Folklore research

A Study on Interpreting China's Traditional Customs

Nanfang daily

2065438+Official account of Nanfang Daily on May 3, 2008

Textual research on traditional auspicious patterns in China.

Nozaki Shinji [Japan]

Kyushu Publishing House, April 438+08, 2065

Pricing: 68.00 yuan

Edit comments/notes

China's traditional auspicious patterns are widely circulated among the people, which is an art form created by our ancestors in pursuit of a better life. Common Desire: A Textual Research on the Traditional Auspicious Patterns in China is based on the book Answers to Auspicious Patterns, which was written by Japanese Nozaki Shinji in the 1920s to study the customs of China.

Comments on books

Nozaki Shinji

The necessity of studying China is indisputable today. There are countless materials worth studying but not yet started.

I have been in China for 20 years, and nothing in my daily life can be used as research materials. The fundamental significance of these studies should first point to the national character of China people. The traditional national spirit cultivated for 5,000 years forms a water vein, and its distinct sense of existence can still be highlighted no matter how turbulent the torrent is. Therefore, reviewing the past and learning something new is the first step and the ultimate of China's research.

The traditional national spirit has formed the same interests and hobbies, which are manifested in many aspects. I don't think it is my own prejudice to trace back to the source and understand the development of design patterns which are widely used in daily life and are inseparable from food, clothing, housing and transportation. As a powerful material for the study of national character, it is not my own prejudice.

In this sense, I think studying auspicious patterns is also a shortcut to study the national character of China, so I worked hard for many years to compile this book. This book has collected more than 400 kinds of graphic materials, although there are still omissions, but the general patterns have been basically included.

Please allow me to outline one or two and get some experience from them. China people believe in Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Morally, Confucianism is the essence of nature, but it is undeniable that the influence of Taoism is far beyond our imagination. It is true that the essence of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism has been studied philosophically by some scholars and hermits. Taoism, which was born in China and raised in China, is the most compatible with ethnic groups and feelings, and absorbed and assimilated the two religions earlier.

Moreover, I am afraid these beliefs are not entirely due to Taoism. In "Shang Shu Yu Shu Yi Ji Pian", there is a cloud:

"I want to see the image of the ancients, the sun, the moon, stars, mountains, dragons, insects, meet; Zong Yi, seaweed, fire, powdered rice, squid, glutinous rice and embroidery are dressed in five colors. "

In Zheng Xuan's notes, he wrote:

"Reading for painting is painting. Pronunciation is "sting" and "sting". Zong Yi, a tiger, is also called the ancestral temple. Pink rice, white rice. From the sun to the moon, there are twelve chapters, and the son of heaven is dressed in sacrifices. The leaves of the sun, the leaves of the moon, the leaves of the stars, the leaves of the mountains, the leaves of insects from Ye Dagan and China, all six paintings are applied to clothing. Zong Yi Leaf, Jujube Leaf, Huoye Leaf, Fenmi Leaf, Ye Fu Leaf and Nuoye all think that embroidery is applied to clothing. "

Combined with this note, it can be seen that as early as the Yao and Shun era, people worshipped astronomy, regarded mountains and rivers as gods and valued auspiciousness. Taoism sprouted from these innate beliefs, and after being cultivated by Buddhism and Confucianism, it became the future.

Although there are no Taoist priests in Japan, Buddhism that entered Japan after being colored by mainland civilization absorbed the characteristics of Taoism. The influence of Taoism has left many traces in the history of Japanese culture, and has continuously formed profound ripples in the life of modern Japanese. See how many creative patterns in our daily necessities have been influenced by China! In this sense, my little research can be used not only to understand China, but also to help people understand Japan itself. In short, in this respect, we can also deeply understand the intimate relationship between two ethnic groups with the same language and species originating from the same cultural nursery.

Besides, we Japanese think that China is a written country, and only think that Chinese characters are written with eyes. For China people, Chinese characters are also words that need to be heard by the ears. Sound is an important factor in the history of China's writing, and its form and sound rank among the rules of Cang Xie's writing, that is, six books. Of the 9,300 words in Shuowen, more than 7,000 words belong to the category of sound and shape (according to Wu Jinzhang's Collection of Six Books). With the development of cultural studies, the practice of applying the beauty of phonology to classical exegesis became popular among Gaoyou Wang and his son, which was well known in the Qing Dynasty. However, in Japan, scholars who study Song studies often turn a blind eye to this. As long as we look at how homophones of different characters in the design materials listed in this book are valued, we can realize an unshakable fact, that is, Chinese characters are also words that should be heard by ears.

China has a lot of excellent and unique literature and art, and its people have the qualities of a great nation. Even if the country is in turmoil and political corruption in a certain period, it will prosper again once the opportunity comes.