Thesis (D. Min.)--Western Seminary, Portland, OR, 1999. / Abstract. Some parts in Chinese. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 308-312).

Even though there has been no lack of scholarly attention to Chinese epistolary texts as a source of information, discussions of the functions and practices of letter writing in imperial China are very limited. This thesis deals with how elites in Song dynasty (960-1279) China exchanged personal and political information by writing and sending letters to each other, and how the genre of letters functioned in its various forms throughout the socially transformative and culturally active period. Through contextualizing epistolary material - such as letters in manuscript and print form, letter collections, and epistolary manuals, as well as sources in other genres that describe letter writing practices - I explore the multifaceted uses of letter writing for literati officials. The study provides a systematic view of the functions of Song letter writing in political, social, and cultural realms by investigating its complex practices. Using letters in several sub-genres by important literati figures such as Mi Fu, Li Gang, and Sun Di, it illustrates the main aspects of letter writing, including format, rhetoric, topical content, and handwriting. In view of the roles played by letters exchanged among Song scholars, this research on literati correspondence provides a window on how interpersonal relationships were conducted by written exchanges during that period. It also sheds light on how epistolary culture was transformed by the literati community during one of the key periods of Chinese civilization. These insights will contribute to the research of Chinese literati culture and related fields, such as the social history of middle period China, and will also be useful for comparing China's epistolary culture with the world's other letter writing traditions.

The major objective of this thesis is to conduct complex grammatical and lexical analysis of the Chinese language textbook by N. A. Speshnev Vvedenye v kitayskiy yazik. Results of the analysis are compared with textbook written by Oldrich Svarny Introduction to the Study of colloquial Chinese (Uvod do studia hovorove cinstiny) and A Frequency Dictionary of Modern Chinese. Analysis and comparison results serve as a basis for evaluating the coverage of basic vocabulary and grammar used in Speshnev's textbook and its suitability for first-year students of Sinology. The results of lexical analysis include a list of all lexical items used in the textbook, as well as the information on their grammatical function characteristics, meanings, usage and frequency. Grammatical analysis results provide an overview of all grammatical constructions and features that are present in the textbook. Important part of grammatical analysis is introduction of comprehensive view on individual grammar features and comparison of their various perceptions in different grammatical systems. In conclusion, the positives and negatives of Speshnev textbook are evaluated and new suggestions to its use in complex language teaching are presented. Key words Chinese, colloquial Chinese, Chinese grammar, grammatical analysis, lexical...

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of California, Berkeley, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 217-227).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Ill., 1999. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 199-202).