(A) 啊! 的博客

中国悠久的历史里,战争不论在时间上或在社会上都占有相当重要的地位。就在这个战斗不断的国家里,克敌制胜的战术研究相当兴盛。
个人资料
  • 博客访问:
正文

英国新编历史课本: 中国印象

(2010-08-23 12:44:41) 下一个



英国历史课本:中国印象(1)

  最近看了一套新编的英国中学历史教科书 (2008年出版)。
  
  这套教科书,竟然提到了中国。
  
  History in Progress (出版社:Heinemann)的这套书,第一册里,有四页介绍中国,第二册共有八页。
  
  在英国的中学工作,过去从没有看过一本教科书有提到中国,更不会提到鸦片战争。所谓的世界史,只读欧洲和美国。就算是谈二战,重点也是在欧洲。
  
  因此,看到了这套新的教科书里有提到中国,我认真看了一下。
  
  英国新编历史课本:开始对中国有兴趣了(出版社:Heinemann)
  


英国新编历史课本:开始对中国有兴趣了(出版社:Heinemann)

  第一册是给七年级的学生读的(11-12岁)。这本书的第二单元是:生活和工作,有以下的几个主题:
  
  1)公元1000年,英格兰人的生活是怎么样的?(How did people live in England in 1000)
  
  2) 在诺曼人的统治下,人们的生活如何改变? (How did life change under Norman rule?)
  
  3) 在中世纪时,在中国生活的情况怎么样?(What was life like in China in the Middle Ages?)
  
  4)在中世纪时,在伦敦生活的情况怎么样?(What was life like in London in the Middle Ages?)
  
  5)中古时期的英国人害怕什么?(What did medieval English people fear?)
  
  6) 在中世纪时期,女人的生活如何?(What was life like for women in the Middle Ages?)
  
  7) 印刷机如何改变世界? (How did the printing press change the world?)
  
  8)在都铎时期,谁照顾穷人?(Who looked after the poor in Tudor times?)
  
  9) 在都铎时期,人们如何享乐?(How did people enjoy themselves in Tudor times?)
  
  介绍了这九个主题后,还有一个文化总结。总结的标题是:“比较中古时期,在中国和英格兰的生活”(Life in medieval China and England)
  
  单看这个单元介绍,我就看到了中国的力量。
  
  过去,对英国学生而言,中国是不存在的。可是,这一个单元里,重点却是中国和英格兰的比较。为什么不比较英格兰和东京?为什么不比较英格兰和曼谷?
  
  在介绍中国的这四页里,第一个重点是中国的发明(Chinese inventions),第二个重点是“在元大都(汗八里)城市的生活是怎么样的?”(What was life like in the city of Khanbaliq?)
  
 

  “中国的发明”共占两页,课文放了上面这一张古画,古意盎然。
  
  标题是:What do you know about China?(中国你知道多少?)
  
  课文是这么写的:These days China is one of the most important countries in the world. It has a population of about 1.3 billion. That’s more than 20 times the population of the United Kingdom. Many of the things that we use in our day-to-day lives are made in China.
  
  (现在,中国是世上最重要的国家之一。中国人口约有13亿,比英国多出了20倍。我们今天日常使用的东西,很多都是在中国制造的。)
  
  接着又谈了中国的几大发明:Postal service, cannons, porcelain, paper money, silk, canals, printing, gunpowder, iron and steel. (邮递服务、火炮、瓷器、纸币、丝绸、运河、印刷术、火药、钢铁)
  
  看到了‘邮递服务’,我还真吓了一跳。原来,课文是这么说的:“在十三世纪,中国有出色的邮递服务。皇帝享有最佳的服务。可靠的使者骑马替皇帝送信。每隔几公里,就换一匹新的马,这样,一天就可以走上400公里。第二等的信件,由信使步行送信,5里一站。”
  
  (In the thirteenth century China had an efficient postal service. The best service was for the Emperor’s letters. These were carried by trusted messengers on horseback. They were given fresh horses every few kilometres so that they could travel up to 400 kilometres a day. Second class messages were carried by foot-runners with relay-stations 5 kilometres apart.  )

转载自:http://janetwilliams.wordpress.com/

英国历史课本:中国印象(2)

忽必烈:英国初中生认识中世纪的中国


        昨天提到了英国一本新的历史教科书里,提到了中国的发明。(教科书:History in Progress,第一册,出版社Heinemann)
  
  课文的第二个重点是:“在元大都(汗八里)城市的生活是怎么样的?”(What was life like in the city of Khanbaliq?)
  
  这两页课文里,简介了蒙古人、忽必烈,还列出了马可波罗传记里,四则有关中国的文字。
  
  课文说:十三世纪初,英格兰这一方,国王约翰和贵族男爵争执不休,亚洲和东欧的百姓,遭受巨大威胁。凶悍的骑士大军从蒙古直冲而下:他们就是蒙古人。蒙古人毁坏了村庄城镇,还把挡路的人都杀掉了。到了十三世纪中期,盘大的蒙古帝国占据了亚洲的大部分。

(At the beginning of the thirteenth century, when King John was arguing with the barons in England, people in Asia and even Eastern Europe faced a far more serious threat. From Mongolia came huge armies of fierce warrior horsemen: the Mongols. The Mongols destroyed villages, towns and cities killing those who got in their way. By the middle of the thirteenth century the huge Mongol empire had spread across most of Asia.)
  
  为了激发学习兴趣,课文穿插了一则传闻(至于是不是耸人听闻,读者自己去决定吧!):
  
  你知道吗?
  
  蒙古人是真的很凶悍的。蒙古人占据了梅尔夫城(当今位于土库曼斯坦境内)后,杀掉了70万居民,还吃掉了居民所有的猫和狗–至少传言是这么说的。)
  
  Did you know?
  
  (The Mongols were very fierce indeed. When they took the cityof Merv (which is in Turkmenistan these days) the Mongols killed all 700,000 inhabitants and ate all the cats and dogs – or so the story goes.)
  
  课文是如此介绍忽必烈的:谁是忽必烈?(Who was Kublai Khan?)
  
  从1260到1294年,忽必烈是蒙古帝国的可汗(伟大的领袖)。他是成吉思汗的孙子。蒙古军凶悍,但忽必烈智慧过人,待人宽容。他推行纸币,改善水利,他也修筑道路、运河和发展大城市。
  
  (Kublai Khan was the Great Khan (great leader) of the Mongol Empire from 1260 to 1294. He was the grandson of the First Great Khan, Genghis Khan. The Mongols were known as fierce soldiers but Kublai Khan was a wise and tolerant ruler. He introduced paper money and improved the water supply. Kublai Khan also built roads, canals and great cities.)
  
  课文列出了马可波罗对中国的描写。读完之后,学生要回答两个问题:
  
  1)在十三世纪,你觉得中国最让你吃惊的事是什么?(What is the most surprising thing you have found out about China in the thirteenth century?)
  
  2)你觉得中国最有趣的事是什么?(What is the most interesting thing you have found out about China?)
  
  课文里记录了马可波罗传里的四则文字,如下:
  
  (之一:有关忽必烈的皇宫):宫廷大而美,厅堂和寝殿处处。宫顶闪烁着七彩颜色,鲜红、翡翠、湛蓝、金黄,灿然光辉,晶莹剔透,光耀夺目,远目可及。
  
  (“There is a palace of great size and beauty with many halls and residential quarters. The roof blazes with scarlet and green and blue and yellow and every colour, so brilliantly varnished that it glitters like crystal and the sparkle of it can be seen far away.”)
  
  (之二:有关使用煤炭–虽然煤炭已在欧洲使用,但马可波罗还未见过):他们使用一些石子般的东西,烧起来,像木头一样。他们当然也有柴薪。当地人口众多,澡堂很多,澡堂的水总是热的,柴薪不可能够用。在那里,每个人每星期至少到澡堂两、三回,如果可能的话,冬天则每天都洗澡。有身份地位的人,家里都有自己的浴室。这些石子般的东西,多又便宜,省下了很多木头。
  
  (“They use stones that burn like logs. It is true that they have plenty of firewood, too. But the population is so enormous and there are so many bath-houses and baths constantly being heated, that it would be impossible to supply enough firewood, since there is no one who does not visit a bath-house at least three times a week to take a bath- in winter every day, if he can manage it. Every man of rank or means has its own bathroom in his house. So these stones, being very plentiful and very cheap, effect a great saving of wood.”)
  
  (之三:城市里的生活):城里有1万2千座石桥,桥下可通大船。商贾富裕,夫人养尊处优。成吉思汗的臣民崇拜偶像,使用纸币。他们吃狗肉和其他野兽,为基督教徒所不为。这个城市里有4000个澡堂,男女干净无比,澡堂之大,澡堂之华丽,为世界之最。
  
  (“The city has 12,000 stone bridges, and beneath most of these bridges a large ship might pass. Here are many merchants who are very rich. Their ladies do nothing with their own hands and they live in the most elegant manner. The people are idolaters, subject to the Great Khan, and use paper money. They eat the flesh of dogs and other beasts, such as no Christian would touch for the world. In the city are 4,000 baths, in which the people, both men and women, keep their persons very cleanly. They are the largest and most beautiful baths in the world.”)
  
  (之四:夜幕之城):街道笔直宽敞,从城门的一头,可以看见城门的另一头。良舍华宫处处。有座大宫殿,尖塔上有巨钟,午夜敲三下后,不可出城。每一道城门都有1000名卫兵驻守,保卫忽必烈,防止盗窃。
  
  (“The streets are so broad and so straight that from one gate another is visible. It contains many beautiful houses and palaces, and a very large one in the middle which has a steeple with a large bell which at night sounds three times, after which no man must leave the city. At each gate a thousand men keep guard to keep Kublai Khan safe and prevent injury by robbers.”)
  
  读完了这四段文字,学生(11岁到12岁)描述在中世纪,在元大都(汗八里)城里,人们的生活如何。最后,学生要用五个英文字,来总结中世纪的中国的生活。(Back to the start: Which five words would you use to sum up life in China in the Middle Ages?)


英国历史课本:中国印象(3)

马戛尔尼伯爵:拜见乾隆皇帝(1793年)

 
         英国的这本新历史教科书,第二册里,有关中国的重点是:“清朝:人们遗忘了的帝国? ”。(教科书:History in Progress, 第二册,出版社Heinemann)
  
  使用这一册的学生,上八年级(12-13岁)。
  
  课文提到英国派出了马戛尔尼伯爵(Lord Macartney)出使中国,场面浩大。
  
  课文简介了清朝有个朝贡制度(tributary system),各国使节要向乾隆皇帝叩头。“要下跪叩头三次,然后,脸部朝地,额头着地三次。这样,皇帝才会接受赠礼。(kowtowing – (kneeling) three times, then lying fully face down on the floor and touching the ground with your forehead three times. The emperor would then receive gifts.)
  
  课文刊出了两段文字,节录自马戛尔尼返回英国后,乾隆皇帝写给英格兰国王乔治三世的信。其中一段文字如下:
  
  “欲与本帝国建立贸易关系的野蛮异邦,不只英格兰一个。试想想,如果诸国都模仿英格兰的恶行,要本君主赐予土地做贸易,本君主岂能同意?”
  
  (“England is not the only barbarian land that wishes to establish trade with our empire. Supposing that other nations were all to imitate your evil example and ask me to present them each and all with a site for trading purposes, how could I possibly agree?”)
  
  课文用这段话来总结:中国人克尽地主之谊,英国的使命,却失败了。(Although the Chinese were good hosts, the mission failed.)
  
  学生要回答两个问题。根据课文的举例,请说出(1)中国人对帝国的看法;英国人对帝国的看法,(2)两国的看法有何相似和差异之处?
  
  根据以上的图片(马戛尔尼伯爵拜见乾隆皇帝),回答下列问题:
  
  1)马戛尔尼伯爵如何拜见乾隆皇帝?
  
  2)你认为,马戛尔尼伯爵又是如何拜见他自己的(英格兰)国王乔治三世的?
  
  3)马戛尔尼伯爵说,如果一个和他级位相等的中国人,向乔治三世的图片叩头,那么他才会向乾隆皇帝叩头。中国人不答应。如果马戛尔尼伯爵真的叩头了,和乔治三世的权力相比,这将如何说明中国皇帝的权力?
  
  (Lord Macartney said he would only perform the kowtow if a Chinese person of his rank kowtowed to a picture of King George. The Chinese refused. If he had performed the kowtow, what would this have said about the power of the Chinese emperor compared to the power of King George?)


英国历史课本:中国印象(4)

1804年,一个在中国的犯人遭打

  今天继续前文,记录英国一本新历史教科书里,提到中国的重点。(教科书:History in Progress,第二册,出版社Heinemann)
  
  课文第一段,用大白话来介绍清帝:“1662年到1795年,清朝共只有三个皇帝。这三个皇帝都非常努力,把国家治理得很好。”(From1662 to1795 the Qing Dynasty was ruled by only three emperors. All three worked hard and ran the country well.)
  
  (这一点,未免说得太草率了吧!)
  
  “清朝:人们遗忘了的帝国?”(The Chinese Qing: a forgotten empire?)里,介绍了清朝的政治制度。在“清朝的统治”(How was the Qing Dynasty run?)里,记载了清朝設六部(吏、戶、禮、兵、刑、工),每一部,只用一句话概括。例如:
  
  Board of Civil Appointments: promoted and fired staff in the government.(吏:政府内,官员的升降)
  
  有趣的是,课文里只对‘刑’部(The Board of Punishment)感兴趣,深入介绍,还加插了上图。
  
  课文里引用了两段资料。课文说,第一则取自清朝法之第一法令(Article 1 of the Qing Legal Code):
  
  Five punishments:(五种刑罚)
  
  01)Beating with a light bamboo stick.用细竹枝击打
  
  02)Beating with a heavy bamboo stick.用粗竹枝击打
  
  03)Penal servitude (slavery). 苦役监禁
  
  04)Exile.放逐
  
  05)Penalty of death.死刑
  
  课文说,第二则资料取自清朝法之第二法令(Article 2 of the Qing Legal Code):
  
  The ten great wrongs:(十大罪状)
  
  01)Plotting rebellion.图谋造反
  
  02)Plotting to overthrowing the emperor.图谋推翻皇帝
  
  03)Plotting treason.图谋叛国
  
  04)Killing close family.杀害近亲
  
  05)Dismembering a person or making poisons.肢解他人或生产毒药
  
  06)Lack of respect (making mistakes while preparing food).不尊敬(准备食物时犯错)
  
  07)Cursing one’s parents or grand parents.诅咒父母或祖父母
  
  08)Killing relatives.杀害亲人
  
  09)Killing your teacher or a superior officer.杀害老师或上级
  
  10)Sexual relations with your own family.血亲相奸
  
  把重点放在‘刑’,可能是因为是中国太遥远了,陌生了,一定要来点儿辛辣刺激的内容,才会激发好奇心。(学生长大后,什么都忘光了,一定会记得中国人的刑罚!)
  
  英国学生要回答这个问题:以上的‘五种刑罚’和‘十大罪状’,这样的司法制度,好处是什么?坏处是什么?
  
  课文还摘录了两段近代文章,要学生做出比较。
  
  近代文章片断一:
  
  “皇帝晚年昏庸。他把权力移交给他偏宠的一个护卫,也没有意识到人口膨胀带来的社会问题。1644年,中国的人口是1亿人,1850年,人口膨胀到4.3亿。但是,公务员人数并没有增加。政府官员把责任交给了缺乏经验的人,或把控制权交给富有的地方乡绅。”(2008年,一个现代的史学家的描写)
  
  (“The emperor’s judgement failed in his later years. Not only did he pass much of his authority to a young bodyguard he favoured, he also failed to recognise social problems caused by overpopulation. The population had grown from 100 million in 1644 to 430 million in 1850. However, the number of government officials was not increased. Government officials gave responsibilities to less experienced members of staff or gave control of works to local rich gentry.”)
  
  “到了18世纪末,在中国的欧洲人,关注被控者的权利未受到重视一事。1773年,在澳门的葡萄牙当局逮捕了一个英国人,指他杀害一个中国男子,最后却判他无罪,将他释放了。中国官员却认为,死者是个中国人,因此中国有权处理这宗案件。中国将这个英国人逮捕了,判他罪名成立,将他处决了。”(1996年,改编自一个现代史学家的作品)
  
  (“By the end of the eighteenth century, Europeans in China worried about a lack of concern for the rights of the accused. In 1773 the Portugese authorities in Macao arrested an Englishman accused of killing a Chinese man but after finding him innocent, they released him. The Chinese officials insisted that since the victim was Chinese they should have jurisdiction. They arrested him again, found him guilty, and executed him.”)
  
  总结课文:清朝的政府制度看起来非常严谨。但是,这样的制度也有弊端。(A)根据以上两段文字,你认为,这样的统治制度有何弊端?(B)以上两段文字都是现代史学家所写的。你认为,为什么政府官员当时不可能提出这些问题呢?(Why do you think government officials would not have raised the issues at the time?)
  

英国历史课本:中国印象(5)


  七月29,2010//2翻开英国一套新的中学历史教科书,中国开始露面了。(教科书:History in Progress,第二册,出版社Heinemann)。今天写第五篇,重点介绍,做为系列总结。
  
  “清朝是否水平高、有文化、平等?”(Was the Qing Dynasty educated, cultured and equal?)
  
  这一个主题,共占四页课文,我将在这一篇短文里做个简述。
  
英国中学生:从荫余堂看文物保护

  课文以“清朝房屋”开始,有一张荫余堂的鸟瞰图。
  
  英国中学生:从荫余堂看文物保护
  
  课文说,荫余堂属于清朝一个黄姓商人。1996年,黄姓家族的后人把此古宅卖给了美国麻州塞冷镇碧波地博物馆(Peabody Essex Museum)。
  
  学生有几个问题要思考:
  
  1)找出荫余堂里和现代房子共有的五个特色。
  
  2)假设你是个房屋经纪,1996年,你参观了黄氏的荫余堂。黄先生说,他们想把古宅卖了。请设计一张宣传单,替这栋古宅打广告,要记得多描述古宅的特色。
  
  3)搬家可真累人啊!为什么古宅不在中国修复?为什么不在中国开一个博物院?思考:古宅在中国的坏处;古宅在美国的好处。
  
  
William Morris(威廉莫里斯):古建筑保护协会宣言(1877年)

  课文还有一小段文字,改写自William Morris(威廉莫里斯)1877年的“古建筑保护协会”宣言。威廉莫里斯是英國工艺美术运动的領導人。
  
  课文列出的文字如下:


学生要分析威廉莫里斯的宣言
  
  学生要分析威廉莫里斯的宣言
  
  这段话的最后一句是:“惟有妥善保护古建筑,才能教育、启发后来者。”
  
  认识了荫余堂后,再读了威廉莫里斯的重要宣言,在总结时,同学们要思考三个题目:
  
  1)为何威廉莫里斯说维护历史建筑很重要?
  
  2)维护建筑,可让人学习到什么?
  
  3)维护建筑,能如何让我们了解到当时的社会、信念和做法?
  
  接下来有两页,描述了清代妇女的生活(The life of a Qing Dynasty woman).
  
 X光照片:缠足妇女的脚

  课文放了以上这张X光照片,把英国孩子带入中国缠足的历史里。
  
  另有两则短文。一是一名清代妇女的日记,写着她11岁时奉父之命嫁人的一生。日记里说:“现在我的丈夫死了,我必须做个忠心的寡妇,永不再嫁。如果我没有孩子,别人会希望我了结自己的生命。”
  
  另一则短文是教妈妈替女儿缠足的指示。“要从6岁开始……最理想是三寸金莲。”(The desired length is 3 inches – the lotus foot.)
  
  课文以中西文化的对比做结束。“中国清代的缠足看起来似乎很野蛮,但是,这和同一时期里,欧洲妇女的束腹(corset wearing)历史很相似。穿着束腹会导致妇女身体变畸形。没了束腹,女人无法坐着或站立,她无法深呼吸……。”
  
  (Chinese foot binding during the Qing Dynasty may seem barbaric. However, it bears a striking resemblance to European corset wearing, which was happening at the same time. Wearing a corset left a woman’s body deformed. She would be unable to sit or stand without a corset. She would find it impossible to draw deep breath…….)
  
  课文有一个思考题:比较中国的缠足(foot binding)和欧洲的束腹(corset wearing)。当时的男人如何看待女人?当时的女人如何看待自己?
  
 【END】 

[ 打印 ]
阅读 ()评论 (0)
评论
目前还没有任何评论
登录后才可评论.