标签：ritual

Solar Eclipse and Ritual

Chinese Civilization & the Way of Chinese2009.07.01
Solar Eclipse and Ritual
When the ruler’s conduct is irregular, and the dukes and ministers are unvirtuous, when the Yi and the Di are strong and invade, and all affairs are thrown into confusion, then the sun is eclipsed.——《Spring and Autumn Wei: Gan Jing Fu》 When the ruler indulges himself and does not follow the ancients, when he acts against Heaven and brutalizes things, calamity arises and then the sun is eclipsed.——《Spring and Autumn Wei: Yundou Shu》 When the ruler’s joy and anger are irregular, when he lightly kills the innocent, executes the guiltless, disrespects Heaven and Earth, and disregards ghosts and spirits, then the sun is eclipsed.——《Liyun Wei: Dou Weiyi》 When the…
culture China ritual astronomy
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2009年7月1日
Recollecting “Political Astronomy”

Life & Notes2009.06.23
Recollecting “Political Astronomy”
Jiang Xiaoyuan’s concept. He says that astronomy in ancient China served politics: anomalous changes in the heavens corresponded to anomalous changes among human affairs, especially changes in dynasties. In particular, major events like solar eclipses signaled crisis or moral failure. The emperor had to hurry to examine himself, offer sacrifices and reports to Heaven, and even grant a general amnesty, and so on. Modern people know that celestial phenomena are objective facts; one can even predict the time of a solar eclipse millions of years in advance. How, then, could they possibly be linked to the fortunes of human dynasties? And worshipping Heaven is only an empty ritual—what meaning could…
everyday life faith tradition politics
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2009年6月23日
On BBS’s Suitability for Academic Exchange: Online Forums Should Replace Academic Conferences

History of Science & Scholarship2008.06.12
On BBS’s Suitability for Academic Exchange: Online Forums Should Replace Academic Conferences
http://hps.phil.pku.edu.cn/bbs/read.php?tid=409 Before reading this post, you may as well first look at: the 4th and 5th floor of http://hps.phil.pku.edu.cn/bbs/read.php?tid=408. I have never attended an academic conference, so my understanding of the matter is purely speculative. If there are any inaccuracies or improprieties, please do point them out. Many activities are epochal: in a certain era, such activities possess important practical significance; yet as the times change, the original practical purpose may no longer be needed, or may be replaced by other activities, while the activity itself may still continue in form, becoming a symbolic, ritual, ceremonial, or recreational activity. Perhaps “academic conferences” will also be like this? Are there…
scholarship internet discussion public sphere
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2008年6月12日
[Repost] Funeral Industry Launches Graduate In-Service Training Class; Practitioners Can Attend Peking University to Study Philosophy

Life & Notes2007.10.21
[Repost] Funeral Industry Launches Graduate In-Service Training Class; Practitioners Can Attend Peking University to Study Philosophy
News here; I won’t reproduce it: http://news.qq.com/a/20071020/000050.htm I hadn’t originally thought of commenting, but after seeing it reposted on the department board, and then reposted again to the Joke board, and seeing that classmates’ reactions seemed mostly displeasure or contempt, I couldn’t help but voice my opinion. Below is my reply on the department board: (The person above said: “Reviving Zhou ritual is not something our department would get around to doing.”) Do you all think it’s bad? I, for one, think it’s terrific! Absolutely terrific! This is far more meaningful than opening a traditional-culture class for CEOs. If reviving ritual and music is not something our department is to…
everyday life culture Peking University tradition
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2007年10月21日
[Dutch] J. Huizinga: Man the Player, 35 yuan — ☆

Culture & Public Commentary2007.10.11
[Dutch] J. Huizinga: Man the Player, 35 yuan — ☆
[Dutch]J. Huizinga: Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture, translated by Cheng Qiong, proofread by Wang Zuohong and Chen Weizheng, Guizhou Publishing Group, Guizhou People’s Publishing House, first edition January 1998, second edition August 2007, 35 yuan—☆ Often, just when I am thinking about certain topics, I can promptly find the book I want at a bookstore, and even at the new-books counter…… This book immediately came out in two editions, one of which (the one I chose) is a reprint, and the other is the latest translation by Huacheng Publishing House (the third Chinese translation), Huizinga: 2007, 9th month, first edition. I compared these two books for quite…
book reading culture notes human nature
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2007年10月11日
Wristwatch

Life & Notes2006.08.28
Wristwatch
The original watch was running slow, so this time when I went home I needed to get a new one. I left the matter of buying a watch to my parents; after all, I don’t care much about style or anything like that, only that it would be better if it were more water-resistant—the previous watch had been tormented by me to the point that rust spots covered both the outside and the inside of it. Nowadays people like to check the time on their mobile phones. After all, almost everyone has one, and using it as a watch along the way is indeed convenient; watches, on the other hand,…
everyday life ritual relationism memory
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2006年8月28日
Some Reflections on Confucius’s Birthday and China’s Teachers’ Day

Culture & Public Commentary2006.03.11
Some Reflections on Confucius’s Birthday and China’s Teachers’ Day
At this year’s Two Sessions, CPPCC members Li Hanqiu, Wei Minglun, and others proposed that China’s Teachers’ Day should be changed from the current September 10 to September 28, Confucius’s birthday. Once again, the topic of Confucius and China’s Teachers’ Day has drawn people’s attention. In fact, Taiwan adopted Confucius’s birthday as Teachers’ Day quite early, and on the mainland the call to change Teachers’ Day is by no means something that only became lively at this year’s Two Sessions. Last September, Mr. Hu Xingdou, professor of economics at Beijing Institute of Technology (peace ambassador of the Global Peace Alliance, council member of the World Chinese Exchange Association), initiated and…
culture history education ritual
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2006年3月11日
Supplementary Ideological Report for Party Membership Confirmation

Life & Notes2005.09.02
Supplementary Ideological Report for Party Membership Confirmation
Thought Report (1) Dear Party Organization: Why join the Party? What does joining the Party mean? In my previous thought reports, I have already discussed these questions many times. This time I thought of a metaphor that may not be the most apt one, but is very interesting, and perhaps can help me further express my views. I compare joining the Party to getting married. Why get married? Without marriage, everything can still go on as usual; one can still keep love, still live together, and even raise children. Likewise, without joining the Party, one can still do everything that ought to be done, can still keep one’s faith, and…
philosophy everyday life faith ritual
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2005年9月2日