Chinese Cinderella

The Setting

Chinese Language

The Chinese language is a pictorial language, unlike our phonetic (by sound) English language. If you look above, imagine this person demonstrating how big the fish he just caught to someone. If you look at the character for “big” in Chinese, it resembles a person like the one above.

Chinese Names

Picture Above – Hu Jintao and Barack ObamaLast name first (family name) then the first name. For example, Hu Jintao (Chinese President) – “Hu” is his family name or last name to us. “Jintao” is his own name or first name to us. Barack Obama would be Obama Barak in China.

Traditional v. Western Clothes

Geographic Setting – Where Adeline Lived

Tianjin, China – Port City

Shanghai, China – Port City

Hong Kong, China – Port City

The British controlled Hong Kong since the Treaty of Nanking (Opium War) 1842 up until 1997. Now it is part of China.

Europe’s Quest for Resources

Shaping China’s History

Trade with China meant lots of money. Europe wanted access.

Prior to better sailing technology and routes around Africa, Europe had to rely on the Silk Road. The middle man made a lot of money and goods were inflated in price.

New sailing technology and discovered routes led Europe

to China’s ports.

The Portugese sailed around Africa since the 1500s.

The Opium Wars (1840-1860) –European Powers Gain Concessions

International Concessions/Settlements

Shanghai – The Bund – Colonial Concessions

Bund - Shanghai

Joffre Avenue in Shanghai

Shanghai Bund Today

Hong Kong – Created by the British through the Treaty of Nanking

Ceded back to the Chinese in 1997.

Government in China’s History

Organizing Society

Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1912) – The Last Emperor

The Rise and Decline of the Qing Empire

1911 - Dr. Sun Yat-sen – “Father of the Republic”

Sun's theory of democracy, government would be divided into five separate branches: the executive, legislative, judicial, the censorate, and the civil service system.

Ruled by Warlords – After the Qing Dynasty Ended

Chinese Civil War

Mao Zedong – Communist Leader

General Chiang Kai-shek of the Nationalists (Kuomintang)

The Japanese & WWII

Japanese Occupation

The Communists and the Nationalists (although enemies) united with each other to fight the Japanese.

WWII – Many Powers with Many Colonies – China Included

Japan was Defeated – U.S. Soldiers in Shanghai Parade

The Cold War in China – Communism v. Capitalism

Soviet Russia supported the Communists and the U.S. supported the Nationalists

The Nationalists lost and retreated to Taiwan. It is still a separate country.