What is Chinese studies? There are different views in academic circles, and they have been arguing since the last century. Some scholars think that the concept of Chinese studies is too vague and not applicable in the sense of "science" ("there is no distinction between Chinese and western studies"). As the conventional concept of an era is unclear, it is suggested not to use it or "slow down". However, in fact, this concept has become so popular that we can't turn a blind eye. We should not suggest not to use it or "go slow", but should strive to reach a basic understanding of its connotation and extension in a conventional sense. In my opinion, most scholars have actually reached a basically consistent view on the reference object and space-time scope of "Sinology" in the current academic circles, that is, referring to China's traditional academic culture. This is a narrow concept of Chinese studies.

Sinology in a broad sense is "the study of one country", which includes not only the traditional academic culture of China, but also the modern academic culture of China after the introduction of western learning and Marxism. The research object and scope are basically the same as those of overseas "China Studies" or "Sinology".

Defining Sinology as China's traditional academic culture is actually a rather general concept with rich and complex connotations, similar to "ancient learning", "old learning" or "Sinology", which is the sum total of China's traditional academic culture. What we usually say about Chinese studies refers to the "four-part" study of classics, history, philosophy and learning before the formation of modern disciplines, the traditional study of righteousness, textual research, rhetoric and statecraft, or as Mr. Ma Yifu said, "six arts in one" and "the study of six arts by China scholars". China's ancient learning was "the study of various philosophers", which advocated the integration of heaven and earth, literature, history and philosophy and Confucianism. "Tong" is based on classification, and China's traditional academic classification is embodied in the classification of books and classics. Historical Records of Sui Shu divides China's ancient books into six categories: six arts, philosophers, poetry and fu, art of war, numerology and folk art, forming the embryonic form of four categories: classics, history, zi and collection. After that, it was constantly adjusted and perfected, and the Catalogue of Siku Quanshu was compiled in Qing Dynasty, which formed a complete knowledge system of China's traditional knowledge.

Yu Guangzhong, a poet in Taiwan Province, said: Sinology is a mountain, and we are just a flash in the pan. Not only Chinese studies are mountains, but every category is mountains. As far as its content is concerned, it is true. As far as the "sub-departments" of the four books are concerned, the General Catalogue of Sikuquanshu is divided into fourteen categories: Confucianism, military strategist, legalist, farmer, doctor, astronomical algorithm, art, genealogy, miscellaneous books, novelist, interpreter and Taoism, covering philosophy, religion, politics, military science, natural science, art and Taoism. Each category has rich connotations, such as "doctor". A recently published Catalogue of Ancient Chinese Medicine Books in China contains13,000 kinds of ancient Chinese medicine books, which contains a lot of treasures of Chinese medicine. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is a mountain.

Some people suggest that Chinese studies should be established as a first-class discipline alongside literature, history and philosophy. I don't agree with this view. Because sinology is not a subject, but a subject system, a traditional subject system different from the modern subject system. Sinology has its own unique academic classification, and the modern discipline system has evolved from it, so there is a lot of overlap between the two in terms of academic connotation. In addition to traditional humanities such as primary school, Confucian classics, literature, history and philosophy, Chinese studies also include social sciences such as political science, economics, law, military science and folklore, natural sciences such as astronomy, geography, calendar, mathematics and medicine, and practical technical sciences such as agriculture, water conservancy, technology and architecture. If sinology is set as a first-class discipline alongside literature, history and philosophy, it seems that even the logical relationship between species is ignored, and its subject content is bound to be greatly reduced, so it is difficult for people to have a comprehensive understanding of sinology. This is actually not to improve but to lower the status of Chinese studies.

As the root and blood of Chinese culture, on the one hand, we should respect Chinese studies, on the other hand, we should treat Chinese studies with an analytical attitude, an open attitude and a forward-looking attitude, and create new Chinese studies that meet the needs of the times, so that they can play a greater role in the construction of advanced culture in contemporary China and actively participate in the dialogue of human civilization.

Other information can refer to Baidu Encyclopedia. For a deeper understanding, you can look at some works on the introduction of Chinese studies in the last century.