Journal of Sinology

A Study on the Discourse of the Ancient Central Plains State Power to Maintain Influence via “Tianxia” Ideology in the Chinese Novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"

Pantagarn USWACHOKE — 2024-12-22

This article aims to study and analyze the discourse of state power in the ancient Central Plains or the Huaxia people to maintain their influence over other ethnic groups in the Chinese novel “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” by using the Critical Discourse Analysis approach to study the language strategies used in the construction of discourse about ethnics, as well as to analyze the ideology reflected through such discourse. The results found that the text in chapters 87-91, in which Zhuge Liang led the army to conquer the south and adopted the strategy of capturing and releasing Meng Huo seven times, reproduces the so-called "Hua-Yi Distinction" discourse, which referred to the differences between the Huaxia (or Han) people and the surrounding non-Han barbarians, and reflected the ideology of Tianxia or the world under the sky which supports a monarchical form of state power centered around Huaxia and emphasizes the Confucian ritual culture, thus placing Huaxia in a dominant position compared to other surrounding ethnic groups. As for the above-mentioned language strategies used for constructing the “Hua-Yi distinction” discourse under the ideology of Tianxia, we found that the novel “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” uses a variety of language strategies, such as word choice, reference, storytelling, analogy, metaphor, simile, hyperbole, etc.

Structures Containing, but not Representing, Numbers in Boya Chinese Textbooks: A Survey and Teaching Suggestions

Nattanit CHAMSUWANWONG — 2024-12-22

In Chinese, numerical structures of numerals may convey non-literal meaning. They are used to express unclear concepts in clear numeric form (non-num structures). These structures are subjective forms of expressions in Chinese culture. This article examined teaching contents and arrangements of non-num structures in the Boya Chinese textbooks. Non-num structures were divided into four categories: fixed, almost fixed, somewhat fixed, and contextual. Results were that 53 fixed expressions appeared, three almost fixed forms, and 12 somewhat fixed forms. However, if variant somewhat fixed forms are classified in a single unit, 9 may be counted. The textbooks do not mention the contextual category. Some non-num structures are repeatedly introduced, while others are briefly mentioned. These findings suggest that textbooks should scrutinize the non-num structure, adding those commonly used in daily life.

Cognitive Differences Analysis and Instructional Recommendations of Thai Chinese Learners' Perceptions of "上" Based on Dynamic Corpus Data

Jianing ZHUANG — 2024-12-22

This study, framed within the metaphor theory of cognitive linguistics, analyzes the pragmatic frequency and characteristics of the Chinese spatial term "shang" among Thai learners of Chinese, based on natural learner corpora. The study explores the cognitive differences in expressing spatial relations with "shang." The results indicate that there are asymmetries in the spatial, temporal, and stative metaphorical representations of "shang" between Chinese and Thai. Consequently, Thai learners exhibit pragmatic errors in the actual use of "shang." To help learners better grasp the multidimensional usage of Chinese spatial terms and reduce error frequency, this study proposes pedagogical recommendations such as contextual-pragmatic training and contrastive grammar analysis.

Factors Affecting Coffee Consumption Culture in China during the year 2012-2021

Sasithon BUTTHA — 2024-12-22

Foreign cultural openness has made Chinese consumers more aware of and familiar with coffee, which has led to its current popularity in China. This research aims to study the evolution of coffee consumption culture in China, focusing on factors affecting coffee consumption culture between 2012 and 2021, as well as analyzing future trends in coffee consumption culture in China. This qualitative research uses data from documents, articles, and related research, employing content analysis for data compilation and analysis.

The results of the study found that coffee consumption culture in China between 2012 and 2021 is more diverse than in the past. Factors affecting consumption culture can be divided into 1) Marketing factors, including marketing strategies of coffee brands that meet the diverse needs of consumers, the diversity and novelty of coffee consumption patterns, the convenience and safety of coffee consumption, and innovations and new technologies used to develop the coffee business. And 2) The other supporting factors, such as the openness to foreign cultures of modern Chinese consumers, the implementation of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative, and support from the Chinese government and private sectors, which have led to increasing foreign investment in the coffee business in China. This research is therefore useful for coffee business operators who intend to invest in China, as it provides guidance for determining marketing strategies that are appropriate for the target group of Chinese consumers.

Application of "Trinity Grammar" in Grammatical Interpretation of TCFL Textbooks

Nawanan WORADITNITIWARAATORN — 2024-12-22

Based on the "Trinity Grammar" teaching system, this paper divides the functions and characteristics of the more flexible Bi sentence with "V/Adj.+ de" in the sentence pattern. In order to know more specifically the learners' mastery of this grammar point and their use of teaching materials, this paper designs three questionnaires on different test questions and the use of grammatical definitions in teaching materials, and makes a relevant investigation on Thai Chinese learners. From the survey results, we conclude that the typical mistakes of learners mainly include: students add adverbs of degree after "de", the words they choose don't conform to the rules of this sentence, they haven't mastered the verb copy yet, and the words they choose don't conform to the logical relationship of the whole sentence. Finally, the view will design the internal functions of Trinity Grammar, combined with the answers to this questionnaire. According to this part, it can be divided into four dimensions: typical context, typical object meaning, typical comparison action and typical comparison content. These four dimensions are based on highlighting the characteristics of grammar items and learners' common cognition, so that teaching users can understand the internal relationship of the sentence pattern with "V/Adj.+ de" through these typical components, and at the same time, suggestions are put forward for improving the grammatical interpretation of Chinese as a tool for foreign language teaching resources.

A Comparison of Vocabulary in primary education Chinese textbooks “I Love Chinese” and “Open Sesame Chinese”

Nattanon TEERAPANAYAWATT — 2024-12-22

The purpose of this research is 1) to study the vocabulary systems of two sets of primary school Chinese textbooks and 2) to compare the vocabulary in these two textbook sets. The study employed qualitative research methods through content analysis of two textbooks: “I Love Chinese” and “Open Sesame Chinese.” The results revealed the following: 1) In terms of vocabulary quantity, the “I Love Chinese” textbooks added an average of 20.2 new words per book, while the “Open Sesame Chinese” textbooks added an average of 6.6 new words per book. Regarding vocabulary difficulty, “I Love Chinese” contained 507 words not included in the YCT table, whereas “Open Sesame Chinese” contained 198 such words. A frequency analysis showed that “I Love Chinese” included 412 frequently used words, while “Open Sesame Chinese” contained 284. Analyzing by word type, both sets of textbooks had the highest numbers of nouns, followed by verbs and adjectives. 2) When comparing the two, “I Love Chinese” contained more words overall and introduced vocabulary more consistently than “Open Sesame Chinese.” Both sets featured a relatively high number of words outside the YCT list. Additionally, both textbook series demonstrated effective selection and organization of vocabulary. Frequently used words were introduced early in the books, and less commonly used words were progressively added in later volumes.

A Comparative Analysis of Business Chinese Textbooks in Thailand

Sasithorn NURITAMON — 2024-12-22

This research aims to analyze and compare 5 Business Chinese textbooks: Business Chinese 1, Business Chinese (for Thai learners), Business Chinese Conversation 1, Business Chinese Conversation 2, and Business Chinese Conversation 3. A comparative study based on standard benchmark the《商务汉语考试大纲》curriculum. Business Chinese language proficiency test to analyze and compare, divided into 2 main parts. Part 1 is a comparative analysis of the content of business activities, divided into 2 sub-parts 1.) Analyze for dividing the level of knowledge and ability in Chinese Business (商务汉语考试等级标准)found that textbooks Business Chinese Conversation 1, Business Chinese Conversation 2, and Business Chinese Conversation 3 have content levels Classification Standards Level 1 and Level 2. Business Chinese Conversation 1 and Business Chinese (for Thai learners) are at level 3 and level 4. 2.) Analyze the scope of content related to the criteria for measuring and evaluating the ability to communicate in business(商务交际能力项目). 2.1) Business communication in life (生活类) found that Business communication in life vocabulary appears in many textbooks: Business Chinese Conversation 1, Business Chinese Conversation 2, and Business Chinese Conversation 3. 2.2) Business Communication (业务类)found that Business Communication vocabulary appears in the textbook Business Chinese 1 and Business Chinese (for Thai students) the most. Part 2 is a comparative analysis of textbooks into 3 aspects: 1) Structure found that all 5 Business Chinese textbooks emphasize conversation as the main lesson. 2) Vocabulary in this study based on vocabulary standards “BCT Business Chinese Test (A)” and “BCT Business Chinese Test (B)” found that all 5 Business Chinese textbooks contained vocabulary that are not in the syllabus than those in the syllabus. 3) Exercise has appropriate exercises except Business Chinese Conversation 1, Business Chinese Conversation 2, and Business Chinese Conversation 3 which have only one exercise format and are not appropriate for reviewing students' knowledge. From this research, Guidelines for writing business Chinese textbooks at the higher education level can be summarized as follows: 1. There should be a comprehensive and systematic arrangement of textbook writing sequences. 2. The number of vocabularies should be at an average level that is equal to the curriculum criteria Business Chinese Test. 3. There is comprehensive business communication content according to criteria for measuring and evaluating business communication abilities according to the standard knowledge level of the students and the content is up-to-date and accurate. 4. The number of questions and the format of the exercises should be appropriate.

The Development of Chinese Language Learning Package by Using the Recreational Activity Songs

Puriwan WARANUSAST — 2024-12-22

The objectives of this research were to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a Chinese language learning package using recreational activity songs and to study students' satisfaction after using these songs in Chinese language learning. The sample group, obtained through simple random sampling, consisted of 26 minor Chinese language students from the Faculty of Humanities, Naresuan University, during the 2021 academic year. The study employed three research instruments: six Chinese-translated recreational songs, a 30-item multiple-choice pre-test and post-test to assess Chinese vocabulary and grammar knowledge, and a satisfaction questionnaire. The results revealed a statistically significant improvement in students' test scores after using the learning package (p < .05). The pre-test mean score was 21.07, while the post-test mean score increased to 27.78, demonstrating the effectiveness of the recreational songs in enhancing Chinese language learning. Additionally, students reported high satisfaction with the learning package, with an overall mean satisfaction score of 4.26 out of 5.00. The song that received the highest satisfaction rating was “Apple, Papaya, Banana, Orange” (mean = 4.48), particularly for its effectiveness in vocabulary memorization. The findings suggest that incorporating recreational songs into Chinese language teaching can effectively improve students' language skills and create an engaging learning environment, particularly for vocabulary acquisition and retention.

The Zhang Yuanbian's Practical Philosophy

Yi ZHANG — 2024-12-22

The scholarly emphasis within the domain of Chinese intellectual history has progressively transitioned from an examination of Wang Yangming's philosophy to an exploration of post-Yangming school studies, particularly during the Ming and Qing dynasties. This shift has led to a burgeoning interest in the philosophical contributions of figures such as Nie Shuangjiang, Luo Nianan, Wang Ji, Wang Gen, and Li Zhi, with new research continually emerging. However, there remains a significant academic void concerning other pivotal representatives of the post-Yangming school, including Zhang Yuanbian, whose work has been largely overlooked. Zhang Yuanbian's practical philosophy, encapsulated within his philosophy, is a critical component of his intellectual framework. An investigation reveals that Zhang Yuanbian's practical philosophy is composed of various interrelated concepts, each with its own logical genesis. This paper posits that the application of certain technical methodologies can elucidate the discourse and intertextual references within his work, thereby revealing the comprehensive structure and developmental trajectories of his ideas. This approach integrates the cultural heritage and individual insights inherent in the understanding of Zhang Yuanbian's philosophy. Consequently, Zhang Yuanbian's practical philosophy is recognized as a synthesis of Confucian practice tradition and Wang Yangming's doctrine of the "unity of knowledge and action." and it plays a unique role and possesses unique historical significance in the history of thought. This study not only bridges the gap in the academic discourse on Zhang Yuanbian's thought but also offers a novel perspective and theoretical insights into the evolution of psychological studies and the contemporary interpretation of ancient Chinese philosophy.

Studying China’s New Energy Automobile Industry Development Plan under the Made in China 2025 Strategy to Develop Thailand’s New Energy Automotive Industry

Kobboon VIRIYAYINGYONG — 2024-12-22

The Made in China 2025 strategy is an economic and social development plan implemented by the People’s Republic of China, with a specific emphasis on the advancement of the manufacturing industry. As for the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), the primary goal is to develop Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard industry. Since the Made in China 2025 strategy and EEC have shared the similarities in support for developing a new energy automobile industry, at present China has developed higher technology for producing electric cars. It is an important producer and consumer in the electric vehicle market. Thailand serves as a manufacturing hub for various foreign companies. Therefore, this article studies the current state of development in the new energy automotive industry in China and Thailand, with a specific focus on government assistance policies, including analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the electric car industry in China and Thailand, cost barriers and production capacity in Thailand, and opportunities and guidelines for developing the electric vehicle industry in Thailand under the cooperation of the EEC and Made in China 2025 to provide guidelines for the future development of Thailand’s electric vehicle industry to become a leader. As a result, Thailand has the strength to become a leader in the electric vehicle industry. Simultaneously, it is plausible to apply the weaknesses of China’s development policies in comprehensive ways, such as promoting the electric vehicle manufacturing industry and providing guidelines for increasing domestic demand.

Never Forget Its Source When You Drink the Water: To the Upcoming 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Thailand and China

Ronglin CEN — 2024-12-22

Geographically and culturally connected to each other for thousands of years, China and Thailand have shared their time-honored and deep-rooted friendships by both inter-state communications and nongovernmental exchanges as well. As modern states, these two countries have been forging their relationships, expanding their bilateral interactions and extending their cooperations in politics, economy, military, culture, education, tourism and other fields for almost a half of a century by July 1st, next year, i.e., the 50th anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Thailand and China. Despite belonging respectively to two distinctive social systems, maintaining close coordination and communications in both regional and international affairs, China and Thailand have become a good example of the harmonious coexistence, win-win cooperation and mutual development among countries with different social systems. Being good neighbors, friends, relatives and partners, China and Thailand are developing a promising bilateral relation with huge potentials.