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China and Chinese CultureRuohan SunED 590 Student teaching in ChinaDeveloped unnevened1What is Culture?Culture: a societys (groups) system of shared, learned values and norms; these are the societys (groups) design for livingValues: abstract ideas about the good, the right, the desirable Norms: social rules and guidelines; guide appropriate behavior for specific situationsFolkways: norms of little moral significancedress code; table manners; timelinessMores: norms central to functioning of social lifebring serious retribution: thievery, adultery, alcohol2Cultural AppreciationAspects ofcultureValuesCustomsSymbolsLanguage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J7R1t90y9Y

Geography of China Fourth largest country in the world. EasternHemisphere 12-13 hours different from US

Climate variesNorthTemperate and coldSouthSubtropicalImportant riversHwang ho (Yellow River) north Yangtze River central ChinaEnclosed by high mountains, hot deserts, wide oceans

Average Annual Temperature

6http://www.chinamaps.org/images/china-map/maps-of-china/china-temperature.jpgTemperature for Beijing

rainfall distribution

8This country has the largest population inthe world.1,331,460,000 - 2009

Map of countries by population for the year 2010Language

The PresidentHu Jingtao

China National Flag

Anthropologists working in Yuanmou, in Yunnan Province, have uncovered the remains of China's earliest discovered hominid, "Yuanmou Man," who lived in this area approximately 1.7 million years ago. "Peking Main," who lived in Zhoukoudian, to the southwest of modern Beijing 400,000 - 500,000 years ago, had the basic characteristic of Homo Sapiens. Peking Man walked upright, made and used simple tools, and knew how to make fire.Man in China passed from primitive society to slave society in the 21st century B.C., with the the founding of China's first dynasty, that of the Xia. The subsequent dynasties, the Shang, and the Western Zhou saw further development of slave society. This era was followed by the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, marking the transition from slave society to feudal society.China was one of the countries where economic activity first developed. As early as 5,000 to 6,000 years ago, people in the Yellow River valley had already started farming and raising livestock. During the Shang Dynasty (more than 3,000 years ago), people learned how to smelt bronze and use iron tools. White pottery and glazed pottery were produced. Silk production was well developed, and the world's first figured inlaid silk weaving technique was being used. During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.), steel production technologies appeared.

Man in China passed from primitive society to slave society with the founding of the first dynasty, Xia and continuing through the following dynasties.The slave era was followed by the Spring and Autumn and WarringStates periods, which started the transition to a feudal society. This period had thriving philosophy with representatives of various schools vying with each other in writing books to discuss politics and analyze society. Famous philosophers in this period included Lao Zi, Confucius, Mo Zi and Sun Zi.The first emperor was Shi Huang Di (Ying Zheng) of the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC), who standardized the script, currencies, weights and measures, and established a system of prefectures and counties. He constructed the Great Wall in addition to a large palace, mausoleum and regal lodges in several locations around China. The terra cotta armies (found underground) are known to be the eight wonder of the world.12

Most traditional social values are derived from Confucianism and Taoism with a combination of conservatism in China.Chinese Religion and Philosophy

The three main Chinese religions are BuddhismTaoismConfucianismThese three main religions have interacted with one another throughout the two thousands years of Chinese history.

13BuddhismBuddhism was first introduced from India as early as 166 AD. It gained the support of the imperial court and since then it has been dominating China for many centuries.

TaoismTaoism is the Chinese religion which believes in ghosts and spirits. It originated from a Chinese school of philosophy which emphasized cooperation with the natural forces.

Confucianism Confucianism was originally the philosophy of Confucius who stressed the maintenance of a stable system of inter-personal relationships at different levels of society.

The Analects The Confucian tradition has a long historical legacy in East Asia extending from China across Korea and Japan and into Vietnam.

Despite the enormous historical variations, cultural particularities, and national differences in the region, there are certain central ideas and values which have spread across the area, and even have influenced our modern life. 16 Confucianism The Confucian tradition has a long historical legacy in East Asia extending from China across Korea and Japan and into Vietnam. Despite the enormous historical variations, cultural particularities, and national differences in the region, there are certain central ideas and values which have spread across the area, and even have influenced our modern life. The embeddedness of each person in concentric circles of relationships and ethical responsibilities, The importance of the family The importance of a hierarchical social system The significance of educationChinese zodiac

Descendants of the DragonTotemDivine and holly

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Chinese Festival

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The Spring Festival is the most important festival in China. It's Chinese New Year~Family get together to celebrate Chinese New Year and usually they fire fireworks~~

lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck)

Dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)

In China, people have many unique ways to demonstrate their happiness.

The Dragon Boat Festival, which is another important festival in China, is held on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, has had a history of more than 2,000 years. Dragon boat racing is an indispensable part of the festival, held all over the country. Zongzi is an essential food of the Dragon Boat Festival.

Mid-Autumn Day is an old traditional festival in China. Everybody likes it because it's a family gathering festival.At that day, all the family members are sitting around a big table in the open air. They are eating the moon cakes and admiring the full moon in the sky. Chang Er ,the most beautiful woman in Chinese myth. She lives in the moon in legend.

The delicious moon cakes~~

In China, red often concerns with celebration or the jubilation day. In China's traditional custom, the folk jubilation activity all must use the red color. Red is a symbol of happiness in Chinese culture.

A fish is also a symbol of surplus in Chinese culture, another measure of a good year and a good life.

"When a guest comes to my home from afar on a cold night, I light bamboo to boil tea to offer him." Ancient Chinese poem

Chinese tea culture has a long history. That the fashion drinking tea had extended all over the country and tea had thus won the status as national beverage. Chinese tea culture refers to the methods of preparation of tea, the equipment used to make tea and the occasions in which tea is consumed in China. The terms chayi "Art of Tea " and "Tea Ceremony" have been used, but the term "Tea Culture" includes more than just the ceremony. Also "culture" is easier to translate into English from the Chinese term "art ".Tea culture in China differs from that of Europe, Britain or Japan in such things as preparation methods, tasting methods and the occasions for which it is consumed. Even now, in both casual and formal Chinese occasions, tea is consumed regularly. In addition to being a drink, Chinese tea is used in traditional Chinese medicine and in Chinese cuisine.26Do you know Bruce Lee, Jet Li or Jackie Chan?Martial Arts (Wushu)Anyone who has seen classical Chinese Kung Fu movies will be deeply impressed by the Chinese Wushu, which is called Kung Fu or Chinese martial arts in the west.

Peking Opera is Chinese "Oriental Opera". It has its roots in several ancient local dramas and came into being in Beijing in 1790.

Lianpu (Facial Makeup) is a special colorful face-painting to illustrate the specific characters characteristics and destinies to help you to understand the stories of the dramas.

There are four main roles in Beijing Opera: Sheng,Dan,Jing ChouThe facial painting is worth appreciating for its artistic value Peking opera or Beijing opera (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Jngj) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century.

28Economy transfromation

Chinese Economy of Transformation

Communist to CapitalistCities

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Rural area

Chinese uneven development31One-child policyThe policy was introduced in 1979 and initially applied to first-born children in the year of 1978. It was created by the Chinese government to alleviate social, economic, and environmental problems in China. Authorities claim that the policy has prevented 400 million births from 1979 to 2011.

What you may be involved in ChinaAsk you personal question. (Dont take it person)Personal spaceSilenceWorry about the class management, say your expectation before the class. What are your standersHaving language barrage. (Some teachers is not bilingual or do not speak English well )Drink alcohol

FaceGiving face (giving due respect) is a very important concept in China. You must give the appropriate respect according to rank and seniority. The term face may be defined as the positive social value a person effectively claims for himself by the line others assume he has taken during a particular contact. Face is an image of self delineated in terms of approved social attributes. (Goffman 1955:213)34 Gift GivingDo not give clocks. Clocks are associated with death. Avoid giving things to people in groups of four, since the number four in Chinese is a homonym for the word 'death' . Never give a Chinese gentleman a green hat. It is associated with adultery. Dining EtiquetteIf you are the guest, wait to be seated as hierarchy is involved Eating usually begins once the host offers the first drink. Use the serving chopsticks or turn your chopsticks around when use them to server others General Comparisons

(Picture from YangLiu)

Western Culture

Chinese Culture

VS

37Opinions: (individual view)

38Way of Life

39Punctuality

40Contacts

41guanxiAnger / Displeasure

42Lose face doctrine of the mean, conformity and sense of harmonyView of myself

43Sunday on City Streets

44Queues [ line]

45Parties

46Restaurants

47Stomach ache

48Traveling

49Definition of Beauty

50Handling Problems

51Daily Meals

52Transportation

53Life of an elderly

54Shower time

55Moods and weathers

56The Boss

57Whats Trendy/ In Fashion

58The Child

59New Things

60Perception on Each Others Culture

61What do you know about Chinese Culture now?Chinese culture is one of the world's oldest and most complex. The area in which the culture is dominant covers a large geographical region in eastern Asia with customs and traditions varying greatly between towns, cities and provinces.What are you most nervous about this travelling ?What are you most exciting about this Culture?What are you most confidence about this travelling ?Do you afraid about something? What is that?What is your favorite part of this Culture?

Questions?