On my way home, I often see an old man who walks in a leisure way with two walnuts in one hand. The two walnuts are constantly rotated in his hand. They are shining and as pretty as well polished handicrafts.
After I lived in Beijing for a while, it slowly came to me that old men in Beijing have many interesting habits and playthings. And each plaything might have a rich and interesting background. Now then, what's special about rotating walnuts in hand?
The old man told me that to rotate walnuts in hand is a way of exercise descending from ancient times. It is said people began to play walnuts in hand since Han Dynasty（206 B.C-220 A.D). It was popular in Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty (618-1279 A.D). In Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), it was said that "scholars play walnuts, warriors play iron balls, rich people play gourds and idlers walk dog." This activity has many names, such as "Hand Rotating Walnuts", "Antique Walnuts" "Walnuts Sports", and "Hand Therapy Walnuts".
To rotate walnuts in hand can activate different points in hand, increase the agility of fingers, and accelerate blood circulation. It is an aerobic exercise for the cardiovascular system. This exercise is economic, casual and convenient. Whenever you are free, you can take this exercise. It suits only not old people, but also office-goers. After sitting in front of computer for a whole day, it would be very relaxing for them to rotate walnuts in hand.
There are some tips for you to choose the right walnuts for playing. First, walnuts should be 80-90% ripe. You can feel the weight of them in hand. Second, the texture patterns of walnuts should be clear. The patterns should not be broken. Third, walnuts need to be in a symmetrical shape. It should be able to stand on the table. Last and the most important, the two walnuts should very similar in breed, size, shape, texture pattern and color. It is very difficult to find a perfect match, which is of course very precious.
Some walnuts will have cracks or damages after being played for some time. Some can still keep the original shape after a long time of playing. The color will become even redder and more shining. Walnuts of this kind are very precious, and become collections of walnuts lovers. In Beijing, you can find this kind of antique walnuts in Shilihe, Panjiayuan or Guanyuan antique markets.

揉核桃

        回家路上总是碰到一位老人，悠闲地散着步，手里拿着两个核桃，在五指间来回揉动。核桃被揉得油光锃亮，像工艺品一样好看。
        在北京住久了，慢慢发现，北京的老人们有着很多奇怪的习惯和玩意儿，而且每个玩意儿也都可能有着丰富、有趣的背景。那么，在手里揉玩核桃又有什么讲究呢？
        老人告诉我，别小看这揉核桃，它可是从中国古代传下来的一种健身方式。据说汉代就已经有人玩儿核桃了（公元前206年-公元220年），唐宋（公元618年-1279年）的时候很流行，明清（1368年-1911年）的时候更是"文人玩核桃，武人转铁球，富人揣葫芦，闲人去遛狗"。这项活动还有很多叫法呢，如："揉手核桃"、"文玩核桃"、"健身核桃"、"手疗核桃"等等。
        揉核桃可刺激手上的诸多穴位，锻炼手指的灵活性，促进血液循环，是一种锻炼心血管功能的有氧运动。而且运动成本低，方便，随意，只要稍有闲暇便可活动一番。不仅适宜于老年人，而且上班一族在工作忙碌之余，用操作电脑累了一天的手揉揉核桃，也是很好的运动。
        挑选用来揉的核桃也是有讲究的。首先，核桃要八、九成熟，这样的核桃放在手里感觉有一定的分量。其次，核桃纹理要清楚，不能有裂纹。再次，核桃要正，不能歪七扭八，放在桌子上能站得住。最后，也是最重要的，核桃要配对，两只核桃的品种、大小、形状、纹路、颜色要一致。这样的核桃很难得，所以能凑成一对儿的核桃就显得珍贵了。
        一些核桃经过长时间的把玩，会破裂或损坏。那些经过长时间的揉捏，还能够不裂不坏，完好如初，而且颜色越来越红亮的核桃，就会变得非常宝贵了。又成了很多爱好者的收藏。在北京，十里河、潘家园、官园等地的古玩市场里，你都能看到这种用于收藏的文玩核桃。

• constantly [´kɔnstəntli]   ad.经常地；不断地   (初中英语单词)
• background [´bækgraund]   n.背景；经历；幕后   (初中英语单词)
• system [´sistəm]   n.系统，体系，制度   (初中英语单词)
• convenient [kən´vi:niənt]   a.方便的   (初中英语单词)
• whenever [wen´evə]   conj.&ad.无论何时   (初中英语单词)
• computer [kəm´pju:tə]   n.计算机；电子计算器   (初中英语单词)
• leisure [´leʒə]   n.空闲；悠闲；安定   (高中英语单词)
• circulation [,sə:kju´leiʃən]   n.循环；流传；发行(量)   (高中英语单词)
• casual [´kæʒuəl]   a.偶然的；临时的   (高中英语单词)
• plaything [´plei,θiŋ]   n.玩具；玩物   (英语四级单词)
• dynasty [´dinəsti]   n.王朝；朝代   (英语四级单词)
• texture [´tekstʃə]   n.(织物等的)质地   (英语四级单词)
• antique [æn´ti:k]   a.古代的 n.古物(董)   (英语四级单词)
• rotate [rəu´teit]   v.(使)旋转；循环   (英语六级单词)
• accelerate [ək´seləreit]   v.加速；变快；促进   (英语六级单词)