国家博物馆举办春联展 Exhibition showcases 'chunlian' couplets

It is believed that the earliest(最早的) chunlian couplet found(发现) in China was written on a page of the Dunhuang Manuscripts(敦煌遗书), a cache of documents(档案) previously sealed in one of the Mogao Caves(莫高窟) in northwestern Gansu province.

The couplet was composed by a person named Liu Qiuzi(刘丘子) around the year of 723.

Even today, the Chinese hang chunlian couplets, written in the calligraphic style, in their houses ahead of(之前) Spring Festival. Many compose and write(编写) the couplets themselves.

A chunlian exhibition(展览) now on at the National Museum of China shows calligraphic couplets composed by established calligraphers across the country.

The exhibition, which runs through(直到) March 31, celebrates(庆祝) the Year of the Dog.

词汇 Words:

[zuì zǎo de] 最早的 the earliest
[fā xiàn] 发现 find
[biān] 编 compose
[xiě] 写 write
[dàng àn] 档案 document
[zhǎn lǎn] 展览 exhibition

重点词汇 Key word:

办 <动词 v.> 

• Do; handle; manage; deal with
  E.g. Zěnme bàn?
  怎么办?
  What shall we do?

• Buy/purchase supplies; get something ready
  E.g. Nǐ shénme shíhòu bàn xǐshì?
  你什么时候办喜事?
  When are you going to get married?

• Set up; establish; run
  E.g. Gǔlì shèhuì lìliàng bànxué。
  鼓励社会力量办学。
  Social groups are encouraged to run schools.