Chinese Studies Journal

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Wuttipong Prapantamit — 2026-06-29

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Wuttipong Prapantamit — 2026-06-29

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Wuttipong Prapantamit — 2026-06-29

CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION IN ONLINE CHINESE ‎LANGUAGE CLASSES:‎ A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF THAI STUDENTS AT BEIJING NORMAL ‎UNIVERSITY

Penpitchaya Sitthicharoenchai — 2026-06-29

This study examined cross-cultural communication in online Chinese language courses with nine Thai international students at Beijing Normal University during COVID-19. Using Hofstede’s four cultural dimensions as an analytical framework, semi-structured interviews were analyzed thematically. Findings revealed that cultural similarities between Thailand and China particularly shared values of respect for authority and social harmony minimized overt communication conflicts but constrained open dialogue and participation. The online learning environment, characterized by reduced non-verbal cues and delayed feedback, amplified these patterns. The study demonstrates that cultural dimensions interact with digital learning contexts and offers practical implications for international Chinese language educators seeking to create culturally responsive online classrooms.

Policy Instrument Mix and Governance Mechanisms: A Multi-level Governance Analysis of the Innovative Development of Chuxiong (China) Yi Embroidery

Yong Zhang — 2026-06-29

This study investigates the policy design of Yi Embroidery development in Chuxiong, China, addressing a critical gap in understanding how intangible cultural heritage (ICH) innovation is institutionalized within multi-level governance systems. Grounded in policy instrument theory and a multi-tier governance perspective, the research employs deductive content analysis of 72 policy documents spanning national, provincial, prefectural, and county levels (2015–2024). Findings reveal three interconnected governance mechanisms—standardization, institutional embedding, and market activation—that form a "state–organization–market" continuum. National policies prioritize standardization through regulatory instruments (e.g., certification frameworks), while county-level initiatives drive market activation via e-commerce subsidies and artisan cooperatives. This hierarchical configuration demonstrates how policy instruments are structurally distributed across governance tiers to steer ICH innovation. By treating policy texts as institutional artifacts, the study decodes the interplay between technical language, organizational structures, and economic incentives in reshaping cultural practices. The analysis offers a structured framework for cultural policy design in ethnic regions and underscores the need to validate the mechanisms’ generalizability through cross-contextual empirical studies.

An Analysis of Female Image Metaphors in the Book of Songs from a Cross-Cultural Perspective of Chinese Major Students in Thailand and Pedagogical Implications

Wei Yuchun — 2026-06-29

The aim of this study is to assess the perceptions of female imagery metaphors in female-related poems from the Book of Songs (Shijing) among Chinese-major students at three universities in Bangkok, Thailand, and explore their relevant educational implications. The research employs a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews and grounded theory for data collection and analysis. 3 instructors who have taught the Book of Songs and 15 students who have previously studied the text from three universities in Bangkok were among the participants. The findings show that students are highly interested in female-related poems in the Book of Songs. However, the students' high level of interest contrasts with their difficulty in comprehending the female imagery metaphors embedded in the text. The cultural differences between Chinese and Thai cultural contexts are largely responsible for this challenge. Both instructors and students demonstrate favorable attitudes towards the incorporation of diverse teaching methodologies. Furthermore, student comments indicate that female imagery metaphors in Chinese culture are perceived to be more complex and multifaceted, while those in Thai culture are generally more closely linked to natural elements. This study suggests implementing comparative teaching strategies, multisensory instructional approaches, and integrating cultural knowledge into classroom instruction to address the challenges arising from cross-cultural differences. These pedagogical strategies aim to reduce cultural and psychological distance, which will make it easier to distribute the Book of Songs and improve the overall effectiveness of international Chinese language education in Thailand.

A Comparative Study of Medical and Pharmaceutical Loanwords in Chinese as Reflected in the Modern Chinese Dictionary and the Modern Chinese Normative Dictionary

Shi Likai — 2026-06-29

Abstract: This study takes the Modern Chinese Dictionary (7th edition) and the Modern Chinese Normative Dictionary (4th edition) as closed corpora and conducts a systematic comparative analysis of the inclusion status, categorical distribution, and definitional differences of medical loanwords in the two dictionaries. A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative statistics and qualitative analysis is adopted. The results show that the Modern Chinese Dictionary includes 170 medical loanwords, while the Modern Chinese Normative Dictionary records 140, with 36 entries shared by both. In terms of categorical structure, both dictionaries are dominated by drug-name entries; however, the Modern Chinese Dictionary provides more detailed definitions, emphasizing conceptual explanation and the construction of a knowledge framework, whereas the Modern Chinese Normative Dictionary offers more concise definitions, highlighting usage guidance and standardization. The study argues that these differences essentially reflect the distinct lexicographic principles of the two dictionaries—namely, “descriptive” versus “normative”—and that they are complementary in their functions of language documentation and normative guidance. This paper provides a reference for research on Chinese loanwords, terminology standardization, and lexicographic practice.

Reflection of Social Issues and Contemporary Chinese Family Dynamics through Xiaopin in CCTV Spring Festival Gala

Apinun Thaminlad — 2026-06-29

This research aims to examine the reflection of social issues, contemporary Chinese family dynamics, and the political role of humor in “Xiaopin” (skits) featured in the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. The study employs qualitative research methods, specifically textual analysis, on a sample of skits broadcast between 2020 and 2026. The findings reveal that Xiaopin serves as a cultural negotiation space reflecting reality in two primary dimensions: (1) Socio-political dimension: Humor is utilized to satire bureaucracy, ranging from “Formalism” to the “Lying Flat” culture among officials, thereby reinforcing the legitimacy of anti-corruption policies and building social immunity against modern threats like cybercrime. (2) Family dynamics dimension: The study identifies a clash between traditional Confucian values and modern digital values, resulting in intergenerational gaps and “double standard” discourses within households. The research concludes that state media utilizes Xiaopin as a political “safety valve” to alleviate social tension. Furthermore, it employs “interpellation” to align viewers with the dominant ideology through resolutions that emphasize compromise and “Harmony.” This process operates under the discourse that “Home and Country are One,” aiming to maintain stability and construct national identity within the context of Chinesenization.

A Narrative Study of Yi Dance in Yunnan from the Perspective of Bodily Semiotics

Zhang Ruishu — 2026-06-29

As a living medium of cultural interaction in China’s southwestern frontier, Yi dance in Yunnan encodes both historical and contemporary processes of interethnic contact, communication, and integration into perceptible bodily movements, spatial formations, and ritual performances. Drawing upon the theoretical frameworks of bodily semiotics and dance imagery narrative, this study examines three representative forms—Yanhewu (烟盒舞, Cigarette Box Dance), Axi Tiaoyue (阿细跳月, Axi Moon Dance), and Zuojiao Wu (左脚舞, Left-Foot Dance)—based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in southern and central Yunnan. This article analyzes how bodily symbols in Yi dance construct a three-layered narrative structure: the spatial organization of interaction, the kinetic translation of communication, and the ritualized reconstruction of identity. The findings suggest that Yi dance establishes an embodied pathway of meaning-making through the spatial syntax of “dancing within a shared circle,” the lexical fusion of inter-embedded movements, and the cultural regeneration achieved through ritual sharing. This narrative mechanism not only sustains the internal diversity of Yi sub-ethnic traditions but also, through a “body-first” mode of practice, contributes to the consolidation of a shared sense of the Chinese national community. By foregrounding the body as a semiotic medium, this study proposes a theoretical paradigm for understanding ethnic dance as an embodied narrative of social integration and offers practical implications for cultural transmission and cross-cultural communication in multiethnic regions.

Chinese Idioms in Chinese as a Foreign Language Textbooks : A Review of Development, Issues, and Future Directions

Lyu Zegen — 2026-06-29

This paper adopts a narrative review approach and examines studies on Chinese idioms in Chinese as a Foreign Language textbooks indexed in CNKI from 1955 to 2025. It reviews existing research from four aspects: idiom selection and grading in textbooks, the pedagogical treatment of idioms in textbooks, textbook compilation research, and idiom assessment and testing systems. The review shows that existing studies have mainly focused on such issues as the inclusion of idioms beyond learners’ proficiency levels, uneven distribution of high-frequency idioms, insufficient recycling of idioms, and weak alignment between textbooks and proficiency standards. In terms of pedagogical research, character-based instruction, cross-linguistic comparison, and cultural explanation have provided useful references for idiom teaching. However, current research still has three major limitations: first, the connection among textbook research, acquisition research, and classroom practice remains insufficient; second, there is a lack of integrated analysis of factors such as semantic transparency, cultural load, and morphemic productivity; third, a stable feedback mechanism between idiom assessment and textbook compilation has not yet been established. Future research may further develop multi-source corpora, refine idiom grading criteria, optimize idiom recycling mechanisms in textbooks, and promote the development of country-specific, subject-specific, and digital teaching resources, so as to improve the scientific basis and pedagogical adaptability of idiom textbook compilation.

Provision of Visual Thinking and The Picture Word Inductive Model to Enhance Chinese Character Writing and Memorization of Grade 10 Students

Wisuth Saiyod — 2026-06-29

This study aimed to develop instructional plans integrating Visual Thinking processes with the Picture Word Inductive Model (PWIM) to enhance Chinese character writing and memorization skills among Grade 10 students, and to examine the effectiveness of the intervention. The participants consisted of 18 students enrolled in the English Chinese program at a Catholic diocesan school in Chiang Mai, selected through purposive sampling. The research instruments included five instructional plans, an instructional plan evaluation form, a 50-item dictation test for Chinese character writing, and a 20-item memorization Chinese character writing test. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, a one-sample t-test, and effect size (Cohen’s d). The findings revealed that the instructional plans were of high quality (M = 4.93, SD = 0.29). Students’ post-intervention achievement (M = 14.70, SD = 3.12) significantly exceeded the 60% criterion (μ = 12), t(17) =3.67, p < .01, with a large effect size (d = 0.87). The integration of Visual Thinking and PWIM effectively reduced cognitive load and facilitated the construction of meaningful schemata, enabling students to systematically retain Chinese characters more effectively than through traditional rote memorization. These findings suggest that the proposed instructional approach has both statistical and practical significance in improving Chinese character writing and memorization skills and offers a promising pedagogical framework for Chinese language instruction in similar contexts. This study contributes to the field by proposing a theory-informed instructional innovation that integrates visual cognition and inductive language learning to enhance Chinese character acquisition.

A Study of Cultural Diversity Presentation through Textual and Image Content in Primary Chinese Language Textbooks: A Case Study of the Huawen Keben

Noppakao Sirintranon — 2026-06-29

This research article aims to examine the representation of cultural diversity through textual and visual content in the Chinese-language primary school textbook series Huawen Keben, compiled by the Department of Curriculum Development under the Ministry of Education and used in Thailand during the 1960s. The study employs a qualitative content analysis approach, categorizing cultural types based on the framework proposed by Cortazzi and Jin (1999) and analyzing cultural dimensions according to Moran (2001). The findings reveal that, out of a total of 555 lessons, 523 lessons (94.23%) contain cultural content. Among these, international culture is the most frequently represented, followed by target culture and source culture. In terms of cultural dimensions, the aspects of products and practices are most prominent, while perspectives, communities, and persons are reflected through content that conveys social values and the roles of individuals within society. The results indicate that this textbook series serves not only as a medium for language instruction but also as a vehicle for transmitting cultural knowledge and values. Furthermore, it reflects a synthesis of Chinese culture with the Thai sociocultural context during a period when the government closely regulated Chinese-language education.

Research on the Dissemination and Teaching of Yulin Intangible Cultural Heritage Paper-Cutting in Northern Shaanxi Province within International Chinese Language Education

Chen Botao — 2026-06-29

This study examines the dissemination and pedagogical application of Yulin paper-cutting— a non-heritage tradition in northern Shaanxi—within international Chinese language education. Employing semi-structured interviews, and grounded theory, data were collected from 2022 to 2025 among educators, foreign learners, and paper-cutting inheritors at relevant institutions in Yulin City. Grounded theory analysis yielded six core categories and a dual-core theoretical model, with theoretical saturation verified. Findings reveal cultural comprehension barriers and resource asymmetries in paper-cutting pedagogy, while teaching efficacy is shaped by integration strategies and resource availability. These results offer empirical grounding and practical pathways for integrating intangible cultural heritage into international Chinese language education.

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Wuttipong Prapantamit — 2026-06-29