University New Chinese

Author: Xia Zhongyi, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features:
Purpose of Compilation – Advocating humanistic education and interpreting universal human values;
Concept of Compilation – Highlighting value while downplaying knowledge and tool-based aspects;
Selection Principle – Modern humanism, classic literature and poetry! This new textbook aims to break the traditional pattern centered on "literary reading" and positions university Chinese education at the height of "humanistic education." By guiding students to appreciate and comprehend the profound charm of language and literature, it encourages them to question the meaning of existence and the truth of life, fostering their independent spirit, free thinking, imagination, and creativity. It nurtures well-rounded personalities and a sense of humanistic care, providing them with a poetic space for "spiritual maturation."
Traditional university Chinese textbooks have long followed literary history or genre-based formats: primarily focusing on literature, organizing teaching units by literary genres, or structuring them along the timeline of literary development. The selection of texts has been confined within the framework of national culture, literature, and cultural heritage, with an overemphasis on classical Chinese reading, making them overly knowledge-based and tool-oriented. The educational content is conservative, failing to adapt to current societal developments or the needs of university Chinese education reform. Many university Chinese teachers urgently call for a new university Chinese textbook that reflects contemporary spirit and highlights humanistic education. Against this backdrop, Peking University Press organized the publication of University New Chinese.
Positioning university Chinese education at the height of humanistic education, University New Chinese breaks the existing textbooks' overemphasis on knowledge and tool-based aspects, moves beyond the framework of national culture, literature, and cultural heritage, and uses universal human values as a reference. It incorporates the crucial elements of contemporaneity and globalism, transforming the current passive state of university Chinese textbooks lagging behind the times. It awakens students' enthusiasm and initiative in learning Chinese, guiding them to reflect on the interplay between classical and modern, China and the world, and leading them into deeper and broader spiritual realms, cultivating their humanistic awareness and sentiments.
The entire book is supported by thematic keywords, with chapters organized around 16 keywords, each offering a unique perspective toward dimensions conducive to students' "spiritual maturation." University New Chinese breaks the traditional pattern centered on literary reading, positions university Chinese education at the height of humanistic education, and guides students to appreciate and comprehend the profound charm of language and literature, encouraging them to question the meaning of existence and the truth of life, fostering their independent spirit and free thinking, and shaping their well-rounded personalities and humanistic care.
New Features of "New Chinese":
- New in Thought: University New Chinese breaks the overemphasis on knowledge and tool-based aspects in existing university Chinese textbooks, moves beyond the framework of national culture, literature, and cultural heritage, and uses universal human values as a reference. It provides students with a poetic space for "spiritual maturation," helping them recognize the importance of becoming a true human being and guiding them toward a well-rounded, aesthetically oriented life. University New Chinese interprets universal human values, incorporating the crucial elements of contemporaneity and globalism, transforming the current passive state of university Chinese textbooks, awakening students' enthusiasm and initiative in learning, and guiding them to reflect on the interplay between classical and modern, China and the world, leading them into deeper and broader spiritual realms.
- New in Format: The entire book is supported by thematic keywords, with chapters organized around 16 keywords: Youth, University, Benevolence, Love, Freedom, Conscience, Reverence, Nostalgia, Memory, Heroes, Perseverance, Hope, Self-Examination, Irony, Poetry, and Nature. Each keyword offers a unique perspective toward dimensions conducive to students' "spiritual maturation." Each keyword section includes approximately 25,000 words of selected texts. At the end of each chapter, there are "Editor’s Notes," "Roundtable Topics," and "Reading Links."
- Editor’s Notes integrate the editor's unique insights and profound thoughts, complementing the selected texts.
- Roundtable Topics provide corresponding reflection questions based on the chapter’s content, deepening students' understanding of the theme.
- Reading Links offer additional reading materials curated by the editor based on their extensive reading experience, expanding students' reading horizons.
- New in Selection: All selected texts in University New Chinese adhere to the principle of broadening the soul. They carefully balance classic and modernity, literary and intellectual depth, and national heritage and globalism. The selection of each text primarily considers:
1. High literary value, usually classic works;
2. Content covering politics, philosophy, history, education, economics, science, etc., with strong intellectual impact;
3. Diverse literary genres.
Additionally, all selected texts in University New Chinese move readers emotionally, intellectually, and morally, constructing a poetic space for students' "spiritual maturation."