Chinese Studies Commons^™

Guest Editor's Overview, Yue Zhuo

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

No abstract provided.

Ripe Spoils, Yan Cynthia Chen

Theses and Dissertations

Chen’s practice primarily focus on sculptures and installation. She explores the interplay between the idea of nature and the constructed environment, by examining how language informs what we know. The central thesis, "Ripe Spoils", employs citrus fruits as symbols for bodily experiences and personal identity, investigating their cultural and historical significance. Her sculptures summon the qualities and embedded meanings in materials like paper pulp and clay, wax and citrus fruits, often resulting in abstracted forms evocative of the human body. This thesis paper and exhibition reflect on themes like mortality and the essence of self.

Chinese-English Dictionary Enable Select Search …

May The Soil Be Everywhere: Portraying A Family's Love And Revolution Through Oral History, Performance, And Film From A Granddaughter's Perspective, Yehui Zhao

Theses and Dissertations

May the Soil Be Everywhere is a feature-length documentary film that tells an intimate four-generational family story about farming, survival, and regeneration. Set against a backdrop of war, famine, and rapid urbanization, May the Soil Be Everywhere delves into oral history, trauma, family heritage and generational love. It represents a community’s collective effort to preserve its identity.

Cultural Erasure And Non-Violent Resistance In Tibet, Nikolina K. Klinkenberg

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

This lesson uses lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities to encourage students to empathize with the Tibetan people and to think critically about responses to the Chinese Communist Party’s oppressive policies. The lesson begins with an overview of Tibetan Buddhism, Tibetan history since the Chinese invasion, and religious policy in China. Next, students actively interpret instances of self-immolation and analyze non-violent strategies for resolving conflict, connecting these subjects to their learning about Tibetan Buddhism and their prior knowledge of non-violent resistance. The lesson concludes with a reflection in which students connect the lesson’s topics to circumstances in their own lives.

Weaving “National Spirit”: Jacquard-Woven Silk Images In The Nanjing Decade (1927–1937), Brielle Pizzala

Textile Society of America: Symposium Proceedings

Industrial silk factories in Hangzhou and Shanghai represent active efforts to modernize and weave together the turbulent Republic of China (1912–1949). The Guomindang government, under Chiang Kai-Shek (1887–1975), acculturated modernity, as demonstrated by the silk industry, to unite China and secure the nation from trans-colonial threats, including economic security. Countless silk reelers, weavers, and businessmen in China, altered traditional sericulture with imported industry and ideologies in order to secure national autonomy. Imported steam reeling and jacquard loom factories became means to secure economic survival and national autonomy during this anxious and extremely political period. How did creating silk tapestries materialize …

迷茫．掙扎．反叛：論華北搖滾樂的空間敘事, Xinyue Shi

Dissertations from all years

本文從華北搖滾樂隊「萬能青年旅店」與「劉森」出發，通過分析其歌詞、專輯封面、宣傳海報等物料中對於不同空間的書寫，結合邁克·克朗《文化地理學》的理論知識，探討音樂作為文化傳播的「多重中介」之一，如何形成集體情感認同與文化記憶，本文也欲與「東北文藝復興」形成對話，探討東北與華北的不同之處，從而構建華北獨特的空間敘述。

文章主要分為三個部分，第一部分聚焦萬能青年旅店的工業城市構建，在大廈傾倒和信仰重建過程中研究當代中國搖滾樂的迷惘與反叛；第二部分將結合劉森歌詞中對於縣城空間的敘事，分析青年在城鄉對立之間的游離狀態；第三部分從人文轉向自然，俯瞰華北的太行山脈，探討發展主義與生態平衡之間的生態批評與反思。

404, Hei Moon Ma

Dissertations from all years

也許你會感到熟悉，因為這曾經是，或正是現在發生在這個香港社會中的事，你或許會成為當中的一分子，你或許曾目睹事情的發生，你或許與之擦身而過，你或許有過相似的感覺，但你並不孤單。

《404》是一條每個人都熟悉的網絡代碼，象徵著你連結網站發生的錯誤。社會就如同一個龐大的網絡，連結著每個人的生活，人與人之間亦會互相影響，但在這巨大而複雜的社會中，總會有被忽略的一角，令人人都有機會陷入一個個微不可察的錯誤，與網絡失聯，和正常健康的社會割裂。社會中的小人物，又如何在錯誤的網站上尋找出路，回到正軌？

《404》中的四篇微型小說，記錄了現今社會中普遍的各種現象，以關愛座、十號風球、容貌焦慮和虛擬網絡為主題，並從多個城市中生活的小人物的角度出發，通過誇大和超現實的方式去書寫和發掘日常生活發生的各種細微、不起眼、被忽略的事件，但這一群正正是在社會不正常氛圍下的受害者。

它們曾無數次在香港上演，甚至與你擦身而過，但都被有意無意地忽略了，把它們從記憶中淡化，也許香港人是習慣罷了：關愛座爭議，各種極端天氣下發生的慘事，疫情後依舊蔓延在社會中的容貌焦慮，虛擬世界的活動，都是香港人所習以為常的點點滴滴。但當這些小事不再平凡，影響力超乎想像時，人們又該何去何從？

本文旨在透過這四個不同主題的故事，多角度描繪出香港社會的氛圍，與深入香港人生活在不同情景中的面貌和心理，藉此引起讀者的共鳴與對問題的反思。

《左傳》與《史記》敘事比較研究——以楚莊王定霸為例, Yan Yip Chow

Dissertations from all years

楚莊王是春秋時期楚國最有成就的君主之一，名列春秋五霸。他的定霸之路雖未如晉文公之坎坷，但楚國在春秋初期以「蠻夷」自稱，後能進入中原成為大國，再到後來位列戰國七雄之一，離不開楚莊王的影響。楚國史一直受到學者的關注和研究。然而，楚國史書《檮杌》亡佚已久，現存《楚史檮杌》記載楚莊王的逸聞軼事，該書版本之間差異較大，不算據實完整地記錄楚莊王事跡。有關楚史專著雖提及楚莊王稱霸，但對莊王稱霸的細枝末節並沒有展開講述，內容多為整合史料而已。

本文以楚莊王為主題，探討楚莊王的定霸之路中的重要事件。時間範圍主要涵蓋楚莊王即位至其定霸，約為周頃王六年（公元前613年）至周定王十六年（公元前591年）。研究方法包括以《左傳》敘事與《史記》文本對讀，並輔以其他文獻和史料考究。通過梳理楚莊王的生平事跡，分析二書之間的敘事異同，並以敘事角度平議復陳、圍鄭、平宋三件重要事件的記敘，同時兼及《公羊傳》的敘事，以更全面地理解楚莊王的稱霸之道。

本文希望透過對讀分析異同和平議這三件重要事件，幫助我們更深入地了解《左傳》與《史記》作為史傳作品的敘事規則。

這，不是一個愛情故事, Po Yi Cheng

Dissertations from all years

香港在歷史上曾經歷了多次大規模移民潮，這反映了社會和政治環境的變遷，以及人們對未來的憂慮和不安，包括：1945年香港重光後、1967年六七暴動後、1997年香港主權移交前等。近些年來，尤其是2019年「反修例運動」和2020年《港區國安法》實施後，促使許多香港人對未來的預期、對家庭的考量以及對個人身份和歸屬感重新思考，推動了新一輪的移民潮，又以台灣和英國為港人主要的移民地。

本研究旨在探討移民決策背後的複雜考量，包括生活成本、就業前景和語言障礙等，並反映出個人在面對未來選擇時的孤獨、挑戰和成長。小說以「我」與朋友聚會的閒談為主軸，藉由與朋友的對話，帶出「我」作為香港人與台灣男生的戀愛故事，呈現對台灣生活的真實感受以及兩地文化的差異與碰撞。故事將聚焦於「我」面臨移民抉擇時所遭遇的外在和內在衝突，以及這些因素如何影響其生活和人際關係。透過角色的經歷和成長，探索和呈現各種主題，如身份認同、文化碰撞、人際關係等，以期引發讀者的深思。

Nourishing Connections: Chinese Immigrant Identity In Tokyo Through Commensality And Hospitality, Sarai Brown

BYU Asian Studies Student Journal

This paper explores how Chinese immigrants in Tokyo, Japan preserve their cultural identity through practices of commensality and hospitality in stark contrast to Japanese culture. In Chinese culture, hospitality – mainly acts of food sharing – is how kinship relations are built and maintained, eventually growing into an important hierarchy network that ultimately builds a fully realized identity created out of communal belonging. Japanese culture in this sense is not as hospitable, deeming food-sharing as an extremely private and high-risk affair that is considered low-risk in Chinese contexts.

Balancing Predictability With Flexibility In Contract Negotiation And Drafting, Tahirih V. Lee

Scholarly Publications

No abstract provided.

Chinese Economic Behavior In Southeast Asia: A Historical And Cultural Overview Of The Migration Patterns, Culture, And Business Practices Of The Chinese Diaspora In Southeast Asia, Zachary Szklarz

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

For hundreds of years, ethnic Chinese have set sail in hopes of peace and economic prosperity in Southeast Asia. Over time, these immigrants became paramount to the culture, economies, and politics of their newfound homes. The immense success of these Chinese migrants and their descendants is based on two main factors: maintaining in-group preference in business and social life without explicit discrimination towards outsiders and holding individuals who have achieved wealth through ethical Confucianist means in high esteem. Unique among diaspora groups, the emigrants from China managed to become fully integrated in their adoptive homelands, while still maintaining traditional customs, …

(Re)Producing Orientalism: Industry Logic Of Chinese Mobile Game Re-Skins In The Global App Empire, Yizhou Xu

Communication & Theatre Arts Faculty Publications

Through the case study of the mobile title Game of Sultans, this article examines the proliferation of iterative and copycat games through the practice of reskins in the mobile game industry. Based on year-long autoethnographic fieldwork working in a Chinese mobile game company, I provide an on-the-ground perspective of how Orientalist representations in reskinned games are instrumentalized through the roles of “cultural brokers” and the work of localization for Western markets. By taking a theoretical and technological understanding of reskins, I argue that reskinned games, as a form of industrial mimicry, while an important aspect of standardized game production, …

Pearls Of Power: Navigating Empire And Kingship In The Nineteenth Century In Qing Dynasty China And Victorian England, Jinrui Chen

MA Theses

This thesis provides an academic exploration of the socio-cultural and political connotations of pearl jewelry during the Qing Dynasty in China and the Victorian era in England. It examines the symbolic prominence of the Eastern pearl within the Qing Dynasty’s hierarchical and imperial contexts, juxtaposing this with the emotional and personal resonance of pearl jewelry in Victorian England. The study employs an array of primary Chinese sources and insightful case studies to investigate the dynamics of pearl harvesting, consumption, and perception, thereby unveiling the diverse roles pearls played in these distinct societies. This comparative approach addresses a gap in existing …

The Development And Impact Of Jingdezhen’S Ceramic Live Streaming, Yiyi Wang

MA Theses

Jingdezhen is a renowned ceramic capital in China and abroad. Its porcelain
production dates back to the Tang Dynasty, reached its peak in the Song Dynasty, and continued to thrive during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, solidifying its status as one of the primary production areas for Chinese porcelain. Over time, Jingdezhen underwent social upheavals during the Republic of China period. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the porcelain industry underwent nationalization and modernization reforms, ensuring its sustained maintenance and development. Since the reform and opening-up, the porcelain industry in Jingdezhen has progressively embraced market mechanisms, incorporating …

Preventive Conservation Of Easel Paintings For Collectors In China: Navigating Challenges And Exploring Feasible Solutions, Di Lu

MA Theses

This thesis explores the unique challenges faced by art collectors in China, particularly those investing in easel paintings amidst the rapid growth of the Chinese art market. These collectors, often constrained by budget limitations and limited access to high-quality conservation materials and expertise, face significant risks in preserving their cultural assets. The study delves into these specific risks and challenges, aiming to identify feasible strategies for preventive conservation within the Chinese context. Through an extensive review of literature, qualitative interviews with conservators, collectors, and experts, and in-depth case studies, this research offers practical, cost-effective recommendations for alternative materials and methods …

The Moment Of Beijing, Zhang Yue

MA Projects

After a complete COVID-19 lockdown of three years, most Chinese people crave opportunities to replenish their already waned and suffocated needs in the cultural and artistic realm (21st Century Economy, 2023). Seeking this invaluable time to enhance city influence and cultural image, major metropolises, especially Beijing, actively appeal to various exhibitions, shows, and cultural tourism resorts. The scope is almost unprecedented: cultural tourism, music, art, fine art, creative art, and traditional produce harmoniously integrate and captivate thousands of people. People’s need for art and culture is here, and Beijing is ready to make full strides. It is at this critical …

A Metaverse Of Chinese Traditional Folk Villages And Houses With Great Aesthetic Pleasure: A Virtual World Dedicated To The Enthusiasts Of Life With Art, Culture, History And Architectures, Xiaobin Lin

MA Projects

Rapid growth of 3D visualisation technology has led to the maturation of metaverse, bringing innovative and immersive experiences to travellers and representing tremendous potential for revolutionising the tourism industry. Advantages of metaverse, plummeting cost of technology and emerging supportive policies are jointly building up a very promising future of metaverse in tourism. Big companies worldwide are heavily investing in metaverse. In China, Tencent SSV Digital Culture Lab has initiated the annual project “Explore Metaverse Plan”, providing a communication platform and exhibition opportunity for the small and midsize players working on the digitalisation of cultural and artistic heritage. Google Art & …

後現代與九七回歸：論董啟章《地圖集》中的文化身分, Tsz Sum Sze

Dissertations from all years

董啟章是香港重要的嚴肅文學作家，小說多反映其對於他所生所長的香港的探索與思考。本文分析的《地圖集》正正寫於九七回歸以前，當下文化身分的熱切討論恰恰為了回應九七回歸此一重大歷史事件 董啟章承接八十年代後現代主義文學引入香港的風潮，以五十一篇學術風格的文章解構小說，同時思考及回應九十年代這一波文化身分論爭有關雅與俗、邊緣與中心的部分。

本文分為三部分。第一章先介紹作家，然後略述後現代文學在香港的發展及九七前香港文化身分討論的部分面向；第二章分析文本中對雅與俗、邊緣與中心的回應；第三章為結語，總結全文重點。

鴿瘟, Zixin Huang

Dissertations from all years

由白鴿引起的一場病，帶出一個青年的故事，也扯出了一段難以啟齒的家庭往事。

家裏，一個控制著孩子的母親，一個和和氣氣，但經常不在家的父親，還有一個長期被壓抑的孩子。終於，他成為了清華大學的博士，踏出了家門，還交到了女朋友。可身在外地，就真的能算離開家了嗎？

不同的成長階段，面臨著不同的煩惱。離開那座熟悉的城市，離開那個家，又真的那麼容易嗎？

教育，是每個學生，每個家庭都必須面對的議題，為了讓孩子考上那重點大學，「怪獸家長」將所有精力傾注在孩子的分數上，讓孩子提前起跑，可又是否留意，孩子的，以至於自己的精神狀態呢？

所以，「都是為了你好！」是真的只是為了孩子嗎？