Beijing Olympic Games

Updated：2008-06-28

Associate Professor Chen Ruixiang (R) presents his work to a representative of a school involved in the “Heart-to-Heart Partnership” program for Olympic education.

(BEIJING, June 28) — Foreigners who will visit “Olympic Education Schools” in Beijing during the Olympic Games may receive a surprise gift – a book on the evolution of Chinese words.

The book, written by Associate Professor Chen Ruixiang of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, explains how Chinese characters relate to nature, mankind and life. He selected 88 fundamental words from stone rubbing originals of various historic periods and a sampling of famous calligraphers’ works. The author gave the words’ original meanings, the order of strokes in their writing styles, the ways of their formation and development, and their cultural chain nucleuses – the historical and cultural materials as well as famous sites like rivers and mountains relating to the words. Therefore the book serves as a vehicle to learn about Chinese culture.

On Saturday, Chen gave a copy of the book to representatives of the Beijing schools engaged in the “Heart-to-Heart Partnership” program with foreign schools. During the Olympic Games, more than 200 primary and secondary schools in Beijing that are being partnered with schools in 205 countries and regions around the world which have set up national or regional Olympic committees, will present the book to visitors.