In America: Rochester resident Nai-Siang Jiang never imagined in his wildest dreams that he would ever write a book. But ever since his days as a high school student in China, Jiang has been fascinated with the origins and evolution of the Chinese written language. When he retired from Mayo Clinic 15 years ago, it was an opportunity to indulge his passion full time.
His book, “Stories Told By Chinese Pictograms,” challenges the notion held by most English speakers that Chinese is a remote, difficult and inaccessible language.
Quite the opposite, Jiang argues. Not only is it the most natural language in the world, but understood properly, its ancient writings are a kind of photographic record, a glimpse into how people lived and celebrated, survived and died thousands of years ago.
A pictogram language
Unlike English, a phonogram system in which the written word is based on sound, the earliest Chinese writings were based on drawings. The words looked like the things they tried to describe. The word “mountain” looked like a mountain.
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What: Retired Mayo Clinic biochemist Nai-Siang Jiang has written a new book about the Chinese language called “Stories Told by Chinese Pictograms.”Who is the author: Jiang was born in China and studied in the United States. He has given lectures on ancient Chinese writing, called oracle bone inscriptions, to both Minneapolis and Rochester audiences.
Buy the book: If you’d like your own copy of “Stories Told by Chinese Pictograms,” Barnes and Noble will order it on request. You can also order it online from Amazon.com and from Xlibris by calling 1-888-795-4274. A black and white paperback is $15.99, a black and white hardcover is $24.99 and a color picture book in paperback is $41.99. |
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Those ancient symbols would evolve and be simplified over thousands of years, but in many cases, retain traces of their original character — and clues to the thinking and culture of these ancient people.
Jiang, 78, said he also wanted to write a book that explained in simple, everyday language a subject that has long fascinated him. Most books on the subject are scholarly and written in a dense jargon. Jiang wanted to create a casual read and to focus on the stories behind the symbols.
“I wrote it in the form of telling a story — one word at a time — to hopefully get you interested,” Jiang said.
History behind the Chinese written word
Jiang, who has two grown children and has lived with his wife, Helen, in Rochester since 1966, said he had a number of motivations for writing the book. He wanted to dispel the mystic surrounding the Chinese language, as well as spark an interest in it.
He also wanted to show how good people both in China and America have it, compared to the hard-scrabble life people endured thousands of years ago. China often is urged to move faster, to become more democratic and to be more open. But in fact, China has come a long way, Jiang said.
“China does change, but it changes slowly. She has to change on her pace, on her own terms. Just let her go along, she will be just fine.”
bron: www.postbulletin.com [7-11-2009]
