Why is the word "supernatural" not always appropriate when talking about "strange" narrative in the Chinese tradition?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Starting with the question, we’re evaluating why the word 'supernatural' isn’t always appropriate when describing 'strange' narratives in the Chinese tradition.
Option 1: 'The early Chinese did not believe in an afterlife.' This statement is overly broad and inaccurate. Chinese beliefs about afterlife and the spiritual realm were varied across periods and cultures; many traditions did contemplate afterlife, ancestors, and spirits, so claiming a universal disbelief would be misleading.
Option 2: 'The word cannot be translated into Chinese.' It’s not about translation capability. The Chinese language does have terms for supernatural and related concepts, and the issue is about nuance and scope, not a linguistic impossibility. Therefore this option misstates the linguistic aspect.
Option 3: 'The early Chinese were uninterested in strange phenomena.' This is an erroneous generalization. Across Chinese history, narratives, myths, and observations about unusual or extraordinary events appeared in literature, philosophy, and folklore, indicating interest rather than disinterest in the 'strange.'
Option 4: 'Because strange phenomena were seen as part of our world and were not "outside of" nature.' This option captures a key interpretive point: in many Chinese traditions, phenomena considered strange were often integrated into the natural order and cosmology, rather than categorized as inherently supernatural beyond nature. This framing makes 'supernatural' an incomplete or inappropriate label, since the boundary between the normal and the unusual was often understood within a naturalistic or immanent framework.
Therefore, among the choices, the most accurate explanation is the idea that strange phenomena were regarded as part of the world and not external to nature, making 'supernatural' a less suitable descriptor in this cultural context.

AMES 3265W (001) Quiz 1: Zhi guai and Mr. Vampire

Why is the word "supernatural" not always appropriate when talking about "strange" narrative in the Chinese tradition?

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