Hearing from my friend, studying at Jiaotong university, China
Hearing from my friend, studying at Jiaotong university, China
The beginning of our collaboration ---
お元気ですか?
Translated into English by Thackery
How have you been?
＜Great Wall＞
Being a great military defence work in ancient China, it is
＜In front of the Tian'anmen Gate＞
This was the main entrance to the imperial palace in Ming and Qing Dynasties.
＜Inside the Imperial Palace＞
Together with my friends, I enjoyed looking around historic monuments.
＜In front of the Purple Forbidden Castle＞
Also known as Palace Museum, it was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
His first message from China in Japanese
長らくご無沙汰して申し訳ありません｡
こちらへ来てまもなく2ケ月となります｡
ようやく精神的にも落ち着いてきました｡
いろんな事がありましたが､ とにかく上海という街､ 中国が
本当に好きになり､ 充実感一杯で､ 毎日が楽しくて仕方がありません｡
北京､ 南京と旅行をしましたが､ 旅行の度に上海へ帰りたいなあと思うほど､
もはや上海が第二の故郷という感じでしょうか｡
今は山口さんが住んでいるのと同じ所に住んでいます｡
9月にｵｰﾌﾟﾝして僕が最初の入居者となり､ 山口さんは僕の部屋の方がいいと
言っています｡
中国人の友達も大勢でき､ 中国語の方もかなり上達しました｡
あくまでも自分の評価ですが｡
大学も広く､ ｷｬﾝﾊﾟｽを優雅に友達と闊歩する毎日です｡
ﾒｰﾙも使えるようになりましたので､ 今後共情報交換を是非させて
頂きたいと思っております｡
桧田さんの近況もまた教えて下さい｡
とりあえず､ ご挨拶まで｡
Sorry not to have written a letter to you for a long time.
It will be two months soon since I came here.
I'm getting stable mentally and feeling at home here in Shanghai.
Before settling down there were a lot of things to do.
But, now I've got to really like Shanghai or China. Full of satisfaction
and pleasure everyday. Although I've already travelled around Beijing and Nanjing,
I felt like going back to Shanghai soon almost like my second home town.
I am now living at the same housing complex as Mr. Yamaguchi's.
He says my room is better than his. I am the first resident to have entered
that room newly opened in September.
Now I have a lot of Chinese friends, and my Chinese ability has been remarkably
improved, though it is my self evaluation.
This university is very wide, and I'm strolling around the campus in a graceful
manner together with my friends. My E-mail has been ready for our communication.
I hope we'll be able to exchange our information each other, me from China and
you from Japan.
Please let me know how you are doing in Japan next time.
Just for my greeting towards you.
So long for now.
Your friend,
Horikawa
His second message from China, in October, 1977
one of the famous cultural historic sites of the world.
The construction project began in the Warring States Period, and
additions were made by ensuing dynasties. Starting from Shanhai Pass
in the east and reaching Jiayu Pass (Gansu Province) in the west,
the Great Wall is grand and imposing with passes, beacon towers and
castles all along the line.
I walked along the great wall which is the most well preserved one almost
close to an original, called "Si Mar Tai", for six hours. Really felt
a long Chinese history from the bottom of my soul and body.
What a great work they did generation after generation!
Almost stunned by its greatness.
With up-turning double eaves, carved beams and painted rafters, as well as
yellow tiles and grey walls, the gate tower looks solemn, and the golden and green
surroundings present a magnificent scene when looking down from high above. In the
past, emperors held ceremonies here to promulgate edicts for important celebrations.
On October 1, 1949, Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed, from the rostrum of Tian'anmen,
the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the Gate has since become the
symbol of New China.
What invaluable treasures they are!
Covering an area of over 720,000 square metres and with more than 9,000 bays of rooms,
it is the largest and best preserved ancient construction group that exists in China.
Looking down from the sky, the Palace Museum presents a magnificent scene - towering
halls and overlapping palaces comprise a resplendent "Seas of Castles".
The construction of the palace began in 1406. 24 emperors ruled in the ensuing 500 and
more years. Palace Museum is not only the artistic cream of ancient Chinese architecture,
but also a historical museum that keeps a great amount of precious cultural relics.