武吉布朗坟山_田野调查

【注:这是拿黄老师CH3245(海外华人)课时做的作业,于18年2月完成。此贴仅做参考。】

一、武吉布朗坟场简介

        早期来到新加坡的华人为了生活与交流之便,会按照自己方言、地域、家乡来分开居住。这种区分也反应在早期华人的埋葬分部中。例如早期处于中峇鲁地带的新坟山,是新加坡首座福建人的公墓而乌节路地带的泰山亭则是新加坡最早的潮籍华人坟山之一[1]。武吉布朗坟场是先经林文庆倡议,后由陈谦福和薛中华先生附议,最终由英殖民政府于1922年1月1日开建[2]。有别于那些早期的坟墓,这座坟场不以方言或地域区分人,是整体华人的共同坟场坟场。几十年下来,坟场历经英殖民、二战、日治期、新加坡自治和独立,直到1973年才被关闭[3]

自2011年起,出于对土地的需求,新加坡政府有关部门决定穿过武吉布朗坟山修路、搭建居宅和地铁站[4]。原共共计约十万座坟墓,七年来已近5000座坟墓因工程遭受波及。

bcc road.png    bcc road 2.png

(图1-2:左图取自陆路交通管理局网站,右图取自Google 地图)

将坟场的卫星视图同陆路交通管理局(Land Transport Authority)所提供的修路蓝图做对比可见,新修的路分别从亚当高架道路(Adam Flyover)和麦里芝高架桥(MacRitchie Viaduct)两侧直切坟场。看进度,应该不久之后就能连成一条完整的线。

当时有很多群众自发地走出来呼吁要保留这片珍贵的历史活文物,可惜这未能彻底改变政府的决定。不过这些响应还是让很多大众认识到这座沉默的坟山,并且趁坟山完全消失之前,陆续自发到此地学习观察。值得一提的是,由于坟场早在1973年就被关闭,所以大众(特别是年轻的一代)对坟场不太了解,反而是这政府的政策引起更多讨论与观众。

 

二、田野考察

在很多人眼中,坟场应该是一个不太吉利的地方,多数人除了去上坟以外,应该很少有人特地去那里。所以父母这次一听我上课做田野调查竟然调查到坟场里去了,都是一脸不赞同地训斥我:“你看看你,现在感冒那么严重,又是女孩,身上阳气弱,还要去坟墓?!”虽然之前多次在报纸上看到关于武吉布朗坟山拆迁的新闻,但是我还从来没有亲自来过一个墓地。这次学校带我们去,我顶着“为了了解坟场宝贵的历史文化遗物我义不容辞”的名义说服父母,事实上主要是怀着好奇和猎奇心理跟随老师同学一起来到武吉布朗坟山。

pic 3.png

(图3:武吉布朗坟场入口“山丘1”的景色,笔者摄。)

站在山坡下,立刻映入眼帘的就是满山郁郁葱葱的树木和一排排的坟墓。这里是死者的葬身地,又是草木的栖息地。一生一死,本应形成极强烈的反差,却又好似沉浸在彼此的安宁祥和中。很难想象,不久以后,这里很可能是那些坟墓和草木的终极墓穴。

 

  1. 坟墓的结构

由于坟场是公坟,位置有限,所以每做坟墓不可能过于复杂。据观察,绝多数坟墓是属于“环墓”的格局,其又分“单环”和“双环”。这种坟墓造型在中国闽广两地是最为常见的[5]。由于早期来新的华人多数都从这两处沿海地区南下,因此也带来当地的葬墓风俗。我借用一位逝世者的坟墓制作成一张坟墓构造展示图:

pic 4.png

(图4:坟墓的结构展示[6]。苏亚铜先生之墓,1942年4月18日[民国卅一年四月初二]逝。笔者摄。)

葬在环幕的死者通常会被葬在墓碑后,与前来祭拜的后人相互隔开,避免后人踏在死者的遗骸之上。图4显示的是一座单环墓,就是将遗体埋葬在墓碑后,以一环护墙环绕坟墓,在下雨时可以引导水往坟墓两边走,不会渗透到坟土地下[7]。双环墓则是在单环墓的基础上再添加一环,一为风水之用,二为排水之用[8]。早期华人来到新加坡多数只是为了赚钱养家,心中的“祖国”还是中国。但是由于种种原因葬在“异乡”,这时在墓碑上刻下自己的祖籍地便是极其重要的,可能象征着对自己故土的怀念和文化的延续。多数坟墓侧面都会立“后土”或“福神”的碑牌。

pic 5.png    pic 6.png

(图5-6:武吉布朗坟山的“后土”、“福神”碑牌。笔者摄。)

“后土”早期在道教是指“与玉帝同阶位” 的身份,后来演变成一种一“大地为人类之母的信仰”[9],葬在墓边则有守护墓地、保护死者的作用。

此外,人们也会在墓袖上立起镇墓兽,以驱邪守墓,保佑亡者灵魂的安宁。当然,镇墓兽的式样和规模也会根据死者与后人的经济实力或个人选择而变化。

pic 7-9.png

(图7-9:几种不同的镇墓兽。笔者摄。)

中图和右图的镇墓兽则是狮子形状的,雕刻精致细腻,栩栩如生,而右图中的镇墓兽的更是被涂上金漆。左图中的墓袖上刻的就是圆形和尖形的,可以被视为一个镇墓兽的浓缩象征符号。

以上提到的是坟墓的大致结构,但坟墓构造在地区之间也有差异。虽然福建和广东相隔不远,但是两处的坟墓也有一些区别。坟墓后面的护墙出,但是通常这种护墙在闽南式的坟墓比较常见:

pic10.png  pic11.png

(图10-11:左图为闽式坟墓,右图为潮式坟墓。笔者摄。)

如图所示,闽式坟墓有一环护墙包围死者所卧的范围,除了防雨,也可以清楚地划分埋葬死者的范围。潮式的坟墓则是以小环围绕墓碑,埋葬死者的部分则同周边的草地混为一体。

除此之外,潮闽两地的墓碑也有些区别:

pic12.png    pic13.png

(图12-13:左图为闽式墓碑;阮汤丙娘女士之墓,民国十五年丙寅三月十四日[1926年3月24日]逝。右图为潮式墓碑;沈受通先生之墓,丙寅九月廿四日[1926年9月24日]逝。笔者摄。)

闽式墓碑一般会将死者的祖籍写在墓碑的最顶端,如左图中的阮丙娘女士,就是从中国南安来的。潮式墓碑则一般不写死者的祖籍地,要写也是用细小的字体将祖籍地写在旁边。右图沈公的祖籍地就是刻在墓碑的左下角,记录他是从潮安华美村来的。此外,潮安墓碑有一个特点,就是墓碑上的字是死者生前亲自准备的,刻了字后会上红漆,只有等死者被葬入之后,才会被后人涂上绿漆。

  1. 西化和本土化

来到新加坡的华人一方面会坚守自己的文化与习俗,但另一方面也会受西方文化或新加坡本土文化的影响,从而调整自己原本的文化。坟山上的坟墓种种特征(如墓碑形状、碑字的语言、守墓雕塑、对联等)都显示出西化和本土化的影响。由于新加坡处于东西文化的交界地带,又曾是英国殖民地,所以英语在本地的影响十分深渊。因此,有些墓刻的用语会用中英文双语来记录死者的前生:

pic14.png

(图14:其中一座使用中英文双语言刻字的墓碑。郑治娘之墓,1933年10月28日[民国廿二年廿八日]逝。)

墓碑上用中文刻的是:“福建传门郑氏治娘墓”,而拜桌下方用英文刻写的则是:“In loving memory /of the late/ Madam Tay Tam Neo/ Died on 11 Feb. 1934”。这种双语墓刻的现象在中国应该较为少见,反而在新马区带更常见。

另外,有个别坟墓也受到西方文化与信仰的影响,调整墓碑的外形与坟墓的整体结构。

pic15.png

(图15:西化坟墓之例。左为王平福先生之墓,1959年11月19日[民国己亥年十一月十九日]逝。右为其妻王(林)育環之墓,1968年4月11日[民国戊申年四月十一日]逝。笔者摄。)

这座夫妻坟墓不仅使用双语刻字于墓碑,而且墓碑形状也与西方墓碑的形状相仿。此外,坟墓格局也与其他中式坟墓有差异。坟山其他坟墓都是将死者葬在平地上的层面,使得坟墓突起。然而这座坟墓却将死者埋在地底下,没有突起的“穴星”。一般来说,基督徒或天主教徒逝世后应埋葬在各自教会的坟场,但是武吉布朗坟场内多次出现信仰西方宗教的华人独特的坟墓构造。这可能展现出死者在宗族和信仰之间的冲突与妥协。

有些坟墓甚至还有人形锡克人的雕塑作为守护人:

pic16.png    pic17.png

(图16-17:左图为王三龙先生与其妻王(杨)贤娘女士之墓的锡克人雕塑之一。右图为周玉龙先生与其妻陈淑慎女士之墓的彩色锡克人雕塑。笔者摄。)

左图的那座锡克人雕塑处于全场最大、最高的王三龙先生与妻子的坟墓,于1917年从中国制作并运送到新加坡[10]。锡克人(Sikh)以高达威猛的形象和勇猛的性格显著。当时新加坡英殖民政府也请很多锡克人做警察。因此,近代坟墓也有融入锡克人雕塑的习惯。从上图可见,这些锡克人雕塑身穿正式制服,手持枪支,摆出一副巡逻的样子。这种雕塑的加入也是受到新加坡生活文化影响、是一种墓地本土化的证明。

此外,墓袖上刻的对联也能透露出死者对家乡的归属感问题:

pic18.png  pic19.1.png  pic 19.2.png

(图18-19:左图为陈延谦先生与其妻葉珠慧之墓,1943年2月23日逝。右图为陈先生自提的对联。笔者摄。)

右图对联为陈延谦先生生(1881-1943)亲笔:“盖棺便是吾庐,埋骨何须故里”。有别于以往华人所讲究的落叶归根的习俗,陈先生表示自己的家乡不在一个特定、原有的土地,而是自己安居的地方就是自己的家的心态。

陈延谦先生于福建同安生,1899年来新,成功建设橡胶厂裕源号,很快就积累了一定的财富[11]。除了积极投身于本地中文教育以外[12],陈先生也热爱艺术[13],留下的遗赠于1956建立来陈延谯基金,其中包括国大陈延谦艺术奖(NUS Tan Ean Kiam Arts Award)[14]。写到这里,我恍然发现自己所在的___________也是这份奖项的受益团体,去年十月还参加了这个奖项的颁奖典礼(去支持朋友)。

(图20:此处应有图,但我出于隐私问题把图拿掉了)

回想起当时参加这场典礼时,只是奖“TEK”(陈先生名字的缩写)视为无关紧要的符号,对其毫无感觉,更不会想要去主动了解。没想到四个月后,竟然能够在这种情况下与陈先生重逢,而这些陌生的符号现在我眼中也变得鲜活起来。

 

三、结尾

发展与建设对于一个国家,尤其是对于土地空间极其有限的新加坡来说,是极其重要的。客观来看,与其留下一片看似对社会没有积极贡献的土地,似乎将其分配去修建一些比较实际的建筑会更有用。但当我们真正走入这片被封尘已久的土地,扫开灰尘之后,就会惊叹于其所蕴含历史、文化艺术记载之丰富。若任意拆迁而不做任何保留,那会无意中将许多珍贵的素材销毁,日后会后悔莫及的。我觉得武吉布朗坟场的消失是无可避免的,现在只是时间长短的问题罢了。而我们所能做的,就是与时间赛跑,趁它还没有完全消失之前,多去看看它。

 

Endnote:

[1] 林佳憓 . “他们让位给你住.” 联合早报网, 联合早报, 6 Apr. 2017, <www.zaobao.com.sg/znews/singapore/story20170406-745488.>

[2] Leow, Claire, and Catherine Lim, editors. World War II @ Bukit Brown. Singapore Heritage Society, 2015. Print. pp. 6-7.

[3] Saparudin, Kartini. “Bukit Brown Municipal Cemetery.” Singapore Infopedia, 13 July 2009, <eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1358_2009-07-13.html>.

[4] Ibid.

[5] 王琛发《华人义山与墓葬文化》,(吉隆坡:艺品多媒体传播中心出版,2001),页123。

[6] 坟墓构造图参考:王琛发《华人义山与墓葬文化》,页121-128。

[7] 同上,页123。

[8] 同上,页126。

[9] 同上,页187。

[10] Aggarwal, Vandana. “The Sikh Guards of Bukit Brown.” The New Paper, 6 Aug. 2017, <www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/sikh-guards-bukit-brown>.

[11] 1911 Revolution: Singapore Pioneers in Bukit Brown. Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, 2013.pp. 32-37.

[12] Ibid.

[13] Leow, Claire, and Catherine Lim, editors. World War II @ Bukit Brown. Singapore Heritage Society, 2015. Pp. 187.

[14] 同(11)。

 

参考料:

 

中文书籍

王琛发《华人义山与墓葬文化》,(吉隆坡:艺品多媒体传播中心出版,2001)。

英文书籍

1911 Revolution: Singapore Pioneers in Bukit Brown. Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, 2013.

Leow, Claire, and Catherine Lim, editors. World War II @ Bukit Brown. Singapore Heritage Society, 2015.

网络资料

Aggarwal, Vandana. “The Sikh Guards of Bukit Brown.” The New Paper, 6 Aug. 2017, <www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/sikh-guards-bukit-brown>.

“Final Notice of Exhumation of Graves (Part of) at Bukit Brown and Seh Ong Cemeteries.” Land Transport Authority of Singapore, 22 Sept. 2014.

<www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaweb/en/roads-and-motoring/projects/Exhumation.html>.

林佳憓 . “他们让位给你住.” 联合早报网, 联合早报, 6 Apr. 2017, <www.zaobao.com.sg/znews/singapore/story20170406-745488>.

Saparudin, Kartini. “Bukit Brown Municipal Cemetery.” Singapore Infopedia, 13 July 2009, <eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1358_2009-07-13.html>.

武吉布朗坟山_田野调查

visual analysis of a funerary urn

[note: my assignment for CH2293 (Introduction to Chinese Arts), completed in July 17, uploaded for reference only. ]

Screen Shot 2017-07-21 at 1.16.37 AM.png

(Fig. 1. A two-sided views of the celadon ware [1])

Celadon funerary urn with sprigged reliefs (青瓷堆塑罐)

Height 47.8cm

Base Diameter 16.0cm

Western Jin dynasty (265-316)

National Palace Museum, Taipei

____________________________________________________________________

Showered with coats of green glaze, this celadon piece belongs to the category of Yue ware (越窑), famous for their ice-jade-like color (Lin, 28). Also known as the granary jars (gucangguan, 榖倉罐), the urn is especially created for burial purposes (Shen, 74). The making of the piece coincides with the Han and Jin people’s belief of the afterlife, where “death is equivalent to birth” (事死如事生) and the spirit of the deceased will live underground just like how the mortals live their life (Yu, 49). Hence, tombs of the deceased will be supplemented with many replicated models of the daily necessities (Yu, 49). The function of a granary jar highlights the well wishes of the living to the deceased, that the latter will be able to have surpluses of food in their afterlife (National Museum of History, Celadon granary jar”). The urn is decorated with a variety of high relief shapes that are sprigged onto its surface. The molding and carving of these shapes are extremely technically demanding and time consuming (Liu, 75), so only the nobles with a certain political and economical status will be able to afford it in their burials (National Museum of History, Celadon granary jar”).

This urn can be separated into two main registers, distinguished by the circular mouth-rim. The top register can be further divided into two smaller registers (labeled in this article as R1 and R2 respectively), demarcated by the thick band with 2 cauldrons (xiaoyu, 小盂) attached to each corner:

     IMG_1151.JPG        IMG_1153.JPG

(Fig. 2. Left: The front view of the urn, which is the same pattern as the back view)

(Fig. 3. Right: The side views of the urn, both left and right)

 

The bottom register of the urn starts from the mouth-rim that gently slops inwards to a wider flat disc, which hooks itself around the neck of the urn, leaving about a centimeter apart between the two rims. The area of attachment of the flat disc is blended so discreetly that it gives the illusion of the disc slightly concaving inwards. The shoulders gently part outwards into a rounded shape for one-third of the lower register, before extending inwards for the remaining two-thirds in a linear motion towards the base. Four non-functional lugs are attached to the body with equal spacing in between them. The lugs take the form of a long, dragon-like aquatic creature. Beside each lug lies a lion-like bestial-head holding a ring in its mouth. This is common feature in the Chinese architectures called the pushou (鋪首), normally placed on the doors to ward off evil spirits. In this case, the four pushous that are stamped onto the body of the urn presumably carry the similar power to deter the evil:

lionhead pushou.png

(Fig. 4. A close up of a lion-headed pushou attached to the door, taken at the Zhishan garden (至善園) at the National Palace Museum, July’17)

 

The most eye-catching part of the urn would be the top register, which is heavily decorated with a variety of clay-molded figurines.

IMG_1164.JPG    Screen Shot 2017-07-21 at 5.21.45 PM.png

(Fig. 5. Close up of the front view, top register)

(Fig. 6. Close up of the side view, top register)

Contrasting the round contour of the body, the top register takes the form of a square block in the silhouette of a Chinese pavilion. R1 is made up of four rectangular walls and a four-corned tented-roof (sijiao’cuanjianding, 四角攢尖頂), which is a common roof structure in Chinese pavilions and pagodas (Xiao, 12). The corners of the tented roof have the spiked corners arched upwards (this is called the feiyan, 飛檐). Other than functioning as a drainage system, the feiyan also gives the architecture a light, uprising effect (Xiao, 13). At the very peak of the roof tip rests a bird with its head titled upwards to the direction of the sky. In the Chinese culture, birds have always been viewed as a messenger that facilitates communication between humans and the deities (Shen, 79). When the bird is placed on the urn, the latter does not solely function as a replica of the necessity items, but it has now became a sacred venue for ritualistic salvation (Shen, 79) and a point of contact between the deceased, the heaven and the earth. The front and back walls each have a square window that is accompanied by a patch of diagonal crisscrossed markings on both sides. The presence of windows may suggest a passageway for the soul to pass through eternity.

Beneath the four rectangular walls hanged a small cauldron (xiaoyu, 小盂) on the four corners of R1. The practice of including mini cauldrons points its origins to the wulianguan (五聯罐) porcelain structure that was passed down from the Eastern Han dynasty (Shen, 75). The corners represents the four extremities (siji, 四极), which symbolizes the deities in the four cardinal directions (Shen, 76). These deities will protect the soul of the deceased, and ensure salvation (Shen, 76). About 10 more birds are scattered on and beside the cauldrons, with two perched on each cauldron. The presence of these mammals reinforces their role as the messengers between heaven and earth. The top register in its entirety constitutes of a double-eave structure (chongyan, 重檐), where the first being the rooftop, and the second being attached beneath the cauldrons. A medium-sized three-walled que-tower (), which also carries a tented roof, places itself conspicuously on the shelter (bi, 庇) of the second eave. Four small-sized que-towers surrounds the corner of R2, almost like the guardians of the square entrance beneath the second eave. Since the que-towers are traditionally placed in front of palaces and other building structure, it will act a “lighthouse” that directs the soul into the spiritual word (Paludan, 31-35). On the left and right side of the R2, two kneeling human figurines are attached side by side, with palms clasped together in a praying position, possibly in the process of a religious activity.

The urn takes on multiple functions, firstly as a replica of necessity items in the mortal word, secondly to ensure the abundance of food for the deceased and thirdly, to act as a connection point for the deceased and the heaven. On top of that, each sprigged relief (such as the birds, lion pushou, the cauldrons) contains religious meanings that facilitate the burial process, in terms of soul protection and guidance, deterrence of evil and communication. Today, as a resident of the museum, it has lost its ritualistic functions. Yet, the presence of it sheds light onto the customs, religious influences and death ideology of people during the Jin dynasty. Furthermore, the urn continues to demonstrate the architectural design and the brilliance in the craftsmanship close to 2000 years ago. The multi-faceted religious and cultural symbolisms the urn therefore makes it a valuable work of art.

 

[1] Picture taken from the book: The Magic of Kneaded Clay: Ceramic Collection of the National Palace Museum, p25.

 

Bibliography

Artwork: 

Celadon funerary urn with sprigged reliefs (青瓷堆塑罐), Height 47.8cm, Base Diameter 16.0cm, Western Jin dynasty (265-316), National Museum of History, Taipei.

Books:

Lin, Meizhu (林, 美珠), ed. A taste of the Imperial Palace • Beauty of porcelains

(品味故宫陶瓷之美). Taipei: Hongkong Acoustic Guide (臺北: 香港商雅凱電腦語音有限公司), 2016. Print.

Paludan, Ann (1991), The Chinese spirit road: the classical tradition of stone tomb statuary, Yale University Press, pp. 31–35

Xiao, Mo (萧, 默). The artists’ conception of architecture (建筑的意境). Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company (北京: 中华书局), 2014. Print.

Yu, Peijin, ed. The Magic of Kneaded Clay: Ceramic Collection of the National Palace Museum. Taipei: National Palace Museum, 2014. Print.

 

Articles:

Liu, Lulu (刘, 路璐). “Understanding celadon sprigged relief wares from a crafts perspective

(从制瓷工艺角度解读青瓷堆塑罐).” China Packaging Industry (中国包装工业) 20 (2015): 76-77. China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Web. 20 July 2017.

Luo, Wei Min (罗伟民). “The Culture Significance behind Porcelain Animal Reliefs during Wei-Jin Dynasty (魏晋时期越瓷动物造型的文化内涵).” Shandong Arts Academic Journal (山东艺术学院学报) 4 (2014): 65-67. China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Web. 21 July 2017.

Shen, Xinyu (沈芯屿). “The Soul Returns and the Grains Surpluses – A Discussion of the Functions and Demise of the Yue Ware Gucang Culture during Wu-Jin Dynasty (魂兮归来 谷物盈仓 ———论吴晋越窑谷仓文化功能及其消失).” Southeast Culture (东南文化) 5 (2008): 74-80. China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Web. 21 July 2017.

Yu, Haoxu (虞浩旭). “Research on the Celadon Funerary Wares during Han and Jin Dynasty

(汉晋越窑青瓷明器研究).” Research on Porcelain (陶瓷研究) 11.1 (1996): 48-51. China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Web. 21 July 2017.

 

Websites:

National History Museum(國立歷史博物館). “Celadon granary jar (青釉榖倉罐).” 國立歷史博物館. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 July 2017. <http://www.nmh.gov.tw/zh/learning_5_3_5_46.htm&gt;.

National History Museum(國立歷史博物館). 西晉 青瓷穀倉罐.” 器物典藏資料檢索系統. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 July 2017. <http://antiquities.npm.gov.tw/Utensils_Page.aspx?ItemId=659557&gt;.

 

visual analysis of a funerary urn

interpreting

Attending the 2-days conference has been eye-opening. Seeing how the stern-faced academics revert to child-like state when discussing about topics they love is both reassuring and hearteningly endearing.

I was seated at the back of the room beside the interpreting cubicle, and had the unexpected fortune to witness bits of first-hand action on how Mr Lee and his counterpart do simultaneous interpretations.

Although the interpreters were provided with full scripts before the conference, those were never enough to prepare for the many unforeseen, or inevitably dreaded circumstances. Some speakers tweaked their scripts just before they spoke, some tried to cram an hour’s worth of content into 30 minutes, some speeches were flooded with acronyms and jargons that no one really fully understood, some played music videos throughout, some got too excited and started sprouting hokkien and cantonese phrases and the interpreters have to know how to respond to all that (and they do!). it seems like interpreters are always at race against time, and at battle against their own wits.

Most of the attendants for this conference are bilingual, so the interpreters are essentially translating for a very small group of people. At times when i looked around the room i saw no one wearing the headset – it made me wonder if the absence of listening ears lessens the value and purpose of interpretation.

But as i glanced back to the tiny black cubicle, through the square window i caught sight of their enthusiastic gesticulations, the faint murmurs and the unfaltering determination, i knew that their efforts were not in vain.

interpretation in action.JPG

interpreting

Module Review: CH4401

CH4401: Honours Thesis (榮譽班畢業論文)

Time: AY2018/19 Sem 1-2

!如果你是剛入學的大一/大二/大三生,也過來看看吧 這種東西越早準備越好!

論文是你讀榮譽班需要寫的。當然你也可以不寫,不過我還是建議寫,因為這算是畢業前的一個里程碑吧,而且寫了以後才能讀研。以往都是最後一個學期開始趙老師,但從我那一屆開始,我們第一個學期就可以開始了,主要是給我們更多時間,但我覺得除非你真的時間掌握的非常好,要不然多一個學期也沒什麼卵用,因為你還有課要上,還有作業要交啊。昨天剛交完論文,我趁自己還沈浸在豐收的喜悅中先趕緊把這篇review(也就是我國大本科生涯的最後一篇review??!!天!)寫完。寫論文大概有這幾個過程:

1)找研究方向和指導老師

前三年你所拿的課會讓你知道這個漢學漢語的領域裡有眾多可研究的範圍,然後你可以朝你感興趣的部分深入調查。不要覺得哎呀我現在才大一/大二/大三,還有時間,畢業論文看上去好遙遠好恐怖我不要去想。可以的話,盡量從一開始就對所有東西保持好奇心,不斷思考,積極思考。問題不一定都會有答案,但是保持連貫思考能力和好奇心是重要的。這樣等到第四年開始選問題時就不會覺得茫無頭緒。

我個人覺得指導老師非常重要,如果你不太喜歡某位老師的教學方式,或者上課時跟他/她,不是很合得來,那可能要再三思,是否要找這位老師。但是我覺得中文系的老師都很好,應該不會遇到這種情況啦,更多會遇到的可能是:我特別喜歡這位老師,但是我選的題目和這位老師的研究領域差得有點遠,怎麼辦?有時老師的領域涉及很廣,所以可以抻一抻,有時如果實在不符合,也不要強求,再多找幾位老師談一談。

剛開始就是一個在「研究範圍」和「選擇導師」之間平衡的過程。

2)找老師 consult

我覺得一般指導老師可能會分兩種,一種滔滔不絕,你說一句他說三百句;一種沈默不語,什麼都需要你自己去提問,不會feed你。沒有說哪種比哪種好,而是要看你傾向於哪種指導方式。我的老師屬於後者,所以每次consult他都會等你先開口提問,然後根據你的問題回覆,所以我去之前一定要先把問題/要說的準備好(當然去consult肯定要提前準備好啦,只是我感覺面對這種老師尤其需要提前準備),如果沒有準好就會冷場,然後浪費老師的時間。另一種老師可能會在你構思/選題方面主動給你很多建議,或從自己的研究領域方面提出新的想法。但不管是那種老師,提出什麼建議,都要自己去數理體會。

第一次去找老師談論文之前需要自己先做好準備工作,就算你再不確定,也不能空手等老師feed你,我覺得這樣非常不好。

據我觀察很多同學(包括我自己)都會在選好老師後離奇消失好幾個月,快交卷時再出現。這也不太好啦,因為老師也很忙,不只你一個學生,你消失太久他可能會把你忘了也不會催你,就這麼拖到地老天荒。所以盡量每隔一段時間給老師一個update,露個臉,這樣老師也不會擔心。

3)調查過程

收集閱讀原始材料、前人研究、做問卷採訪、田野調查 etc… 都屬於調查過程的一部分。既然辦公室現在允許我們早一個學期開始,那材料盡量在12月假期讀完(雖然很多同學可能會有實習),當然也可第二學期再開始,但是能早點開始為什麼不要neh?

找前人研究可能會遇到兩種情況:很多研究,或 沒有研究。我的情況屬於前者,由於這方面有太多人研究,所以主要在創新。如果情況屬於後者,那創新不用擔心,盡量找和課題相似的研究來做參考。我理想的進程就是能夠先讀完前人研究再開始寫,誰知道更多材料會隨著你寫時不斷蹦出來,所以這時需要的話你就讀,不需要就不讀。當然kiasu一點多讀總是好的(不過讀到一定程度你就不要老讀了,不然讀不完的,而且越讀越亂。你自己拿捏吧)。

找人採訪、做田野調查,最好早點聯絡相關機構,人家不理你就從另一個渠道聯絡。如果你什麼東西都拖到最後一分鐘的話就會很趕。

3)寫大綱、擬題目

辦公室會在你確定導師後叫你交一份大綱和題目。那個時候的你很可能還沒確定研究方向,所以你隨便寫寫就可以了。第二個學期初交的那份題目大綱應該是確認的了,但是有的同學可能那時還沒確認題目。所以要看老師,有的老師說要確認,有的老師說再交一份假的上去就好了。我是先讀資料,擬一個大概的題目,再讀資料、寫論文,隨後看題目如果和內容不符合,就改題目,如果符合就不改。

我覺得更重要的是寫大綱。大綱寫好萬事順利,大綱不好每天便秘。把所有的東西捋順後,邏輯結構都很清晰,言之有物,那寫起來就會很順。我根據自己第四份大綱些了一萬五字的論文後察覺自己的大綱其實一團糟,後來再擬了第五份大綱才順。所以可能有時寫了才會知道自己的大綱到底可不可以吧。

4)寫論文

大綱一出來,寫論文是最快的。盡量早點寫完,早點給老師看稿,這樣自己有時間改。

5)其他注意事項

  • 不要把論文太太太當一回事兒。是,論文很重要,但總來說就像一個超大型的期末作業,該怎麼寫論文就怎麼寫,不必太擔心。
  • 字數上限3萬5,算characters (without spaces)。給一個參考數據,我的純字數2萬6,加characters總共3萬4。
  • 拿論文那個學期可以同時拿另一門課,不然會感覺和學校有點脫節。
  • 如果自己有事,給辦公室交題目/大綱/論文需要extension,敢敢跟辦公室負責人去講(要早點講哦),看能不能延遲截止日期。她們人都很好,如果你確實有事她們會理解的,不要有事不講自己扛著。
  • 應該還有但是想不起來了…. tbc.

我現在腦僵想睡覺,所以就先這樣。有什麼其他的以後再補充。寫論文的同學們加油喔!

Module Review: CH4401