20221231 LangCult 5

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202270081651 覃诗雅 Qin Shiya 英语笔译(English translation)

Leisure Culture in Ancient China-Take the Example of Shangsi Festival

覃诗雅Qin Shiya, 202270081651

Abstract

Shangsi Festival（上巳节）, commonly known as March 3, is a traditional festival of the Han people. Historically, there are many leisure ativities during this festival and the most famous is “floating wine goblets and curving water”（流觞曲水）which was also recorded in detail in Preface of the Orchid Pavilion（《兰亭集序》）by Wang Xizhi. This cultural activity reflects the prevalence and development of leisure culture in ancient China, and it also fills the treasury of Chinese culture. Traditional Chinese leisure culture not only contains the wisdom of many ancient people and carries forward the best part of traditional Chinese festival culture, but also makes up for the lack of modern leisure culture in China and prevents the wholesale westernization of leisure culture.

202270081648 卿子晔 Qing Ziye 英语笔译(English translation)

The History of Children's Literature in China Since 1920

卿子晔Qing Ziye, 202270081648

Abstract

In ancient China no literature was written for children. Since the writer Zhou Zuoren has put forward the concept "children's literature" in 1920, children's literature arose more and more attentions. Various translation works, studies, writings about children's literature appeared and children were first perceived as a different group from adults. Therefore, the year of 1920 served as a milestone for China's children's literature. This paper aims to summarize the history of children's literature in China since 1920, so as to make contribution for the studies about children's literature.

202270081684 仇绪 Qiu Xu 英语口译(English interpretation)

Four Folk Stories of Ancient China

仇绪 Qiu Xu,202270081684

Abstract

This paper gives a brief account of four folk stories of ancient China and makes some analysis for the reasons of its popularity. Some perspectives in terms of social ethical system, tragic literature will be involved to further discuss how those stories mirror the ideology of people in ancient China, even today.

202270081649 全永慧 Quan Yonghui 英语笔译(English translation)

The Theory of Yin and Yang in TCM

全永慧 Quan Yonghui, 202270081649

Abstract

The Yinyang doctrine is an ancient Chinese philosophical concept, dealing with two opposite aspects of matters in nature which are interrelated with each other. Its principle is widely applied to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In TCM, it provides a general method of analyzing the functions of the human body, diagnosing and treating illnesses. Understanding this concept can enable us to better spread traditional Chinese medicine culture.

202270081650 任嫚嫚 Ren Manman 英语笔译(English translation)

The Women’s Clothing in Tang Dynasty

任嫚嫚 Ren Manman,202270081650

Abstract

The Tang Dynasty was the peak period of ancient clothing in China. During this period, women’s clothing was characterized by openness and magnificence, and the appreciation of human beauty was pursued. At the same time, the loose-fitting political atmosphere created by the rulers of the Tang Dynasty and the tolerance of other ethnic groups and foreign cultures both made the clothing during the period present a variety of colorful features, which lays a solid foundation for the continuous development of Chinese clothing.

202270081695 疏珊 Shu Shan 英语口译(English interpretation)

Chinese Mythology in Tao Te Ching

疏珊Shu Shan, 202270081695

Abstract

 Since ancient times, human have been searching for the mystery of the universe, which leads to different schools of thoughts and religions. This passage is divided into three parts to describe the relationship between Chinese myths and Tao Te Ching. The first part mainly introduces Chinese mythology and Tao Te Ching. The second part gives more details of the connection between them with examples. The thrid part concludes the whole passage.

Key Words

Chinese mythology, myths, Tao Te Ching

Introduction

 Chinese mythology is a collection of cultural history, folktales, and religious tradition that has been passed down for centuries in oral or written form. Myths are an integral part of religion, especially in the Taoism. Many myths have been integrated into Taoism in the course of history to illustrate religious views. Everything has spirits and deserves respect, based on the belief of Chinese mythology. Taoists preserve this idea to persuade the disciples to believe in the divinities. The origin of Taoism is Laozi, who says “Man imitates earth, earth imitates heaven, heaven follows the divine law, and the divine law follows nature.” He emphasizes that people should respect the nature and obey the law of nature, which is manifested in the mythology, for example, “Nüwa creating human”, “Kuafu Chasing the Sun” and “Jingwei Tries to Fill the Sea”.

The Great Goddess

 Laozi, the founder of philosophical Taoism and a deity in religious Taoism, connects the Great Goddess with the nature in Tao Te Ching. In this book, when discussing his insights in Tao, he often compared it to female. In the chapter 28, “Learn to be hard as man and remain soft as women like a stream in the world.” (Xu Yuanchong, 2003) The Tao prefers femininity as it is soft and life-giving. The Great Goddess created human, so it is the origin of everything in the mythology. “The vale spirit never dies. It is the mysterious womb. The door to the mysterious womb is the origin of heaven and earth.” (Xu Yuanchong, 2003) The mysterious female is the source of all life, which shows the void and vast vale. The vale spirit often refers to empty and void, so it produces everything like the mysterious womb. In Laozi’s view, the power of women is huge. In the first chapter, “The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth; the named is the Mother of All Things.” (Lin Yutang, 1948) The metaphor of the Great Goddess can be found in many chapters. It is particularly noteworthy that among the various feminine metaphors, Laozi likes to use the mother-son relationship as a metaphor for the relationship between the Tao and all things, unlike many religions that use the image of the Father to compare God. In Tao Te Ching, the idea of humility, forbearance, peace, frugality, love and other moral values can be seen in women. All these descriptions can show a deep intention of Laozi. 

The Myth of P'an-ku

 As we all know, P’an-ku split apart the Chaos (hun-tun) where the high and clear part became Heaven and the dark and turbid one formed Earth. After his death, the body was transformed into nature. Chaos is a symbolism of perfection and potentiality and unity. The myth reflect the theory of separation and transformation, which can elucidate the meaning of Tao in Tao Te Ching. Take Chaos for example, Laozi compares the source of creation to Chaos (hun-tun). In the chapter 14, there are several sentences: 

Looked at, but cannot be seen- That is called the Invisible (yi). Listened to, but cannot be heard- That is called the Inaudible (hsi). Grasped at, but cannot be touched- That is called the Intangible (wei). These three elude our inquires And hence blend and become One... Unceasing, continuous, It cannot be defined, And reverts again to the realm of nothingness. That is why it is called the Form of the Formless, The image of Nothingness. That is why it is called the Elusive. (Lin Yutang, 1948)

 “Blend into one” fully illustrates the cosmogonic condition before creation. The Elusive, the realm of nothingness and the Formless refer to something like Chaos where everything is undifferentiated. Therefore, Tao is called the “Nothing” or the “Elusive”. It shows a continuity between the creator and creatures. Many things are transformed from Tao, the source of creation.The theory of transformation can be found in the passages in the chapter 36:

He who is to be made to dwindle (in power) Must first be caused to expand. He who is to be weakened Must first be made strong. He who is to be laid low Must first be exalted to power. He who is to be taken away from Must first be given.(Lin Yutang, 1948)

 Tao shows the reversion of two extreme things, for example, dwindle and expand, be weakened and made strong, be laid low and exalted to power, be taken away from and be given. The two different qualities can revert to the opposite quality, like the alterations of yin and yang. Chaos is the source of creation, which contains the dialectical relationship between two different things.Tao also contains the dialectic relation between Nonbeing and Being where Nonbeing can transform into being, like the transformation of Chaos into the world that P’an-ku created.

Jingwei Tries to Fill the Sea

 Mythology is often about the transformation of gods and spirits, which is actually is the transformation of the soul. The myths are often full of descriptions of metamorphosis, such as Jingwei, the drowning of the daughter of the Yandi Emperor, who metamorphosed into a bird. The basis of mythical metamorphosis is the idea of the immortality of the soul. The ancestors believed in animism and immortality of the soul. This is exemplified by the myth of Jingwei: “Three thousand ninety li farther southeast, then northeast, stands Departing-Doves Mountain. On its heights are many mulberry trees. There is a bird dwelling here whose form resembles a crow with a patterned head, white beak, and red feet. It is called Jingwei and makes a sound like its name. She is the younger daughter of the Flame Thearch named Nüwa. Nüwa was swimming kin the Eastern Sea when she was unable to return to shore and drowned. She then transformed into the bird Spirit-Guardian and regularly carries twigs and stones from the Western Mountains to fill up the Eastern Sea. The Zhang River emanates from here and flows eastward into the Yellow River.” (Strassberg, 2002, 132) This myth conveys the immortality of the soul and transformation of life, which is one of the ideas expressed in Tao Te Ching. In chapter 4, “The Tao is (like) the emptiness of a vessel (chong); and in our employment of it we must be on our guard against all fullness.” (Legge, 1891) Fullness means the quality or state of being filled completely or to utmost capacity. This state should be avoided because there is room to make improvement when something are imperfect or flawed. So Tao is like the emptiness of a vessel which achieves a balance in the continuous movement. Jingwei regularly carries twigs and stones to fill the Sea. During the process, the bird transformed from human achieves a state of eternity and balance.

Conclusion

 From different Chinese myths, we can learn more about the views of Laozi on human and nature. It can be be said that it is myths and legends that have nurtured Laozi’s thought, and it is his thought that has created Taoism and influenced Chinese culture and the nation. In addition, the family, society, and politics have all carried forward the core values of Taoism. There is a close relationship between Chinese myths and Tao, which reflects how our ancestors perceive the world.

References

[1]Strassberg, Richard E. (2002). A Chinese Bestiary: Strange Creatures from the Guideways Through Mountains and Seas. Berkeley: University of California press. [2]Legge, J. (1981). The Sacred Books of the East——The Chinese Classics: The Texts of Taoism[M]. London: Oxford University Press. [3]David C. Yu. (1981). The Creation Myth and its Symbolism in Classical Taoism[J]. Philosophy East and West. [4]Le Hengjun乐蘅军. (1977). 中国原始变形神话初探[A]. 台北:台湾东大图书有限公司. [5]Wang Zhongling王钟陵. (2000). 二十世纪中国文学史论文精粹·神话卷[C]. 石家庄:河北教育出版社, 97-98. [6]Yuan Ke袁珂. (1980). 校注山海经校注[M]. 上 海:上海古籍出版社. [7]Lin Yutang 林语堂. (1948). The Wisdom of Laotse[M]. New York: Random House. [8]Xu Yuanchong许渊冲.(2003). 《英汉对照老子道德经》, 高等教育出版社.

Terms and Expressions

Nüwa creating human女娲造人 Jingwei Tries to Fill the Sea精卫填海 Kuafu Chasing the Sun夸父逐日 The Great Goddess大母神 Chaos (hun-tun)混沌 Cosmogonic天体演化 Departing-Doves Mountain发鸠山 The Eastern Sea东海 Metamorphosis变形

Questions

1 Why does Tao prefer femininity? A The Tao prefers femininity as it is soft and life-giving B Tao is formed by female C Women play a dominant role in ancient China D Male is inferior to female 2 What is the symbolism of Chaos in the myth of P’an-ku? A perfection B potentiality C unity D Above all 3 What is the relationship between Nonbeing and being in Tao Te Ching? A Nonbeing is the same as being B Nonbeing can transform into being C They have no relationship D Being produces nonbeing 4 Which myth shows the idea of metamorphosis? A The Great Goddess B The Myth of P'an-ku C Jingwei Tries to Fill the Sea D Kuafu chasing the Sun

Answers

Correct answers are: 1. A . 2. D . 3. B . 4. C

202270081652 王纪龙 Wang Jilong 英语笔译(English translation)

The Culture of Chinese Filial Piety

王纪龙Wang Jilong， 202270081652

Abstract

Filial piety is the beginning of Confucian culture and the core of traditional ethics, which marks the particularity of Chinese culture. Filial piety culture was formed in a long historical process. It roughly went through several stages, from the behavior to the ethics, from ideology to method of governance. Finally, it became mature and the most common concept in Chinese society.

202270081697 王露 Wang Lu 英语口译(English interpretation)

The Chinese Knot

王露Wang Lu， 202270081697

Abstract

The Chinese knot is the crystallization of the wisdom of the Chinese people and one of the important symbols of fine traditional Chinese culture. The analysis of the Chinese knot is of great significance to understand the inheritance and development of Chinese culture. This paper will analyze the history, features, functions of the Chinese knot, and the philosophical significance of Chinese culture conveyed by the Chinese knot.