Chinese literature: a brief excursion into the history, genres and features of the works of modern Chinese writers. Books about China The secret meaning and solution to the codes of Lao Tzu Alexey Maslov
Briefly about the books that we have read so far, one way or another related to China, and what we think about them and what we recommend - so that you can decide for yourself whether to read any of the listed or maybe even take it with you on a trip.
“Wolf Totem”, Jiang Rong (“Wolf Totem”)
A difficult but very interesting semi-autobiographical book about the way of life of nomadic shepherds from the point of view of a Chinese student.
They even made a movie based on this novel, but we haven’t gotten to it yet.
China. Mid 60s. Chen Zhen, a member of the young Chinese intelligentsia, finds himself in Inner Mongolia, one of the most remote and distinctive provinces of China. The young man settles in the yurt of the old Mongol Bilig. From him, Chen Zhen learns that since time immemorial, the Mongols have worshiped the wolf totem, which, according to them, symbolizes the victory of charisma over the forces of the elements and makes it possible to exist in extreme conditions. Having lived among the cold steppes, Chen Zhen gradually discovers the amazing but simple world of a nomad, built on the confrontation between people and wolves...
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“The River at the Center of the Earth: Up the Yangtze - Back into China's Past”, Simon Winchester
(The River at the Center of the World)
In 1996, a British journalist published a book about his journey along the Yangtze River. He decided to swim it all from the mouth to the source. And he, in principle, succeeded. The book is funny and interesting at times.
“Dream in the Red Chamber”, Cao Xueqin (Red Chambers, 红罗梦)
A Chinese classic, something like “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” set during the Qing Dynasty in the 17th and 18th centuries. One of us only made it through a few dozen pages, because the number of heroes multiplied at an unprecedented speed. We read that in this work there are about two hundred main characters, and two or three times more minor characters.
Verdict: if you are interested in Chinese classics and are not intimidated by the number of characters, it’s worth at least giving it a try.
“The Dream in the Red Chamber” is a multifaceted story about the decline of two branches of the Jia family, against the backdrop of which - in addition to three generations of the family - are countless of their relatives and household members.
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“Lost Horizon”, James Hilton (Lost Horizon)
The book was written in 1933, and in terms of the level of excitement around and romanticization of places and characters, it is comparable to Bram Stoker’s book “Dracula”. The idea of a “lost paradise”, a certain enchanted place of Shangri-La, gained such popularity that at first there was a long debate about which places the author was describing, and then the Chinese, for commercial purposes, simply took and renamed the city of Zhongdian to it.
Yulia specially read this book before visiting eastern Tibet, since, according to one version, the blue mountain described in the book as a landmark is a mountain from the reserve. There really was a very similar mountain, which gave a beautiful touch of romance to the places visited. The book itself is interesting, but completely fictitious, if anything.
“The Magpie Bridge”, Liu Hong.
It can be translated as “bridge of birds” or “bridge of forty”, but apparently does not exist in Russian translation. A cute novel intertwined with Chinese superstitions and rituals and the famous legend of the shepherd and the weaver.
“Midnight in Beijing”, Paul French (Midnight in Peking)
Detective. On the first pages there is a brutal murder, and then it is investigated, investigated, everyone is found, but... If you're expecting a thriller and sharp plot twists every ten pages, no, that's not what the book is about. The narration is leisurely, for those who like to savor the atmosphere. Personally, I didn’t really like it, but some people thought it was great. All the action takes place in Beijing hutongs, some of which have survived to this day.
“Favorite Monkey of the House of Tang”, Master Chen
A spy-detective-entertainment novel based on some real events and figures of ancient China. The events in the book take place in Chang'an (ancient Xi'an). It may seem too easy to some, however, if you don’t go into looking for inaccuracies, it’s a great way to while away a few evenings.
“Shanghai baby”, Wei hui (上海宝贝)
The sensational scandalous bestseller outside of China made a lukewarm impression on most readers: well, sex, well, drugs, well, a love triangle. Nothing special.
In addition to hoodlit, sometimes you come across entertaining or simply beautiful books on a particular topic. Here are a few of them:
“Jews in China”, Pan Guang (犹太人在中国)
A large, weighty book that briefly tells three stories: about the Jews of Kaiping, about the wealthy Sephardic community (former Spanish Jews) and the Jewish ghetto in Shanghai, and about the Russian community in Harbin. There is not much text, mostly photographs from family archives and copies of numerous documents. Nevertheless, it is informative and not boring.
“Chinese propaganda posters”
(Chinese propaganda posters, TASCHEN publishing house)
For those who like to look at illustrations and inscriptions. Unfortunately, there is very little text with explanations.
With his smooth, warm, red face that radiated light in all directions, Chairman Mao Zedong was a major figure featured in Chinese propaganda posters produced between the birth of the People's Republic of China in 1949 and the early 1980s. The portrait of Chairman Mao depicts the stoic superhero, also known as the “Great Teacher”, “Great Leader”, “Great Helmsman”, “Supreme Commander”, in all kinds of situations: inspecting factories, smoking a cigarette with ordinary workers, standing on the banks of the Yangtze River in a robe , leading, standing at the bow of a ship, or floating above a sea of red flags, always surrounded by strong, healthy, ageless men, masculine women and children in baggy, sexless, monotonous clothes. The purpose of each poster was to show the Chinese people what behavior was considered morally right and how great the future of communist China would be if everyone followed the same path to utopia by uniting together. This book brings together a selection of colorful propaganda art and cultural artifacts from Max Gottschelk's extensive collection, many of which are incredibly rare.
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“Spirits and deities of the Chinese underworld”, Alexander Storozhuk, Tatyana Kornilieva.
This book is an encyclopedia of the afterlife in Chinese beliefs. It recreates the picture of traditional popular ideas about the structure of the world of the dead, echoes of which to this day are an integral part of Chinese culture. The main attention is paid to the forms that have found expression in modern Chinese temple culture. In addition to describing the deities of death and their assistants, the monograph talks about the Chinese “Book of the Dead” Yuli baochao, rituals of remembrance of the dead, types of hells, the structure of the subtle human body, the Afterlife Departments and Registers of Fate. The book is equipped with a large number of unique illustrations.
Intended for the widest range of readers.
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“Legends of Ten Chinese Traditional Festivals”, Zhan Tong.
A small book with beautiful illustrations and legends associated with the ten major Chinese holidays - in English and Chinese.
“In the Realm of the Gods”, Victoria Cass
A somewhat strange collection of Chinese legends, fairy tales and fables. More precisely, the collection is normal, but the legends themselves are radically different from those to which we are accustomed in the Western world. The story can end well, badly, or not at all. You never know what kind of moral there will be in the end, or whether there will be one at all.
Interesting for those trying to understand the Chinese mentality in a broader context than trading on the market and. The introductions to the chapters are also worthy of attention.
If you have read any of this and you have something to add or, conversely, recommend something more interesting on the topic, share it in the comments.
Essays “about moths and flowers” are exactly what romance novels are called in Chinese literature.
The Chinese willingly read books about love. After all, they not only describe the relationship between a man and a woman, but also reveal their intimate part. Without it, it is considered impossible to achieve success, be happy, have healthy children and a prosperous family.
Which books should you start with to get acquainted with the Chinese romance genre? We have prepared a list of the five most famous classics.
- "Dream in the Red Chamber"
Year the book was written: 1763
Translation into Russian: yes
“The Dream in the Red Chamber” is one of a small number of works of Chinese literature, known far beyond the borders of its homeland. It is one of the four classic novels written in Chinese.
The work tells about the life of the wealthy Jia family, its fall from grace, the extinction of the family and the confiscation of property.
The main character of The Dream of the Red Chamber is Baoyu, who is born with a piece of jadeite (a mineral similar to jade) in his mouth. His cousin, Xue Baochai, is predicted to be his wife. She is beautiful and this delights the main character. But spiritually and emotionally, Baoyu is connected with his other cousin, Lin Daiyu. It is this love triangle that receives the main attention in the novel.
“A Dream in the Red Chamber” is the first work in Chinese literature in which the author carefully reveals the experiences of the characters and their inner world.
In China, the novel was banned many times for indecency.
- "Plum flowers in a golden vase"
Year the book was written: 1610
Translation into Russian: yes
The main character of the novel, Ximen Qing, is clearly not distinguished by virtue and decency. His favorite pastime is drinking wine in the company of beautiful ladies, of whom there are many in his circle: 6 wives and countless concubines.
However, despite the debauchery reigning around, one wife of Qing adheres to virtue, and her son becomes a Buddhist monk.
The book was banned for quite a long time because of the bold love scenes created by the author. It was only in the 1980s that the people of China were able to freely become acquainted with its contents.
- "Apricot blossom"
Year the book was written: exact date unknown
Translation into Russian: yes
Yueshen is an attractive young man who lives for today and does not think about the meaning of life as long as everything is going well.
The main character is noble and does not leave women who were once close to him in difficult situations. He treats both those in power and those who are forced to serve the rich with equal simplicity and respect. He believes in friendship. But to a certain extent, until this friendship begins to contradict the principles of Yueshen.
One day, a young man gains superhuman powers thanks to a secret potion to enhance male strength. Now he can love women endlessly. He does not miss a single girl he likes: whether she is the daughter of a noble aristocratic family or a simple servant from a roadside tavern. Yueshen becomes a kind of Don Juan.
The novel "Apricot Blossom" is a classic Chinese romance novel that tells the story of a person's intimate life. Even though it is in the shadows, it occupies a significant part of existence.
It will be interesting for a modern person to get acquainted with the customs of imperial China, which are practically no different from modern Western ones.
- "A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary of Lovers"
Year the book was written: 2007
Translation into Russian: yes
She is a young Chinese woman, the daughter of former peasants who got rich making shoes. Her parents dream that she will continue their family business and take it to a new level. And without knowledge of English this will be difficult to achieve. Therefore, they send their beloved daughter to England to study the world language.
He is a middle-aged English sculptor.
Their meeting takes place in a cinema, and since then they have not parted. The girl moves in with her lover and completely dissolves in him. He becomes the center of the universe for her. Over time, this situation depresses him. He gets tired of relationships: his beloved takes too much physical and emotional strength from him. But he can’t push her away either.
The novel “A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary” is primarily about loneliness and longing for simple human relationships. Even if your loved one is nearby, this does not mean that he completely understands you and is ready to invest his soul in you.
- “Two Nuns and a Fornicator” (story from the collection “Twice Dead”)
Year the book was written: approximately 17th century
Translation into Russian: yes
The main character of the work is He Daqing. He is good-looking, but dissolute and frivolous, loves to spend time in the company of women and drink wine.
Quite quickly, he spent almost half of his fortune. But that doesn't bother him too much. Seeing such extravagance, Daqing's wife tries to reason with him. But he doesn't pay the slightest attention to her attempts.
One day there is a celebration in He Daqing's hometown. The main character decides to take advantage of the situation: he chooses one of his best outfits and goes to meet women. But during the celebration, he does not meet a single girl who would make his heart flinch.
He Daqing wanders through the forest and suddenly comes to an old monastery. He decides to rest here for a while and then move on. But his plans quickly change when a charming young nun meets him at the monastery.
“Two Nuns and a Fornicator” is a work about the fact that a person with similar qualities is not always hidden under the mask of virtue and naivety.
Review by Asya Zaltsman
Chinese literature is one of the oldest forms of art, its history goes back thousands of years. It originated in a distant era simultaneously with the appearance of the so-called buts - “fortune-telling words”, and throughout its development it was constantly changing. The trend in the development of Chinese literature is characterized by continuity - even if books were destroyed, this was certainly followed by the restoration of the originals, which were considered sacred in China.
Books written on turtles
“Fortune-telling words” - buts - are pictographic signs that, as a rule, were applied to turtle shells. They are the ancestors of modern Chinese writing - hieroglyphs. It is worth noting that Chinese writing has always stood apart from oral speech and also developed separately.
This is what makes Chinese literature different from world literature. The Chinese consider the art of speaking to be the highest of all possible, just like calligraphy.
History of the development of literature
Modern Chinese literature, of course, has a completely different structure and meaning than ancient literature, which can be divided into 8 parts - stages of development and formation. Myths and legends became its beginning and basis. This is followed by historical prose and stories about masters, written in an artistic style, ditties, poems and songs. Thus, poetry arose during the reign, and poetry arose during the Song era.
Chinese literature, created at the initial stage of cultural development in China, can be considered quite primitive. It is based mainly on the legends and myths of Ancient China; they were passed on by word of mouth. Such works can well be called folk art and legends.
However, it was these legends that gave impetus to the general cultural development in China. And over time, separate genres and different variations of literature began to appear.
Culture Liyu and Confucius
At the beginning of the reign, the patrimonial system was practiced, which opened a new stage in the history of the state of China. And the most widespread trend in the literature of that time was the political views of the Chinese - ideals and judgments.
Each country during the Autumn and Spring periods had its own chronicle books, but the most representative was “Spring and Autumn”, written by Confucius. It told a story about the history of the state of Lu. Even to this day, in the art of modern Chinese literature, it does not lose its artistic value.
Confucius was known to be a great believer in the value of society. He worked on this chronicle for quite a long time, putting a lot of effort into it.
Unlike literature all over the world, fiction was not particularly popular in China; on the contrary, they used historiographical and ethical-philosophical genres. This was a direct consequence of the ideology of the notorious Confucius, which was and still is very popular in China.
Also, drama arose in China at a fairly late period. Genres of literature such as memoir and epistolary were less developed in comparison with European prose; they occupied a certain niche only by the 20th century. But essays, or bizi in Chinese, have been popular in China for more than two millennia. Of course, bizi cannot be called an essay in the full sense of the word, but still these two subgenres are very similar.
A special language for writing books
China, like other countries, has its own classics of literature. It represents an inextricable cultural movement that existed exactly until 1912. This is a huge number of works that were created over approximately 2400 years. That is, during the entire development of books of Chinese literature, colloquial speech never mattered - they were written in classical language. If literary history had been similar in Europe, then the classic writers of the 20th century would have written their works in Latin or Ancient Greek, languages that had long since died out and were not used in everyday speech. This is why Chinese classical literature is so different from world literature.
This special language, in which absolutely all books were written in China for 2400 years, was the imperial writing system for more than 1000 years. For this reason, it was necessary for all ruling classes to know all neo-Confucian literature.
This was the first time the world saw Chinese literature. A list of references can be found below.
Classics of literature - books
"Journey to the West". This unique novel was first published in the 1590s, the author is unknown for certain. Already in the 20th century, the opinion was established that it was written by the scribe Wu Cheng'en. The work can be classified as a fantasy genre. The book tells about the adventures of the king of the monkeys - It still occupies a leading position in sales, not only in China, but throughout the world.
"Dream in the Red Chamber." The author of the novel “The Dream of the Red Chamber” is Cao Xueqin. His work has become a classic for a number of reasons, the main one being its plot and narrative features. It is unlikely that there is another book in China that could describe Chinese life, traditions, customs, and the uniqueness of the national Chinese character and life with such accuracy and truthfulness. The reader observes all this against the backdrop of the story of the decline of two branches of the Jia family.
"River Backwaters" The classic Chinese novel opens up to the reader life in China during the reign of the Northern Song Dynasty, and tells about the so-called noble robbers who gathered in the rebel camp - Liangshanbo. The novel “River Backwaters” was the first written in the knightly genre - wuxia.
"Three Kingdoms" This novel also belongs to a special genre of Chinese literature. It was written back in the 14th century. It is based on folk tales, myths and legends that tell about the sad events of the 3rd century, when China was divided into three parts. All these three new countries waged a continuous bloody war among themselves. The main characters of the book are Chinese heroes who fought for justice.
The history of Chinese literature, of course, has a much larger number of books. We talked only about the most popular and in-demand works on the global book market.
It's time to get acquainted: Chinese literature presented in Russia
They are represented on the Russian book market in much smaller quantities than, for example, on the Japanese or Korean market. They are published and published, as a rule, in a rather modest edition, but the books are very expensive, and they are of interest only to specialists in this field. As a matter of fact, the demand for Chinese books is low.
The writer Mo Yan, who received the Nobel Prize for his literary works, forced the world to start talking about Chinese literature. Our country was no exception. Mo Yan's first book translated into Russian is “Wine Country”. It came out of print on the very day its author received the prize, and aroused some interest among the population.
Soon translations of other new books by Mo Yan are expected, which will also appear on the shelves of Russian bookstores, and, perhaps, will take their place in the hearts of readers. Chinese literature in Russia is just beginning to gain an audience and shows great promise.
Difference in Perception
As already mentioned, the history of Chinese literature is unique; there are quite a large number of books written in a special language. Undoubtedly, they are very interesting, but contemporary Chinese writers such as Lisa See, Amy Tan, Anchi Ming and others are no less interesting.
Of course, when translated, their books sound slightly different, and they leave a different aftertaste - everyone knows that it is best to read books and watch films in the original language. It is known that there is a big difference between Russian and English, but an even greater gap separates languages such as Russian and Chinese. Literature in our countries is also different, with its own characteristics and highlights. But one cannot lose sight of the literature of the Celestial Empire, if only because of its uniqueness.
Modern books - three best novels
"Wild Swans" by Yun Zhang. A real epic. The plot of the book covers the life story of three generations of one family - mostly women. Events develop very slowly, and their description is extremely detailed, which may seem boring, but you should read the lines and you will feel the unique and unique Chinese flavor. And the plot of the novel “Wild Swans” is truly amazing and unusual. It tells about the strength and masculinity of three female generations, about the trials they had to go through: repression during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, persecution and torture. Despite all the difficulties and fears, they were lucky enough to build strong families and happy, harmonious relationships.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. This book, like the previous one, is dedicated to the fate of women. It is divided into many stories and short stories, which are told from the perspective of mothers, daughters and grandmothers. All of them are united by the author into the so-called “Club of Joy and Luck”. Amy Tan's novel is a very inspiring and life-affirming work that can impress even the most demanding reader.
"Girls from Shanghai" by Lisa See. The main characters of the novel are young and often very frivolous girls, the offspring of rich parents who pose for photographs on wall calendars. There are no difficulties, failures or ups in their life. Every evening they relax in expensive restaurants and bars with the same frivolous friends, representatives of the golden youth. And then - the ruin of families, marriage, war, famine and many other troubles that will force girls to look at life from a completely different angle.
Development of modern literature
Books by Chinese writers began to conquer the world relatively recently and have already achieved quite great success. The development of literature continues, but at the modern level. And right now in China there is a so-called Literary Revolution, the largest in the entire history of the country. Today, about 30,000 books of various topics and genres are published in the Celestial Empire every year. It is worth noting that the most popular among the Chinese are fantasy works about the Shaolin masters. But, of course, other literary trends are also in demand.
Lost in translation
Much more familiar with Russian prose and classics than a Russian with Chinese. In the Celestial Empire, books by Dostoevsky, Turgenev, Ostrovsky and Tolstoy were published and republished. This is partly explained by the fact that it is relatively easier to translate a book from Russian into Chinese without losing special speech patterns.
But now this matter has been put on stream. The best translators work on books by modern Chinese writers, and it is worth noting that they do very well.
The library of Chinese literature is regularly replenished with new books, which are translated into several dozen different languages. We invite you to learn about the most famous writers of modern China.
Gao Xingjian
The future writer was born in 1940 in the province of Guangzhou. His craving for creativity began to manifest itself from an early age: he wrote his first story when he was still a 10-year-old child. But the writer had to burn all his impressive works during the Cultural Revolution, and he himself was sent into exile for educational purposes in a remote, remote village. There, Gao Xingjian continued to write.
Many of his works are banned to this day. Others publish quite freely. For example, the play “The Other Shore” came under censorship in 1986, while a year earlier his book “A Dove Called Red Bull” was published.
In 1987, the writer left his native country and moved to France. And after he condemned the actions of the Chinese government in 1989, he was completely deprived of his citizenship.
Wang Meng
Wang Meng was born in the capital of the Celestial Empire, Beijing, in 1934. He started writing early, and by the age of 15 - by the beginning of the Cultural Revolution - he had already written two books. Wang Meng participated in the underground struggle against the government, for which he served time in a colony. After his release, the writer was offered the high post of party leader, but he preferred literature to politics.
For his novel “Long Live Youth,” which describes the lives of members of the underground resistance, Wang Meng received a second term and went into exile for 20 years. And he also wrote a book about this - “On the River”.
Jia Pingwa
Jia Pingwa is a very popular Chinese novelist. His book “Perishable City” is in particular demand, in which the writer talks about the temptations of the metropolis, its frantic pace of life and the other side of the external sparkling prosperity. Many critics believe that Jia Pingwa is talking about Shanghai, but the writer himself does not confirm this information, nor does he refute it.
In addition, the writer also worked in the erotic genre. It is believed that some of the erotic books that are sold, so to speak, under the counter, were written by Jia Pingwa, although he himself long ago renounced authorship. Therefore, it cannot be reliably said that he really wrote them.
Today, Chinese literature amazes with its diversity and brightness. Undoubtedly, every book lover is obliged to read at least one book from the Middle Kingdom, because they differ from other works of world literature in their originality.
Who made the most geographical discoveries? Nomads? Conquerors?
No - merchants!
Driven by a thirst for profit, they overcame countless obstacles and dangers and paved new routes to distant lands. Not everyone managed to get rich during their
travels, some settled forever in foreign countries, many died, not every one of those who returned was able to tell about wonderful overseas lands, most of these stories were not written down or were lost forever... But some!..
The Venetian merchant Marco Polo (1254-1324) turned out to be the chosen one of fate. He not only lived a very long life - after all, by the standards of the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, 70 years is a long-liver - but his life was incredibly bright and exciting. In those days, the average European lived on average no more than 30-35 years and in most cases did not leave the place where he was born.
Marco Polo left his native Venice as a youth to return to it at the age of forty. By ship and in carts, on horses and camels, through the Middle East, Mesopotamia, Persia, Pamir and Kashgaria, he and his father and uncle reached Khanbalik (Beijing), became a confidant, something like an auditor, arbiter and ambassador for special assignments, at the court of the grandson of Genghis Khan, the conqueror of China and the founder of the Yuan dynasty, the Great Khan of the Mongols, Kublai Khan. For 17 years, carrying out numerous orders from his high patron, Marco Polo traveled all over East Asia - and finally, in 1295, almost a quarter of a century after sailing, he returned to his native Venice.
He would go through more than one adventure, would be captured by the Genoese (Genoa constantly competed and often fought with Venice), and it was there, in captivity, that his fellow sufferer and author of chivalric novels, the Pisan Rustichello, would write down the stories of his cellmate, which would forever remain into the golden fund of documentary adventure literature.
From this book, many Europeans first learned about the countries of the East, their natural resources and technical achievements: paper money, the printing board, the sago palm, the compass and the bill, as well as coal and the location of the coveted spices. Written in a lively and clear language, “The Book” of Marco Polo became a reference book for many outstanding travelers of the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries. It was she who inspired Christopher Columbus to discover America.
In the end, the search for ways to acquire spices bypassing the Arab trade monopoly led to the repartition of the world and the disappearance of many blank spots on the map, and the book about the travels of Marco Polo became one of the few publications that influenced the course of world history.
The electronic publication includes all the texts of Marco Polo's paper book and basic illustrative material. But for true connoisseurs of exclusive publications, we offer a gift classic book. The publication is richly illustrated and is intended for everyone who is interested in overseas exoticism, but at the same time demands authenticity: the stories of Marco Polo, for all their incredibleness, are not a fairy tale, but a reality. Although, of course, the book contains plenty of absolutely fantastic illustrations, they are also an integral part of the world history of geographical discoveries. This edition, like all books in the Great Journeys series, is printed on beautiful offset paper and elegantly designed. Editions of the series will adorn any, even the most sophisticated library, and will be a wonderful gift for both young readers and discerning bibliophiles.
In the process of studying the course “Culture of China”, the student should gain an understanding of basic concepts, the main directions of cultural development in various periods of Chinese history. Recommended reading for this purpose: Civilization. All about China. – M., 2001 .
The book examines issues arising at this stage of historical and cultural development of society. These are problems of cultural homogeneity of society, intercultural conflicts, basic patterns of cultural functioning of human communities, issues of cultural development of various regions of China. The monograph gives a holistic view of the theory and history of cultural policy in China, meets the state educational standard for cultural studies and is intended for lectures and seminars.
A new, unconventional look at the problems and processes occurring in culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. presented in the work of a famous cultural scientist: Vasiliev L.S. Cults, religions, traditions in China. – M., 2001. The materials are based on a generalization of the theory and practice of the formation of cults, religion and traditions in China.
Kravtsova M.E. History of Chinese culture. – St. Petersburg, 1999. This study covers most of the problems associated with the cultural processes that took place in Manchuria and other areas of the country. It examines the achievements of Chinese civilization in various branches of culture and the contribution of the Chinese people to the treasury of world culture.
The collection of articles by scientists - employees of the Smolensk State Pedagogical Institute meets the state educational standard in cultural studies and is intended for lectures and seminars: Life and customs of old China. – Smolensk, 2003. The topics of the articles are extremely diverse: the Chinese and their civilization; education; Chinese family: parents and children; how the Chinese live; funeral rites and ancestor worship; scientific knowledge of the Chinese. The study of these materials allows students to study in more depth the cultural issues of China at various stages of the existence of this multinational state.
People's Republic of China: ideology, science, culture, education. – M., 2001. This information publication broadly examines the issues of cultural development of the PRC at the present stage: achievements and prospects for further development in the third millennium.
Two manuals intended for university students will help you master the categorical-conceptual apparatus of the course and understand its specific terminology: Tkachenko G.A. Chinese culture: Dictionary-reference book. – M., 1999; Gorbachev B.N. Russian-Chinese phrasebook. – M, 1994.
When studying the course “Chinese Culture”, in addition to the recommended minimum of literature, special attention must be paid to studying the sources. When preparing for seminars, tests, and exams, one cannot do without studying primary sources.
The list of additional literature includes the best works of outstanding cultural historians, culturologists, art historians, philosophers, scientists and cultural researchers. To clarify many terminological and categorical concepts of cultural history, various reference books, recommended as additional ones, play an important role.