Chinese Terms Research Articles

Global aspirations of Chinese universities: towards a world-centred tianxia (all under heaven) imaginary of global higher education?

AbstractThis article explores the global aspirations of Chinese universities by examining the Chinese scholarly conceptualisation of guoji yingxiangli (literally meaning international influence) and its connection to the world-centred idea of tianxia. We interviewed 22 Chinese experts in education and conducted a documentary analysis of relevant Chinese academic publications. Findings show that there is no English equivalence of the Chinese term guoji yingxiangli of universities, which encompasses two aspects: the intrinsic capacity of universities and their external reputation and relations. Chinese universities’ agential pursuit of guoji yingxiangli embodies their commitment to both national ambitions and global common good. The study then argues that the world-centred tianxia imaginary, characterised by interdependency, reciprocity, and diversity, is more effective in explaining the higher education practices and relations in China and globally than methodological globalism or nationalism. It also highlights the need for further research and critical reflections on the tianxia imaginary while calling for reciprocal collaboration, diverse and mutual development, and the production of global common goods among worldwide universities.

The introduction of the concept of anxiety into China: a thematic historical study.

This article presents a thematic historical study on the introduction of "anxiety" to modern China. Based on seminal research conducted previously by European scholars on histories of psychological and psychiatric concepts, this article reviews the itinerary of "anxiety" to China by using multiple types of textual evidence. Alongside a detailed description of how "anxiety" was translated and introduced, a comparison between the notions of "anxiety" in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western psychoanalytic approaches was made. The processes of how "depression" and "anxiety" were introduced to China were also compared. Three types of textual evidence were meticulously analyzed. First, lexicographical works published since the 19th century were examined to trace the initial introduction and observe the standardized translation of "anxiety" in Chinese. Second, newspaper and periodical articles were analyzed to understand how knowledge of "anxiety" was communicated to the general public. Third, the evolution of psychological and psychiatric terminologies was observed through medical books. It was found that "anxiety" was initially translated into various Chinese terms, with "jiaolyu" eventually emerging as the standardized term after 1949. The textual evidence showed that "anxiety" began to be acknowledged as a disease concept in the early 20th century, though it was not formally recognized as a diagnostic category until the late 20th century. This article also highlights the differences between the Western psychoanalytic view on anxiety and the Chinese folk conception of it. It was observed that the introduction processes of depression and anxiety to China were similar, though their conceptual histories in the West showed much difference. The fading of neurasthenia marked a new era of psychiatric development in China, characterized by an enhanced specificity in the classification of mental disorders, which was never observed in the discourse about "xin feng," a corresponding TCM notion of "anxiety." The article also underscores the need for further exploration of corresponding TCM concepts of "anxiety" and the assimilation of Western psychiatric concepts in China.

A Comparative Perspective of “Engaged Buddhism” and “Renjian Fojiao” (“Humanistic Buddhism”) in Chinese Speaking Discourse: Exclusivism, Inclusivism, or Pragmatism?

The two modern concepts, “Engaged Buddhism” and renjian fojiao 人間佛教, with the variety of its English translations (such as “Humanistic Buddhism”), were developed and discussed with and without reference to each other over several decades. This article raises the question of how “Engaged Buddhism” has been portrayed in the Chinese-speaking world. It therefore reflects on a hybrid conceptual history and distinguishes between “concept-unaffected” and “concept-affected” (“concept-affirming”, “concept-negating”, and “concept-corresponding”) positionings in the Buddhist world, as well as a “concept-distancing” and “concept-processing” scholarship of Buddhist studies. The concept of “Engaged Buddhism” has been rendered with various Chinese terms in mainland China and Taiwan, e.g., “rushi fojiao” 入世佛教 (Buddhism that Enters the World), “canyu fojiao” 參與佛教 (Participatory Buddhism), and “zuoyi fojiao” 左翼佛教 (Left-Wing Buddhism). As can be seen from a rich body of sources, its discussion among Chinese-speaking Buddhists and scholars increased over the past twenty years and has been strongly characterized by comparisons with “renjian fojiao”, which can lead to different currents, such as exclusivism, inclusivism, and pragmatism.

Homeland social media as a field of negotiation: Creative strategies of China’s Wanghong in Japan

This article investigates how China’s Wanghong (a Chinese term referring to online influencers’) in Japan engage in cultural and economic practices through transnational homeland social media. Particular attention is given to the characteristics of how they utilise Chinese social media and the ways in which pressures emanating from the homeland-media environment have moulded their distinctive approaches to participating in media practices. Combining qualitative and quantitative methodologies, the data on which this research is based consists of China’s statistical data concerning Wanghong, empirical data generated from interviews with nine China’s Wanghong in Japan, and online participant observations of their media practices. The results of this study reveal that Wanghong must contend with the deep-rooted Sino-Japanese hostilities in the patriotic context of homeland media, as they are largely dependent on Chinese advertisers for their financial resources. Consequently, homeland media becomes a field of negotiation where Wanghong cope with environmental pressures and negotiate their identities and actions, with identity performance and placemaking serving as the creative-compromise strategies they adopt.

Meta-analysis of clinical outcomes of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy and classical open partial nephrectomy.

Robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) has emerged as a promising alternative to classical partial nephrectomy (CPN). This study aimed to compare the outcomes of RAPN and CPN for treating localized renal tumors through a meta-analysis of available literature. Chinese databases, such as CNKI, Chinese Science and Technology Periodicals Database (VIP), and Wanfang Full-text Database, were searched using Chinese search terms, and all published articles on PubMed and Web of Science were searched using English search terms. Articles on Localized Renal Tumors were included. RevMan5.3 software was used for meta-analysis. The funnel plots were drawn using Stata software to assess publication bias. This study aimed to identify the differences between robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy and classic partial nephrectomy in patients with localized renal tumors. In total, 67 articles with 17677 patients were included. The results demonstrate the advantages of RAPN over CPN for localized renal tumors. Compared to CPN and RAPN had significant differences in intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay duration, incidence of perioperative complications, and proportion of patients requiring blood transfusion. Regarding surgical outcomes, RAPN showed more favorable results regarding the incidence of positive resection margins, postoperative decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), postoperative local recurrence rate, and proportion of Trifecta achieved. However, there was no significant difference between RAPN and CPN regarding 5-year tumor-specific survival rates. The study suggests that robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy is a viable alternative to classic surgery for renal tumors. The strengths of this study are the use of a comprehensive search strategy and the inclusion of studies published in both English and Chinese. The limitations of this study are the small sample size and the need for long-term follow-up data. RAPN and CPN have similar overall survival outcomes for treating localized renal tumors. However, RAPN may offer advantages in terms of perioperative outcomes and preservation of renal function. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to identify the optimal surgical approach for individual patients.

Transliteration in the Translation of The Classic of Tea: Problems and Solutions

The Classic of Tea, authored by the Tea Sage Lu Yu, encompasses over 400 entries related to tea names, names of tea utensils, personal names, place names, dynastic titles, titles of literary works, Chinese units of measurement, and other uniquely Chinese terms such as the Five Elements and the Bagua. During translation, it is often challenging to find exact lexical equivalents for these names in the target language, necessitating the use of phonetic transliteration. Phonetic transliteration is a common method in the translation of Chinese classics. However, improper use of phonetic transliteration can present reading difficulties for readers, impede subsequent cultural exchange, and is particularly problematic in works like The Classic of Tea, which require extensive use of this method. This paper examines the application of phonetic transliteration in the English translation of The Classic of Tea from the perspective of reader comprehension. It identifies issues such as excessive use of transliteration, difficulties for Western readers in pronunciation, and ambiguity in reference. To address these issues, strategies such as reducing transliteration, adjusting information layout, re-annotating phonetically, adding Chinese characters, and inserting hyperlinked audio files are proposed. These strategies aim to alleviate the reading burden and enhance the effectiveness of phonetic transliteration.

Deploying the “Ordinary Wisdom” of Confucius: Khenpo Sodargye’s teaching on the Analects to Chinese practitioners

ABSTRACT Khenpo Sodargye is one of the key second-generation Tibetan Buddhist leaders at Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, who has been highly influential in transmitting the teachings of the Nyingma lineage to Chinese lay and monastic practitioners. Fundamental to this transmission is his ‘translation’ – in both linguistic and cultural terms – of the Tibetan tradition through the medium of both traditional and modern Chinese culture. Khenpo teaches Tibetan Buddhism to Chinese followers often using Chinese cultural terms and historiography, yet draws these into the Tibetan Buddhist, and specifically Nyingma lineage, normalising them with parallels already found in the Tibetan tradition. This cumulative ‘Eastern’ religiosity he sets up in oppositional terms to ‘Western’ modern influences which have led to a decline in values in modern China. One such example of using Chinese culture in this manner is his teaching on the Analects (Lunyu), which this paper seeks to explore.

Особенности китайских экономических терминов и их перевода на русский язык

This article is devoted to the problems of Chinese terminology, which appeared relatively recently, as well as the translation of Chinese economic terms. The aim of the research is to identify the characteristics of Chinese economic terms and find the best ways to translate them into Russian. The study involved analyzing 942 economic terms from 115 Chinese media texts. These terms were then classified based on two key criteria: their form and their partial affiliation. The scientific novelty lies in difingn these criteria which are crucial for understanding the nature of Chinese economic terms and can significantly impact the choice of translation method when rendering them into Russian. This approach represents a significant advance in the field, as previous classifications of Chinese (non-economic) terms only focused on word formation and did not consider other important factors. By considering both form and partial affiliation, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the terms and make more accurate translations. The results showed that 98% of Chinese economic terms are word combinations that reach up to 12 components, in other words, hieroglyphs, in the composition (the most common are two-component ones), between which attributive and copulative types of relations are distinguished. When translating such multicomponent terms into Russian through various translation transformations, in most cases they formally correspond to one lexeme, which does not always reflect the completeness of the meaning (semantic, stylistic, pragmatic). Therefore, the depth of perception of Chinese economic reality would help to convey the inclusion of a linguistic and cultural commentary from the translator due to significant differences in the economy, culture and mentality of the two countries.

On Translating the Names of Harem Offices in Tang China (618–907) into Russian

Analysis and attempt to precisely translate the traditional Chinese administrative terms into Russian can be very interesting and fruitful for the understanding of the basic concepts of Chinese culture. Each title more or less explicitly encodes general ideas about the social functions of an institution or office and about the supposed ways to perform these functions. Of special interest are those cases when it is impossible to find a close Western functional analogue for the name and, therefore, it is impossible to simply replace the Chinese term with a Western one instead of trans­lati ng it. In cases cases, each name just was the function. The name is an extremely concise symbolic, allegorical description of the ideal concepts about the tasks that the state sets for this institution or official, and, at the same time, of the ideal concepts about the methods by which these tasks will be implemented. Having understood the name, we get an idea of both the task and the method. Interesting examples of such names are the positions of the female staff of the institution that we traditionally call the imperial harem.

Reconsidering the Term Dai 待 in Zhuangzi 莊子

Developing from Laozi’s ideals of non-action and naturalness, the ultimate goal in Zhuangzi’s philosophy is a state of xiaoyao 逍遥 (free and easy). This is often also described with the Chinese term wudai 無待, variously understood to mean “not depend on anything”, “depend on the ten thousand things”, or “depend on Dao 道”. This confusing expression has sparked a long and considerable debate. However, upon revisiting the original text, it becomes evident that Zhuangzi’s key expression is not wudai but rather dai 待 (depend on). I argue that the crucial phrase bi qie wuhu dai zai 彼且惡乎待哉 (not depend on anything, or, what can you depend on?) cannot simply be glossed with wudai, as it often is, but instead hints at the way one can become free and easy. This statement entails two interconnected inquiries: what to depend on and how to depend on it. The answer to both relates to Heaven. It is what we must depend on and this “depending” on Heaven can be divided into internally depending on one’s own self-transformative nature and externally depending on one’s relationship with Heaven. How we properly depend on Heaven involves realizing an interdependent relationship with Heaven that is seemingly non-interdependent, something only made possible by our full participation in hua 化 (transformation).

Object-control and human-control in the development of sustainable innovation: exploring the interactions among epistemic objects, Guanxi network and knowledge integration of “who knows what”

Purpose This study aims to explore how coworkers leverage epistemic objects and guanxi (a Chinese term defining relationships based on mutual dependence) network to promote knowledge integration of “who knows what” in the development of sustainable innovation. Design/methodology/approach This study used a mixed-methods research approach, including quantitative questionnaires, social network analyses and a qualitative ethnography, all of which were collected from a large enterprise in China. Findings Epistemic objects can promote knowledge integration of “who knows what” among coworkers during their innovation development process. In addition, structural holes in a coworker network will impede knowledge integration of “who knows what,” but guanxi can turn this impeding effect into a facilitating effect. Research limitations/implications First, the focus on the role of epistemic objects in eliciting knowledge generates implications for creating employee identity and coordinating knowledge heterogeneity. Second, by demonstrating how epistemic objects trigger both affective and cognitive trust to promote knowledge integration of “who knows what,” the authors complement existing studies of knowledge management (KM). Third, by presenting how coworkers fill their structural holes in their collaborative innovation, the study reveals the nature of connecting the appropriate resources with the appropriate needs, which generates implications for social capital integration and innovation enhancement. Fourth, by showing how “structural hole controllers” become “structural hole fillers” under different conditions, the authors recognize the different ways in which brokers leverage their structural holes and highlight the unique role of Chinese guanxi culture in triggering a structural hole filling behavior, thereby contributing to the literature of structural hole theory and culture management. Fifth, by creating a full picture of how coworkers strategically leverage their knowledge of “who knows what” in the development of sustainable innovation, the authors identify the influential factor that stimulates innovation, adding to the literature on the interaction between KM and innovation. Sixth, the emphasis on the independent role of epistemic objects produces an implication for the interplay between object-control and human-control in innovation work. Practical implications This study supports organizational leaders to make optimal decisions in their innovation development process by suggesting them to invest in developing an integrated knowledge of “who knows what.” To achieve it, the authors suggest managers make good use of non-human artifacts to gain the identification with the knowledge of not only themselves but also the whole team, and award the “integrator” an honor for filling structural holes that may trigger the creation of more structural hole fillers. Furthermore, the focus on the independent role of epistemic objects as knowledge elicitors and trust triggers in innovation work generates another practical implication for managers to rethink the controlling role of objects and humans in the organization and modify their managerial practices accordingly. Originality/value By exploring how coworkers leverage epistemic objects and guanxi network to promote knowledge integration of “who knows what” in the development of sustainable innovation, this study reveals the role of object-control and human-control in facilitating knowledge practices for stimulating innovation, thereby contributing to the literature of KM and innovation.

China’s grand strategy within 21st-century megatrends

The main aim of this study is to identify possible components of China’s grand strategy and check how they can influence global megatrends. Based on a literature review, four grand strategy components are identified: 1) building up military power, 2) consolidating power at the peripheries and pushing for more control over disputed territories, 3) expanding economic influence through the Belt and Road Initiative, and 4) establishing new standards in digital technologies and promoting cyber sovereignty. These strategic tools can directly affect the following megatrends that are commonly mentioned in the literature: shift of economic power, emerging markets, new economic order; digitalisation; globalisation; deglobalization, trade reduction; diversity of governance, trust in the political system; and scarce resources. Using data taken from Google Trends it is shown that in the 2004-2023 period the trends of Chinese grand strategy terms correlate most with terms that represent the following three megatrends: digitalisation, globalisation, and scarce resources.

Transwriting in Aleni’s Xingxue cushu: communicating the philosophy of human nature between the West and late Ming China

ABSTRACT Giulio Aleni’s Xingxue cushu 性學觕述 (A Brief Introduction to the Study of Human Nature, 1623–1646) was a product of an ambitious project by the Jesuits in China to introduce Aristotle's natural philosophy to Chinese literati. The book, originally from the Cursus Conimbricensis (1592-1606), shows a good example of the interactions between transmitter and receptor in the encounter of Western culture with Chinese culture. This paper explores Aleni's linguistic strategy for placing Western concepts of human nature in dialogue with traditional Chinese thought. It argues that the work's favourable reception among Chinese scholars was due to Aleni's use of translation principles that anticipate transwriting. Namely, instead of direct translation Aleni adapted the text for his Chinese readers by rewriting partly, adding his own responses, borrowing Chinese classical terms and creatively interpreting these terms, quoting many Chinese classical allusions, and employing Chinesestyle arguments. These linguistic tools Aleni used facilitate the reader's understanding and acceptance of the Western philosophy of human nature. His linguistic success on communication between the two thoughts on human nature helps us redefine the concept of transwriting and find an in-between space for a rational philosophic and religious dialogue between China and the West.

An Analysis of Jargon used by Asian Comic Writers

This research aims to find out the jargon used by comic writers as a social group. This research was applying the qualitative descriptive method to collect data. The method used to analyze the meaning and function of jargon is descriptive analysis which is visible in each paragraph. Collecting data was carried out by finding out the jargon on Asian comics such as manga, manhwa, and manhua on the website. The results of this research show the meaning and function of jargon used by comic writers. Jargon is a variety of language which is used by certain social groups or professions and is not understood by other groups. Research regarding the use of jargon in Asian comics can be conclude that jargon is used by comic writers to describe their work. The jargon found is in the form of words, phrases, acronyms, and abbreviations. The function of jargon used by comic writers is to identify and describe the word. This research proves that the use of jargon is not only in other communities but also in the comic writing community. The weakness of this research is that some comics still use Chinese, Korean, and Japanese terms. This is because there are no equivalent English words that is suitable to describe it. The words are dantian, qi, and mana. Researcher hope this writing can be a reference for future researchers to do a researching in other aspects of comics relate with linguistics or language learning media. Keywords: Asian Comics, Comics Writer, Jargon, Language Variety, Sociolinguistic

Chinese Re-Examinations of Russia? The Strategic Partnership in the Wake of Russia’s War Against Ukraine

ABSTRACT This article asks whether Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has prompted a reevaluation within the Chinese expert community on China’s strategic partnership with Russia. This article examines how Chinese experts and academics assess the impact of the war on the partnership and Russia’s future role for China with regard to: security and military affairs; economy and technology; and global governance and regional interaction. Chinese analysts recognize that the war has put China in a difficult situation. Several voices express caution and calls to avoid becoming too closely associated with Moscow are prevalent, not least as Chinese experts view China and Russia diverging in the future on issues concerning the global order. Moreover, Russia’s development prospects are considered dim, which in turn affects the potential for concrete cooperation with China. Chinese assessments advocate for selective engagement with Russia, largely on Chinese terms as the balance of power continues to shift in China’s favor. Nonetheless, this article finds that the Chinese expert community overall assesses that the basic tenet for maintaining the strategic partnership remains unchanged. Crucially, under current US global dominance, Russia is considered a key partner to jointly counter-balance American global power and regional influence.

TERMINOLOGY IN CHINESE MILITARY TECHNICAL TERMS: AN ANALYSIS

The study of military technical terms in Chinese is essential for understanding the linguistic and semantic frameworks that underpin military communication and documentation in China. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the terminology used in Chinese military technical contexts, exploring its historical development, linguistic characteristics, and the challenges associated with translation and interpretation. Through a detailed examination of specific terms and their applications, this study highlights the complexities and nuances of Chinese military terminology, offering insights for linguists, translators, and military professionals.

A LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF CHINESE MILITARY TECHNICAL TERMS

The study of military technical terms is essential for understanding the evolution of military science and technology. Chinese military terminology has a long and complex history that reflects the development of Chinese military strategy, tactics, and technology. This article explores the historical evolution of Chinese military technical terms, tracing their origins, development, and impact on modern military lexicon. By examining ancient texts, historical records, and contemporary usage, this study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the linguistic and cultural significance of Chinese military technical terms.

A lexical and contrastive analysis of zì字

Today, one of the most essential Chinese linguistic terms related to writing, zì 字, is translated into English and other western languages as “character”. This article points out the terminological and conceptual problem related to this translation as soon as one is entering the field of precise linguistic analysis. By analysing the lexical development of the term from pre-Qin documents, the Shuō wén jiě zì dictionary, to modern times and the introduction of cí “word”, it shows that zì 字 was never limited to graphs nor graphemes. It introduces the way zì 字 was used to describe the Indian writing systems around the fifth century, and how it was understood outside China: in Asia, by those who borrowed the Chinese writing, and in Europe, by the first missionaries.

The Translation of Sound from the Postcolonial Perspective: A Case Study of the English Translation of Sandalwood Death Written by Mo Yan

Mo Yan, as the first Chinese Nobel Laureate in Literature, holds significant importance in the overseas dissemination of his translated works. The intentional retreating of Sandalwood Death writing makes it a unique narrative where characters, folklore, and culture weave together in a polyphonic tapestry of the era. Drawing upon post-colonial translation theory, this analysis delves into Howard Goldblatt's English translation of Sandalwood Death, focusing on the translation and retransmission of sound embodied in characters (narrative translation of characters), folklore (translation of idioms and proverbs), and culture (terms, Maoqiang). The study suggests that the translator employs a plethora of estrangement strategies, reflecting an overall trend of post-colonial translation. Many Chinese cultural terms seamlessly integrate into Western discourse, illustrating the potential for establishing a balanced discourse between East and West. This investigation explores the nuanced interplay of voices, unraveling how translation choices contribute to a broader discourse of cultural equality and understanding in the context of post-colonial translation.

‘Bookish’ Borrowings and Novelty in a Chinese-Christian Manuscript from Dunhuang

The trade routes of late antique and early medieval Eurasia conducted far more than goods. Exchanges occurred between a number of prominent book cultures with origins or, at least, ties to the Indian, Iranian and Chinese worlds. A Christian scroll (Pelliot chinois 3847) discovered in the famed Library Cave near Dunhuang is the product of such interactions in both its materiality and its written content. This Chinese manuscript of East Syriac Christians bears three texts, at least some of which were composed during the late eighth century of the Tang period (618–907). This article focuses on three terms used in the postscript of P.3847. Although a relatively well-known Dunhuang manuscript, the ‘bookish’ terminology of the postscript deserves consideration in its own right; this includes the only known occurrence of the Chinese term bei pijia 貝皮夾. From this study, insight is gained into both the semantic depth of these Chinese terms and the Christian appropriation of them.