This article explores Chinese science fiction writer Liu Cixin＇s 刘慈欣 novelette ＂The Poetry Cloud＂ （Shi yun, 1997） by contextualizing it within the debate between scientism and humanism in 1990s China, an even...This article explores Chinese science fiction writer Liu Cixin＇s 刘慈欣 novelette ＂The Poetry Cloud＂ （Shi yun, 1997） by contextualizing it within the debate between scientism and humanism in 1990s China, an event that has been downplayed in its significance in shaping Liu＇s ideas. The first section of this article will investigate how the narrative framework of science fiction represents and refreshes the symbolic meaning of poetry in the abovementioned context. Secondly, by analyzing the three main characters, Yiyi, Big-tooth, and Li Bai, with a focus on their perceptions of poetry, the next section will discuss the different opinions they represent with regard to the debate. Finally, by studying Liu＇s work in the context of Martin Heidegger＇s reflections upon technology, the last section examines his solution to the tension between scientism and humanism in the programming of a poetry cloud that marries poetic imagination with technological means. This article argues that the story demonstrates how Liu, a technological elite, vacillates between technological determinism and humanism, and tries to provide a possible solution to their inherent contradictions.展开更多
A great deal of research on the Korean War has focused on the military, politics, economy and international affairs, and far less on the religious, particularly the Buddhist, perspective. The Korean War exerted a trem...A great deal of research on the Korean War has focused on the military, politics, economy and international affairs, and far less on the religious, particularly the Buddhist, perspective. The Korean War exerted a tremendous impact on institutional Buddhism, and consequently Buddhists were heavily involved. This paper examines the history of Chinese Buddhist participation in the ＂Resisting America and Assisting Korea Campaign＂ from Buddhist perspectives such as political propaganda, material donations especially the donation of the ＂Chinese Buddhist Airplane,＂ and the enlistment of young monks into the People＇s Volunteer Army （the PVA）. The paper will then look into social and political factors involved in Buddhist leaders＇ reinterpretation of Buddhist doctrines to justify participation in the campaign, as a response to the surge of patriotism in Chinese society. This kind of investigation may shed light on the relationship between institutional Buddhism and politics in the new socialist society of China after 1949.展开更多
On the December 25,2020,Prof.Lu Jie,the Emeritus Professor and former Dean of the Faculty of Education at Nanjing Normal University passed away.The sudden news struck me and recalled my nearly 30 years’friendship wit...On the December 25,2020,Prof.Lu Jie,the Emeritus Professor and former Dean of the Faculty of Education at Nanjing Normal University passed away.The sudden news struck me and recalled my nearly 30 years’friendship with Prof.Lu since 1991,stirring up also my memories of pre-1949 Christian colleges of China,and the promotion of“education of love”at Ginling College and Nanjing Normal University,from the time of Prof.Wu Yifang,Prof.Minnie Vautrin,Prof.Tao Xingzhi and Prof.Lu Jie.In this paper,I shall recall the various meetings with Prof.Lu Jie,and how her life has inspired my re-thinking of the development of“education of love”in China.I shall relate especially her humanistic educational ideals,especially the“education for life”and“cultivating human beings”with Prof.Tao Xingzhi’s“education of love.”Their educational ideals reflected the humanistic education taught at the University of Nanking and Ginling College in the first half of 20th century China.Though the two colleges had brought in a Western style of education,they had exemplified good models of indigenization,especially regarding how humanistic education could become Sinifized in Chinese soil today.展开更多
Many contemporary Islamic terrorist groups have been identified as forms of religious fundamentalism.Moreover,the narratives and representations constructed by many of these groups contain traces of religious fundamen...Many contemporary Islamic terrorist groups have been identified as forms of religious fundamentalism.Moreover,the narratives and representations constructed by many of these groups contain traces of religious fundamentalism.In this article,ETIM/TIP’s narratives and representations are examined as a case study.The group’s power discourses as they relate to religious fundamentalism are analyzed through examining the group’s rhetoric of its own origin,its current situation,and its reactions toward this situation.The power discourse of an unconventional“Orientalism”and the use of behaviorist logic are especially emphasized.Furthermore,the presence of behaviorism in religious fundamentalist narratives suggests the need for China to revise its official national counterterrorist discourse.Instead of continuing the current behaviorist rhetoric in the legal framework,this article suggests a deconstruction-ultimately,a discouragement-of religious behaviorism to prevent the radicalization of Muslims in the country.展开更多
文摘This article explores Chinese science fiction writer Liu Cixin＇s 刘慈欣 novelette ＂The Poetry Cloud＂ （Shi yun, 1997） by contextualizing it within the debate between scientism and humanism in 1990s China, an event that has been downplayed in its significance in shaping Liu＇s ideas. The first section of this article will investigate how the narrative framework of science fiction represents and refreshes the symbolic meaning of poetry in the abovementioned context. Secondly, by analyzing the three main characters, Yiyi, Big-tooth, and Li Bai, with a focus on their perceptions of poetry, the next section will discuss the different opinions they represent with regard to the debate. Finally, by studying Liu＇s work in the context of Martin Heidegger＇s reflections upon technology, the last section examines his solution to the tension between scientism and humanism in the programming of a poetry cloud that marries poetic imagination with technological means. This article argues that the story demonstrates how Liu, a technological elite, vacillates between technological determinism and humanism, and tries to provide a possible solution to their inherent contradictions.
文摘A great deal of research on the Korean War has focused on the military, politics, economy and international affairs, and far less on the religious, particularly the Buddhist, perspective. The Korean War exerted a tremendous impact on institutional Buddhism, and consequently Buddhists were heavily involved. This paper examines the history of Chinese Buddhist participation in the ＂Resisting America and Assisting Korea Campaign＂ from Buddhist perspectives such as political propaganda, material donations especially the donation of the ＂Chinese Buddhist Airplane,＂ and the enlistment of young monks into the People＇s Volunteer Army （the PVA）. The paper will then look into social and political factors involved in Buddhist leaders＇ reinterpretation of Buddhist doctrines to justify participation in the campaign, as a response to the surge of patriotism in Chinese society. This kind of investigation may shed light on the relationship between institutional Buddhism and politics in the new socialist society of China after 1949.
文摘On the December 25,2020,Prof.Lu Jie,the Emeritus Professor and former Dean of the Faculty of Education at Nanjing Normal University passed away.The sudden news struck me and recalled my nearly 30 years’friendship with Prof.Lu since 1991,stirring up also my memories of pre-1949 Christian colleges of China,and the promotion of“education of love”at Ginling College and Nanjing Normal University,from the time of Prof.Wu Yifang,Prof.Minnie Vautrin,Prof.Tao Xingzhi and Prof.Lu Jie.In this paper,I shall recall the various meetings with Prof.Lu Jie,and how her life has inspired my re-thinking of the development of“education of love”in China.I shall relate especially her humanistic educational ideals,especially the“education for life”and“cultivating human beings”with Prof.Tao Xingzhi’s“education of love.”Their educational ideals reflected the humanistic education taught at the University of Nanking and Ginling College in the first half of 20th century China.Though the two colleges had brought in a Western style of education,they had exemplified good models of indigenization,especially regarding how humanistic education could become Sinifized in Chinese soil today.
文摘Many contemporary Islamic terrorist groups have been identified as forms of religious fundamentalism.Moreover,the narratives and representations constructed by many of these groups contain traces of religious fundamentalism.In this article,ETIM/TIP’s narratives and representations are examined as a case study.The group’s power discourses as they relate to religious fundamentalism are analyzed through examining the group’s rhetoric of its own origin,its current situation,and its reactions toward this situation.The power discourse of an unconventional“Orientalism”and the use of behaviorist logic are especially emphasized.Furthermore,the presence of behaviorism in religious fundamentalist narratives suggests the need for China to revise its official national counterterrorist discourse.Instead of continuing the current behaviorist rhetoric in the legal framework,this article suggests a deconstruction-ultimately,a discouragement-of religious behaviorism to prevent the radicalization of Muslims in the country.
