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结构 – Chinese philosophy and culture

jiégòu 结构 Structure 最初指房屋的构造样式,后指文艺作品的谋篇布局和各部分的组织排列。在书法理论中,“结构”既指单个字的结体,也指整幅作品的章法与分布。其中,笔画的长短粗细俯仰等,决定每个字的形态,故“结体”是书法艺术的根本要求。在诗文理论中,“结构”指诗句起承转合等方面的布置,或用于评价文章的结撰。在戏曲、小说理论中,“结构”用得更加广泛。明末清初曲论家李渔(1611—1680)在《闲情偶寄》中认为“结构”就像造物赋形,先要有轮廓,然后再有血肉,最终五官、躯体具备;又像工匠盖房子,要先胸有成局,不能边建边设计修改。李渔的结构论包括了“立主脑”“脱窠臼”“密针线”“减头绪”等内容,强调戏曲是综合布局的艺术。在说明文艺作品中部分构成整体的组织与安排时,“结构”是最合适的术语。 This term originally referred to the general layout of a building. Later, it came to mean the overall framework and plot development of a piece of work of art and literature. In theories about calligraphy, it refers to both the structure of an individual character and the rules and layout of […]

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婚礼 – Chinese philosophy and culture

hūnlǐ 婚礼 Wedding Ceremony 男女结成夫妇之礼,是人伦生活中的一项重要礼仪,古作“昏礼”。在古人看来,“婚礼”是对男女之情的一种合理安顿。“婚礼”昭示着男女二人结合为相互亲敬的夫妇关系,并共同构成了人伦秩序中的一个整体。夫妇各自所归属的两姓家族之间,也以二人为纽带,结成了亲密的关系。同时,夫妇的结合也关系着人口的繁衍与人伦关系的迭代延续。在当代社会,“婚礼”的形式与意义都发生了不同程度的变化。 The wedding is an important ceremony in human life, through which a man and woman become a married couple. In the eyes of ancient Chinese people, it was a ceremony affirming the bond of love between man and woman, heralding a husband-wife relationship of mutual respect and forming a family

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化境 – Chinese philosophy and culture

huàjìng 化境 Sublimity in Art 指最佳的艺术境界。“化境”是中国古代文艺批评中的重要命题,与“化”“化工”等具有相似内涵。庄子(前369?—前286)《齐物论》“天地与我并生,而万物与我为一”,是化境理论的源头。已臻化境的作品,呈现出物我两忘、人天合一的审美情态,无论诗画,皆浑涵天然,无雕琢斧凿之痕迹。化境生发的机制,是创作者自身的修养积累、心灵体悟与艺术技巧,已到极高境界,然后笔随意动,机缘巧合,方能达成,其效果恍若天工,无法勉强得到。 Sublimity is the highest state of art. It was an important term in literary criticism in ancient China, similar to the ideas of “the oneness of heaven and humans” and “the miraculous work of nature.” The assertion that “heaven and earth exist in harmony with me and all things

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冠礼 – Chinese philosophy and culture

guànlǐ 冠礼 Cap Wearing Ceremony 加冠之礼,即成人礼,是古代人伦生活中的一项重要礼仪。按照古礼的规定,男子在二十岁时行“冠礼”。在行礼过程中,男子要依次被授予、佩戴不同的冠帽,因此有“冠礼”之名。“冠礼”是成人的标志。成人不只是身体的成熟,还意味着道德人格的确立。“冠礼”的完成昭示着行礼之人开始以独立的身份承担人伦生活中的各种责任,并具备了参与各种重要礼仪活动的资格。 The cap wearing ceremony indicated that one had reached adulthood. In ancient China, when a young man came of age, at 20, an important ceremony was held to mark the event. During the ceremony, he would wear different types of caps, hence, the name of the ceremony. Such a

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格义 – Chinese philosophy and culture

géyì 格义 Matching Meanings 使用中国本土思想对佛教教义进行转译和阐释的方法。在译介大量佛教经典的魏晋南北朝时期,佛教思想对于汉语世界而言完全陌生,热衷于佛法的时人揣摩佛典的意思,但借用老庄等经典的语汇、概念乃至观念来比附、转译其义理,而被称为“格义”。“格”取量度义。这一时期也因而被称为格义佛教时期。格义作为一种阐释方法,是站在中国本土思想的立场上来解读佛教,建构佛教在汉语世界的思想体系,故而对佛教的中国化产生了奠基性的作用。 This term refers to a method to carry out translation and interpretation using Chinese thought for the Buddhist doctrines. During the Wei, Jin, and the Southern and Northern Dynasties period, when a large quantity of Buddhist scriptures was translated and introduced, Buddhist thought was completely unfamiliar for the Chinese world.

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风神 – Chinese philosophy and culture

fēngshén 风神 Vim and Vigor 指文学艺术作品的风采神韵。“风神”一词最初见于魏晋时期的人物品评,指风度神采,后引入文艺批评领域。唐代书法理论采用“风神”来形容书法作品的艺术特点,宋代姜夔(1155?—1209)《续书谱》的书论思想更是以“风神”为核心,他认为书法家的品行、师承、技艺、创新、纸笔等共同决定了作品的风采与神韵。文论中对于“风神”的运用,影响较大的是明代茅坤(1512—1601)的文章批评论。他以《史记》为“风神”典范,标举欧阳修(1007—1072)的文章具备“风神”之美,其评价标准注重叙事方面的条畅和情韵方面的感慨。 The term refers to vim and vigor found in a great work of art. It first emerged among comments on famed persons in the Wei and Jin period. Later, it was brought into the field of artistic criticism. The Tang Dynasty’s theory on calligraphy adopted the term to describe

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防民之口,甚于防川 – Chinese philosophy and culture

fáng mín zhī kǒu, shèn yú fáng chuān 防民之口,甚于防川 To Silence the People Is More Harmful than Blocking a River. 堵住百姓的嘴,阻止人民表达自己的想法,其危害超过堵塞河流而引起的水患。“防”即“堤”,是用来阻塞水流的设施,引申为阻塞、防止、阻止。堵塞河道,河水必然漫出河道或冲毁堤坝,造成不可控制的水灾。中国古人以此比喻不让民众说话,必有大害。其正面意思是:民众的意愿是有力量的,是阻止不了的;执政者必须允许民众表达自己的意愿,否则一定会激起民众的反抗。这和“民惟邦本”“民心惟本”“载舟覆舟”的道理是相通的。 Silencing the people and preventing them from expressing their opinions is more damaging than blocking the course of a river and causing a flood. Fang (防) means “a dike” to stop water flowing, and its

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方便 – Chinese philosophy and culture

fāngbiàn 方便 Upāya / Expediency 方式、方法。“方便”常与“善巧”(kauśalya)连用,指佛陀或菩萨为了教化众生应机说教,使用巧妙的语汇和叙事手法,令不同背景的听众都能理解并领会言外之奥义。“方便”概念是大乘佛教的一个关键,强调包括佛陀言教在内的所有言语表述都依赖于名相概念、不得究竟,在一定意义上都是方便施设,如指月之指,故不应做字面理解,更不可执著。 This concept refers to appropriate skilful means or methods. “Expediency” is often used together with “ingenuity” (kauśalya). It refers to the Buddha’s or to a bodhisattva’s preaching adapting to the circumstances, in order to convert beings. He used adroit words and terms and narrative techniques, so as to allow

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二人同心,其利断金 – Chinese philosophy and culture

èr rén tóng xīn, qí lì duàn jīn 二人同心,其利断金 If Two People Are of the Same Mind, Their Combined Strength Can Break Metal. 两人同心,其力量犹如利刃可以斩断金属。“二人”可以指兄弟、夫妻或任何当事的双方;“同心”,有共同的愿景,思想认识一致;“利”,锋利;“断金”,斩断金属。此术语比喻只要当事双方一条心,就能发挥强大力量,克服任何困难,犹言团结起来力量大。它强调的是齐心协力、团结合作的重要意义。 When two people are of the same mind, their combined strength is like a sharp blade which can cut through metal. “Two people” here could mean two brothers, husband and wife,

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兵以义动 – Chinese philosophy and culture

bīng yǐ yì dòng 兵以义动 Fighting for a Righteous Cause 为了道义而出兵。犹今之所言“为正义而战”。中国人自古崇尚“义兵”“义师”,即为了维护“义”而发动的战争。所谓“义”,就是禁止暴力,为民除害。战争虽然是暴力行动,但它不应该是主动施暴的行动,而是为了反抗、制止施暴而采取的暴力行动。它体现了中国人坚守道义和仁爱的精神。 This term means sending an army to fight a just war, similar to the present idea of “fighting for righteousness.” Since ancient times, the Chinese people have held high esteem for an army sent to war for the sake of justice. Here yi (义) means

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