A Website Curriculum on Chinese Language and Culture

A Website Curriculum on

Chinese Language and Culture

Dr. Mike Xu

Assistant Professor of Chinese
Dept. Modern Languages & Literatures
Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, 76129

Number of visitor since September 30, 2000: 1 Visitors

This page has been designed to utilize the cyber resources on Chinese language and culture. It is expected this web page will be helpful to those who are interested in exploring different aspects of Chinese culture and its people. The page is still being under construction. Any suggestions and information will be welcome.

Technical Assistants: Leon Ma and Kaili Chen

Table of Contents

I . Chinese Language.

II. The Birth of Chinese Civilization and Dynasties.

III. Chinese World View: Religious Thought and Philosophy of Life.

IV. Chinese Literature & Classic.

V. Classic Music and Traditional Musical Instruments.

VI. Creativity and Invention.

VII. Art in China (Chinese creativity and their appreciation of

authentic beauty).

VIII. Festivals and Lunar Calendar

IX. Chinese Traditions and Customs

X. China and the World.

XI. Prehistoric Trans-pacific Contacts.

XII. China Today

XIII. China Links

XIV. Book list for Studying Chinese Language and Culture

I. Chinese Language.

http://pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/~agenhtml/agenmc/china/art.html
(Learning Chinese online, Purdue University)
http://www.csulb.edu/~txie/online.html
(Learning Chinese online, California State University, Long Beach)
http://www.sdsu.edu/cgi-bin/schedule/browse=dep¡/semester=spring9
http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/linguist/chinese.html
(San Diego State University)
http://www.prca.org/standard_bearer/2000jan15.html#GoIntoAllWorld
(Christian Evidence in Ancient Chinese Characters)
http://search.harvard.edu:8765/query.html?rq=0&qt=chinese
(Harvard University )
http://www.m.isar.de/denner/neijia/romanisation/mapping.html
(Word Mapping Table for Pinyin, Wade-Giles and Yale)
http://www.zhongwen.com
( Learning Chinese characters)

II. The Birth of Chinese Civilization and Dynasties.

China has a history of over 5000 years. Chinese people often consider themselves as the descendants of Huang Di, the Yellow Emperor, who is credited with founding the Chinese nation around 4,000 B.C. There are many other legendary heroes like Pan Gu who created the world by separating the heaven and the earth from chaos, the resourceful Shun who kept people safe from the forest beasts, and the determined Yu who treated the floods and did many great things for his people during his long reign.

http:// www. csulb.edu/~txie/Chinanet.htm
(Pictures of China)
http://home.earthlink.net/~fieldwork/introduction.html
(A Chinese myth of origins )
http://www.ualberta.ca/~csmackay/CLASS_110/Early.China.html
(Early China)

Pan Gu, Huang Ti, Yu((mystical past)

http://www.sh.com/culture/legend/yu.htm

http://www.sh.com/culture/legend/pangu.htm

http://www.sh.com/culture/legend/huangdi.htm

Xia, Shang, Zhou((2000B.C.- 221 B.C.)
Qin, Han, Tang, Song ( China empire was born)
Yuan, Ming Qing

http://www.asiasociety.org/arts/insideout/chronologies.html

(Chronologies of Mainland China, Taiwan & Hong Kong)

http://asterius.com/china/china1.asp

http://asterius.com/china/china2.asp

http://asterius.com/china/china3.asp

(The empires in China)

http://www.cohums.ohio-state.edu/deall/denton.2/bib3.htm

(A brief introduction of well known Chinese in history)

http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/chinesehistory/aboutucsd.html

(Dynasty history, Web page of University of California at San Diego)

http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/chinesehistory/

(Same as above)

http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/other.html

(Chinese Cultural Studies)

III. Chinese World View: Religious Thought and Philosophy of Life.

Religions in China include Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, Catholicism, Islam, Materialism, and Ancestor Worship, even though Atheism remains popular and realistic. Besides, there are still people who believe in Pantheism (belief in and worship of all gods) and Animism (belief in all natural objects like huge rocks and phenomena).

http://www.csulb.edu/depts/as/cour-graduate2.html
(Religions of China)

God, Natural Spirits, Ancestor (fundamental difference between the East and West

Confucius, Laotzu, Buddha (combination of religion and philosophy as a way of life)

Superior Gentlemen, Inferior Women (ancient roots of gender difference)

http://www2.soc.hawaii.edu/css/dept/owr/Huilin.html

(Chinese Women: Bridging the Gap between Legal Equality and Reality )

http://mockingbird.creighton.edu/english/worldlit/wldocs/churchill/confucius.htm

(For confucius, the "superior man" is formed by education and marked by his conduct)

http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1984/4/84.04.03.x.html

(Women in Traditional China and their Portrayal in Chinese Folk tales)

http://www.telefilm.gc.ca/en/prod/tv/tv98/075.htm

(Nu Shu - A Hidden Language of Women in China)

http://www.china2thou.com/9904p5.htm

(Women in China today; holding up "half the sky")

IV. Chinese Literature & Classics.

From pottery inscriptions to oracle-bone inscriptions, Chinese characters have developed and evolved into a mature writing system that has helped the blossom of Chinese classics and literatures.

Ancient pictographic writing and modern calligraphy (influence of writing on civilization and literary development, see the language section)

www_chinese2_tcu_edu.htm

( Pictographic Writings of Ancient China)

http://arts.nthu.edu.tw/Exhibition/dong/fonts/index.html

( Illustrations of some ancient pictographic characters )

http://www.chinapage.com/calligraphy.html

(Appreciation of the Art of Chinese Calligraphy)

Analects (foundation of Chinese ethics and education)

http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts.html

(Confucian and Legalist Texts)

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/8100/index.htm

(Romance of the Three Kingdoms, classic on warfare and history)

http://www.chinapage.com/classic1.html

(Chinese Literature Classics)

A Dream of Red Chambers (classic on human relationships and literary beauty)
Journey to the West (fable on good and evil)

http://www.bl.uk/exhibitions/mythical/journey.html

Tang & Song Poems (best poems on natural beauty and human love)
Family, Spring, Autumn (contemporary classic on family values and morality)

http://www.chinabooks.com/Catalog/20Cent2.html

http://library.byu.edu/~asian/proj/mmchiwri/bajin.html

Tales & Legends

http://www.cohums.ohio-state.edu/deall/bender.4/7html/intro.html

(Seventh Sister and the Serpent )

http://www.sh.com/culture/legend/wang.htm

(Wang Zhaojun, the ancient Chinese beauty)

http://www.sh.com/culture/legend/legend.htm

(Historic Legends & Tales)

V. Classic Music and Traditional Musical Instruments (Chinese way of expressing feeling and emotion).

Chinese music is a rich reflection of Chinese cultural heritage. Some traditional musical instruments are as follows:.

Zheng, Pipa, Yang, Erhu and Flute

http://www.musicfromchina.org/
http://www.melodyofchina.com/mr/
http://www.cohums.ohio-state.edu/deall/bender.4/perform/pg9music/default_old1.htm
http://www.cohums.ohio-state.edu/deall/jin.3/C231/refs/music.htm
http://www.sandiego-online.com/forums/chinese/htmls/music.htm
http://pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/~agenhtml/agenmc/china/cmusic.html

Beijing opera . Many of the Chinese plays are of ancient origin, based upon history or fiction.

http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Opera/8692/
http://www.cohums.ohio-state.edu/deall/bender.4/perform/pg1opera/default.htm

VI. Creativity and Invention (Chinese contributions to world civilization and culture).

China has been known for its four early inventions which set the foundation for the modern science and technological development. The four inventions are: compass, paper making, printing and gunpowder.

Compass (6000 B.C.)

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/china/age2.html

Paper making (1200 B.C. - 100 B.C.)

http://www.chinavista.com/experience/paper_make/paper_make.htm

Printing (100 B.C.)

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/china/age2.html

Gunpowder (A.D. 600)

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/china/age.html

http://www.silk-road.com/artl/gun.shtml

Herbal medicine ( since 2000 B.C.)

http://www.crystalinks.com/chinainventions.html

http://www.londonbusiness.com/johnhart.html

http://databank.oxydex.com/compendi...ptions/chinese_herbal_medicine.html

Acupuncture (500 B.C.)

http://www.holistic-online.com/hol_acupuncture.htm

http://www.proclub.com/PROSite/newsletters/Acupuncture.htm

Weaving (2000 B.C.)
Earthquake monitor (A.D.200)

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/china/age.html

VII. Art in China (Chinese creativity and their appreciation of authentic beauty).

http://seattle.citysearch.com/E/V/SEAWA/0009/61/99/
( The web page of Seattle Asian Art Museum )
http://www-tech.mit.edu/V105/N34/cog.34a.html
(Lively view of Chinese craft, culture)
http://www.chinavista.com/discover.html
( Art of China today)

Jade (purity, elegance, production)

http://www.norton.org/exhibit/frameset.htm

http://www.jadestonegallery.com/

Bronze ware (lost wax technique and supernatural motifs) & other Antiquities

http://www.asianartsearch.com/bronze.htm

http://www.cheong-siu.com/

Rice paper painting (delicacy and imagination)

http://www.natashascafe.com/html/rice_paper.html
http://www.chinattic.com/Culture/Art/Four_arts/Paint/Four_painting_medium/four_painting_medium.html
http://www.bauhinia.com/gallery/exhibitionhall/eng.htm
http://lightning.prohosting.com/~hmpaper/history.htm
http://www.threegraces.com/GalleryJuana/recent.htm

Silk embroidery (tradition and beyond)

http://www.nordicneedle.com/
http://www.nordicneedle.com/sales/silksale.html
http://www.tmsembroidery.com/

Wood carving (earliest form of art)
Architecture & Gardening (art, nature and wisdom)

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/china/builds.html

( Bridge building)

Paintings

http://pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/~agenhtml/agenmc/china/art.html

Pottery & Ceramics (from dirt to gold)

http://www.whitefire-ceramics.com

http://www.jadestonegallery.com/gallery/prints/prints.html

Crafts (Paper cutting & folding, etc.)

http://pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/~agenhtml/agenmc/china/art.html

http://www.goodorient.com/goodorient/chincarhol.html

http://www.muohio.edu/mupress/poetryseries/shirley.htm

http://houstoncul.org/culdir/pape/pape.htm

(Artistic Creations from nimble fingers)

Chinese Cuisine (color, fragrance, taste)

http://www.doylegroup.harvard.edu/foodtruck/

http://pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/~agenhtml/agenmc/china/cfood.html

Tea Ritual

http://www.csulb.edu/depts/as/cour-graduate2.html

http://www.hortusharen.nl/

VIII. Festivals and Lunar Calendar.

http://www.sandiego-online.com/forums/chinese/htmls/holidays.htm
(Chinese holidays)
http://www.taipei.org/tiger98.htm
(The year of tiger)
http://www.cohums.ohio-state.edu/deall/jin.3/C231/handouts/h200.htm
(Traditional Customs and Holidays)
http://users.deltanet.com/~wcassidy/astro/stem.html
(The Ten Heavenly Stems)
http://www.taofengshui.com/tao_astrology/twelvbranches.html
(The Twelve Earthly Branches)
http://pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/~agenhtml/agenmc/china/zzodiac.html
(Chinese Zodiac)

IX. Chinese Traditions and Customs

http://www.cohums.ohio-state.edu/deall/jin.3/C231/handouts/h200.htm

http://www.chcp.org/Pdragon.html

X. China and the World.

Silk Road (As the Land of Silk, China started its international cultural ties with the world and developed international trade through silk sales).

http://www.chinapage.com/silkroad.html

(Map of Silk Road)

http://www.chinapage.com/dunhuan.html

(Dunhuang Grottoes-Silk Road)

http://www.globalearn.org/expeditions/tae/expedition/journals/baty/jrn970428-dunhuang-baty.html

( Brief history of the Silk Road)

Modern isolation and desire for freedom (China vs. West)

http://www.usinfo.state.gov/regional/ea/uschina/fishr412.htm

( China's isolation its economic)

http://home.mira.net/~andy/bs/1989ci.htm

( The Chinese road to socialism)

Chinese View toward the World and Future (the past carries a big burden)

http://www.theatlantic.com/unbound/flashbks/china/thomson1.htm

(Dragon under class: time for a new China policy)

http://www.chinaonline.com/commentary_analysis/wtocom/currentnews/secure/c000504cbwt.asp
(Barshefsky's testimony to House Panel on U.S.-China trade)

National Strength and Weakness (nationalism and population)

http://www.state.gov/www/regions/eap/971024_clinton_china.html

(President Clinton on US-China relations)

XI. Prehistoric Trans-Pacific Contacts

www_chinese3_tcu_edu.htm

(Artifacts Comparisons between ancient Mesoamerica and China)

XII. China Today

Business
Education
Politics

www.csulb.edu/~pamela/readings/chinese.htm

http://faculty.ncwc.edu/toconnor/392/spy/asia.htm

Entertainment movie, music, travel, etc..)

http://www.chinanow.com/english/features/music/front.html

http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~chlit130/

http://www.china-inc.com/yamei/frontpg3.htm

(Chinese business travel)

http://www.toureast.ca/toureast_com/Discover/DisDT2.asp

(Discover Asia your way)

News/Current Events

http://www.nross.com/asia/china/china04.html

http://www.chinanow.com

Others

http://www.china-zhonghua.com

(Marketing services)

XIII. China Links

XIV. Book list for Studying Chinese Language and Culture (* available at TCU library)

Chinese for Today, 1996

/The Commercial Press

Land of the Dragon: Chinese Myth
http://www.greenleaves.com/bookcat/gb_0705436039.html

Paper Database on Agriculture
http://www.carleton.ca/~bgordon/Rice/Paper_database.htm

*China's military in transition / edited by David Shambaugh and Richard H. Yang.

*Confucius, the Buddha, and Christ/ Ralph R.

*Centre and provinces--China 1978-1993 : power as non-zero-sum / by Linda Chelan Li.

*The making of the Republican citizen : political ceremonies and symbols in China, 1911-1929 / Henrietta Harrison.

*The People's Republic of China after 50 years/ edited by Richard Louis Edmonds.

*Reappraising Republican China / edited by Frederic Wakeman, Jr. and Richard Louis Edmonds.

*Reconstructing twentieth-century China : state control, civil society, and national identity / edited by Kjeld Erik Br?dsgaard and David Strand.

*Japan's economic diplomacy with China, 1945-1978/ Yoshihide Soeya.

*Strong institutions in weak polities : state building in Republican China, 1927-1940 / Julia C. Strauss.

*Making urban revolution in China : the CCP-GMD struggle for Beiping-Tianjin, 1945-1949/ Joseph K.S. Yick.

*Covell.Democratization in China and Taiwan : the adaptability of Leninist parties / Bruce J. Dickson

*Unfinished encounter: China and Christianity / Bob Whyte.

*Missionaries, Chinese, and diplomats: the American Protestant missionary movement in China, 1890-1952/ Varg, Paul A.

*A history of East Asian civilization/ Reischauer, Edwin O.

*China: a new history/ Fairbank, John K.

*Our ordered lives confess: three nineteenth-century American missionaries in East Shantung/ Irwin T. Hyatt, Jr.

*Christianity in China: early Protestant missionary writings/ edited by Suzanne Wilson Barnett and Fairbank, John K.

*The missionary enterprises in China and Amerisa/ edited by Fairbank, John K.

*St. John¡¯s University, Shanghai, 1879-1951/ Lamberton, Mary.

*Sound & symbol in Chinese/ Karlgren, Bernhard.

*The languages of China/ Ramsey, S. Robert.

Getting in Touch:

Dr. Mike Xu

Phone: (817) 257-6895

Email: m.xu@tcu.edu

Acknowledgments

Special acknowledgments go to various individuals and institutions of the above web pages on China.. Thanks also go to Texas Christian University Faculty Research Fund, TCU Add Ran College Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as Victor L. Neil for his web assistance.

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