CCTV9英语新闻：北京民众潭柘寺争喝腊八粥

By  CCTV reporter Qi Wei

Wednesday is the traditional Chinese “Laba Festival", celebrated 1 on the 8th day of the last month of the Chinese lunar calendar. The event reminds people that the Spring Festival is just around the corner and is a day when eating porridge is not to be taken lightly.

The oldest temple in Beijing is embracing tradition by handing out free porridge. And despite the freezing temperature, crowds of people are swarming 2 in, eager to sample the fare.

This porridge looks delicious. In China, it’s also called ’eight treasure porridge’ as its ingredients include a nutritious 3 mix of glutinous 4 rice, red beans and peanuts. Before it gets cold, let me have a try.

The traditional eight treasure porridge has developed over the ages. The kind served here at the temple usually combines 13 different ingredients, based on the auspicious 5 number in Buddhism 6. However, three more are suggested by Mr. Shen, a scholar of vegetarian 7 culture from Taiwan.

"Tanzhe Temple invited me to consult them on vegetarian cooking. We add oats, wheat and buckwheat to make a healthier porridge, so followers 8 will get more nutrition from it," scholar Shen Songmao said.

While some believe Laba porridge is related to sacrificial rituals held on this day by our ancestors, the temples have different versions. They say that enlightened Sakyamuni became Buddha 9 on the eighth day of the last lunar month, or "Laba" in Chinese. Earlier, however, a shepherdess had saved him from fatigue 10 and hunger with a bowl of porridge. As time went by, the two celebrations were combined.

"I am a Buddhist 11. This morning I got up at five thirty and drove over 30 kilometers to get here. Besides being a tradition, it’s also a time to pray for blessings 13 for family and friends."

However, most people crowding into the temple are not Buddhists 14, but simply visitors. They have travelled to the western suburbs of Beijing to take in the nice scenery, and of course the porridge.

"Three of my family members and my neighbors came together this morning. I want my son to experience the traditional celebration here. It’s also a blessing 12 for the coming new year."

According to the organiser, they have been preparing for this event for a month. It has taken 10 hours to just to cook the porridge, all the ingredients donated by Buddhist followers.

"We have cooked almost 30 big barrels of porridge for this Laba festival, not only for visitors. After this event here, we will take porridge to elderly people at nursing homes and give them blessings for the coming year," said Shao Xiguo, manager of Tanzhe Temple Admin. Office.

A bowl of porridge stands for the benevolence 15 of giving. And although it’s a thousand years old, this Chinese tradition is still going strong, bringing happiness in the form of tasty hot porridge during the chilly 16 winter season.

点击收听单词发音  






1
celebrated

  
 


adj.有名的，声誉卓著的


参考例句：





He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。












2
swarming

  
 


密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去


参考例句：





The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。
The beach is swarming with bathers. 海滩满是海水浴的人。












3
nutritious

  
 


adj.有营养的，营养价值高的


参考例句：





Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。












4
glutinous

  
 


adj.粘的，胶状的


参考例句：





The sauce was glutinous and tasted artificial.这种酱有些黏，尝起来不是非常地道。
The coat covering the soft candies is made from glutinous rice.包裹软糖的江米纸是由糯米做成的。












5
auspicious

  
 


adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的


参考例句：





The publication of my first book was an auspicious beginning of my career.我的第一本书的出版是我事业吉祥的开始。
With favorable weather conditions it was an auspicious moment to set sail.风和日丽，正是扬帆出海的黄道吉日。












6
Buddhism

  
 


n.佛教（教义）


参考例句：





Buddhism was introduced into China about 67 AD.佛教是在公元67年左右传入中国的。
Many people willingly converted to Buddhism.很多人情愿皈依佛教。












7
vegetarian

  
 


n.素食者；adj.素食的


参考例句：





She got used gradually to the vegetarian diet.她逐渐习惯吃素食。
I didn't realize you were a vegetarian.我不知道你是个素食者。












8
followers

  
 


追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件


参考例句：





the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。












9
Buddha

  
 


n.佛；佛像；佛陀


参考例句：





Several women knelt down before the statue of Buddha and prayed.几个妇女跪在佛像前祈祷。
He has kept the figure of Buddha for luck.为了图吉利他一直保存着这尊佛像。












10
fatigue

  
 


n.疲劳，劳累


参考例句：





The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。












11
Buddhist

  
 


adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒


参考例句：





The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。












12
blessing

  
 


n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿


参考例句：





The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。












13
blessings

  
 


n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福


参考例句：





Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》












14
Buddhists

  
 


n.佛教徒( Buddhist的名词复数 )


参考例句：





The Jesuits in a phase of ascendancy, persecuted and insulted the Buddhists with great acrimony. 处于地位上升阶段的耶稣会修士迫害佛教徒，用尖刻的语言辱骂他们。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史
The return of Saivite rule to central Java had brought no antagonism between Buddhists and Hindus. 湿婆教在中爪哇恢复统治后，并没有导致佛教徒与印度教徒之间的对立。 来自辞典例句












15
benevolence

  
 


n.慈悲，捐助


参考例句：





We definitely do not apply a policy of benevolence to the reactionaries.我们对反动派决不施仁政。
He did it out of pure benevolence. 他做那件事完全出于善意。












16
chilly

  
 


adj.凉快的，寒冷的


参考例句：





I feel chilly without a coat.我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。
I grew chilly when the fire went out.炉火熄灭后，寒气逼人。