{"id":2327,"date":"2022-07-11T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-11T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/troubadourworks.com\/tiandi\/meotw\/?p=2327"},"modified":"2022-07-12T11:00:27","modified_gmt":"2022-07-12T18:00:27","slug":"zuichu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/troubadourworks.com\/tiandi\/meotw\/2022\/07\/11\/zuichu\/","title":{"rendered":"zu\u00ecch\u016b"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\n\t\t\tzu\u00ecch\u016b<\/span>\n(zu\u00ec\u00b7ch\u016b\nmost \u00b7 {at the beginning} [\u2192 [initial[ly]; prime; [at] first; original[ly]]]<\/span>\n\u6700\u521d)<\/span>\n\n \u2190 Tap\/click to show\/hide the \u201cflashcard\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n\n

[Notes:<\/strong> \u201cPyP\u201d is short for \u201cP\u012bny\u012bn<\/i><\/span>\n(P\u012bn\u00b7y\u012bn\n{Piecing Together} \u00b7 Sounds \u2192<\/span> [Pinyin]<\/span>\n\u62fc\u97f3)<\/span> Plus<\/a>\u201d. Tap\/click on a P\u012bny\u012bn<\/i><\/span>\n(P\u012bn\u00b7y\u012bn\n{Piecing Together} \u00b7 Sounds \u2192<\/span> [Pinyin]<\/span>\n\u62fc\u97f3)<\/span> expression to reveal its <\/span>\u201cflashcard\u201d<\/span>, tap\/click on a <\/span>\u201cflashcard\u201d<\/span> or its P\u012bny\u012bn<\/i><\/span>\n(P\u012bn\u00b7y\u012bn\n{Piecing Together} \u00b7 Sounds \u2192<\/span> [Pinyin]<\/span>\n\u62fc\u97f3)<\/span> expression to hide the<\/span> \u201cflashcard\u201d<\/span>. \ud83d\udcd6<\/span> \ud83d\udcc4<\/span> \ud83d\udcd8 icons mean \ud83d\udcd6<\/span> Reveal All<\/strong>, \ud83d\udcc4<\/span> Reveal Advanced<\/strong>, and \ud83d\udcd8 Reveal None<\/strong> re all the \u201cflashcards\u201d<\/span> in the heading, paragraph, etc. that they are placed at the beginning of.]<\/p>\n

\u201cZu\u00ecch\u016b<\/i><\/span>\n(Zu\u00ec\u00b7ch\u016b\nmost \u00b7 {at the beginning} [\u2192 [initial[ly]; prime; [at] first; original[ly]]]<\/span>\n\u6700\u521d)<\/span>\u201d is the very first expression that occurs in the current Mandarin New World Translation<\/i> Bible, at Genesis 1:1 (WOL<\/a>; PyP<\/a>):<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\ud83d\udcd6<\/span> \ud83d\udcc4<\/span> \ud83d\udcd8<\/span>\n\nZu\u00ecch\u016b<\/span>\n(Zu\u00ec\u00b7ch\u016b\nmost \u00b7 {at the beginning}<\/span>\n\u6700\u521d)<\/span>,\n\nSh\u00e0ngd\u00ec<\/span>\n(Sh\u00e0ng\u00b7d\u00ec\nAbove\u2019s \u00b7 {Emperor \u2192 [God]} \u2192<\/span> [God]<\/span>\n\u4e0a\u5e1d)<\/span>\n\nchu\u00e0ngz\u00e0ole<\/span>\n(chu\u00e0ng\u00b7z\u00e0o\u00b7le\n{initiated \u00b7 made, created \u2192<\/span> [created]}<\/span> \u00b7 [indicates a change<\/i>]<\/span>\n\u521b\u9020\u4e86\n\u5275\u9020\u4e86<\/span>)<\/span>\n\nti\u0101nd\u00ec<\/span>\n(ti\u0101n\u00b7d\u00ec\nheavens \u00b7 earth<\/span>\n\u5929\u5730)<\/span>.\n\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

At Revelation 2:4 (WOL<\/a>; PyP<\/a>), the current Mandarin NWT<\/i> Bible also uses \u201czu\u00ecch\u016b<\/i><\/span>\n(zu\u00ec\u00b7ch\u016b\nmost \u00b7 {at the beginning} [\u2192 [initial[ly]; prime; [at] first; original[ly]]]<\/span>\n\u6700\u521d)<\/span>\u201d when it talks about not leaving \u201cthe love you had at first\u201d:<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\ud83d\udcd6<\/span> \ud83d\udcc4<\/span> \ud83d\udcd8<\/span>\n\n\nB\u00fagu\u00f2<\/span>\n(B\u00fa\u00b7gu\u00f2\nnot \u00b7 {do pass} \u2192<\/span> [however]<\/span>\n\u4e0d\u8fc7\n\u4e0d\u904e<\/span>)<\/span>,<\/span>\n\ny\u01d2u<\/span>\n({(there) is having}<\/span>\n\u6709)<\/span>\n\ny\u00ec<\/span>\n(one<\/span>\n\u4e00)<\/span>\n\ndi\u01cen<\/span>\n(point (regarding which)<\/span>\n\u70b9\n\u9ede<\/span>)<\/span>\n\nw\u01d2<\/span>\n(I<\/span>\n\u6211)<\/span>\n\ny\u00e0o<\/span>\n(must<\/span>\n\u8981)<\/span>\n\nz\u00e9b\u00e8i<\/span>\n(z\u00e9\u00b7b\u00e8i\nreprove \u00b7 prepare \u2192<\/span> [reprove]<\/span>\n\u8d23\u5907\n\u8cac\u5099<\/span>)<\/span>\n\nn\u01d0<\/span>\n(you<\/span>\n\u4f60)<\/span>,\n\nji\u00f9sh\u00ec<\/span>\n(ji\u00f9\u00b7sh\u00ec\n(which) exactly \u00b7 is<\/span>\n\u5c31\u662f)<\/span>\n\nn\u01d0<\/span>\n(you<\/span>\n\u4f60)<\/span>\n\nr\u00e0ng<\/span>\n({have allowed}<\/span>\n\u8ba9\n\u8b93<\/span>)<\/span>\n\nz\u00ecj\u01d0<\/span>\n(selves\u2019<\/span>\n\u81ea\u5df1)<\/span>\n\nzu\u00ecch\u016b<\/span>\n(zu\u00ec\u00b7ch\u016b\nmost \u00b7 {at the beginning} \u2192<\/span> [at first]<\/span>\n\u6700\u521d)<\/span>\n\nde<\/span>\n(\u2019s<\/span>\n\u7684)<\/span>\n\nn\u00e8i<\/span>\n(that<\/span>\n\u90a3)<\/span>\n\nf\u00e8n<\/span>\n({portion of}<\/span>\n\u4efd)<\/span>\n\n\u00e0i<\/span>\n(love<\/span>\n\u7231\n\u611b<\/span>)<\/span>\n\nl\u011bngd\u00e0n<\/span>\n(l\u011bng\u00b7d\u00e0n\n{to be(come) cold} \u00b7 {to be(come) bland \u2192<\/span> [to be(come) indifferent]}<\/span><\/span>\n\u51b7\u6de1)<\/span>\n\nxialai<\/span>\n(xia\u00b7lai\ndown \u00b7 {to come}<\/span>\n\u4e0b\u6765\n\u4e0b\u4f86<\/span>)<\/span>.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cOriginal Intention\u201d? \u201cBeginner\u2019s Mind\u201d?<\/h4>\n

While \u201czu\u00ecch\u016b<\/i><\/span>\n(zu\u00ec\u00b7ch\u016b\nmost \u00b7 {at the beginning} [\u2192 [initial[ly]; prime; [at] first; original[ly]]]<\/span>\n\u6700\u521d)<\/span>\u201d appears multiple times in the current Mandarin NWT<\/i> Bible, the expression \u201cch\u016bx\u012bn<\/i><\/span>\n(ch\u016b\u00b7x\u012bn\nbeginning; original; initial; {first (in order)} \u00b7 heart; mind \u2192<\/span> [original desire\/aspiration\/intention | (Zen Buddhism) beginner\u2019s mind (attitude of openness, free of preconceptions, when studying a subject)]<\/span>\n\u521d\u5fc3)<\/span>\u201d, which may seem somewhat related, does not appear in the current Mandarin NWT<\/i> Bible.<\/p>\n

In normal Mandarin usage, \u201cch\u016bx\u012bn<\/i><\/span>\n(ch\u016b\u00b7x\u012bn\nbeginning; original; initial; {first (in order)} \u00b7 heart; mind \u2192<\/span> [original desire\/aspiration\/intention]<\/span>\n\u521d\u5fc3)<\/span>\u201d effectively means \u201coriginal desire\/aspiration\/intention\u201d. We should be aware, though, that the expression \u201cch\u016bx\u012bn<\/i><\/span>\n(ch\u016b\u00b7x\u012bn\nbeginning; original; initial; {first (in order)} \u00b7 heart; mind \u2192<\/span> [original desire\/aspiration\/intention | (Zen Buddhism) beginner\u2019s mind (attitude of openness, free of preconceptions, when studying a subject)]<\/span>\n\u521d\u5fc3)<\/span>\u201d (shoshin<\/i> in Japanese) is also used in Zen Buddhism to mean \u201cbeginner\u2019s mind\u201d, an attitude of openness, free of preconceptions, when studying a subject.<\/p>\n

While \u201cch\u016bx\u012bn<\/i><\/span>\n(ch\u016b\u00b7x\u012bn\nbeginning; original; initial; {first (in order)} \u00b7 heart; mind \u2192<\/span> [(Zen Buddhism) beginner\u2019s mind (attitude of openness, free of preconceptions, when studying a subject)]<\/span>\n\u521d\u5fc3)<\/span>\u201d, as used in Zen Buddhism, apparently refers to one\u2019s own unprejudiced mental approach to learning about a reality, \u201czu\u00ecch\u016b<\/i><\/span>\n(zu\u00ec\u00b7ch\u016b\nmost \u00b7 {at the beginning} [\u2192 [initial[ly]; prime; [at] first; original[ly]]]<\/span>\n\u6700\u521d)<\/span>\u201d, as used in the Bible, refers to the very beginning of a reality itself, prior to any possible subsequent deviation or corruption. It seems that following the Bible\u2019s example of focusing on the truth of the original reality of something naturally produces the beneficial openness and freedom from preconceptions referred to by the Zen Buddhist usage of \u201cch\u016bx\u012bn<\/i><\/span>\n(ch\u016b\u00b7x\u012bn\nbeginning; original; initial; {first (in order)} \u00b7 heart; mind \u2192<\/span> [(Zen Buddhism) beginner\u2019s mind (attitude of openness, free of preconceptions, when studying a subject)]<\/span>\n\u521d\u5fc3)<\/span>\u201d, especially when we do so with the courage and humility that the Bible often encourages us to cultivate.\u20142 Timothy 1:7<\/a>; Joshua 1:9<\/a>; Proverbs 18:12<\/a>; 22:4<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Remembering where Zen Buddhism came from and where the Bible came from can help us to understand the difference between the Zen Buddhist concept of ch\u016bx\u012bn<\/i><\/span>\n(ch\u016b\u00b7x\u012bn\nbeginning; original; initial; {first (in order)} \u00b7 heart; mind \u2192<\/span> [(Zen Buddhism) beginner\u2019s mind (attitude of openness, free of preconceptions, when studying a subject)]<\/span>\n\u521d\u5fc3)<\/span> and the concept of zu\u00ecch\u016b<\/i><\/span>\n(zu\u00ec\u00b7ch\u016b\nmost \u00b7 {at the beginning} [\u2192 [initial[ly]; prime; [at] first; original[ly]]]<\/span>\n\u6700\u521d)<\/span> that is often mentioned in the Bible. Having come from imperfect, limited humans, the Zen Buddhist concept of ch\u016bx\u012bn<\/i><\/span>\n(ch\u016b\u00b7x\u012bn\nbeginning; original; initial; {first (in order)} \u00b7 heart; mind \u2192<\/span> [(Zen Buddhism) beginner\u2019s mind (attitude of openness, free of preconceptions, when studying a subject)]<\/span>\n\u521d\u5fc3)<\/span> is unsurprisingly about how an imperfect, limited human can view something\u2014that\u2019s ultimately all it can<\/em> really be about anyway. On the other hand, the Bible shares with us God\u2019s<\/em> views of things, and God was actually there at the zu\u00ecch\u016b<\/i><\/span>\n(zu\u00ec\u00b7ch\u016b\nmost \u00b7 {at the beginning}<\/span>\n\u6700\u521d)<\/span> time of literally everything in the universe. Also, he has seen how everything has developed since that zu\u00ecch\u016b<\/i><\/span>\n(zu\u00ec\u00b7ch\u016b\nmost \u00b7 {at the beginning}<\/span>\n\u6700\u521d)<\/span> time, and he can also perfectly foresee how everything will turn out in the future.<\/p>\n

Holding On to Mandarin Field First Love<\/h4>\n

How might someone leave \u2018the love he had at first\u2019 in the Mandarin field? A publisher may have originally entered the Mandarin field with pure motivations, out of love for God and neighbour. Over time, though, with repeated exposure to proud worldly Chinese traditional culture, might some self-glorifying pride creep in regarding knowledge of that worldly Chinese culture, and regarding having gone far down the rabbit hole of the notoriously complex Chinese characters? If so, then the original love that had motivated that publisher may eventually get corrupted, and perhaps even left behind, leaving pride as his main motivation. May we never let that happen to us!<\/p>\n

First Things First in Language Learning<\/h4>\n

The way God made us, zu\u00ecch\u016b<\/i><\/span>\n(zu\u00ec\u00b7ch\u016b\nmost \u00b7 {at the beginning}<\/span>\n\u6700\u521d)<\/span>, language-wise, there was speech. Only later did imperfect humans eventually come up with some writing systems to visually represent and record some forms of speech. Indeed, there have been, and there still are, many speech-only languages, with no corresponding writing system. Ethnologue<\/i>, a resource on world languages, says<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\nEthnologue (24th edition) has data to indicate that of the currently listed 7,139 living languages, 4,065 have a developed writing system. We don’t always know, however, if the existing writing systems are widely used. That is, while an alphabet may exist there may not be very many people who are literate and actually using the alphabet. The remaining 3,074 are likely unwritten.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Technological First Priority<\/h4>\n

Writing systems are technologies<\/a>. About writing, linguist Gretchen McCulloch says<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\nIt really is a technology. It\u2019s a thing you do on top of language to do stuff with language, but it\u2019s not the language itself. There are thousands and possibly millions of languages that have never been written down in the history of humanity. We have no idea. We\u2019ve never met a society of humans, or heard of a society of humans, without language. But those are spoken and signed languages, which are just kind of there. Writing, by contrast, was invented somewhere between 3 and 4 times in the history of humanity.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As with any technology, under-engineering and over-engineering in writing systems are by definition bad. Chinese characters are obviously over-engineered\u2014full of \u201cceremony\u201d, way more complicated than necessary to fulfil their original purpose of representing Chinese speech. In fact, in the minds of many, Chinese characters have culturally become a thing on their own, the most important thing about Chinese languages, even. Thus, characters have been allowed to improperly overshadow Mandarin, etc. speech, which is actually<\/em> of primary importance. As the English saying goes, that\u2019s putting the cart before the horse.<\/p>\n

\n

Ben Cohen, manager of the Swift team at Apple, speaks of their core design goal of making the Swift programming language ceremony-free.<\/p>\n

Chinese characters have lots and lots and lots of ceremony, especially compared to _P\u012bny\u012bn_.https:\/\/t.co\/vPLUThxUYp<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/aDOlKOIbWt<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Troubadour WW (@troubadourww) June 25, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n