中国文化概况中国文化概况期末考试复习资料

Chapter 1 A General Introduction to Chinese Culture

Words and Expressions:

the descendants of Yan and Huang 炎黄子孙 porcelain 瓷器

The appellation of China

Chinese history began with two legendary figures—Emperor Huang and Emperor Yan, who, together with their tribes, inhabited the drainage area along the middle reaches（中游） of the Yellow River. By the time of Xia Dynasty, after centuries of living side by side, these two tribes had gradually merged into（合并，融合） one. Consequently, the Chinese people usually call themselves “the descendants of Yan and Huang”.

People at that time believed that the land they lived on was the center of the world, and called their state the \中国), thus giving China its country name.

China is the appellation of our country given by foreigners. The porcelain china is the transliteration of the place name Changnan(昌南), which was the old name for Jingdezhen（景德镇）. The porcelain made in Changnan was smooth and bright, and earned another name of artificial jade. It became famous both home and abroad and was exported to Europe in large quantities.

In Europe, people regarded Changnan porcelain as something precious and delicate and would take pride in possessing one. As time passed, people in Europe forgot the meaning of Changnan and switched the original meaning of porcelain of the word “china” to the place of its origin.

Chapter 2Chinese Philosophy and Religion

Part 1 Chinese Thoughts and Philosophy Words and Expressions: Confucianism 儒家 Taoism 道家

The Analects 《论语》 benevolence 仁慈，善行 ritual礼制，仪式，惯例 filial piety 孝，孝心

The Development of Ancient Chinese Philosophy

The philosophy in Pre-Qin times (先秦子学)

The orthodox philosophy during the Han Dynasty (两汉经学) Metaphysics during the Wei and Jin dynasties (魏晋玄学)

The buddhist philosophy during the Sui and Tang dynasties (隋唐佛学) Neo-confucianism in Song and Ming dynasties (宋明理学) Application philosophy in the Ming and Qing dynasties (明清实学) The philosophy in Pre-Qin times (先秦子学)

The philosophy in Pre-Qin times was marked by the emergence of various ancient philosophical views.

The most influential schools were Confucianism (儒家), Taoism (道家), Mohism (墨家) and Legalism (法家) 1.Confucianism

Confucianism is a school of thought represented by Confucius and Mencius. Confucianism has influenced the Chinese for thousands of years and is deeply rooted in Chinese culture. It is an integration of intellectual, political, and religious tradition with the focus on the individual morality and ethics in daily life and the proper exercise of political power. Who is Confucius?

Family name: Kong; Given name: Qiu; courtesy name: Zhongni

He is a great thinker, an educator, a statesman, a philosopher, the founder of the Confucian school and Confucianism.

The landmark of Confucianism is the Analects, which was written by his disciples after his death. The core of Confucius’s philosophy are the concepts of Ren (benevolence)

Ren(仁): Confucius defines it as “Airen”(爱人），that is , to love others.

The Chinese character “仁”（benevolence) consists of “a person （人）” on the left and “two(二)” on the right indicating the relationship between people. Li (ritual)

Li （ritual-礼）refers to the rules of human conduct and moral norms such as politeness, courtesy, propriety, proper etiquette and good manners ranging from speech and behavior to the performance of rituals which are usually codified and treated as an all-embracing system of social

norms.

Xiao (filial piety)

Xiao(孝）refers to the filial piety, which was regarded as one of the greatest of virtues in Chinese tradition, denoting the respect and obedience that the children should show to their parents. Zhong (loyalty)

Zhong(loyalty-忠）is a great virtue, which emphasizes the obligations and duties to the superior, to friends, family, and spouse. 2. Taoism

Founded by Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi, the school advocates the doctrine that the Dao is the course, the principle, the substance, and the standard of all things, to which all of them must conform. Based on the work of Dao De Jing, Taoism promotes the belief that a person should live a simple life, not to strive for wealth, fame or power, which will only give one worries and trouble. The school favours the political principle of “achieving good government through non-action”(无为而治) 3. Mohism

Base on the teaching of Mozi, the school cherishes universal love which states that if all the people in the world loved one another, there will be no hatred, calamities, and hostilities. In politics and ethics, Mohism proposes honoring virtuous people, opposing fatalism (宿命论) and aggressive wars, and upholding thriftiness(节俭). 4. Legalism

Legalism, begun by Hanfeizi, espouses (主张) laying down laws to unify the thought of people, promoting agriculture to achieve affluence (富裕), waging (进行) wars to gain strength and power, and establishing a system of bureaucracy (官僚制度). The orthodox philosophy during the Han Dynasty (两汉经学)

In the Han Dynasty, Emperor Wudi instituted the campaign of “banning all schools of thought except Confucianism(罢黜百家，独尊儒术)”. He chose officials from those who were steeped in Confucianism only. Consequently, Confucianism became an orthodox school that served as the ideological foundation of the feudal rule throughout the dynasties in China. Traditional Chinese ethics

Traditional Chinese ethics includes both good and bad elements. Some reflect the high standard of

moral pursuit of the Chinese people, while others seem less relevant in modern society. For example, the three obediences and four virtues (三从四德) and the three basic rules and five constant virtues (三纲五常) have long been abandoned by the Chinese people.

The traditional ideal of a woman is that she is a dependant being whose behavior is governed by “three obediences” (to father before marriage, to husband after marriage, and to son after becoming a widow: 未嫁从父, 既嫁从夫, 夫死从子) and four “virtues” (morality, proper speech, modest manner, and diligence: 品德、言语、仪态、女工). These were the social norms prescribed by feudal morality.

The three basic rules: a king should rule over his subjects; a father, his son; a husband, his wife (君为臣纲、父为子纲、夫为妻纲).

The five constant virtues: benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and fidelity (仁、义、礼、智、信).

Part 2 Religions and Beliefs Words and Expressions: Heaven worship 祭天 Ancestor worship 祭祖 Confucianism 儒教 The Confucian Temple 孔庙 Taoism 道教

The Five Elements 五行

Buddhism 佛教 Buddha 佛像，佛祖，佛陀 nirvana涅槃 Heaven worship

The heaven worship was the bureaucratic(官僚的) belief system adopted by most dynasties of China until the overthrow(推翻) of the Qing Dynasty.

Heaven was believed to manifest itself through the powers of the weather and natural disasters. Heaven was seen as a judge of humans.

The emperors are Sons of Heaven(天子), and their power are authorized by heaven. Such beliefs actually consolidated(巩固) the authority of the Emperor. Ancestor worship

Chinese worship of ancestors dates back to the prehistory. Chinese culture, Confucianism, and Chinese Buddhism all value filial piety as a top virtue, and the act is a continued display of piety and respect towards departed ancestors. Confucianism儒教

Confucianism is not a real religion, it is just an ethical(伦理道德的) and philosophical system, which developed from Confucius? thoughts and later was treated as a kind of belief to educate common people(教化大众). The Taoist Religion

A General Introduction of Taoism

Taoism is the indigenous (土生土长的) religion in China.

The Taoist religion evolved out of witchcraft (巫术), necromancy（方术 ) and self-cultivation techniques. Its highest belief is called “Dao”, its bible is called “Dao De Jing”.It had great impact on the thinking of the Chinese people, as well as on the political, economic and cultural life of the country. Beliefs

Yin-yang Theory

Yin-yang are opposing, Yin-yang are mutually rooted, Yin-yang mutually transform, Yin-yang mutually wax and wane

The Five Elements/Wuxing“五行” The relationship between the five elements: The Generating Cycle

Wood feeds Fire; Fire creates Earth; Earth bears Metal; Metal carries Water; Water nourishes Wood.

The Overcoming Cycle

Wood parts Earth; Earth absorbs Water; Water quenches Fire; Fire melts Metal; Metal chops Wood. Buddhism

Buddhism is the most important religion in China. It is generally believed that it was spread to China in 67 AD during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220) from Hotan（和田） in Xinjiang to Central China. During its development in China, it has a profound （深远的）influence on traditional

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