Research on taboo

Author: Wang Xinhua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Avoidance of names is a unique linguistic and cultural phenomenon in feudal Chinese society. In our era of few taboos, revisiting the historical scroll can evoke a sense of awe at its immense role in history and its widespread influence. It prompts reflection on the subtle relationships between people and between people and nature. This may also be the significance of re-examining avoidance of names. Research on avoidance of names has already been extensively conducted by predecessors. In terms of comprehensive materials and meticulous research, Zhou Guangye's Comprehensive Examination of Name Avoidance in Classics and History and Chen Yuan's Examples of Historical Name Avoidance can be considered monumental works. Studies on Avoidance of Names builds on this foundation, organizing and exploring this culturally unique phenomenon of the Han Chinese, which has greatly influenced neighboring ethnic groups, from a cultural studies perspective, hoping to contribute to the study of Chinese culture.
To ensure more effective research, we advocate the following research philosophy: internally within the language, combining vocabulary, grammar, phonetics, and semantics; externally, integrating synchronic and diachronic perspectives, language and parole, parole and context.
In China, ancient traditional linguistics maintained close ties with philosophy, literature, and history. In the West, many disciplines focus on language issues, either studying language from the perspective of their own field or borrowing linguistic achievements and methods to study other disciplines. Linguistics has exerted a profound influence on disciplines such as linguistic philosophy, hermeneutics, logic, psychology, and anthropology. At the same time, the research findings and methods of Western linguistic philosophy, hermeneutics, logic, psychology, and anthropology are also relevant theories and knowledge that must be paid attention to in the study of Chinese language and characters.