PlayStations, Game Boys and iPads have occupied the spare time of many a child in recent decades.

Despite the digital revolution (數(shù)字革命, shù zì gé mìng), however, traditional toys (傳統(tǒng)玩具, chuán tǒng wán jù) have proved to be everlasting entertainment for kids across the generations.

In China, those toys have always been connected with traditional culture (傳統(tǒng)文化, chuán tǒng wén huà). For example, the Han Dynasty-invented lanterns (漢代發(fā)明的燈籠, hàn dài fā míng de dēng lóng) symbolise the prosperity of a family in Chinese culture and represent festivity. Shadow puppetry (皮影戲 ,pí yǐng xì) was invented when Emperor Wu of Han (漢武帝, hàn wǔ dì) summoned his officers to bring his beloved concubine back. The humble kite (風(fēng)箏, fēng zhēng) was initially used as a tool for military communication (軍事通信工具, jūn shì tōng xìn gōng jù). Rattle drums (撥浪鼓, bō làng gǔ) first appeared as musical instruments in the warring states period. And for more than 2,000 years, the shuttlecock (毽子, jiàn zi) continues to be wildly popular.

Who ever said heritage was boring?

Source: chinadaily.com.cn

Editor: wanwan