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A Study of Expressions of Respects and Taboos in the Verbal and Non-Verbal Behaviors of the Chinese

Research Project

Project/Area Number 02045011
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for international Scientific Research

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
SectionUniversity-to-University Cooperative Research
Research InstitutionTokyo University of Foreign Studies

Principal Investigator

KOSHIMIZU Masaru  Professor, Faculty of Foreign Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, 外国語学部, 教授 (60014437)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) 王 宏  上海外国語学院, 日本語学部, 教授
HIRAI Kazuyuki  Instructor, Faculty of Foreign Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, 外国語学部, 助手 (10199028)
KOBAYASHI Tsugio  Associate Prof. Faculty of Foreign Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, 外国語学部, 助教授 (10107831)
YORIFUJI Atsushi  Associate Prof. Faculty of Foreign Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, 外国語学部, 助教授 (80014520)
TAKAHASHI Hitoshi  Professor, Faculty of Foreign Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, 外国語学部, 教授 (40015392)
ARITA Kazuo  Professor, Faculty of Foreign Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, 外国語学部, 教授 (70011301)
KANAMARU Kunizo  Professor, Faculty of Foreign Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, 外国語学部, 教授 (70014438)
WANG Hong  Professor, Department of Japanese Studies, Shanghai International Studies Univer
Project Period (FY) 1990 – 1991
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 1991)
Budget Amount *help
¥4,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,000,000)
Fiscal Year 1991: ¥2,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,000,000)
Fiscal Year 1990: ¥2,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,000,000)
Keywordstoboos in everyday life of the Chinese / Chinese proprieties / expressions of respect of the Chinese / propitious pictures and embodiment of good luck
Research Abstract

In this two-year project we have researched through fieldworks on the taboos and the proprieties, both verbal and non-verbal, in the Chinese society.
in the first year, through interviews with informants we were fully informed of facts on taboos and polite behaviors in everyday life, among which are the cases concerned with homonyms ; apples are suitable for gifts because the Chinese word for "apple" is homonymous with the word for "peaceful", while pears are unsuitable because "separate" and "pear" are homonymous in Chinese. Besides, we accumulated more information on the rules of, behaviors in dining, gift-giving, hospitality, wedding and funerals, and traditional seasonal activities. We also noticed the recent drastic change of honorifics ; honorifics such as "xiaojie Miss", "taitai Madam", which have been tabooed since liberation, have now revived. In addition, we collected various books on the subject published in rapid succession recently, and analyzed their contents.
In the second year, we researched into New Year's pictures, i. e. propitious woodcuts attached to the gates and the walls of private houses on Spring Festival, which reflect Chinese' idea of good luck, the other aspect of taboo sentiment. We consulted some researchers for the further understanding of the subject, and visited the printing houses of New Year's pictures to collect the originals. Most of New Year's pictures symbolize the conception of good luck by means of homonomy. For instance, a picture of a boy holding a big fish with some lotus flowers behind him is a symbol of "to have enough and to spare year after year", for "fish" and "spare", "lotus" and " (in) succession" are homonymous respectively. The same method of symbolism is applied to other cases. A decorated wall with drawings of bats is propitious for the reason that the Chinese words for "bat" and "happiness" are homonimous.

Report

(2 results)
  • 1991 Final Research Report Summary
  • 1990 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (7 results)

All Other

All Publications (7 results)

  • [Publications] 平井 和之: "中国の社交儀礼" 数学通訊. 11号. 58-62 (1991)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1991 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 輿水 優,依藤 醇,小林 二男,平井 和之: "中国人のタブ-と生活儀礼I" 東京外国語大学中国語研究室, 1-223 (1992)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1991 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 金丸 邦三,有田 和夫,高橋 均: "中国人における吉祥表現Iー吉祥図編" 東京外国語大学中国語研究室, 1-60 (1992)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1991 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] HIRAI, Kazuyuki: "Chinese Decorum" JIAOXUE TONGXUN. 11. 58-62 (1991)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1991 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] KOSHIMIZU, Masaru YORIFUJI, Atsushi KOBAYASHI, Tsugio HIRAI, Kazuyuki: Department of Chinese Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign studies. The Taboos and the Proprieties in China -- Part One, 1-223 (1992)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1991 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] KANAMARU, Kunizo ARITA, Kazuo TAKAHASHI, Hitoshi: Department of Chinese Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign studies. Embodiment of Good Luck -- Part One : Propitious Pictures, 1-60 (1992)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1991 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 東京外国語大学中国語研究室(代表輿水優): "中国人の日常生活におけるタブ-" 東京外国語大学中国語研究室, (1991)

    • Related Report
      1990 Annual Research Report

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Published: 1990-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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