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Classical Chinese

NameClassical Chinese / Literary Chinese
Nativename古文 / 文言
FamilycolorSino-Tibetan
SpeakersNot a spoken language
Regionmainland China; Taiwan; Japan; Korea and Vietnam
Fam2Chinese
ScriptChinese
Iso3lzh
NoticeIPA

     Home | Language | Classical Chinese



Classical Chinese or Literary Chinese (文言文; pinyin: wényánwén) is a traditional style of written Chinese based on the grammar and vocabulary of ancient Chinese, making it different from any modern spoken form of Chinese. Classical Chinese was used for almost all formal correspondence in China until the early 20th century, and also, during various different periods, in Korea, Japan and Vietnam. Among Chinese speakers, Classical Chinese has been largely replaced by written vernacular Chinese ( ; pinyin: báihuà, "plain speech"), a style of writing that is similar to modern spoken Mandarin Chinese, while speakers of non-Chinese languages have largely abandoned Classical Chinese in favor of local vernaculars.

Literary Chinese is known as hanmun in Korean, kanbun in Japanese and Hán Văn in Vietnamese (From 漢文 in all three cases; pinyin: hànwén, "Han writing").

Classical Chinese Video

It's very emotional and powerful playing - a pipa solo style par excellence, by the internationally acclaimed pipa virtuoso Liu Fang - www.liufangmusic.com la beauté, la puissance et la grâce de la musique traditionnelle chinoise, et le charme de la musique classique oriental! The title of this classical master piece is "King Chu doffs his armour" (Ba Wang Xie Jia), from traditional repertoire for pipa solo. It describes a tragic event around 202 BC (see http for more information and a video of higher resolution. About the music: according to Liu Fang, there are different versions for this piece according the schools and and styles of individual performers. This is the version of Wei Zhongle (1909--1998), one of the great pipa masters from the last century; it is very different from the version of Master Lin Chicheng(1922--2006). These differences are very natural for Chinese music from the classical literati tradition (In fact, the differences are expected, not the "sameness" as far as the soul of the music plays a role, see www.philmultic.com ) The pipa has four strings and 30 frets, and is often referred to as Chinese lute or the Flamenco guitar of China, though the playing techniques are quite different. Le pipa chinois est un luth à quatre cordes dont 30 frettes, et est également connue sous le nom de luth chinois ou de la guitare flamenco de la Chine. Die chinesische Pipa ist ein Vier-saitige Laute mit 30 Bünden, und ist auch bekannt als chinesische Laute oder die <b>...</b>
10.85 min. | 4.86 user rating		 I saw this movie in my childhood. And after 10 years I did not remember anything about this movie but I found out it I also don't know how I was able to find out this movie. It's my life. My all times favorite movie. My words will fall short of true meaning what I have inside for this movie. I follow this movie. It's a brilliant mix of fantasy, comedy, romance, horror, erotic, scary and martial arts. The story about the power of love is pretty touching and warm. It's a Chinese/Cantonese classical romantic true love story. It's a masterpiece of Hong Kong Cinema. Sinnui Yauman is without a doubt one of the best ghost stories ever made into film. Written by Songling Pu and directed by Siu-Tung Ching, A Chinese Ghost Story has it all. Ling Choi Sin played by Leslie Cheung is a young man down on his luck that goes in search of a monastery for lodging, deep in the woods, a place the villagers seem very afraid to go near. The trek alone is perilous with wolves, and a crazy Taoist monk lives at the temple. Ling Choi Sin meets Tsing, a beautiful and mysterious young girl who also lives nearby in a deserted temple. She is forced to seduce men for her evil mistress, but when she meets innocent Ling Choi Sin they fall in love. Ling Choi Sin is sort of a bumbling fool but his heart is in the right place, while Tsing tries to protect him from the other spirits in the woods, he tries to protect her from the monk who is trying to kill the spirits in the woods. There's great martial arts <b>...</b>
9.22 min. | 4.78 user rating		 This is a famous ancient guqin masterpiece called "Guangling San" transcribed by guzheng master Wang Changyuan for guzheng solo. Liu Fang performed this piece during the concert at City Theater of Paris on May 8, 2006. The original guqin solo was composed by the renowned scholar and guqin master, Ji Kang, one of the "seven gentlemen in the bamboo forest" in the Wei period (3rd century). www.liufangmusic.net Guzheng (where "Gu" and "Zheng" stand for "ancient" and "zither" or "harp") is one of the most popular traditional instruments from China. It's beautiful and mellow sounds are very attractive. Pipa soloist Liu Fang also has also an excellent command of guzheng playing, particularly for classical styles, as evidenced in this piece. About the music: www.philmultic.com The original guqin solo was composed by the renowned scholar and guqin master, Ji Kang, one of the "seven gentlemen in the bamboo forest" in the Wei period (3rd century). It is said to recount a story in the epoch of the Warring States (around 3rd century BC) about Nie Zheng assassinating the King of the Han Kingdom to avenge the murder of his father. The entire piece is filled with overpowering momentum; the style is unique, expressing deep feelings with intense fight scenes. According to history, the composer, Ji Kang, who refused to serve the tyrant emperor Sima, was persecuted and finally killed by the order of the Emperor. Ji Kang performed this tune for his friends and faithful students on the site <b>...</b>
3.68 min. | 4.86 user rating		 La belleza y gracia de la música tradicional china, relajación y meditación, interpretada por la famosa virtuoso - solista Liu Fang en el laúd chino (pipa, o la guitarra China) y la cítara china (guzheng) - El encanto de la música clásica oriental! Liu Fang plays "mei hua san nong" (Three variation of plum blossom) on guzheng and "Ba Wang xie Jia" on pipa, with introduction by Lorraine Chalifoux of Radio-Canada, extracted from a documentary of CBC TV (BravoCanada). Note that Ms Chalifoux compares Chinese traditional classical music with western classical music such as Bach, Mozart and Beethoven: "Just like the western classical music that can touch the hearts of Chinese people, so the music Liu Fang interprets can equally touch the heart of Quebecoises". Chinesische Musik aus der klassischen Tradition Literaten: Liu Fang spielt die berühmten Guqin-Musik "Drei Variationen von Pflaumenblüte" auf der Zither Guzheng und "Ba Jia Wang Xie" auf der Laute Pipa. Music Video Clip von CBC TV. Chinese traditionele muziek voor luit (of gitaar) pipa en citer guzheng. música tradicional chinesa da tradição clássica literatos para guzheng (cítara chinesa) e pipa (alaúde chinês). Solista: Liu Fang (åè³). ТÑадиÑÐ¸Ð¾Ð½Ð½Ð°Ñ ÐºÐ¸ÑайÑÐºÐ°Ñ Ð¼ÑзÑка Ð¾Ñ ÐºÐ»Ð°ÑÑиÑеÑкой ÑÑадиÑии лиÑеÑаÑоÑов Ð´Ð»Ñ Ð³Ñженг (киÑайÑÐºÐ°Ñ ÑиÑÑа) и пипа (киÑайÑкий лÑÑнÑ). СолиÑÑ: ÐÑ Ð¤Ð°Ð½ (åè³). ì¤êµ­ì íµìì: 리ì°í¡ìë¹íì°ì£¼ä¸­å½çµç¶ã¨å¤ç®å¥èåè³ã®è¸è¡ç­çä¾èªå æ¿å¤§é»è¦å°BRAVOé »éï¼ç¶èï¼2008å¹´ä¸æåäºæ¥ææ­æ¾çç´éçã é裡æéäºçµç¶ <b>...</b>
4.20 min. | 4.92 user rating		 Famous Chinese Classical Music. Return of the Fishing Boat. Imagine you are in the picture, close your eyes and listen to this wonderful piece. This piece should bring you a new experience and great change of emotion when you listen to it.
4.67 min. | 4.95 user rating
Waltz of the flowers, a sad romantic piano love song that I created, inspired by the Chinese classical novel "the story of the stone" ç³é ­è¨/ç´æ¨å¤¢. Hope you like it, happy valentines day! CD, MP3 and sheet music available at www.pianomusicdownload.blogspot.com By the way, it's especially nice to play this piece at 3 o'clock in the morning I feel so peaceful inside when I play this music, it cannot be explained but it does take away all the worries, sadness and anger. It has healing effect and it is magical! (C) 2009 Isisip
3.27 min. | 4.94 user rating		 I saw this movie in my childhood. And after 10 years I did not remember anything about this movie but I found out it I also don't know how I was able to find out this movie. It's my life. My all times favorite movie. My words will fall short of true meaning what I have inside for this movie. I follow this movie. It's a brilliant mix of fantasy, comedy, romance, horror, erotic, scary and martial arts. The story about the power of love is pretty touching and warm. It's a Chinese/Cantonese classical romantic true love story. It's a masterpiece of Hong Kong Cinema. Sinnui Yauman is without a doubt one of the best ghost stories ever made into film. Written by Songling Pu and directed by Siu-Tung Ching, A Chinese Ghost Story has it all. Ling Choi Sin played by Leslie Cheung is a young man down on his luck that goes in search of a monastery for lodging, deep in the woods, a place the villagers seem very afraid to go near. The trek alone is perilous with wolves, and a crazy Taoist monk lives at the temple. Ling Choi Sin meets Tsing, a beautiful and mysterious young girl who also lives nearby in a deserted temple. She is forced to seduce men for her evil mistress, but when she meets innocent Ling Choi Sin they fall in love. Ling Choi Sin is sort of a bumbling fool but his heart is in the right place, while Tsing tries to protect him from the other spirits in the woods, he tries to protect her from the monk who is trying to kill the spirits in the woods. There's great martial arts <b>...</b>
9.67 min. | 4.87 user rating		 Das ganze Lied / the whole piece: www.youtube.com (The whole piece) Klassische chinesische Musik interpretiert von Liu Fang - Meisterin der Pipa, die Seele spricht mit der Laute. "On a theme to dance" (Ge Wu Yin), composed by Liu Tianhua (1895-1932). This clip is live recording of Liu Fang's solo concert at TFF Rudolstadt festival on July 9, 2006 by German TV (ARD1). Liu Tianhua is one of the greatest composers in Chinese history. Though died very young, all his compositions (for both pipa and erhu solo) are masterpieces and have become part of classical repertoire of the music from China. Pipa is a traditional string instrument, often referred to as Chinese lute or guitar. However, the name "pipa" is often confused with wind instrument or "pipe" before its sound being heard. Dies ist einer der drei Meister Stücke für die Laute Pipa von Liu Tianhua (China) komponiert, welche zu der wachsenden traditionellen klassische Repertoire der Music aus China worden sind. Obwohl schon sehr früh verstorben, gilt Liu Tianhua als einer der gröÃten Komponisten der chinesischen Geschichte. Er schrieb drei Stücke für die Pipa solo und auch zahlreiche andere Instrumentalstücke, hauptsächlich für Erhu, der chinesischen Geige; welche alle zu den Meisterwerken des klassischen Repertoires zählen. Dieses Stück wurde vom klassischen indischen Tanz inspiriert. Liu Fang spielte dieses Stück bei dem Festival TFF.Rudolstadt, trat der TV (ARD1) auf. TFF.Rudolstadt is Germany's biggest folk, roots and <b>...</b>
1.93 min. | 4.75 user rating		 Guzheng (where "Gu" and "Zheng" stand for "ancient" and "zither" or "harp") is one of the most popular traditional instruments from China. It's beautiful and mellow sounds are very attractive. Pipa soloist Liu Fang also has also an excellent command of guzheng playing, particularly for classical styles, as evidenced in this piece. Performer: Liu Fang (www.liufangmusic.net) Title: "Seagulls playing in water". This is a traditional piece from the Chinese classical repertoire, recorded live at Liu Fang's solo recital in the Theatre de la Ville of Paris on May 8, 2006. The whole piece is about 6 minutes. Musique tradionnelle chinoise pour la cithare guzheng par Liu Fang. (Source: www.philmultic.com ) å¤ç­åæ²ãå¯é´æ²æ°´ãï¼ åè³å¤ç®ç¨å¥
2.43 min. | 4.84 user rating		 I saw this movie in my childhood. And after 10 years I did not remember anything about this movie but I found out it I also don't know how I was able to find out this movie. It's my life. My all times favorite movie. My words will fall short of true meaning what I have inside for this movie. I follow this movie. It's a brilliant mix of fantasy, comedy, romance, horror, erotic, scary and martial arts. The story about the power of love is pretty touching and warm. It's a Chinese/Cantonese classical romantic true love story. It's a masterpiece of Hong Kong Cinema. Sinnui Yauman is without a doubt one of the best ghost stories ever made into film. Written by Songling Pu and directed by Siu-Tung Ching, A Chinese Ghost Story has it all. Ling Choi Sin played by Leslie Cheung is a young man down on his luck that goes in search of a monastery for lodging, deep in the woods, a place the villagers seem very afraid to go near. The trek alone is perilous with wolves, and a crazy Taoist monk lives at the temple. Ling Choi Sin meets Tsing, a beautiful and mysterious young girl who also lives nearby in a deserted temple. She is forced to seduce men for her evil mistress, but when she meets innocent Ling Choi Sin they fall in love. Ling Choi Sin is sort of a bumbling fool but his heart is in the right place, while Tsing tries to protect him from the other spirits in the woods, he tries to protect her from the monk who is trying to kill the spirits in the woods. There's great martial arts <b>...</b>
3.80 min. | 4.86 user rating

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WU MAN Immeasurable Light - The Classical Review Tweet this news
The Classical Review--Do not be misled by the opening track - a raucous arrangement of a folk song that stems from -Chinese- puppet theatre and in which the ubiquitous Kronos ... - Date : Mon, 15 Nov 2010 08:52:35 GMT+00:00
Little Sister - Variety Tweet this news
Variety---...- '80s through the '90s can now be safely archived, judging by this richly told girl-power fantasy based on a -classical Chinese- "Cinderella" incarnation. ... - Date : Mon, 15 Nov 2010 22:22:34 GMT+00:00
Affordable Chinese cuisine for students - Daily Sundial Tweet this news
Daily Sundial--The entrance to the restaurant is inviting and the atmosphere is enhanced by -classical Chinese- music. The color scheme of the restaurant is red and green. ... - Date : Tue, 26 Oct 2010 23:50:34 GMT+00:00
Stage listings - Vancouver Sun Tweet this news
Vancouver Sun--Dr. Sun Yat-sen -Classical Chinese- Garden, 578 Carrall, Sat.-Sun., to Aug. 29, 7:30 pm, $12-22, call 604-662-3207. The Soap Show » Improvised soap opera ... - Date : Thu, 12 Aug 2010 06:58:25 GMT+00:00
Taiwan teens face hard road to academic excellence - Jakarta Post Tweet this news
Jakarta Post--Earlier this week, she learned she had fallen short, apparently trippe up by several questions in -classical Chinese-. She will attend Taipei's Songshan High ... - Date : Thu, 12 Aug 2010 07:44:58 GMT+00:00
Reviving Traditional Chinese Culture - San Diego Reader Tweet this news
San Diego Reader--Shen Yun Performing Arts takes stage to present -classical Chinese- dance and music. Cast of 100 classical artists, accompanied by live orchestra, ... - Date : Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:02:22 GMT+00:00
Forget Sorrow by Belle Yang - Huffington Post (blog) Tweet this news
Huffington Post (blog)--In China, Yang learns -classic Chinese- painting techniques and gets to know some of her paternal relatives. Her single step to China culminates 14 years ... - Date : Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:36:32 GMT+00:00
'Shen Yun' Plays Civic Theatre, 7/13-15 - Broadway World Tweet this news
Broadway World--Spectacular visuals will transport you to another world, with brilliant costumes, animated backdrops, masterful choreography, elegant -classical Chinese- ... - Date : Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:14:32 GMT+00:00
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden kicks off with Enchanted - Straight.com Tweet this news
Straight.com--We live in one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, and this collaborative trio�which kicks off the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen -Classical Chinese- ... - Date : Tue, 06 Jul 2010 21:31:05 GMT+00:00
Chinese Communists Forced Ukrainian Officials to Cancel the Culture Show - The Epoch Times Tweet this news
The Epoch Times--(The Epoch Times) KIEV, Ukraine�Shen Yun Performing Arts, the world's premier -Chinese Classical- dance and music company, has been cancelled in Odessa, ... - Date : Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:45:53 GMT+00:00

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