中国文化英语教程Unit2

中国文化英语教程Unit2第1页/共53页Unit2Laozi’sPhilosophyofNon-action第2页/共53页ContentLead-inTextstudyExercises第3页/共53页“TheDaothatcanbetroddenisnottheenduringandunchangingDao.Thenamethatcanbenamedisnottheenduringandunchangingname.(Conceivedofas)havingnoname,itistheOriginatorofheavenandearth;(conceivedofas)havinganame,itistheMotherofallthings.”Lead-inWhat’stheChineseversionoftheselines?道可道非常道名可名非常名无名天地之始有名万物之母第4页/共53页IntroductionNaturalnessandNon-actionThePhilosophyofNon-contentionReturningtoNewbornStateTextstudy第5页/共53页IntroductionLaozi(about571-471BC),alsocalledLaodan,surnameLi,givennameRanandaliasBoyang.Hewasarecluse(隐居者)wholivedduringtheSpringandAutumnPeriod.Hewassaidtohaveonceheldalowcivilpositionintheroyalcourt,inchargeofarchivalrecordsoftheZhouDynasty.Laozi第6页/共53页Laoziwasamanofgreatlearning.EvenConfuciuswassaidtohavetraveledmilestoconsulthim.ConfuciusconsultingLaoziaboutli

Introduction第7页/共53页AdditionalInfoWhyisLiRanknownasLaoziratherthanLizi?Therearetwoexplanationsastothesourceof“Laozi”.SomesayduringtheperiodwhenLiRanwasalive,LaoandLiwerepronouncedinthesameway.So“Laozi”actuallysoundedthesameas“Lizi”atthattime.ThesecondlegendisthatLiRanwasbornwithwhiteeyebrowandwhitebeardlikeanoldman.Thushewascalled“Laozi”.Introduction第8页/共53页Laozi(《老子》),alsoknownasClassicoftheWayandVirtue(DaoDeJing.TheauthorisgenerallybelievedtobeLaozi.Itconsistsofjustover5,000Chinesecharacters.Its81chaptersaredividedintotwoparts,Dao(theWay)andDe(Virtue).IntroductionLaozi第9页/共53页ThebookhasplayedatremendousroleinthedevelopmentofChineseculture.ItbecamethebasisofDaoism,theschoolofphilosophyparalleltoConfucianisminancientChina.ThethoughtofLaoziformedthefoundationofDaoism,themostinfluentialindigenousschoolofreligioninChina.IntroductionTheinfluenceofLaozi第10页/共53页Italsoexertsadirectimpactonthecharacteristics,trendsofthoughtandaestheticsensibilitiesoftheChinesenationandisstillplayingaroleinthedevelopmentofChinesethinking.Introduction第11页/共53页FamousversionsofitstranslationincludethatofJamesLeggeandthatofStephenMitchell.Laoziintheworld

ItisfirstintroducedintoEuropepossiblyasearlyasthe15thcenturyIthasbecomeoneofthemosttranslatedphilosophicalworksofancientChina.AdditionalInfoIntroduction第12页/共53页ThecoreofLaozi’sphilosophyManyofLaozi’senlighteningviewsarebasedonhisphilosophyofnaturalnessandnon-action.Introduction第13页/共53页NaturalnessandNon-actionNaturalness(顺应自然)Itreferstoanaturalstateofbeing,anattitudeoffollowingthewayofnature.Everythingintheworldhasitsownwayofbeinganddevelopment.Naturalphenomenaoccurindependentlyandnaturallywithoutfollowinganyhumanwill,andhumansshouldnottrytochangeanythingnatural.第14页/共53页Followingthewayofnatureisthewaytoresolvingconflictsbetweenhumansandtheworld.NaturalnessandNon-action第15页/共53页Non-actionistheguaranteeof“naturalness”.Non-action(无为)NaturalnessandNon-action第16页/共53页Bysaying“(DaoortheWay)actsthroughnon-action”,Laozididnotmeanthatoneshoulddonothingandpassivelywaitforsomethingtobeachieved.Neitherdidhedenyhumancreativity.Whathemeantisthathumanenterprisesshouldbebuiltonthebasisofnaturalness,notonanyattemptstointerrupttherhythmofnature.Humancreativityshouldbeincompliancewiththewaysofnature.NaturalnessandNon-action“(DaoortheWay)actsthroughnon-action(无为而无不为).”—SelectedfromLaoziHowdoyouunderstandthisline?第17页/共53页“Greatingenuityappearstobestupidity(大智若愚).”—SelectedfromLaoziHowdoyouunderstandthisline?“Greatingenuity”referstothehighestlevelofingenuity,arisingsonaturallythatitdoesnotresembleingenuityatall.Ingenuitycanbeachievedthroughhumaneffort,but“greatingenuity”issuperiortoordinaryingenuity.NaturalnessandNon-action第18页/共53页DeceitToLaozi,resortingtodeceitistruefutilityandwouldaccomplishjusttheoppositeresult.Thosewhointendtoplaytricksarenotgenuineandthereforearenotnatural.Deceitisdetrimentaltonaturalnessandtotheharmonyoflife.NaturalnessandNon-action第19页/共53页ThePhilosophyofNon-contentionOnthebasisof“naturalness”and“non-action”,Laoziproposedtheviewof“overcomingthestrongbybeingweak(以柔克刚)”.TheeraLaozilivedinwasrepletewithendlesswar.OvercomingthestrongbybeingweakWarwasanimportantthemeforLaozi,andanti-warthinkingwasthenorm.第20页/共53页ThePhilosophyofNon-contentionAccordingtoLaozi,warspringsfromhumanity’sbloateddesires.Conflictsarisesoutofpeople’sstruggletosatisfytheirdesires,andconflictescalatesintowar.Humanstrivingandcompetitivestrifeistherootcauseofdecline;desiringnothingisthenaturalwayoflife.Therefore,Laozi’sphilosophyisbasedon“non-contention”.第21页/共53页ThePhilosophyofNon-contention第22页/共53页“Thegreatestvirtueislikewater.”Laozicomparedhisphilosophyof“non-contention”towater,todistinguishitfromthelawofjungle.ThePhilosophyofNon-contention“Thegreatestvirtueislikewater.”第23页/共53页

上善若水，水善利万物而不争，处众人之所恶，

故几于道。

居善地，心善渊，与善仁，言善信，事善能，

动善时，夫惟不争，故无尤。

——《老子·八章》AdditionalInfoThePhilosophyofNon-contention第24页/共53页上善若水，水善利万物而不争，处众人之所恶，故几于道。Legge:Thehighestexcellenceislike(thatof)water.Theexcellenceofwaterappearsinitsbenefitingallthings,andinitsoccupying,withoutstriving(tothecontrary),thelowplacewhichallmendislike.Hence(itsway)isnearto(thatof)theTao.AdditionalInfoThePhilosophyofNon-contentionMitchell:Thesupremegoodislikewater,whichnourishesallthingswithouttryingto.Itiscontentwiththelowplacesthatpeopledisdain.ThusitisliketheTao.第25页/共53页居善地，心善渊，与善仁，言善信，事善能，动善时，Legge:Theexcellenceofaresidenceisin(thesuitabilityof)theplace;thatofthemindisinabysmalstillness;thatofassociationsisintheirbeingwiththevirtuous;thatofgovernmentisinitssecuringgoodorder;thatof(theconductof)affairsisinitsability;andthatof(theinitiationof)anymovementisinitstimeliness.Mitchell:Indwelling,liveclosetotheground.Inthinking,keeptothesimple.Inconflict,befairandgenerous.Ingoverning,don’ttrytocontrol.Inwork,dowhatyouenjoy.Infamilylife,becompletelypresent.ThePhilosophyofNon-contention第26页/共53页夫惟不争，故无尤。Legge:Andwhen(onewiththehighestexcellence)doesnotwrangle(abouthislowposition),noonefindsfaultwithhim.Mitchell:Whenyouarecontenttobesimplyyourselfanddon’tcompareorcompete,everybodywillrespectyou.ThePhilosophyofNon-contention第27页/共53页ThephilosophyofLaoziisbynomeansweak.Onthecontrary,itisfullofstrength.Waterisatypicalexampleoftheweakwinningoverthestrong.Waterisinvinciblebecauseitdesiresnothingandcontendsfornothing.“Nothingintheworldisweakerthanwater.Yetnothingisstrongerthanwaterwhenitcomestobreakingsomethingstrong(天下莫柔弱于水，而攻坚强者莫之能胜。).”—SelectedfromLaoziThePhilosophyofNon-contention第28页/共53页“人之生也柔弱，其死也坚强。草木之生也柔弱，其死也枯槁。故坚强者死之徒，柔弱者生之徒。强大处下，柔弱处上。”(选自《老子·七十六章》)Manathisbirthissuppleandweak;athisdeath,firmandstrong.(Soitiswith)allthings.Treesandplants,intheirearlygrowth,aresoftandbrittle;attheirdeath,dryandwithered.Thusitisthatfirmnessandstrengtharetheconcomitantsofdeath;softnessandweakness,theconcomitantsoflife.Thereforetheplaceofwhatisfirmandstrongisbelow,andthatofwhatissoftandweakisabove.ThePhilosophyofNon-contentionAdditionalInfo第29页/共53页ThePhilosophyofNon-contention第30页/共53页ReturningtoaNewbornStateLaozisawtheworldasamaddingcrowdofvanity.Hechosetoliveasimple,quietlife,andtokeephismindundisturbedinthefaceoftemptation.Hesaidhewouldratherremaina“newbornbaby”.Anewbornstate第31页/共53页HowdoyouunderstandLaozi’s“newbornbaby”state?ReturningtoaNewbornStateThestateofthenewbornisfreeofanyknowledge,desire,impurityorfalsehood.Whenhumanbeingscomeintotheworld,thegraduallyacquireexternalknowledgeandacceptsocialnorms.Ashumansmature,theybecomemoreandmorehypocritical.Theprocessofacculturationistheprocessoflosingone’strueself.第32页/共53页ThisdoesnotmeanLaoziwantedtoremainchildishlyignorant.Laozi’sstateofthenewbornrefersto“completeinnocence”.Laozibelievedthatsages—peoplewiththehighestvirtue—allresemblednewborns.Thehighestlevelofone’scultivationwastoreturntothe“completeinnocence”ofanewbornbaby.ReturningtoaNewbornState第33页/共53页ToLaozi,civilizationistoacertaindegreeadeparturefromthe“trueself”.Thedevelopmentofhumancultureisaprocessof“decoration”.Such“decorations”oftenturnintobloateddesires.Desire-driven,humanbeingsfightanddeceiveoneanother,leadingtowar.ReturningtoaNewbornState第34页/共53页Desiredisturbspeaceofmind.Ifimmersedinaseaofdesire,intheendhumanswouldbesubmerged.“Beautifulcolorsblindtheeyes,complexmusicharmstheears,richflavorsnumbtaste,whileridingandhuntingmaddenthemind(五色令人目盲；五音令人耳聋；五味令人口爽；驰骋畋猎，令人心发狂。).”—SelectedfromLaoziBloateddesirehasdamagedtheexternalworldaswellaspoisonedthehumanmind.ReturningtoaNewbornState第35页/共53页ReturningtoaNewbornState第36页/共53页ExercisesComprehensionCommunicationApplication第37页/共53页Comprehensionl.SkimmingandScanning

Gothroughthepassagequicklyandjudgewhetherthefollowingstatementsaretrue(T)orfalse(F)accordingtothepassage.___1)LaoziisalengthybookontheWayandVirtue,whichhasplayedanimportantroleinChineseculture.___2)AccordingtoLaozi'sphilosophyofnaturalness,manshouldnotattempttomanipulatenature.___3)Laozi'sphilosophyofnon-actionadvocateshumansactfollowingthelawsofnature.FTT第38页/共53页___4)Thestoryofa“uselesstree”mentionedinParagraph7mainlytellsusthatsomelivingthingsinnaturecansurviveothersbecauseoftheirnaturalness.___5)Thephilosophyofnon-contentionstatesthatkeepingman’sdesireavidcanhelpresolveconflicts,thusavoidingwars.___6)Laozi'sphilosophyof“non-contention”iscomparabletothelawofthejungle.TFFComprehension第39页/共53页___7)AccordingtoLaozi,whenitcomestobreakingthestrong,thestrengthofwaterissuperiortoanythingelse.___8)Thebasicwaytoprosperityistokeepsuperiorineveryway.___9)Laoziwouldratherremaina“newbornbaby”,becauseithasnothingtoworryabout.___10)AccordingtoLaozi,theprocessofaman'sgrowingupisthatoflosinghistrueego.TFFTComprehension第40页/共53页Other

name(s)Time

of

writingLengthSignificanceInternational

influenceII.CarefulReading1.ReadthefirsttwoparagraphsandfillinthefollowingtablewiththeinformationaboutthebookLaozi.ComprehensionClassicoftheWayandVirtue(DaoDeJing)Aroundthe6thcenturyBCAbout5,000Chinesecharactersin81chaptersAdirectimpactonthecharacteristics,trendsofthought,

andaestheticsensibilitiesoftheChinesenationFirstintroducedintoEuropeasearlyasthe15thcenturyandoneofthemosttranslated

philosophicalworksofancientChina第41页/共53页2.Readthepassagecarefullyandfillinthefollowingblankswiththemissinginformation.1)Laozi’sthoughthasagreatinfluenceonthe

,

and

oftheChinesepeople.

2)Theexamplesofbirds,fish,cloudsandflowersareusedtoillustratethat__________________

.3)Thedifferencebetweengreatingenuityandordinaryingenuityliesinthefactthat_______________________________________________

__________________.Comprehensioncharacteristicstrendsofthoughtaestheticsensibilitieseverythingintheworldhasitsownwayofbeinganddevelopmentthelatter

canbeachievedthroughhumaneffort,buttheformerissuperiortothelatter第42页/共53页4)Inordertobecomestrong,oneshould

insteadof

.6)Thehighestlevelofone’scultivationistoreturntothestateofanewbornbaby,whoisfreeofanyknowledge,

,__.7)Peoplefightanddeceiveoneanotheroutof

.5)InLaozi’sopinion,

isthesymboloflife.8)Accordingtothelawsofnature,peopleshouldnot

thepoorand

theweak.Comprehensionstartwithone’sownweakpointsoppressingtheweakfragilitydesireimpurityorfalsehooddesireroboppress第43页/共53页1)顺应自然。5)不战而屈人之兵。2)无为而无不为。3)大巧若拙。4)以柔弱胜刚强。Followthewayofnature.Actthroughnon-action.Greatingenuityappearstobestupidity.Overcomethestrongbybeingweak.Winawarwithoutfightingit.3.PuteachofthefollowingintoEnglishandthencompareyourtranslationwiththatinthepassage.Comprehension

6)兼爱。Loveforall.第44页/共53页7)上善若水。8)人往高处走，水往低处流。9)无欲则刚。Thegreatestvirtueislikewater.

Humanstendtoseekhigherpositionswhilewateralwaysflowstolowerplaces.

Oneisinvinciblebecausehedesiresnothingandcontendsfornothing.10)返璞归真。Returntothestateofanewbornbaby.Comprehension第45页/共53页1.TranslatethefollowingEnglishsayingsorproverbsintoChineseandthentellhowtheyarerelatedtoLaozi’sphilosophy.3)Thedropofrainsmakesaholeinthestone,notbyviolence,butbythefrequencyoffalling.1)Natureisconqueredbyobeyingher.2)Hethatfollowsnatureisneveroutofhisway.顺应自然方能征服自然。按自然规律办事的人绝不会迷失方向。滴水穿石，非蛮力所致，皆因坚持不懈。Communication第46页/共53页2.Readthefollowinglyricstothesong“Whateverwillbe”fromthefilmTheManWhoKnewTooMuch(1956).

Communication第47页/共53页WhenIwasjustalittlegirl,Iaskedmymother,"WhatwillIbe?WillIbepretty?WillIberich?"Here'swhatshesaidtome:"Quesera,sera,Whateverwillbe,willbe;Th