International Journal of Chinese Interdisciplinary Studies
International Journal of Chinese Interdisciplinary Studies (IJCIS) is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the Department of Mandarin Education, Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Surabaya (State University of Surabaya), Indonesia, since 2023. The journal employs a double-blind peer review process to ensure rigorous academic standards and publishes research articles, conceptual papers, and case studies focusing on the diverse intersections of Chinese language, literature, culture, and society. IJCIS welcomes manuscripts written in English and Mandarin, employing qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approaches from scholars, practitioners, researchers, and students across the globe. To maintain scholarly excellence, every submission is reviewed by experts with relevant disciplinary expertise. The primary goal of IJCIS is to advance interdisciplinary scholarship by disseminating original and high-quality studies that integrate concepts, theories, and methodologies from multiple academic fields to deepen the understanding of China and the Chinese world. Articles are selected based on their theoretical significance, methodological rigor, and contribution to knowledge innovation in global Chinese studies. Focus and Scope IJCIS embraces an interdisciplinary approach, which integrates perspectives from the humanities, social sciences, education, arts, and applied sciences to explore issues related to China and Chinese culture in a holistic way. The scope of the journal includes, but is not limited to, the following areas: Language and Linguistics: Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics, Pragmatics, Sociolinguistics, Applied Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition, Language Teaching and Assessment, Academic Writing. Learning and Educational Studies: Learning Methods, Learning Media, Pedagogical Innovation, Curriculum Design, Digital Learning, and Educational Technology related to Chinese language and culture. Comparative and Cross-Cultural Studies: Comparative Literature, Translation and Interpretation Studies, Intercultural Communication, and Cross-Cultural Pedagogy. Literature and the Arts: Classical and Modern Chinese Literature, Literary Theory and Criticism, Film and Drama Studies, Aesthetic Philosophy, and Cultural Adaptation. Chinese Culture and Humanities: Chinese Philosophy, Religion, History, Anthropology, Folklore, and Social Humanities. Society, Law, and Economy: Studies on Chinese society, governance, law, business, and economic development, including their influence and interaction in global contexts. Design, Media, and Creative Industries: Digital Media, Visual Communication, Cultural Production, Creative Economy, and Innovation in the Chinese cultural sphere. IJCIS welcomes any interdisciplinary research that connects China, Chinese people, or Chinese culture, whether through the lens of linguistics, education, law, design, economy, arts, or the humanities. As long as the study contributes to a deeper understanding of the Chinese world through cross-disciplinary integration, it aligns with the mission of this journal.
Articles
35 Documents
English in China: Language, Identity, and the Ti–Yong Principle in an Era of Globalization
Zhang, Dan
International Journal of Chinese Interdisciplinary Studies Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025): IJCIS: INTERNATIONAL ARTICLE CONTEST
Publisher : Universitas Negeri Surabaya
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DOI: 10.26740/ijcis.v3i1.45430
China’s relationship with English has long been shaped by history, globalization, and questions of identity. Once stigmatized as a symbol of Western aggression during the Opium Wars and unequal treaties, English later came to be justified through the ti–yong principle, Chinese learning for essence, Western learning for utility, which positioned it as a useful tool but not a cultural threat. Since the Reform and Opening-up of 1978, and especially after China’s accession to the WTO in 2001 and the Beijing Olympics in 2008, English has become central to modernization, education, and international participation. Yet this expansion has also intensified debates about cultural integrity and national selfhood. This study investigates perceptions of English among high school students, university students, teachers, and parents in Beijing, employing Q methodology supported by semi-structured interviews and critical discourse analysis. Four shared viewpoints were identified: English as modernization and global mobility, cultural protectionism anchored in ti–yong, pragmatic bilingual complementarity, and anxiety over cultural dilution. Findings suggest that while the ti–yong principle remains a powerful reference point, its interpretation varies from strict hierarchical separation of cultural essence and linguistic utility to more hybrid orientations that embrace translanguaging and the legitimacy of China English. The study contributes to applied linguistics and identity research by showing how English in China simultaneously functions as global capital and a contested cultural symbol, and it argues for policies and pedagogies that enable learners to engage internationally without compromising cultural authenticity.
Lexical Ambiguity in Social Crime Issues News in the《国际日报》Guójì Rìbào Newspaper, April 2025 Edition
Lini, Aiko Dzata;
Subandi, Subandi;
Chen, Lyu
International Journal of Chinese Interdisciplinary Studies Vol. 3 No. 2 (2026): IJCIS
Publisher : Universitas Negeri Surabaya
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DOI: 10.26740/ijcis.v3i2.49501
Lexical ambiguity where a single word licenses multiple meanings can obscure interpretation in Mandarin news, especially in brief, information-dense crime reporting; however, empirical descriptions of how ambiguity is realized and triggered in social-crime news discourse remain limited. Addressing this gap, this study investigates lexical ambiguity in social crime issues news published in the April 2025 edition of the Mandarin-language newspaper 《国际日报》 (Guójì Rìbào), with three objectives: (1) to classify the types of lexical ambiguity, (2) to identify factors that cause ambiguity, and (3) to explicate the lexical meanings generated in context. Using a qualitative descriptive design, the data were collected through document analysis of crime news texts and were examined by (i) isolating ambiguous lexical items, (ii) assigning ambiguity types based on Ullmann’s framework, (iii) tracing ambiguity triggers using Hurford and Heasley’s factors, and (iv) interpreting meanings through contextual, co-textual, and idiomatic cues. The analysis yielded 68 instances of lexical ambiguity, dominated by polysemy (58 cases), followed by homograph (9) and homophone (1), with no homonym cases identified. Two causal patterns were observed: unclear reference (5 cases) and ambiguous phrase/sentence structure (63 cases), indicating that ambiguity is more often driven by condensed journalistic constructions than by referential uncertainty alone. Overall, the ambiguities produced literal, contextual, and idiomatic meaning alternatives, implying that accurate comprehension of Mandarin crime news relies heavily on contextual anchoring and syntactic parsing; these findings support the need for clearer referential specification in news writing and for targeted instruction on disambiguation strategies in Mandarin reading.
An Analysis on Chinese Idioms Containing the Word “罗”
Stephen Aji Wardana;
Rosita Nugraheni;
Iffa Mar’atus Shohibul Birri
International Journal of Chinese Interdisciplinary Studies Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025): IJCIS: INTERNATIONAL ARTICLE CONTEST
Publisher : Universitas Negeri Surabaya
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Chinese idioms (成语) are an essential part of cultural heritage that reflect meaning, values, and unique expressions of Chinese society. Thus, in order to understand deeper about the meaning and connotations contained in the Chinese Idioms, the writers researched Chinese Idioms specifically contained the word 罗. This study focuses on idioms containing the Chinese character “罗 (luó)”, which etymologically means “net” or “mesh”. Using a semantic framework and descriptive qualitative method, this research analyzes 49 idioms sourced from standard idiom dictionaries, classical literature, and historical texts. The idioms were examined through their denotative and connotative meanings, emotional valence (positive, negative, neutral), and source origins. The findings reveal that idioms with “罗” convey diverse themes, such as entrapment, wealth, distribution, economic hardship, methodology, cultural elements, and foreign-derived terms. Of the total, 27 idioms had positive connotations, 16 were negative, and 6 neutral. The idioms originate from folklore, literary works, historical records, and foreign influences. This study highlights the semantic richness of Chinese idioms and the cultural depth embedded in the character “罗”.
Narrative and Ideology in the Novel Dream of the Red Chamber: A Critical Analysis
Andi Widiono
International Journal of Chinese Interdisciplinary Studies Vol. 3 No. 2 (2026): IJCIS
Publisher : Universitas Negeri Surabaya
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DOI: 10.26740/ijcis.v3i2.52521
This study aims to examine the narrative and ideology contained in the classic Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin through a critical analysis approach. This novel is a monumental literary work that not only presents the story of the life of an aristocratic family, but also reflects the social structure, cultural values, and ideology that developed during the Qing Dynasty. The research method used is descriptive qualitative with text analysis techniques. Data in the form of narrative excerpts containing ideological elements in the novel are analyzed using a literary criticism approach that focuses on the relationship between text, power, and social structure. The results show that the narrative in Dream of the Red Chamber contains various ideologies, such as feudalism, patriarchy, and Confucian values that dominate the lives of the characters. In addition, there is an implicit criticism of the rigid social system through the depiction of internal conflict, gender inequality, and the decline of aristocratic families. The narrative constructed not only functions as a storytelling medium, but also as a means to represent and simultaneously question the ideology that prevailed in Chinese society at that time. Thus, this study confirms that Dream of the Red Chamber is a literary work rich in ideological content and critical of social reality. This study is expected to contribute to the development of literary studies, particularly in understanding the relationship between narrative and ideology in classical Chinese literature.
Cultural Adaptation of International Students in Mandarin Language Learning in Zhejiang, China
Siti Alimatus Syukriyah;
Adisiti Orizanda;
Natkitta Thepprasarn;
Souphaphone Meuangviengkham;
Muhammad Farhan Masrur
International Journal of Chinese Interdisciplinary Studies Vol. 3 No. 2 (2026): IJCIS
Publisher : Universitas Negeri Surabaya
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This investigation is about cultural adaptation of international students learning Mandarin language in Zhejiang, China, through a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data from a questionnaire (n=32) were combined with qualitative data from semi-structured interviews, using an explanatory sequential design. Quantitative findings showed that integration was the most preferred adaptation strategy (M=4.09), with assimilation, separation, and marginalization being the next most preferred in descending order. Correlation analysis indicated a strong positive correlation between integration and learning outcomes (r=0.717 p<0.001), meaning that students who not only kept touch with their home culture but also actively engaged with the host culture were more likely to demonstrate high levels of participation in the classroom, confidence in communication, and motivation for learning. Assimilation was also found to be significantly positively correlated, whereas marginalization was negatively related to learning outcomes. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data accentuates the role of intercultural contact, the use of good adaptive techniques, and identity negotiation in students' learning experiences. They also indicated that mixing with various peers and using language actively help cultural adjustment and language development. This study based on acculturation theory and sociocultural perspectives, shows that cultural adaptation plays a major role in Mandarin language learning effectiveness. The results add to the literature by focusing on the importance of multicultural classroom interaction and offering teaching suggestions for enhancing Mandarin language teaching for international students.