Chinese Culture

L e c t u r e9C h i n e s e C u l t u r e

中国文化

中国已有5 000年的文明发展史，中国文化是世界最古老的文化之一，而且是世界上唯一的长期延续没有中断的文化。

China has a 5 000-year history of the development of civilization. The Chinese culture is one of the most ancient cultures in the world, and the only one that has lasted for thousands of years without suspension.

中国人的传统世界观、价值观和思维模式，是在长期的历史发展中积淀而成的。

The traditional worldview, values and mode of thinking of the Chinese people stem from a perennial process of historical development.

理性的求和谐主平衡的世界观

the rational world outlook seeking for harmony and maintaining equilibrium

大一统的观念和注重整体利益的价值取向

the conception of great national unity and values of collectivism

中国古代文化的核心是它的思想文化部分。中国古代的思想文化源远流长、博大精深，且内容丰富、学派众多，但其基干部分是儒、道两家的思想。

The core of ancient Chinese culture is its way of thinking. Boasting a long history and a variety of contents and schools, ancient Chinese thought is extensive and profound, with Confucianism and Taoism as the principal part.

佛学思想

中国古代思想文化，除了作为主干的儒、道两家思想外，值得注意的还有佛学思想。佛学是汉代从古印度传入的一种宗教思想体系，旨在探求人生苦难的原因并完成对人生苦难的

超越。

Besides Confucianism and Taoism, Buddhism was another important thought in ancient China. Buddhism, a religious system introduced into China from India in the Han Dynasty, aimed to find out the causes of human sufferings in the hope of being detached from the earthly world.

佛学的传入和融入，丰富了中国的传统文化，提高了我们民族的思维能力。儒、道、佛三家思想理论体系体大思精，蔚为古代思想文化的高峰。

Therefore, the introduction of Buddhism enriched traditional Chinese culture and improved the thinking ability of the nation. Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism constitute the greatest achievements in ancient Chinese thinking with their all-embracing theoretical system and profound thoughts.

V o c a b u l a r y

多元文化的社会

a multicultural society

文化娱乐活动

cultural and recreational activities

文化合作

cultural cooperation

文化底蕴

cultural deposits

文化基础设施

cultural establishments /infrastructure

文化古迹和艺术珍品

cultural relics and art masterpieces

文化产业

cultural industry

文化旅游

cultural –oriented travel

民族优越感

ethnocentrism

跨文化意识

intercultural consciousness

批判地吸收

assimilate/take in /absorb critically

丰富文化生活

enrich one’s cultural life

保护文化多样性

protect cultural diversity

吸收世界文明成果

assimilate the achievements of civilizations over the world

促进人类文化的繁荣

contribute to the flouring of culture of mankind

满足人民多层次多样化的要求

meet the people’s diversified needs at different levels

舆论导向

guiding of public opinion

S e n t e n c e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n

Indeed, we share a great deal, and what we share is far greater than what we differ in .

的确，我们有许多共同点，我们的共同点远远多于差异。 These shared values bring our peoples together.

这些共同的价值观将人们聚到一起。

Differences cause exchange. In this sense, cultural difference means cultural exchange.

差异产生交流，在这个意义上说，文化差异意味着文化交流。 Discussion of cultural exchanges is both interesting and significant.

讨论文化交流问题既有趣，又有意义。

Actually we are living at a time when two cultures are merging into each other.

事实上，我们已经生活在一个文化彼此交融的时代。

Material culture is concrete and observable, while spiritural culture implicit and abstract.

物质文化是具体的、可见的，而精神文化则比较蕴蓄，比较抽象。

Of course, different cultures do not always come together without conflict and collision.

当然，在不同文化的交融过程中不可能永远不发生冲突和碰撞。

In the field of science, the characteristics of western culture is reflected in making bold hypotheses followed by the meticulous search for evidence.

西方文化的特点反映在科技方面为大胆假设，细心求证。

We should glean the best from both the East and West to resolve the conflict.

我们应该吸收东西文化优势，寻求矛盾的统一。

In a foreign language course, students should learn the appropriate etiquette patterns expected of the people living in a country where the garget language is spoken.

学生在上外语课时，应该学习操目标语的民族那些恰当得体的礼仪规范。

No matter whether we are easterners or westerners, we all desire peace, pursue happiness, long for love, and treasure life. We want our children to enjoy fresh air, clean water, and a bright future. We all seek stability, we all seek meaningful employment, we all cherish our families.

无论是东方人还是西方人，我们都希望和平，追求幸福，渴望爱情，珍视生命。我们要让孩子呼吸新鲜的空气，饮用清洁的水，有光明的前途，我们都寻求稳定，寻求有意义的工作，珍爱家庭。

As students progress through a foreign language program, it is expected that they will increase their awareness of the cultural characteristics of the speakers of the language under study. This broadened cultural knowledge may touch on all aspects of culture: the people’s way of life as well as the geographic, historical, economic, artistic, and scientific aspects of the target society.

随着学生外语学习的深化，他们会增进对所学语言民族的文化特征的认识。这种认识的加深会涉及文化的方方面面：外族人的生活方式，以及外族社会的地理、历史、经济、艺术和科学等层面。

中华民族在自己的发展长河中，形成了自己优良的文化传统。这是一笔巨大的精神财富，是赖以维系中华民族生生不息、延绵不断的精神纽带，是国家统一、人民团结的文化传统。

During the long process of development, the Chinese nation has formed

its own fine cutural traditions. This is a tremendous spiritual legacy and bond maintaining the evolution of the Chinese nation from generation to generation. It also has laid the cultural foundation for the unity of the motherland and the solidarity of the process.

中国充分尊重不同民族和不同文化的多样性和差异性，提倡各种文明相互共处而不冲突，对话而不对抗，交流而不封闭，兼容而不排斥，互相学习，携手合作，共同发展。

China fully respects the diversity and differences of various nations and cultures. It advocates coexistence instead of conflicts, dialogue instead of confrontations, communication instead of blockade, tolerance instead of repulsion. It calls for all cultures to learn from one another and work together to seek universal development.

保护和利用好文化遗产，是世界人民的共同责任，对增进各国间的相互了解，加强不同文化和文明之间的交流，起着重要的促进作用.

The adequate preservation and utilization of our cultural heritage is a shared responsibility for people around the world. This plays a significant role in promoting mutual understanding among nations and reinforcing exchanges among different cultures and civilizations.

坚持文化的民族性并非意味着保守，相反，中国将以更加开放的态势融入国际社会，进一步扩大对外开放交流。这是中国文化事业坚定不移的方针。

To adhere to the national identity of course does not mean to remain conservative. On the contrary, China will merge into the international community with a more open posture and further expand international cultural exchange. That is a resolute principle guiding Chinese cultural undertakings.

The last hidden world – China.

For centuries travelers to China had told tales of __1__and surprising creatures. __2__is the world’s oldest. And today it is the largest, with well over a billion people. It’s home to more than 50 distinct ethnic groups and a wide range of tradition life styles, often__3__.

We know that China faces immense social and environmental problems, but there is great beauty here too. China is home to the world’s highest mountain, vast desert ranging from searing hot to mind

numbing cold, steaming forests, harboring rare creatures, grassy plains beneath __4__, and rich tropical seas.

Now for the first time ever, we can explode the whole of this great country, meet some of the surprising and exotic creatures that live here and __5__to the remarkable landscapes which they live.

This is Wild China.