How Mandarin Word Structures Simplify Abstract Spiritual Concepts in Buddhist Sermons

Multitech Publisher Kamis, Juli 02, 2026
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FORMOSA NEWS - Taipei - Language is more than just a tool for direct communication; it serves as a crucial medium for constructing abstract ideas into forms that are easily digested by human senses. In religious communication, the greatest challenge lies in explaining complex spiritual concepts such as karma, consciousness, suffering, and wisdom. A recent linguistic study has successfully revealed how the morphological structure (word formation) of the Mandarin language plays a vital role in shaping religious metaphors, allowing intricate teachings to be easily understood by the general public.

This in-depth study was conducted by a research team led by Angga Pranata, alongside FX Sawardi and Prasetyo Adi Wisnu Wibowo from the Indonesian University of Information Technology and Business. Published in mid-2026, the study observed linguistic phenomena within the digital realm, specifically analyzing Buddhist sermon videos delivered by Master Lú Jūnhóng (卢军宏). The researchers found that Master Lú Jūnhóng's effectiveness in conveying spiritual messages lies in his mastery of utilizing Mandarin word structures to build powerful analogies and metaphors.

Bridging Semantics and Morphology

Contextually, this study fills a critical gap in modern linguistic research. For a long time, most metaphor studies have tended to focus on conceptual mapping or purely literary domains, while morphological aspects—such as word classes and how the internal structure of a word is built—have often been overlooked. In reality, the Mandarin language possesses a highly unique word-formation system, which directly influences how meaning is transferred from concrete to abstract concepts.

To dissect this phenomenon, the research team employed a qualitative descriptive approach using observation and note-taking methods. They gathered data from twelve Buddhist sermon videos of Master Lú Jūnhóng disseminated across digital media. The analysis was conducted using Parera’s metaphor structure theory, which divides a metaphor into three core elements: the topic (the matter being discussed), the image (the comparison used), and the point of similarity. The primary focus of this research was to unpack the 'topic' element and classify it based on Mandarin morphological theory.

The Dominance of Coordinative Compound Words

The results of the analysis showed that the topic elements within the sermon metaphors manifest in three main morphological forms:

  1. Dānchúncí (单纯词) or Simple Words: Words consisting of only a single morpheme. Examples include words like mìng (命 - life/destiny), xīn (心 - heart/mind), mó (魔 - devil/negative desires), gēn (根 - root of a problem), guǒ (果 - fruit/consequence of karma), and bìng (病 - spiritual illness such as hatred).
  2. Liánhéshì Héchéngcí (联合式合成词) or Coordinative Compound Words: Words formed by combining two morphemes that hold a parallel or mutually reinforcing semantic relationship. This form was found in 17 entries out of the total 30 analyzed data points.
  3. Zhǔwèishì Héchéngcí (主谓式合成词) or Subject-Predicate Compound Words: Word structures that resemble a subject-and-predicate relationship, such as the word zuǐba (嘴巴 - mouth), which is used as a symbol of human verbal behavior.

The study's primary finding confirms that Liánhéshì Héchéngcí (coordinative compound words) is the most dominant structure. A clear example found in the lectures is the word gēnyuán (根源 - root source), which combines the morpheme for 'root' (gēn) and 'source' (yuán), with both working together to reinforce the idea of the primary cause of human suffering. Another example is the word qīngliáng (清凉 - cool/clear), blending qīng (clear) and liáng (cool) to depict a peaceful state of mind achieved after being freed from worldly attachments.

The dominance of this coordinative compound form proves that metaphor construction in religious sermons deliberately utilizes words with highly powerful internal semantic relationships between their constituent morphemes. This structure offers a massive communicative advantage: the resulting meaning becomes far more specific, creating a sturdier mental image in the listeners' minds and simplifying the association of complex, abstract spiritual concepts.

Real Impact on Education and Public Communication

The research conducted by Angga Pranata and his colleagues carries broad practical implications. For the general public and the educational sector, the findings of this study can be adopted as new instructional material in Mandarin semantics and morphology, particularly in understanding how cultural and religious contexts drive word meaning extensions.

Furthermore, in the realms of public communication and business, understanding how coordinative compound words can move human psychology or ease the delivery of complex messages can be applied to drafting speeches, public education materials, and contextual marketing communications. Metaphors are proven to be more than just linguistic embellishments; they serve as highly effective cognitive tools and educational communication strategies that bridge everyday human experiences with profound moral lessons.

Author Profiles

  • Angga Pranata – Lead researcher and corresponding author (huangge71@gmail.com) from the Indonesian University of Information Technology and Business. Specializes in applied linguistics, semantics, and Mandarin morphology.
  • FX Sawardi – Senior researcher and academic from the Indonesian University of Information Technology and Business, expert in structural linguistics and discourse analysis.
  • Prasetyo Adi Wisnu Wibowo – Researcher from the Indonesian University of Information Technology and Business, focusing on metaphor studies within modern linguistic perspectives.

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