title: Kenya Moore

text: Moore had parts in television programs including: "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", "Meet the Browns", "Homeboys in Outer Space", "Sparks", "Smart Guy", "Video Soul" "Living Single", "Damon", "In the House", "The Jamie Foxx Show", "The Parent 'Hood", "The Steve Harvey Show", "Martin", "Nubian Goddess", "Men, Women & Dogs", "The Parkers", "Under One Roof", and "Girlfriends". She has also appeared on the covers of "Glamour", "Seventeen", "Ebony", and "Essence" magazines and can be seen in the music videos for Jermaine Dupri's "Money Ain't a Thang" (1998), Nas's "Street Dreams" (1996), Shai's "I Don't Wanna Be Alone" (1996), and Tupac's "Temptations". Additionally, Moore has appeared in several films: "Waiting to Exhale" (1995), "Senseless" (1998), "Trois" (2000), "Deliver Us from Eva" (2003), "Brothers in Arms" (2005), "Cloud 9" (2006), "I Know Who Killed Me" (2007), and "" (2010).


title: Kenya Moore

text: In May 2012, Moore joined the season five cast of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Atlanta". In 2015, Moore was cast on "The Celebrity Apprentice 7". Moore starred in "The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip" a spin-off featuring various women from The Real Housewives franchise, that premiered on Peacock in November 2021.


title: Kenya Moore

text: In September 2021, Moore was announced as one of the celebrities competing on season 30 of "Dancing with the Stars". She and her professional dance partner, Brandon Armstrong, were the sixth couple to be eliminated, ultimately finishing in 10th place.


title: Kenya Moore

text: Moore has also produced and directed various projects and launched her own company, Moore Vision Media in 2008. Moore Vision Media produced the erotic thriller "The Confidant". Moore is credited as producer/director of the film "". After the project lost its director, Moore took over the production and completed the film. When the film failed to find distribution, Moore founded Moore Vision Media, an independent movie production and home-video distribution company. The company's first production was "The Confidant", released by Universal Vivendi on August 24, 2010.


title: Kenya Moore

text: On November 28, 2007, Moore published a book titled "Game, Get Some!: What Women Really Want". Described as a how-to guide, the book is a self-help and conduct containing relationship advice, as well as the author's personal experiences regarding interpersonal and intimate relationships. Moore has stated about the book, "No one man can know everything there is to know about women, but with my help, they may just come close; I feel like the female Ms. Hitch! I want to bring us together not apart." The author reviews self-esteem and self-concept issues, offers sexual advice, discusses tips on mending a relationship or the proper way to break up. "If you have shared a special bond with someone you have dated, if you always treat her with respect, you will always have a friend at the end of the day." Moore writes.


title: Kenya Moore

text: In 2013, Moore released her own exercise video, named "Kenya Moore: Booty Boot Camp". This venture rivalled The Real Housewives of Atlanta co-star Phaedra Parks own workout video and was a primary storyline in the show's fifth season. In 2014, Moore launched a hair care products brand, Kenya Moore Haircare. Kenya Moore Haircare, designed to grow your real hair longer, stronger & thicker in just one use. Featuring products for all hair types that are sulfate, phosphate & paraben free. And over 95% naturally derived.


title: Kenya Moore

text: In June 2017, Moore married businessman and restaurant owner Marc Daly. In April 2018 she announced that they were expecting their first child. On November 4, 2018, Moore gave birth to a daughter. Their daughter is named after Brooklyn, where she and husband Marc met, and Doris, after her late grandmother who raised her. Moore filed for divorce from Daly in August 2021.


title: Yamata no Orochi

text: Yamata no Orochi legends are originally recorded in two ancient texts about Japanese mythology and history. The 712 AD transcribes this dragon name as and the 720 AD writes it as . In both versions of the Orochi myth, the Shinto storm god Susanoo (or "Susa-no-O") is expelled from Heaven for tricking his sister Amaterasu, the sun goddess.


title: Yamata no Orochi

text: After expulsion from Heaven, Susanoo encounters two near the head of the , now called the , in Izumo Province. They are weeping because they were forced to give the Orochi one of their daughters every year for seven years, and now they must sacrifice their eighth, , who Susanoo transforms into a for safekeeping. The tells the following version:


title: Yamata no Orochi

text: The also describes Yamata no Orochi: "It had an eight-forked head and an eight-forked tail; its eyes were red, like the winter-cherry; and on its back firs and cypresses were growing. As it crawled it extended over a space of eight hills and eight valleys." The botanical names used to describe this Orochi are or (winter cherry or Japanese lantern, "Physalis alkekengi"), (club moss, "Lycopodiopsida"), (Japanese cypress, "Chamaecyparis obtusa"), and (Japanese cedar, "Cryptomeria").


title: Yamata no Orochi

text: The legendary sword , which came from the tail of Yamata no Orochi, along with the mirror and jewel, became the three sacred Imperial Regalia of Japan.


title: Yamata no Orochi

text: The Japanese name derives from Old Japanese with a regular from shift, but its etymology is enigmatic. Besides this ancient reading, the kanji, , are commonly pronounced , "big snake; large serpent".


title: Yamata no Orochi

text: Carr notes that Japanese scholars have proposed "more than a dozen" < etymologies, while Western linguists have suggested loanwords from Austronesian, Tungusic, and Indo-European languages. The most feasible native etymological proposals are Japanese from , (which is where Susanoo discovered the sacred sword), , or ; and , meaning "god; spirit", cognate with the river-dragon. Benedict originally proposed "large snake" was suffixed from Proto-Austro-Japanese *"(w)oröt-i" acquired from Austronesian , "snake; worm"; which he later modified to from . Miller criticized Benedict for overlooking Old Japanese " 'tail' + suffix – as well as an obvious Tungus etymology, [Proto-Tungus] *"xürgü-či", 'the tailed one'", and notes "this apparently well-traveled has now turned up in the speculation of the [Indo-European] folklorists." Littleton's hypothesis involves the 3-headed monster Trisiras or Viśvarūpa, which has a mythological parallel because Indra killed it after giving it soma, wine, and food, but lacks a phonological connection.


title: Yamata no Orochi

text: Polycephalic or multi-headed animals are rare in biology, but commonly feature in mythology and heraldry. Multi-headed dragons, like the 8-headed Orochi and 3-headed Trisiras above, are a common motif in comparative mythology. For instance, multi-headed dragons in Greek mythology include the 9-headed Lernaean Hydra and the 100-headed Ladon, both slain by Heracles.


title: Yamata no Orochi

text: Two other Japanese examples derive from Buddhist importations of Indian dragon myths. Benzaiten, the Japanese name of Saraswati, supposedly killed a 5-headed dragon at Enoshima in 552 AD. Kuzuryū (, "9-headed dragon"), deriving from the Nagaraja snake-kings Vasuki and Shesha, is worshipped at Togakushi Shrine in Nagano Prefecture. (Compare the , "nine-headed bird" in Chinese mythology.)


title: Yamata no Orochi

text: Comparing folklore about polycephalic dragons and serpents, 8-headed creatures are less common than 7- or 9-headed ones. Among Japanese numerals, or () can mean "many; varied" (e.g., , "greengrocer; jack-of-all-trades"). De Visser says the number 8 is "stereotypical" in legends about kings or gods riding dragons or having their carriages drawn by them. The slaying of the dragon is said to be similar to the legends of Cambodia, India, Persia, Western Asia, East Africa and the Mediterranean area. Smith identifies the mythic 7- or 8-headed dragons with the 7-spiked Pteria shell or 8-tentacled octopus.


title: Yamata no Orochi

text: The myth of a storm god fighting a sea serpent is itself a popular mythic trope potentially originating with the Proto-Indo-European religion and later transmitted into the religions of the ancient Near East most likely initially through interaction with Hittite speaking peoples into Syria and the Fertile Crescent. This motif, known as (German for "struggle against chaos"), represents the clash between order and chaos. Often as these myths evolve from their original source, the role of the storm god (himself often the head of a pantheon) is adopted by culture heroes or a personage symbolizing royalty. In many examples, the serpent god is often seen as multi-headed or multi-tailed.


title: Yamata no Orochi

text: The fight of a hero (sometimes of extraordinary birth) against a dragon who demands the sacrifice of maidens or princesses is a widespread tale. In folkloristics it falls under the Aarne–Thompson–Uther index type ATU 300, "The Dragonslayer".


title: Shenseea

text: Chinsea Lee (born 1 October 1996), known professionally as Shenseea, is a Jamaican dancehall artist. She initially gained attention after appearing on songs by Vybz Kartel, Sean Paul, and Christina Aguilera. In 2019, she signed a recording contract with Interscope Records and released the song "Blessed" featuring Tyga, which has accumulated over 58 million views on YouTube.


title: Shenseea

text: In 2021, she was featured on Kanye West's Donda album on the songs "Pure Souls" with Roddy Ricch and "Ok Ok Pt 2" with Rooga. For her collaborations on West's album, Shenseea received an Album of the Year nomination as a featured artist at the 64th Grammy Awards. She also won Best Reggae Act at the 2021 MOBO Awards. In 2022, she released the single "Lick" featuring Megan Thee Stallion from her debut album "Alpha".


title: Shenseea

text: Shenseea was born in Jamaica to a Afro-Jamaican mother and a Korean-born father, from whom she is estranged.


title: Shenseea

text: After spending a few years as an aspiring artist, Shenseea was signed by Lemuel Samuel's music label Rockstar. She gained recognition after remixing the well-known Vybz Kartel's song "Loodi" and performing on a side stage at Reggae Sumfest in 2015. In 2017, she performed on Reggae Sumfest's main stage. As her notoriety grew, she toured internationally. In 2016, she won "Young Hot and Hype Artiste" at the Youth View Awards; Break Out Celebrity of 2016, and Collaboration of The Year for her song "Loodi" with Vybz Kartel. In addition to dancehall music she has shown skills in freestyling as a rapper. She teamed up with Sean Paul for the 2017 single "Rolling" and on the leg of his 2017 European tour.


title: Shenseea

text: In 2018, she was featured on Christina Aguilera's album "Liberation", on the song "Right Moves". Vybz Kartel and Shenseea then collaborated on the song "Secret (Remix)" in October 2018. In 2019, she signed with Interscope records, and released the hip-hop/dancehall track "Blessed" featuring American artist Tyga, which has accumulated over 58 million views on YouTube, as of April 2022. In January 2020, she collaborated with Jamaican record producer Rvssian on a single titled "IDKW" which also featured American rappers Swae Lee and Young Thug. That same year, Shenseea appeared on Masego's album "Studying Abroad", and Major Lazer's "Music is the Weapon".


title: Shenseea

text: In 2021, Shenseea collaborated with Kanye West on his album "Donda", appearing on the songs "Pure Souls" with Roddy Ricch and "Ok Ok Pt 2" with Rooga. She was also appeared onstage during West's Chicago event for "Donda". For her collaborations on West's album, Shenseea received an Album of the Year nomination, as a featured artist, at the 2022 64th Grammy Awards, marking her first Grammy nomination. In 2021, Shenseea also signed with Wassim "Sal" Slaiby, aka Salxo, who also manages the Weeknd and Doja Cat. She won Best Reggae Act at the 2021 MOBO Awards.


title: Shenseea

text: On 21 January 2022, Shenseea released the song "Lick", featuring Megan Thee Stallion. The song is included on her debut album, "Alpha", which was released on March 11, 2022.


title: Shenseea

text: Alongside her singing career, she holds multiple corporate sponsorship deals with companies such as Telecom, Firm Flow, Boom and a Pepsi-Cola JA sponsorship.


title: Shenseea

text: In 2015, at the age of 19, Shenseea gave birth to her son, named Rajeiro Lee, before her music career took off. In 2020, her son signed an endorsement deal for Babybop Kids Store at the age of four.


title: Lagoon

text: A lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from a larger body of water by a narrow landform, such as reefs, barrier islands, barrier peninsulas, or isthmuses. Lagoons are commonly divided into "coastal lagoons" (or "barrier lagoons") and "atoll lagoons". They have also been identified as occurring on mixed-sand and gravel coastlines. There is an overlap between bodies of water classified as coastal lagoons and bodies of water classified as estuaries. Lagoons are common coastal features around many parts of the world.


title: Lagoon

text: Lagoons are shallow, often elongated bodies of water separated from a larger body of water by a shallow or exposed shoal, coral reef, or similar feature. Some authorities include fresh water bodies in the definition of "lagoon", while others explicitly restrict "lagoon" to bodies of water with some degree of salinity. The distinction between "lagoon" and "estuary" also varies between authorities. Richard A. Davis Jr. restricts "lagoon" to bodies of water with little or no fresh water inflow, and little or no tidal flow, and calls any bay that receives a regular flow of fresh water an "estuary". Davis does state that the terms "lagoon" and "estuary" are "often loosely applied, even in scientific literature". Timothy M. Kusky characterizes lagoons as normally being elongated parallel to the coast, while estuaries are usually drowned river valleys, elongated perpendicular to the coast. Coastal lagoons are classified as inland bodies of water.


title: Lagoon

text: When used within the context of a distinctive portion of coral reef ecosystems, the term "lagoon" is synonymous with the term "back reef" or "backreef", which is more commonly used by coral reef scientists to refer to the same area.


title: Lagoon

text: Many lagoons do not include "lagoon" in their common names. Currituck, Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds in North Carolina, Great South Bay between Long Island and the barrier beaches of Fire Island in New York, Isle of Wight Bay, which separates Ocean City, Maryland from the rest of Worcester County, Maryland, Banana River in Florida, US, Lake Illawarra in New South Wales, Australia, Montrose Basin in Scotland, and Broad Water in Wales have all been classified as lagoons, despite their names. In England, The Fleet at Chesil Beach has also been described as a lagoon.


title: Lagoon

text: In some languages the word for a lagoon is simply a type of lake: In Chinese a lake is ' (), and a lagoon is ' (). Contrariwise, several other languages have specific words for such bodies of water. In Spanish, coastal lagoons generically are ', but those on the Mediterranean coast are specifically called '. In Russian and Ukrainian, those on the Black Sea are ' (), while the generic word is ' (). Similarly, in the Baltic, Danish has the specific ', and German the specifics ' and , as well as generic terms derived from '. In New Zealand the Māori word ' refers to a coastal lagoon formed at the mouth of a braided river where there are mixed sand and gravel beaches, while , an ephemeral coastal waterbody, is neither a true lagoon, lake nor estuary.


title: Lagoon

text: Some languages differentiate between coastal and atoll lagoons. In French, " refers specifically to an atoll lagoon, while coastal lagoons are described as , the generic word for a still lake or pond.


title: Lagoon

text: In Latin America, the term ' in Spanish, which lagoon translates to, may be used for a small fresh water lake in a similar way a creek is considered a small river. However, sometimes it is popularly used to describe a full-sized lake, such as Laguna Catemaco in Mexico, which is actually the third-largest lake by area in the country. The brackish water lagoon may be thus explicitly identified as a "coastal lagoon" ('). In Portuguese, a similar usage is found: " may be a body of shallow seawater, or a small freshwater lake not linked to the sea.


title: Lagoon

text: Lagoon is derived from the Italian "", which refers to the waters around Venice, the Venetian Lagoon. "Laguna" is attested in English by at least 1612, and had been Anglicized to "lagune" by 1673. In 1697 William Dampier referred to a "Lagune or Lake of Salt water" on the coast of Mexico. Captain James Cook described an island "of Oval form with a Lagoon in the middle" in 1769.


title: Lagoon

text: Atoll lagoons form as coral reefs grow upwards while the islands that the reefs surround subside, until eventually only the reefs remain above sea level. Unlike the lagoons that form shoreward of fringing reefs, atoll lagoons often contain some deep (>) portions.


title: Lagoon

text: Coastal lagoons form along gently sloping coasts where barrier islands or reefs can develop offshore, and the sea-level is rising relative to the land along the shore (either because of an intrinsic rise in sea-level, or subsidence of the land along the coast). Coastal lagoons do not form along steep or rocky coasts, or if the range of tides is more than . Due to the gentle slope of the coast, coastal lagoons are shallow. A relative drop in sea level may leave a lagoon largely dry, while a rise in sea level may let the sea breach or destroy barrier islands, and leave reefs too deep underwater to protect the lagoon. Coastal lagoons are young and dynamic, and may be short-lived in geological terms. Coastal lagoons are common, occurring along nearly 15 percent of the world's shorelines. In the United States, lagoons are found along more than 75 percent of the Eastern and Gulf Coasts.


title: Lagoon

text: Coastal lagoons are usually connected to the open ocean by inlets between barrier islands. The number and size of the inlets, precipitation, evaporation, and inflow of fresh water all affect the nature of the lagoon. Lagoons with little or no interchange with the open ocean, little or no inflow of fresh water, and high evaporation rates, such as Lake St. Lucia, in South Africa, may become highly saline. Lagoons with no connection to the open ocean and significant inflow of fresh water, such as the Lake Worth Lagoon in Florida in the middle of the 19th century, may be entirely fresh. On the other hand, lagoons with many wide inlets, such as the Wadden Sea, have strong tidal currents and mixing. Coastal lagoons tend to accumulate sediments from inflowing rivers, from runoff from the shores of the lagoon, and from sediment carried into the lagoon through inlets by the tide. Large quantities of sediment may be occasionally be deposited in a lagoon when storm waves overwash barrier islands. Mangroves and marsh plants can facilitate the accumulation of sediment in a lagoon. Benthic organisms may stabilize or destabilize sediments.


title: Lagoon

text: In the European Union, coastal lagoon habitat is classified and under Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna (Habitats Directive). Furthermore, numerous bird species breed in coastal lagoons. As a result, many lagoons are also protected under Directive 2009/147/EC on the conservation of birds (Birds Directive).


title: Integumentary system

text: The integumentary system is the set of organs forming the outermost layer of an animal's body. It comprises the skin and its appendages, which act as a physical barrier between the external environment and the internal environment that it serves to protect and maintain the body of the animal. Mainly it is the body's outer skin.


title: Integumentary system

text: The integumentary system includes hair, scales, feathers, hooves, and nails. It has a variety of additional functions: it may serve to maintain water balance, protect the deeper tissues, excrete wastes, and regulate body temperature, and is the attachment site for sensory receptors which detect pain, sensation, pressure, and temperature.


title: Integumentary system

text: The skin is one of the largest organs of the body. In humans, it accounts for about 12 to 15 percent of total body weight and covers 1.5 to 2 m of surface area.


title: Integumentary system

text: The skin (integument) is a composite organ, made up of at least two major layers of tissue: the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is the outermost layer, providing the initial barrier to the external environment. It is separated from the dermis by the basement membrane (basal lamina and reticular lamina). The epidermis contains melanocytes and gives color to the skin. The deepest layer of the epidermis also contains nerve endings. Beneath this, the dermis comprises two sections, the papillary and reticular layers, and contains connective tissues, vessels, glands, follicles, hair roots, sensory nerve endings, and muscular tissue.


title: Integumentary system

text: Between the integument and the deep body musculature there is a transitional subcutaneous zone made up of very loose connective and adipose tissue, the hypodermis. Substantial collagen bundles anchor the dermis to the hypodermis in a way that permits most areas of the skin to move freely over the deeper tissue layers.


title: Integumentary system

text: The epidermis is the strong, superficial layer that serves as the first line of protection against the outer environment. The human epidermis is composed of stratified squamous epithelial cells, which further break down into four to five layers: the stratum corneum, stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum and stratum basale. Where the skin is thicker, such as in the palms and soles, there is an extra layer of skin between the stratum corneum and the stratum granulosum, called the stratum lucidum. The epidermis is regenerated from the stem cells found in the basal layer that develop into the corneum. The epidermis itself is devoid of blood supply and draws its nutrition from its underlying dermis.


title: Integumentary system

text: Its main functions are protection, absorption of nutrients, and homeostasis. In structure, it consists of a keratinized stratified squamous epithelium; four types of cells: keratinocytes, melanocytes, Merkel cells, and Langerhans cells.


title: Integumentary system

text: The predominant cell keratinocyte, which produces keratin, a fibrous protein that aids in skin protection, and is responsible for the formation of the epidermal water barrier by making and secreting lipids. The majority of the skin on the human body is keratinized, with the exception of the lining of mucous membranes, such as the inside of the mouth. Non-keratinized cells allow water to "stay" atop the structure.


title: Integumentary system

text: The protein keratin stiffens epidermal tissue to form fingernails. Nails grow from a thin area called the nail matrix at an average of 1 mm per week. The lunula is the crescent-shape area at the base of the nail, lighter in color as it mixes with matrix cells. Only primates have nails. In other vertebrates, the keratinizing system at the terminus of each digit produces claws or hooves.


title: Integumentary system

text: The epidermis of vertebrates is surrounded by two kinds of coverings, which are produced by the epidermis itself. In fish and aquatic amphibians, it is a thin mucus layer that is constantly being replaced. In terrestrial vertebrates, it is the stratum corneum (dead keratinized cells). The epidermis is, to some degree, glandular in all vertebrates, but more so in fish and amphibians. Multicellular epidermal glands penetrate the dermis, where they are surrounded by blood capillaries that provide nutrients and, in the case of endocrine glands, transport their products.


title: Integumentary system

text: The dermis is the underlying connective tissue layer that supports the epidermis. It is composed of dense irregular connective tissue and areolar connective tissue such as a collagen with elastin arranged in a diffusely bundled and woven pattern.


title: Integumentary system

text: The dermis has two layers: the papillary dermis and the reticular layer. The papillary layer is the superficial layer that forms finger-like projections into the epidermis (dermal papillae), and consists of highly vascularized, loose connective tissue. The reticular layer is the deep layer of the dermis and consists of the dense irregular connective tissue. These layers serve to give elasticity to the integument, allowing stretching and conferring flexibility, while also resisting distortions, wrinkling, and sagging. The dermal layer provides a site for the endings of blood vessels and nerves. Many chromatophores are also stored in this layer, as are the bases of integumental structures such as hair, feathers, and glands.


title: Integumentary system

text: The hypodermis, otherwise known as the subcutaneous layer, is a layer beneath the skin. It invaginates into the dermis and is attached to the latter, immediately above it, by collagen and elastin fibers. It is essentially composed of a type of cell known as adipocytes, which are specialized in accumulating and storing fats. These cells are grouped together in lobules separated by connective tissue.


title: Integumentary system

text: The hypodermis acts as an energy reserve. The fats contained in the adipocytes can be put back into circulation, via the venous route, during intense effort or when there is a lack of energy-providing substances, and are then transformed into energy. The hypodermis participates, passively at least, in thermoregulation since fat is a heat insulator.


title: Integumentary system

text: The integumentary system has multiple roles in maintaining the body's equilibrium. All body systems work in an interconnected manner to maintain the internal conditions essential to the function of the body. The skin has an important job of protecting the body and acts as the body's first line of defense against infection, temperature change, and other challenges to homeostasis.


title: Integumentary system

text: Small-bodied invertebrates of aquatic or continually moist habitats respire using the outer layer (integument). This gas exchange system, where gases simply diffuse into and out of the interstitial fluid, is called integumentary exchange.


title: FIFA Ballon d'Or

text: The FIFA Ballon d'Or ("Golden Ball") was an annual association football award presented to the world's best men's player from 2010 to 2015. Awarded jointly by FIFA and "France Football", the prize was a merger of the FIFA World Player of the Year award and the Ballon d'Or, the two most prestigious individual honours in world football. Unlike the Ballon d'Or awarded by "France Football", the FIFA Ballon d'Or, was not awarded based on votes from international journalists, but votes from national team coaches and captains, who selected the players they deemed to have performed the best in the previous calendar year.


title: FIFA Ballon d'Or

text: The six editions of the FIFA Ballon d'Or were dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, as part of their ongoing rivalry.


title: FIFA Ballon d'Or

text: Messi, who played for Barcelona, won the inaugural Ballon d'Or in 2010 and went on to win three in a row, after his wins in 2011 and 2012. Ronaldo, who played for Real Madrid, won successive awards in the next two years. The final FIFA Ballon d'Or was presented to Messi in 2015. Its awarding bodies subsequently ended their partnership; for 2016, "France Football" reintroduced the previous format of the Ballon d'Or, while FIFA created The Best FIFA Men's Player award.


title: FIFA Ballon d'Or

text: Historically, the leading individual awards in association football were the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award. The original Ballon d'Or, also known as the European Footballer of the Year award, had been awarded by the French publication "France Football" since 1956. The FIFA World Player of the Year award was presented by FIFA, the sport's governing body, from 1991.


title: FIFA Ballon d'Or

text: From 2005, the winners of the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year award were identical each year. Following the introduction of a global Ballon d'Or format in 2007, "France Football" and FIFA opted to merge the two awards. The creation of the FIFA Ballon d'Or was subsequently announced during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The inaugural award was presented that same year to the Argentine Lionel Messi.


title: FIFA Ballon d'Or

text: After a six-year partnership, "France Football" and FIFA terminated the joint award. Lionel Messi had received the final FIFA Ballon d'Or. For historical purposes, both awarding bodies regard the six editions of the FIFA Ballon d'Or as a continuation of their respective awards.


title: FIFA Ballon d'Or

text: The winners of the FIFA Ballon d'Or were chosen by international journalists and the coaches and captains of the national teams under FIFA's jurisdiction. In a system based on positional voting, each voter was allotted three votes, worth five points, three points and one point, and the three finalists were ordered based on total number of points. Voters were provided with a shortlist of 23 players from which they could select the three players they deemed to have performed the best in the previous calendar year.


title: FIFA Ballon d'Or

text: In 2013, Brazilian forward Pelé was given an honorary Ballon d'Or, having won three FIFA World Cups with Brazil but never an individual award from FIFA, as during his playing career only Europe-based players were eligible to win the original Ballon d'Or.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: Shema Yisrael (Shema Israel or Sh'ma Yisrael; "Šəmaʿ Yīsrāʾēl", "Hear, O Israel") is a Jewish prayer (known as the Shema) that serves as a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services. Its first verse encapsulates the monotheistic essence of Judaism: "Hear, O Israel: YHWH is our God, YHWH is one" (), found in .


title: Shema Yisrael

text: The first part can be translated as either "The our God" or "The is our God", and the second part as either "the is one" or as "the one " (in the sense of "the alone"), since Hebrew does not normally use a copula in the present tense, so translators must decide by inference whether one is appropriate in English. The word used for "the " is the tetragrammaton YHWH.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: Observant Jews consider the "Shema" to be the most important part of the prayer service in Judaism, and its twice-daily recitation as a "mitzvah" (religious commandment). Also, it is traditional for Jews to say the "Shema" as their last words, and for parents to teach their children to say it before they go to sleep at night.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: The term "Shema" is used by extension to refer to the whole part of the daily prayers that commences with "Shema Yisrael" and comprises Deuteronomy , , and Numbers . These sections of the Torah are read in the weekly Torah portions "Va'etchanan", "Eikev", and "Shlach", respectively.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: Originally, the "Shema" consisted of only one verse: (see Talmud Sukkah 42a and Berachot 13b). The recitation of the "Shema" in the liturgy, however, consists of three portions: , , and Numbers . The three portions are mentioned in the Mishnah (Berachot 2:2). The three portions relate to central issues of Jewish belief. In the Mishnah (Berakhot 2:5) the reciting of the "shema" was linked with re-affirming a personal relationship with God's rule. Literally, reciting the "shema" was stated as "receiving the kingdom of heaven." ["Heaven" is a metaphor for God. The best texts of the Mishnah, Kaufmann and Parma, do not have the addition "yoke" that is found in later printed Mishnahs: "receive the {yoke of the} kingdom of Heaven." The original statement appears to have been "to receive the kingdom of Heaven".]


title: Shema Yisrael

text: Additionally, the Talmud points out that subtle references to the Ten Commandments can be found in the three portions. As the Ten Commandments were removed from daily prayer in the Mishnaic period (70–200 CE), the "Shema" is seen as an opportunity to commemorate the Ten Commandments.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: There are two larger-print letters in the first sentence ('ayin ע and daleth ד) which, when combined, spell "עד". In Hebrew this means "witness". The idea thus conveyed is that through the recitation or proclamation of the "Shema" one is a living witness testifying to the truth of its message. Modern Kabbalistic schools, namely that of the Ari, teach that when one recites the last letter of the word "ecḥad" (אחד), meaning "one", he is to intend that he is ready to "die into God".


title: Shema Yisrael

text: Rabbinic Judaism teaches that the Tetragrammaton (י-ה-ו-ה), YHWH, is the ineffable and actual name of God, and as such is not read aloud in the "Shema" but is traditionally replaced with אדני, Adonai (""). For that reason, the "Shema" is recited aloud as "Sh'ma Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Eḥad" ("Hear, O Israel: the is our God, the is One.")


title: Shema Yisrael

text: This first verse of the "Shema" relates to the kingship of God. The first verse, "Hear, O Israel: the our God is One ", has always been regarded as the confession of belief in the One God. Due to the ambiguity of the possible ways to translate the Hebrew passage, there are several possible renderings:


title: Shema Yisrael

text: Many commentaries have been written about the subtle differences between the translations. There is an emphasis on the oneness of God and on the sole worship of God by Israel. There are other translations, though most retain one or the other emphases.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: The second line is a rabbinic addition and is recited silently during congregational worship (except on Yom Kippur, when it is recited aloud). In Reform and Conservative Judaism, it is recited aloud, but in a quieter voice than the rest of the prayer. It was originally a liturgical response in use in the Temple when the name of God was pronounced and took the form of "Baruch shem k’vod l’olam", "Blessed be his glorious name forever" (Psalm 72:19). However, in time the words "malchuto" ("His kingdom") and "va’ed" ("for ever and ever") were added. "Malchuto" was introduced by the rabbis during Roman rule as a counter to the claim of divine honors by Roman emperors. "Va’ed" was introduced at the time of the Second Temple to contrast the view of the "minim" (heretics) that there is no life after death.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: The following verses are commonly referred to as the "V'ahavta" according to the first word of the verse immediately following the "Shema", or in Classical Hebrew "V'ahav'ta" meaning "and you shall love...". They contain the command to love God with all one's heart, soul, and might (). The Talmud emphasizes that you will, at some point, whether you choose to or not, and therefore uses "shall" – future tense – love God.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: Then verse 7 goes on to remind the community to remember all the commandments and to "teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit down and when you walk, when you lie down and when you rise", to recite the words of God when retiring or rising; to bind those words "on thy arm and thy head" (classically Jewish oral tradition interprets as "tefillin"), and to "inscribe them on the door-posts of your house and on your gates" (referring to "mezuzah").


title: Shema Yisrael

text: The passage following the "Shema" and "V'ahavta" relates to the issue of reward and punishment. It contains the promise of reward for serving God with all one's heart, soul, and might (Deut 11:13) and for the fulfillment of the laws. It also contains punishment for transgression. It also contains a repetition of the contents of the first portion - but this time spoken to the second person plural, whereas the first portion is directed to the individual, this time it is directed to the whole community.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: The third portion relates to the issue of redemption. Specifically, it contains the law concerning the tzitzit (Numbers 15:37-41) as a reminder that all laws of God are obeyed, as a warning against following evil inclinations and in remembrance of the exodus from Egypt. For the prophets and rabbis, the exodus from Egypt is paradigmatic of Jewish faith that God redeems from all forms of foreign domination. It can be found in the portion Shlach-Lecha in the Book of Numbers.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: In summary, the content flows from the assertion of the oneness of God's kingship. Thus, in the first portion, there is a command to love God with all one's heart, soul, and might, and to remember and teach these very important words to the children throughout the day. Obeying these commands, says the second portion, will lead to rewards, and disobeying them will lead to punishment. To ensure fulfillment of these key commands, God also commands in the third portion a practical reminder, wearing the "tzitzit", "that ye may remember and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God."


title: Shema Yisrael

text: The full content verse by verse, in Hebrew, English transliteration, and English translation, can be found on the jewfaq.org website.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: The second line quoted, "Blessed be the Name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever", was originally a congregational response to the declaration of the Oneness of God; it is therefore often printed in small font and recited in an undertone, as recognition that it is not, itself, a part of the cited biblical verses. The third section of the "Shema" ends with Numbers 15:41, but traditional Jews end the recitation of the "Shema" by reciting the first word of the following blessing, "Emet", or "Truth" without interruption.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: In Orthodox Judaism, women are not required to daily recite the "Shema" (as a command from the Torah), as with other time-bound requirements which might impinge on their traditional familial obligations, although they are obligated to pray at least once daily without a specific liturgy requirement, and many fulfill that obligation through prayers like the "Shema".


title: Shema Yisrael

text: Conservative Judaism generally regards Jewish women as being obligated to recite the "Shema" at the same times as men.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism do not regard gender-related traditional Jewish ritual requirements as necessary in modern circumstances, including obligations for men, but not women, to pray specific prayers at specific times. Instead, both genders may fulfill all requirements.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: The blessings preceding and following the "Shema" are traditionally credited to the members of the Great Assembly. They were first instituted in the liturgy of the Temple in Jerusalem.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: According to the Talmud, the reading of the "Shema" morning and evening fulfills the commandment "You shall meditate therein day and night". As soon as a child begins to speak, his father is directed to teach him the verse "Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob", and teach him to read the "Shema". The reciting of the first verse of the "Shema" is called "the acceptance of the yoke of the kingship of God" ("kabalat ol malchut shamayim"). Judah ha-Nasi, who spent all day involved with his studies and teaching, said just the first verse of the "Shema" in the morning "as he passed his hands over his eyes", which appears to be the origin of the custom to cover the eyes with the right hand while reciting the first verse.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: The first verse of the "Shema" is recited aloud, simultaneously by the hazzan and the congregation, which responds with the rabbinically instituted "Baruch Shem" ("Blessed be the Name") in silence before continuing the rest of "Shema". Only on Yom Kippur is this response said aloud. The remainder of the "Shema" is read in silence. Sephardim recite the whole of the "Shema" aloud, except the "Baruch Shem". Reform Jews also recite the whole of the first paragraph of the "Shema" aloud.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: During "Shacharit", two blessings are recited before the "Shema" and one after the "Shema". There is a question in Jewish law as to whether these blessings are "on" the "Shema", or "surrounding" the "Shema". The conclusion that has been drawn is that they are "surrounding" the "Shema", because the structure is similar to that of blessings of the Torah, and there is doubt as to whether such blessings would actually "enhance" the "Shema". The two blessings that are recited before the "Shema" are Yotzer ohr and Ahava Rabbah/Ahavat Olam. The blessing after is known as Emet Vayatziv.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: During "Maariv", there are two blessings before the "Shema" and two after. The two before are HaMaariv Aravim and Ahavat Olam. The two after are Emet V'Emunah and Hashkiveinu. Ashkenazim add Baruch Hashem L'Olam outside of Israel on weekdays.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: Overall, the three blessings in the morning and four in the evening which accompany the "Shema" sum to seven, in accordance with the verse in Psalms: "I praise You seven times each day for Your just rules."


title: Shema Yisrael

text: Before going to sleep, the first paragraph of the "Shema" is recited. This is not only a commandment directly given in the Bible (in Deuteronomy 6:6–7), but is also alluded to from verses such as "Commune with your own heart upon your bed" (Psalms 4:4).


title: Shema Yisrael

text: Some also have the custom to read all three paragraphs, along with a whole list of sections from Psalms, Tachanun, and other prayers. Altogether this is known as the "K'riat Shema she-al ha-mitah". According to Arizal, reading this prayer with great concentration is also effective in cleansing one from sin. This is discussed in the Tanya.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: The exhortation by the Kohen in calling Israel to arms against an enemy (which does not apply when the Temple in Jerusalem is not standing) also includes "Shema Yisrael".


title: Shema Yisrael

text: According to the Talmud, Rabbi Akiva patiently endured while his flesh was being torn with iron combs, and died reciting the "Shema". He pronounced the last word of the sentence, "Eḥad" ("one") with his last breath. Since then, it has been traditional for Jews to say the "Shema" as their last words. In 2006 Roi Klein, a major in the Israel Defense Forces, said the "Shema" before jumping on a live grenade and dying to save his fellow soldiers.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: Reformulations of the "Shema" appear in later Jewish Scripture, Second Temple literature, and New Testament texts. In these texts, sometimes new features are added to the "Shema" (e.g. 2 Kings 19:19; Zech. 14:9), in others, it is abbreviated to “God is One” (Philo, Spec. 1.30), “one God” (Josephus, C. Ap. 2.193), or “God alone” (2 Maccabees 7:37). The following is a selection of significant occurrences.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: In episode 9 of season 3 of the television series "The Man in the High Castle", the character Frank Frink recites the "Shema" just before he is executed.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: In the "Northern Exposure" episode "Kaddish for Uncle Manny", Joel Fleischman doubts the sincerity of a burly itinerant lumberjack who arrives in response to Maurice Minnifield's offer of free food and lodging to participate in a minyan; he asks the man to recite the "Shema", which he does.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: In episode 4 of season 2 of the television series "Shtisel" (2015), Rebetzen Erblich asks her friend Bube Malka to recite the "Shema" with her as she is preparing to die.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: In episode of season 1 of the television series "The Sandman", Death comes from an old Jewish man, Harry who recites the "Shema" before dying.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: The second section of the Tanya brings the mystical panentheism of the founder of Hasidic Judaism, the Baal Shem Tov, into philosophical explanation. It outlines the Hasidic interpretation of God's Unity in the first two lines of the "Shema", based upon their interpretation in Kabbalah. The emphasis on Divine Omnipresence and immanence lies behind Hasidic joy and "devekut", and its stress on transforming the material into spiritual worship. In this internalisation of Kabbalistic ideas, the Hasidic follower seeks to reveal the Unity and hidden holiness in all activities of life.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: Medieval, rationalist Jewish philosophers (exponents of "Hakirah"–rational "investigation" from first principles in support of Judaism), such as Maimonides, describe Biblical monotheism to mean that there is only one God, and his essence is a unique, simple, infinite Unity. Jewish mysticism provides a philosophic paradox, by dividing God's Unity into God's essence and emanation.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: In Kabbalah and especially Hasidism, God's Unity means that there is nothing independent of his essence. The new doctrine in Lurianic Kabbalah of God's "tzimtzum" ("withdrawal") received different interpretations after Isaac Luria, from the literal to the metaphorical. To Hasidism and Schneur Zalman, it is unthinkable for the "withdrawal" of God that "makes possible" Creation, to be taken literally. The paradox of "Tzimtzum" only relates to the Ohr Ein Sof ("Infinite Light"), not the Ein Sof (Divine essence) itself. God's infinity is revealed in both complementary infinitude (infinite light) and finitude (finite light). The "withdrawal" was only a concealment of the Infinite Light into the essence of God, to allow the latent potentially finite light to emerge after the God limiting "tzimtzum". God himself remains unaffected ("For I, the Lord, I have not changed" Malachi 3:6). His essence was One, alone, before Creation, and still One, alone, after Creation, without any change. As the "tzimtzum" only limits God to a concealment, therefore God's Unity remains Omnipresent. In the Baal Shem Tov's interpretation, Divine providence affects every detail of Creation. The "movement of a leaf in the wind" is part of the unfolding Divine presence, and is a necessary part of the complete "Tikkun" (Rectification in Kabbalah). This awareness of the loving Divine purpose and significance of each individual and his free will, awakens mystical love and awe of God.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: Schneur Zalman explains that God's divided Unity has two levels, an unlimited level and a limited one, that are both paradoxically true. The main text of medieval Kabbalah, the Zohar, describes the first verse of the "Shema" ("Hear O Israel, the Lord is God, the Lord is One") as the "Upper level Unity", and the second line ("Blessed be the Name of the Glory of His Kingdom forever") as the limited "Lower level Unity". Schneur Zalman gives the Chabad explanation of this. In his Kabbalah philosophy, all Creation is dependent on the limited, immanent, potentially finite, "Light that Fills all Worlds", that each Creation receives continually. All is "bittul"–nullified to the light, even though in our realm this complete dependence is hidden. From this perspective, of God knowing the Creation on its own terms, Creation exists, but the true essence of anything is only the Divine spark that continuously recreates it from nothing. God is One, as nothing has any independent existence without this continual flow of Divine Will to Create. This is the pantheistic Lower Level Unity.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: In relation to God's essence, Creation affects no change or withdrawal. All Creation takes place "within" God. "There is nothing but God". The ability to create can only come from the infinite Divine essence, represented by the Tetragrammaton name of God. However, "It is not the essence of the Divine, to create Worlds and sustain them", as this ability is only external to the Infinite essence "outside" God. Creation only derives from God's revelatory antropomorphic "speech" (as in Genesis 1), and even this is unlike the external speech of Man, as it too remains "within" God. From this upper perspective of God knowing himself on his own terms, the created existence of Creation does not exist, as it is as nothing in relation to Zalman's philosophically constructed concept of God's essence. This monistic acosmism is the "Upper Level Unity", as from this perspective, only God exists.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: The words used in the "Shema" prayer are similar to the words of verse 1 of Sura 112 (Al-Tawhid or Monotheism) in the Quran. The word in Arabic is similar to the word in Hebrew.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: The "Shema" is one of the Old Testament sentences quoted in the New Testament. The Gospel of mentions that Jesus of Nazareth considered the opening exhortation of the "Shema" to be the first of his two greatest commandments and linked with a second (based on Leviticus 19:18b): "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." In the "Shema" is also linked with Leviticus 19:18. The verses Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18b both begin with "ve'ahavta", "and you shall love". In Luke's Gospel, it appears that this connection between the two verses was already part of cultural discussion or practice.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: Theologians Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch noted that "the heart is mentioned first (in Deuteronomy 6:5), as the seat of the emotions generally and of love in particular; then follows the soul ("nephesh") as the centre of personality in man, to depict the love as pervading the entire self-consciousness; and to this is added, "with all the strength", i.e. of body and soul.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: The "Shema" has also been incorporated into Christian liturgy, and is discussed in terms of the Trinity. In the Latin Catholic Liturgy of the Hours, the "Shema" is read during the Night Prayer or "Compline" every Saturday, thereby concluding the day's prayers. The Anglican Book of Common Prayer in use in Canada since 1962 has included the "Shema" in its Summary of the Law. Since 2012, when the Anglican Use version of the BCP, the Book of Divine Worship, was adapted for use in Canada, it has been recited by Roman Catholics as well.


title: Shema Yisrael

text: The Anglican (and Orthodox Celtic) Church officially utilizes the "Shema" in the Daily Services. Namely with the decalogue.


title: Star Wars: The High Republic

text: Star Wars: The High Republic is a multimedia project consisting of various stories from the "Star Wars" franchise set during the "High Republic" era, which spans 350 to 50 years before the Skywalker Saga and is set hundreds of years after the fall of the "Old Republic". The initiating event of the sub-franchise is "The Great Disaster" involving the antagonistic "space Vikings" known as the Nihil and the subsequent intervention of the Jedi.


title: Star Wars: The High Republic

text: The series is divided into three phases. The first, "Light of the Jedi", ran from 2021 to 2022; the second phase, "Quest of the Jedi", started in 2022; and the third phase, "Trials of the Jedi", will start at a later date.


title: Star Wars: The High Republic

text: "Project Luminous" was started in September 2018 with invitations to "Star Wars" authors including Claudia Gray, Justina Ireland, Daniel José Older, Cavan Scott, and Charles Soule to Skywalker Ranch, with Lucasfilm offering them a "blank slate" in determining the project. Lucasfilm had teased "Project Luminous" in April 2019, prompting intense fan speculation.


title: Star Wars: The High Republic

text: On February 24, 2020, Lucasfilm announced a new series of comics and novels called "Star Wars: The High Republic", intended to be a publisher-only multimedia project, unrelated to any films in development. A trailer was released showing events taking place two centuries before the events of "." It shows the Jedi at the height of their power and rise of the Nihil.


title: Star Wars: The High Republic

text: The series was originally intended to debut with the "Light of the Jedi" novel in August 2020, a few days before Star Wars Celebration 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic until January 2021. The first chapter of the novel was released in June 2020 through "IGN". In November 2020, the second chapter of the novel was released on "StarWars.com", followed by the next six through the Penguin Random House website. In December 2020, Disney released a free digital sampler of early chapters of the first phase of "High Republic" books and comics, revealing the main characters for each series.


title: Star Wars: The High Republic

text: On Disney Investor Day 2020, it was revealed that Leslye Headland's "The Acolyte" series for Disney+ would take place during the late High Republic era. Shortly after, Tencent began releasing "Star Wars: The Vow of Silver Dawn", an e-book created specifically for Chinese audiences in collaboration with Lucasfilm. "The Vow of Silver Dawn" also takes place near the end of the High Republic era, said to be approximately 50 years prior to "The Phantom Menace". Lucasfilm has stated that they currently have no plans for an English translation and release.


title: Star Wars: The High Republic

text: On January 4, 2021, a day prior to the release of the first novels, Lucasfilm hosted a launch event where they gave more information regarding the works released following the first batch of novels and comics. This included the fact that "Star Wars Insider" would have monthly short stories as part of the publishing initiative, written by Scott and Ireland, several newly announced books releasing in the Summer of 2021, and that the first phase of "The High Republic" would last into 2022. The second phase was given the name "Quest of the Jedi", and the third "Trials of the Jedi".


title: Star Wars: The High Republic

text: At New York Comic Con 2022 it was announced that nine unique authors would produce a High Republic YA Anthology. The novel will include every previous High Republic author.


title: Star Wars: The High Republic

text: In the first week of its release, the event's debut novel "Light of the Jedi" was the #2 best selling novel on Amazon, and #1 on "The New York Times" Best Seller list of hardcover fiction, staying on the list for four weeks. "A Test of Courage", which released on the same day, debuted at #2 on "The New York Times" list for children's middle grade hardcover books, staying on the list for two weeks. The third novel, "Into the Dark", gained similar success by debuting on #1 on the list for young adult hardcover novels.


title: Star Wars: The High Republic

text: The first two issues of Marvel's "The High Republic" comic book series were the best-selling digital comics on Comixology during the week of their release. The first issue sold over 200,000 physical pre-orders to comic book shops, prompting Marvel to create a second printing of the issue before its official release, as well as third and fourth printings shortly after.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: China Southern Airlines Company Limited is an airline headquartered in Baiyun District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province and is the largest airline in China. Established on 1 July 1988 following the restructuring of the CAAC Airlines that acquired and merged a number of domestic airlines, the airline became one of China's "Big Three" airlines (alongside Air China and China Eastern Airlines), the world's sixth-largest airline measured by passengers carried and Asia's largest airline in fleet size, revenue, and passengers carried. With its main hubs at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport, the airline operates more than 2,000 flights to more than 200 destinations daily and was a member of SkyTeam until 1 January 2019. The airline started a frequent flyer program partnership with American Airlines in March 2019. The logo of the airline consists of a kapok flower (which is also the city flower of Guangzhou) on a blue tail fin. The company slogan is "Fly towards your dreams" ().


title: China Southern Airlines

text: The parent company of China Southern Airlines Company Limited is China Southern Air Holding Company, a state-owned enterprise that was supervised by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: In 1984, the Chinese government disclosed the decision to decentralise the CAAC. Formed in 1949, CAAC was an all-encompassing organisation responsible for civil aviation in China as it was tasked with passenger transport, resource development and survey work, air traffic control, aircraft maintenance and personnel training. The decentralisation decision would result in numerous regional airlines, with four main carriers to be responsible for the majority of international and domestic air traffic: Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and China Southwest Airlines; CAAC itself would be rationalised into a regulatory and administrative organisation.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: In 1988, CAAC granted its seven regional divisions, among which was the Guangzhou Regional Administration, limited operating autonomy with the status of "associate" airlines. China Southern Airlines began flying under its own name and livery in February 1991. At this time, the aircraft operated some 160 flights a day on 100 routes using the Antonov An-24, Boeing 737 and Boeing 757, along with helicopters and agricultural aircraft. In December 1992, the airline placed a US$800-million order for six Boeing 777s and the associated spare parts and training.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: The airline completed its decentralisation from CAAC when it gained independence on 10 October 1993. As such, the airline could from then on restructure itself into shareholding enterprises, independently arrange external financing and establish subsidiaries to complement its core enterprise. During the airline's early years, the carrier was the dominant domestic carrier. Together with the two major airlines of China – Air China and China Eastern – the airline handled half of passenger traffic carried by all Chinese carriers. Owing to Air China's status as the country's flag carrier, the airline is entitled to extensive international service rights, with China Eastern and China Southern's international networks confined to mainly East Asia and within Asia, respectively. Like other Chinese carriers, China Southern was subjected to CAAC's exclusive right to grant operating rights for every prospective route as well as to regulate domestic prices.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: To raise its operating standards and distance itself from mostly unprofitable second and third tiers domestic airlines, the carrier signed agreements with a number of foreign carriers regarding staff training and aircraft maintenance, with the ultimate aim of being listed on the , possibly as soon as early 1995.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: Starting in the mid-1990s, China Southern sought to expand its international reach beyond Asia. In December 1995, the Chinese and US governments signed an aviation agreement that would allow the commencement of non-stop air services between the two countries. After having been granted the right to establish services to Amsterdam in early 1996, the airline started Guangzhou–Beijing–Amsterdam, its first long-haul route, in November 1996. The following year, the carrier commenced non-stop trans-Pacific services to Los Angeles, as well as services to Brisbane.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: The start of European and American services coincided with the arrival of the long-range Boeing 777s, the first of which was delivered in late December 1995, as well as a general expansion and upgrade of the carrier's fleet and the associated facilities. Due to engine certification and labor relations issues, the delivery of the first Boeing 777 was more than a month behind schedule. As a result, the carrier considered, but ultimately decided against, leasing the Boeing 747-400, which would have been used to cover anticipated delays as well as to launch trans-Pacific services to the US. Nevertheless, the airline planned to double its fleet of 67 aircraft. In April 1996, the Chinese government would place an order, on China Southern's behalf, for 10 Airbus A320s; the delivery of the first aircraft, and China Southern's first Airbus, was made the following year. Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company, which was jointly established with Lockheed Aircraft Services International and Hutchinson Whampoa, was carrying out expansion of its aircraft maintenance facilities in anticipation of the increase.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: In order to keep pace with fast developments, China Southern raised capital from the capital market. The airline was successfully listed on the Hong Kong and New York Stock Exchanges in July 1997, raising $600–$700 million. Much of the funds raised were used to facilitate the airline's fleet expansion, repayment of debt, and investments in other capital; it followed up with domestic listing in 2003 at the Shanghai Stock Exchange. By 1997, the airline, along with its joint-venture airlines Xiamen Airlines, Shantou Airlinesm and Guangxi Airlines, was carrying some 15 million passengers per year using about 90 aircraft, operating about 270 routes among 68 destinations and almost 2,450 flights per week. The airline group's revenue totalled some US$1.4 billion with a net income of $90 million.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: The end of the 1990s was a period of consolidation for the Chinese airline industry. Initially, China Southern looked to acquire several smaller non-profitable domestic carriers as it sought to highlight its expansion plans in an effort to raise funds; among the deals was the purchase of 60% shares of Guizhou Airlines. Due to the weakening economy amidst the 1997 Asian financial crisis and intense competition among the some 30 Chinese carriers, in 1998, CAAC considered a comprehensive restructuring of the industry that would see the consolidation of the airlines into three or five carrier groups. At one stage, it was reported that CAAC was contemplating a forced merger of Air China and China Southern. Given the latter's dual listing in Hong Kong and New York, it was thought that such a merger would have eased Air China's path towards its own share offering. China Southern confirmed that such talks between them were occurring, although they ultimately proved fruitless. Had the merger proceeded, their combined fleets would have numbered some 250 aircraft, which would have made the resultant airline the largest in Asia.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: Although there was considerable resistance to CAAC's call to rationalise the industry, in July 2000, the administrative body announced that the ten airlines under its direct management will be merged into three airline groups, revolving around Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern itself. Within a month, China Southern had started absorbing Zhengzhou-based Zhongyuan Airlines, which at the time operated five Boeing 737s and two Xian Y-7 turboprops. The carrier would later merge with Shenyang-based China Northern Airlines and Urumqi-based Xinjiang Airlines to form China Southern Air Holding Co., a process that took more than two years and would culminate in China Southern's acquisition of their US$2 billion's worth of assets (as well as $1.8 billion of debt) in November 2004. Consequently, China Southern's fleet expanded from some 140 aircraft to over 210. The takeovers meant that the carrier became the main airline at Shenyang and Ürümqi, with passenger numbers' jumping from 28.2 million in 2004 to 44.1 million in 2005. As a result, China Southern Airlines became one of the "Big Three" carriers in the country. Since then, it has successively taken over shareholding stocks and joined the equity in numerous Chinese carriers. The airline is the major shareholder of Xiamen Airlines (55%) and Chongqing Airlines (60%); it also invests in Sichuan Airlines (39%).


title: China Southern Airlines

text: Amidst the major consolidation of the airline industry, China Southern in April 2000 started dedicated cargo services from Shenzhen using a Boeing 747-200F (which was quickly upgraded to the Boeing 747-400F) wet-leased from Atlas Air. To capitalise on the economic growth of the Pearl River Delta region (which includes Hong Kong), the carrier constructed a dedicated cargo centre in Shenzhen. Successful operations prompted an order for two Boeing 747-400Fs the following year. The airline by now had commenced operations to Sydney and Melbourne.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: In September 2003, China Southern signed a purchase agreement for four Airbus A330-200s, to be delivered from 2005. This was part of the order placed in April by the China Aviation Supplies Imp. & Exp. Group covering 30 aircraft. China Southern became the first mainland Chinese A330 operator with the delivery of the first example February 2005. China Southern followed up in September 2005 with a further order for eight A330-300s and two A330-200s.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: The month of January 2005 proved to be significant for civil aviation in China in general and China Southern in particular. In preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China Southern and the Chinese government placed several landmark widebody-aircraft orders from Airbus and Boeing. More specifically, on 28 January 2005, the carrier became the first (and so far the only) Chinese carrier to commit to the Airbus A380 double-deck aircraft, when it signed a general-terms agreement for five examples worth US$1.4 billion at catalogue prices. On the same day, China Southern, along with five other domestic carriers, placed a bulk order for 60 Boeing 7E7s (later renamed the Boeing 787 Dreamliner). The aircraft were worth $7.2 billion at list prices, and the first example was expected to be delivered in time for the Olympics; however, the first aircraft did not arrive until June 2013.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: Earlier during the month, the CAAC had approved the temporary operations of charter flights between mainland China and Taiwan. On the same day as the widebody orders, a China Southern Airlines Boeing 777-200 took off from Guangzhou and landed in Taipei the following day, becoming the first mainland Chinese aircraft to land in the Republic of China since 1949, when the Kuomintang were involved in Chinese Civil War with the Chinese Communist Party. The flight carried 242 passengers home after the Lunar New Year. Previously, passengers travelling between the mainland and Taiwan had to transit through a third port such as Hong Kong or Macau. Within three years, in July 2008, a China Southern Airlines Airbus A330 carrying 230 tourists again landed in Taipei. The governments of China and Taiwan had both agreed to allow direct flights across the Taiwan Strait in June, ending six decades of limited air travel between the two sides. Following the flight, China Southern Airlines Chairman and pilot of the flight, Liu Shaoyong, said, "From today onward, regular commercial flights will replace the rumbling warplanes over the skies of the Taiwan Strait, and relations between the two sides will become better and better."


title: China Southern Airlines

text: Following two years of negotiations which had started in August 2004, China Southern in late June 2006 signed an agreement with SkyTeam, one of the three global airline alliances, formally pledging itself to the improvement of standards with the aim of its eventual joining. According to the agreement, the airline committed to the upgrade of handling services, facilities and training of at least 75% of its staff to SkyTeam's standards. On 15 November 2007, China Southern officially joined SkyTeam, becoming the eleventh carrier to join the grouping and the first mainland Chinese carrier to join an airline alliance. The welcoming ceremony was attended by high-ranking Chinese government and SkyTeam corporate officials and was held at the Great Hall of the People. The carrier's integration with the alliance continued with its entry into SkyTeam Cargo in November 2010, and its joint-venture carrier Xiamen Airlines' formal joining in November 2012. With China Eastern's ascension in June 2011, SkyTeam furthered its leading presence on the mainland Chinese market; the remaining Big Three carrier, Air China, is a member of Star Alliance.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: It followed up with another Airbus order on 7 July 2006, when it confirmed a deal covering the purchase of 50 more A320 narrow bodies for delivery from 2009. The order included 13 A319-100s, 20 A320-200s and 17 A321-200s, reportedly worth $3.3 billion at list price. In December 2005, China Southern Airlines along with CASGC, announced an order with Boeing for 9 Boeing 737-700s and 11 Boeing 737-800s.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: In June 2006, China Southern Airlines confirmed another order of 3 Boeing 737-700s and 7 Boeing 737-800s. The deliveries would continue through 2010. On 18 October 2006, China Southern Airlines placed an order for 6 Boeing 777 freighters, striding forward a brand new step in its cargo development. The aircraft would be delivered from November 2008 to July 2010.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: On 20 August 2007, China Southern Airlines announced its intention for an order of 25 Boeing 737-700s and 30 Boeing 737-800s, which will be delivered from May 2011 to October 2013. It was a mere two months before, on 23 October 2007, China Southern Airlines announced that it had placed an order for 10 additional Airbus A330-200s. The order has a listed price of US$1.677 billion and the aircraft will be delivered from March 2010 to August 2012.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: During 2009, China Southern Airlines remodeled its strategy from a point to point hub to a full hub and spoke carrier, which has been proven successful. Along with that, the airline has rapidly expanded its international market share, particularly in Australia, where passenger numbers in 2011 have been 97% greater than in 2010.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: On 21 January 2010, China Southern Airlines announced an order for an additional 20 A320-200s, scheduled for delivery from 2011, due to the falling fuel costs and surging passenger demand. In March 2010, the Chinese carrier issued new shares in Hong Kong and Shanghai 2010 to raise 10.75 billion yuan ($1.57 billion) in a bid to pay off outstanding loans. In December, CNY810 million ($121.5 million) was injected by China Southern Airlines into its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines to fund its fleet expansion. In November 2010, China Southern Airlines signed an agreement with Airbus for the purchase of six A330s and 30 A320s–200.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: On 11 January 2011, China Southern Airlines announced a lease for 10 Embraer E-190, set to be delivered from the second half of 2011. On 27 January 2011, China Southern Airlines was awarded a four-star ranking by Skytrax. It is the largest airline to hold this title. On 17 October 2011, China Southern Airlines made its first flight with the Airbus A380. Initially, the airline deployed the A380s on domestic routes, flying between Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. At the same time, the carrier conducted negotiations to commence A380 international services. Due to the government-imposed limitation which confined an international route to a single airline, China Southern in August 2012 announced its intention to initiate Beijing-Paris services in cooperation with Air China, pending government approval. Two months later, the A380 was deployed on Guangzhou-Los Angeles services. Early A380 operations were unprofitable and the aircraft, underutilised; services to Sydney were thus launched in October 2013. By now talks with Air China on Beijing-Paris services had ceased.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: While China Southern, like the other Big Three Chinese carriers, had been expanding rapidly since 2000, much of their activities had been focused on the domestic market. With the increase in outflow of Chinese tourists, who in 2012 for example spent $102 billion internationally, as well as the rapid construction and introduction of high-speed rail in China, the carrier shifted its outlook overseas in order to sustain growth. Owing to the location of its hub at Guangzhou, which hinders the airline effectively serving the North American market, the airline concentrated its international expansion on Australasia. In June 2012, with the inauguration of services from Guangzhou to London-Heathrow, the airline started marketing its services connecting Europe and Australia as the "Canton Route", an alternative to the Kangaroo Route flown by carriers such as Qantas. It hoped to attract the predominantly business traffic that travel between Europe and Australia, and channel such sixth-freedom traffic as well as traffic from mainland China through its Guangzhou hub (thereby transforming the carrier's network from one that emphasises point-to-point to a hub-and-spoke system). The carrier by now had added cities such as Auckland, Istanbul, Perth, and Vancouver to its route map.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: During May–June 2012, China Southern Airlines has recruited Dutch flight attendants to serve the First and Business class sections for flights from Guangzhou to Amsterdam.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: In early 2015 it was announced that the airline would lease 24 Airbus A320neo aircraft from AerCap for delivery between 2016 and 2019.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: On 15 November 2018, the airline announced that it would leave SkyTeam by 1 January 2019 and will strengthen its partnership with American Airlines and others. The announcement lead to speculation that it will join Oneworld alongside Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific. Various media outlets reported that while analysts predict that its Oneworld move could threaten Cathay Pacific's position in the alliance, other analysts states that China Southern joining Oneworld would benefit Cathay more due to different target markets.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: In March 2019, the airline announced a frequent flyer partnership with American Airlines. Currently, the airline plans for more flexible tie-ups with other carriers, mostly with Oneworld members such as Qatar Airways while not joining the alliance 'for a few years' in order to fulfill its dream as 'world's largest airline'. On September 26, 2019, China Southern operates at Beijing Daxing International Airport alongside its former and current partners, and all of its flights to and from Beijing are transferred to Daxing on 25 October 2020.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: In November 2022, China Southern scheduled their last Airbus A380 flights prior to their planned retirement.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: China Southern is headquartered in the China Southern Air Building at 68 Qixin Road () in Baiyun District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: China Southern had plans to open a new headquarters facility on a site on the outskirts of Guangzhou, about from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Woods Bagot won a competition for the architect firm which would design the facility. The proposed site consists of two parcels of land on opposite sides of a highway leading to Baiyun Airport; both sites are shaped like wings. The site will have a bridge and light rail system that operates above the highway to connect the two parcels, which will each have distinct functions. For instance, the east parcel will house internal functions such as the data center facilities, staff dormitories, and the training center. The airline wants it to be aesthetically pleasing from the air since it sits below a runway approach. The site will have a lot of outdoor space, which Woods Bagot designed along with Hargreaves Associates and Sherwood Design Engineers. Jean Weng, a Woods Bagot Beijing-based principal, said "Most Chinese cities are very dense and very urban, but China Southern wants to create a human-scale campus, that's close to nature." The new headquarters was opened in August 2016.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: China Southern Airlines serves 193 destinations in 35 countries worldwide. It maintains a strong presence in the domestic market with its main hubs at Beijing Daxing International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport with secondary hubs at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, and Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport, along with other focus cities in Changchun, Changsha, Dalian, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Wuhan, and Zhengzhou. The airline plans to continue to develop Chongqing and Ürümqi as hubs as well to exploit the domestic market potential.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: China Southern offers 485 flights a day from its Guangzhou hub and 221 from its Beijing hub. The airline provides services to 65 international destinations. Most of the international flights link Guangzhou with world cities. There are also plenty of international flights operated through Beijing, Shanghai, Ürümqi (notably to Central Asia and Middle-east) and Dalian (to Japan, South Korea, and Russia). China Southern Airlines has developed an extensive network to Southeast Asia and also has become the Chinese airline with the largest presence in Australia. China Southern is also considering expanding into the South American markets, as well as further expansion into the African market.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: On 28 August 2004, China Southern Airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the airline alliance SkyTeam. On 15 November 2007, the airline was officially welcomed as the 11th member of SkyTeam, becoming the first mainland Chinese airline to join any global airline alliance, expanding the alliance's presence on mainland China.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: On 24 December 2018, China Southern Airlines released an official statement saying that it would discontinue its SkyTeam membership on 1 January 2019 and will also terminate its partnership with China Eastern and Delta.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: China Southern Cargo is the cargo subsidiary of China Southern Airlines. The cargo airline provides services between mainland China and North America, Europe, and Australia, where destinations such as Amsterdam, Anchorage, Chicago, Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Vienna, and London Stansted are served from its main hub at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, with cargo flights to Amsterdam and Milan from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. The cargo subsidiary joined the SkyTeam Cargo alliance in November 2010 and withdrew on 1 January 2019 following the airline's withdrawal from SkyTeam.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: China Southern Airlines is the only Chinese airline to have operated the Airbus A380. The airline initially operated these aircraft on Beijing–Hong Kong and Beijing–Guangzhou routes. However, these services struggled to be profitable. Due to the demand limitation of the airline's international hub at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, few routes from Guangzhou have the demand to support an A380. In effort to make its A380s viable, China Southern started operating A380 on its Guangzhou–Los Angeles route and on the Guangzhou–Sydney route. Additionally, China Southern flies A380s to Sydney and Melbourne every summer during its peak travel period. As of 20 June 2015, China Southern began operating the Airbus A380 from Beijing to Amsterdam. The A380 also operates four domestic flights each day between Beijing and Guangzhou. The airline's A380s are retired by November 2022.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: China Southern Airlines offers an "Experience Luxurious Skybed" on Boeing 787-8s. It is equipped with personal privacy, in-built massage, a 17-inch personal TV and fully reclining seat. It also has First Class on Airbus A330s and Boeing 777-300ERs, which features a seat pitch of and converts into a fully flat bed with a personal TV.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: China Southern Airlines offers Premium First Class on select flights, such as on the Beijing-Guangzhou route. This cabin offers more amenities and is more spacious than Regular First Class, such as a variety of lighting options and a private storage cabinet with a password lock.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: Business Class also offers a fully flat bed, and an adjustable privacy divider. It includes a USB port and a reading light. It also has a 15-inch TV.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: China Southern also offers Premium Economy class, which is more spacious than Economy class. In most aircraft, the seats are , compared to in Economy. The Boeing 777-300ERs however, are equipped with fixed-shell premium economy seats similar to those seen on Air France's Boeing 777s.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: China Southern Airlines's frequent-flyer program is called Sky Pearl Club (). The Sky Pearl Club allows its members earn FFP mileage not only flying China Southern domestic segments but also on flights of other codeshare member airlines. Additionally, Sky Pearl Club members can earn and use mileage on partnered Sichuan Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and China Airlines flights. Membership of Sky Pearl Club is divided into three tiers: Sky Pearl Gold Card, Sky Pearl Silver Card and Sky Pearl Member Card.


title: China Southern Airlines

text: In 2013, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) found the airline had transported more than 1,000 monkeys into the United States through the arrangements of Air Transport International, without federal permission to do so, and had transported the animals in insecure crates. The USDA ordered China Southern Airlines to pay $11,600 in fines for violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) during the airline's transport of monkeys to laboratories in the United States. Although the USDA cited Air Transport International for failure to provide food and water to the imported animals, China Southern Airlines was previously also ordered to pay $14,438 for AWA violations during one transport that left more than a dozen monkeys dead after they went without food and water for an extended period of time. Following these most recent violations, where the delivered animals were left neglected after arrival in the US, China Southern announced that it would no longer transport laboratory animals to the US. PETA had protested against the airline for these shipments.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: The Magic Mountain (, ) is a novel by Thomas Mann, first published in German in November 1924. It is widely considered to be one of the most influential works of twentieth-century German literature.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: Mann started writing "The Magic Mountain" in 1912. It began as a much shorter narrative that comically revisited the aspects of "Death in Venice", a novella that he was preparing for publication. The newer work reflected his experiences and impressions during a period when his wife, who was suffering from a lung complaint, resided at Dr. Friedrich Jessen's "Waldsanatorium" in Davos, Switzerland for several months. In May and June 1912, Mann visited her and became acquainted with the team of doctors and patients in this cosmopolitan institution. According to Mann, in the afterword that was later included in the English translation of his novel, this stay inspired his opening chapter ("Arrival").


title: The Magic Mountain

text: The outbreak of World War I interrupted his work on the book. The savage conflict and its aftermath led the author to undertake a major re-examination of European bourgeois society. He explored the sources of the destructiveness displayed by much of civilised humanity. He was also drawn to speculate about more general questions related to personal attitudes to life, health, illness, sexuality, and mortality. His political stance also changed during this period, from opposing the Weimar Republic to supporting it. Given this, Mann felt compelled to radically revise and expand the pre-war text before completing it in 1924. "Der Zauberberg" was eventually published in two volumes by S. Fischer Verlag in Berlin.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: Mann's vast composition is erudite, subtle, ambitious, but, most of all, ambiguous; since its original publication it has been subject to a variety of critical assessments. For example, the book blends a scrupulous realism with deeper symbolic undertones. Given this complexity, each reader is obliged to interpret the significance of the pattern of events in the narrative, a task made more difficult by the author's irony. Mann was well aware of his book's elusiveness, but offered few clues about approaches to the text. He later compared it to a symphonic work orchestrated with a number of themes. In a playful commentary on the problems of interpretation—"The Making of "The Magic Mountain"," written 25 years after the novel's original publication—he recommended that those who wished to understand it should read it twice.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: The narrative opens in the decade before World War I. It introduces the protagonist, Hans Castorp, the only child of a Hamburg merchant family. Following the early death of his parents, Castorp has been brought up by his grandfather and, later, by a maternal uncle named James Tienappel. Castorp is in his early 20s, about to take up a shipbuilding career in Hamburg, his hometown. Before beginning work, he undertakes a journey to visit his tubercular cousin, Joachim Ziemssen, who is seeking a cure in a sanatorium in Davos, high up in the Swiss Alps. In the opening chapter, Castorp leaves his familiar life and obligations, in what he later learns to call "the flatlands", to visit the rarefied mountain air and introspective small world of the sanatorium.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: Castorp's departure from the sanatorium is repeatedly delayed by his failing health. What at first appears to be a minor bronchial infection with slight fever is diagnosed by the sanatorium's chief doctor and director, Hofrat Behrens, as symptoms of tuberculosis. Castorp is persuaded by Behrens to stay until his health improves.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: During his extended stay, Castorp meets a variety of characters, who represent a microcosm of pre-war Europe. These include Lodovico Settembrini (an Italian humanist and encyclopedist, a student of Giosuè Carducci); Leo Naphta, a Jewish Jesuit who favors communistic totalitarianism; Mynheer Peeperkorn, a dionysian Dutchman; and his romantic interest, Madame Clawdia Chauchat.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: Castorp eventually resides at the sanatorium for seven years. As the novel concludes, the war begins, and Castorp volunteers for the military. His possible demise upon the battlefield is portended.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: "The Magic Mountain" can be read both as a classic example of the European "Bildungsroman" – a "novel of education" or "novel of formation" – and as a sly parody of this genre. Many formal elements of this type of fiction are present: like the protagonist of a typical "Bildungsroman", the immature Castorp leaves his home and learns about art, culture, politics, human frailty, and love. Also embedded within this vast novel are extended reflections on the experience of time, music, nationalism, sociological issues, and changes in the natural world. Castorp's stay in the rarefied air of "The Magic Mountain" provides him with a panoramic view of pre-war European civilization and its discontents.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: Mann describes the subjective experience of serious illness and the gradual process of medical institutionalization. He also alludes to the irrational forces within the human psyche, at a time when Freudian psychoanalysis was becoming a prominent type of treatment. These themes relate to the development of Castorp's character over the time span covered by the novel. In his discussion of the work, written in English and published in "The Atlantic" January 1953, Mann states that "what [Hans] came to understand is that one must go through the deep experience of sickness and death to arrive at a higher sanity and health..."


title: The Magic Mountain

text: Mann acknowledged his debt to the skeptical insights of Friedrich Nietzsche concerning modern humanity, and he drew from these in creating conversations between the characters. Throughout the book the author employs the discussions among Settembrini, Naphta, and the medical staff to introduce the young Castorp to a wide spectrum of competing ideologies about responses to the Age of Enlightenment. However, whereas the classical "Bildungsroman" would conclude by Castorp's having become a mature member of society, with his own world-view and greater self-knowledge, "The Magic Mountain" ends with Castorp's becoming an anonymous conscript, one of millions, under fire on some battlefield of World War I.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: Mann wrote that he originally planned "The Magic Mountain" as a novella, a humorous, ironic, satirical (and satyric) follow-up to "Death in Venice," which he had completed in 1912. The atmosphere was to derive from the "mixture of death and amusement" that Mann had encountered while visiting his wife in a Swiss sanatorium. He intended to transfer to a comedic plane the fascination with death and triumph of ecstatic disorder over a life devoted to order, which he had explored in "Death in Venice".


title: The Magic Mountain

text: "The Magic Mountain" contains many contrasts and parallels with the earlier novel. Gustav von Aschenbach, an established author, is matched to a young, callow engineer at the start of a regular career. The erotic allure of the beautiful Polish boy Tadzio corresponds to the Asiatic-flabby ("asiatisch-schlaff") Russian Madame Chauchat. The setting was shifted both geographically and symbolically. The lowlands of the Italian coastlands are contrasted to an alpine resort famed for its health-giving properties.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: The "Berghof" patients suffer from some form of tuberculosis, which rules their daily routines, thoughts, and conversations of the "Half lung club." The disease ends fatally for many of the patients, such as the Catholic girl Barbara Hujus, whose fear of death is heightened in a harrowing Viaticum scene, and cousin Ziemssen, who leaves this world like an ancient hero. The dialogues between Settembrini and Naphta examine life and death from a metaphysical perspective. Besides the deaths from fatal illness, two characters commit suicide, and finally Castorp goes off to fight in World War I, and it is implied that he will be killed on the battlefield.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: What Castorp learns to fathom is that all higher health must have passed through illness and death... As Hans Castorp once says to Madame Chauchat, there are two ways to life: One is the common, direct, and brave. The other is bad, leading through death, and that is the genius way. This concept of illness and death, as a necessary passage to knowledge, health, and life, makes "The Magic Mountain" into a novel of initiation.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: Closely connected to the themes of life and death is the subjective nature of time, a "leitmotif" that recurs throughout the book—here the influence of Henri Bergson is evident. Thus Chapter VII, entitled "By the Ocean of Time", opens with the narrator asking rhetorically, "Can one tell – that is to say, narrate – time, time itself, as such, for its own sake?" Mann's authorial (and ironic) response to the question posed is, "That would surely be an absurd undertaking..." He compares storytelling with the act of musicmaking, describing them as being alike in that they can " ...only present themselves as a flowing, as a succession in time, as one thing after another..." .


title: The Magic Mountain

text: The narrative is ordered chronologically but accelerates throughout the novel, so that the first five chapters (approximately half of the text) relate the first of Castorp's seven years at the sanatorium in great detail; the remaining six years, marked by monotony and routine, are described in the last two chapters. This asymmetry corresponds to Castorp's own skewed perception of the passage of time.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: This structure reflects the protagonists’ thoughts. Throughout the book, they discuss the philosophy of time and debate whether "interest and novelty dispel or shorten the content of time, while monotony and emptiness hinder its passage". The characters also reflect on the problems of narration and time, about the correspondence between the length of a narrative and the duration of the events it describes.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: Mann also meditates upon the interrelationship between the experience of time and space; of time seeming to pass more slowly when one doesn't move in space. This aspect of the novel mirrors contemporary philosophical and scientific debates which are embodied in Heidegger's writings and Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, in which space and time are inseparable. In essence, Castorp's subtly transformed perspective on the ""flat-lands"" corresponds to a movement in time.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: The titular reference to "mountain" reappears in many layers. The Berghof sanatorium is located on a mountain, both geographically and figuratively, a separate world. The mountain also represents the opposite of Castorp's home, the sober, businesslike "flatland".


title: The Magic Mountain

text: The first part of the novel culminates and ends in the sanatorium's Carnival feast. There, in a grotesque scene named after Walpurgis Night, the setting is transformed into the Blocksberg, where according to German tradition, witches and wizards meet in obscene revelry. This is also described in Goethe's "Faust I". At this event, Castorp woos Madame Chauchat; their subtle conversation is carried on almost wholly in French.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: Another topos of German literature is the Venus Mountain ("Venusberg"), which is referred to in Richard Wagner's opera "Tannhäuser". This mountain is a "hellish paradise", a place of lust and abandon, where Time flows differently: the visitor loses all sense of time. Castorp, who planned to stay at the sanatorium for three weeks, does not leave the Berghof for seven years.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: In general, the inhabitants of the "Berghof" spend their days in a mythical, distant atmosphere. The X-ray laboratory in the cellar represents the Hades of Greek mythology, where Medical Director Behrens acts as the judge and punisher Rhadamanthys and where Castorp is a fleeting visitor, like Odysseus. Behrens compares the cousins to Castor and Pollux; Settembrini compares himself to Prometheus. Frau Stöhr mentions Sisyphus and Tantalus, albeit confusedly.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: The culmination of the second part of the novel is perhaps the – still "episodic" – chapter of Castorp's blizzard dream (in the novel simply called "Snow"). The protagonist gets into a sudden blizzard, beginning a death-bound sleep, dreaming at first of beautiful meadows with blossoms and of lovable young people at a southern seaside; then of a scene reminiscent of a grotesque event in Goethe's "Faust I" ("the witches' kitchen", again in Goethe's "Blocksberg chapter"); and finally ending with a dream of extreme cruelty – the slaughtering of a child by two witches, priests of a classic temple. According to Mann, this represents the original and deathly destructive force of nature itself.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: Castorp awakens in due time, escapes from the blizzard, and returns to the "Berghof". But rethinking his dreams, he concludes that ""because of charity and love, man should never allow death to rule one's thoughts"". Castorp soon forgets this sentence, so for him the blizzard event remains an interlude. This is the only sentence in the novel that Mann highlighted by italics.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: There are frequent references to "Grimms' Fairy Tales", based on European myths. The opulent meals are compared to the magically self-laying table of "Table, Donkey, and Stick"; Frau Engelhardt's quest to learn the first name of Madame Chauchat mirrors that of the queen in "Rumpelstiltskin". Castorp's given name is the same as "Clever Hans". Although the ending is not explicit, it is possible that Castorp dies on the battlefield. Mann leaves his fate unresolved.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: Mann makes use of the number seven, often believed to have magical qualities: Castorp was seven when his parents died; he stays seven years at the "Berghof"; the central Walpurgis Night scene happens after seven months, both cousins have seven letters in their last name, the dining hall has seven tables, the digits of Castorp's room number (34) add up to seven, and Joachim's room is a multiple of seven (28=7×4). Settembrini's name includes "seven" (sette) in Italian, Joachim keeps a thermometer in his mouth for seven minutes, and Mynheer Peeperkorn announces his suicide in a group of seven. Joachim decides to leave after a stay of seven times seventy days, and dies at seven o'clock. The novel itself, moreover, is divided into seven chapters.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: Hans Castorp loved music from his heart; it worked upon him much the same way as did his breakfast porter, with deeply soothing, narcotic effect, tempting him to doze.


title: The Magic Mountain

text: There is something suspicious about music, gentlemen. I insist that she is, by her nature, equivocal. I shall not be going too far in saying at once that she is politically suspect. (Herr Settembrini, ch. 4)