ICS上海外语频道专访赵崎院长（礼仪篇）

 

As China continues opening to the world,more people have become interested in the country’s ancient customs.The study of Chinese language, literature and history is known as Sinology. Earlier, my college Aixinjueluo Bei had the chance to wear traditional clothing and learn some of those customs with a master of Sinology.

随着中国的逐渐开放，越来越多的人开始对中国传统文化开始感兴趣。对中国语言、文学和历史的学习都被称为国学。前几天，我的同事爱新觉罗贝有机会穿上中国传统的服饰，和一位国学大师一起学习中国传统的文化。

 

AiBei: Sinology exercises a subtle influence on mind and soul, and this should be its spiritual and cultural function. Such an influx of culture is like salt slowly dissolved in water, affecting people gradually and naturally. Today, I will meet Mr Zhao Qi, who has been studying Sinology for decades for learn more about unique Chinese culture.

爱贝：汉学对于思想和精神产生了微妙的影响，这就是汉学的精神和文化作用。这种文化的汇集就像盐在水中融化一样，逐渐地、慢慢地对人产生影响。今天我要见的赵崎老师为研究中国特有文化——国学领域已有十几年的时间了.

 

AiBei: Hi, Mentor Zhao. Should I do this too?

爱贝：赵老师，您好！我也要这样做吗？

 

Zhao: You can.

赵师：您可以的。

 

AiBei: Ok. Well, I have to say that the moment that I enter your school, I feel like I have traveled back in time with the sounds, maybe the incense burning and the music and atmosphere. I am assuming that you did some purpose to create a special atmosphere.

爱贝：我必须要说的是：当进入书院的时候，伴随着音乐，也可能是熏香、音乐和整个的氛围，我感受时光倒流回古代。我想您营造这样一个别致的氛围，一定是匠心独运。

 

Zhao: We know that Confucius once said that the environment has a significant influence on people. As so, you can look at this wall. We call it Zhaobi in Chinese.

赵师：我们知道，孔子曾说过：环境对人有重要影响。您看这面墙，我们叫它照壁。

 

AiBei: What exactly is Zhaobi？

爱贝：照壁是什么？

 

Zhao: Zhaobi is a screen that facing the gate of the house. And according to Chinese Fengshui, it can assemble and soften to air from the outside. And Meanwhile, it can also provide some privacy for the owner. And Usually behind Zhaobi, there is the main living space of the owner.

赵师：照壁是房间里对着门的一个屏风。根据中国风水，它具有聚气和缓和外气的作用。同时，也保护了房屋主人的隐私。通常在照壁的后面，就是主人的生活空间。

 

AiBei: So this should be the first thing what I will see when I open the door.

爱贝：所以这应该是我打开门之后看到的第一个。

 

Zhao: Yes.

赵师：是的。

 

AiBei: Okay.

爱贝：好的。

 

Zhao: Let me show you this. It is the wall of I-Ching and Bagua。

赵师：看这里，这是易经和八卦墙。

 

AiBei: I-Ching?

爱贝：易经？

 

Zhao: Yes. It shows the aims and expectations of our school.

赵师：是的。其上表明了我们创办该书院的目的与期望。

 

AiBei: What is the goal and purpose of you to establish a school like this？

爱贝：那创办一个像这样的书院，您的目的是什么呢？

 

Zhao: I hope that more and more Chinese and foreign friends can understand truly traditional Chinese culture: Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. And I think Sinology is not just about translating the classical words into modern language, but to develop our way of thinking. And I also hope that more Chinese people will have a sense of cultural pride.

赵师：我希望越来越多的中国和外国友人都能懂得真正的传统中国文化，懂得儒释道。我认为国学并不是简单地将经典语句翻译成现代文，而是教会我们思考的方法。同时我也希望越来越多的中国人能为我们的文化感到自豪。

 

Zhao: You can notice the lights overhead.

赵师：您注意到头顶上的灯了吧。

 

AiBei: Right, the seven starts, called the Big Dipper.

爱贝：是的，七星灯，北斗七星。

 

Zhao：Yes, and you know I hope that all the students passing this aisle will feel harmony between universe and themselves.

赵师: 我希望所有从这里经过的学生，都能感觉到宇宙和自己之间的和谐统一。

 

AiBei: So in Chinese, we actually call it Tian Ren He Yi.

爱贝：所以，这就是我们中文所说的「天人合一」。

 

Zhao: Yes, absolutely.

赵师：是的，完全正确。

 

AiBei: I see that something beautifully carved on the door, looks like phoenix.

爱贝：我看到在门上有一些漂亮的图案，像凤凰一样。

 

Zhao: Actually, it is the pattern of four divinities of Han Dynasty. Its name is rose-finch.

赵师：是的，这时汉代四灵兽的图案。它的名字叫朱雀。

 

AiBei: So it is Zhu Que in Chinese.

爱贝：所以这就是中文中的朱雀。

 

Zhao: Yes, Zhu Que. It is well-known as an important part in our ancient culture and Fengshui.

赵师：是的，朱雀。这在我们传统文化中，它是风水当中的重要元素。

 

AiBei: Wow, Mentor Zhao. You have changed your clothes to traditional Chinese clothing. You look wonderful. And I feel there is a lot of energy coming towards me. As you know, all the windows are open facing the sunshine. And I see there is no chair on the floor. So I’m going to be like sitting on the floor while taking the class?

爱贝：哇，赵老师，您已经换上了中国的汉服了，您看起来很棒。我感受到许多能量铺面而来，所有的窗户都对着太阳。而且，我看到这里没有椅子。那我上课的时候是坐在地上吗？

 

Zhao: Yes.

赵师：是的。

 

AiBei: This is like Japanese current style.

爱贝：这像是日本现在的方式。

 

Zhao: Yes, as you said that this kind of style is from the Wei and Jin dynasties. And the Japanese style is very popular these days. But you know its roots came back to our Wei and Jin dynasties in ancient China.

赵师：就像您说的从魏晋南北朝的时候，这种方式就存在了。现在日本的这种方式很流行。其实，这可以追溯到中国古代的魏晋南北朝时期。

 

AiBei: You’ve changed, should I change too?

爱贝：我也可以换上这样的衣服吗?

 

Zhao: Yes, of course. We have prepared a new Hanfu for you.

赵师：当然，我们已经为您准备好了一套新的汉服。

 

AiBei: Wonderful. I have traveled back to the Han Dynasty. This is my first time wearing Hanfu. I wore the Chinese traditional Qipao before the Japanese Kimono and Korean Hanbok. So I feel like the waist of Hanfu was pretty high. It reminds myself that to be humble and that I’m a student here to learn.

爱贝：我好像回到了汉朝一样。这是我第一次穿汉服。我之前穿过中国传统旗袍，日本的和服和韩国的传统服饰，所以我感觉到汉服的腰很高。在这里，我是一个学生，这样穿着可以提醒我保持谦虚。

 

Zhao: Before the class, there are some customs to follow. So first，we need to make a bow with our hands folded. Like this.

赵师：在开始上课之前，有一些礼节要遵守。首先，我们需要双手合十然后鞠躬。像这样。

 

AiBei: Oh, like we did when we first met at the front gate. Should I go forty-five degrees or ninety degrees?

爱贝：噢，就像我们在入门处见面时那样。那我是鞠躬45度还是90度呢？

 

Zhao：Ninety-degree is better. Because...... 

赵师：90度更好，因为......

 

AiBei: Shows more respect?

爱贝：可以表现更多的尊重？

 

Zhao：Yes. Students are required to bow deeper when they are greeting their teacher. Just as you said, it’s a show of respect.

赵师：是的。学生跟老师打招呼的时候要求鞠躬深一些，就像您说的，为了显示尊重。

 

AiBei：Okay. Should I look at you or should I just look down?

爱贝：那我鞠躬的时候是看着您还是看着地下呢？

 

Zhao: Just look down is okay, actually.

赵师：向下看是可以的。

 

AiBei: I got that. Should we do that?

爱贝：我知道了。那我们可以开始鞠躬了吗？

 

Zhao：Okay, that’s good. You see, the greeting position here in hour school is a combination of the Confucianism and Buddhism. It’s very simple, but solemn.

赵师：可以，做得很对。我们书院这种打招呼的方式融合了儒家和佛教的礼仪。它很简单，也很庄重。

 

AiBei: Mentor Zhao, Chinese etiquette can be traced back thousands of years ago. Can you use simple language to explain to my audiences how it formed and how it has been changed over the centuries?

爱贝：赵老师，中国的礼仪可以追溯到几千年之前。您能用简单的语音向观众解释一下：在几个世纪里，它是怎样形成和演变的？

 

Zhao: Okay. The etiquette was formed as a way to balance the interests among the stratum, such as the relationship between emperor and vassal, father and son, teacher and students, as well as husband and wife. And we all know that Chinese ancient community has a variety of customs and they were very complicated and sophisticated. But overtimes, they were simplified due to the rapid pace of life.

赵师：可以。礼仪的形成是为了平衡不同阶层之间的利益，比如君臣之间、父子之间、师生之间、夫妻之间。我们都知道中国古代社会有不同种类的礼仪，而且复杂繁多。但随着时间的推移，人们生活节奏加快，这些礼节也变得简单了。

 

AiBei: I am very curious because in this busy and noisy world, you seem to have a sense of peacefulness and calmness within yourself. Do you think Sinology play a big role？

爱贝：我很好奇，在今天这样一个商业化气息浓厚和喧闹的社会，您看上去内在有种安静祥和的气质。您认为是国学再其中起到了很大的作用吗？

 

Zhao: I think Sinology can make my heart peaceful and to really enjoy the world and the universe.

赵师：我认为国学能使得我的内心平静, 然后去真正地享受这个世界和整个宇宙的博大。

 

AiBei: I am a Chinese, I have done parts of my study in China and parts in western countries. I need modern language translation words in order to understand these poems and verses. So I am wondering, can the foreigners really get messages, the essence of the these messages?

爱贝：我是一个中国人，我在中国和西方国家均有学习。我需要现代语言的翻译来理解这些诗词。所以我想，我们的外国友人能否领会到这些句子所表达的精要呢？

 

Zhao: I think the answer is positive. Because you see, in order to teach students our ancient knowledge, we need to translate the classical ancient words into modern language. As long as we can truly translate these classic words into modern foreign languages. I think the foreigners can also get the essence as well.

赵师：这时没有任何问题的。为了教给我们学生传统的知识，我们会把古代的经典诗词翻译成现代语言。只要我们能够真正地讲那些经典诗句翻译成现代和外国语言。我认为，即使是那些外国人，他们也能理解其中的精髓。

 

AiBei: So to sum up today, I was learning something about traditional Chinese clothing and some Chinese etiquette. And next week, we will officially start our class and to learn how to recite one of our famous Confucian verses. We hope you join us then. Until then, take care.

爱贝：今天总结起来, 我今天学习到了一些关于中国传统服饰和传统礼节的知识。下周，我们将会开始正式上课，学习如何诵读儒家经典。期待您的加入！今天就到这里，再见。