Re-schematisation of Chinese Xiao (Filial Piety) Across Cultures and Generations

Marc Xu, Nina Fang

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter (Book)Researchpeer-review

Abstract

The notion of xiao (filial piety) in Chinese has a long history, and its original
meanings include ‘respecting ancestors’ and ‘worshiping gods’. Its denotative
meanings have been broadened since Xizhou Dynasty, approximately 1046-771 BC,to include taking care of and being obedient to parents. Hence xiao (filial piety) in Chinese has been inherited, schematised and re-schematised throughout generations until now. In this chapter, we explore the Chinese culturally constructed concept of xiao through the lenses of Cultural Linguistics and World Englishes. In particular, we trace how cultural conceptualisations of Chinese xiao and its closest Chinese English translation ‘filial piety’ travel across cultural boundaries from ancient China to Chinese diasporas overseas and across generations.We collect data from classical Chinese texts on xiao, contemporary fiction works by second-generation migrant writers with Chinese heritage, and Internet chatrooms and forums with themes
surrounding Chinese xiao (filial piety) to deconstruct how the concept has been
schematised and re-schematised across time and space.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCultural Linguistics and World Englishes
EditorsMarzieh Sadeghpour, Farzad Sharifian
Place of PublicationGateway East, Singapore
PublisherSpringer
Chapter4
Pages65-85
Number of pages21
ISBN (Electronic)9789811546969
ISBN (Print)9789811546952
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Publication series

NameCultural Linguistics
PublisherSpringer

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