Journal of Sinology (วารสารจีนวิทยา)

Book Review

2025-12-06T15:16:18+07:00

Curriculum Development for a Bachelor of Education Program (4-Year Program) in Teaching Chinese Language, School of Sinology, Mae Fah Luang University

2025-12-06T15:19:56+07:00

This research aimed to achieve three objectives: (1) to examine the needs of stakeholders regarding the Bachelor of Education in Teaching Chinese Language at the School of Sinology, Mae Fah Luang University; (2) to create and refine the curriculum; and (3) to assess the quality of the curriculum. The research adopted a descriptive approach, collecting data from two groups. The first group comprised five experts in education and Chinese, nine full-time faculty members, 26 program graduates, and 186 current students who voluntarily participated. The second group consisted of three curriculum evaluators: one representative from the Teachers' Council of Thailand and two Chinese language teaching experts, selected via purposive sampling. Quantitative data were analyzed using mean, standard deviations, and the PNI_modified index, while qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis method. The results showed that: 1) Stakeholders identified significant gaps between the current state and the ideal state of the curriculum, highlighting a critical need to enhance content, skills, and student competencies. 2) The 138-credit Bachelor of Education program was revised following recommendations from three experts, focusing on five key components. 3) The curriculum evaluation concluded that the program met the necessary standards in terms of accuracy, relevance, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness.

An Analysis of the Status and Roles of Foot Binding Women in Chinese Families from the English Novel Translated into Thai “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan”

2025-12-06T15:56:36+07:00

This research is a qualitative study that examines the status and roles of women subjected to foot binding, using the theoretical framework of binary opposition between the domestic and public spheres. It aims to analyze the status and roles of Foot binding women in the families of the female protagonists Baihe and Xuehua from the translated Thai version of the English novel Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. Data were collected and analyzed from books, articles, and relevant academic research.

The findings indicate that cultural values and ethical norms surrounding foot binding play a significant role in shaping the identities and societal expectations of the two protagonists. Their roles are categorized into three stages: (1) as daughters, they are expected to obey their parents and remain confined to household duties, without access to education or participation in public life; (2) as wives, they are obligated to serve their husbands’ families and manage domestic responsibilities, with their status largely determined by their ability to bear sons; and (3) as mothers, they are responsible for maintaining the household and raising children, with particular emphasis placed on producing male heirs. This Study highlights that the ethical and cultural perspectives on foot binding are key variables in determining the restricted status and roles of women in traditional Chinese society, as reflected through the experiences of the two main characters.

Semiotics and Belief

2025-12-06T16:07:23+07:00

This qualitative research aims to examine the semiotic meanings of religious and philosophical beliefs depicted in the Chinese animation White Snake. Using the theory of semiology, the study analyzes data collected from two main characters, Xiao Bai (小白) and A Xuan (阿轩).

The study found that the semiotic meanings of beliefs can be categorized into two aspects: (1) verbal signs, which convey beliefs associated with Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism; and (2) non-verbal signs, including scenes, objects, and animals, which represent four key themes: ancient Chinese astrology and cosmology; mystical powers of objects and animals (e.g., jade hairpins, Hu (Chinese talismans), and Taoist mounts); beliefs rooted in Taoism and Confucianism; and the concept of immortality. The study shows that Buddhist beliefs are communicated solely through verbal signs, while Confucian and Taoist beliefs are expressed through both verbal and non-verbal elements. Furthermore, the research highlights that animations based on Chinese folktales often integrate Buddhist beliefs (Mahayana Buddhism), and that symbolic animals in Chinese belief systems extend beyond dragons, encompassing a diverse range of creatures.

The Application of the Production-Oriented Approach in Vocabulary Teaching for Elementary Comprehensive Chinese Courses in Thailand

2025-12-06T16:22:17+07:00

Guided by the theory of the Production-Oriented Approach, this study focuses on the Chinese major students at University of Phayao in Thailand, designing and applying a teaching approach to the vocabulary section of Lesson 13 in Developing Chinese: Elementary Comprehensive II. The research employs literature review, survey analysis, and statistical methods to explore the practical value of the Production-Oriented Approach in Chinese language teaching in Thailand. Teaching performance was evaluated through comparative analysis of test scores and questionnaire surveys, with data processed using SPSSPRO statistical software. The results indicate that, compared to traditional vocabulary teaching methods, the Production-Oriented Approach demonstrates significant advantages and leads to more effective teaching outcomes. Based on these findings, this study provides specific suggestions for vocabulary instruction in elementary-level comprehensive courses, focusing on teaching design, teacher capacity building, textbook selection, and teaching assessment. These recommendations aim to offer new insights for future research on international Chinese teaching in Thailand.

Strategic Diplomacy in Thailand-China Relations

2025-12-06T16:25:34+07:00

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a Chinese initiative aimed at promoting economic, trade, and infrastructure connectivity among various countries worldwide. Thailand is one of the countries affected by this initiative. Therefore, this research aims to analyze Thailand’s strategic diplomatic responses to the BRI, assesses its economic, political, and security impacts on Thailand–China bilateral relations, and proposes policy recommendations to maximize national benefits. The qualitative research collected data from academic documents, research papers, articles, conference summaries, and various media sources

The study found that under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Thailand has adopted a strategic diplomacy framework to safeguard its national interests, consisting of four main approaches: (1) geopolitical balancing, by maintaining strong relations with China while cooperating with other major powers; (2) economic diplomacy, through promoting trade, investment, and large-scale infrastructure, using economic cooperation as a bargaining tool; (3) innovation diplomacy, via public–private partnerships (PPP) and support for technology and innovation to enhance project value; and (4) cultural and social diplomacy, to foster mutual understanding and trust among peoples. The BRI impacts Thailand’s economy, politics, and security. Policy recommendations include ensuring investment transparency with accountable mechanisms and public participation, implementing strict environmental measures and promoting clean technology, diversifying economic risks through broader trade cooperation, and maintaining balanced international relations to prevent geopolitical conflicts.

An Investigation into Thai University Students’ Recognition Ability of Chinese Character Forms

2025-12-06T16:28:14+07:00

A systematic investigation of 67 Thai university students, via a paper-based writing test, revealed significant difficulties in their recognition of Chinese character forms. Participants demonstrated marked deficiencies in distinguishing subtle stroke variations, identifying component variants, and comprehending complex structural configurations. We argue that these challenges stem primarily from a curriculum that overemphasizes the historical origin and evolution of Chinese characters, while neglecting systematic instruction in the principles of character configuration. To address these issues, this study advocates for a pedagogical shift towards fostering learners' metalinguistic awareness of strokes and components and establishing an integrated instructional framework that progresses systematically from strokes to components and then to overall structure. Embedding the application of Chinese character configuration theory is expected to significantly enhance students' character recognition and writing performance.

Thematic Tendencies in Heteronymous Ci-Tune Titles Sharing the Niannu Jiao Prosodic Pattern

2025-12-06T16:31:14+07:00

This study investigates the thematic selection tendencies in the original and heteronymous forms of the Niannu Jiao ci-tune title. It not only contributes to understanding the flexible adoption of tune-title variants by classical Chinese poets across diverse themes but also reveals the evolution of topic selection and its underlying cultural determinants, providing theoretical foundations and creative insights for contemporary classical-style poetry composition. Based on traditional literary theory and employing modern scientific research methods, this study explores both the synchronic and diachronic dimensions of thematic distribution in the Niannu Jiao tune title and its variants, aiming to elucidate the relationship between thematic content, tune-title nomenclature, and changing literary trends across historical periods. Drawing on a literature review and statistical analysis of 2,205 extant ci poems composed under the original Niannu Jiao title and its 18 heteronymous variants, with metadata on authorship and chronological distribution, the study classifies each work according to 35 thematic categories and conducts quantitative comparisons of their dynastic distribution. The findings reveal distinct thematic preferences: the original Niannu Jiao title is mainly associated with topics of object depiction, celebration, and social interaction, whereas several heteronymous titles tend toward landscape and religious themes. These tendencies correlate closely with the semantic connotations of the tune titles and show observable variation over time. The research scope is limited to extant and verifiable works, and the small sample size of certain heteronymous titles may affect statistical precision. Additionally, subjective interpretation and the complexity of genre classification present methodological constraints. Future research may employ multi-topic modeling to achieve deeper thematic analysis.

A Study of Chinese Vocabulary Learning Strategies in Chinese Language Learning Applications

2025-12-06T17:29:20+07:00

The objective of this research is to study Chinese vocabulary learning strategies employed in three Chinese language learning applications: SuperTest, HelloChinese, and ChineseSkill. The study adopts a descriptive research design. The research instruments include data collection and exercise analysis forms, which were developed based on Oxford’s (1990) theory of language learning strategies. This study focuses on three types of direct learning strategies: memory strategies, cognitive strategies, and compensation strategies.

After analyzing the collected exercises, the findings reveal that there are a total of 73 exercises across the three applications. Among these, exercises that promote memory strategies account for the highest proportion, followed by those that promote cognitive strategies, while exercises related to compensation strategies are the least common. Additionally, exercises that integrate multiple learning strategies constitute about half of all exercises in each application.

The results indicate that SuperTest, HelloChinese, and ChineseSkill can serve as effective tools for vocabulary learning, particularly in enhancing memory skills. These applications are suitable for practice and review outside the classroom, complementing teacher-led instruction rather than replacing it. Based on the findings, it is recommended that these applications be tested with real learners to confirm their effectiveness. Furthermore, future research could explore other aspects of the applications’ effectiveness to provide a more comprehensive understanding of their educational potential.

A Comparative Study of International and Thai Standards for Defining the Competency Framework of Secondary School Chinese Language Teachers in Thailand

2025-12-06T17:38:22+07:00

In the context of the growing global popularity of the Chinese language, Thailand—particularly at the secondary education level—has witnessed a continuous expansion in Chinese language teaching and learning. This development has heightened the importance of Chinese language teachers, especially in terms of teaching competencies that genuinely prepare them to become Chinese language specialists. This study aims to: (1) compare the teacher competency assessment manual of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) with the international professional standards for teachers of Chinese as a foreign language; (2) synthesize a competency framework for Chinese language teachers that aligns with the Thai educational context; and (3) develop an assessment tool that can be practically applied in schools. A qualitative research methodology was employed, involving document analysis and the design of a competency assessment tool based on the Competency Model. The framework integrates the strengths of both the OBEC manual and the international standards to formulate a behavior-based competency framework. The study presents five key domains of teacher-specific competencies: language proficiency, professional knowledge, communication and instructional management skills, intercultural competence, and self-development and professional ethics. These domains provide a comprehensive and contextually relevant framework for evaluating Chinese language teachers in Thailand, serving as a foundational reference for teacher development, training programs, and future policy formulation.

A Study of Code-Switching in Bilingual Chinese Language Instruction

2025-12-06T17:41:32+07:00

This study aims to examine the forms, characteristics, functions, and communicative behaviors of code-switching used by Chinese language teachers in bilingual teaching contexts. The research employs a qualitative approach using content analysis to decode the alternation between Chinese and Thai languages in teaching materials, focusing on the HSK 1 instructional videos as the primary data source. A total of 42 video clips, with a combined duration of 507 minutes, covering 15 lessons, were analyzed. The research instruments included a transcription form, a code-switching coding table, and a content analysis sheet to classify the types of code-switching according to linguistic structure and pedagogical context.

The findings reveal that code-switching plays a crucial role in facilitating learners’ comprehension, particularly at the beginner level where students have limited Chinese proficiency. Three main types of code-switching were identified: intra-sentential switching, inter-sentential switching, and tag switching. Each type serves different communicative and instructional purposes, such as explaining vocabulary and sentence structures, emphasizing key content, and establishing positive teacher-student interaction.

Furthermore, the study indicates that teachers strategically use code-switching to manage classroom dynamics, foster engagement, and reduce students’ anxiety when learning a foreign language. Code-switching thus functions not only as a linguistic tool for delivering meaning but also as a pedagogical strategy that enhances learning effectiveness in Thai-Chinese bilingual classrooms. The findings highlight the importance of designing instructional materials that maintain a balance between Chinese and Thai and of providing teacher training programs that promote the purposeful and systematic use of code-switching to support sustainable language development among learners.

Errors and Characteristics of Chinese Preposition “Zai” Acquisition by Thai Learners

2025-12-06T17:45:57+07:00

“Zai” is one of the most commonly used prepositions in Chinese, but it has high error rate and complicated error types. The study on the errors in Thai learners’ Chinese preposition “Zai” acquisition can help Thai learners overcome the learning difficulties and provide reference for teaching. The purpose of this study is to collect examples of errors in Thai learners’ acquisition of Chinese prepositions “Zai” from a Chinese interlanguage corpus, to describe the characteristics of errors in Thai learners’ acquisition of Chinese prepositions “Zai” , to investigate the factors affecting the generalization of target language rules, negative transfer of mother tongue and teaching materials, so as to explore the causes of errors. Finally, based on the research results and analysis, the author puts forward some suggestions on teaching Chinese prepositions “Zai” for Thai learners, hoping to provide reference for teaching and relevant research.