@janis b @janis b

Qianbei! Literally dry cup, or bottoms up. The expression is the same in Korean, Geonbae. In simplified it's 干杯. We used to say it a lot when much younger. Another toast in Korean was eui ha yo! To you, to us (understood) or fill in the blank, to your health!

Interestingly enough, the first episode plot seems to focus on official corruption. (i'm still not done watching it). I think the puzzle to be resolved is "how could responsible officials not discover that coins, silks and other treasures were missing from the treasury?" Now the king doesn't have the resources to reward the courageous soldiers returning from the field. Lately in the news, there has been all this discussion concerning Xi's anti-corruption campaign and the removal of the top military commander of the PLA and other officials. "When a family grows rich, and the king reigns long, it is natural that foxes and rats will emerge." LOL

Thank you for the music and sentiments. For me, the songs carry a sense of pride and strength. Somehow, the breathing sounds in the beginning of the first rendition reminded me of american chain gang sounds expressed musically, an expression of tragedy and hope. The second song communicated the same to me, although with a different delivery.

@orlbucfan

I always had problems with learning a foreign language. I had a good friend in hs who was so good in French, I was envious. I did poorly. I really didn't understand my learning inability. I had to do a thesis for the history honors program. I tried one in French history on Vichy France, it was rejected, but while I was preparing it, I learned to just read the language (no matter how long it took) and enjoy it, and forget struggling over grammar and listening comprehension. I heard a neurologist say if you aren't exposed to a language at a very young age, you will have greater difficulty because maximum neuroplasticity is lost as one physically matures (after age 13?). That's me.

Fortunately years later when I went to South Korea, I worked with Koreans at the office, I had an interpreter assigned to me when I went out of town. The Korean alphabet hangul is similar to our own and phonetically more exact. The saying is you can learn it in a day, if you try. My son learned to read the signs for restaurants, book stores, and other street signs, in a day or two. I don't think the grammar is as hard, but that doesn't mean I'm good at it. Historically, the Korean language was first written in Chinese characters, so I learned just a couple hundred along the way (1200 used to be required in South Korean schools). They aren't used much at all any more in South Korea, except perhaps for people's names. Ms. So and mother in law added to my vocabulary in Korean steadily over the years.

I'm just beginning to learn Chinese. I started looking for songs that I could learn from. Because history is important to me, I had found that watching Korean historical dramas was also a great way to learn Korean. I also watched South Korean variety shows, travelogues, and the news a lot. A couple of years back, Korean Chinese history profs traveling in China would recite short Chinese poems or aphorisms in historic settings. That got me started. I kept stopping these travelogue videos to try to read the Chinese, and Ms. So would say "go get your computer!" The Chinese historical drama above seems to fit the bill (from my prior experience with Korean historical dramas). Some of the vocab seems archaic or I'm otherwise not familiar with it. I will never be conversant or proficient in Chinese, I'm really just trying to read it.

It keeps my mind going in my old age, don't know that I can do much else these days. It's a good escape.

are multi-lingual from a very young age. And to actually know how to write in different alphabets is beyond way cool! I am a lifelong book and music junkie who really doesn't care much for the video media (TV, movies). I studied world history on my own, and got quite familiar with China. I wanted to visit the country (didn't quite work out). Their civilization has survived thousands of years due to luck and a type of smarts. They know how to wage economic warfare probably better than any other nation. They should cos they've been around long enough. LOL. Speaking of peace, my avatar sums up my feelings. A friend texted me a short video of a group of Buddhist monks who have just completed a 120-day, 2300 mile walk across this country for peace. Their very well-trained dog accompanied them. I know I'm with them 'in spirit.' Well, at least ECFL isn't in deep freeze weather wise. Stay safe and warm. Rec'd!!