The Cult of the Chinese God Guan Yu in the Studies of Russian Sinologists: Fieldwork Observations, Approaches, Methodology

The paper explores materials, methods and approaches used by Russian sinologists to define and analyse the cult of Guan Yu (also known as Guan-gong, Guandi, etc.), a popular god of the Chinese pantheon, revered by Daoists, Buddhists and educated Confucians, and who was also granted a number of imperial titles. Guan Yu was worshipped in late imperial China as god of war and wealth, paragon of moral virtue and loyalty to the ruler. Published and unpublished materials by Russian scholars shed light on beliefs and practices related to Guan Yu and display an array of methods including translation of original Chinese sources, field observations, scrutiny of numerous written and oral sources as well as mythological motifs. The paper displays how various angles and approaches to the same subject – worship of Guan Yu – allow a multifaceted and wholesome vision of this god’s place in Chinese traditional culture

[[alternative]]Studies of Ming Dynasty Novel in Russia and Soviet Union

[[abstract]]由俄羅斯漢學在中國古典文學上的研究成果龐大，本文以明代小說的翻譯及研究為主題，其中探討如下問題，其一，略論俄國早期中國文學研究，如比丘林（1777-1853)，王西里（1818-1900），阿列克謝耶夫（1881–1951）等漢學奠基人的文學研究成果。其二，蘇聯時期翻譯、普及中國古典文學的成果，包括阿列克謝耶夫院士提倡的中國文學的研究法；經典小說譯文集的序言、結論、註解的重要性；瞿佑《剪燈新話》和李昌祺《剪燈餘話》的翻譯及研究；《今古奇觀》在俄羅斯的翻譯史；馮夢龍、淩蒙初小說的翻譯及研究；李漁作品在蘇聯的翻譯與研究；其三，明代文學研究與理論論爭，包括中國文學與「文藝復興」的爭論；「中國新時代」或「中國啟蒙時期」的爭論；結語。[[abstract]]Since the scope of the Russian and Soviet studies in the field of Chinese classical literature is quite enormous, this paper is focusing only on the research and translation of Ming period stories and novellas apart from “four Ming masterpiece novels” and addresses the following issues: 1) brief account of Chinese classical literature translation and studies in 19th century Russia in the works of the patriarchs of Russian sinology, e.g. Bichurin (1777-1853), V.Vasilivev (1818-1900), V. Alexeev (1881-1951) etc.; 2) rise of translation and research activity during early Soviet and especially post-WWII periods, Acad.Alexeev`s approach to classical Chinese literature translation and influence of his school; views and ideas expressed in introductions, conclusions, comments to the Russian language translations of Ming novels and academic works by Soviet sinologists; 3) translation and research of the following literary works: New stories told while trimming the wick 剪燈新話(Qu You 瞿佑,1378), Additional stories told while trimming the wick 剪燈餘話 (Li Changqi 李昌祺, 1467), collection Curious stories of present and past days 今古奇觀, collections edited by Feng Menglong 馮夢龍 and Ling Mengchu 淩蒙初, works of Li You 李漁 ; 4) Ming dynasty literature involved in theoretical debates about“Asian Renaissance”,“New Time”and Enlightenment in China that took place during Soviet period