientChina,wasspreadtothewestthroughtheSilkRoad.Thespreadofhumancivilizationwasgreatlyhelpedbytheinventionofpaper.UsingredpaintinthetorchwhichisoriginatedfromtheHandynastyisobviouslydifferentfrompreviousOlympictorchdesign.Thecontrastbetweenredandsilvercolorcreatesastrikingvisualwhichhaveanadvantagetoallformsofmediatransmission.Torchevenlysplitratiofromtoptobottom,PropitiousCloudslogoandthreedimensionalreliefofthewholeprocessdesignelegantgorgeoustorch,whichismeaningful.1.1.2EmblemofBeijingOlympicGamesEveryemblemoftheOlympictellsastory.WiththeinspirationfromthetraditionalChineseartform-calligraphicart,thecharacter“Jing”isdevelopedintotheformofadancinghumanbeing,reflectingtheidealofa“NewOlympics”.“DancingBeijing”servesasaclassicchapteroftheOlympicepicinscribedbythespiritoftheChinesenation,representthedeepersoftheancientcivilization.“DancingBeijing”isaChineseSeal.Itisasymboloftrustandanexpressionofselfconfidence,standingforthesolemnyetsacredpromisethatBeijinghasmadetotheworldandtoallmankind.Itservesasthecity’sforemostappearance.Itisanimagethatshowstheeasternwaysofthinkingandthenation’slastingappealembodiedinChinesecharacters.ItisanexpressionthatconveystheuniqueculturalqualityandeleganceofChinesecivilization.TheemblemisafavoritecoloroftheChinesepeople.ThecolorredcarriesChinesepeople’slongingforluckandhappinessandtheirexplanationoflife.RedisthecoloroftheSunandtheHolyFire,inChineseculture,representinglifeandanewbeginning.ItalsoextendsthetotemoftheChinesenation.Theformofarunninghumanbeingstandsforthebeautyandmagnificenceoflife.Itsgracefulcurvesarelikethebodyofawrigglingdragon,relatingthepastandfutureofonsamecivilization.1.1.3MascotofBeijingOlympicGamesThemascotofBeijingOlympicGamesiscalledFuwa.Fivemascotsareapanda,fish,theOlympicflame,swallows,andtheimageofTibetinSerow.TheirnamesareBeibei,Jingjing,Huanhuan,Yingying,Nini.Theirprototypeandheaddressimplytherelationshipbetweenhumanandocean,forest,fire,earthandsky.ThedesignofimageappliesChinesetraditionalartformandshowsChinesesplendidculture.TheprototypeofBeibeiisfish.FishandwaterinChineseculturearerepresentprosperousandharvest.Chinesepeopleoftenuseanidiom-thecarphasleapedintothedragon’sgatetoexpressone’scareeranddreamrealize.Jingjingisacutepanda.Itcomesfromforest,representingtheharmonybetweenmanandnatureinChineseculture.Huanhuanisthechildoffire,symbolizingtheOlympicFlamandthepassionofsport.InChineseculturefireisthemeaningofenthusiasm.Huanhuan’sheaddressderivesfromtheflamepatterninDunhuangfrescoes.YingyingisaserowfromChinesewesternarea.Niniisaswallow.“Swallow”representsancientBeijingandgoodluckyinChineseculture.1.1.4MedalofBeijingOlympicGamesThemedalsreflectshonorableandelegance,containingstrongChinesecharacteristicsandcarriesforwardtheOlympicculture.InfrontofthemedalisthetraditionalOlympicpicture.Whileontheback,themedalisinlaidwithjadewiththeBeijingGamesemblemengravedinthemetalcenterpiece.InancientChinese,jadessignifyvirtuethusjadeisoftenrelatedtogoodnature.BeijingOlympicGamesmedalboastsstrongChinesecharacteristicsandcarriesforwardtheOlympicculture,showcasingbeautifulappearanceanddecency.1.1.5PicturescrollThetheatricalperformanceisstartingfromaChinesepicturescroll.ThepicturerepresentsFourTreasuresoftheStudy—writingbrush,inkstick,paperandinkstone.ByusingFourTreasuresoftheStudy,Chineseculturecouldbeheritage,Chinesehistorycouldberecorded.ThesefourthingshaveagreatinfluencetoChineseculture.1.2TheintroductionofwesterncultureinAthensOlympicGamesThe2004SummerOlympicGameswereapremiermulti-sporteventheldinAthens,Greece,from13to29August2004withthemottoWelcomeHomes.ThesuccessofAthensinsecuringthe2004GameswasbasedlargelyonAthens’appealtoOlympichistoryandtheemphasisthatitplacedonthepivotalrolethatGreeceandAthenscouldplayinpromotingOlympismandtheOlympicMovement.Greeceistheoriginalofwesternculture.Andfromthedesignofemblemtoclosingceremony,theAthensOlympicGames1.2.1EmblemofAthensOlympicGamesThe2004OlympicGamesemblemportrayanolivewreath,orkotinos,abranchfromanolivetreeintertwinedinacircle.TheemblemisareferencetotheancientOlympicGames,wherethekotinoswastheofficialawardofOlympicchampions.Inaddition,theolivewasthesacredtreeofAthens.ThecolorsoftheemblemsymbolizetheshadesofwhiteandbluefoundintheGreekcountryside.InancientGreece,wreathisasymbolofhonorofchampion.Olivebranchisthereferenceofpeaceandthepicturewhichisorganizedbyolivebranchrepresentslife,skyandocean.1.2.2TorchinAthensOlympicGamesAthensOlympictorchdesignisoliveleaf.Forthousandofyears,oliveiscalledhonortreeinMediterraneancountries.Inthewesternculture,anoliveisthesymbolofpoweraswellasancientsymboloftheAthenscity.ItisalsotheindeliblemarkinGreekMythologyandart.Theolivebranchrepresentspeaceandfree.1.2.3MascotinAthensOlympicGamesAthenaandPhevoswerepresentedtothepublicon4April2002andmadeanimpactfromtheverybeginning.AthenaandPhevosweretwochildren,asisterandabrother,relatedtoancientGreece.ThesourceoftheirinspirationwasanancientGreekdollfromthe7thcenturyBC.Thebell-shapedterracottadollhasmovablelimbsandisdressedinatunic.Inancienttimes,thesedollswereknownas“daidala”.TheirnameswereinspiredbytwoOlympianGods:Athena,goddessofwisdomandpatronofthecityofAthens.Phevos,theOlympiangodoflightandmusic,isknownasApollo.1.2.4PrehistoriccultureperiodInancientAthens,theoriginofprehistoriccultureismainlyfromGreecemyth.The2004OlympicGamesopeningceremonyalsotellsmanyancientstories.Theopeningceremonybeginsfromabunchoffireintocentercistern.Fireisthesymbolofintelligent.Inancientmyth,thegreatPrometheusstolefirefromheavenandcametotheearth,makingpeopleacquireintelligenceandstrength.Sincepeoplehavefire,humanenhancetheabilitytoresistnaturedisasterandultimately,humancansurvivalandreproduction.While,waterwhichreflectsloveandfreedomrepresentsAegeanSea.AhugeCarlaNickstatueslowlyrosefromthelakethenafantasticancientGreekpresentsinfrontofus.InancientGreekculture,CarlaNickstatueistheminiatureofCarlaNickislandwhereisoriginofhuman.TheGodofLoveisaprincipalline,representingpeople’slovetonature,life,imaginationandskills.ThentheopeningceremonypresentsmanyGodinGreecemythinorder.First,ahorsewithwingsisthesonofPoseidon,Bacchus.Then,AthenawhoisthedaughterofZeus,inGreekmythsheisthegodofindustry,city,artandintelligence.1.2.5MycenaeancultureperiodIntheAthensOlympicGamesopeningceremony,thegalleyofhistorypassesCretecultureperiod,MycenaecultureperiodandByzantineChristcultureperiod.StatueartistswereshowedinfrontofusinCretecultureperiod.CretecultureisanancientcultureinAegeanregionwhichisalsocalledMinoancivilization,mainlydevelopinginCreteIsland.Themostimportantartistsexistinthisperiodispotteries,palaces,murals,stonecarvingaswellasemblem.Linearspirals,triangle,crossshaped,fishbonearethemaincharacteristicsofceramics.Inthemediumterm,thedesignofMycenaeanGreeceshowsusmanyartworksandbuildings.Theartworksstyleinthisperiodfromotherperiods.Theartworksadopttheadvantagesofotherartstyleinthesameage,especiallyinitslaterstages.Asforthebuildings,therearemainlytwoforms.Oneformisallroomsthatfurnishedaroundacenterofcourtyard.Theotherformisthemainroom,calledmegaron,thatindependentexistence.Thetwoformsisformedbythereasonofgeography1.2.6ByzantinecultureperiodInByzantinecultureperiod,theprincipalpartintheopeningceremonyisChristculture.ByzantinecultureisapearlinancientcultureofEuropeandoneofthemostinsignificantpartsinthehumanculture.InfluencedbyChrist,thecharacteristicofByzantineartpresentsabstractionanddistortion.InheritanceofByzantinecultureofancientGreeceandRomeculturechieflyrepresentstwoparts.First,intheprocessofacceptingancientculture,Byzantinesisjustimitationnotcopy.Theyfocusonsomethingthatisusefulintheirsociallifeandlearntheskillsandwaystocreateclassicalmasterpiece.Second,onthebasisofactivelyabstracttheessenceofclassicmasterpiece,Byzantinespayattentiontodevelopcreationandformtheirowncharacteristic.Onthefundamentaloftheirownancientculture,andintheprocessofimitatingancientwriters’masterpieces,intheircreation,manydifferentculturefactorsarecontained.Gradually,Byzantinesdevelopedindependent,relativelycomplete,richcontentculturesystem.Byzantinecultureisnotonlyfoundintheaspectofculture,historyandphilosophybutalsohasspecialtraitsintheaspectofmedicine,buildingtechnologyandplasticart.Chapter2DifferencesbetweenChinesecultureandWestcultureinBeijingOlympicGamesandAthensOlympicGamesOlympicGamesopeningceremonywhichisthemostinsignificantpartduringOlympicGamesisthebrightestcivilizationflowerthatOlympicconsecratehumanbeings.Samaranchsaid,theOlympicGameopeningandclosingceremoniesaremainlyusedtopresentthehostcityculturetoinnumerableaudiences.ThehostcityofOlympicGamesisnotcompletionifnocultureinvolved.ReviewingfromOlympichistory,thehostcitytakesadvantageofOlympicGamesopeningceremonytospreadtheirculture,history,comprehensivestrength.Eachcountryintheworldhastheiruniqueculture,andOlympicopeningceremonyabsolutelyofferaperfectstagetoshowtheirfeature.BeijingandAthensaretheancientculturecitywithlonghistory.ChinaandGreeceareregardedastheoriginoftheChineseandwesternculture.BothBeijingOlympicGamesopeningceremonyandAthensOlympicGamesopeningceremonypresenttheirhistoryandculturefeatures.Thus,IthinkbothBeijingOlympicGamesandAthensOlympicGamesopeningceremonyhighlightthefollowingpoints:2.1Differencesinsportsculture.Sportsphenomenonandsportslifestylecanshowthefeatureofculture.Chinesesportsculturedevelopedfromtheuniquesocialenvironment,formingtheclosedandintrovertsportsculture.While,westerncultureissomekindconquerculture.Itencouragespeopletochallengethemselves,developpeople’spotential,breakthroughthelimitationofhumancapacity.Thusthecenterofwesternsportscultureiscompetition.2.1.1CharacteristicsofChinesesportscultureTheeconomicbaseofChinesesportsculturebirthanddevelopmentisagricultureeconomicwhichfocusonthethoughtofharmonybetweenmanandnature,developmentaccordingtothenatureregular.ThusthefeatureofharmonyistheprofoundconnotationofChinesesportsculture.Basedonthepurposeofbodybuilding,keepingingoodhealthy,Chineseancientsportscultureispaymoreattentiononhealthmaintenancethanphysicalexercise.Chinesehumanisticspiritwhichishanddownfromancienttimesisthespiritofharmonybetweenmanandnature,thedoctrineofthemean.Accordingtothatthoughts,ChinesesportscultureformedakindofspiritthatputmentaltrainingabovephysicaltrainingsuchasthetraditionalChinesesporttaichi.Thecharacteristicsofthatkindsportisovercominghardnesswithsoftnessortobraketowait,ignoringthedisturbancefromtheoutsideworld.ThusharmonyisthethemeofChinesesportsculture.Asfortheviewofcompetitivesportsculture,thecenterofChinesesportscultureisspiritoriented.Undertheruleofspirit,amajorcharacteristicofChinesesportsisphysicalandmentalhealth.TheopinionofChinesesportscultureisculturepeople’stemperament,qualitiesandspiritualhealthcarethroughphysicaltraining.The2008BeijingOlympicopeningceremonyshowsourspecialsport—taichitothewholeworld.TaichiasChinesetypicalsportculturealsoheritageourtraditionalculture.Taichiisakindoftraditionalsportsculturewiththespiritofinternalandexternalandrepairing,containingthecharacteristicofbodybuildingandcultivatingpeople’smoralcharacter.TaichiisatraditionalgongfufistwhichisaffectbyChinesetraditionalphilosophy.ThebasisofTaichitheoryisyin-yangtheory.Taichiyin-yangtheoryadmitsthatnaturegoesfullcircleandthecenterofthattheoryistheharmonybetweenmanandnaturethought.Theharmonybetweenmanandnaturecontainsthesignificantthatmancannotdepartfromnature,whilethehighestidealofhumanlifeisharmonybetweenmanandnature.Fromtheaspectofthought,taichirequireaperson’sthoughtintegratenatureinordertopeoplecanachievedaoandqithatexistintheuniversal.Thatistheideathattheharmonybetweenmanandnaturethoughtrepresents.2.1.2CharacteristicsofWesternsportscultureTheoriginalofwesternsportscultureisAthens.TheGreececulturehasafundamentalinfluencetomodernwesternsports.Greeceisamountainouscountry,withcoastsonthreesides.ThemostpartofGreecedonotappropriateforagriculturebutoverseastrade.Thus,Greeksdevelopnationalpersonalityofself-improvement,striving,warmlypursuit,andgoodatcompeting.Greececulturehaspassedthroughthephaseofrenaissance,industryrevolutionandgraduallyformedmarineculturewiththecharacteristicsofregardingreligionasitscore,pursuitindividualfreedom,advocatingindividualstruggle.Westernerspaymoreattentiononbodybuildingandthecapabilityofcompetition.Theyadorethereflectionofstrengthandbeauty.Theirsportscultureisakindofcompetitionsportswhichpurposesisfocusonvictoryandloses.Thesportsprocessemphasizeoncompetition.Westernsportsculturehasthefeatureofcompetitionandfunctionfromthebeginning.Westernhumanisticspirithighlightsegotism,admirescompetitionandtakescareofpersonaldevelopment.Westernsportsculturepushtheideaofsupernatural,conquernatureandchallengenature,eventuallyoversteppingphysiologicallimitduringtheprocessofchallengingandconquering.Higher,faster,strongeristhemainstreamofwesternsportsculture.Westernsportcultureisformedonthebasisofadorestrengthandpraisehumanbody.Westernsportscultureadvocatepromotingmuscularity,strongbonesthroughaseriesofactivemovementtoreachthepurposeofhealthy.Thuswesternsportsculturestressesphysicaltrainingabovementaltraining.IntheAthens2004OlympicGamesopeningceremony,themostimpressedpeoplethingistheancientOlympicGamescontestantmodeling.Everyactivityphysicalexercisepicture,suchasrunning,wrestlingandjavelinthrow,expressGreekscreationthatwarisstoppedbecauseofsports.InancientGreekwar,spearandshieldwereusedaswarinstrument,whilenowtheyhavetransitedtotheinstrumentforsportstobringhealth.ItisthestrongerfeelingofhatecontinuouswarthatpromotesdevelopmentofOlympicGames.Thistransitionisanotherkindofcompetition.Thesecontestantsmodelingin2004openingceremonyexpresspeople’slovetostrengthandspeed.Pliableandtough,dexterity,paceshavebecamethenecessaryfactorsforphysicaltraining.Running,wrestling,javelinthrowastraditionalwesternsportsexpressOlympicspiritthatishigher,faster,andstronger.AlthoughChineseandwesternsportscultureexistmanydifferencesintermsoforigin,cultureconnotation,development,bothofthemmakeacontributiontoworldphysicaltrainingcareer.Asaspecialculturephenomenon,theprosperityofphysicaltrainingcanstrengthenhumanhealthyaswellasenhancenationalconfidence.Physicaltrainingisalsoaperfectinstrumenttospreadacountry’sculture.Underthebackgroundofeconomicglobalization,bothofthemhavetherespectofadvantageanddisadvantage.Thus,theyneedtoabsorbeachotherandpromotetheworldsportsculturedevelopment.2.2DifferencesinsciencecultureAsoneofthefourancientcivilizationcountriesintheworld,Chinaisanationwithalongagriculturehistory.Chinaisfamousforitsscientificdiscoveriesinancienttimes.Forthousandsofyears,Chinesefourgreatinventionsandallkindsofadvancedtechnologywhichwereinventedindifferentdynastieshavemadeagreatcontributiontopromotethedevelopmentofscienceandtechnology.AncientGreecealsohasalonghistoryandincomparabletechnicalculture.Itsuniquelogicaldeductionsarethefundamentalofthedevelopmentofmodernscienceandtechnology.AlthoughmanydifferencescanbefoundinChinesesciencecultureandAthensscienceculture,theyhaveahugecontributiontothesciencedevelopmentoftheworld.Thus,IthinkbothBeijingOlympicGamesandAthensOlympicGamesopeningceremonyhighlightthefollowingpointsintermsofscienceculture:2.2.1CharacteristicsofChinesesciencecultureinBeijingOlympicsThevividcharacteristicsareexperienceandpracticabilityinChinesescienceculture.AndthatkindofsciencecharacteristicisformedfromtheperiodofQingDynastytotheSouthernandNorthernDynasty.Inthishistoryperiod,Chinesescienceandtechnologyinventionsreflectedthecharacteristicsofexperienceandpracticability,suchasagriculturescienceandtechnologyworkcalledQiMinYaoShu,NineChaptersofArithmeticinthefieldofmathematicsandoneofthefourgreatinventionsPapermaking.InventionsinthenextdynastysuchasthedynastyofTang,Song,Yuan,Ming,Qing,areheritagethecharacteristicofexperienceandpracticability.Theimportantachievementswhichhavemadegreatcontributiontotheworldsuchastheinventionofcompass,printingandgunpowderwerefollowedthefeatureofexperienceandpracticability.Theseachievementscamefromexperienceandserviceforpractice.IntheBeijingOlympicGamesopeningceremonyalsopresentedaudiencestheFourGreatinventions.Inancienttimes,Chinaisoneofthestrongestcountriesintheworld.TheemergenceofFourGreatInventionsinancientChinaisfollowedbythedevelopmentofChina.ThusFourGreatInventionsinancientChinaarereflectedthecharacteristicofexperienceandpracticability.Theinventionofpapermakingisforthepurposeofconvenient.Theinventionofpapergreatlycontributedtothespreadanddevelopmentofcivilization.Beforeitsinvention,bones,tortoiseshells,andbambooslipswereallusedaswritingsurfaces,butasChinesecivilizationdevelopedtheyprovedthemselvesunsuitablebecauseoftheirbulkandweight.Thustheinventionofpapermakingismoresuitableforpeoplewritingthananyothermaterial.InChinese,gunpowderiscalledhuoyao,meaningflamingmedicine.Unlikepaperandprinting,thebirthofgunpowderwasquiteaccidental.Itwasfirstinventedinadvertentlybyalchemistswhileattemptingtomakeanelixirofimmoral