《中国文化概论》（英文）课程思考题及课程论文参考题Questions for Consideration and Paper WritinginSurvey of Classic Chinese CultureChapter 1 Ancient History and Brilliant Civilization---A synopsis of 5000-year Chinese history1. Give a brief account of the origins of Chinese ancestors based upon the latestarchaeological findings.2.The significance of Qin Dynasty and its major measures taken for the firstempire in the history of China.3.The defeat of Huns by Han Dynasty and its “domestic and globalconsequences.4.The Peaceful Order in Zhenguan Reign Period and worldwidecommunication in Tang Dynasty.5.Merits and demerits of civil service examination system.mentary on the expeditionary voyages in Ming Dynasty from1405—1433.Chapter 2 A Glimpse of Traditional Chinese philosophies1. A Hundred Schools in Strife and its far-ranging significance.2.The philosophical views of Confucius and Mencius.3.Analysis of the Wei-Jin metaphysics in a historic perspective.4.Merits and demerits of the Learning of the Principle in Song Dynasty.5.Can you make an analysis of why the scientific tradition in ancient Chinawas not passed down to the modern times?6.How can you evaluate the Book of Change, the gem of primeval or ancientChinese thinking?Chapter 3 Miraculous, Mystic and Sacred---Patriarchal Traditional Religions1.How did Confucianism act as a religion?2.What was the core idea of Taoism? What is the difference betweenConfucianism and Taoism?3.How did Mahayana Buddhism grow into Sinified Buddhism?mentary on Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy.5.Give an evaluation of Confucianist temples, Buddhist temples and Taoisttemples both in China and east Asia.Chapter 4 Ideograph and Pictograph Rich in Senses---Chinese Language and Script in a Unique Style1.What are the coinage methods of Chinese square characters?2.How could Chinese square characters survive through the time-honored fivemillenniums while the Egyptian hieroglyphics and Phoenician cuneiform died two or one millennium before Christ?3.What are the features of Chinese script?4.Summarize the features of Chinese language in making sentences.5.Make an attempt to distinguish between Chinese language and English orJapanese or Russian.Chapter 5 Mighty Surges in the Flow of Literature1.What are the general characteristics of traditional Chinese literary workscompared with the Western counterparts?2.Make attempts to expound the far-reaching affect of the Book of Poetry andthe Chu Poetry upon the Chinese literature.3.Endeavor to paraphrase the reasons why Tang Poetry came into flowering,and how many poets and their leading masterpieces you can pick up to demonstrate the major genres thereof.4.Recite your favorite Tang poems in English.5.Distinguish between Li Bai, the Celestial Poet and Du Fu, the Saint Poet.6.What are the major genres of Song-ci Poetry? Provide your evidence.7.How can you appreciate San Qu, the non-dramatic songs or verses in termsof affection and style?8.Take an instance of A Dream of the Red Mansion or any other favorite novelyou please in making a comparative study of the features of Chinese novels and English novels.Chapter 6 Eastern Styles of W orld Renown---Introduction to Chinese fine arts1.Make a summary of Chinese fine arts in a historic sequence.2.Distinguish between Chinese fine arts and European peer in view oftechnique and theme?3.Can you offer evaluating opinion for one of the favorite paintings in Chinesehistory?4.How can you illustrate “Calligraphy Elegant in Exterior and Intelligent inInterior”?5.Can you dig up something profound from Chinese painting and calligraphy? Chapter 7 Breathtaking Dramas on the Stage---The bustling stage in China1.How and when did Chinese drama originate?2.How much do you know about Anhui troupes of Kunqu Opera , and thenBeijing Opera?3.What is the social significance of the happy ending in Chinese drama,compared to the tragic ending in English drama?4.Can you compare the ancient Chinese dream drama and the ghost or spiritdrama in England and Germany?5.Can you make a comparative study of Tang Xianzu, or Wang Shifu andShakespeare?Chapter 8 Music, Singing and Dance---A music paradise for recreation, good temperament and morality1. How do appreciate Chinese qin or ancient zither in the light of performing and its tune?2. Attempt to make comparison of the Western piano and Chinese qin or ancient zither.3. How long ago is Chinese singing and dance dated back to?4. Can you pick up some examples to illustrate the affect of music and singing and dancing upon the ancient Chinese community?5. Why did Chinese music and singing and dancing flourish so rampantly in Tang Dynasty?Chapter 9 Magnificent Architecture---A panorama of ancient Chinese architecture1.Make a summary of the development course of ancient Chinese architecture.2.Pick up an example of a building or house suggestive of the typical Chinesefeatures.3.Have you been to the Forbidden City in Beijing? Try to find out somedifferences between it and the Louvre in Paris or the Buckingham Palace inLondon or the White House in Washington.4.Can you mention one or two examples of Chinese gardening architecturewith a brief interpretation?5.What has truck you as the most splendid Chinese traditional building? Why?Chapter 10 The Medicine to Benefit All Human Beings---The long-standing Chinese Medicine1.Who do you remember as the most renowned ancient Chinese doctors?2.Have you heard of the Y ellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal Medicine, or theTreatise on Typhoid, or the Compendium of Materia Medica, or the Canon ofPulse? Please give a brief account of one of them.3.Can you recall the diagnosis principles of traditional Chinese medicine?4.How advanced was the ancient Chinese medicine, compared to the Westernmedicine, indicative of clinical treatment and medical theoretical system?5.Can you retell a story or anecdote to display the magnificent effect ofacupuncture and moxibustion?Chapter 11 “External Exercise for Bones and Muscles and Internal Exercise for Vitality and Breath”---Chinese martial arts designed toimprove vitality1.What is the marrow of Chinese martial arts, such as the Eight TrigramBoxing, the Eight Extreme Boxing, the White Eyebrow Boxing, the Shaolin Boxing, the Fork Boxing, and the Taiji Boxing?2.What is the general attitude of Chinese people toward the kinds of martialarts?3.How you know of Qigong, a breath exercise of Chinese martial arts in acultural perspective?4.Can you give examples to illustrate the secret of longevity of some Chinesepeople?5.What is the difference between Chinese martial arts and Western rivals? Chapter 12 A Thriving Chinese Cuisine Culture1.What is the most remarkable feature of Chinese cuisine different from theWestern peer?2.What are the marked characteristics of a typical Chinese dish?3.How many major groups of Chinese cuisine? What are their outstandingfeatures?4.Can you sense some different cultural elements between the sipping of tea ata Chinese teahouse and the drinking of coffee at a café?5.Can you mention some cultural elements in Chinese wine games?Chapter 13 Pragmatic Chinese Inventions---Ancient Chinese inventions ahead of the world1.What are the characteristics of ancient Chinese science and technology?2.What else achievements do you know besides the great four inventions?3.Can you expound the far-ranging influence brought forth by the Chinesegreat four inventions upon the rest of the world?4.Do you remember how much Joseph Needham, the devoted English expert ofChinese science and technology, spoke of Chinese achievements in this respect in ancient times?5.Can you make an analysis of the overwhelming reasons why Chinese scienceand technology became sluggish after 1500’s?Chapter 14 Splendid Culture and Magnificent Scenery---A summary of China’s W orld Heritages1.How many Chinese cultural resorts have been inscribed into the List ofWorld Heritage in China?2.How many Chinese natural resorts have been inscribed into the List of WorldHeritage in China?3.What mostly impresses you of those entries? Why?4.What much do you know about the Dual Cultural-natural Heritages in China?5.What attitude do you think we should retain toward the World Heritages in aglobal perspective?6.Can you mention some entries of the kind in foreign countries?Chapter 15 Meticulous Craftsmanship1.Can you sense the cultural elements out of Chinese jade handicrafts?2.What is the historic implication cast into Chinese bronze products?3.Can you pick up an example of pottery, then porcelain to illustrate theevolving course of Chinese civilization?4.What places in China manufacture or weave the choice silk products in theancient and present day? Work out its cultural and historic implications.5.Have you seen the bamboo products like fans, mosquito-nets and wallhangings, as fine as the wing of a cicada? Dig out something out of it.。