They isolated themselves from other countries; but after their imperialisms in the late 1800s, the countries went on different paths. China remained traditional and denied modernization and suffered because of it, while Japan emulated the imperial powers and became an imperial power themselves. Before the early 1700s and the late 1800s, China was a leading nation. China was fairly strong during earlier periods of history. It had a strong and peaceful government during the Qing Empire and imperial powers such as Britain and the U.S. were interested in Chinese goods.
Although these were dimensions they were hoping to achieve, “modernization was incompatible with Chinese traditional culture” (Keping, 158). Traditional Chinese culture is focused on the significant importance of family. Jung states in his article, Traditional Chinese Culture, that the “family stability is attained through a patriarchal structure.” The roles are determined by age, sex, and generational status (Jung, 89). The traditional families are large, however, the modern day government, People’s Republic of China, encourages small families through financial incentives (Jung, 90). Blind Shaft is an emotional and dramatic account of the lives of two nomadic coal miners, Song and Tang.
The Shang Dynasty was one of the oldest tribes of ancient China. The dynasty reign was from 16th century BC - 11th century BC. China's isolation and its sense of superiority shaped not only chinese attitudes towards people, but also their conception of them selves. The key characteristics of the Chinese view of the world were a belief that the Chinese stood at the center of the universe, that theirs was the 'Middle Kingdom', surrounded in all four directions. The belief in a powerful protective, Shang Di, the original ancestor of the ruling house, encouraged a sense of community.
Huan Guan says that technology is an essential part of peasant production and the government is responsible for its suppor. Huan Guan explains the Confucian Han perspective that technology is advantageous while the government uses it to benefit its people. The use of poor quality tools do not give much help and give a negative reputation towards the government. (D#2) Huan Tan, upper-class Han philosopher in 20 C.E, illustrates that Fuxi, a mythological wise emperor invented the pestle and mortar. Huan Tan says that technology is sent as a “gift” from enlightened emperors, Confucian benevolence is involved through the progress.
The priestly class, Brahmins, would have performed these sacrifces for the noblemen (Kshatriyas) and the wealthy commoners (Vaishyas). The lower classes, such as the Shudras (servants) and the Dalits (less-than human), were completely exempt from religion. One of the ways that they were excluded, aside from being left out of sacrifice, was the fact that only the priests, warriors and kings were educated. The holy scriptures of the Brahminical religion were the Vedas, and these were written in Sanskrit. The concept of class within the Brahminical religion comes from the Rig Veda, which stated that humans came from a large ‘Cosmic Man’.
Also, Chinese emperors were viewed as kingly, while the Egyptian kings, or pharaohs were seen and praised as gods. Religions in Ancient China and in Ancient Egypt are different and yet similar. Three different teachings, including Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism greatly inspired the Chinese. Confucius thought people about being loyal, selfish, and courteous. Daoism is a philosophy that defines proper conduct for people and governments.
Legitimacy of central power was established by the emperor using Han Feizi’s method of rule “shi” which incorporated Daoist spontaneous actions and wu-wei emptiness while knowing the true nature of reality. Han Feizi advocated in his 7 Statecrafts that a strong ruler speak in opposites and act in contradictories to manipulate orders and rule on a whim. Aggressive war was supported for bringing merit through danger, uniting people under the emperor and expansion to bring economic prosperity to advance power of the state. After unifying China and defeating all six other Warring States, the Qin state was divided into 36 commandaries and counties, abolishing Zhou feudalism and priveleges of the nobility system. The emperor ruled using officials and ministers through civil governors, military governor and oversears.
They stayed independent, but in order to do that they had to pay tribute or extra tax money. Rebellions, drought, and economic challenges lead to the Tang downfall. But in 960 a general named Zhao Kuangjin reunited China under The Song Dynasty, which was conquered by the Mongols in 1279. Confucianism beliefs controlled society. Tang rulers believed in a civil service system.
The corruption of the notorious Wang family name caused by Mei Oi’s deceitful actions towards her husband, Ben Loy, truly demonstrates the ultimate Chinese priority and major concern of defending ones own pride in his or her family name. Dignity in a persons family name is of very large importance. Rather than seeing Chinatown as a city in New York we get the feel that it is not only its own community but its own society. The Chinese culture tends to present itself focused mainly on its reputation and appearance in a tightly knit community. In Wayne Wang’s Eat a Bowl of Tea (1989), the first section of the film ends with an extravagant wedding.
This means that they were always bettering themselves. China was separated during the warring states era but was later brought together (around 221 BC. )by Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of the in. This emperor was known for his cruelty and intolerance, which went against tradition but was also effective. Qin Shi created the great wall of china in order to protect the Chinese civilization from barbarians.