第十讲：中美人民个性特征.docVIP

Lecture 10: Differences between Chinese Culture and American Culture Features of Chinese Culture (1）political system: long-standing feudalist imperial highly centralized governance. (2). national composition: relatively single-nationality state with the overwhelming population of Han nationality Chinese. (3). Ideological Source: Confucianism（Benevolence, Righteousness, propriety, knowledge sincerity），national belief and practice in “Official Standard”, obedience to the authorities at all levels. (4). Social state: national unification, political harmony, social stability，collectivism or group psychology in terms of ideological and intellectual conformity, behavioral agreement in daily life and in workplaces, even in customs and conventions as a result of national unicity（民族单一性），i.e. the nationality. (5). National character: lack of the spirit of criticism, of individualism, of adventure and creativity. National servility. (6). Life philosophy: pursuit of simple, safe, peaceful family life based on family-tie-orientated harmony. The happiness and bliss are acquired from the intrinsic other than from extrinsic. 10.2. Chinese Character 10.2.1 Mellowness (老成温厚) “Character” is a typical English word. Apart from the English, few nations have laid such stress on character in their ideal of education and manhood as the Chinese.(出英国人之外，很少有哪个国家像中国人这样重视性格的培养。) The Chinese seem to be so preoccupied with it that in their whole philosophy they have not been able to think of anything else. Today devoid of any extra-mundane interests（即对世俗的欲望不存在任何非分的妄想）, and without any getting involved in any religious clap-trap( 奢谈)，this ideal of building of character has ,through the influence of their literature, theatre, and proverbs, permeated to the lowest peasant, and provided him with a philosophy of life. But while the English word “character” suggests strength, courage” ,“guts” (有种) and looking merely glum(郁闷) in moments of anger or disappointment, the Chinese word for “character ” brings