Traditional Chinese Philosophy and Culture An Introduction Course.

Traditional Chinese Philosophy and Culture

An Introduction CourseAn Introduction Course

The Importance of TCC

Two purposes of learning a foreign Two purposes of learning a foreign language: language:

1. get familiar with the target culture1. get familiar with the target culture 2. extend the native culture worldwide2. extend the native culture worldwide The ability of expressing native culture The ability of expressing native culture

worldwide in the target languageworldwide in the target language One part of the Curriculum outlineOne part of the Curriculum outline

Current Problems

Not familiar with TCC;Not familiar with TCC; Cannot express Chinese culture in English;Cannot express Chinese culture in English; E.g.: Cannot answer questions like “What E.g.: Cannot answer questions like “What

do you usually have for breakfast?”do you usually have for breakfast?” Do not know who “Mencius” is;Do not know who “Mencius” is; Over-obsessed with other culturesOver-obsessed with other cultures

Purposes and Objectives:

Point out the English versions of some Point out the English versions of some traditional Chinese termstraditional Chinese terms

Clarify and familiarize basic characteristics Clarify and familiarize basic characteristics and concepts of Traditional Chinese Culture and concepts of Traditional Chinese Culture to students—a panoramic viewto students—a panoramic view

Try to encourage those who are interested Try to encourage those who are interested to contribute to the cultural exchange on a to contribute to the cultural exchange on a global scaleglobal scale

An Outline

Fundamental TraitsFundamental Traits Historical Figures (Thoughts) and EventsHistorical Figures (Thoughts) and Events Cultural AchievementsCultural Achievements Chinese CharactersChinese Characters Idioms, Allusions, Legends and FolktalesIdioms, Allusions, Legends and Folktales Folk Customs (Dress and Adornment, Dietetic, Folk Customs (Dress and Adornment, Dietetic,

Wine, Tea, Festivals)Wine, Tea, Festivals) Sites and Scenic SpotsSites and Scenic Spots

Fundamental Traits of TCC

The concept of “Culture”The concept of “Culture” In a broad sense, it In a broad sense, it

signifies the artificial signifies the artificial transformation of nature, transformation of nature, hence the material hence the material achievementsachievements

In a narrow sense, it In a narrow sense, it mainly pertains to the mainly pertains to the spiritual achievements spiritual achievements gained by human beingsgained by human beings

Culture of material, Culture of material, Culture of social Culture of social system, Culture of system, Culture of behaviors and Culture behaviors and Culture of ideologyof ideology

TCC refers to the TCC refers to the material and spiritual material and spiritual achievements made by achievements made by the Chinese people in the Chinese people in ancient times.ancient times.

The development of TCC

Specific geographic Specific geographic and historical and historical conditionsconditions

Its civilization of Its civilization of agricultureagriculture

Its social system of Its social system of patriarchal relations patriarchal relations and autocratic system and autocratic system (( 宗法关系和专制制度）宗法关系和专制制度）

Phases of development

Prehistoric culture: the emergence of worship, Prehistoric culture: the emergence of worship, agriculture, graphic characters and painted and agriculture, graphic characters and painted and black potteryblack pottery

Culture in Dynasties of Xia, Shang and Western Culture in Dynasties of Xia, Shang and Western Zhou: The Bronze Age; nine-square system; blood Zhou: The Bronze Age; nine-square system; blood relations; system of rites and music; “Emperor and relations; system of rites and music; “Emperor and Heaven”; morality; characters inscribed on bones Heaven”; morality; characters inscribed on bones and tortoise shellsand tortoise shells

Phases of development Culture in S.A.P. and W.S.P.: “the Spring and Culture in S.A.P. and W.S.P.: “the Spring and

Autumn Annals”; the unity of different peoples; the Autumn Annals”; the unity of different peoples; the emergence of Confucian school and the contention emergence of Confucian school and the contention of numerous schools of thoughtsof numerous schools of thoughts

Culture in Dynasties of Qin and Han: the unification Culture in Dynasties of Qin and Han: the unification of China; the centralized autocratic political system of China; the centralized autocratic political system revolving the emperor; the standardization of revolving the emperor; the standardization of written language; written language; Five Confucian classics (the book of songs; collection of ancient texts; the rites; the book of changes and the Spring and Autumn annals); The Silk Road

Phases of development

Culture in Dynasties of Sui and Tang: official Culture in Dynasties of Sui and Tang: official selection (from family status based to imperial selection (from family status based to imperial civil examination); tolerant to the outside; Taoism, civil examination); tolerant to the outside; Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism; poetry; calligraphyBuddhism and Confucianism; poetry; calligraphy

Culture in Dynasties of Ming and Qing: Literary Culture in Dynasties of Ming and Qing: Literary Inquisition; the selection of scholars based on Inquisition; the selection of scholars based on stereotyped writing; four masterpieces; “Strange stereotyped writing; four masterpieces; “Strange Tales from a Lonely Studio”; “Compendium of Tales from a Lonely Studio”; “Compendium of Materia Medica” Materia Medica”

Fundamental traits I. Vitality, Continuity and InclusivenessI. Vitality, Continuity and Inclusiveness II. The Conception of Great National Unity II. The Conception of Great National Unity

and Values of Collectivismand Values of Collectivism III. Seeking for Harmony and Maintaining III. Seeking for Harmony and Maintaining

Equilibrium, Peace and ContentEquilibrium, Peace and Content IV. The Culture of Human Relations and the IV. The Culture of Human Relations and the

Rational Attitude to RealityRational Attitude to Reality V. The Dialectical Pattern of Thought and the Way of V. The Dialectical Pattern of Thought and the Way of

Thinking in the Mode of Confucian Classics’ studyThinking in the Mode of Confucian Classics’ study

I. Vitality, Continuity and Inclusiveness强大的生命力及持续性和包容性

Its survival of all kinds of ordeal and turmoil Its survival of all kinds of ordeal and turmoil (foreign intrusions Vs. domestic suppression) (foreign intrusions Vs. domestic suppression) “burning books and massacre of Confucian “burning books and massacre of Confucian Scholars”Scholars”

Its capability of regenerationIts capability of regeneration Magnanimity and inclusiveness are the root cause Magnanimity and inclusiveness are the root cause

(its assimilation and incorporation of various (its assimilation and incorporation of various foreign cultures into its own) “exhaling the old foreign cultures into its own) “exhaling the old and inhaling the new”and inhaling the new”

II. The Conception of Great National Unity and Values of Collectivism

大一统的观念和注重整体利益的价值取向 The emergence of a great national unity “All the land under the sky belongs to the king; all

the people within this country are the king’s subjects.” (Emperor Zhou)

“普天之下，莫非王土，率土之滨，莫非王臣”

“Respect the king and reject the officials” (Lord Qihuan) “ 尊王攘夷”

“the lands under the Heaven will be in peace when being united.” (Mencius) “ 天下定于一”

II. The Conception of Great National Unity and Values of Collectivism

大一统的观念和注重整体利益的价值取向 “the whole country is one family” (Xunzi) “ 四海之

内若一家” “all the land in the universe belongs to the Emperor”

(First Emperor Qin) “ 六合之内，皇帝之土” The notion of Yandi descendants and Huangdi

descendents was form in “Historical Records” The Patriarchal relations and the culture of autocratic

monarchy Patriotic heroic spirit Some negative effects

III. Seeking for Harmony and Maintaining Equilibrium, Peace and Content

求和谐、主平衡的世界观和安土乐天的生活

““Man is an integral part of nature” “Man is an integral part of nature” “ 天人合一”天人合一” A harmonious and inseparable relationshipA harmonious and inseparable relationship It is not only a norm but also a lofty realm of menIt is not only a norm but also a lofty realm of men Moral cultivation Vs. Returning to NatureMoral cultivation Vs. Returning to Nature ““the golden mean” “the golden mean” “ 中庸” 中庸” (The “unity of opposites” by (The “unity of opposites” by

Confucianism) “Holding the two ends but using the middle Confucianism) “Holding the two ends but using the middle part”part”

““Heaven”: “cosmic spirit” rather than “secular”Heaven”: “cosmic spirit” rather than “secular” To strive for stability (a settled life) “thirty To strive for stability (a settled life) “thirty mumu of land and of land and

a wife, children, a warm bed and a cow”a wife, children, a warm bed and a cow”

IV. The Culture of Human Relations and the Rational Attitude to Reality

注重现实的理性态度和人伦文化 Man as the fundamental of the universe Five basic human relations: “affection between father and

son, rites between emperor and his subjects, a hierarchical order between husband and wife, the old and the young, and fidelities between friends”

The system of rites and music （礼乐制度） Three cardinal guides and five constant virtues （三纲五

常）“ ruler governs subject, father guides son, husband guides wife”(unequal relationship) “benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and fidelity” (self-discipline)

V. The Dialectical Pattern of Thought and the Way of Thinking in the Mode of Confucian Classics’ study

辩证思维和经学思维 The Chinese traditional dialectical pattern of The Chinese traditional dialectical pattern of

thought (thought ( 中国传统辩证思想）“中国传统辩证思想）“ endless endless multiplication constitutes changes” “the relativity multiplication constitutes changes” “the relativity and infinite divisibility of the world” “the and infinite divisibility of the world” “the fundamental and the incidental of the Dark fundamental and the incidental of the Dark Learning”Learning”

the Way of Thinking in the Mode of Confucian the Way of Thinking in the Mode of Confucian Classics’ study Classics’ study （经学式思维方式）（经学式思维方式） a blind a blind faith in the study of classics faith in the study of classics Four Books of Four Books of Huangdi Classic of the Way and Virtue Huangdi Classic of the Way and Virtue