中国法术和英国魔法对比研究-以《西游记》和《哈利波特》为例_英语论文   

A Comparative Study on Chinese Spell and British Magic in Journey to the West and Harry Potter

摘要

在当今的人类社会中，整个现实世界之外亦存在着人类所幻想出的“第二世界”，法术、修仙、魔法、吸血鬼、精灵等各种奇幻元素充斥其中。奇幻小说和电脑游戏以及电影的结合获得了商业运作的空前成功，引领着流行文化趋势，受到大众广泛青睐，在全球范围内掀起了奇幻题材的浪潮。中国法术和英国魔法长久以来一直都是充满神秘感与吸引力的主题，是自古就有的人类幻想。在东方文化中一般称之为“法术”，而“魔法”一词具有浓厚的西方色彩。中国法术起源于中国早期原始社会，是准宗教现象之一，具有不依靠神力行事、凭借特定动作本身的力量以达到所期望效果的特点；英国魔法则是依靠精神为动力之源进行能量、物质的转化或操纵，是一种贯穿了整个西方人思维世界的传统文化组合。

本课题以《西游记》和《哈利波特》为例，更深层次地对比分析中国法术和英国魔法背后所蕴含的文化差异，并从自然观、宗教信仰、价值观、教育模式、社会环境等角度深刻探讨造成文化差异的原因，希望从跨文化角度对中英双方之间的跨文化交际产生积极影响，促进中英文化的相互交流与借鉴，揭示奇幻题材在当今现实生活仍具市场与话题的原因所在，并为其在现今小说、电影、游戏等领域的流行与发展增添活力与生机。

关键词：中国法术；英国魔法；奇幻元素；文化差异

Abstract

Regardless of the whole realistic world, there still exists “the second world” which is imagined by human beings in today’s society we live. Spells, immortality cultivation, magic, vampires, elves and other fantasy elements have been flooding the world of imagination. Fantasy novels combining with computer games and movies created an unprecedented success in business operation, which leads the trend of popular cultures and has been widely favored by the public who have took a healthy interest in fantasy elements. As a matter of course, a wave of fantasy theme has been set off on a global scale. Chinese Spell and British Magic has long been a subject of mystery and attraction, and it’s also a human fantasy that has existed since the ancient times. In the Oriental culture, we generally call it “spell” while the word “magic” has a strong Western color. Chinese Spell originated from the primitive society in China, and it is one of the quasi-religious phenomena. It has the characteristics of not depending on the power of the gods but the strength of the specific action to achieve the desired effect. In addition, British Magic is to rely on the spirit as the source of power for energy, material conversion or manipulation, which is a traditional cultural combination throughout the whole Westerners’ thinking world.

Based on Journey to the West and Harry Potter, this thesis will deeply compare and analyze the cultural differences behind Chinese Spell and British Magic. Furthermore, it will also explore the cultural causes for the differences between the two sides from views toward nature, religious belief, concepts of value, educational pattern, social environment and other aspects. It is hoped that it will have a positive impact on intercultural communication between China and Britain and promote mutual exchange and cooperation in culture from the cross-cultural perspective. For another thing, we expect that we could reveal the reason why the fantasy theme still has the market and the topic in today’s real life, and anticipate adding vigor and vitality to the popularity and development of the contemporary novels, movies, games and other fields. 

Key words: Chinese Spell; British Magic; fantasy elements; cultural difference

Contents

Abstract i

摘 要 iii

1. Introduction on Chinese Spell and British Magic 1

1.1 Chinese Spell 1

1.2 British Magic 1

1.3 Journey to the West 2

1.4 Harry Potter 4

2. The Differences between Chinese Spell and British Magic in Journey to the West and Harry Potter 6

2.1 Concrete Ways of Chinese Spell and British Magic 7

2.1.1 Self Cultivation vs Object Manipulation 7

2.1.2 Physical Attack vs Magical Attack 10

2.1.3 Transformation vs Creation 12

2.2 Different Magic Weapons 12

2.2.1 As-You-Wish Gold-Banded Cudgel of Sun Wukong 13

2.2.2 Wand of Harry Potter 13

2.3 Incantation 14

2.3.1 Incantation of the Golden Hoop 15

2.3.2 Unforgivable Curses 16

3. Cultural Causes for the Differences between Chinese Spell and British Magic 17

3.1 Different View toward Nature 17

3.1.1 Unity of Man and Nature vs Conquest of Nature 17

3.1.2 Relational View of Nature vs Physical View of Nature 20

3.2 Different Religious Belief 21

3.2.1 Humanism vs Theocentricism 22

3.2.2 Three Religions in One vs Christianity 24

3.2.3 Entering or Outing Secular Life 26

3.3 Different Concepts of Value 27

3.3.1 Differences between Chinese Spell and British Magic 28

3.3.2 Collectivism vs Individualism 31

3.3.3 Sense of Hierarchy vs Sense of Egalitarianism 36

3.4 Different Educational Pattern 39

3.5 Different Social Environment 41

4. Suggestions for the Development of Magical Fantasy Subject in the Line of Chinese Novels, Movies and Games 44

4.1 Combine the Past with the Present and Make the Past Serve the Present 44

4.2 Combine British Magic and Chinese Spell and Make Foreign Things Serve China 45

5. Conclusion 47

Bibliography 49

Acknowledgements 51