Ancient China Research Articles

The Joy of Knowledge Put Into Practice. The Cosmotechnical View on Acquiring Knowledge in Ancient China

"Classical Chinese thought slowly formed from the 9th century BCE onward through the Spring and Autumn era but reached its pivotal point during the so-called Warring States era (5th to 2nd centuries BCE). According to historical records, during these three hundred years more than four hundred wars of different scales raged across the Chinese world. These wars brought with them their own consequences like famines and abject poverty, terrible inequality and disillusionment. An intellectual history forming in these conditions understandably and inevitably was influenced by these conditions. In this context, the Hong Kong philosopher Yuk Hui presents his thesis of “cosmotechnics”, the view that merely understanding the world is not enough, it is paramount to change it for the betterment of people’s lives. This is the theoretical underpinning of much of classical Chinese thought, according to Yuk Hui, and therefore also for the drive to acquire knowledge. Thus, one unique aspect of classical Chinese thought is its interminable insistence on how man’s every action must have a reason beyond that action itself and any sort of philosophizing that does not lead to practice in changing the environment for the good of the people inhabiting it, is a wasted and useless thought. Therefore, there are a number of words and concepts related to the acquisition of knowledge in Classical and modern Chinese, like “learning” 學, “teaching” 教, “discussion” 論, “argumentation” 辯, and so on, but all these are encompassed within “the way” 道, specifically the “correct way of doing a thing”, i.e.: actual practice, rather than mere thought alone. I aim to present several examples of this from remote Chinese antiquity and classical Chinese thought within the framework of what I term “cosmotechnical joy” stemming from making people’s lives better. Keywords: China, philosophy, thought, knowledge, pragmatism, Confucianism, Daoism, legalism"

Mozi’s Educational Philosophies and Their Implications for Contemporary Pedagogy in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language

Mozi is an esteemed philosopher in ancient China who has been recognized for his distinctive pedagogical views which stand out in the long course of history, earning him widespread acclaim. Emphasizing pragmatism, feasibility, and inclusivity, his educational principles have imparted significant insights for contemporary educators. This article summarizes several practical and feasible methods which can be applied in the course of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language according to Mozi’s educational philosophy, offering fresh perspectives and strategic recommendations for modern instructional methods in this field.

The Influence of Chinese Traditional Costumes on Contemporary Trends --Taking Horse-face Skirts as an Example

This study explores the influence of traditional Chinese dresses on contemporary fashion trends using the Horse-face skirt as an example. In ancient China, the Horse-face skirt was one of the notable skirts for women and maintained its typical style of womens dress during the Ming and Qing dynasties. With the passage of history and the revival of traditional Chinese culture, it has begun to arouse interest in traditional Chinese dress. Among them, Hanfu, including the Horse-face skirt, has attracted significant attention in modern dress, where ancient design elements are combined with modern dress. Through a comprehensive analysis of relevant literature, historical documents, and fashion resources, this study analyzes the development of the Horse-face skirt and its influence on contemporary fashion trends. The study shows that the development of new media, the spread of ethnic culture and the innovation of ethnic dress are important factors that contribute to the development of ancient traditional dresses influencing modern trends.

A Study of the English Translation of Wen Xin Diao Long from the Perspective of Medio-Translatology Based on Three English Versions of Cheng Qi

Wen Xin Diao Long is a classical literary commentary in ancient China, which has both Chinese traditional literary thoughts and educational values. Based on the vigorous development of Chinese traditional literature translation study and the present situation of English translation research on Wen Xin Diao Long, this paper aims to study the commonality and differences between the three translators Shi Youzhong[Vincent Yu-chung Shih], Huang Zhaojie and Yang Guobin in dealing with the phenomenon of creative treason and cultural imagery transmission in the English translation of Cheng Qi in Wen Xin Diao Long from the perspective of Medio-translatology, explores the different ways of dealing with the original text and the translation of traditional cultural elements in the three translators’ translation, and discusses the role and influence of translators’ subjectivity and cultural factors, with a view to promoting its overseas translation and English translation studies.

АНТРОПОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ ИДЕИ В ФИЛОСОФСКОЙ ТРАДИЦИИ ДРЕВНЕГО КИТАЯ

The article analyzes the problem of human nature in the philosophical tradition of Ancient China, starting from the mythological worldview to the prominent representatives of Confucianism - Mencius and Xunzi. It is noted that in ancient Chinese philosophical traditions, man is part of the cosmos, as well as in many ancient Greek teachings. The author makes a comparative analysis of anthropological ideas in ancient Chinese philosophy and in the philosophy of Plato, Aristotle, and European philosophers of the 17th – 18th centuries. Considering human nature in the worldview of Mencius and Xunzi, he shows the distinctive features in their worldview. It is noted that Mencius, when revealing the character of human nature, tended to start with goodness, while Xunzi believed that man is evil by nature. In conclusion, it is concluded that in ancient Chinese philosophy, ultimately, human nature and his destiny depend on Heaven

Are the later Mohists preference-satisfaction consequentialists? A discussion of Daniel Stephens’ “Later Mohist ethics and philosophical progress in ancient China”

ABSTRACT The Mohists may have been the first consequentialists on earth. Their most important principles are that right action is what benefits the world and that the underlying outlook for benefiting the world is inclusive care, whereby each person receives equal consideration. The early Mohists are clearly objective-list consequentialists, whereby benefiting the world amounts to promoting the most basic goods. Stephens argues that the later Mohists shift to a preference-satisfaction consequentialism whereby benefiting the world amounts to promoting what happens to please individual people. Stephens argues that while the direct texts are ambiguous between an objective-list interpretation and a preference-satisfaction interpretation, the latter better explains later Mohist engagement with opponents. I argue that the direct texts actually preclude Stephens’ preference-satisfaction interpretation, which moreover has the later Mohists concede an implausible amount to their opponents.

Gender across Generations

Food is a biological imperative as well as a core material that humans use in socializing ourselves, and the things we choose to consume are infused with cultural meanings. Children, especially very young children, have little agency in subsistence decisions, and therefore the foods that caretakers feed to children may hold profound information about cultural value systems and reveal social processes and idealized identities. Here we focus on relationships between food, sex, and gender in early life by studying the childhood diets of 57 Eastern Zhou period individuals from the Central Plains region of China (771–221 BCE). Using stable isotope analysis of incremental dentin samples, we create detailed dietary histories of childhood years. From very early in life, the average δ15N value for boys is notably higher than the average for girls, indicating slightly more protein consumption for most males, and this continues across childhood. Foods such as meat and millet were highly valued in ancient China and, whether intentional or not, become associated with aspects of sex and gender through preferential feeding to male children. These isotopic data reveal a key aspect of the socializing processes of children across generational interactions with caretakers, with food communicating information about social worth and gender, which becomes embodied in the developing child.

On the Well Imagery and Its Cultural Implications in Zibuyu

Zibuyu is one of the three major collections of classical Chinese fantasy novels in the Qing Dynasty. The imagery of wells in many of its works is eye-catching. Wells were originally used for drawing water, and participated in all aspects of the daily life of the ancients. The imagery of the well in Zibuyu expresses through absurd writing that the well can carry all things because of its illusory nature, its static nature can be a permanent reference item, and its allegorical nature can carry Daoism and virtue. By exploring the rich ideological culture of ancient China reflected in the well imagery in Zibuyu, it will help to inherit and spread the excellent traditional Chinese culture and provide a unique perspective for the protection of cultural heritage.

The Metaphorical and Metonymical Conceptualizations of the Term Sea (Hai) in the Four-Character Chinese Idioms

This paper investigates the term “sea” (hai) in the four-character Chinese idioms according to conceptual metaphor and metonymy theory, attempting to illustrate their conceptualization, determine their possible underlying motivations, and explore Chinese maritime thought and culture. Based on idiomatic expressions, three types of conceptual metaphors are identified: abstract qualities of concrete entities are the sea, abstract entity is sea, and a certain aspect of a human being is sea. Moreover, the four types of conceptual metonymies are the part for the whole, the whole for the part, the place for the product, and the place for the responsible deities or goddesses. They are motivated by a culture of worship of and accordance with nature, the pursuit of achievements in traditional Chinese literature, “man paid, nature made” as the attitude towards the ups and downs of life, and a self-centered conceptualization of the world. The maritime culture represented in these conceptualizations comprises fear of and respect for the sea, harmony between humans and the sea, and static–dynamic integrations of river, land, and sea. The findings show that the motivations of these conceptualizations do not only originate from the embodiment and Chinese philosophy of the unity of heaven and humanity but are also constrained by the most influential talent selection mechanism, the Imperial Examination System, as well as by agriculture, the foundation of the economy in ancient China.

Historical institution and corporate Innovation: Evidence from China’s Civil-service Examination

Previous research indicates that historical institutions are crucial to the functioning and development of an economy. However, little is known about whether and how a historical institution affects current entrepreneurial activities. In ancient China, the Civil-service Examination (CSE), also known as keju, was the most important institution for selecting scholar-officials and had long-lasting effects. Using the variation in the historical success in keju across prefectures, this paper empirically examines the impact of the CSE on local corporate innovation. We find that the density of jinshi, which is the highest achievement in keju, is positively correlated with the innovation productivity of local firms as measured by patent applications and citations. To determine causality, we employ an instrumental variable and a quasi-experiment in early Qing period. Further tests suggest that the CSE promotes corporate innovation by fostering a forward-looking stance in firms, enhancing firms’ human capital level, and increasing local social capital. Overall, our results indicate that the CSE has a real and long-lasting impact on today’s firm innovation.

Effect of Prolong-life-with-nine-turn-method (Yan Nian Jiu Zhuan) Qigong on fatigue and gastrointestinal function in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a physical and mental disorder in which long-term fatigue is the main symptom. CFS patients are often accompanied by functional gastrointestinal diseases (FGIDs), which lead to decreased quality of life and increased fatigue. Prolong-life-with-nine-turn-method (PLWNT) is a kind of physical and mental exercise. Its operation includes adjusting the mind, breathing and cooperating with eight self-rubbing methods and one upper body rocking method. PLWNT was used to improve the digestive function in ancient China and to treat FGIDs such as functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome in modern times. Previous studies have shown that PLWNT can reduce fatigue in patients with CFS. But it is unclear whether the effect of PLWNT on CFS fatigue is related to gastrointestinal function. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between PLWNT and fatigue and gastrointestinal function in patients with CFS. This study is a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial (RCT). The whole study period is 38 weeks, including 2 weeks of baseline evaluation, 12 weeks of intervention and 6 months of follow-up. Ninety-six CFS patients will be stratified random assigned to the intervention group (PLWNT) and the control group (cognitive behavior treatment) in the ratio of 1:1 through the random number table generated by SPSS. In the evaluation of results, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 (MFI-20), Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS), and Short Form 36 item health survey (SF-36) will be evaluated at week 0 (baseline), week 6 (midterm), week 12 (endpoint) and month 9 (follow up). The intestinal flora will be evaluated at week 0 (baseline) and week 12 (endpoint). The data results will be processed by statistical experts. The data analysis will be based on the intention to treat principle and per-protocol analysis. In the efficacy evaluation, repeated measurement analysis of variance will be used for data conforming to normal distribution or approximate normal distribution. The data which do not conform to the analysis of repeated measurement variance will be analyzed by the generalized estimation equation Linear discriminant analysis will be used to clarify the difference species of intestinal flora. The significance level sets as 5%. The safety of interventions will be evaluated after each treatment session. This trial will provide evidence to PLWNT exerting positive effects on fatigue and gastrointestinal function of CFS. It will further explore whether the improvement of PLWNT on CFS fatigue is related to gastrointestinal function. The trial was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=151456 (Registration No.: ChiCTR2200056530). Date: 2022-02-07.

Bibliometric analysis of Kampo medicine hotspots and trends for the decade: 2013-2022.

Kampo medicine is a traditional medicine that originated in ancient China and has since developed as a uniquely Japanese medicine. Although Kampo medicine is one of Japan's most important therapeutic modalities and numerous papers have been published recently, information on current hotspots and trends in Kampo research is lacking. This bibliometric analysis of Kampo medicine surveyed the latest research hotspots and trends. Articles on Kampo medicine were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. We used medical subject headings related to Kampo medicine and searched for publications from 2013 to 2022. The retrieved articles were analyzed for countries, authors, journals, references, and keywords related to Kampo medicine using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and SCImago Graphica. A total of 1170 articles were included. The number of Kampo medicine-related publications and citations has recently increased, mainly from Japan. Author Keiko Ogawa-Ochiai published the most papers (40 papers), while Yoshio Kase had the highest frequency at 663 citations. Among the co-cited authors, Toru Kono was the most cited and had the highest total link strength. The journal with the most submissions was Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. A comprehensive keyword and literature analysis revealed the following research hotspots: "Yokukansan and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia," "Ninjinyoeito and geriatric care," "Daikenchuto and postoperative gastrointestinal cancer," and "Rikkunshito and functional dyspepsia." We also identified a new research frontier by identifying an association between hochuekkito and COVID-19. Our findings reveal trends in Kampo medicine research, with specific hotspots and the authors and publications with the largest research impact. Collecting a large volume of literature data, analyzing the impact of studies, and identifying research hotspots, as in this study, will provide researchers with future directions for Kampo research.

“Formula of Water” in the Iconography of Landscape Painting in Medieval China

The theme of the sea in traditional Chinese painting is associated with the last decades of the development of the country’s artistic life, in particular with painting on the theme of the sea and ocean. The aim of the study is to determine the peculiarities of the embodiment of the image of the sea element in Chinese painting of the Middle Ages as a basis for the development of the marina genre in modern art. In the works of masters of the Song (960—1279), Yuan (1271—1368) and Ming (1368—1644) dynasties one can notice the repetition and interpretation of those “formulas” used by painters in medieval China. Such “formulas” are the established ways of depicting water surfaces with pen and ink, formed during the Song dynasty and developed in the Yuan and Ming eras until the seventeenth century. Particular emphasis is placed on the systematization of schemes for the embodiment of the sea in different states in Ma Yuan’s work, their sources, and how they were embodied and transformed by painters in subsequent periods. The use of schemes for depicting water made it possible to achieve the effect of dynamism. This was conditioned, among other things, by the specificity of artistic tools and materials used by masters, who had in their arsenal scarce artistic means. The artists endeavoured to invent and form their own method of execution for each theme. The article has theoretical and practical value. It supplements the history of the development of landscape painting in ancient China by analysing the origin and formation of the previously little-studied motif, which in the space of Chinese painting of the 20th — 21st centuries has taken a strong position.

Indigenization of Mosques in Ancient China in the Context of the Maritime Spice Route

Through the analysis of the history of Quanzhou Port and the construction of Quanzhou Qingjing mosque in the context of the maritime spice road. The architectural shape of qing jing mosque, the original Arabic style of Quanzhou qing jing mosque was transformed into the integration of Minnan Dacuo style and Arabic style over a long time. the research will emphasize the evolution of the architectural form of Quanzhou qing jing mosque and its history behind it, it puts forward the argument that the maritime trade will bring new culture and architectural forms to the local people, and this architectural form will be gradually influenced by the local architecture in the long years, and thus transformed into a unique architectural form of cultural mix.

Research on the Impact of Cultural Values on Social Interaction in Chinese Education

Confucianism, a philosophy and belief system founded by Confucius in ancient China, emphasizes the importance of having a good moral character. Cultural values are deeply embedded in the daily interactions of Chinese people. Unfortunately, some Confucian ethics have been misinterpreted and become a tool of "mind control," which tends to control one's thoughts and insert unwanted thoughts in others. This study aims to highlight the issues in Chinese education concepts that are heavily influenced by cultural values and the psychological concept of mind control, as well as how they impact children's psychological development and behaviors. It also offers some recommendations on how to create a good learning environment. It can be concluded that cultural values significantly impact social interaction in China.

韩国李朝时期朱子学视域下的救济措施研究

The Confucianism philosophy of ‘governing by nurturing the people’ played a crucial guiding role in the governance policies of the entire Joseon Dynasty in Korea. Although many of the relief measures in the Joseon Dynasty were imitations and references to ancient China and lacked originality, the implementation of these measures exceeded those of the previous Goryeo Dynasty both in form and content, gradually diversifying, systematizing, stabilizing, and concretizing and playing a huge practical role in social stability. At the same time, the reason why such relief measures could continue and develop in the Joseon Dynasty is due to the role of Confucianism philosophy, especially after the introduction of Zhu Xi’s Neo-Confucianism. It consistently spurred the rulers of the Joseon Dynasty to work towards the governance goal of governing by nurturing the people, allowing the charitable relief system to be fully executed and played out. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the relief measures in the context of the Confucianism philosophy in the Korean peninsula with a positive and affirmative attitude, in order to further reveal the unique humanistic spirit embodied in East Asian traditional culture during times of crisis.

Discovering golden ratio in the world’s first five-agent network in ancient China

The world’s first five-agent network, also called Wuxing network in ancient China, had been fully established in the second century BC. Surprisingly, the key to cracking the operation of Wuxing network is the golden ratio, the world’s most astonishing number originating from ancient Greece. Wuxing network is composed of five agents located on the vertices of a pentagon such that adjacent agents cooperate with each other, while spaced-apart agents oppose each other. Although it was proposed more than 2000 years ago, it is still an unparalleled network operation protocol. This article reveals the role of the golden ratio in the balance and stability of Wuxing network, and demonstrates how to detect the golden ratio experimentally in Wuxing electronic circuits and in Wuxing formation flight of drones.

The Characteristics of Rituals and Their Imprint on Chinese Culture

Abstract The concept of li (rites) in ancient China encompasses three levels of meaning, namely: the rituals and ceremonies themselves, moral ethics, and a system of political hierarchy. While these three levels are related to each other, they each carry specific characteristics. When people today discuss issues such as the origins of rites, they rarely analyze the concept of rites according to these different levels, thus causing the topic at hand to be vague, ambiguous, and inchoate. In most research, both “rites” and the “rituals” refer specifically to the level of the ritual per se. “Rites” include both folk rituals and state rituals, the latter of which refers to what is commonly termed the “rituals,” that is, the part of rites with state background and political coercion. The fundamental difference between the rituals and other statutes and institutions lies in rituals’ performative, symbolic, and standardized nature. Their performative and symbolic nature bestowed upon the rites a special significance and publicity function which transcend everyday life. At the same time, their standardized and formulaic nature made these rites highly organized and institutionalized, while allowing them to reinforce the social and political hierarchy. The highly mature rituals in ancient China allowed both characteristics of these rituals to be developed to their fullest, thus giving rise to Chinese culture’s emphasis on performance and form.

A Review of the Influence of the Ancient Silk Road on Ancient and Modern China

A Review of the Influence of the Ancient Silk Road on Ancient and Modern China

Playing culture of Ancient China

The relevance of the research lies in the growing interest of formation the culture of Ancient China, that has been continuously developing for 5 thousand years. Chinese ethnicity created a unique type of gaming culture, which differs from other nations' gaming culture. Social ethics of the game and administrative practice always played a bigger role in China than mysticism and individual search for salvation. Live for life's sake but not for bliss in other world or salvation from suffering. The aim of the research is to find out the role and place of moving game in the upbringing of the younger generation in the general system of Ancient China gaming culture. Results of the research. Characteristic features of the Chinese culture game could be seen in the traditionalism, ritual and game ceremony, which included fixed norms of behavior, thinking and acting. The foundation of the rational game culture was laid on the basis of the cult of antiquity. The ritualized game ethics formed the traditional Chinese game culture. First of all the Ancient China philosophy was based on the physical human being, the body of which constantly had to be developed and improved. Uniting with nature is the way leading a man to a higher level of his physical and spiritual purity. Conclusions. Body as a part of nature was a dominant worldview of that epoch. That's why a key to life for the sake of life consisted in physical education and self-improvement combined with pragmatism and rationalism. So, physical education in Ancient China developed from the point of view of expediency and priority of a living organism.