中西方对英雄形象定义差异的原因(英文)

Reasons for Different Definitions of Heroes

1.Different Historic Development

The main line in Chinese history is Confucianism, feudalism, natural economy and centralization. As a country with an ancient civilization, China experienced many wars and dynastic changes in the long historical development process. These give the reasons to why heroic images in Chinese movies are mostly set to protect the country on battlefields or help people in suffering. In addition, due to the long history and cultural development of China, heroes in movies of different periods reflect different situation of social development at that time., but the essential characteristics of them is the same. The main line of the history of the west is Catholic, the atonement, the development of commodity economy,and feudalism. Especially the Second World War made a deep influence on west countries. For example, the super heroes in American movies were created during the war, in which time people fell disappointed and their faith were shattered. The heroic images that coexistence of man and God cater to people's demands of their own and the desire of saved by gods.

2.Different Fairy Tales

The theme of Chinese fairy tales is always related to the social order and social morality. Most of the stories are plain, mediocre, direct and lack of wonderful imagination. In Chinese mythology, heroes have strong power that close to the God and reveal little humanity, while the God acts as human beings in general vulgar with its high status.More importantly, in Chinese mythology, the man and the God are absolutely unequal, and the former are ruled by the latter.

It is believed that everyone is equal in the west. In Western fairy tales, the theme of the stories is usually about human destiny, emotional and moral. In these stories, heroes have the extraordinary power of God, and God has kinds of human feelings as well. In other words, gods are same with the human. Both heroes and Gods are not perfect, but all of them do what is expected and contribute to help others.

3.Different National Cultural Psychology

Deeply influenced by the Confucianism, a Confucian heroism gradually comes into being. Unlike the Westerners, under the influence of Confucianism, Chinese heroes are not sincere to God, instead, they love peace and believe in human itself. Heroes hide the pride and seem not so aggressive, and are more like “no desire, no action”. Confucius use the kindness to enrich the faithfulness and let it inspire people to respect the social norms, publicize the Loyalty, Filial Piety, Benevolence and Love. Confucianism also stresses the political integrity, professional competence and having no longing. So Chinese heroes pay more attention to inner quality and they put others interest first and are faithful to country and loyal to brothers and they care for the world and people. Many scholars think that what Confucianism advocates lets a hero put collectives’interest first and sacrifice his life if there is a need to protect the nation and people. Christianism advocates “believe in God, obey the church, never do harmful things to church’s interest, and human are born of guilt, and they should suffer from the life so as to get into the paradise after they die”. Those doctrines from the Christianity, on one hand, guide the behavior of the heroes, on the other hand, they control the thoughts of them. Heroes accept the education of Christian, they set their goals to obey the rules