Volume 85
Published on October 2025Volume title: Proceeding of ICIHCS 2025 Symposium: The Dialogue Between Tradition and Innovation in Language Learning
Literacy is the foundation of reading and writing, the basis for mastering knowledge, cultivating abilities and conducting various subject teaching, and it is also an important prerequisite for cultivating and enhancing students' comprehensive Chinese literacy. Based on the "Six Categories of Chinese Characters" theory, taking the first-grade unified textbooks as the entry point and combining the current situation of first-grade character recognition teaching, this paper explores and studies the curriculum functions and specific practices of the "Six Categories of Chinese Characters" theory in character recognition teaching in the lower grades of primary school Chinese, and clarifies the specific teaching strategies for the four types of Chinese characters, namely Pictographic characters, Indicative characters, Assembled Ideogram, Phonetic Compound, in the first-grade unified textbooks. In the specific teaching of Chinese character recognition, these four types of Chinese characters can be taught respectively by adopting strategies such as traceability and comparison,correlation and deconstruction,split and reorganize, analysis and combined use. Through this method, students can build a knowledge system of Chinese characters based on their principles.
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The family tragedy in "Thunderstorm" reveals the characteristics of the power structure under the feudal system. This paper, taking Cao Yu's "Thunderstorm" as its research object, draws on Foucault's theory of power discourse and Spivak's theory of subaltern discourse to analyze the interactions among Fanyi, Lu Shiping, and Zhou Puyuan within the family power system. The study finds that most conflicts in "Thunderstorm" require the cooperation of at least two people. The tragedy of the Zhou family is not the result of individual actions but rather the result of a three-way conspiracy within the power structure. The characters' behavioral patterns (Fanyi's madness, Lu Shiping's silence, and Zhou Puyuan's hypocrisy) create a unique power balance: the more Fanyi becomes insane, the more Zhou Puyuan disciplines and oppresses her, and the more Lu Shiping remains silent. This structural conspiracy ultimately leads to the family tragedy. This study reveals the inherent logic of power operations within the feudal family and provides a new perspective for understanding family relationships in China.
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Gabriel García Márquez's novella No One Writes to the Colonel (1958) and Samuel Beckett's play Waiting for Godot (1952), though belonging to different genres, are seminal works from the 1950s that profoundly explore the human condition of waiting in the post-World War II era. This paper undertakes a comparative analysis of these two texts to elucidate both the universal and the particular dimensions of the "waiting" motif within postwar literature. It argues that each work, through its unique generic conventions, presents a distinct response to existential uncertainty. Márquez’s social realist approach grounds the colonel's interminable wait for a pension in a specific socio-political context, portraying a struggle against systemic oblivion with tangible, human resilience. In stark contrast, Beckett’s absurdist drama employs abstraction and cyclical dialogue to deconstruct meaning itself, presenting waiting as a metaphor for the existential void. Consequently, these works articulate two pivotal modes of twentieth-century resistance: Latin American magic realism confronts absurdity with flesh-and-blood persistence, while European absurdism meets it with ironic deconstruction and metaphysical fragmentation.
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With the continuous progress and development of the times, the awakening of female consciousness and the struggles of women from all social strata have continued to advance. Increasing attention is being directed toward the awakening of women, and a growing number of literary and artistic works have begun to focus on this theme, portraying diverse, multidimensional, and richly nuanced female characters. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of three distinct female characters in Thunderstorm, exploring the awakening and resistance of female consciousness reflected in the work against the backdrop of its story and historical context. The differences in age, life experiences, personality, and cognition among these three women determine the varying degrees and forms of their awakening. By examining these three female characters, this study investigates the differences in the awakening of female consciousness across social classes and age groups under the historical conditions of the time. The awakening and resistance of female consciousness in Thunderstorm are complex manifestations that span multiple perspectives, levels, and social classes, rather than being concentrated in a single individual or event. Through a comprehensive analysis and study of the awakening and resistance of female consciousness in Thunderstorm, this paper aims to inspire reflections on the development of contemporary female consciousness and contribute to the exploration of solutions to the challenges faced by modern women.
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This study examines the complex effects of social media on the mental health of adolescents in the digital age. Teenagers between the ages of 12 and 19 now live their lives heavily influenced by social media, which shapes their social interactions, identity formation, and mental health. Frequent use carries serious hazards, such as anxiety, depression, and cyberbullying, even though it offers chances for social interaction and assistance, especially for under-represented groups. According to empirical data, social comparison and body-image issues are exacerbated by algorithm-driven platforms like Instagram and TikTok, with adolescents who are insecurely attached being particularly susceptible to unfavourable comments. Unrealistic self-evaluations are fostered by excessive exposure to idealised content, which can lead to mental pain and, in severe cases, suicidal thoughts or self-harm. Psychological vulnerabilities are made worse by physical health problems, such as sleep disturbances brought on by extended screen time. The relationship between social media and teenage mental health is complicated overall, influenced by usage patterns, platform features, and individual differences, even when favourable outcomes—like peer support and decreased loneliness—are obvious. Generalisability is limited by methodological flaws in current research, such as the use of self-reported cross-sectional data and small, culturally limited groups. Nevertheless, findings highlight the urgent need for evidence-based interventions by parents, schools, and policymakers to mitigate risks and promote adolescents’ healthy development.
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This paper explores the dramatic function of monologues in Chinese and Western theater in the 20th century and earlier, with a focus on their role in character development and the depiction of psychological activity. Through an analysis of representative works such as Shakespeare's Hamlet and Cao Yu's Thunderstorm, this paper finds that monologues not only serve as an important means of revealing inner conflicts, but also play a central role in advancing the plot and deepening the expression of themes. In Western drama, monologues often carry philosophical reflections and self-examination, while in Chinese drama, they place greater emphasis on emotional expression and characterization through monologues. This difference in usage reflects the “cultural differences” between Chinese and Western drama in terms of narrative style and aesthetic concepts. Nevertheless, monologues still share the important function of expressing characters' emotions and revealing their personalities across different cultural contexts, reflecting the profound concern for the universality of human nature in dramatic art
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Attention to women's survival and development has been reflected in various aspects of society in different forms in China, including classical dramatic works such as Nv Fu Ma. Currently, some studies, based on plot analysis, classify the Huangmei Opera The Female Royal Member as a comedy. However, when considered from the perspective of its female characters, the tragic undertones beneath the comedic surface become visible. This paper will employ a feminist lens to further explore the tragic core of Nv Fu Ma. Utilizing the method of literature review, this study investigates the plight faced by the character Feng Suzhen, a daughter of an elite family in the feudal era, namely the materialized constraints of feudal ethical codes represented by the "boudoir" and the ideology of "distinction between men and women." Simultaneously, it highlights Feng Suzhen's arduous struggle for marital autonomy, specifically manifested in her cross-dressing as a man to "rescue her beloved Mr. Li. Lang." Through examining Feng Suzhen's rescue mission, this paper reveals the contradiction between feudal ethical codes and marital autonomy as embodied by elite women in the feudal era, thereby contributing to research that showcases women's resistance under feudalism in regional opera from a feminist perspective.
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In recent years, Chinese immersive musicals, as a niche culture form, have experienced rapid development in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and some other cities, cultivating a stable audience base. This group of audience is highly active on social media and has become a new force in promoting musicals. In July 2025, a user-generated content (UGC) post by the official account of the Chinese immersive musical The Art Supply Store of Xinjilu on Rednote sparked controversy among audiences. The study employs questionnaires and in-depth interviews to explore the impact of social media communication on the theater attending behaviors of Chinese immersive musical audiences, as well as the motivations behind their creation of related UGC. The study demonstrates that consuming and creating related UGC on social media can stimulate audience attendance, while the number of attending times, the number of works watched, the frequency of attendance, and satisfaction with the works also influence audiences’ consumption of related UGC. The officials should encourage audiences to create related UGC on social media and enhance the immersive quality of published content to boost participation and engagement.
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Yuan Zaju The Orphan of Zhao, a classic of Chinese classical tragedy, was adapted into The Orphan of China by the Enlightenment thinker Voltaire in the context of the rise of “China fever” in Europe in the 18th century, becoming a landmark event in the history of literary exchanges between China and the West. This article focuses on a cross-cultural comparison of the portrayal of tragic heroes in the two works, aiming to go beyond the limitations of previous studies that focused on plot adaptation and delve into how different ethical systems shape the core of tragic heroes, revealing the deep cultural logic of character image reconstruction in cross-cultural adaptations. The study found that the core similarities in the portrayal of tragic heroes between The Orphan of Zhao and The Orphan of China mainly include the core plot framework, ethical choices against power, the tragic nobility of the spirit of sacrifice, and the defense of “civilized values"; The core differences between the two works are mainly reflected in ethical motives, types of conflicts, heroic endings and heroic narratives. From this, the article concludes that the tragic heroism in the two works profoundly reflects the different ethical systems and demands of The Times behind them. The tragic hero in The Orphan of Zhao is the product of collectivism, Confucian ethics and the concept of karma; The tragic hero of The Orphan of China embodies individual rationality, humanitarianism, and the adherence to moral ideals amid civilizational conflicts.
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This article aims to systematically examine and explore the profound impact of the development of internet technology media on user-generated content (UGC) and its dissemination patterns. Drawing on theories of media environments and participatory culture, this article employs a literature review approach to integrate recent research on a variety of media platforms, including blogs, chat medias, online novels, long and short videos, and games and its live-stream. Understanding the characteristics of different media environments holds important implications for not only both the contents creators and platforms, also the researchers. This research finds that the media of internet fundamentally democratizes content creation, while the diverse characteristics of different technology that used on media have shaped diverse creative paradigms. The conclusion of this research consider that the core driving force behind the internet's content creation is its significant lowering of the barrier to create and disseminate user-generated content, encouraging user contribution, interaction, and co-creation, thereby generating content and social connections. Finally, the article identifies limitations of this research, such as insufficient critical analysis of algorithmic power, and offers directions for future research.
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