20210601 culture3

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Final Exam Paper Page. Please write now here and improve until grading on 2021 06 01

1. Every student should write a new English text on a phenomenon in Chinese culture as a new chapter in the text book. Please also make a comparisons to similar or different cultural phenomenons in Europe and/or the USA.

2. Please find a paper you want to proof read, contact the author, proof read (by copying each paragraph and make corrections/suggestions in the copy) and sign until May 25. The author then finalizes (works in the suggestions) until the final deadline June 1! Please proof read a fellow students' paper by copying each paragraph and make your corrections in the paragraph. In a final step, the original author of the paper has to decide, what of the corrections he/she will accept and work into the paper. The final version submitted on the deadline should not carry any of the fellow student's paragraphs and comments.

  • You can use the texts in the coursebook as an example (like Unit 1, Text A). You only need to write Text A (like "Longevity Noodles") or Text B ("Mooncakes"), not a whole Unit. But please try to find fellow students who topics fit under the same Unit title ("Festival Meals") and arrange it accordingly.
  • In the topic, please write the category, then the topic - your name and student no.
  • For the text, please indicate ALL SOURCES with bibliographical references. That means: At least for every paragraph, sometimes for single sentences, you have to indicate at the end, where you have found this information. E.g. (Liu Miqing 2010, 17). This means you have found it in the book or paper written by Ms Liu on page 17.
  • Add a section at the end called "References". There you write the full version of the reference: Liu Miqing 刘宓庆. (2010). 翻译基础 [Translation Basis]. Shanghai: East China Normal University 华东师范大学. Similarly, you do it for papers: Jin Wenlu`靳文璐. (2019). 机器翻译可以取代人工翻译吗? [Can machine translation replace human translation?]. 智库时代 Think Tank Times (40) 282-284.
  • Please also add a list "Terms and Expressions".
  • Please add a "Questions" section.
  • Please add a "Answers" section.

This is the the first page with the final exam papers.

Please write another chapter of the textbook on any cultural phenomenon in China.

The Longevity Lock

Lǐ Yìhào 李艺浩 The Long-life Lock

ok

Liú Tíngyáng 刘廷阳 The Ethnic Minorities' Costumes

Terms

Questions

References

ok

Chinese Incense Culture - Liú Zhuōfán 刘卓凡 201930096025

Chinese incense culture has thousands of years of historical accumulation, and the world of incense is profound and colorful. Its concept and practice have also penetrated into all aspects of Chinese traditional culture. Incense culture is a rare cultural category with the body practice of olfactory senses as the core and it is indispensable to explore Chinese traditional culture. (Sun Liang, 2018, 5)

A. Overview of Chinese incense culture

Chinese incense culture is a cultural practice and ideology of fragrant smell centering on the recognition, processing and usage of various spices developed by the Chinese people in the long process of civilization. Incense can not only be used to connect with God, but also to help people be sensible or reasonable. In the cultural life of Chinese people, all the systematic cultural practices based on the sense of smell to experience and recognize the fragrance can be regarded as the incense culture. Olfaction, perfume material, odour and smog are the four basic aspects of the study of incense culture. (Sun Liang, Zhang Duo, 2018, 6)

Olfaction is not only a physiological issue but a cultural one. From the cultural point of view, different cultural groups have great differences in the perception and acceptance of olfaction. For example, the smell of stinky tofu in southern China is a scent that can induce appetite, but it is described as stinky. Indeed, many people do not think the smell of stinky tofu is fragrant. So there are great differences in the olfactory experience of certain odors in human cultures. (Sun Liang, Zhang Duo, 2018, 6)

The smog produced by burning incense is also paid attention to. In the use of incense by Chinese people, burning is one of the most important ways, especially in religious field. The smog produced by burning incense is often a sign of the effectiveness of rituals. It is composed of visible particles, which gather and move in the air in large quantities, forming a visual sensation besides the smell of fragrance. Smog is the byproduct of burning incense, but it also has its own unique cultural meaning. For example, in ancient heaven worship ceremony, a column of smog is the medium connecting the heaven and human beings. (Sun Liang, Zhang Duo, 2018, 6)

Perfume material is the basis of incense culture. Commonly used perfume materials can be roughly divided into three categories: plant, animal and auxiliary materials. Plant material accounts for the largest proportion, about 90%. Normally, it is divided its into six kinds: flower, leaf, fruit, root, stem, wood and lipid. Animal material refers to the aromatic substances obtained from the secretions of animals, mainly from the secretions or body surface attachments of animals such as sperm whale (ambergris), forest musk deer (musk), hemifusus tuba (Turbo cornutus Solander) and so on. Auxiliary materials such as carbon, Glauber's salt and honey normally do not give off a strong fragrant smell, but have special uses in producing incense. The production form of incense products can be divided into raw incense materials, string incense, stick incense, dish incense, tower incense, cone incense, pill, powder, cream, soup, sachet, pillow and other main categories. (Sun Liang, Zhang Duo, 2018, 8-9)

B. Development

In ancient times, the ancestors of the Chinese nation began to burn woods to produce smog to pray to the heaven and the earth. This is the beginning of the sacrificial incense. Meanwhile, incense used in normal life can also be traced back to ancient times. (Liu Yuying, Hu Jianjun, Yi Xin 2018, 82)

During the Han Dynasty, the development of incense culture in China began to take shape. Incense was popular among the upper classes represented by the nobles and princes. The introduction of incense into the etiquette of royal court was also an important sign of development. (Liu Yuying, Hu Jianjun, Yi Xin 2018, 82)

In the Sui and Tang dynasties, incense had developed to the stage of refinement and systematization. The kinds of incense are more abundant, and the production and use of incense are more elaborate. (Liu Yuying, Hu Jianjun, Yi Xin 2018, 82)

The Song Dynasty was another glorious period in the history of Chinese incense culture. At this time, the development of incense culture also entered a peak stage. Incense culture has penetrated into every aspect of society. Besides, incense was very popular among the literary people in the Song Dynasty. It also enriches the inner content and artistic quality of incense culture. (Liu Yuying, Hu Jianjun, Yi Xin 2018, 83)

The incense culture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties inherited the prosperity of the Song and Yuan Dynasties and developed further. Incense is further popular in society. In particular, there are many depictions of incense in novels and operas of the Ming and Qing Dynasties such as A Dream in Red Mansions. The extensive depiction of incense in the book also reflects the wide use of incense. (Liu Yuying, Hu Jianjun, Yi Xin 2018, 83)

Since the late Qing Dynasty, Chinese society has suffered an unprecedented impact. Consequently, the incense culture has also entered a difficult period. (Liu Yuying, Hu Jianjun, Yi Xin 2018, 83)

C. Incense in folk custom

Incense can be found everywhere, from exorcism to pest prevention, from the expression of missing to the expression of love, from house cleaning to banquets and entertainment. The beauty culture derived from cosmetics with incense as the core is also a focus of folk custom study. (Sun Liang, Zhang Duo, 2018, 14)

Chinese people use incense on many important festivals. Incense is used to worship ancestors during the Spring Festival. It is also used when sweeping tombs on the Tomb-Sweeping Day. The Dragon Boat Festival is full of incense. From the hanging of mugwort and calamus at the door to the wearing of sachets, these are the embodiments of incense culture. (Sun Liang, Zhang Duo, 2018, 14)

Ancestor worship is the core value element in Chinese folk beliefs, and incense must be used to worship ancestors. Incense is not only a medium to communicate with ancestors, but also a symbol of family prosperity. (Sun Liang, Zhang Duo, 2018, 14)

When expressing love, affection, blessing and missing, Chinese people often choose sachets as keepsake. Sachet embodies people's cherishing of beautiful feelings in family life. It symbolizes auspicious happiness and peace and can be used to dispel disease and evil. Also, it represents begging for sons and prolonging life. (Sun Liang, Zhang Duo, 2018, 14)

D. Comparison between the east and the west

In the long process of the development of incense culture, China and the West have different characteristics in the way of using incense and different attitudes towards incense. Westerners refine various perfume materials into fragrant oils and essence, and mix them into perfumes, which are sprayed on the body, clothes or rooms. By contrast, China and the eastern countries affected by it, such as Korea and Japan, retain and develop burning incense, wearing incense products and other ways. They have formed the incense culture for thousands of years. (Guo Xue, 2015)

Terms

Olfaction 嗅觉

Odor 气味

Heaven worship ceremony 祭天仪式

Sperm whale (ambergris) 抹香鲸（龙涎香）

Forest musk deer (musk) 林麝（麝香）

Hemifusus tuba (Turbo cornutus Solander) 管角螺（甲香）

Glauber's salt 芒硝

Exorcism 驱邪

Mugwort and calamus 艾草和菖蒲

Fragrant oils 香油

Essence 香精

Perfume 香水

Questions

1.What are the basic aspects of the study of incense culture?

2.What is the basis of incense culture?

3.What categories can perfume materials be divided into?

4.When does Chinese incense culture develop best?

5.What are the functions of incense in Chinese folk custom?

6.What is the difference between west and east incense cultures?

Answers

1. Olfaction, perfume material, odour and smog are the four basic aspects of the study of incense culture.

2. Perfume material is the basis of incense culture.

3. Commonly used perfume materials can be roughly divided into three categories: plant, animal and auxiliary materials.

4. Song dynasty.

5. Incense can be found everywhere, from exorcism to pest prevention, from the expression of missing to the expression of love, from house cleaning to banquets and entertainment. It also can be found in cosmetics. Chinese people use incense on many important festivals. Incense must be used to worship ancestors. It can be used to express love, affection, blessing and missing.

6. Westerners refine various perfume materials into fragrant oils and essence, and mix them into perfumes. China and the eastern countries affected by it, such as Korea and Japan, retain and develop burning incense, wearing incense products and other ways.

References

  • Guo Xue 郭雪, To probe into Chinese and western culture based on the difference of using incense, 从用香差异窥探中西方文化 (2015) http://art.people.com.cn/n/2015/0309/c206244-26660620.html
  • Liu Yuying 刘玉莹, Hu Jianjun 胡建君, Yi Xin 一心, On the revival and development of Chinese incense culture, 浅谈中国香文化的复兴与发展 (2018)
  • Sun Liang 孙亮, Zhang Duo 张多, The academic domain and contemporary revival of Chinese incense culture 中国香文化的学术论域与当代复兴 (2018)

--Liu Zhuofan (talk) 13:24, 23 May 2021 (UTC)

Péng Jiāyù 彭佳钰

I suggest to write my final exam paper about "Wu Zetian".ok

Shū Lín 舒琳 Tea-picking opera

I suggest to write my final exam paper about "Tea-picking opera ". Ok. Please state in one sentence also how your paper will be different from the one about Taoism from the course book.

Terms

我再想想

Questions

References

Sū Xiāo 苏潇 The Cultural Connotation of Mount Tai

ok

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