If oracle bones represented the earliest form of writing in Chinese civilization, the first book or ideological system was the I Ching -易经, (also Zhou Yi - 周易), usually translated as the Book of Changes, a system devoted to foresee the future.
The I Ching is sometimes considered as the Fifth Confucian Classic, as it was compiled by Confucius. He indeed edited most of the written production before him. The I Ching has not only influenced Confucian and especially Neo-Confucian thinking but is also deeply rooted in the Daoist and the Yin-Yang theories.
The book, as it is received, consists of two parts, the classic and a series of comments. The classic (the actual I Ching) was originally a divination book with a divination method by which 64 signs or symbols (gua 卦) are generated and interpreted.
In my opinion, while the West has relied on mathematics to calculate, and as a result of it science has been developed, Chinese focused in foreseeing basically other people intentions, which, if actually unpredictable, Chinese considered convenient to analyze a number of possibilities or hypothesis in advance to identify easier and faster the one which actually turns up.
China's understanding
jueves, 30 de diciembre de 2010
A question
Hi,
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A questionin the following link
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lunes, 27 de diciembre de 2010
Chinese history
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese civilization.
The first Chinese dynasty is supposed to be the Xia Dynasty (夏朝; ca. 2070 BC–ca. 1600 BC) but the written history of China can be found as early as the Shang Dynasty (商朝 c. 1700 – c. 1046 BC). Oracle bones with ancient Chinese writing from the Shang Dynasty have been radiocarbon dated to as early as 1500 BC. The origins of Chinese culture, literature and philosophy developed during the Zhou Dynasty (周朝; 1045-256 BC).
A Chinese character, also known as a Han character (汉字; Hànzì), is a logogram used in writing Chinese (hanzi) Japanese (kanji). Chinese characters are also known as sinographs, and the writing system sinography. In the Chinese writing system, the characters are monosyllabic, each usually corresponding to a spoken syllable with a basic meaning.
The number of Chinese characters contained in the Kangxi dictionary compiled during the emperor Kangxi, in 1716, in the beginning of the Qing Dinasty, has 47.035 characters, but full literacy in Chinese language requires a knowledge of between three and four thousand characters.
Shāng dynasty, oracle bone script coexisted as a simplified form alongside the normal script of bamboo books (preserved for us in typical bronze inscriptions) as well as extra-elaborate pictorial forms (often clan emblems) found on many bronzes.
Mainland China adopted simplified characters in 1956, but Traditional Chinese characters are still used in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Singapore has also adopted simplified Chinese characters.
The first Chinese dynasty is supposed to be the Xia Dynasty (夏朝; ca. 2070 BC–ca. 1600 BC) but the written history of China can be found as early as the Shang Dynasty (商朝 c. 1700 – c. 1046 BC). Oracle bones with ancient Chinese writing from the Shang Dynasty have been radiocarbon dated to as early as 1500 BC. The origins of Chinese culture, literature and philosophy developed during the Zhou Dynasty (周朝; 1045-256 BC).
A Chinese character, also known as a Han character (汉字; Hànzì), is a logogram used in writing Chinese (hanzi) Japanese (kanji). Chinese characters are also known as sinographs, and the writing system sinography. In the Chinese writing system, the characters are monosyllabic, each usually corresponding to a spoken syllable with a basic meaning.
The number of Chinese characters contained in the Kangxi dictionary compiled during the emperor Kangxi, in 1716, in the beginning of the Qing Dinasty, has 47.035 characters, but full literacy in Chinese language requires a knowledge of between three and four thousand characters.
Shāng dynasty, oracle bone script coexisted as a simplified form alongside the normal script of bamboo books (preserved for us in typical bronze inscriptions) as well as extra-elaborate pictorial forms (often clan emblems) found on many bronzes.
Mainland China adopted simplified characters in 1956, but Traditional Chinese characters are still used in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Singapore has also adopted simplified Chinese characters.
miércoles, 22 de diciembre de 2010
A question
Master Mo, (479 BC. to 372 BC) a critic of Confucianism with his doctrine of Universal Love and Mutual Profit -兼相愛交相利, was contested by Mencius as follows:
'Master,' said Mencius, 'your aim is great, but your argument is not good. If you, starting from the point of (mutual) profit, offer your persuasive counsels to the kings of Qin and Chu, and if those kings are pleased with the consideration of profit so as to stop the movements of their armies, then all belonging to those armies will rejoice in the cessation of war, and find their pleasure in the pursuit of profit. Ministers will serve their sovereign for the profit of which they cherish the thought; sons will serve their fathers, and younger brothers will serve their elder brothers, from the same consideration - and the issue will be, that, abandoning benevolence and righteousness, sovereign and minister, father and son, younger brother and elder, will carry on all their intercourse (cooperation) with this thought of profit cherished in their breasts. But never has there been such a state of society, without ruin being the result of it. If you, starting from the ground of benevolence and righteousness, offer your counsels to the kings of Qin and Chu, and if those kings are pleased with the consideration of benevolence and righteousness so as to stop the operations of their armies, then all belonging to those armies will rejoice in the stopping from war, and find their pleasure in benevolence and righteousness. Ministers will serve their sovereign, cherishing the principles of benevolence and righteousness; sons will serve their fathers, and younger brothers will serve their elder brothers, in the same way - and so, sovereign and minister, father and son, elder brother and younger, abandoning the thought of profit, will cherish the principles of benevolence and righteousness, and carry on all their intercourse upon them. But never has there been such a state of society, without the State where it prevailed rising to the royal sway. Why must you use that word "profit?." (Mencius Book, 告子下 - Gaozi II)'
(“先生之志則大矣，先生之號則不可。先生以利說秦楚之王，秦楚之王悅於利，以罷三軍之師，是三軍之士樂罷而悅於利也。為人臣者懷利以事其君，為人子者懷利以事其父，為人弟者懷利以事其兄。是君臣、父子、兄弟終去仁義，懷利以相接，然而不亡者，未之有也。先生以仁義說秦楚之王，秦楚之王悅於仁義，而罷三軍之師，是三軍之士樂罷而悅於仁義也。為人臣者懷仁義以事其君，為人子者懷仁義以事其父，為人弟者懷仁義以事其兄，是君臣、父子、兄弟去利，懷仁義以相接也。然而不王者，未之有也。何必曰利？”(孟子 - 告子下)
Why according to Mencius and the Confucians, who ruled China for 2000 years and have shaped Chinese thinking, instead of talking of profit (mutual benefit - as Mozi actually says) -something obtained by cooperation-, people has to consider the goods as a gift (fruit of benevolence and righteousness) of the ruler?
Does not it clearly show that we are stupids? or, at least, that we have to simulate that?
Why never has there been such a state of society, without the State where it prevailed rising to the royal sway?.
'Master,' said Mencius, 'your aim is great, but your argument is not good. If you, starting from the point of (mutual) profit, offer your persuasive counsels to the kings of Qin and Chu, and if those kings are pleased with the consideration of profit so as to stop the movements of their armies, then all belonging to those armies will rejoice in the cessation of war, and find their pleasure in the pursuit of profit. Ministers will serve their sovereign for the profit of which they cherish the thought; sons will serve their fathers, and younger brothers will serve their elder brothers, from the same consideration - and the issue will be, that, abandoning benevolence and righteousness, sovereign and minister, father and son, younger brother and elder, will carry on all their intercourse (cooperation) with this thought of profit cherished in their breasts. But never has there been such a state of society, without ruin being the result of it. If you, starting from the ground of benevolence and righteousness, offer your counsels to the kings of Qin and Chu, and if those kings are pleased with the consideration of benevolence and righteousness so as to stop the operations of their armies, then all belonging to those armies will rejoice in the stopping from war, and find their pleasure in benevolence and righteousness. Ministers will serve their sovereign, cherishing the principles of benevolence and righteousness; sons will serve their fathers, and younger brothers will serve their elder brothers, in the same way - and so, sovereign and minister, father and son, elder brother and younger, abandoning the thought of profit, will cherish the principles of benevolence and righteousness, and carry on all their intercourse upon them. But never has there been such a state of society, without the State where it prevailed rising to the royal sway. Why must you use that word "profit?." (Mencius Book, 告子下 - Gaozi II)'
(“先生之志則大矣，先生之號則不可。先生以利說秦楚之王，秦楚之王悅於利，以罷三軍之師，是三軍之士樂罷而悅於利也。為人臣者懷利以事其君，為人子者懷利以事其父，為人弟者懷利以事其兄。是君臣、父子、兄弟終去仁義，懷利以相接，然而不亡者，未之有也。先生以仁義說秦楚之王，秦楚之王悅於仁義，而罷三軍之師，是三軍之士樂罷而悅於仁義也。為人臣者懷仁義以事其君，為人子者懷仁義以事其父，為人弟者懷仁義以事其兄，是君臣、父子、兄弟去利，懷仁義以相接也。然而不王者，未之有也。何必曰利？”(孟子 - 告子下)
Why according to Mencius and the Confucians, who ruled China for 2000 years and have shaped Chinese thinking, instead of talking of profit (mutual benefit - as Mozi actually says) -something obtained by cooperation-, people has to consider the goods as a gift (fruit of benevolence and righteousness) of the ruler?
Does not it clearly show that we are stupids? or, at least, that we have to simulate that?
Why never has there been such a state of society, without the State where it prevailed rising to the royal sway?.
lunes, 20 de diciembre de 2010
Tian an men
When we arrived to Beijing we started to leave less our room, would sit there both just silent. Time went by and we were thinking about to move to Belgium to meet some friends there and look for a job. But we would not move, even if the 10 days went by and she stayed illegal there.
Then a miracle occurred. People in the Spanish Embassy told me about a delegation of Madrid Complutense University setting up a research center in Beijing. I approached them when they finished a meal with the Embassador and handed over to them my CV. They said they had already arranged to hire somebody else there. But later that evening they sent someone to tell me to go for a breakfast meeting next day. I would be in charge of setting up the research center there, later a director would come, they said. But that never happened and I became the director of the center.
Some nuances came from the guy who lost his job opportunity; he rose a feeling against me in the small Spanish community there he was quite integrated with.
Never mind, my link with China had rooted. We went back to HK for renewing our visas. Now with support of the university we were cooperating with. I got a work permit.
Our first daughter was born there. We named her Meili, she is now called Melina. Chinese authorities did not allow us to register her Chinese as she was not ¿ethnically? Chinese.
Then a miracle occurred. People in the Spanish Embassy told me about a delegation of Madrid Complutense University setting up a research center in Beijing. I approached them when they finished a meal with the Embassador and handed over to them my CV. They said they had already arranged to hire somebody else there. But later that evening they sent someone to tell me to go for a breakfast meeting next day. I would be in charge of setting up the research center there, later a director would come, they said. But that never happened and I became the director of the center.
Some nuances came from the guy who lost his job opportunity; he rose a feeling against me in the small Spanish community there he was quite integrated with.
Never mind, my link with China had rooted. We went back to HK for renewing our visas. Now with support of the university we were cooperating with. I got a work permit.
Our first daughter was born there. We named her Meili, she is now called Melina. Chinese authorities did not allow us to register her Chinese as she was not ¿ethnically? Chinese.
martes, 14 de diciembre de 2010
Bitterness in Hong Kong
It was such a nice trip to Hong Kong. About three days in the train. Just enjoying our adventure and buying beer and Chinese fruit and snacks people would sell directly through the train windows. We shared our room with an interesting Englishman and interesting Chinese people too. The train would go to Guangzhou, there we had to take another two hours train to HK.
Hong Kong was impressive. We liked it so much. I was as if you leave the dirty Chinese country side to enter into a city hight street full of lights and amusement. We stayed in Nathan Road, in a cheap room for poor tourist, but still so interesting and well located...
After some walks around we went to the Chinese consulate there and applied for our visas. In some days we would have them ready and go back to Beijing. But, again, something miserable happened to us; Chinese would not allow Russians to enter into China twice inside six months (so many Russian traders were crossing the border at the time). That was the rule. So my wife could not get back into China. We entered again in despair. Russians are very badly treated everywhere regarding visas; when we went to Jerusalem from Cairo in an all paid trip, my wife was stopped at the border by the Egyptian police and forced us to go back to a town nearby where to make an statement assuring the Egyptian authorities that she would come back to Egypt (and paid some taxes for filling up a paper). Then we could cross the border. But we had lost our travel agency bus and service and had to go by a common bus to Jerusalem among Palestinian escorted by heavily armed Israeli soldiers with machine guns.
Well, well, well, again in HK, what to do but bitterly cry. Nothing. Just we went to the Consulate to cry lauder and lauder, telling them she had her luggage in Beijing, she would not have enough money to go by plane over China to Russia, etc. Finally they gave her a 10 days transit visa which would allow her to cross China by train, so that we went back to Beijing without an idea about what we could do or how to manage.
Hong Kong was impressive. We liked it so much. I was as if you leave the dirty Chinese country side to enter into a city hight street full of lights and amusement. We stayed in Nathan Road, in a cheap room for poor tourist, but still so interesting and well located...
After some walks around we went to the Chinese consulate there and applied for our visas. In some days we would have them ready and go back to Beijing. But, again, something miserable happened to us; Chinese would not allow Russians to enter into China twice inside six months (so many Russian traders were crossing the border at the time). That was the rule. So my wife could not get back into China. We entered again in despair. Russians are very badly treated everywhere regarding visas; when we went to Jerusalem from Cairo in an all paid trip, my wife was stopped at the border by the Egyptian police and forced us to go back to a town nearby where to make an statement assuring the Egyptian authorities that she would come back to Egypt (and paid some taxes for filling up a paper). Then we could cross the border. But we had lost our travel agency bus and service and had to go by a common bus to Jerusalem among Palestinian escorted by heavily armed Israeli soldiers with machine guns.
Well, well, well, again in HK, what to do but bitterly cry. Nothing. Just we went to the Consulate to cry lauder and lauder, telling them she had her luggage in Beijing, she would not have enough money to go by plane over China to Russia, etc. Finally they gave her a 10 days transit visa which would allow her to cross China by train, so that we went back to Beijing without an idea about what we could do or how to manage.
jueves, 9 de diciembre de 2010
Next day
Days ran fast and my wife arrived one month later. She arrived at Tianjin airport and came by bus with Russian buyers to Beijing to a Russian hotel near Ritan Park.
It was great. Well, first we knew her visa was group visa and she did not have stamp on her passport, so we went by wonderful train trip to Tianjin airport for them to sign her visa. Beijing sorroundings were muddy and dark, if not for nice sunshine most times. I had met the Russian manager in charge of the coats transport from Shanghai to Irkutsk, Yura, he was living there with her family and they all were very intelligent and kind.
Christmas arrived. Yes, also in China. People were busy there arranging parties. We had a great Christmas with friends. But New Year was not very successful; we tried to join some Koreans there in our building but they were not receptive, anyway it seemed quite boring with what they were doing. Then we crossed the campus to the Chinese side and it was good fun there, but we arrived too late and it soon finished.
I was having Chinese lessons; my nice teacher put me a Chinese name, 李佳伟, Li Jiawei.
Time passed and I had sealed my visa twice, one per month and my wife had it just once, both without inland renovation possibilities. So, we left for Hong Kong to renew our visas abroad.
It was great. Well, first we knew her visa was group visa and she did not have stamp on her passport, so we went by wonderful train trip to Tianjin airport for them to sign her visa. Beijing sorroundings were muddy and dark, if not for nice sunshine most times. I had met the Russian manager in charge of the coats transport from Shanghai to Irkutsk, Yura, he was living there with her family and they all were very intelligent and kind.
Christmas arrived. Yes, also in China. People were busy there arranging parties. We had a great Christmas with friends. But New Year was not very successful; we tried to join some Koreans there in our building but they were not receptive, anyway it seemed quite boring with what they were doing. Then we crossed the campus to the Chinese side and it was good fun there, but we arrived too late and it soon finished.
I was having Chinese lessons; my nice teacher put me a Chinese name, 李佳伟, Li Jiawei.
Time passed and I had sealed my visa twice, one per month and my wife had it just once, both without inland renovation possibilities. So, we left for Hong Kong to renew our visas abroad.
martes, 7 de diciembre de 2010
All was nice in Beijing next day
The plane finally left next day for Beijing. The guy I mentioned from Hong Kong was staying in a hotel in Beijing and boarded a van going there, I joined. When we arrived to the hotel the guy understood I did not have any place to go and started to get less nice. I went to the hotel entrance and picked up a taxi to a foreign languages institute I had got a brochure of it before leaving Spain. All the time was raining, actually heaven was pouring water, and it was an all around dark evening. I got into the taxi and we travelled for well more than an hour, I could not see anything through the windows just I noticed we had left the city. I was getting a bit scared, would not know how to ask or what I could do. Then we arrived to that institute or university, it was full of water all around, I left the taxi and got in the school entering into the water, heading towards a possible reception desk there where to ask for some lodging. It was November, about 9:30 pm. No need to go that far. I saw some Russian guys around and briefly told them my situation. They said: just come over with us, a colleague of us usually sleeps with his parents at the Embassy and you can take his place (the Russian Embassy in Beijing is a whole city, by the way). Fine. I slept there, when I got up next day they were all gone. I could not even thank them. I went down the stairs to the campus and heard a voice talking in Spanish, it was a catalan girl studying there. She suggested to me that I could go to another such language university in a more central area where I could rent a room. I picked up a taxi and did as she told me. All was nice in Beijing that day...
sábado, 4 de diciembre de 2010
Half fly
Then we were told that due to bad weather the plane was cancelled. I returned back with my luggage to the hotel and met other people. Next day was the same, and the day after. One day, we were about to enter the plane. A number of foreign people were living at the airport, we would get some food there (rice and spinach in aluminum trays). We would keep a fine humor; there was a very witty Englishman all the time making me laugh making jokes with the poor Chinese. There was a guy from Hong Kong having some fun with us too.
Finally, one day, we entered the plane and it took off. We finished our plane meal and were joking about our counting system for the previous days: going to the airport: 1 point, check in: 2 points, waiting room: 3, boarding: 4 points, leaving: 5 points – Bingo!.
No, I said, 6 points: arriving to Beijing.
Suddenly we could hear some Chinese from the speakers, the voice seamed worried, Chinese people there also became worried. It was a very bad sensation, specially the food in the stomach started to remove, I felt sick, I thought we were falling down.
No, we were just back to Harbin airport. Beijing weather was too bad for the plane to land there.
Finally, one day, we entered the plane and it took off. We finished our plane meal and were joking about our counting system for the previous days: going to the airport: 1 point, check in: 2 points, waiting room: 3, boarding: 4 points, leaving: 5 points – Bingo!.
No, I said, 6 points: arriving to Beijing.
Suddenly we could hear some Chinese from the speakers, the voice seamed worried, Chinese people there also became worried. It was a very bad sensation, specially the food in the stomach started to remove, I felt sick, I thought we were falling down.
No, we were just back to Harbin airport. Beijing weather was too bad for the plane to land there.
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