中国智慧-文化面面观 课件 UNIT 2 Chinese Scholars and National

UNIT2ChineseScholarsandNationalcharacterLearningObjectivesWhatisnationalCharacter?BiographyofGuHongminandLinYutang123Whatispsychologicalface?Inthelastanalysis,ournationalfuturedependsuponournationalcharacter,thatis,whetheritisspirituallyormateriallyminded. --RogerBabsonWatchyourthoughts;theybecomewords.Watchyourwords;theybecomeactions.Watchyouractions;theybecomecharacter.Watchyourcharacter;itbecomesdestiny.--ZhuangZi积思成言，积言成行，积行成习，积习成性，积性成命WarmingupWhatisthemeaningofnationalcharacter?WhoisLinYutang?WhoisGuHongming?WhendidLinYutangpublishhisfirstbook?WhatlanguagesdidGuHongmingspeak?

TheCharacterofChinesePeople

Atthedawnof19thcentury,JamesWatteffectivelyimprovedhissteamenginewhichnotonlyignitedthefireofindustryrevolutionbutpropelledthegiantvesselsofmigrants,traders,slavetrafficdealersandsoldiers.Thefirstcontactswithforeigntribesorcitizensonforeignsoilorislandsmusthavebeenaneerieexperiencefromwhichanassortmentofsentimentswelledup.Theunintelligentlanguage,outlandishcostumes,ridiculouscustoms,bizarrefolkloresand“absurd”beliefmusthavefilledtheearlyroamerswithshockedamazementandconfusingtrepidation.Thiscuriousothernesssoongaveabirthtothecrazeofdebateoverracialtraitsandnationalcharacter.JohnBullorJohnSmithandUncleSamwerecharacterizedcomicallyinvariousdocumentsandliteraryworks.Mr.Bullwasashopkeeperwithatophat.Hehadwell-developedbody,fairlydevelopedmind,andundevelopedheart.ItdawnedonOscarWildethatUncleSam,comfortablydressedandwitha“dreadfulchimney-pothat”,alwaysworeanairofcomfortintheappearance.ThesameobserverwanderedintoChinaTown“peopledbystrange,melancholy”Chinesecoolies,andfoundthatthoselaborersweredrinking“teaoutofChinacupsasdelicateasthepetals”ofroseleaves.TheChinesebillwas“madeoutonricepaper(宣纸),theaccountbeingdoneinIndianinkasfantasticallyasifanartistbeenetchinglittlebirdsonafan”.NotonlywasMr.WildewatchingtheChinesewithcuriosity.InthefollowingyearafterhepublishedhisImpressionsofAmericainwhichthe“Orientals”heencounteredonthatidleafternoonwerecalledartists,ArthurHSmith,aretiredmissionarywhohaddwelledinChinafor54years,producedhisChineseCharacteristics,acollectionofcomical,sarcasticessays.ThebookdwellsuponsomebadmannersandloathsomepracticesheidentifiedindailylifeofChinesepeopleinthelastdecadesofQingDynasty.ThefirstessayisaboutChinesepsychologicalface.AsaChinaexpertwhoknewwellChineselanguage,hemadefulluseofthemultiplemeaningsofTai(台)toemphasizehispoints.TheChinesecharacterusuallyreferstoanerectedstructureofearthorwood,asitisin月台、讲台(platform)or舞台(stage)，butitmaybeusedasarespectfuladdressinsuchphrasalnounsas台鉴、台览(yourperusalofaletter)，台教(youradvice)and谨遵台命(obeyyourinstructions).DuetoChina’sunusual“theatrical”enthusiasm,ArthurassumedthatChinesewereactorsonthestageandinthereallifeandfeltoffendediftheyhadn’t“gotoffthestagewithcredit”.Itwouldbeveryunwisetothwarttheirperformanceofbeingaself-importanthero.ThesociallifeinChinawasthereforeapurematterofcomputinganddistributingthevalueofface.IfafaceofaChinesewereproperlyvaluedandsaved,hewoulddoyouafavornexttimebypubliclydefendingyourfragileself-respect.Likeapebbledroppedintoaserenelake,thecircularrippleswouldtravelafar.Twoopposingbattlearraysweresoonformed,eachstandingreadyforfightingforChineseface.Amongthoseeloquentscholar-sophistsintheRepublicofChina(1911-1949),twoFujianese,GuHongmingandLinYutanghadarrestedmostattentionofChinesenationals.Plaitinghishairattheback,Mr.GuwasperhapsthestaunchestdefenderofChineseface.InhisessayArthurSmithinChina,thedefender,whoalsospokeGermanywithfacility,quotedfromGothetheremarktotheeffectthatphilistinestendedtoimposetheirlifestyleuponotherpeoples.ThisphilistinebeliefofcourserancountertoGu’sConfucianfaithwhosedoctrinesdissuadedpeoplefromimposinguponotherswhattheythemselvesdidnotwant.HeaddedthatJohnSmithhadbeenstrivingforbeingsuperiortootherethnicgroups,andArthurSmithwasnowofferingconcoctedevidencetoprovethatwildhypothesis.TheconcealedintentionofwritingsuchabookwastodiscreditChinesepeople.Mr.Guwasateacher,andwheneverhewasneededtofightforChineseface,heimmediatelyassumedaninstructivetone.“Hewasamanofcharacter”,saidMaugham,oneofthegreatestEnglishessayists,whenhisinvitationmetaflatrefusal.Hethendecidedtopayavisittothat“cross-grainedoldfellow”inahutofChengDu.He[Gu]wasanoldman,tall,withathingreyqueue,andbrightlargeeyesunderwhichwereheavybags.Histeethwerebrokenanddiscolored.Hewasexceedinglythin,andhishands,fineandsmall,werewitheredandclaw-like.….Hewasveryshabbilydressedinablackgown,alittlebackcap,bothmuchtheworseforwear,anddarkgreytrousersgarteredattheankle.Hewaswatching.Buttheordinary-look,decrepitoldmanwasa“polemistandafighter”,hetalkedvehementlyaboutthecanonsofConfuciusandbitterlyupbraidedtheoverseasstudentswhoreturnedto“teardowntheoldestcivilizationwithsacrilegioushand”.Heassertedtothevisitorthat“whenyoulivedincavesandclothedyourselfwithskins,wewereaculturedpeople”.AgreatdealofChinesefacewassaved!LinYutang,Gu’sjuniorcountryfolk,observedthatGuwas“acrankbutnotabore,forhewasafirst-classmindandhehad,aboveall,insightanddepththatnomaninmygenerationhad.NomaninChinawroteEnglishthewayhedid”.Likehisseniorby30yearswhoseancestralhouselayalsointheneighborhood,LinYutanginvolvedhimselfinthediscussionof“Chineseface”withtheessayWhatIsFace.Unlikehissenior,whodefendedChinesefacebynegatingArthur’squalificationforthedebateontheissue,heaffirmedthedistressingsymptomoftheChinese’stheatricalattitudeandfurtherpointedoutthatnotuntilDameFacewasdeportedfromthecountrywouldthefavorandprivilegethathadaccordedsmallminorityberevoked.Mr.Lincertainlyknewthatlosingfacewasanembarrassedorevenhumiliatedexperience,butifsavingfaceonlyprolongedaninherentevil,thenthecostoflosingfacemustbepaid.Evidently,thetwoscholarshadbeenfightingforChinesefaceintheirownways.Despitetheirdistinctiveapproaches,thetwoscholarsofFujianoriginhadmuchmoreincommonthantheyhaddifferences.Theybothhadanabsolutesenseofmissionwhichenabledthemtocometothedefenseoftheirnativeland.Linexpressedhisacademicaspirationinacouplet:

Straddletwocultures,eastandwest. Evaluateallwritings,eachandevery.Lin’sprivatepursuitofacademicperfectionwasdefinitelyGu’slifegoal,andbothhadachievedittoaremarkabledegree.GuwasanaturalspeakerofEnglish,Chinese,GermanandFrench,andunderstoodItalian,Greek,Latin,JapaneseandMalay.Lin’sEnglishcollectionofcomicessays,TheImportanceofLiving,stayedatthetopoftheNewYorkTimesbest-sellerlistfor52consecutiveweeks.Theywerebothpatrioticheroesintheirowngenerations,andbecauseofthem,aseaofChinesefaceshavebrightened.JamesWatt-Scottishengineerandinventorwhoseimprovementsinthesteamengineledtoitswideuseinindustry(1736-1819)backig·nit·ed,ig·nit·ing,ig·nites

v.tr.1.a.Tocausetoburn:Thesparkplugignitesthefuel.b.Tosetfireto:faultywiringignitedtheattic.2.a.Toarousethepassionsof;excite:Theinsultsignitedmyanger.b.Tobringaboutorprovokesuddenly;stirup:Thenewsreportignitedacontroversy.r.Tobegintoburn:hadtroublegettingthewettindertoignite.backpro·pelled,pro·pel·ling,pro·pels

1.Tocausetomoveforwardoronward.SeeSynonymsatpush.2.Tocausetodeveloporprogress:

amisunderstandingthatpropelsthestoryforward.backee·rieoree·ry

adj.

ee·ri·er,ee·ri·est

1.Inspiringinexplicablefear,dread,oruneasiness;strangeandfrightening.SeeSynonymsatweird.2.ScotsFrightenedorintimidatedbysuperstition.Backassortment-acollectioncontainingavarietyofsortsofthings;"agreatassortmentofcarswasondisplay";"hehadavarietyofdisorders";"averitablesmorgasbordofreligions"Backwellup-comeup(asoffeelingsandthoughts,orotherthings);"Strongemotionswelledup"Backtrepidation(ˌtrɛpɪˈdeɪʃən)n1.astateoffearoranxiety2.aconditionofquakingorpalpitation,esponecausedbyanxietyBackcraze(kreɪz)n1.ashort-livedcurrentfashion2.awildorexaggeratedenthusiasm:acrazeforchestnuts.3.(Psychiatry)mentaldisturbance;insanityBackJohnBullorJohnSmith1.ApersonificationofEnglandortheEnglish.2.AtypicalEnglishman.Back

BackUncleSam

(săm)n.1.ThegovernmentoftheUnitedStates,oftenpersonifiedbyarepresentationofatall,thinmanhavingawhitebeardandwearingabluetailcoat,red-and-white-stripedtrousers,andatallhatwithabandofstars:"intentongivingstatesgreaterincentivetosaveboththeirdollarsandUncleSam's"

(NewYorkTimes).2.TheAmericannationoritspeople.Backchar·ac·ter·ize

tr.v.

character·ized,character·iz·ing,1.Todescribethequalitiesorpeculiaritiesof:characterizedthewardenasruthless.2.Tobeadistinctivetraitormarkof;distinguish:therashandhighfeverthatcharacterizethisdisease;aregionthatischaracterizedbyitsdikesandcanals.BackTheChinesebillwas“madeoutonricepaper(宣纸),theaccountbeingdoneinIndianinkasfantasticallyasifanartistbeenetchinglittlebirdsonafan”.

中餐馆的菜谱“也是宣纸做的，他们用印度墨水记账，精美得就像是艺术家在扇子上雕刻小鸟一样。Backthwart

tr.v.

thwart·ed,thwart·ing,thwarts

1.Topreventtheoccurrence,realization,orattainmentof:Theythwartedherplans.2.Toopposeanddefeattheefforts,plans,orambitionsof(someone).比较"WhatultimatelyfrustratedeverychallengerwasRuth'samazingSeptembersurge";"foilyouropponent"Backfrag·ile

adj.1.Easilybroken,damaged,ordestroyed.2.Lackingphysicaloremotionalstrength;delicate:afragilepersonality.3.Lackingsubstance;tenuousorflimsy:afragileclaimtofame.Backarray-anorderlyarrangement;"anarrayoftroopsinbattleorder"BackNoun1.Sophist-anyofagroupofGreekphilosophersandteachersinthe5thcenturyBCwhospeculatedonawiderangeofsubjectsphilosopher-aspecialistinphilosophy2.sophist-someonewhosereasoningissubtleandoftenspeciousPhilistine(ˈfɪlɪˌstaɪn)n1.apersonwhoisunreceptivetoorhostiletowardsculture,thearts,etc;asmugboorishperson2.(Peoples)amemberofthenon-SemiticpeoplewhoinhabitedancientPhilistiabackbackThephrase“子所不欲，勿施于人”isaChinesemoralprincipleattributedtoConfucius.ThisconceptissimilartotheGoldenRulefoundinmanyculturesandreligionsaroundtheworld,emphasizingtheimportanceofempathy,compassion,andtreatingotherswiththesamerespectandkindnessthatyouwouldwantforyourself.Inessence,thisphraseencouragespeopletoconsiderthefeelings,rights,andwell-beingofothersintheiractionsanddecisions.他是一个老师，身材高，有一条灰色的细辫子，明亮的大眼，眼睑下有很重的眼袋。他的牙已残缺且变色。他过度地瘦，手优美而小，干枯得像鸟爪。他穿着一件黑长衫，戴着一顶小黑帽，二者都已经破旧不堪，着一条灰色的裤子束在踝上。他在观望backbackdecrepit(dɪˈkrɛpɪt)adj1.enfeebledbyoldage;infirm2.brokendownorwornoutbyhardorlonguse;dilapidatedbackve·he·ment

adj.Characterizedbyforcefulnessofexpressionorintensityofemotionorconviction;fervid:avehementdenial.backupbraid-expresscriticismtowards;"Thepresidentreproachedthegeneralforhisirresponsiblebehavior“bringanaccusationagainst;levelachargeagainst;"Theneighborsaccusedthemanofspousalabuse"backsacrilegious(ˌsækrɪˈlɪdʒəs)adj1.of,relatingto,orinvolvingsacrilege;impious2.guiltyofsacrilegeˌsacriˈlegiously

advˌsacriˈlegiousness

nback“acrankbutnotabore,forhewasafirst-classmindandhehad,aboveall,insightanddepththatnomaninmygenerationhad.NomaninChinawroteEnglishthewayhedid”.“辜鸿铭是一个怪人，但不令人讨厌，因为他是有第一流才智的人，而且最重要的是他有见识与深度，不是在我时代中的人所能有的。没有一个在中国的人能像他一样用英文写作”。backde·port

(dĭ-pôrt′)tr.v.

de·port·ed,de·port·ing,de·ports

Toexpelfromacountry:deportedtheforeignerwhohadenteredthecountryillegally.2.Tobehaveorconduct(oneself)inagivenmanner;comport.backre•voke(rɪˈvoʊk)

v.-voked,-vok•ing,

n.v.t.1.totakebackorwithdraw;annulorcancel:torevokealicense.

2.tobringorsummonback.backcon·sec·u·tive

(kən-sĕk′yə-tĭv)adj.1.Followingoneafteranotherwithoutinterruption;successive:wasabsentonthreeconsecutivedays;wonfiveconsecutivegamesontheroad.2.Markedbylogicalsequence.3.GrammarExpressingconsequenceorresult:aconsecutiveclause.I.Choosethebestanswertoeachofthefollowingquestions.ThephraseFaceValueinthearticlerefersto_________.thevalueprintedonacoinorbanknotesuperficialsignificanceofathing.thedignityofnationalcharacterthevalueofagood-lookingface2.Accordingtothearticle,whatcausedthefadofdebateaboutnationalcharacter?A.Thequalityofbelongingtoanoutgroup.B.Thedifferentmythsofnations.C.Thedifferentstylesofclothing.D.Thedifferentlanguages.3.__________isapersonificationofEngland.UncleSamB.JohnBullC.WinstonChurchillD.Shakespeare4.Theunderlinedsentence“theyhadn’tgotoffthestagewithcredit”means_____________.theyhadrefrainedfromperformanceB.theirpsychologicalfaceshadn’tbeenproperlyrespectedC.theyhadnoideaastohowtogetoffthestageD.theyhadgotoffthestagelikeahero5.GuHongmingdeemedthattherealwritingpurposeofArthurSmith’sworkwas__________.A.toeulogizetheWesterners’lifestyleB.tocriticizetheWesterners’lifestyleC.todisgraceChinesepeopleD.tohelpChinesepeopleII.Givebriefanswerstothefollowingquestions.Whatisface?..Whatcanthepresent-daystudentsdotosaveChineseFaceI.TranslatethefollowingparagraphintoEnglish.爱尔兰作家奥斯卡·王尔德常打趣英国文化。英国人的天性是爱挑毛病，并动辄以英帝国的霸权地位恐吓人。尽管毛姆大概算得上是英国统治阶层的一员，但他却公开宣称支持批评英国的阵营。在《在中国屏风上》一书里，毛姆运用的主要批评策略可套用一条古老的英国谚语：“给他们想要的绳子，让他们吊死自己。”这些英国殖民者只一门心思地想要教化中国人，却完全忽略了自身的毛病，自我膨胀到了可怕的地步。爱尔兰作家奥斯卡·王尔德常打趣英国文化。英国人的天性是爱挑毛病，并动辄以英帝国的霸权地位恐吓人。Wilde,theIrishman,asever,subjectsBritishculturetoatongue-in-cheekribbing.ItisthelotoftheEnglishmantodiscernthefaultsofothernationsandtousehisimperialsupremacyasabullypulpit.尽管毛姆大概算得上是英国统治阶层的一员，但他却公开宣称支持批评英国的阵营。NotwithstandinghisownproximitytotheBritishrulingclasses,Maughamintimatesthatheendorsesthislineofcriticism.在《在中国屏风上》一书里，毛姆运用的主要批评策略可套用一条古老的英国谚语：“给他们想要的绳子，让他们吊死自己。ThemaintechniquedisplayedinOnaChineseScreenis—toquoteanoldproverb—“givethemenoughropeandtheywillhangthemselves”.这些英国殖民者只一门心思地想要教化中国人，却完全忽略了自身的毛病，自我膨胀到了可怕的地步。SofixatedarethecolonialistsuponeducatingandcivilizingtheChinesenativesthattheyutterlyoverlooktheirownflaws.AnOptimistLooksatChinaItisinthedirectionofabolishingnumerousevilsoftheoldtraditionthatChinahasachievedthegreatsuccessinthepastfewdecades.Shehassuccessfullyprohibitedthefoot-bidingwhichhasbeenaterriblecursetoChinesewomanhoodforatleastathousandyears.The(1)hasbeenoverthrown,andwithitaregoneallthoseinstitutionswhichforcenturieshavebeenits(2)_:hereditaryabsolutemonarchyparaphernaliatheimperialhouseholdwithitsunlimitednumberofwivesand(3),theinstitutionofeunuchism,the(4)borntopower,andmanyothers.WiththereformofChineselawandthereformoflegalprocedure,theancienttorturesandinhumanpunishmentswereabolished.Theopeningofnewschoolsmarkedthedisappearanceofthemechanicaland(5)formofliterarycomposition,knownasthe(6),whichhadbeenrequiredasthestandardforminallstateexaminations,andforthemasteryofwhichthebestyearsandenergiesofthewholeeducatedclassofthepastsixcenturieshadbeensacrificed.concubinesparasiticnobilityexactingOctopartiteTheseareafewofthemorefundamentaldeparturesfromtheoldtradition.Theyarenotmerelyisolateditemsofreform;theyare(7)_offundamentalchangesinattitudestowardthemostimportantphasesoflife.(8),forexample,wasnotmerelyanisolated(9)ofextremecrueltyandbrutality,butalsotheclearandundeniableevidenceofageneralattitudetowardwomanhoodwhichtencenturiesofnativereligionandmoralphilosophyhadfailedtocondemnand(10).Theabolitionoffoot-binding,therefore,isnotmerelythepassingawayofaninhumaninstitution,butanindicationofthecomingofanentirelynewattitudetowardwomanhood.indicatorsThebindingofwomen’sfeetinstitutionrectifyIII.Read“TheCharacterofChinesePeople”andwriteasummary.IV.Speakonthefollowingtopics.Chooseacountryandresearchit.Prepareashortpresentationaboutthenationalcharacterofthatcountry.Youmayfocusonsuchaspectsasvalues,traditions,collectivepersonalitytraits,behaviorpatterns,andthenationalpsyche.Howhavenationalcharactersdevelopedandchangedovertime?Inwhatwayshavethefilmsrevealeddifferentnationalcharacters?V.CriticalthinkingIdeally,alltheracesornationsshouldbeequallyesteemedandtreated.Thereality,though,isthattheworldtodayisaworldofinequality,andthereisbroaddivisionbetweenpeoplesorcountries.TheAfrican-AmericannovelistLangstonHughesrecordsinhisnovelTheBigSeahisinterestingvoyagetoAfrica.Hethrewoutintotheseaallthebookshehadbroughtwithhimforthevoyage,whichwasinhiseyesanactiontoleavebehindeverythinghehasknownandbeentaught.Hewasfinallyonhiswaybacktotheworldfromwhichhisancestorscame.HeassumedthatthecultureinwhichtheAfrican-Americanwasputatthebottomrungofsocialladdercouldbediscardedthen