Hi Fernando, thanks for asking. Actually, learning Classical Chinese is equally hard for modern Chinese speakers, whether they speak Mandarin, Cantonese, or Hokkien. It has a steep learning curve for everyone before you can really start to grasp its beauty. I'm actually researching ways to help ease that learning curve right now, so stay tuned for future posts! In the meantime, a very common and excellent recommendation is 'Classical Chinese for Everyone' by Bryan W. Van Norden. I’ve read it and found it does a great job of lowering the threshold for beginners.
I’ve just started to learn some basic mandarin so I can have simple interactions with my teachers. This looks so cool! What comes to minds is how we view chord symbols in Jazz. Looking forward to your webinar on Sunday! ❤️☯️🙏🏼
I can understand why some have a low view of Wang Bi's interpretation. How does "man" "ruin" Nature by anything he does or does not do? Man is part of Nature. Laozi's text genius lies in leaving those subconscious assumptions out.
That subtlety, that I took to be a self-awareness of “not understanding” is what I thought sets this work apart from all others. People think they are searching for answers; it is too tempting to start providing them.
This was a wonderful account of ancient Chinese that helped me imagine the consciousness of the people who spoke it. As you have shown before, the modern world has sacrificed much of value while focusing mainly on the cultivation of the rational mind, It is time to balance the analytical and holistic modes of thinking. The left-hemisphere approach has dominated for too long and we are suffering the consequences in the world today.
Actually, all the things in the poll, but it only lets us choose one...and then there's the aspect of defining it as antithetical to The Way... There should have been a 5th option of non-attachment... :-)
We're watching the New Year TV Show right now, the martial arts robots were amazing. The production values, the logistics of orchestrating hundred of thousands of participants across the entire country in a seamless extravaganza is pretty cool.
How do you recomend start to learn classical chinese?
Hi Fernando, thanks for asking. Actually, learning Classical Chinese is equally hard for modern Chinese speakers, whether they speak Mandarin, Cantonese, or Hokkien. It has a steep learning curve for everyone before you can really start to grasp its beauty. I'm actually researching ways to help ease that learning curve right now, so stay tuned for future posts! In the meantime, a very common and excellent recommendation is 'Classical Chinese for Everyone' by Bryan W. Van Norden. I’ve read it and found it does a great job of lowering the threshold for beginners.
I’ve just started to learn some basic mandarin so I can have simple interactions with my teachers. This looks so cool! What comes to minds is how we view chord symbols in Jazz. Looking forward to your webinar on Sunday! ❤️☯️🙏🏼
Reading this was like meditation..🙏🏻
I can understand why some have a low view of Wang Bi's interpretation. How does "man" "ruin" Nature by anything he does or does not do? Man is part of Nature. Laozi's text genius lies in leaving those subconscious assumptions out.
Laozi is subtler than his commentators. Wang Bi might have been trying too hard to correct the 'artificial' behavior
That subtlety, that I took to be a self-awareness of “not understanding” is what I thought sets this work apart from all others. People think they are searching for answers; it is too tempting to start providing them.
This was a wonderful account of ancient Chinese that helped me imagine the consciousness of the people who spoke it. As you have shown before, the modern world has sacrificed much of value while focusing mainly on the cultivation of the rational mind, It is time to balance the analytical and holistic modes of thinking. The left-hemisphere approach has dominated for too long and we are suffering the consequences in the world today.
Actually, all the things in the poll, but it only lets us choose one...and then there's the aspect of defining it as antithetical to The Way... There should have been a 5th option of non-attachment... :-)
We're watching the New Year TV Show right now, the martial arts robots were amazing. The production values, the logistics of orchestrating hundred of thousands of participants across the entire country in a seamless extravaganza is pretty cool.
Happy New Year! I will definitely come up with a better, more nuanced poll next time.
Cool. I wasn't trying to be critical, more like humorously observing that polling anything about The Way...isn't The Way.
新年快乐！I love your stuff! It's consistently one of the best things on Substack.
Many moons ago I attempted translation of some ancient wenyan texts. I really should dig them up.
Thanks for sharing this! I'm not as far along in my journey, but I this gives me a lot of hope for my future Chinese studies as a mindfulness 办法!
So inspiring! Thank you!