Reflection of the concept of "Justice" in the Russian and Chinese language pictures of the world

Van' Guangfu Postgraduate student; Faculty of Philology; Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia 117198, Russia, Moscow region, Moscow, Miklukho-Maklaya str., 6, 700 157723746@qq.com

Shabelskaya Nika Kirillovna ORCID: 0000-0002-6764-0630 Postgraduate student; Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Philology; P. Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia Miklukho-Maklaya str., 6, Moscow, 117198, Russia shabelskya.nk@mail.ru

The concept reflects the worldview of both a collective linguistic personality (that is, an average native speaker and the basis of a naive worldview) and an individual (for example, an author or a character). A concept is the basic cell of culture in a person's mental world. It is a bundle of ideas, knowledge, and associations that accompany a particular word. The main means of representing conceptual knowledge is the word that names the concept and is its organic component ^{[1, p. 40]}.

Due to the high importance in the Russian and Chinese worldviews, many researchers have turned their attention to related concepts of a moral and ethical nature, such as honor, honesty, conscience, spirituality, decency, patriotism, etc. However, currently there are not enough works that focus on the analysis of this concept in the structure of the value paradigm of China and Russia. For example, the authors Li Xu and B.D. Erdnieva in their research consider the formation of the concept of "justice" in Ancient China within the framework of the philosophical trend, reveal the dual nature of the definition ^{[2, p. 133]}. O.V. Dubkova and Zhang Zhenjing examined the communicative load of the concept of "justice" within the framework of the 20 basic values of socialism from Chinese specifics ^{[3, p. 85]}.

In this article, we consider the concept of "justice" through a "systematic approach" as a complex and multifaceted concept that reflects the moral principles and norms of behavior accepted in Russian society. In the Russian language, justice as a concept is represented by a lexico-semantic field, that is, a set of words with a common meaning. The core of this field and the name of the concept is the word "justice". Since the meaning of a word helps to understand the structure of a related concept, let's look at the definitions of the word "justice".

The concept of "justice" in Russian

The concept of "justice" occupies a central place in the minds of the Russian people. It acts as a universal value encompassing moral, ethical, social, philosophical, and even religious aspects. Analyzing the concept of "justice", it is possible to identify its historical roots, linguistic manifestations, cultural characteristics and influence on the behavior and thinking of Russians. The concept of "justice" is a complex and multi-layered phenomenon reflecting ideas about what is right, fair and equal.

In Russian, the word "justice" was originally used exclusively in the professional environment, especially in business document management ^{[4, p. 80]}. Gradually, it goes beyond the legal and political-legal sphere and begins to be used in various contexts. Over time, the word "justice" began to be applied in various spheres of life. At the state level, it is inextricably linked with law and the system, at the social level — with retribution and government, and at the individual level, justice turns into a virtue of human behavior. O.G. Shuvaeva believes that: "The peripheral area of the lexico-semantic field of "Justice" in everyday and scientific consciousness consists of various concepts: in everyday perception – "truth", "truth", "honesty", "morality", "morality", "law", "law", in legal perception – "punishment" (in criminal law), "restoration", "compensation", "restitution" (in civil law)"^{[5, p. 229]}.

In linguoculturology, the concept of "justice" reflects in the minds of the Russian people the idea of a correct, honest and impartial structure of society and human relations. It is associated with notions of equality, truth, and moral norms. In Russian culture, justice is associated with concepts such as honesty, truth, conscience, and responsibility. It implies respect for the rights and dignity of every human being, as well as the pursuit of equality and lack of privileges. A.D. Shmelev notes that "in Russian culture there is a special feeling – love of justice or passion for justice."^{[6, p. 202]} A.E. Bochkarev notes that although justice is not directly a feeling, such as fear, joy or regret, its significance in the emotional and spiritual life of a person is obvious.^{[7, p. 21]} Let's consider the definitions of the word "justice" from explanatory and aspect dictionaries of the Russian language to determine the structure and peripheral meanings of the concept: The dictionary of S.I. Ozhegov gives the following definition of the word "justice": 1. Fair (acting impartially, corresponding to the truth); 2. Fair treatment of someone, impartiality ^{[8, Ozhegov, 2009]}.

The concept of "justice" in Chinese

Justice, as one of the key ethical and social values recognized by many peoples of the world, occupies a unique place in Chinese culture. The concept of "justice" in Chinese not only reflects the basic ethical principles of human interaction, but also reveals the desire of the Chinese people for justice, equality and harmony.

The hieroglyph "Yi" ("public", "fair") in ancient Chinese writing systems, such as inscriptions on fortune-telling bones and bronze, was associated with the image of "scales", symbolizing balance and justice.

The hieroglyph "─" ("equal", "harmonious") was originally used to describe the flat, smooth surface of the earth. In "Sho wen tse tzu" it is interpreted as "management" or "bringing to balance", which implies the elimination of imbalance and the establishment of order ^[9]. Initially, "公平平" was used in the judicial and administrative spheres to denote fair and impartial decision-making. For example, "Zhou Li" ("Rites of Zhou") speaks of an "impartial assessment of officials," which emphasizes the importance of "justice" for social order and stability. With the development of society, the semantics of the term has been enriched. Traditional Chinese culture is deeply imbued with Confucian philosophy, which attaches great importance to justice. Moreover, the Confucian idea of "loving people" presupposes fair and equal treatment of all, which has created an ethical basis for the perception of justice in China. Chinese literature and history are full of examples related to the concept of justice. For example, "River Pools" describes the heroes' rebellion against social injustice, and "Three Kingdoms" mentions Liu Bei's rule based on the principles of "justice." These examples illustrate the importance of justice as an ethical guideline in Chinese culture. Whereas in ancient times the emphasis was on legal and moral justice, in modern times the concept of "justice" encompasses economic, educational and gender aspects. Liao Xiaoming believes that justice and righteousness are common values and ethical norms inherent in Chinese socialism with Chinese characteristics and the Chinese model of modernization ^{[10, c, 16]}. For example, concepts such as "equality of opportunity" and "fair competition" reflect Chinese society's desire for a deeper understanding of justice in the face of social change. From primitive society, slave-owning society, feudal society, capitalist society to socialist and communist society, every change in the social system represents a new step in the development of justice and righteousness. ^{[11, c, 34]} Justice and righteousness are also manifested at the level of commercial activity. Yu Ting in his article notes that against the background of globalization, competition in business continues to increase, and fairness is an important factor ensuring stable market development ^{[12, c, 143]}.

The concept of "justice" in Chinese language and culture has a rich content and deep meaning. It serves as both an ethical guideline and a practical principle for regulating social relations. In the context of globalization, the Chinese concept of justice continues to evolve, contributing to the dialogue of cultures and the general progress of mankind.

Analysis of the results of the associative experiment

The associative experiment is one of the most important methods in psycholinguistics. The associative experiment is one of the most reliable and effective methods providing access to the study of the structures of knowledge and consciousness ^{[13, p. 24]}. The associative experiment reveals a person's active perception of the surrounding reality, which finds expression in language and forms appropriate strategies for perception and conceptualization. The associative network of responses is not random, but is a reflection of structured conceptual models that exist in the minds of the participants in the experiment. According to Yu.N. Karaulov, "the associative field is as close as possible to reflecting some mental images and structures" ^{[14, p. 17]}.

For a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the manifestations of the concept of justice in the minds of Russians and Chinese, we used one of the most common research methods in psycholinguistics — an experiment with language associations. We selected 150 students from the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia and 150 students from the Hubei University of Nationalities as research subjects.

The experimental question was as follows:

1) 对于“公平”一词你最先想到哪三个词?(限时一分钟)

2) The first three words that came to mind for the word “JUSTICE” (one minute response time)

Based on the results of our associative experiment, the following reaction words to the incentive word "Justice" were identified:

Honesty (46), Judgment (33), Truth (28), Legality (16), Honor (13), Equality (12) , Justice (10), Struggle (9), Libra (9), Absence (9), Goodness (8), Law (8), Power (6), Truth (5), Dignity (5), Law (5), Conscience (4), Family (4), Responsibility (4), Order (4), Decision (4), Triumph (4), Duty (4), Right (4), Correctness (4), Faith (4), Punishment (4), Courage (3), Life (3), Russia (3), Equality (3), Peace (3), Retribution (3), Balance (2), Fate (2) , Decency (2), Rules (2), Protection (2), Victory (2), Freedom (2), Revolution (2), Quality (2), People (2), Deed (2), Unfair (2), Imperfection (2), Clarity (2), Elections (2), Rigor (2), Justice (2).

After analyzing the data of the associative experiment on the word "justice", we can draw the following conclusions:

The most frequent associations are represented by the following concepts: "honesty" (46), "court" (33), "truth" (28), "legality" (16), "honor" (13).

The reasons for this phenomenon, when some concepts evoke the strongest associations associated with human qualities, justice, and truth, can be explained by the peculiarities of Russian culture and worldview.:

Moral values. The concepts of "honesty" and "truth" occupy a central place in Russian culture, where virtues and moral principles are highly valued. These qualities form the idea of justice as an integral part of human nature and social life. In the image of a fair person, honesty and sincerity should always be the main qualities.

Justice and legality. Associations with the word "court" and "legality" emphasize the importance of the legal system and fair trial in society. In the context of historical injustices and social changes, such as revolutions and wars, the need for justice does not lose its relevance. The Court has always been a defender of the interests and justice of the general population, and throughout the history of the judicial system, justice has performed this function, constantly improving and modernizing. The Court must be objective and impartial in order to carry out its functions.

Honor and dignity. The concepts of "honor" and "dignity" emphasize the importance of personal and public reputation, which is also associated with ideas about fair treatment of people. In Russian culture, honor is often associated with fulfilling a duty to family and society, which reinforces the idea of justice as a duty to others. For example, in Boris Polevoy's "The Tale of a Real Man", which is part of the curriculum of Russian schools, you can see an example of a true strong-willed and fair person who is ready to sacrifice himself and his future for the common good. Alexey Meresyev, the main character of this work, demonstrates an example of true courage and dedication, acting as his duty dictates. Undoubtedly, this and other literary works have left a mark on the consciousness of the Russian people.

Social justice. In the context of Russia's historical experience, the concepts of "equality" and "struggle" may reflect a desire for social justice and equal rights for all. This is due to the history of class struggle and the desire to improve living conditions for the less protected segments of the population. In the history and ideology of the USSR, the concept of "justice" played a major role, because the goal of this period was to establish equal status for all citizens, which was an obvious desire for justice. Nowadays, the older generations still remember those times, and they inherited the values and ideals of that period. In turn, these principles and associations are transferred to their children and even grandchildren, which influenced the result of the survey.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the concept of "libra" related to justice. The association with "libra" indicates balance and fair distribution, which is also an important aspect of the perception of fairness. It is a symbolic representation of justice, which is reflected in legal systems and social norms. Now, in the era of globalization, libra is a common sign of justice and objectivity, so in Russia there is also a clear link between this symbol and justice.

It can be said that the perception of justice in Russian culture is multifaceted and complex, based on a deep connection between moral values, historical context and personal experiences of people. The concept of "justice" has become entrenched in the consciousness of every Russian person and affects the perception of the world around them and the events taking place.

Below are the results of Chinese students' associations with the concept of "justice", as well as their analysis.:

法律 Law (47), 正义 Truth (27), 平等 Equality (18), Judge 法官 (12), 公开 Openness (10), 比赛 Competition (10), 公正 Justice (10), 天平 Libra (9), 不公平 Unfair (7), 社会 Society (7), 公平 Fair (6), 正直 True (6), 法治 to be governed by laws (6),司法 Justice (5), 警察 Police (5), 法院 Court (5), 考试 Examination (5), 政府 Government (5),困难 Difficulty (4), 无私 Selfless (4),律师 Lawyer (4), 高考 exam (4), 宪法 Constitution (4),平衡 Balance (3), 理想 Dream (3), Rules 规则 (3),一视同仁 Equal treatment (3), 老师 Teacher (3),和平 World (3), 制度 Mode (3), 法庭 Court (3),中国 China (3),竞赛 Competition (3),不偏不倚 Fair (3), 法制 Legislation (3), 诚信 Integrity (2),希望 Hope (2),竞争 Competition (2),自由 Freedom (2),尊重 Respect (2),人心 Human heart (2),不可能 Impossible (2), 政治 Policy (2), 价值观 Values (2), 国家 State (2), 权利 Justice (2), 和谐 Harmony (2), 相对 Relativity (2), 偏心 Addiction (2), 判决Решение (2). The associations evoked by the word "justice" among Chinese students reflect the profound influence of Chinese culture and ethical and moral beliefs on the concept of justice. These associations not only demonstrate the traditional understanding and values of justice in Chinese society, but also reveal the complex perception of this concept in modern conditions. Next, we will look at this phenomenon from the point of view of Chinese ethics and morality, based on specific associations.

In traditional Chinese culture, Confucianism is the basis of ethical and moral norms. Confucianism emphasizes virtues such as "humanity" (仁), "justice" (义), "ritual" (礼), "wisdom" (智), and "sincerity" (信). Among them, the concept of "义" is closely related to justice. This term means not only the correctness of actions, but also harmony in relations between people. Therefore, associations such as "truth", "justice", and "equality", mentioned many times by students, reflect the moral ideal of social order proposed by Confucianism.

Associations such as "law" (法律), "rule of law" (法治), "constitution" (宪法), and "court" (司)) indicate that in modern Chinese society, the understanding of justice is closely linked to the legal system. In traditional society, the law was more often viewed as a management tool, but in modern times it acquires the importance of a mechanism for ensuring justice. "法治" ("rule of law") has become a key value in modern Chinese society, expressing the belief in the need to use the law to achieve justice. In turn, associations such as "judge" and "court" emphasize specific aspects of the realization of justice in the judicial system. In Chinese ethics, the court is seen not only as a conflict resolution mechanism, but also as a symbol of justice. This symbolism reinforces the status of justice as a fundamental element of society's morality.

Family ethics are central to traditional Chinese culture. Associations such as "impartiality" (不偏不倚), "honesty" (正直), "conscientiousness" (诚信), and "selflessness" (无私) indicate that students' perceptions of justice were shaped by family values. In Chinese families, parents pay great attention to educating their children's moral qualities, including honesty, fairness, and caring for others. These values imperceptibly shape the perception of justice, giving it importance not only in relation to one's own rights, but also in the context of taking into account the interests of others.

Moreover, associations such as "harmony", "society" and "the human heart" demonstrate students' tendency to associate justice with the broader concept of social responsibility. In Chinese ethics, justice is not only an individual ideal, but also a key element necessary for social harmony.

The rapid development of modern society creates new challenges for understanding justice. Associations such as "competition" (竞争), "exam" (考试), "entrance exams" (高考), and "difficulties" (困难) show that students' perception of fairness includes both moral and ideal aspects, as well as an understanding of the social competitive environment. For example, 高 ( (entrance exams) They are seen as an important symbol of social justice in China, as they provide an opportunity for social advancement for the majority of students. However, the problems with injustice that arise during the exams lead to deeper reflection on the nature of justice.

In addition, associations such as "injustice" and "difficulties" indicate students' awareness of existing social barriers. These difficulties may be related to the uneven distribution of resources or imperfect mechanisms for the implementation of justice, but at the same time emphasize the need for justice as an ethical ideal.

Thus, there are both common features and unique aspects that reflect the cultural, historical, and social contexts of each culture. As a result of the research, it was found that the concept of "justice" in both cultures is multi-layered and complex, permeated by historical, cultural and social contexts.

A comparative analysis of the lexical field associated with the word "justice" has shown the presence of unique semantic nuances in each language. In Russian, the term "justice" is often associated with legal concepts (for example, justice, law), forming the idea of a correct, honest and impartial structure of society and human relations. Whereas in Chinese it is important to use expressions such as "kindness" and "harmony", which emphasize the importance of virtues. The high importance of collective benefit, social order and stability is noted.

Understanding the concept of "justice" is necessary for intercultural communication and can be useful in various fields, including law, politics, and educational programs. Further research on the concept of "justice" in the Russian and Chinese worldviews will not only deepen general knowledge about linguistic and cultural peculiarities, but will also contribute to a more harmonious interaction between cultures, which is especially important in the context of globalization.