Overview of Chinese Culture, Spring 2025

Welcome to our course website Overview of Chinese Culture, Spring 2025!

Session 1 Wed Feb 19 8:00-9:40 room 腾龙楼 407 - Organizational issues

FRI 8:00-9:40 中国文化概要 Overview of Chinese Culture, Spring 2025 407 BA22笔译1 (1-16, 09230030.01)

What we learn in this class

• We learn about Chinese culture from international, especially Western perspective.
• We learn about cultural phenomena, traditional Chinese culture.
• We learn English and Chinese terminology in the area of Chinese culture.
• We learn to think critically about cultural traditions and to appreciate the benefits from cultural traditions.
• We learn how to determine the location and role of Chinese culture within global culture.
• We learn basics of theories and models of intercultural communication and comparison.
• We learn the appreciate and respect the diversity of multipolar cultures and of integration.
• We become aware of the dangers of cultural discrimination (colonialism, religious missions, imperialism etc.).

Students' contribution

• Every student needs to prepare the 1-2 textbook texts of the respective chapters in the textbook ahead each week of class.
• Every student selects a topic, prepares 2 ppt presentations of 15 min. (one without AI, one with AI, and please indicate references and an AI statement at the end of the presentation) and a mentimeter.com quiz for everybody to take live in class with results shown after all will have answered. The topics and contents of the sessions are determined by the selection of the students.
• For the final exam, you write another chapter of the textbook in both Chinese and English, with "Terms and Expressions", References, Questions and Answers, Statement regarding AI

Textbook

You will receive the textbook for our class. We need a volunteer who integrates the last 92 new chapters into the word file. After tha, you will receive an updated version of the textbook. There are more than 200 topics of our textbook. Here you find all topics in the order of the book and with the names of the students who will translate the chapters into Chinese. Please select two topics by writing your name behind it and by setting it in bold. These topics will be presented in the form of a powerpoint presentation.

Agreement on use of classroom time

Should we read the texts in class or should the students read the text ahead of class (especially learning the terms and expressions) and come to class prepared? How should we use our classroom time? (presentations, quizzes, discussions, exercise to translate adhoc an unknown text from the same area)

Homework for next session (actually for every session)

Please prepare the topics of the following session by reading the respective texts in the textbook and by answering the respective questions.

Teacher presentation: Introduction to Culture

Media:01_Chin_Cult_Spring_2025.pptx

Homework

Please register on the Wiki and wait for the teacher to approve.

Please select one of the following chapters of our textbook by writing your name behind the topic to give a 20 minute presentation on plus a MikeCRM quiz: The first three presenters will have to present next week!

1. Geographic Nature as a Basis for Cultural Development 17

2. Aesthetic ideals and social customs: Chinese Marriage Customs 22

3. Aesthetic ideals and social customs: Habits, Ways of Contacting 31

4. Aesthetic ideals and social customs: Marriage-Accompanying Songs in Hunan 40

5. Aesthetic ideals and social customs: Crying Marriage of Tujia 49

6. Aesthetic ideals and social customs: The Four Most Handsome Men in Ancient China 63

7. Animals: Panda 71

8. Architecture 78

9. Architecture: The Forbidden City 89

10. Architecture: Four Famous Bridges 102

11. Architecture: Four Great Pavilions 113

12. Architecture: Shengjing Imperial Palace 124

13. Architecture: Three Great Towers in China 131

14. Architecture: Fengshui in Chinese Architecture 145

15. Army and weapons: Chinese Ancient Weapons 154

16. Army and weapons: Terracotta Army 163

17. Astrology: Chinese Astrology 170

18. Astrology: Calendar, The 24 Solar Terms 178

19. Astrology: Twelve Animals of the Chinese Zodiac 188

20. Beverages: Milk Tea 197

21. Beverages: Tea 203

22. Beverages: The Liquor Culture of Ancient China 209

23. Body movement performance: Chinese Lion Dancing 218

24. Body movement performance: Stilts 223

25. Body movement performance: Traditional Chinese Dance 230

26. Chinese Writing: Ancient Writing and Painting Tool, Writing Brush 236

27. Chinese Writing: Calligraphy 246

28. Chinese Writing: The Evolution of Calligraphy 252

29. Chinese Writing: Chinese Characters 262

30. Chinese Writing: Chinese Characters and Scripts 276

31. Clothing: Chinese Clothing 283

32. Clothing: Batik (Lanran) 291

33. Clothing: Cheongsam 301

34. Confucianism: Confucian Culture 309

35. Confucianism: Chinese Traditional Culture-Five Constant Virtues 324

36. Confucianism: Classical Philosophy - Confucius and Confucianism 332

37. Confucianism: Classical Philosophy - Reading The Analects 339 (Duan Binyao)

38. Education: Ancient Chinese Education 350

39. Education: Historical Figures, The Four Talented Women of Ancient China 361（Shang Ruyi/Michelle）

40. Education: Modern Chinese Education System 371

41. Education: The Nine-Grade Official Selection System in Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties 386

42. Education: Yuelu Academy (One of the Four Most Prestigious Academies) 395

43. Facial Make-up 406

44. Facial Make-up: Cosmetics, Traditional Chinese Make-Up 413

45. Facial Make-up: Face Changing in Sichuan Opera 431

46. Fine Arts: Painting 440

47. Fine Arts: Bada Shanren and Qi Baishi 445

48. Fine Arts: Painting Riverside Scene at Tomb Sweeping Day 452

49. Fine Arts: Seal-cutting 459

50. Games: Go 围棋 462

51. Games: Kite Flying 468

52. Games: Mahjong: An Ancient Chinese card play 476

53. Garden Culture: Gardens 505

54. Garden Culture: Bonsai (Penjing) 511

55. Garden Culture: The Summer Palace 519

56. Garden Culture: Qingming Riverside Landscspe Garden 526

57. Gender: Wu Zetian: The Only Female Emperor of Imperial China 535

58. History: Carl and Cixi 548

59. Interieur: The Folding Screen 552

60. Landscapes and Tourism: Four Buddhist Shrines 561

61. Landscapes and Tourism: Four State-Level Cultural Relics 573

62. Landscapes and Tourism: Landscape, Five Famous Mountains 585

63. Landscapes and Tourism: Mogao Grottoes 593

64. Landscapes and Tourism: The Culture of Mount Tai 606

65. Landscapes and Tourism: Canal Culture：The Grand Canal（The Peking-Hangzhou Grand Canal） 621

66. Landscapes and Tourism: The Ancient Tea Horse Road 635

67. Landscapes and Tourism: Tourism, Nanking-An Ancient Capital of Six Dynasties 642

68. Language: Chinese Language 649

69. Language: Chinese Dialects 660

70. Language: Chinese Folk Argot 669

71. Literature: Ancient literature - Chinese Classical Fairy Tales 681

72. Literature: Ancient literature - Chinese Mythology 688

73. Literature: Ancient literature - Classical Literature 699

74. Literature: Ancient Literature - Four satirical novels in ancient China 706

75. Literature: Ancient literature: Four Folk Stories of Ancient China 715

76. Literature: Ancient Literature - Take Su Shi as an example. Relegation Literature in Ancient China 725 (Duan Binyao)

77. Literature: Ancient Literature: The Classic of Mountains and Seas 748

78. Literature: Ancient literature: Yuefu 765

79. Literature: Premodern literature - China's Four Great Classical Novels 773 (Duan Binyao)

80. Literature: Premodern literature - Li Bai's “The River-Merchant's Wife: A Letter” and its translations 780

81. Literature: Premodern literature: Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio 786

82. Literature: Premodern literature: Tang-Song 794

83. Literature: Tang and Song - Classical Prose Movement of late Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty 823

84. Literature: Modern Literature 832

85. Literature: Modern Literature: Qian Zhongshu (Ch'ien Chung-shu) 841

86. Literature: Modern and Contemporary Literature: Literature, Science Fiction, and Fantasy 848

87. Literature: Contemporary Literature 859

88. Martial Arts: Huo Yuanjia 865

89. Martial Arts: Qigong 868

90. Martial Arts: Taiji (Tai Chi) Shadow Boxing 873

91. Martial Arts: Wushu 885

92. Martial Arts: Frolics of the Five Animals (Wuqinxi) 890

93. Medicine: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) 900

94. Medicine: TCM - Acupuncture and Moxibustion 907

95. Medicine: TCM - Diagnosis and Pharmacology 912

96. Medicine: TCM - The Development of Chinese Medicine 917

97. Medicine: TCM – The Chinese Medical Sage Zhang Zhongjing 924

98. Minority cultures: Lisu People and Daogan Festival of Lisu Ethnic Minority 934

99. Minority cultures: The Ethnic Minorities’ Costumes 941

100. Money culture: Currency, Jiaozi (A Paper Currency in Northern Song Dynasty) 952

101. Money culture: The tradition of Red Envelope and Lucky Money 962

102. Music and instruments: Guzheng 975

103. Music and instruments: Pipa 986

104. Mythology: Gods and Immortals 996

105. Mythology: Huli-jing 1005

106. National Symbols: National Anthem 1018

107. National Symbols: National Flag 1026

108. Opera: Peking Opera 1035

109. Opera: Peking Opera Acrobatics 1043

110. Opera: Peking Opera Actor Mei Lanfang 1050

111. Opera: Tea-picking Opera 1055

112. Opera: Hunan Flower-drum Opera (Huagu Opera) 1064

113. Philosophical Schools: Four Main Philosophical Schools 1076

114. Philosophical Schools (Daoism, Buddhism, Legalism): Classical Philosophy – Daoism 1087

115. Philosophical Schools (Daoism, Buddhism, Legalism): Classical Philosophy - Reading Tao Te Ching 1093

116. Philosophical Schools (Daoism, Buddhism, Legalism): Classical Philosophy - Reading The Sutra of Hui-neng 1099

117. Philosophical Schools (Daoism, Buddhism, Legalism): Classical Philosophy - Reading The Importance of Living 1106

118. Philosophical Schools (Daoism, Buddhism, Legalism): Legalism 1119

119. Philosophy: Chinese Traditional Cultivation Culture 1129

120. Religion: Traditional Chinese Funeral Culture 1141

121. Religion: Buddhism 1155

122. Religion: Daoism 1170

123. Religion: Christianity 1175

124. Religion: Islam 1181

125. Science and Technology: Ancient Science and Technology 1185

126. Science and Technology: China's Four New Inventions 1191

127. Science and Technology: Compass 1217

128. Science and Technology: TikTok (Douyin) 1226

129. Science and Technology: Three Giant Home Appliance Enterprises In China 1235

130. Science and Technology: Four Domestic Mobile Phone Companies 1257

131. Silk and porcelain: Silk 1272

132. Silk and porcelain: Porcelain 1277

133. Silk and porcelain: Celadon and Celadon Song 《青花瓷》歌词 1283

134. Silk Road - by land and by sea: Zhang Qian and the Silk Road 1291

135. Silk Road - by land and by sea: Zheng He and the Maritime Silk Road 1296

136. Silk Road - by land and by sea: Zheng He's Voyages 1300

137. Social: The Long-life Lock 1308

138. Social: Round Table Culture 1317

139. Stage entertainment: Crosstalk 相声 1325 140. Stage entertainment: Shadow Play 1332

141. Traditional Crafts: Carving 1340

142. Traditional Crafts: Chinese Jade Culture 1348 143. Traditional Crafts: Cloisonne 1363

144. Traditional Crafts: Embroidery 1369

145. Traditional Crafts: Shu Embroidery (Sichuan Embroidery) 1373

146. Traditional Crafts: Xiang Embroidery 1386

147. Traditional Crafts: Folk Art - Chinese Paper-cutting 1400

148. Traditional Crafts: Handcraft - Chinese Knots 1409

149. Traditional Crafts: Lacquerware 1418

150. Traditional Crafts: The Kingfisher Craft点翠 1423

151. Traditional Cuisine: Chinese Dining Etiquette 1436

152. Traditional Cuisine: Chopsticks 1450

153. Traditional Cuisine: Eight Major Cuisines of China 1456

154. Traditional Cuisine: Four Distinct Regional Cuisines 1473

155. Traditional Cuisine: Breakfast Culture of Wuhan 1480

156. Traditional Cuisine: Tanghulu, Sugar-coated Haws on a Stick 1491 157. Traditional Cuisine: Hotpot 1501

158. Traditional Cuisine: The Art of Chinese Cooking 1508

159. Traditional Cuisine: Two Famous Dishes 1514

160. Traditional Festivals 1518

161. Traditional Festivals: Lattice on Ancient Chinese Windows 1525

162. Traditional Festivals: Spring Festival Couplets 1538

163. Westernization: The Eastward Spread of Western Learning 1544

164. Westernization: The Westernization Movement 1550

165. Worship: Chinese Incense Culture 1558

166. Economy: Chinese Currency Changes 1569

167. History: Wang Shouren 1573

168. Martial Arts: Chinese Swordsman Spirit 1582

169. Cuisine: Luosifen 1593

170. Fine Arts: Chinese Paper Cutting 1601

171. Science and Technology: Taobao(淘宝) 1611

172. Traditional Craft: Bronze 1623

173. Entertainment: Deyunshe 德云社 1631

174. Traditional Cuisine: Jiaozi 1644

175. Aesthetic ideals and social customs: the Photo Retouching Culture in China 1655

176. Traditional Crafts: Handcraft - Oil-paper Umbrella 1664

177. stage entertainment:Yuan drama 1676

178. Music and instruments: Erhu 1685

179. Traditional and Modern Views on Marriage and Love 1694

180. Traditional Cuisine: Tangyuan 1701

181. Animals：Golden Monkey 1712

182. Chinese Economy: rich businessmen 1719

183. Opera: Chinese Local Operas 1727

184. The Chinese tradition of ancestor worship 1740

185. Opera: Huangmei opera 1752

186. The “reference” of Chinese Music 1759

187. Chinese Folk Art:Lion Dance 1767

188. Science and Technology: Mobile Games（手游） 1783

189. Clothing: Vintage Clothing 1790

190. Fine arts:Kunqu Opera 1798

191. Aesthetic ideals and social customs: The Culture of Flowers 1807

192. National Belief: the Chinese Dream 1818

193. Science and Technology: Buytogether（PDD) 1825

194. Aesthetic ideals and social customs：Marriage and Burial Customs of Tujia People 1845

195. Sports: Cuju (蹴鞠) 1845

196. Science and Technology: The culture of Chinese Electric Vehicles 中国电动汽车 1845

197. Chinese tradition culture: The culture of Ronghua—Velvet Flowers 绒花 1845 (Chen Lin)

198. Stage entertainment: Northeast Errenzhuan (二人转) 1845

199. Traditional Crafts: Dough Sculpture 面塑 1845

200. Nanchang Relic Museum for Haihun Principality of Han Dynasty 1845

201. The culture of Grass cloth 夏布 1845 (Huang Qiaoqiao)

202. The Legend of Zhen Huan 《甄嬛传》 1845

203. Chinese horror movies 中式恐怖片 1845

204. Stand-up comedy 单口喜剧 1845

205. Bride-price（彩礼） 1845

206. Chinese science fiction movies 中国科幻片 1845

207. Shandong cuisine鲁菜 1845

208. Chinese traditional ornament: Buyao （步摇） 1845

209. Tofu meatball with pig blood (猪血丸子) 1845

210. Sunzi’s Art of War: Source for All Books on War (孙子兵法) 1845

211. The Temple of Heaven：Reverence with Awe and Gratitude（天坛） 1845

212. Education：training Schools （教育：补习班） 1845

213. Chinese Dreamcore (中式梦核) 1845……(Liu Wenziqin/Lucie)

214. Lu Ban, China’s inventor（中国发明家——鲁班） 1845

215. Live Streaming E-commerce（直播电商） 1845

216. The Story of Ming Lan（知否知否，应是绿肥红瘦） 1845

217. Cha Bai Xi/Tea Latte Art (茶百戏) 1845

218. Guangdong Herbal tea（广东凉茶） 1845

219. Chinese traditional art form：Seal carving（篆刻） 1845

220. Rice cake (年糕) 1845

221. Zhongyuan festival 1845(Ou Huang)

222. Dulong: Facial tattoo (独龙族：纹面) 1845

223. The Return of the Pearl Princess（还珠格格） 1845

224. Chinese Food：Jiangxi Cuisine（赣菜） 1845

225. "Cun Chao": China's village football league（“村超”：中国乡村足球联赛） 1845

226. Landscapes and Tourism: Junshan Island (君山岛) 1845

227. Chinese Bossy Fictions & Micro-drama（中国式霸总小说&短剧） 1845

228. Chinese Traditional Medicine (中医药）——— Mortise and Tenon Joint（榫卯结构） 1845

229. Jingdezhen Porcelain 1845

230. Gayageum（伽倻琴） 1845

231. The plaque and couplet in Chinese garden（园林匾额对联） 1845

232. Sun Wukong（孙悟空） 1845

233. Traditional Chinese Pigments（中国传统颜料） 1845

234. Dragon Lantern Dance（舞龙灯） 1845

235. Bamboo Weaving (竹编） 1845

236. Landscapes and Tourism: Harbin Ice and Snow World (冰雪大世界) 1845

237. Braised Chicken Rice (黄焖鸡米饭-Huang Men Ji Mifan) 1845

238. Three Famous Chinese Mountains(中国三山) 1845

239. Female Emperor---Wu Zetian 1845

240. Clay sculpture (泥塑） 1845

241. Abacus (中国珠算） 1845 (Chen Lin)

242. Hunan Rice Noodles（湖南米粉） 1845(Ou Huang)

243. Chinese name（中国姓名文化） 1845

244. Chinese popular viral memes (中国网络社交媒体“热梗”） 1845

245. Douzhi (豆汁) 1845(Chen Zhen)

246. New Year Wood-block Paintings (木版年画） 1845

247. Carved lacquer（雕漆） 1845

248. Jing Gang Mountain (井冈山） 1845

249. Intangible Cultural Heritage: Tongguan Kiln （铜官窑） 1845

250. Language: Hakka Dialect（客家话） 1845

251. Rice noodle roll（肠粉） 1845

252. Traditional Cuisine: Northeastern Chinese Cuisine(东北菜） 1845

253. Yuelu Mountain (岳麓山) 1845

254. Traditional Crafts：Tie-Dye（扎染） 1845

255. Chinese-style sun protection (中式防晒） 1845

256. Danmu (弹幕） 1845

257. Yangshao Culture（仰韶文化） 1845

258. Indigo Dyeing (蓝染) 1845

259. Female Writers: Zhang Ailing, Chen Ping, Lin Yihan and Li Bihua 1845

260. Wedding dress in the Song Dynasty (宋代婚服) 1845

261. The cultural idea oft he great unification in ancient China (中国古代的大一统文化思想) 1845

262. The Four Pillars of Destiny (八字) 1845(Ou Huang)

263. Shaolin Temple (少林寺) 1845

264. Single bamboo drifting（独竹漂） 1845

265. Cuisine: Changde spicy salted duck 酱板鸭传说的由来 1845 (Chen Lin)

266. Hui Culture (徽文化) 1845(Chen Zhen)

267. Ma Zu Culture (妈祖文化) 1845

268. Table Manners 1845

269. Music of the Mongol nationality (蒙古族音乐) 1845

270. The Yingge Dance（英歌舞） 1845

271. Palace Lantern（宫灯） 1845

272. Chinese Term of Endearment（中国亲昵称谓） 1845

273. Changsha Stinky Tofu（长沙臭豆腐) 1845

274. God of Wealth(财神) 1845

275. Zhuazhou（抓周） 1845

276. Nail art（美甲） 1845

277. Mirror (镜子) 1845

278. The Beef Board Noodle (牛肉板面) 1845

279. Huo Qubing (霍去病） 1845

280. Chinese Courtyard Houses（中国四合院） 1845

281. Music and instruments: Yangqin（扬琴） 1845

282. Black Myth: Wukong（黑神话 悟空） 1845(Chen Zhen)

283. Guangdong Morning Tea Culture （广东早茶文化） 1845（Tang Jiahua）

=Session 02 Wed Feb 26 8:00-9:40 room 腾龙楼 407 - Student presentations== 28. Chinese Writing: The Evolution of Calligraphy. (Liu Xiaojia) 39. The Four Talented Women of Ancient China. (Shang Ruyi). 202.The Legend of Zhen Huan. (Zhou Yanhua)

Session 07 Wed Apr 02 8:00-9:40 room 腾龙楼 407 - Student presentations=

清明节4月4日——4月6日

Session 11 Wed Apr 30 8:00-9:40 room 腾龙楼 407 - Student presentations=

劳动节5月1日——5月5日

Session 15 Wed May 28 8:00-9:40 room 腾龙楼 407 - Student presentations=

端午节5月31日——6月2日

Session 16 Wed Jun 25 8:00-9:40 room 腾龙楼 407 - Final Exam

Please write your paper here: Cult_Ov_Fin_Exam_Spring_2025