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202270081637 李鸿 Li Hong 英语笔译(English translation)

The Transformation of Taoism in Modern Times

李鸿 Li Hong, 202270081637

Abstract

After the founding of New China, through the democratic reform of the religious system, Taoism gained a new lease of life and gradually embarked on the path of adapting to socialist society. Since the reform and opening up, under the guidance of the the Communist Party of China and government's religious policies, Taoism has taken on a new and unprecedented appearance, making positive contributions to the promotion of economic development, social harmony, reunification of the motherland and world peace.

202270081638 李佳珺 Li Jiajun 英语笔译(English translation)

Chinese Nuptial Tradition of Bride Price

李佳珺 Li Jiajun, 202270081638

Abstract

The bride price is usually paid by the man to the woman in modern China, which preserves the old marriage custom. The bride price originated in the Zhou Dynasty and has continued to be an integral part of nuptial culture for most Chinese people. This article mainly focused on the changes in the content of Chinese bride price in different times.

Key Words

bride price, content, change

题目

中国婚礼习俗之彩礼

摘要

在现代中国，彩礼通常由男方付给女方，这保留了古老的婚俗。彩礼起源于周朝，对大多数中国人来说，彩礼一直是婚礼文化中不可分割的一部分。本文主要研究了中国彩礼内容在不同时期的变化。

关键词

彩礼，内容，变化

Introduction

Bride price has been an indispensable custom in the process of marriage since ancient times. It was deprived from the “Six Rites” of the Western Zhou Dynasty. It is the etiquette for the male family to send property to the female family for betrothal. Once the female family accepts the property sent by the male family, they announce engagement. In the Modern Chinese Dictionary, bride price is defined as “the property given by the man to the woman at the time of engagement”.（Li Xia 2008, 254) The content of bride price are changing with the changes of times.

the Change of Contents

“Bride price” is also called “betrothal gift” in ancient times. The traditional marriage is divided into six steps: propose, ask name, divination, send bride price, set a date for the wedding，welcome the bride. These are commonly known as the “six rites”. These rituals were often strictly carried out by aristocrats during the Western Zhou Dynasty, because it was related to their “face”. However, for the average people whose family situation is not ideal, there may not be too much procedure. Most of the ordinary people would try to get some deer skin, or find two wild geese. According to the Book of Rites, except for the bride price, the other five rites can be replaced with wild geese. Thus it can be seen that the ancients made complicated wedding was not for money, but to get a good luck.(Chen Mingpei 2022, 7) So for the rich or poor, bride prices are about the heart, not the amount of wealth. As for the content of betrothal gifts, it is recorded in Etiquette · Shihun as five pieces of black and red cloth and two pieces of deer skin. It can be seen that ancient people paid more attention to the symbolic meaning and connotation of betrothal gifts.

In the Han Dynasty, the betrothal gifts began to be complicated, and the “Thirty betrothal gifts” appeared , including sheep, wild geese, white wine, clear rice, etc., symbolizing a golden harvest and not worrying about food and clothing. On this basis, noble families would add gold and silver jewelry to show their status and wealth ability, so the bride price in this period began to focus on economic value. In the prosperous era of the Tang Dynasty, instead of becoming more complicated, the content of betrothal gifts was reduced to nine things: dry paint, cotton wool, donkey-hide gelatin, albizia julibrissin, good rice, etc. These objects are symbolic, meaning that the couple is close to each other and family is in harmony. They send people’s good wishes to the marriage. In the Tang Dynasty, wild geese became less and less, and people were not easy to catch them, so later generations replace the wild goose with goose, called “yan’e(雁鹅)”.

In the Song Dynasty, the requirements for bride price became more interesting. “Witness Record” recorded: “the engagement usually takes tea as the bride price.” Tea has become an indispensable part of the betrothal gifts. When the bride receives the betrothal gifts, it is called “giving tea”. When the bride receives the betrothal gifts, it is called “eating tea”. When it comes to the wedding day, it is call “gathering tea”. This is the “rite of three tea”. In the Yuan Dynasty, the betrothal gifts had Mongolian cultural characteristics. Cattle, horses and other livestock appeared in the betrothal gifts, which also continued the “rite of three tea” in the Song Dynasty.

In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, betrothal gifts were mostly based on money. “Wedding Magazine” recorded: “sixty-four tael of silver for bride price, eight liang of silver for escorting the bride, four liang of silver for knocking the door, six liang of silver for net increasing of bride price, two liang of silver to the officiator, eight liang of silver for the gift list, and a number of items.” It can be seen that in this period, silver became an important part of the betrothal gifts, and the regulation is 64 taels. Base on the purchasing power, 64 taels of silver equals to 50 thousand yuan today, and it was acceptable for the ordinary family. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, betrothal gifts also included gold and silver jewelry, cakes, liquor and so on.

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the content of bride price has changed every decade. In 1950, the Marriage Law has forbidden that people ask for property in marriage, but the custom of bride price is still popular among the people.(Li Feilong 2017, 19) However, the bride price in the early years of China was different from that in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the 1950s, the bride price was called as “four ‘one’ project”, including bed, washbasin, spittoon and hot water kettle.(Li Feilong 2010, 93) By the 1960s, it was “36 legs”, including wardrobe, cabinet, tables, chairs, and bed. Then in the 1970s, the bride price became “three turns and one ring”, including watch, bicycle, sewing machine and tape recorder. In the 1980s, it became the "four big items", including refrigerator, TV, washing machine and tape recorder. Later came the “new four big items”, including color TV, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner. In the 1990s, as China’s economy developed, wedding photos, wedding rings, bridal gowns and banquets became indispensable. With the acceleration of the reform and opening up process and the continuous development of China’s economy, it is understandable for people to pursue higher quality weddings, but nowadays the bride price is more endowed with material meaning, losing the spiritual connotation contained in the bride price itself.(Wang Xiaoke 2018,7)

References

Li Xia 李霞.(2008). 民间习俗中的彩礼及其流变[Bride price and its evolution in folk customs]. 民俗研究 Folk Customs Research(03) 253-262.

Chen Mingpei 陈铭佩.(2022). 民国时期彩礼制度研究[A Study on the Betrothal price System in the Republic of China]. Tianjin: Tianjin Normal University 天津师范大学.

Li Feilong李飞龙. (2017). 社会变革与婚姻支付：20世纪50-80年代中国农村的彩礼和嫁妆[Social Change and Marriage Payment: Betrothal Gifts and Dowry in Rural China Between 1950s and 1980s]. 古今农业 Ancient and Modern Agriculture (03)19-25.

Li Feilong李飞龙. (2010). 社会变迁中的中国农村婚姻与家庭研究[A Study of Marriage and Family in Rural China during Social Change]. Beijing: Party School of the Central Committee of C.P.C. 中国中央党校. Wang Xiaoke

王笑珂.(2018) 彩礼制度的社会功能变迁[The social function change of betrothal price system]. Chongqing:Southwest University of Political Science & Law 西南政法大学.

Terms and Expressions

bride price 彩礼

betrothal gifts 聘礼

the Book of Rites 礼记

propose, ask name, divination, send bride price, set a date for the wedding，welcome the bride 纳采、问名、纳吉、纳征、请期、亲迎

Questions

1.What is “six rites”? A.propose B.ask name C.divination D.send bride price E.set a date for the wedding F.welcome the bride.

2.In ancient time, what did people pay more attention to when they prepare betrothal gifts? A.money B.good wishes C.jewelry D.the symbolic meaning and connotation of betrothal gifts

3.How much money people prepared for bride price in Qing Dynasty? A.64 taels of silver B.64 taels of gold C.8 taels of silver D.50,000 yuan

4.What is in “four big items”? A.refrigerator B. telephone C.air conditioner D.tape recorder

Answers

1.ABCDEF

2.D

3.A

4.AD

202270081709 李玮瑶 Li Weiyao 朝鲜语笔译(Korean translation)

Chinese martial arts novels–Taking Mr. Gu Long's works as example

李玮瑶Li Weiyao, 202270081709

Abstract

Gu Long is one of the grandmasters of Hong Kong and Taiwan new-style martial arts novels, as well as a prolific writer. He has created more than 70 martial arts novels in his life, with a total of more than 10 million words, which makes people amazed by his powerful creative power. He was influenced by the techniques of foreign detective and mystery novels, combined with the "classical" basis of traditional Wuxia novels, created the characteristic Wuxia mystery novels, and established his own unique style in narrative, language, plot construction and other aspects, which opened a new situation for the modern transformation of martial arts novels.

Key Words

Egg, Hen

Introduction

Here starts the normal text of the chapter. Please remember to indicate the source of EACH PARAGRAPH, sometimes even of single sentences. You can indicate it like this. (Woesler 2020, 345) And don't forget to mention the full bibliographical entry beneath under References.

The Egg

Bla, bla, bla

The Hen

Bla, bla, bla

Conclusion

Bla, bla, bla

References

Woesler, Martin. (2020). Responsibility and Ethics in Times of Corona. Woesler, Martin and Hans-Martin Sass eds. Medicine and Ethics in Times of Corona Muenster: LIT

Terms and Expressions

Egg 鸡蛋 . Hen 鸡

Questions

1. What was first, egg or hen? (preferrable are multi choice questions) . A Egg. B Hen. C Eggs were already produced by animals before chicken occured. D This is a rhethorical question, there is no answer to it, I refuse to answer. . 2. ... . 3. ... . 4. ... .

Answers

Correct answers are: . 1. C . 2. ... . 3. ... . 4. ...

202270081639 李心田Li Xintian 英语笔译(English translation)

Chinese Traditional Vernacular Dwellings

李心田Li Xintian, 202270081639

202270081640 李梓玉 Li Ziyu 英语笔译(English translation)

Introduction to the Lanting Xu

李梓玉 Li Ziyu, 202270081640

Abstract

This chapter is on ....

Key Words

Egg, Hen

Introduction

The Lanting Xu, also known as the Lantingji Xu, is written in Chinese characters as "兰亭序 / 兰亭集序". The character "Lanting" refers to a pavilion called "Orchid" which was located in Shanyin County, Zhejiang Province, and the character "Xu" means preface. It is a work of calligraphy and literature by Wang Xizhi, a famous calligrapher and writer during the Eastern Jin Dynasty of China. The text of the Lanting Xu is of great importance in Chinese literature, and its script is widely regarded as "the best running-style script in the history of Chinese calligraphy." Over the past 1,600 plus years, the study of the classic piece of work Lanting Xu has gone far beyond the field of calligraphy and has gradually developed into an independent discipline "lantingology"; it has long been an important part of China's traditional history and culture. (He Laisheng 2015, 3)

the Origin of the Lanting Xu

Bla, bla, bla

the Literature Merit of the Lanting Xu

Bla, bla, bla

the Aesthetic Merit of the Lanting Xu

Bla, bla, bla

Conclusion

Bla, bla, bla

References

He Laisheng 何来胜. (2016). 《兰亭序》及其书法文化意义 [The Lanting Xu and its Calligraphic and Cultural Significance]. Hangzhou: China Academy of Art 中国美术学院, PhD dissertation.

Terms and Expressions

Egg 鸡蛋 . Hen 鸡

Questions

1. What was first, egg or hen? (preferrable are multi choice questions) . A Egg. B Hen. C Eggs were already produced by animals before chicken occured. D This is a rhethorical question, there is no answer to it, I refuse to answer. . 2. ... . 3. ... . 4. ... .

Answers

Correct answers are: . 1. C . 2. ... . 3. ... . 4. ...

202270081641 廖璐佳 Liao Lujia 英语笔译(English translation)

Chinese Rural Education

廖璐佳Liao Lujia,201826904035

With the reform and economic development of China’s rural areas, rural education has undergone tremendous changes. However, in the process of economic transformation, China’s rural education development is facing serious challenges. Children in poor areas have difficulties in attending school, the dropout rate of rural primary and secondary schools is high, the gap between urban and rural education is yawning and investment in rural education is insufficient, which plague the sound development of Chinese rural education.

202270081642 刘丛领 Liu Congling 英语笔译(English translation)

Chinese Superstition in Numerals

刘丛领Liu Congling, 202270081642

Abstract

Chinese people have been superstitious about numerals since ancient times. Some numbers are believed by some to be auspicious or inauspicious based on the Chinese word that the number sounds similar to. Even now Chinese people living in socialist China which means that most of them are nominally atheists still take a rateher traditional outlook on numbers and will try their best to choose the best number for the purpose of good luck.

Key Words

Chinese Superstition, Numerals

Zero

The number 0 (零, pinyin: líng) is the beginning of all things and is generally considered a good number, because it sounds like 良 (pinyin: liáng), which means 'good'.

One

The number 1 (一, pinyin: yī) is neither auspicious nor inauspicious. It is a number given to winners to indicate the first place. But it can also symbolize loneliness or being single. For example: November 11 is the Singles' Day in China, as the date has four ‘1’ which stand for singles.

Two

The number 2 (二,  pinyin: èr ) is most often considered a good number in Chinese culture. There is a Chinese saying: "good things come in pairs". It is common to repeat characters in product brand names, such as the character 喜 (pinyin: xǐ), can be repeated to form the character 囍 (pinyin: shuāng xǐ).

Three

The number 3 (三, pinyin: sān) sounds like 生 (pinyin: shēng), which means "to live" or "life" so it's considered a good number. It's significant since it is one of three important stages in a person's life (birth, marriage, and death). On the other hand, number 3 (三,pinyin: sān) sounds like 散 (pinyin: sàn) which means "to split" or "to separate" or "to part ways" or "to break up with" so it is a bad number too.

Four

The number 4 (四, pinyin: sì; ) is considered an unlucky number in Chinese because it is nearly homophonous to the word "death" (死 pinyin: sǐ). Thus, some buildings in East Asia omit floors and room numbers containing 4, similar to the Western practice of some buildings not having a 13th floor because 13 is considered unlucky. Where East Asian and Western cultures blend, such as in Hong Kong, it is possible in some buildings that the thirteenth floor along with all the floors with 4s to be omitted. Thus a building whose top floor is numbered 100 would in fact have just eighty one floors.

Five

The number 5 (五, pinyin: wǔ) sounds like "me" in Mandarin (吾, pinyin: wú) 53 (pinyin: wǔ sān) sounds like "my life" in Mandarin (吾生, wú shēng) 54 (pinyin: wǔ sì) sounds like "my death" in Mandarin (吾死, wú sǐ) 58 (pinyin: wǔ bā) sounds like "me prosper" in Mandarin (吾发, pinyin: wǔ fā) Five is also associated with the five elements (Water, Fire, Earth, Wood, and Metal) in Chinese philosophy, and in turn was historically associated with the Emperor of China. For example, the Tiananmen gate, being the main thoroughfare to the Forbidden City, has five arches.[1]

Six

The number 6 (六, pinyin: liù) in Mandarin sounds like "slick" or "smooth" (溜, pinyin: liū), which means that things will be done successfully. Therefore 6 is considered a good number for business.

Seven

The number 7 (七, pinyin: qī) in Mandarin sounds like "even" in Mandarin (齐, pinyin: qí), so it is a good number for relationships. It also sounds like "arise" (起, pinyin: qǐ) and "life essence" (气, pinyin: qì) in Mandarin. Seven can also be considered an unlucky number since the 7th month (July) is a "ghost month". It also sounds like "to deceive" (欺, pinyin: qī) in Mandarin.

Eight

The number 8 (八, pinyin: bā) sounds like "發" (pinyin: fā； 'to prosper'). There is also a visual resemblance between 88 and 囍 (pinyin: shuāng xǐ； 'double joy'), a popular decorative design composed of two stylized characters 喜 (pinyin: xǐ； 'joy'). The number 8 is viewed as such an auspicious number that even being assigned a number with several eights is considered very lucky. Atheist Chinese government even chose to hold the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at 8 pm, 08/08/2008 for a good sign.[2]

Nine

The number 9 (九, pinyin: jiǔ) was historically associated with the Emperor of China, and the number was frequently used in matters relating to the Emperor, before the establishment of the imperial examinations officials were organized in the nine-rank system, the nine bestowments were rewards the Emperor made for officials of extraordinary capacity and loyalty, while the nine familial exterminations was one of the harshest punishments the Emperor sentenced; the Emperor's robes often had nine dragons, and Chinese mythology held that the dragon has nine children. Also, the number 9 sounds like "long lasting" (久, pinyin: jiǔ), so it is often used in weddings.[3]

Ancient Chinese regarded odd numbers as being masculine and even numbers as being feminine. "Nine", which is the largest single digit number, was taken to mean the "ultimate masculine" and was, therefore, symbol of the supreme sovereignty of the emperor. For this reason, the number "nine" (or its multiples) is often employed in palace structures and designs. A noticeable example is the number of studs on palace gates. The studs are usually arranged in nine rows of nine each, totaling eighty-one.

The number “nine” can also be seen in ancient Chinese architectures. Ancient palaces generally consist of nine courtyards or quadrangles which are the same as the Temple of Confucius in Qufu, Shandong Province—a magnificent architectural complex worthy of an imperial household and testifying to the importance attached to the great sage by the courts of various dynasties.

The number "nine" was sometimes combined with "five" to represent imperial majesty. The great hall on Tiananmen is 9 bays wide by 5 bays deep. An extreme example of the "game of nine" is perhaps the Circular Mound Altar (Huanqiu Tan) in the Temple of Heaven. Site for the Ming and Qing emperors to worship Heaven, the altar is arranged in three tiers. The upper terrace is made up of nine concentric rings of slabs. The first ring or the innermost circle consists of nine fan-shaped slabs, the second ring 18 (2 × 9) slabs, the third 27 (3 × 9) … until the last or ninth ring which is made up of 81 or 9 × 9 slabs.

Combinations

514 (pinyin: wǔ yī sì) in Mandarin sounds like "我要死" (pinyin: wǒ yào sǐ;  'I want to die').

168 (pinyin: yī liù bā) sounds like "一路发" (pinyin: yī lù fā) meaning "fortune all the way".

7456 (pinyin: qī sì wǔ liù) in Mandarin sounds like "气死我了" (pinyin: qì sǐ wǒ le) meaning "to make me angry" or "to piss me off".

9413 (pinyin: jiǔ sì yī sān) sounds like "九死一生" (pinyin: jiǔ sǐ yī shēng; 'nine die one live') meaning 90% chance of being dead and only 10% chance of being alive, or survived such situations (a narrow escape).

1314 (pinyin: yī sān yī sì) sounds like "一生一世" (pinyin: yīshēngyīshì;  'one life one lifetime') meaning "forever" and is often used romantically.

520 (pinyin: wǔ èr líng) in Mandarin sounds similar to "我爱你" (pinyin: wǒ ài nǐ; lit. 'I love you').

5201314 (pinyin: wǔ èr líng yī sān yī sì) in Mandarin sounds like "我爱你一生一世" (pinyin: wǒ ài nǐ yīshēngyīshì;  'I love you a lifetime').

748 (pinyin: qī sì bā) in Mandarin sounds like "去死吧" (pinyin: qù sǐ ba; . 'go die').

518 (pinyin: wǔ yāo bā) in Mandarin sounds like "我要发" (pinyin: wǒ yào fā) which means "I am going to prosper".

References

[1] "Australian New Business Visa Subclasses". Australian Department of Home Affairs. 2019-08-14. Retrieved 14 August 2019.

[2] "China's 'lucky' phone number". BBC News. 2003-08-13. Retrieved 24 December 2013

[3]王瑞良.不吉利数字:迷信还是科学?[J].青少年科技博览(中学版),2007(Z1):26-27.

Terms and Expressions

atheist 无神论者

Singles' Day 双十一；单身节

the five elements(Water, Fire, Earth, Wood, and Metal) 五行（金木水火土）

the Forbidden City 紫禁城

ghost month 鬼月（七月）

the Temple of Confucius 孔庙

the Temple of Heaven 天坛

Questions

1.When is the Chinese ghost month? A.July B.June C. September D. August

2.When were the 2018 Beijing Olympic Games held? A.04/04/2008 B.06/06/2008 C.08/08/2008 D.09/09/2008

3.What does “58” mean? A.My father B. I prosper C. My death D. My life

4.What was the number 9 historically associated in ancient China? A.the Heaven B. the Emperor C. the God D. the Devil

Answers

B C B B