The Sage

Confucius was China’s most prominent ancient teacher.  He lived in Shandong Province, where I currently teach, between 551 and 479 BC. Confucius, or Kongzi as the Chinese call him, was just slightly earlier than Socrates, who lived between 469 and 369 BC.  Kongzi’s philosophy was similar to that of other great moral teachers, stressing justice, kindness to others, and righteous living. It also stressed “harmonious” relations, defined as obedience to parents and anyone else in authority.  Here, the Sage was differed from Jesus, who encouraged people to follow Him, even if it meant a break with their parents.

Confucius, or Kongzi as the Chinese call him, had no supernatural powers; and unlike Moses, he did not speak directly to God.  He was married and had lots of children. Many Chinese claim to be descended from him.  His ideas have had a profound effect on the Chinese psyche, and this has been disempowering. People obey authority here, even when it is not their interest, and the government has exploited this national trait.  Even when Communist Party members dislike the government, they view themselves as essentially powerless.

“We can do nothing,” they say.

When people believe themselves powerless, the status quo is maintained.  

Stand Behind the Noodle

In seminar, we were discussing what’s known as “language contact.”  This is what happens when two or more languages are used in a single community. While Chinese is clearly the dominant language here, English is present as an international language.

The graduate students told me Chinese renders the expression “Stand behind the yellow line” as “Stand behind the noodle.”  When translated directly, the expression is either incomprehensible to us or funny. But calling a yellow line a noodle makes sense in a way. A yellow line looks a bit like a noodle. The principle is similar to using the word ‘trunk’ to mean the thickest part of a tree and also the human chest.

English and Chinese have different perspectives on life and have dissimilar idiomatic usage. We are apt to use the disparaging term “Chinglish” to describe such hybrid forms as “Your careful step keeps tiny grass invariably green.”  Actually, such expressions give us a window into how the Chinese see the world.

 Unripe Fruit

At first, I thought they were apples, then I noticed the trumpet protuberance.  A colleague confirmed these were pomegranates. At least where I’ve lived, they’re expensive, but they don’t have to be imported in the US-- they can grow in our South. 

I remember seeing pomegranates over fifty years ago on East 28^th Street in Brooklyn at the home of Kenyon and San Li Chin, the Chinese kids who lived upstairs from us.   That family ate them often, but I have no idea where they bought them. Grocery stores in South Flatbush were not exotic.

When ripe, pomegranates are bright red, as is its juicy flesh which is studded throughout with seeds.  They are supposed to promote fertility. 

 Student Load

My course load by Chinese standards, is very light.  I teach one evening class twice a week in which I have thirty students, and I do three additional lectures for graduate students.  I am being spoiled.  Zhang Dianyu AKA Daniel, the man who invited me this summer, has a student load of over a hundred.  As those of you who teach English know, the number of students affects your level of paperwork.  I am being lots of time to do as I please.

Americans working with international students are apt to think the Chines work very hard at their studies.  And it’s mostly true—for the ones who make it to American universities as there is stiff competition.  But here at Shandong University, there there’s a range, though the place is pretty selective.  Sometimes, I have to make threats about homework and order the kids not to take out their cell phones. 

 Churchgoing

I usually attend the English service at Fumen Church.  It is Weihai’s take on a megachurch.  Hundreds of people go there.  While I know many people in the English congregation at Fumen, I find it hard to get to know people in the Chinese congregation. It’s just so big.

Yesterday at the beach, I got to talking with a woman who calls herself Wendy, and she invited me to Bei Zhu Dao Church, which is much smaller—possibly two hundred members.  Wendy teaches Sunday school, so I spent my time with kids.  The program is very similar to what we do back home—prayer, Bible stories, and a chance to move around afterwards.  They even had Vacation Bible School last week.

Wendy asked if I knew “Jesus Loves Me” in English—they’ve taught the Chinese version.  So we worked on that.

 Liugong Island

Liugong Island is a short boat ride from Weihai and a popular destination for day trips. The island includes a whale museum, a national forest, and a museum documenting the Japanese invasion during the Sino-Japanese War in 1894.