傳統文化對教育的意義（原創.English）-感謝畫堂西畔-Art teacher – Chinese

传统文化对教育的意义

The significance of traditional culture to education

我是Athena,是在小莲花教授传统国画的艺术老师。就传统文化和传统教育以及国画艺术研究上面的一些心得与大家分享一下。

I am Athena, an art teacher who teaches traditional Chinese painting at Little Lotus School. I would like to share with you some of my thoughts on traditional culture, traditional education, and Chinese painting research.

在东方神传文化的承传过程中，古人仰观天地，俯察四时；从精微到广大，经过“外师造化，终得心源”最终达到天人合一的境界。我的专业是学习传统中国画的，为什么我要强调“传统”这两个字？因为在当今的社会里国画中变异的成分太多了，但却很少有人能够识别出来。中国传统文化的真正内涵和意义，就是神留给人回天的阶梯。拿中国的绘画来讲，强调是要“写意”而非写实。那这个“意”主要是指什么？在中国的文化意境里，主要指的是神意、道意、禅意；写的是神性、佛性、人性；写的是宇宙、天地和人文。而这个“写意”的“写”字在这里主要指情感的抒发和精神境界的表达。人们从神佛的指引教化中、从天地、宇宙万物的感应中获取智慧、净化心灵，使人身心得到平静。通过艺术、绘画的方式表达人对神佛、宇宙、天地万物的感念珍惜之情。从而达到助教化、重人伦。那对于其他传统教育科目来说也是一样，比如汉语、诗词、音乐、舞蹈、书法、建筑、服饰、器具等等。传统教育是一个综合的学科教育，是可以培养出综合全面的优质学生，如我们很多的古圣先贤，他们的生平事迹，既可以入世为官，又可以出世为民，这是因为他们的才情足可以安顿他们的身心，使他们可以在慢慢的人生路中，不管遇到任何坎坷风浪，都可以怡然自洽的自处。这就是传统文化对人性情的滋养，也是神留给人回天的通道，更是让人在世间可以一身风骨的活着。

In the process of inheriting the divine culture of the East, the ancients looked up at the heaven and earth and looked down at the four seasons; from the subtle to the vast, they finally reached the state of harmony between man and nature through “learning from nature and finally obtaining the source of the heart”. My major is to study traditional Chinese painting. Why do I emphasize the word “tradition”? Because in today’s society, there are too many variations in Chinese painting, but few people can recognize them. The true connotation and meaning of Chinese traditional culture is the ladder left by God for people to return to heaven. Take Chinese painting as an example. The emphasis is on “freehand” rather than realistic. What does this “meaning” mainly refer to? In the Chinese cultural artistic conception, it mainly refers to the divine will, the Taoist will, and the Zen will; it writes about divinity, Buddha nature, and human nature; it writes about the universe, heaven and earth, and humanities. The word “write” in “freehand” here mainly refers to the expression of emotions and the expression of spiritual realm. People gain wisdom and purify their hearts from the guidance and teachings of gods and Buddhas, and from the induction of heaven and earth and all things in the universe, so that people can calm their bodies and minds. Express people’s gratitude and cherishment for gods and Buddhas, the universe, and all things in the world through art and painting. Thus, it can help to educate and emphasize human relations. The same is true for other traditional education subjects, such as Chinese, poetry, music, dance, calligraphy, architecture, clothing, utensils, etc. Traditional education is a comprehensive subject education that can cultivate comprehensive and high-quality students. For example, many of our ancient saints and sages, their life stories can be used to serve as officials in the world and to serve the people in the world. This is because their talents are enough to settle their bodies and minds, so that they can live in peace and contentment in the long journey of life, no matter what ups and downs they encounter. This is the nourishment of human nature by traditional culture, and it is also the channel left by God for people to return to heaven, and it allows people to live with dignity in the world.

我自小研习绘画，这个天赋好像是与生俱来的，自打记事起就会画画，起初是自己见到什么便可以画出什么，后来便可以凭着记忆背着画出很多东西。再到后来到专业的美术院校学习，这一路走来，身心受益，不但在专业技能上有所进益，在审美上、连带着在文学修养、诗词歌赋上都收获颇丰。传统文化是是一个多元的文化，要想教授好学生，作为老师首先自己要博学多才、通贯古今才可以，比方说教历史的老师要有文学上的修养，要有出口成章的文辞修饰，不然阐释的历史会乏味枯燥，教语文的老师要有渊博的历史知识，不然你无法诠释一个词语背后真正的内涵。

I have been studying painting since I was young. This talent seems to be innate. I have been able to paint since I can remember. At first, I could draw whatever I saw. Later, I could draw many things by memory. Later, I went to a professional art school to study. Along the way, I benefited physically and mentally. Not only did I make progress in professional skills, but I also gained a lot in aesthetics, literary cultivation, poetry and songs. Traditional culture is a diverse culture. If you want to teach students well, as a teacher, you must first be knowledgeable and have a thorough understanding of ancient and modern times. For example, a history teacher must have literary cultivation and eloquent literary decoration, otherwise the history he explains will be boring and dull. A Chinese teacher must have profound historical knowledge, otherwise you cannot interpret the true meaning behind a word.

在这些年教授孩子的过程中，我都在尽全力地启发和保持学生自身的灵性，尽量不用规章制度去束缚他们的本性，而是用符合自然的方式来启发他们对绘画的兴趣和好奇心，通过一些名画的鉴赏和观摩，再结合着绘画的朝代讲述一些人文历史和风俗习惯，有时候也会讲一些古圣先贤的生平事迹，来让学生们体会处在不同时代下人们的生活状态，比如在教授明代沈周的山水画时，有的学生就问我？为什么他画的都是这些小山、小树、小园林的景色，人怎么那么小？这时我就会结合着明代的一些社会历史背景讲，因为沈周家的祖训是要求后世子孙世代不能为官，他的家境比较优渥，有良田千顷，和他来往的都是同时代文化界的名人，他可以随时读书，随时下田，归隐山林寄情于山水，他画里的精致景色是他自己的家园。然后学生又问：“为什么他家里不让他做官？”这时我就可以适当的讲述一些修炼上的体悟给学生们听，引导他们做一些简单的思考。有时候我也会拿自己的一些收藏的小物品给学生们看，如不同规格材质的砚台，印章，好的毛笔，墨块，名画（复制品）等等，来调动他们的好奇心，学生们也会问：老师，这是用什么制做的？干什么用的，是谁用的？哪个朝代的？这样我便有了发挥的余地了，我就可以讲述更多关于传统文化中那些古老的技艺带给人们身心上面的影响。

In the process of teaching children over the years, I have been doing my best to inspire and maintain the students’ own spirituality, and try not to restrain their nature with rules and regulations, but to inspire their interest and curiosity in painting in a natural way. Through the appreciation and observation of some famous paintings, I will tell some human history and customs in combination with the dynasties of painting. Sometimes I will also tell the life stories of some ancient saints and sages to let students experience the living conditions of people in different eras. For example, when teaching the landscape paintings of Shen Zhou in the Ming Dynasty, some students asked me? Why are the scenery of these small hills, small trees, and small gardens painted by him? Why are people so small? At this time, I will talk about it in combination with some social and historical backgrounds of the Ming Dynasty, because Shen Zhou’s ancestral precepts require that future generations cannot be officials. His family is relatively wealthy and has thousands of acres of fertile land. He interacts with celebrities in the cultural circles of the same era. He can read and work in the fields at any time, and retreat to the mountains and forests to express his feelings in the mountains and rivers. The exquisite scenery in his paintings is his own home. Then the students asked, “Why didn’t his family let him become an official?” At this time, I could appropriately tell the students about my cultivation experience and guide them to do some simple thinking. Sometimes I would also show the students some small items from my collection, such as inkstones of different specifications and materials, seals, good brushes, ink blocks, famous paintings (reproductions), etc., to stimulate their curiosity. The students would also ask, “Teacher, what is this made of? What is it used for? Who used it? Which dynasty is it from?” This gave me room to play, and I could tell more about the impact of those ancient skills in traditional culture on people’s body and mind.

还有的学生问：“老师。为什么画石头的笔墨要干一些？为什么一块石头前面的墨淡一些，后面的墨重一些？坦白讲，这个学生的话语虽然稚嫩，但是每一个问题都问到了关键之处。在中国的传统文化中讲阴阳，首先山水画或水墨画中，墨是分五色的，干、湿、浓、淡、焦。那体现在画中，体现在一块石头上，阳的部分即是墨色比较干且淡的部分，阴即是墨色比较湿、比较浓的部分，通过这种墨色的变化来体现石头的质感和体积。用西方的绘画语言叫明、暗。明即是阳光照耀到的部分，阴即是阳光照耀不到地方，也就是西方艺术语言中所说的暗部，通过光影来体现物体的体积感。这是截然不同的两种文化内涵。

Another student asked: “Teacher, why do we need to use drier ink to draw stones? Why is the ink lighter in the front of a stone and heavier in the back?” Frankly speaking, although the student’s words were immature, each question he asked hit the key point. In traditional Chinese culture, yin and yang are mentioned. First of all, in landscape painting or ink painting, ink is divided into five colors: dry, wet, thick, light, and burnt. That is reflected in the painting, on a stone. The yang part is the part with drier and lighter ink, and the yin part is the part with wetter and thicker ink. The texture and volume of the stone are reflected through this change in ink color. In Western painting language, it is called light and dark. Light is the part where the sun shines, and yin is the part where the sun does not shine, which is what is called dark in Western art language. The volume of the object is reflected through light and shadow. These are two completely different cultural connotations.

学习绘画，不单是技艺上的精湛，更多是灵性上的塑造，更多是培养学生们敏锐的洞察力和对美的感知能力，培养他们有一双发现美的眼睛，从而拥有正统的审美观，培养他们对未知世界探索的勇气以及对生活充满好奇的生命力。这是一点一滴，潜移默化的一个学习积累过程。不单单是艺术，任何一个传统的学科都是如此。

Learning painting is not only about mastering skills, but also about shaping the spirit. It is more about cultivating students’ keen insight and perception of beauty, cultivating their eyes to discover beauty, so that they have an orthodox aesthetic view, and cultivating their courage to explore the unknown world and their vitality full of curiosity about life. This is a process of learning and accumulation bit by bit, imperceptibly. This is not only true for art, but also for any traditional subject.

我们常常看到，在当今社会道德败坏的环境中，我们身边的孩子也或多或少的都会受到影响，很多男孩阳刚不足、阴柔有余，很多女孩阴柔不足，而刚毅有余，男孩失去了该有的担当，女孩失去了该有的温柔，可谓男孩没有男孩样，女孩没有女孩样，这是一个非常不和谐的社会现象。归根结底是传统文化的缺失。

We often see that in today’s society, where morality is corrupt, the children around us are more or less affected. Many boys are not masculine enough but too feminine, and many girls are not feminine enough but too resolute. Boys have lost their due responsibility, and girls have lost their due tenderness. It can be said that boys are not like boys, and girls are not like girls. This is a very disharmonious social phenomenon. In the final analysis, it is the lack of traditional culture.

在传统的中国文化中，都普遍认为男人至阳，应该如太阳般炽热、雄健、有担当，女人至阴，应该如清泉般澄澈、温柔、有内涵。但我理解的中国传统文化中的阳和阴，它是一种平衡的能量，它体现在宇宙中的万事万物上都应该是一种均衡平等、和谐统一的关系，而不是一种对立。比如拿男人至阳来说，如果在一个男人身上只有阳刚，没有阴柔，那这个男人给我们展现的会是一个什么状态？刚健有余，情致不足，如同铁板一块，会造成性格上的缺欠，给人难以亲近的感觉，古人常说君子温润如玉，相处起来既有风骨且有温暖，这才是男士应有的状态和气度。那相对于女人来说，内在如果只有阴柔而没有阳刚，那所谓的担当和隐忍就没有了，只剩下柔和魅了，性情会由高贵转而低贱，这样的话，对于一个家庭乃至一个社会都是影响巨大的。经常有人问我这样的问题，说：”都说古人的社会是男尊女卑，是这样吗？”为此现代的很多女性心中都会有些不平。

In traditional Chinese culture, it is generally believed that men are yang, and should be as hot, strong, and responsible as the sun, while women are yin, and should be as clear, gentle, and meaningful as a spring. But the yang and yin in traditional Chinese culture that I understand are a kind of balanced energy, which should be reflected in all things in the universe in a balanced, equal, harmonious and unified relationship, rather than an opposition. For example, if a man is yang, if he only has masculinity and no femininity, what kind of state will this man show us? Being strong but not sentimental is like a piece of iron, which will cause defects in character and make people feel difficult to approach. The ancients often said that a gentleman is as gentle as jade, and he has both character and warmth when getting along with others. This is the state and demeanor that men should have. Compared with women, if there is only femininity and no masculinity inside, then the so-called responsibility and forbearance will be gone, and only gentle charm will remain. The temperament will change from noble to humble, which will have a huge impact on a family and even a society. People often ask me questions like, “It is said that in ancient times, men were superior to women. Is that true?” Many modern women feel a little unfair about this.

虽说在古人的社会里是以男士为主导，但这也只是角色分工不同而已，女士在与国与家中也有着至关重要的作用。在古人的社会中是以家庭为主要单位，一个家庭男主外女主内，地位不分尊卑同等重要，而一个国家正是由一个个家庭构成，所以阴阳均衡的体现不仅是一个人自身状态的体现，也构成了一个社会和一个国家兴衰的体现。在古人正统的文化中，所谓的男尊女卑是建立在相互尊重的基础上的。

Although men dominated the society in ancient times, this was just a matter of different roles. Women also played a vital role in the country and the family. In ancient society, the family was the main unit. Men worked outside and women worked inside. They were equally important regardless of their status. A country is made up of families. Therefore, the balance of yin and yang is not only a reflection of a person’s own state, but also a reflection of the rise and fall of a society and a country. In the orthodox culture of the ancients, the so-called male superiority and female inferiority was based on mutual respect.

要知道，终有一天我们如今的小弟子，也会长成未来的男孩女孩、男人女人。而传统文化中蕴含的智慧和正统的价值观可以帮助学生们颐养性情，安顿身心，守住道德、塑造人格。想到这些，顿时觉得自身的责任重大，需要好好精进修炼，不断提高自己的修养，扩大自己的知识储备，才能做个全面称职的好老师。在这里谢谢我的学生们，所谓教学相长，是他们让我变得更好。

You know, one day our little disciples will grow up to be boys, girls, men and women in the future. The wisdom and orthodox values contained in traditional culture can help students cultivate their temperament, settle their body and mind, uphold morality and shape their personality. Thinking of this, I suddenly feel that my responsibility is great. I need to practice diligently, constantly improve my cultivation, and expand my knowledge reserves to be a comprehensive and competent teacher. I would like to thank my students here. As the saying goes, teaching and learning benefit each other, and it is they who make me a better person.