Chinese Culture As you view the slide show, fill in facts on the worksheet.
Social Organization – Traditional ► Social Classes: Gentry – wealthy landowners Peasants Artisans / Merchants Soldiers ► Social Mobility was possible (use any wealth to educate sons for civil service exams) ► Joint Family = Extended Family
Social Organization – Traditional ► Women = inferior ► Girls were only good for work and bearing children (preferably sons) ► “An ignorant woman is virtuous”
Social Organization - Communist ► The government was more important than the individual. ► The government was more important than the family. ► Breakdown of filial piety ► One Child Law ► Women are considered equals
Customs / Traditions - Traditional ► Filial Piety – duty and respect that children owe their parents ► Respect for ancestors – offerings for their ancestors (food / clothing) ► Arranged Marriages ► Foot binding for women – small feet were considered beautiful
Customs / Traditions - Communist ► Cultural Revolution Red Guard – student groups in support of Mao Attacked anyone who said negative things about communism or Chairman Mao ► End of arranged marriages ► Ancestor offerings = illegal
Religion - Traditional ► Ancient Chinese believed in a ‘Higher Being’ Mandate of Heaven ► More concerned with Schools of Thought Confucianism Legalism Daoism ► Buddhism came to China from South Asia 100 A.D.
Religion - Communist ► No religions or schools of thought were permitted ► Communist people should not worship anything but Chairman Mao and the CCP ► Secret religious traditions survive in rural areas
Government - Traditional ► Hereditary Ruling Families ► Dynastic Cycle – rise and fall of ruling families ► Mandate of Heaven ► Short-lived Republic –
Government - Communist ► Communist Chinese Party (CCP) ► Took control in 1949 ► Mao Zedong = Chairman Mao ► Despite “constitution” Very strict rule No personal freedoms or rights ► Totalitarian State
Language - Traditional ► Many different dialects and forms of Chinese ► Very complicated and difficult to become literate
Language - Communist ► Mandarin = China’s official language ► Simplified the Chinese written language ► Literacy was a major goal Educated workers = productive workers
Economic System - Traditional ► Subsistence Farming ► Silk Road – trade route linking East Asia and the Mediterranean ► International Interference (late 1700s) Spheres of Influence Open Door Policy
Economic System - Communist ► Complete state ownership ► Collective Farms – government forced peasants to pool their land, tools, and labor to farm ► Great Leap Forward (Communes) ► Later communist leaders expanded international trade
Arts / Literature - Traditional ► Bronze Sculptures ► Porcelain ► Daoism influenced art and poetry
Arts / Literature - Communist ► Propaganda – spread of ideas to promote a cause or damage an opposing cause ► Lei Feng – teaches children how to be good communists ► Quotations from Chairman Mao (Little Red Book)