中國智慧-文化面面觀 課件匯總 UNIT 1 Chinese Visionaries and Crusades-UNIT 5 Chinese Food and Environment

UNIT1

ChineseVisionariesandCrusades

LearningObjectivesHumanismandConfucianismBiographyofLinZexu123LinZexuandInternationalDayagainstDrugAbuseandIllicitTrafficking.China?Thereliesasleepinggiant.Lethimsleep!Forwhenhewakes,hewillmovetheworld.--NapoleonIthinktheriseofChinaisoneofthegreateventsofalleconomicandhumanhistory,andIthinkthiswillbeapositivethingfortheregionandtheworld.--PaulKeatingQuotationsText WordsandEXPRESSIONSUnderstandinghetextLanguageexercisesReadingWarmingup Whatisopium? WhatweretheOpiumWars? Whatarethepharmacologicallyactiveprinciplesofopium? Whataresideeffectsofopium?LinZexuandInternationalDayagainstDrugAbuseandIllicit

TraffickingTheOpiumWarsweretwoarmedconflictsinChinainthemid-19thcenturybetweenforcesofWesterncountriesandoftheQingdynasty.ThefirstOpiumWar(1839–42)wasfoughtbetweenChinaandBritain.ThesecondOpiumWar(1856–60),alsoknownastheAnglo-FrenchWarinChina,wasfoughtbyBritainandFranceagainstChina.Ineachcasetheforeignpowersweregainedcommercialprivileges

andlegalandterritorialconcessions

inChina.DaydreamVSpipedreamWenormallywanderoffintothosefancifulmomentsbecauseourbrainsaren’tgearedforasingletime-consumingtask.Thetransientlapse,however,isnotasignofabraindysfunctionbutanindicatorofhigh-levelcreativity.InEnglish,daydreamhasacurioussynonym“pipedream”.Originally,the“pipe”referstoopiumpipe,atypeofceramicpipedesignedforinhalationofvaporizedopium.Itwasoneofthefast-sellingcommoditiesinthe19thcenturywhenopiumdenswerepervasivebothintheburgeoningChinatownsoftheUnitedStatesandinthedecayingimperialdynastiesoftheFarEast.Withreclining

bunkbedsandinfoulsmoke,theseestablishmentshadacrowdofdruguserswholoungedforthemostpartofadayonbeds.Rootedtotheirdens,theyseemedtosinkintotheecstasiesofawonderlandinwhichSamuelTaylorColeridgeclaimedthathehadroamedinavisionofadreamintothesummerpalaceoftheMongolrulerandEmperorofChinaKublaiKhan.AlthoughColeridgeattributedhisromanticismpartlytotheopiuminfluence,hesaidinafitofremorseinan1814lettertoJohnMorganthattheopiumconsumptionhadbegottenvicesandheshouldhavesufferedhimself“tobecutinpieces”.Buttheattemptstorootouttheopiumvicewereseldommade,eventhoughsomepeopleinBritainhadalreadybeenlucidlyawareofthelethaleffectofthedrug.InorganizedwaywasthelargequantitiesofopiumdumpedontheChinesemarketwhereitassumedadeceptivenameFuShouGao(福壽膏),withFu（福）indicatinggoodfortunesandhappiness,whileShou(壽)thelonglife.ThepopularuseofopiumwasnotmerelyturningChinesemalecitizensintoslothfulsmokersbutcausedahugelossofnationalwealth.ThewretchedpicturewasdescribedbyLinZexuinadiplomaticlettertoQueenVictoria.WefindthatyourcountryissixtyorseventythousandlifromChina.ThepurposeofyourshipsincomingtoChinaistorealizealargeprofit.SincethisprofitisrealizedinChinaandisinfacttakenawayfromtheChinesepeople,howcanforeignersreturninjuryforthebenefittheyhavereceivedbysendingthispoisontoharmtheirbenefactors?Theymaynotintendtoharmothersonpurpose,butthefactremainsthattheyaresoobsessedwithmaterialgainthattheyhavenoconcernwhateverfortheharmtheycancausetoothers.Havetheynoconscience?Theyoungqueenwasthenmiredinacourtintrigue

andherministersdidn’tbotherthemselvestoforwardhertheletterfromthegovernor-GeneralofChina.Whileblamingthevicesofopiumsmuggling,Linalsointendedtoavoidtheconflictsbyreferringtoitasaninadvertent“error”andthebilateralrelationscouldbepatchedupbytimelycorrection.Lin’scourtesywasridiculedasravingssincefewinthecountryhadtheknowledgeofConfuciantolerance.BothColeridgeandLinweregreatdreamers,theformerbeingapipedreamerwhovaluedmostthepotentimaginationinliterarycreation,andthelatterahumanisticdreamerwhohadbelievedthatthewholeworldhadbeengovernedbymoralprinciplesanderroneouslyassumedthathecouldconvincethequeenandhisministerswithConfuciantolerance.Linwasnotcompletelyignorantofthewesternpowerwhichhadrecentlythreatenedtouseviolencetocompelhisemperortolegitimizedrugsmuggling,forhementionedShakespeare,agreatBritishhumanisticdreamer,inamemorialpresentedtoDaoguangEmperor.《巴麥尊致大清皇帝欽命宰相書》TheBritishgovernmentwasevidentlynotagreatbelieverofShakespeareanhumanism.Instead,itwasthefollowerofutilitarianBenthamism.Forexample,HenryJohnTemple,amemberofthecabinetwhohaddominatedforyearsBritishforeignpolicies,warnedintheletter“TotheMinisteroftheEmperorofChina”thatalthoughherMajestymeanttocrackdownonthedrugsmuggling,shewouldnotallowhersubjectstobehumiliatedinChina.TheChinesehumanisticdreamerthendecidedtostemthetideofopiumsmugglingandshatterintopiecesthepipedream,sincefewhealthyyoungmencouldbeconscriptedtodefendthecountryandthetreasurywasalmostbare.InMarch1839,hearrestedmorethan1700opiumdealersandconfiscatedover7000opiumpipesand2.6millionpoundsofopium.Theutilitarianqueensenthernavalfleetof16warshipsinresponse.Inhistrance,Coleridgesawanalbatrosspiercingthroughthethickcurtainofthefog,asif“ithadbeenaChristiansoul”.Thebirdwasseenasasymbolofnatureandomensofgoodluck.Similarly,Lin,asaConfuciandreamerwhovaluedthetripleharmonyofheaven,earth,andmen,wasadevoutworshipperofnature.Whentheopiumwasemptiedintotheseawithlimeandsalt,hewroteandchantedanelegytoapologizepubliclytotheseaforthepollution.令水族先期暫徙，以避其毒TheQingDynastyofChinalosttheFirstOpiumwar.ItwasamomentofawakeningforthoseChinesesomnambulistsandwouldhavebeenamomentofdefeatfortheChinesehumanistdreamer,ifhehadbeenawaketothebrutalworldwhichraninaccordancewithlawofthejungle.Hewasmadeascapegoat

andexiledtodesolateIliregioninXinjiang.ThosewhosupportedthecapitulationinthecourtlikenedhimtoZhaoQiao,alegendarycarpenterwhowasdrownbyaDragonKingfortakingforpersonalusethelampofferedasasacrifice.TheybelievedthattheexilehadpronouncedtheendofLin’spoliticalcareerandtherewasnowayforLintostageacomeback.Theoddswerethathewoulddieinbitingwindinthatuninhabitableregion.ButthedreamerwasstubbornandstillclungfirmlytohishumanistandConfuciandreams,treatingthecalumnywithdisdain.OnthebumpyroadtoXinjiang,hewasremindedofZiChan,asagaciousprimeministeroftheStateofZhenginTheSpringandAutumnPeriodwhohadbeenalsomaliciouslyslandered.HequotedZiChaninhispoemsaying“wereittobenefitmycountry,Iwouldlaydownmylife.Whatthenistheriskforme?”In1987,therewasaninternationalconferenceconvenedtochoosefromthedaysofayearthethemedayagainstdrugabuseandillicittrafficking.Linwasagaindiscussedoutofhismotherland,thistimenotasalaughingstockbutasamuch-esteemedfigurebothforhisheroicdeedsandhisloftydreamofcleansingpeopleoftheviceofopium.26JunewasultimatelychosenandwrittenintotheUNdraftandfinalresolution,foronthatdayin1839hewonthewaragainstoneoftheunmitigatedevilsinhumansociety.gearv.

geared,gear·ing,gears

v.tr.1.a.Toequipwithgears.b.Toconnectbygears.c.Toputintogear.2.Toadjustoradaptsoastomakesuitable:gearedthespeechtoaconservativeaudience.3.Toprovidewithgear;equip.r.1.Tocomeintoorbeingear.2.Toshiftatransmission:geareddowntotakethecurve.3.Tobecomeadjustedsoastofitorblend.Back

tran·si·ent

(tr?n′zē-?nt,-zh?nt,-sh?nt)adj.1.Passingwithtime;transitory:"thetransientbeautyofyouth"

(LydiaM.Child).2.Remaininginaplaceonlyabrieftime:transientlaborers.3.PhysicsDecayingwithtime,especiallyasasimpleexponentialfunctionoftime.Back

pipedream-afantasticbutvainhope(fromfantasiesinducedbytheopiumpipe);"Ihavethispipedreamaboutbeingemperoroftheuniverse"Back

burgeoning(?b??d??n??)adjrapidlydevelopingorgrowing;flourishingBack

reclinev.

re·clined,re·clin·ing,re·clines

r.1.Toleanbackorliedownonone'sback.2.Tobeadjustablesothattheoccupantmayreclineratherthansitup:aseatthatreclines.Backlounge

(lounj)v.

lounged,loung·ing,loung·es

r.1.Tomoveoractinalazy,relaxedway;loll:loungingonthesofa;loungedaroundinpajamas.2.Topasstimeidly:loungedinVenicetillJune.v.tr.Topass(time)inalazy,relaxed,oridleway:loungedthedayaway.backColeridge,SamuelTaylorColeridge,SamuelTaylor,1772–1834,Englishpoetandmanofletters,b.OtterySt.Mary,Devonshire;oneofthemostbrilliant,versatile,andinfluentialfiguresintheEnglishromanticmovement.Back

be?get(b??g?t)

v.t.be?got,be?got?ten

be?got,be?get?ting.

1.(esp.ofamaleparent)togenerate(offspring).2.toproduceasaneffect:abeliefthatpowerbegetspower.backrootoutvb(tr,adverb)toremoveoreliminatecompletely:wemustrootoutinefficiency.Back

lu·cid

(lo?o′s?d)adj.1.Clearlyexpressed;easilyunderstood:alucidanalysisoftheproblem.2.Thinkingorexpressingoneselfclearly,especiallybetweenperiodsofconfusion;clearheaded:Thefeverishpatientwaslucidnowandthen.3.Brightlylit;luminous:"AlucidyellowmoonwasrisingwhenLukewheeledhistrucktothecurbandgotout"

(WillieMorris).4.Clear;transparent:alucidstream.Back

le?thal(?liθ?l)

adj.1.oforcausingdeath;deadly;fatal:alethalweapon;alethaldose.

2.madetocausedeath:alethalinjection.

3.causinggreatharm;disastrous:Thedisclosureswerelethaltohiscandidacy.BackAdj.slothful-disinclinedtoworkorexertion;"slothfulemployeesBack原文：查該國距內(nèi)地六七萬里，而夷船爭來貿(mào)易者，為獲利之厚故耳。以中國之利外夷，是夷人所獲之厚利，皆從華民分去。豈有反以毒物害華民之理。即夷人未必有心為害，而貪利之極，不顧害人，試問天良安在？Backin·trigue

n.1.a.Asecretorunderhandscheme;aplot.b.Thepracticeoforinvolvementinsuchschemes:seizedthethronebyintrigue.backinadvertent(??n?d?v??t?nt)adj1.failingtoactcarefullyorconsiderately;inattentive2.resultingfromheedlessaction;unintentionalbackraving(?re?v??)adj1.a.delirious;frenziedb.(asadverb):ravingmad.2.informal(intensifier):aravingbeauty.n(usuallyplural)frenzied,irrational,orwildlyextravaganttalkorutterancesbacksubjectn.

1.Onewhoisundertheruleofanotherorothers,especiallyonewhoowesallegiancetoagovernmentorruler.back…,sincefewhealthyyoungmencouldbeconscriptedtodefendthecountryandthetreasurywasalmostbare林則徐曾上書道光皇帝，在奏章中提到：“中原幾無可御敵之兵,且無可充餉之銀”。Back

somnambulism(s?m?n?mbj??l?z?m)n(Psychology)aconditionthatischaracterizedbywalkingwhileasleeporinahypnotictrance.backscape·goat

(skāp′gōt′)n.Onethatismadetobeartheblameofothers.Hersupportersseeherasascapegoatforapolicythatfailed.Back

ca·pit·u·la·tion

(k?-p?ch′?-lā′sh?n)n.1.Theactofsurrenderingorgivingup:Lackoffoodandammunitionforcedthecapitulationoftherebels.2.Adocumentcontainingthetermsofsurrender.backGongsunQiao(Chinese:公孫僑;died522BC),betterknownbyhiscourtesynameZichan(Chinese:子產(chǎn)),wasastatesmanoftheStateofZhengduringtheSpringandAutumnperiodofancientChina.HisancestralsurnamewasJi(姬),andclannameGuo(國).back林則徐放逐時的心情可以在林的《赴戍登程口示家人》二首中讀出。其一：出門一笑莫心哀，浩蕩襟懷到處開，世事難從無過立，達(dá)官非自有生來，風(fēng)濤回首空三島，塵壤回頭數(shù)九垓，休信兒童輕薄語，嗤他趙老送燈臺。其二：力微任重久神疲，再竭衰庸總不支，茍利國家生死以，豈因禍福避趨之？謫居正是君恩厚，養(yǎng)拙剛于戍卒宜。戲與山妻談故事，試吟斷送老頭皮。backunmitigated(?n?m?t??ɡe?t?d)adj1.notdiminishedinintensity,severity,etc2.(prenominal)(intensifier):anunmitigateddisastebackI.Readthefollowingstatementsanddecidewhethertheyaretrue(T)orfalse(F).Daydreamingisasignofbrainimpairment,usuallyleadingtothefailureofbraintoachieveabehavioralnorm.Inthe19thcentury,opiumpipeswereusedonlyintheopiumdensofChinatown.SamuelTaylorColeridgehadanaudiencewithKublaiKhanwhenheroamedtoChina.TheBritishgovernmentunderthereignofQueenVictoriahadtriedhardtothoroughlyeliminatetheopium.InChina,OpiumassumedanothernameFuShouGao,makingthepeoplebelievethatitwaseffectivemedicine.FFFTInadiplomaticlettertothequeen,LinZexuwastryingtoavoidfurtherconflictsbyaskingpolitelyforinterventiononthepartofBritishgovernmenttostoptheopiumsmuggling.LinZexuhadnoknowledgeofBritainwhenhewrotethatdiplomaticletter,andinthissense,hewasaromanticdreamer.QueenVictoriawagedthewartocrackdownonthedrugsmugglinginhercountry.BothColeridgeandLinZexushowedtheirrespecttothenature.LinZexuwasnolongerahumanisticdreameratthemomentwhenQingforcesweredefeatedbyBritisharmy.FFFTTII.Givebriefanswerstothefollowingquestions.WhatisLinZexubestknownfor?WhywasopiumdrugallowedbytheBritishgovernmenttobedumpedonChinesemarket,butnotallowedtobeusedonBritishsoil?WhydidtheUNGeneralAssemblypassaresolutiontodecideon26thJuneofeachyearasthe“InternationalDayagainstAbuseandIllicitTrafficking”?I.TranslatethefollowingparagraphintoEnglish.提及中國，美國小說的讀者總聯(lián)想到鴉片窟，許多人以為后來毒害眾多美國青年的鴉片是從中國走私而來。ReadersofAmericanfictionassociateChinawith“opiumdens”,andmanyprobablyimaginethatthedrugsthatlaterravagedsomanyyoungAmericanswereinsidiouslyintroducedfromthere.今天的美國人一聽說中英之間有兩次鴉片戰(zhàn)爭，便以為那是英國人為取締鴉片貿(mào)易而展開的正義戰(zhàn)爭。HearingthatBritainandChinafoughttwoopiumwarsinthemid-nineteenthCentury,anAmericantodaymightsupposethattherewererighteousBritisheffortstostampouttheopiumtrade.而實(shí)際情況是，鴉片是強(qiáng)加給中國之毒品，作俑者是英國商人，他們完全不顧中國人的強(qiáng)烈反對。Infact,OpiumwaspressedonChina,overvigorousChineseobjections,byBritishmerchants;中國人禁止鴉片的進(jìn)口與食用，英國人發(fā)動對華戰(zhàn)爭，部分原因是要迫使中國答應(yīng)他們繼續(xù)銷售鴉片。theChinesetriedtoprohibitbothitsimportationanditsuse.BritainwenttowaragainstChinainparttocompeltheChinesetoacceptthecontinuedsaleofopium.鴉片戰(zhàn)爭同時也是一種旨在迫使中國開放對外貿(mào)易接受剝削，并在中國享有商業(yè)上和其他方面特權(quán)的借口。TheOpiumWarswerealsopretextstoforceChinaopentoforeigntradeandexploitation,andtowrestspecialcommercialandotherprivilegesfromChina.第一次鴉片戰(zhàn)爭中，英國奪取了香港，獲得了所指定的五個通商口岸，并為西方人贏得了更多的特權(quán)。BritaintookHongKonginthefirstOpiumWar,securedthedesignationoffive“treatyports”,andwonrightsofextraterritorialityforitscitizensinChina.

II.Fillintheblankswiththewordsorexpressionsprovided,andchangetheformifnecessary.“l(fā)ocal”or“native” 200 alternative banned coldweapon collectiveshame cravefor Frenchgunpowderarms MingDynasty Opiumwar poppyplantation nationalhumiliationOpiumWars

Opiumwasabundantwithrich1.____________inBritain’sIndianinthefirsthalfof19thcentury.Itwas2._________inGreatBritain,allowingitsuseonlyinverysmallamountsinredwineandinlaudanum,adrugusedtoreducepainandanxietyatthattime.Sincetheycouldnotsellthedrugbackhome,Britishopiummerchantswas3.___________anewmarket.TherewerenobettermarketsthanChina,whichwasjustopeninguptoforeigntrade.WhendiplomaticeffortstointroduceopiumtotheChinesemarketfailed,theBritishparliamentdecidedonan4._________:war.TpoppyplantationsbannedcravingforalternativeAlthoughsomeQingsoldiershadfirearms,mostofthemwerearmedwithknives,spears,bowsandmanyother5._____________,whiletheBritishmilitarywereequippedwithmucheffective6._____________.ThecannonsofQingforceswereknownastuqiangtupao(土槍土炮),literaryreferringtothe7.___________guns.GunpowderandfirearmswereinventedinChina,buttheyhadseldomusedinthewars.coldweaponscoldweapons“l(fā)ocal”or“native”ThegunsusedbytheQingforcesintheopiumwarweremodelledontheWesterngunsintroducedtoChinain8._____________.Thegunswerecalledfolangji,atermoriginallyreferringtotheFrenchpeopleandthings,whilethecannonswereknownasRed-yiCannon(HongYiPao)andthe“birdmusket(NiaoChong).TheQingweaponswereabout9.____________yearsbehindtheBritishweapons,distantlyinferiorintechnologyandmanufacture.Incontrast,theBritishboastedthemostadvancedweaponsintheworld.MingDynasty200Thereweretwowars,onefrom1839to1842andanotherfrom1856to1860.Theyaretogetherknownasthe10.___________.TheBritish,whowerejoinedby11.___________andsupportedbyAmericansandRussians,hadbeenatwarwithChina.TodayWesternWorldchoosestoforgetthewars,perhapsoutofasenseof12.___________.ButinChina,theOpiumWarsarestillsymbolicof13.___________atthehandsoftheWesternpowers.OpiumwarsFrenchCollectiveshameNationalhumiliationIII.RetellthestoryabouttheLinZexu.IV.Introducetoyourclassmatesthefollowingfamouspeopleinhistory.YanFuZuoZongtangZanTianyouShengBaozhengV.CriticalthinkingTherehasbeenavoiceinWesternWorldwhichimputethewartoChina’sXenophobiawhichleduptoChina’sclose-borderpolicy.DoyouagreethatthemoralblameliedwithChina?IfyouwereLinZexu,whowascommissionedtobantheorganizedsmugglingsilentlyapprovedbyBritishgovernmentin1839,what’syourreplytotheunwarrantedcharge?WriteadiplomaticlettertotheQueenVictoria.ReadingThefollowingtwostoriesaretakenfromOnaChineseScreenbyWilliamSomersetMaugham,afamousEnglishdramatistandnovelist.In1921,Mr.MaughamtraveledthroughChina.Hisimpressionsofplacesandpersonswasrecordedinthebook.Thestoriesrevealtotheirreadersthatwhenthenationalpathwasbesetwithdifficulties,thepeople’sliveswerefraughtwithtroublesandhardships.Choosethebestanswertoeachofthefollowingquestions.1.Whydoesthecooliefitthelandscape?A.Becausehisclothesagreewithhissocialposition.B.Becauseyouoftencomeacrosssuchacooliebearinghisloadonsucharoad.C.Becausehisblueclothesfitthebluesky,thericefieldsandgreenhills.D.Theauthorlikesblue,remindinghimoftheboundlesssky.2.Thedescriptionthat"Theyaregood-naturedfacesandfrank,youwouldhavesaid,ifithadnotbeendrilledintoyouthattheorientalisinscrutable"showsthat____.A.theyaresimplygoodnaturedinappearanceB.awesternershouldalwayskeepadistanceawayfromthemC.theOrientalsaresly,andonemustbecautiousintheirassociationwiththemD."I"wasrepeatedlytaughtthattheyareincomprehensible3.Fromthedescriptioninthe3rdparagraph,weknowthattheyare_____.A.verythinanddeformedB.sufferingfromheartattacksC.verysatisfiedwiththeirworkD.patientsyouoftenfoundintheout-patients'roomQuestionsforcriticalthinking:Whosangthesongoftheriver?Whyisitcalledthesongoftheriver?Howdoesitresembletheriver’sflow?Whatisthemeaningofthesong?UNIT2ChineseScholarsandNationalcharacterLearningObjectivesWhatisnationalCharacter?BiographyofGuHongminandLinYutang123Whatispsychologicalface?Inthelastanalysis,ournationalfuturedependsuponournationalcharacter,thatis,whetheritisspirituallyormateriallyminded. --RogerBabsonWatchyourthoughts;theybecomewords.Watchyourwords;theybecomeactions.Watchyouractions;theybecomecharacter.Watchyourcharacter;itbecomesdestiny.--ZhuangZi積思成言，積言成行，積行成習(xí)，積習(xí)成性，積性成命WarmingupWhatisthemeaningofnationalcharacter?WhoisLinYutang?WhoisGuHongming?WhendidLinYutangpublishhisfirstbook?WhatlanguagesdidGuHongmingspeak?

TheCharacterofChinesePeople

Atthedawnof19thcentury,JamesWatteffectivelyimprovedhissteamenginewhichnotonlyignitedthefireofindustryrevolutionbutpropelledthegiantvesselsofmigrants,traders,slavetrafficdealersandsoldiers.Thefirstcontactswithforeigntribesorcitizensonforeignsoilorislandsmusthavebeenaneerieexperiencefromwhichanassortmentofsentimentswelledup.Theunintelligentlanguage,outlandishcostumes,ridiculouscustoms,bizarrefolkloresand“absurd”beliefmusthavefilledtheearlyroamerswithshockedamazementandconfusingtrepidation.Thiscuriousothernesssoongaveabirthtothecrazeofdebateoverracialtraitsandnationalcharacter.JohnBullorJohnSmithandUncleSamwerecharacterizedcomicallyinvariousdocumentsandliteraryworks.Mr.Bullwasashopkeeperwithatophat.Hehadwell-developedbody,fairlydevelopedmind,andundevelopedheart.ItdawnedonOscarWildethatUncleSam,comfortablydressedandwitha“dreadfulchimney-pothat”,alwaysworeanairofcomfortintheappearance.ThesameobserverwanderedintoChinaTown“peopledbystrange,melancholy”Chinesecoolies,andfoundthatthoselaborersweredrinking“teaoutofChinacupsasdelicateasthepetals”ofroseleaves.TheChinesebillwas“madeoutonricepaper(宣紙),theaccountbeingdoneinIndianinkasfantasticallyasifanartistbeenetchinglittlebirdsonafan”.NotonlywasMr.WildewatchingtheChinesewithcuriosity.InthefollowingyearafterhepublishedhisImpressionsofAmericainwhichthe“Orientals”heencounteredonthatidleafternoonwerecalledartists,ArthurHSmith,aretiredmissionarywhohaddwelledinChinafor54years,producedhisChineseCharacteristics,acollectionofcomical,sarcasticessays.ThebookdwellsuponsomebadmannersandloathsomepracticesheidentifiedindailylifeofChinesepeopleinthelastdecadesofQingDynasty.ThefirstessayisaboutChinesepsychologicalface.AsaChinaexpertwhoknewwellChineselanguage,hemadefulluseofthemultiplemeaningsofTai(臺)toemphasizehispoints.TheChinesecharacterusuallyreferstoanerectedstructureofearthorwood,asitisin月臺、講臺(platform)or舞臺(stage)，butitmaybeusedasarespectfuladdressinsuchphrasalnounsas臺鑒、臺覽(yourperusalofaletter)，臺教(youradvice)and謹(jǐn)遵臺命(obeyyourinstructions).DuetoChina’sunusual“theatrical”enthusiasm,ArthurassumedthatChinesewereactorsonthestageandinthereallifeandfeltoffendediftheyhadn’t“gotoffthestagewithcredit”.Itwouldbeveryunwisetothwarttheirperformanceofbeingaself-importanthero.ThesociallifeinChinawasthereforeapurematterofcomputinganddistributingthevalueofface.IfafaceofaChinesewereproperlyvaluedandsaved,hewoulddoyouafavornexttimebypubliclydefendingyourfragileself-respect.Likeapebbledroppedintoaserenelake,thecircularrippleswouldtravelafar.Twoopposingbattlearraysweresoonformed,eachstandingreadyforfightingforChineseface.Amongthoseeloquentscholar-sophistsintheRepublicofChina(1911-1949),twoFujianese,GuHongmingandLinYutanghadarrestedmostattentionofChinesenationals.Plaitinghishairattheback,Mr.GuwasperhapsthestaunchestdefenderofChineseface.InhisessayArthurSmithinChina,thedefender,whoalsospokeGermanywithfacility,quotedfromGothetheremarktotheeffectthatphilistinestendedtoimposetheirlifestyleuponotherpeoples.ThisphilistinebeliefofcourserancountertoGu’sConfucianfaithwhosedoctrinesdissuadedpeoplefromimposinguponotherswhattheythemselvesdidnotwant.HeaddedthatJohnSmithhadbeenstrivingforbeingsuperiortootherethnicgroups,andArthurSmithwasnowofferingconcoctedevidencetoprovethatwildhypothesis.TheconcealedintentionofwritingsuchabookwastodiscreditChinesepeople.Mr.Guwasateacher,andwheneverhewasneededtofightforChineseface,heimmediatelyassumedaninstructivetone.“Hewasamanofcharacter”,saidMaugham,oneofthegreatestEnglishessayists,whenhisinvitationmetaflatrefusal.Hethendecidedtopayavisittothat“cross-grainedoldfellow”inahutofChengDu.He[Gu]wasanoldman,tall,withathingreyqueue,andbrightlargeeyesunderwhichwereheavybags.Histeethwerebrokenanddiscolored.Hewasexceedinglythin,andhishands,fineandsmall,werewitheredandclaw-like.….Hewasveryshabbilydressedinablackgown,alittlebackcap,bothmuchtheworseforwear,anddarkgreytrousersgarteredattheankle.Hewaswatching.Buttheordinary-look,decrepitoldmanwasa“polemistandafighter”,hetalkedvehementlyaboutthecanonsofConfuciusandbitterlyupbraidedtheoverseasstudentswhoreturnedto“teardowntheoldestcivilizationwithsacrilegioushand”.Heassertedtothevisitorthat“whenyoulivedincavesandclothedyourselfwithskins,wewereaculturedpeople”.AgreatdealofChinesefacewassaved!LinYutang,Gu’sjuniorcountryfolk,observedthatGuwas“acrankbutnotabore,forhewasafirst-classmindandhehad,aboveall,insightanddepththatnomaninmygenerationhad.NomaninChinawroteEnglishthewayhedid”.Likehisseniorby30yearswhoseancestralhouselayalsointheneighborhood,LinYutanginvolvedhimselfinthediscussionof“Chineseface”withtheessayWhatIsFace.Unlikehissenior,whodefendedChinesefacebynegatingArthur’squalificationforthedebateontheissue,heaffirmedthedistressingsymptomoftheChinese’stheatricalattitudeandfurtherpointedoutthatnotuntilDameFacewasdeportedfromthecountrywouldthefavorandprivilegethathadaccordedsmallminorityberevoked.Mr.Lincertainlyknewthatlosingfacewasanembarrassedorevenhumiliatedexperience,butifsavingfaceonlyprolongedaninherentevil,thenthecostoflosingfacemustbepaid.Evidently,thetwoscho