THE THINKING LOGIC AND CULTURAL CODE OF EAST, WEST, SOUTH AND NORTH IN CHINESE LANGUAGE
Abstract
This article examines the underlying cognitive logic and cultural code embedded in the Chinese directional concepts of east, west, south, and north. Drawing on data from Chinese lexicographical sources spanning classical and modern periods, including Shuowen Jiezi and Modern Chinese Dictionary, the study analyzes the semantic development, derivative lexical units, idiomatic expressions, and cultural meanings associated with these four cardinal directions. The research demonstrates that directional terms in Chinese are not merely geographical markers but important cultural symbols formed through a cognitive chain of natural observation, cultural interpretation, and social application. The analysis reveals that each direction embodies a distinct cultural value. East is associated with sunrise, vitality, honor, authority, and prosperity; west symbolizes sunset, completion, aging, and death; south represents light, warmth, nobility, favorable conditions, and social prestige; while north is connected with coldness, retreat, defeat, and negative connotations. Through the examination of representative words, idioms, and fixed expressions, the article shows how these directional concepts have influenced traditional Chinese etiquette, social hierarchy, architectural principles, military terminology, and philosophical perceptions of life and death. The findings indicate that directional vocabulary functions as a linguistic carrier of Chinese cultural memory, preserving traditional cultural values and worldview across generations. The study highlights the close relationship between language and culture underscoring the importance of understanding the cultural semantics of directional expressions in Chinese language teaching, intercultural communication, and linguistic research. Ultimately, directional words and their derivatives provide valuable insights into the cognitive patterns value system, and cultural identity of the Chinese people.
Full text article
References
Chen, X. (2019). Han yu si ge kong jian fang wei ci de yu yi yan bian ji wen hua luo ji fen xi (Analysis of the semantic evolution and cultural logic of four spatial directional words in Chinese) (Unpublished master's thesis). Shandong Normal University.
Fan, Q. (1999). “Dong, xi, nan, bei” ji qi wen hua nei han (“East, west, south, north” and their cultural connotation). Han yu xue xi (Chinese Language Learning), (2), 35–37.
Gu, S. (n.d.). Han yu “dong xi nan bei” fang wei ci wen hua nei han qian xi (A brief analysis of the cultural connotation of Chinese directional words “east, west, south, north”).
He, X. (2010). Xian dai han yu “dong xi” yu shi yan jiu (Research on the “dong xi” construction in modern Chinese) (Unpublished master's thesis). Sichuan Normal University.
Jin, Y. (2003). “Dong xi nan bei” yu fang wei wen hua (“East, west, south, north” and orientation culture) (Unpublished master's thesis). Yanbian University.
Jing, M. (2011). “Dong xi nan bei” fang wei ci suo ying she de wen hua nei han (Cultural connotations reflected by spatial terms “east, west, south, north”). Hua zhong shi fan da xue wen xue yuan (Journal of the School of Chinese Language and Literature of Central China Normal University).
Li, R. (2008). Han yu fang wei ci de wen hua chan shi (Cultural interpretation of Chinese directional words). Yu yan yan jiu (Studies in Language and Linguistics), (2).
Li, Y. (2010). “Dong A xi B” lei ge shi de yu fa ding wei (The grammatical positioning of “Dong A xi B” type constructions). Shi jie han yu jiao xue (Chinese Teaching in the World), (2).
Liang, X. (2010). Xian dai han yu “dong xi nan bei” kong jian fang wei ci de wen hua nei han ji yu yi fen xi (Cultural connotation and semantic analysis of modern Chinese spatial directional words “east, west, south, north”). Yu wen xue kan (Journal of Language and Literature Studies), (7).
Liu, H. (2016). Han “dong” zi shu yu de yu yi fen xi yu wen hua chan shi (Semantic analysis and cultural interpretation of idioms containing the character “dong”) (Unpublished master's thesis). Fujian Normal University.
Liu, J. (2020). Chuan tong jian zhu wen hua yu jing xia han yu kong jian fang wei ci de yu yi nei han yan jiu (Research on the semantic connotation of Chinese spatial directional words in the context of traditional architectural culture). Han zi wen hua (Chinese Character Culture), (15).
Luo, C. (1989). Yu yan yu wen hua (Language and culture). Yuwen Press.
Song, S. (1999). Fang wei: Yu yi: Wen hua (Direction, semantics, culture). Han zi wen hua (Chinese Character Culture), (3).
Song, S. (2011). “Dong xi nan bei” fang wei ci de ben yi ji shi yong shun xu (The original meaning and order of use of the directional words “east, west, south, north”). Chang chun li gong da xue xue bao (Journal of Changchun University of Science and Technology), (12).
Xu, S. (2004). Shuo wen jie zi jiao ding ben (Revision of the Shuo Wen Jie Zi) (B. Jiqing, J. Wang, & H. Wang, Eds.). Phoenix Press. (Original work published ca. 121).
Yang, L. (1996). Han yu ci hui yu hua xia wen hua (Chinese vocabulary and Huaxia culture). Yuwen Press.
Zhang, B. (2008). Xin bian xian dai han yu (Di 2 ban) (New course of modern Chinese) (2nd ed.). Fudan University Press.
Zhang, D. (2014). Han yu kong jian fang wei ci de wen hua yu yi yan jiu (Research on the cultural semantics of Chinese spatial directional words) (Unpublished master's thesis). Shenyang Normal University.
Zhao, F. (2018). Cong “dong xi nan bei” fang wei ci kan qi ying she de chuan tong si wei ding shi yu li yi wen hua (On the traditional thinking styles and ritual culture reflected in the spatial words “east, west, south, north”). Bei fang wen xue (Northern Literature), (12).
Zhongguo she hui ke xue yuan yu yan yan jiu suo ci dian bian ji shi. (2016). Xian dai han yu ci dian (Di 7 ban) (The contemporary Chinese dictionary) (7th ed.). The Commercial Press.
Zhou, M. (2017). Chuan tong shi kong guan shi ye xia “dong xi nan bei” fang wei ci de wen hua chan shi (Cultural interpretation of spatial words “east, west, south, north” from the perspective of traditional view of time and space). Zhu zhou da xue xue bao (Journal of Zhuzhou University), (2).
Authors
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Licensed under the Creative
Commons Attribution International License
(CC BY 4.0).
Copyright © by author(s).