On October 3, Professor Wang Zhisheng from the Faculty of Education visited Shiu Pong College, and gave a talk on the Chinese concepts of “Orientation” (方位) and “Beidou” (北斗). The seminar was attended by about 50 SPC students.

How do you identify directions when you are at a place you’ve never been before? This is an interesting question which Professor Wang used to introduce the topic. He then explained the origins of the concepts of “Orientation” in Chinese traditional culture.  Moving from the worship of Polaris (北极星) in farming civilization to the twenty-eight stars and the four orientations surrounding the Polaris, and the octagonal star map formed by the tracks of the Big Dipper (北斗七星 – the sever stars at the Polaris) along the seasons, Professor Wang clarified the concept of “centre” (中心) and “four sides and eight directions” (四面八方) in Chinese traditional culture. The talk was illustrated by a series of beautiful star maps.

In addition, Professor Wang also discussed the relationship between the worship of divine turtle (神龟崇拜) and oracle (甲骨文). More specifically, our ancestors thought that the two pieces of turtle shells are just like the sky – which is curved – and the earth – which is flat. They came to see the turtle as a divine object, offering them in worshipping the heavens and earth and inscribing characters on them. The concepts of “heaven-and-earth united” (天地一统) and “heaven-and-man united” (天人合一) have had immeasurable influence on Chinese politics and ethics. Students have surely benefited from the talk which is so rich in contents.

Professor Wang Zhisheng has been teaching an elective course entitled “Chinese Traditional Culture and Education (中國傳統文化與教育)”. In the academic year of 2017/2018, he introduced SPC students to the origin of the concept of “dragon” (龍) in Chinese traditional culture.

 

10月3日,澳門大學教育學院的王志勝教授光臨紹邦書院,為同學們介紹了中國的方位觀與北斗崇拜,約50名紹邦學生參與講座。

當你到了一個陌生的地方,怎麼辨別方位呢?王志勝教授以這個有趣的問題為開端,為同學們一步一步展示了中國傳統方位觀念的來源。以農耕文明對北極星的崇拜為開端,到圍繞北極星旋轉的二十八星宿和四象,再到北斗七星四季旋轉所構成的八角星圖,王教授將中華傳統文化里“中心”和“四面八方”等觀念的來龍去脈娓娓道來。一幅幅優美的星圖和文物照片更幫助同學們加深了印象。

王教授還介紹了神龜崇拜與甲骨文的關係。古人在祭祀天地的過程中,認為龜殼的構造與天圓地方的世界相同,因此將龜視為神聖之物和祭祀天地的替代品,並將文字刻在甲骨上。天地一統、天人合一的觀念,作為華夏文化的根源,也深深地影響了中國的政治和倫理。講座中丰富的知識讓同学們深感“受益匪淺”。

王志勝教授在澳门大學有開設名為“中國傳統文化與教育”的選修課。在2017/2018學年的講座中,他曾向紹邦學生介紹了中國傳統文化中“龍”的來源。

 

Prof. Wang explaining the impact of “Orientation” on Chinese politics
王志勝教授講述方位觀對政治的影響

 

About 50 SPC students attending the seminar talk
約50名同學參與了講座

 

Prof. Wang answering questions from students
王志勝教授回答同學提問