Last Day of My Summer Break

Three mounths and half is the length of my summer break, from middle of May to the end of August. But for me it seems always short. I do not know why time goes more fast staying at home than in school.
Before every vacation I always had a perfect plan, what I was going to do? Trip? Reading? However reality was different, I tended to be lazy at home, getting up late, playing more computer, watching more TV...I hated myself, but I could do nothing about myself. That is why people always say that the biggst enemy is yourself.
The coming semester will be my second year of university life, and I will be a seconf year student. Thinking back two years ago, on this day, I was ready for Hong Kong first time, I was scared, like my trip to Germany this summer. But now I seem OK with my returning to Hong Kong. Next year of this day I will be in Germany again, for one year, I am sure I will be missing home very much.
Time goes really fast...
Things do not change, but we change, it really does!

我過了追星的年齡?


花了我兩天的時間終于把韓劇浪漫滿屋給看完了。
某天早上起來無事可做,便打開了電視,正好在播一出韓劇,也就不痛不癢的看了起來。突然在裏面看到了rain,雖然我不追星,但是對於看帥哥還是沒有意見的,再説rain在裏面的造型也是我喜歡的一類。這下可好,一看就沒有放下來,討厭電視的速度和中文配音,就開始上網看了。沒日沒夜阿。特別喜歡rain飾演的英宰,真是英俊到不行,可愛到不行啊,我難得花痴,真是太丟臉了。。。不過真得很喜歡rain在裏面的笑容,可愛的,撒嬌的,帥氣的。


今天晚上終于完成了,鑒于在電視劇中對rain得好映像,我嘗試了一下他的歌曲,可是不太喜歡,他是一個hip pop和R&B型的歌手,但是這種曲風,我是在沒有好感。可能只是喜歡rain塑造的那個角色吧?應該是的了
果然我已經過了瘋狂追星的年齡了。

My Library Account Record

These was the record from the library of my university. I have checked out so many books within two semesters, but actually I did not finish all of them, some were borrowed but never been read, some were read halfly, did I waste to much time?
(in red are the books I never read, some book I am not sure..I really waste my time!)
Title
Author
Liberalism. Chinese
Gray, John, 1948-
Democracy. Chinese
Arblaster, Anthony
What is the European Union? : nature and prospects / Paul Magnette
Magnette, Paul, 1971-
A survey of European civilization / by Wallace K. Ferguson & Geoffrey Bruun
Ferguson, Wallace Klippert, 1902-
On history / Eric Hobsbawn
Hobsbawm, E. J. (Eric J.), 1917-

The Europeans : a geography of people, culture, and environment / Robert C. Ostergren, John G. Rice
Ostergren, Robert Clifford
Europe : a cultural history / Peter Rietbergen
Rietbergen, P. J. A. N
History of Europe, 1500-1848 / Charles A. Endress
Endress, Charles A
Ancient Greece : a political, social, and cultural history / Sarah B. Pomeroy ... [et al.]

The emergence of Greek democracy : the character of Greek politics, 800-400 BC / W.G. Forrest
Forrest, William George Grieve
European identity and the search for legitimacy / edited by Soledad Garcia

Ancient Greek philosophy : its development and relevance to our time / Robert C. Trundle, Jr
Trundle, Robert C., 1943-
Towards Greek tragedy : drama, myth, society / Brian Vickers
Vickers, Brian
Ancient Greek religion / Jon D. Mikalson
Mikalson, Jon D., 1943-
The Roman world, 44 BC-AD 180 / Martin Goodman, with the assistance of Jane Sherwood
Goodman, Martin, 1953-
Schindler's list (Motion picture)

Greek art / John Boardman
Boardman, John, 1927-
Charlie's angels (Motion picture : 2000)

Religion in the medieval West / Bernard Hamilton
Hamilton, Bernard, 1932-
Does God have a future? : a debate on divine providence / Christopher A. Hall and John Sanders
Hall, Christopher A. (Christopher Alan), 1950-
The future of hope : Christian tradition amid modernity and postmodernity / edited by Miroslav Volf & William Katerberg

The future of Christianity : can it survive? / Arthur J. Bellinzoni
Bellinzoni, Arthur J
The future of Christianity / Alister E. McGrath
McGrath, Alister E., 1953-
Christianity in the 21st century / edited by Deborah A. Brown

The future of the Christian / [by] Elton Trueblood
Trueblood, Elton, 1900-
The hope of the Christian / Otto Hentz
Hentz, Otto J., 1938-
The Legacy of Rome : essays / by C. Foligno ... [et al.] ; edited by Cyrill Bailey ; with an introduction by H.H. Asquith

Readings in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam / [edited by] John Corrigan ... [et al.]

From the stone age to Christianity : Montotheism and the historical process
Albright, William Foxwell, 1891-1971
The origins of biblical monotheism : Israel's polytheistic background and the Ugaritic texts / Mark S. Smith
Smith, Mark S., 1955-
Early Christian thought in its Jewish context / edited by John Barclay and John Sweet

Early Jewish and Christian monotheism / edited by Loren T. Stuckenbruck and Wendy E.S. North

The Jewish roots of christological monotheism : papers from the St. Andrews Conference on the Historical Origins of the Worship of Jesus / edited by Carey C. Newman, James R. Davila, Gladys S. Lewis
St. Andrews Conference on the Historical Origins of the Worship of Jesus (1998 : St. Mary's College, Scotland)
God crucified : monotheism and Christology in the New Testament / Richard Bauckham
Bauckham, Richard
The Christian God / Richard Swinbourne
Swinburne, Richard
The classical Christian God / Douglas Kennard
Kennard, Douglas Welker
The Jewish Messiah / Dan Cohn-Sherbok
Cohn-Sherbok, Dan
Between God and man : an interpretation of Judaism / from the writings of Abraham J. Heschel ; selected, edited, and introduced by Fritz A. Rothschild
Heschel, Abraham Joshua, 1907-1972
How on earth did Jesus become a god? : historical questions about earliest devotion to Jesus / Larry W. Hurtado
Hurtado, Larry W., 1943-
Jesus, a question of identity / Leslie Houlden
Houlden, J. L. (James Leslie)

Jesus and Yahweh : the names divine / Harold Bloom
Bloom, Harold
The idea of Christ in the Gospels, or, God in man : a critical essay / by George Santayana
Santayana, George, 1863-1952

The Jewish faith / Dan Cohn-Sherbok
Cohn-Sherbok, Dan
Doctrines of God and Christ in the early church / edited with introductions by Everett Ferguson

The many faces of Christology / Tyron L. Inbody
Inbody, Tyron
The barbarian West, 400-1000 / J.M. Wallace-Hadrill
Wallace-Hadrill, J. M. (John Michael)
The Oxford illustrated history of medieval Europe / edited by George Holmes

The Oxford illustrated history of Christianity / edited by John McManners

The birth of Christianity : reality and myth / Joel Carmichael
Carmichael, Joel
The birth of the church : from Jesus to Constantine, A.D. 30-312 / Ivor J. Davidson
Davidson, Ivor J
The birth of Christianity : discovering what happened in the years immediately after the execution of Jesus / John Dominic Crossan
Crossan, John Dominic
Humanism and the culture of Renaissance Europe / Charles G. Nauert, Jr
Nauert, Charles Garfield, 1928-
The renaissance in perspective
Ralph, Philip Lee, 1905-
The Renaissance and the reformation / by Henry S. Lucas
Lucas, Henry Stephen, 1889-1961
The golden bough. Chinese
Frazer, James George, Sir, 1854-1941
A history of modern Europe : from the Renaissance to the present / John Merriman
Merriman, John M
Early modern Europe, 1450-1789 / Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks
Wiesner, Merry E., 1952-
Faust. Chinese
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, 1749-1832
The complete Grimm's fairy tales / introduction by Padraic Colum; folkoristic commentary by Joseph Campbell; illustrations by Josef Scharl
Grimm, Jacob, 1785-1863

連城訣 / 金庸著
金庸, 1924-
The art of travel / Alain de Botton
De Botton, Alain

Transitions to capitalism in early modern Europe / Robert S. DuPlessis
DuPlessis, Robert S
Cities, capitalism, and civilization / R.J. Holton
Holton, R. J

A history of modern Europe : from the Renaissance to the present / John Merriman
Merriman, John M
The Ottoman Empire and early modern Europe / Daniel Goffman
Goffman, Daniel, 1954-
Civilisation matérielle, économie et capitalisme. English
Braudel, Fernand

Ankōru no ōdō o iku. English
Tamura, Hitoshi, 1942-
Angkor Wat : time, space, and kingship / Eleanor Mannikka
Mannikka, Eleanor
Angkor and the Khmers / by Malcolm MacDonald ; with one hundred and twelve photographs by Loke Wan Tho and the author
Macdonald, Malcolm
神塔夕照 : 吳哥文明探秘 / [陳顯泗, 楊海軍著]
陳顯泗
Angkor, la forêt de pierre. Chinese
Dagens, Bruno
Expansion and global interaction, 1200-1700 / David R. Ringrose
Ringrose, David R
The German nation and Martin Luther / [by] A. G. Dickens
Dickens, A. G. (Arthur Geoffrey), 1910-2001
The German Reformation : the essential readings / edited by C. Scott Dixon ; advisory editors, Carter Lindberg and Euan Cameron

The Reformation in Germany / C. Scott Dixon
Dixon, C. Scott
Luther and German humanism / Lewis W. Spitz
Spitz, Lewis William, 1922-
Martin Luther and the birth of Protestantism / James Atkinson
Atkinson, James, 1914-
Martin Luther. English
Brendler, Gerhard

German thought and culture : from the Holy Roman Empire to the present day / H.-J. Hahn
Hahn, Hans J. (Hans Joachim)
The Holy Roman Empire, 1495-1806 / Peter H. Wilson
Wilson, Peter H. (Peter Hamish)
Religion and politics in German history : from the beginnings to the French Revolution / Frank Eyck
Eyck, Frank

The Cambridge illustrated history of Germany / Martin Kitchen
Kitchen, Martin
Essais. English
Montaigne, Michel de, 1533-1592
A history of modern Germany / by Hajo Holborn
Holborn, Hajo, 1902-1969
Germany in the Thirty Years War. // comp. Gerhard Benecke

The Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648
Gardiner, Samuel Rawson, 1829-1902
The Counter-Reformation : the essential readings / edited by David M. Luebke
Luebke, David Martin, 1960-

The Thirty Years War / [edited by] Geoffrey Parker ; contributors, Simon Adams ... [et al.] ; research assistants, Andre W. Carus, Sheilagh C. Ogilvie

Events that changed the world in the seventeenth century / edited by Frank W. Thackeray & John E. Findling

The 'Thirty Year War' and the conflict for European hegemony, 1600-1660 / by S. H. Steinberg
Steinberg, S. H. (Sigfrid Henry), 1899-1969
Benim adim Kirmizi. Chinese
Pamuk, Orhan, 1952-
The future of Islam and the West : clash of civilizations or peaceful coexistence? / Shireen T. Hunter ; foreword by Marc Gopin
Hunter, Shireen

The Norton history of modern Europe / Felix Gilbert, general editor ; Eugene F. Rice, Jr. ... [et al.]

A history of modern Europe : from the Renaissance to the present / John Merriman
Merriman, John M
活著 / 余華著
余華, 1960-
許三觀賣血記 / 余華
余華, 1960-
兄弟 = Brother / 余華著
余華, 1960-
穆斯林的葬禮 = Funeral of the Muslims / 霍達
霍達, 1945-
Unbearable lightness of being. Chinese
Kundera, Milan
Ancient Egyptian religion. Chinese
Frankfort, Henri, 1897-1954
尼羅河畔的文采 : 古埃及作品選 / 編譯, 蒲慕州



《美索不达米亚:强有力的国王》有趣的古代文明


花了我三天的時間,終于完成了這本書。其實也是大致的掠過而已,總是看過就忘的感覺。裏面的人名是在太難記了,比古埃及的難多了。不過在閲讀過程中還是發現了很多有趣的信息。
世界之大,她產生的文明也是獨特爾斑斕多姿。兩河文明,又名美索佈達米亞,意思是兩河之間的土地。早在公元前6,7千年前,這片土地就有了人類的痕跡,和古埃及差不多。但是相較于古埃及文明,這兩個文明的個性就天差地別了。文明的決定因素有很多,其中有一條就是環境,古埃及處於一個相對比較封閉的地理環境,這對她的文明發展提供了比較安全的環境,然而兩河地區四面開闊,各種民族可以不斷遷徙,導致了在兩河地區政權的此消彼長,大國起起伏伏,小國出現了又消失了。我不太善於記紛亂的歷史,上個學期的歐洲歷史已經很讓我叫苦了。在兩河地區出現過最有名的國家就是巴比倫,亞速以及密坦尼,但這三個文明的性格也是不一樣的。巴比倫往往有一種神秘浪漫色彩,而亞速則是血腥兇殘,密坦尼存在時間不長。但總體上說,兩河文明突出的一個很明顯的特徵就是暴力,這很大程度上是由於國家經常處於戰爭狀態,以至於文化上也顯示出來了。王宮的遺跡中不難找到國王英勇殺敵,左沖右突的景象,同時還可以找到多種死亡圖像,俘虜被用尖尖的木棍刺死,被活生生的剝皮,而國王卻以這種行爲為榮,這也當然的。
還有一點讓我感到很不舒服的就是女性在社會中的地位。她們被視作是男人的財產。男人只要表示一點不滿意就可以離婚,同時更加殘忍的是女性往往受到來自社會更大的壓力更多的刑法,而且極其殘忍。相對于古埃及的女性來説,兩河地區的女性是悲慘的。令很多學者感到驚訝的是古埃及的女性擁有很大的自由與權利,這種自由與權利甚至現在還超越現在有些國家。
在兩河流域人和神,國王和神的關係有別于古埃及。在兩河流域神是絕對的存在,人只是神創在出來的奴隸,所以人甚至是過往都必須絕對服從于神,服務于神。我看過一篇對於古埃及人的生死觀和兩河流域人的生死觀的比較,結果顯示兩河流域的人更加悲觀。
當然,美索佈達米亞的燦爛文明也吸引了成千上萬的追隨者,她的成就也是耀眼無比的。手工藝品,制鉄工藝,宮殿建築,文學成就:第一部英雄史詩《吉爾加美什〉被頌為經典,法律成就:漢莫拉比法典,等等。
有時候我常常想為什麽現在有些工藝或者成就遠遠比不上古代,現代的人只會驚嘆古代的成就,或者就是質疑是否真的是古人所為,可能是人變得慵懶了,應為科技發達了。

Finally, I Got a Chance to See "Aida"

This morning when I was checking my mail, I found that I was too late to order a ticket to see a Play called Aida which set its background in ancient Egypt. I was upset, but thank Amun-Re, there is another way to order those tickets, but they will expensive. I wanna see this play for a long time, money is totally not a problem here. So it turns out that one ticket belongs to me now,hahaha

Aida is a musical drama in two acts based on Giuseppe Verdi's Italian-language opera by the same name, which is in turn based on a story by Auguste Mariette. The musical was produced by Hyperion Theatricals, a unit within Disney Theatrical, with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang.
Elaborate Lives: The Legend of Aida had its world premier at the
Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia with the production running from September 16 to November 8, 1998. A new, revised production opened on November 12, 1999 at the Cadillac Palace in Chicago. The Broadway production, titled Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida, ran at the Palace Theatre from March 23, 2000 and September 4, 2004 for a total of 1,852 performances (and 30 previews). There was also produced a national tour and several international productions. Disney has granted production rights for various regional theater productions as well.

In the Egyptian wing of a modern museum, a man and a woman touring the exhibit catch each other's eyes. A statue of Amneris, a female Pharaoh, comes to life ("Every Story is a Love Story"). Amneris transports us to ancient Egypt, where Radames, captain of the Egyptian army, is returning from an expedition through the land of Nubia, Egypt's long-time enemy ("Fortune Favors the Brave"). When his soldiers capture a group of Nubian women, he finds himself captivated by the fierce and majestic Aida, the only woman who makes any attempt to resist ("The Past is Another Land"). After arriving in Egypt, Aida is saved from death in the copper mines by Radames, who sends her as a handmaiden to his betrothed, Princess Amneris. Radames' father, Chief Minister Zoser, greets his son with news that the Pharaoh is dying, and Radames must prepare to become the next ruler of Egypt ("Another Pyramid"). Unbeknownst to Radames, his father is poisoning the Pharaoh in order to accelerate Radames' ascension to the throne.
Radames' Nubian servant, Mereb, is a young man who has learned the tricks of survival in Egypt. While delivering Aida to the princess, Mereb recognizes her as the daughter of the Nubian king under whom he'd served during his days in Nubia. She commands him to keep her identity a secret, lest the Egyptians kill her ("How I Know You"). Presented to Amneris, Aida is liked immediately, and she perceives that the Princess' love of fashion only serves as a mask of her insecurities ("My Strongest Suit"). At a banquet Amneris and Radames learn from the Pharaoh that they are to marry in seven days, leaving the captain distraught that his days as an explorer have ended ("Fortune Favors the Brave (Reprise)"*). Together, he and Aida share their dreams and regrets ("Enchantment Passing Through")..
Later that night, Amneris worries about her father's illness, and finds in Aida someone who understands and encourages her ("My Strongest Suit (Reprise)"). Bursting into his fiancée's chamber, Radames steals a moment with Aida to share his growing attraction to her. Aida is taken by Mereb to the Nubian camp, where she submits to her people's pleas to lead them ("Dance of the Robe"). When she implores Radames to help the Nubians, he opens his heart by giving his possessions to them ("Not Me") and declaring his love for her ("Elaborate Lives"). Unable to fight her feelings any longer, she falls into his embrace. Their bliss is interrupted by news that Radames' armies have captured Amonasro, king of Nubia and Aida's father. Unable to comfort her, Radames leaves Aida in distress. Rallying her people, Aida assures them that Nubia will never die ("The Gods Love Nubia").

Aida, Amneris, and Radames are entangled in conflicted loyalties and emotions ("A Step Too Far"). Aida and Mereb bribe their way into Amonasro's prison cell, where she's reunited with her father. Mereb hatches a plan to escape with the king during the commotion of Amneris' wedding. To save her father and her nation, Aida must betray the man she loves ("Easy as Life"). Meanwhile, Zoser discovers Radames' affair and warns his son that it could cost him the throne, but Radames no longer shares his father's ambitions ("Like Father, Like Son"). After an emotional bout with his son, Zoser orders his men to find Aida and kill her.
At the Nubian camp, Aida receives a written apology from Radames for the thoughtless way he acted upon hearing of Amonasro's capture ("Radames' Letter"). When Egyptian soldiers arrive seeking Aida, another Nubian, Nehebka, sacrifices herself so that the princess can live. Now even more determined to leave Radames forever, Aida goes to say good-bye to him over Mereb's objections ("How I Know You (Reprise)"). Radames informs Aida that he's calling off the wedding. Aida knows that this would ruin her father's escape and tells him he must go through with it ("Written in the Stars"). Radames agrees, on condition that she escape to freedom on a boat he will provide. The heartbroken lovers part, but Amneris has overheard their entire conversation and tries to face the fact that her upcoming marriage is a sham ("I Know the Truth").
News of Amonasro's escape disrupts Amneris' wedding. Radames learns the truth of Aida's identity when he arrives at the docks just as she's about to board his boat with her father. In the chaos, Zoser slays Mereb and Radames makes possible Amonasro's escape. Then he and Aida are arrested for treason. At the ensuing trial, Pharaoh sentences both Aida and Radames to be buried alive. Amneris reprises her role as future Pharaoh by convincing her father to let the lovers die in the same tomb, an act of mercy for two people she has come to love. Facing death, Aida looks to Radames for strength ("Elaborate Lives (Reprise)"). As they are slowly deprived of light and air ("Enchantment Passing Through (Reprise)"), Radames swears he will search through a hundred lifetimes to find her again.
Back in the contemporary museum, the spirit of Amneris watches as the modern man and woman are strangely drawn to each other. They are the reincarnations of Aida and Radames, finding in each other a new beginning ("Every Story is a Love Story (Reprise)").

Another Scholarship?

Thank God Amun-Re!
This morning when I was checking my school mail, I noticed a mail whose title captured my eyes. I read it slowly and in silence:Application for University Scholarships. Wow, another scholarship!? It says like this: We are pleased to learn that you have achieved good academic results in the 2006/2007 academic year. In recognition of your achievement, we would like to invite you to apply/renew for the university scholarships.
But I have to finish an application form before 31th of August. I saw the form, but I found I have to leave two big tables empty. One is for the record of whether or not I held any position in one or two oganizations, another one is for whether or not I have ever took part in any volunteer work. Unfortunately both two I have nothing to put. Anyway I finished the form and posted it to my school. I do not care whether I can receive this scholarship or not. But I do know that I have to be more active in some activities, study in school is not all.

Who is あべのせいめい?

Recently I was watching a Japanese cartoon about あべのせいめい(Abe no Seimei ).I have heard his name thounsands of times, but I knew him a little. I am really curious about this figure in the real history. So I search Internet, trying to know him more, not the man in cartoon but in real life. I found many websites in Japanese, but unfortunately I can understand no Japanese. So I truned to English. Luckly I found something. Here is the info I discovered in Wiki.


Abe no Seimei (安倍 晴明 ) (921?-1005?) was an onmyōji, a leading specialist of onmyōdō during the middle of the Heian Period in Japan. In addition to his prominence in history, he is a legendary figure in Japanese folklore and has been portrayed in a number of stories and films.
Seimei worked as an onmyōji for emperors and the Heian government, making calendars and advising on the spiritually correct way to deal with issues. He prayed for the well-being of emperors and the government as well as advising on various issues. He was also an
astrologist and predicted astrological events. He enjoyed an extremely long life, free from any major illness, which contributed to the popular belief that he had mystical powers.
The
Seimei shrine (晴明神社), located in Kyoto, is a popular shrine dedicated to him. The Abenobashi (Abe-no-bashi "Abe's Bridge") bridge and district, also in Kyoto, are named after him.

His life is well recorded, and there is little question about it. Immediately after his death, however, legends arose much like those surrounding
Merlin. Many legends of Seimei were originally written in the Konjaku Monogatarishu, and by the Edo period there were many stories in circulation which focused on his heroic acts.
According to legend, Abe no Seimei was not entirely human. He was the issue of a human father, Abe no Yasuna, and his mother, Kuzunoha, was a kitsune (a fox spirit). At a very early age, no later than five, he was able to command weak oni to do his bidding. His mother entrusted Seimei to Kamo no Tadayuki, a master of onmyōdō, so that he would live a proper human life and not become evil himself.
The Heian period, especially the time when Seimei lived, was a time of peace. Many of his myths revolve around a series of magical battles with a rival,
Ashiya Doman, who often tried to embarrass Seimei so that the former could usurp the latter's position. One noted story involved Doman and the young Seimei in a divination duel to reveal the contents of a particular box. Doman had another person put fifteen mandarin oranges into the box and "divined" that there were fifteen oranges in the box. Seimei, however, saw through the ruse, transformed the oranges into rats, and stated that fifteen rats were in the box. When the rats were revealed, Doman was shocked and defeated.
It has been said that Abe no Seimei had no children. It has also been said, in contradiction, that the onmyōji
Abe no Yasuaki and Abe no Yasuchika were his son and grandson, respectively. Whether this was through adoption, or whether the story has some other meaning is unclear.
After Seimei's death the emperor had a
shrine, the Seimei shrine, erected at the location of his home, where it stands today.

Here is the Chinese version about Abe no Seimei click me

I Found My New Favourite Music


Prem Joshua, a trange name to me one minute ago, after enjoying his wonderful music, I became his big fan, like I am the fan of Enigma and Era. But Joshua is totally different from Enigma and Era. If Enigma and Era are pure New Age music, then Joshua's is more ethnic, his is totally a combination of various elements, for example ethnic music, especailly Idian music, electronic music, and wentern music. But the result is seemly terribly good. Here is the Chinese introduction of Prem Joshua, I copied from a website.

Prem Joshua创造一种跨越界限的音乐综合体.他在印度与欧洲旅游超过20年,学习研究过印度最优秀音乐家,包括: 锡塔尔琴艺术大师Ustad Usman Khan和其它印度知名音乐人.他是一个多才多艺的音乐家,不仅吹奏印度长笛与高音sax,而且创作编写出属于自己独特的融合东西方音乐元素的韵律…….Prem Joshua出生于于德国的音乐世家,他从小就学习弹奏电吉他与吹奏萨克斯风,后来更成为一个优秀的吹笛手.十几岁开始演奏各种各样的rock, jazz and fusion bands,他总是寻找新的方式来表达扩展他的音乐.第一次接触印度音乐是在16岁时听到在孟加拉国的一个音乐会演奏专辑,其中就有印度音乐大师Ravi Shankar 的锡塔尔琴演奏.他回忆说:”我从未听过这样的音乐,这超越我音乐理解范围与经验,但这是极其美好且深刻,它陌生但神秘----触动心灵’’18岁在读高中时,他离开家乡,准备去印度实现自己的音乐计划.游历希腊、土耳其、伊朗、阿富汗和巴基斯坦,他向每个地方音乐家请教,学习当地乐曲的吹奏,沐浴东方传统音乐的熏陶.当他最后到达印度,仿如游子回家.他在德里立刻买了一个价值不斐的锡塔尔琴,它很快成为他生命的一部分."在这里我发现了我要寻找的音乐和灵感的源泉. 我开始与世界各地的音乐家合作演出,其中就有印度艺术大师Ustad Usman Khan,他也是我的锡塔尔琴老师”.经过这些年Joshua更精进他特殊的声音,融合了古老印度演变旋律的乐器编曲,现代电子与民族节奏舞曲,他创造性的音乐融合风格得到东.西音乐评论家、爱好者和记者的一直认同,在印度他唱片销售超过40000张,他已然成为"new guru of fusion."(fusion新的宗师).Prem Joshua与多才多艺的tabla和santoor以及Manish Vyas一道,从马来西亚开始进行了世界巡回演出.在日本、以色列、印度、欧洲和美国得到高度评介和轰动. Prem Joshua现居住在意大利的托斯卡纳.Prem Joshua的音乐很难用归类于属于何种音乐类型,印度传统音乐、爵士乐、世界音乐、电子音乐.....他的音乐专辑畅销于印度,但世界对他了解不多,是"一个被低估的天才的演奏家和作曲家".
Among his many music album, Sky Kisses Earth is my favourite. So far I haven't finished all his music, maybe later I will find my another best.
here is the cover of Sky Kisses Earth.


時隔一個月才開始動手寫關於定陵遊記,不免記憶有點模糊,但是其中的幾目景色我還是記憶猶新的,我想也是難以忘懷的吧?


盼着盼着,參觀十三陵的日子終于到了,心情不免興奮。不知爲何總是對陵墓感興趣,怪僻吧?早就聽聞十三陵大名,卻總是沒有機會,這次真是要感謝Amun-Re阿。
作爲中國明代十三個皇帝(除去朱元璋的孝陵在南京,還有明代朱允文和景泰帝的陵墓不再)的陵寢,十三陵早就蓋上了一層神秘色彩,莊嚴肅穆而又沉穩霸氣。對於我們現代人來説這些景致閃耀着中華古文明的光芒,但是對於古人來説卻是兩回事。古人把陵墓的選位看得非常重要,因爲它關係到家族的世代興旺,那麽對於皇陵就更不用説了,它們的位置直接關係到了國家的長治久安,江山社稷的永固長存。在去北京之前,我就在閲讀一本有關明代十三陵的e-Book,叫做明代十三陵大觀,卻也一直沒有讀完。所以對於十三陵歷史全景也了解的不是很全面。十三陵位于北京市昌平縣境内天壽山一帶,“巍巍燕山山脈自西北逶迤而來,在陵城周圍形成天然屏障。環山之内,是洪水沖刷形成的小盆地,山壑中的水流在平原中部交匯后曲折東去。綠樹濃蔭之中,一座座紅墻黃瓦的陵園建築,嶦牙高琢,金碧輝煌,坐落在東,西,北的山麓上。”天壽山本不叫天壽山,儅明成祖朱棣的風水師看中這塊寶地之時,他還被叫做黃土山。這些風水師向朱棣敬獻了詳細的描繪,朱棣也親自前往察看,果然十分滿意,於是便改黃土山為天壽山。朱棣的長陵是十三陵中氣勢最宏大的一座,它的棱恩殿内有100多根由金絲楠木做成的柱子作爲支撐,毛澤東看過之後也是驚嘆不已阿。但是可惜的是,這次我必須在長陵和定陵之前作出選擇,要麽是定陵,要麽就是長陵。我當然很想看長陵,但是長陵到目前爲止還沒有發掘,而定陵是十三陵中唯一一座已經考古發掘過的陵墓,也就是說我們可以看到它的地下宮殿。相對而言,我還是對地下宮殿感興趣,下次吧,長陵,等着我。。。
那天去到定陵的時候已經是下午的3點左右吧,我也記不得很準確,只是記得那時候天空陰沉沉的,太陽的光芒顯得很蒼白,我擡頭看了好一會兒,心裏覺得很發毛,這天氣實在令人不舒服,像是要下雨。在等待導遊買票的空隙,腦子裏又開始回憶剛才車上導遊給我們講的關於定陵的恐怖事件,就像是圖坦卡門的詛咒一般,為這個陵墓而喪生的人數也實在不少,不管是傳言裏的人物,還是真實考古發掘中的學者。這不免給定陵抹上了一層恐怖的色彩,但是我倒很興奮,而且是非常興奮,莫名的。又是一座皇陵聳立在我的眼前,儅我站在埃及的Valley of the Kings的時候,我也是像現在一樣的激動。萬曆的地下玄宮會是什麽樣的呢?我充滿着好奇,真想一步跨進去看個究竟。但是我也只能站在朱紅色高大的陵門前胡思亂想。


定陵的主人是萬曆皇帝和他的兩位皇后。萬曆皇帝,真名是朱翊君,廟號神宗,10嵗繼位,在為48年,享年58嵗。長長的在位時間,人們並不記得他的什麽英明事跡,也不記得他的雄才大略,其實人們沒有什麽可以記住的。萬曆應該是一個悲劇性的人物,雖然富有天下,精神上卻是孤苦伶仃,無依無靠,好不容易得到的愛情也是保受摧殘。萬曆10嵗登基,成爲一個龐大帝國的統治者,但是在他真正掌握權力之前,他還的學習。公認的,萬曆聰穎好學,天賦異稟,富有創造性,可悲的是呆板的學習生活抹殺了他的很多優點。他本可以利用他的優點來統治帝國,但是現在在張居正的嚴厲管教下,萬曆“學乖”了。現在的萬曆已經站在作爲一個皇帝應該做的條條框框裏了。當然在張居正的教育之下萬曆自身也抑制了很多缺點,比如説貪圖富貴,羡慕榮華,並且他也決心奮發圖強,建設國家,但是儅他聽到大臣中傷張居正時,也不分是非的相信了,儅在張的家裏查出巨額金錢時,萬曆對張是徹底不信任了。再説,萬曆對張的感情早已是愛恨交加,他恨張的嚴厲,他恨張給他的自尊心的造成了傷害。現在僅存的敬愛之心也沒有了。萬曆對張居正是恨之入骨。好不容易張居正去世了,太后也去世了,萬曆也用自己的婚姻買到了自由,他想自己是自由的了。壓抑已久的本性也逐漸顯現,皇宮裏整天歌舞升平,皇帝久不問朝政,官員甚至幾十年見不到皇帝一面,國家機器也處於崩潰的邊緣。而萬曆卻是兩耳不聞,兩眼不見,一頭札進脂粉堆。意外臨幸了一位宮女之後,萬曆得到了他的長子,但是他並不喜歡這對母子,很快將他們抛棄,轉而愛上了一位郑貴妃。而這是一段悲慘的愛情,萬曆有幸得到了他最鍾愛的女人,但是萬曆也是悲哀的得不到結果。雖説萬曆竭盡其所能想冊立郑貴妃的兒子為太子,但是古法不允,傳統上大臣,皇親國戚只認準無娣便立長的規矩,激烈的要求萬曆冊立宮女的兒子為太子,萬曆抗爭了很久最終也沒能如願讓自己心愛的郑貴妃的兒子儅上太子,甚至還被迫同意讓愛子離開父母,自立門戶。萬曆氣憤,傷心又有點無奈,至此之後朝廷更加混亂,官位久虛,官員只顧保身,地方上官吏壓榨百姓,牟取暴利,民不聊生。史學傢認爲,明朝真正開始走向滅亡就是從萬曆開始。萬曆死後沒有如願和郑貴妃埋葬在一起,而是和自己不喜歡的宮女葬在一起,這也是悲哀吧?萬曆的一生荒淫無度但是又孤苦伶仃,歷史是很難評説的,真的。作爲一個個人,萬曆是可憐的,但是作爲一個國家領導人,他是失敗的。
想到這裡我也可以進入定陵參觀了。走過幽深的門洞,眼前竟然沒有任何高大的建築物,走進一看,原來先前的棱恩殿早已消失,只剩下高高的台基。走下台基,就看到一座並不算高大的黑色大門,它的名字叫棂星門,據説門的這一邊是陽世,走過另一邊則是陰間,所以儅人們參觀回來走過棂星門要看看天,看看地,然後說一聲:我回來了。對我來說,我還真不願意說這一句:我回來了呢。仔細觀察這扇門,它的門框是由白色漢白玉雕刻而成,門框上面還蹲有兩只石獸。門的上方繪有亮藍色的花案,非常漂亮。繞過棂星門就看到高高聳立的明樓,明通冥,也就是說在這座樓的後面安葬着萬曆和他的皇后們。繞到了明樓的後面,就看到了一個巨型土丘,哈,這就是墳堆了,好大個,像個饅頭。我暗自想着,説不定我現在就走在玄宮的上面呢。排着隊等待進入地下玄宮,經過安檢,我走下了一層層通往地下的樓梯,越走到下面,越發感到陰冷,冷色調的樓梯閒恰到好處的上緊了這種環境下人們心裏的弦。我不知道這地下玄宮有多深,只是記得走了相當數量的樓梯才到了陰暗的玄宮門口。後來看書才知道,那天我是從側殿,也就是皇后的陵寢進入的。擡頭第一眼看到的就是一扇巨大的白色漢白玉雕刻而成的石門,獸行的門環,整齊的門釘,他們告訴人們,我們進入了皇帝的地下宮殿。皇帝貴為天子,生前住在豪華的宮殿,死後理所當然也應該住在宮殿,所以整座玄宮的功能在本職上的墓穴之外又加上了宮殿的性質,以至玄宮裏面的裝飾都和宮殿沒有兩樣,只是多了幾分陰冷,多了幾分潮濕,多了幾分死亡的氣息。走到皇后的側殿,整個大殿非常空曠,高高的拱頂上挂着大燈,亮白色的燈光照射在冷色調的房間,讓人感到幾分涼意和壓抑。巨大的棺床上沒有皇后的棺椿,因爲那裏從來也沒有放置過任何一位皇后的棺椿。如今棺床上灑滿了硬幣,我暗自好笑,難道萬曆會要你們的錢?
走過狹窄的通道我終于到了正廳。比皇后的側殿還要寬敞高大。正廳的中央擺放着三座漢白玉彫成的寶座,一座是萬曆的,另外兩座是他的皇后的。寶座的旁邊放着一些雜物,還有兩口大缸,後來才知道那就是傳説中的萬年燈。只是古人並不了解燃燒的原理,這萬年燈的燈油還是滿滿的。繞着這些物品走了一圈,又環望四周,發現牆壁正在滲水,忍不住摸了一把牆壁,好冰阿!路過一個門洞,我想因該是通往另一邊的房間的過道,不過沒有開放,向着裏面望了一下,漆黑一片,要是突然閃過一片白色的物體,我肯定會魂不附體的,哈哈。筆直走過大廳就到了皇帝的寢宮,剛進去就看到三口紅色的棺椿靜靜的躺在那裏,原來皇后們和萬曆睡在了一起阿。聼導遊說,這裡的三口棺椿時候來複製的,之後看書才知道,原來的棺椿已經消失了,無奈的說應該是被歷史銷毀的吧。。。萬曆真的很慘阿,死後幾百年,竟然連自己的屍骨也保不全。在導遊的快速帶領下我匆匆的看完了的定陵。在後來的資料補充階段才知道整座定陵可以算得上是長陵之後第二座最恢宏的陵寢。定陵在萬曆的早年就開始動工,我覺得很奇怪,為什麽年紀輕輕就開始建築自己的壽宮呢?萬曆一生沒有任何功績,有的只是惡名,在群臣中的威望也極低,死後更是沒有威望可言,就算是在出殯過程中,萬曆的棺椿掉在地上也沒有人願意在擡起來,只是一只拖拽着到了定陵。
踩着臺階向上爬,隱隱覺得聽到了雷聲,出了定陵玄宮,才發現已經開始打雷下雨,清涼的雨點打在臉上,很是愜意,回望定陵,只覺得很悲哀,定陵的悲哀,萬曆的悲哀,兩位皇后的悲哀,穿越時間的悲哀, 輕輕的打在我的身上,這雨,難道是定陵在哭泣?還是萬曆?
走上明樓,望着遠山和不時划過的閃電,定陵突然變得很安靜,只有雨聲和雷聲,或許是定陵的主人真的累了吧?或許他的靈魂已經在那口嶄新的棺椿裏面睡着了...

無限悲哀,無限無奈

Finally I finished reading this extremely wonderful book:风雪定陵--地下玄宫洞开之谜. And I have a lot of things to pour out.

可以說這是一本非常出色的中國考古紀實文學報告,讀上去令人難以釋卷,要不是我要去德國,我想這本書早已被我完成了。昨天我一直看到淩晨2點,終于合上了書頁,心裏真的翻江倒海,心潮澎湃。真是一本感人的書籍,真得很奇怪,我竟然會哭,心裏又說不出的滋味:為中國人的愚昧感到面紅耳赤,為考古學傢的搏命工作而感動,為萬曆皇帝感到惋惜和憐憫,為書中主角們的坎坷的命運感到悲傷。
一場考古發掘工作本不應該有如此多的悲傷和淚水,只怪這場發掘活動發生在新中國,這個剛剛出生不久,還動蕩不安, 人心難測的國家。雖然有著名考古學傢預示到了這個充滿學和淚的結局,他也沒有能夠阻止這場發掘。我暗自慶幸,幸好不是長陵,不然損失將會不可估量阿。也苦了萬曆皇帝,生前得不到幸福,死後難得到安寧。他可能萬萬沒有想到,毀掉他的屍骨的人竟然會是自己的子孫!真的是無限的悲哀啊。
話説中國人的愚昧無知可以説是世界上絕無僅有的。生為一個中國人,我並沒有因爲說一句:我來自中國。而感到驕傲自豪。讀完這本書,使我更加面紅。中國人已向自吹自擂:自己是一個文明之邦,禮儀之邦。可是就是這種的一個民族,卻連自己的祖先的文化也保護不了。相反,不但不保護,反而視他們為“四舊”,封建階級的毒瘤加以破壞。儅看到這裡,我心裏不禁被狠狠地一抽,難道中國5000年的文明在他們這群人眼裏就只是這些嗎?我不禁為宋美玲的一句話感動:(這些遺產)高於民族,她屬於人類。多麽經典的一句話,多麽正確的一句話,多麽感人的一句話。雖然有人說,人在那個文化大革命的時代,思想是禁錮的,死掉的,那麽現在呢?好了嗎?完全沒有!中國現階段的文化可以説是一種斷層的文化,裏面很少有看到傳統文化的遺跡在裏面,人們對傳統沒有半點尊重與愛護,就像扔掉一只破鞋一樣,棄置不顧。我想現在的中國文化以一種新生的新中國文化,在世界文明的衝擊下有點畸形。
我不知道中國將會變成什麽樣,走着看吧。。。還能怎麽著?

the Last Day in Berlin


Time goes fast, everyone says that, and this is quite true. One day I was worrying about my trip in Berlin, the other day I was preparing for the jouney home. Looking back these three weeks here in Berlin, I was really happy, not only I have made many friends from all over the world, some places I have even never heard of. Das is ganz toll. Also I had enough time to see the city, kennen zu lernen, almost all the places of interest, and some small places, seldem visited by tourists. U know this is travelling, we have to see what people do not see. I was really impressed by the unique history of Berlin, in the ancient times, Naizi times, divided times. I have been to the schloss in Berlin, they are not only showing us their beauty but also telling us their stories. And the most interesting history, and the most talked history is the time when Berlin is divided. How people lived during this time, what people were doing, thinking.

I really like Berlin, I like the Klima here. I remember one day I was on the train back to hotel, a man suddenly began to play gita, outside was raining, and I was sitting near the window, his music was so smooth and beautiful, the entir Klima was so gut, I even did not wanna get off the train.

Today we heard song about Berlin by Marlene Dietrich.

Ich habe noch einen Koffer in Berlin.

Und deshalb muss ich naechsten wieder hin.

Die Seligkeiten

Vergangener Zeiten

Sind alle noch in meinem kleinen Koffer drin.

When I told my teacher that I can not go to the party tonight, she told me that: do not forget that u have a Koffer in Berlin.