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Concepts in Chinese Culture

At the core of Chinese society are concepts based on how to treat other people. Many of these ideas have been influenced greatly by the teachings of Confucius. Although a number of changes have taken place which are not in full agreement with Confucius' teachings, his ideas still carry a lot of weight in Chinese culture today.

The three important concepts which are important due to the teachings of Confucius include guanxi, face keqi and reciprocity.

In China, it is accepted that a network of trusted contacts can be helpful in accomplishing things. This involves the concept of guanxi, which consists of whom you know and what are the particular obligations that those people have toward you. This relates to a degree on the old western idea of winning friends and using them to influence situations for you.

Face-saving is another of the three concepts that the Chinese value. The Chinese believe that great importance is attached to giving face, saving face and losing face. The Chinese always consider how an action or word can influence the face of another or of themselves. Actions or showing of particular emotions can cause a person to get face or lose face. Thus, actions and words are weighed carefully in light of this. On the surface in relationships, the Chinese attempt to avoid public reprimands, trying to project a surface harmony. Even if they do not feel harmonious, they try to avoid demonstrating it in public.

Keqi also involves a certain lack of pride or arrogance. Modesty is preferred over any signs of arrogance. Even when someone brags about a Chinese person, the tendency is to have the Chinese person try to avoid the positive attention he is getting.

The Chinese also believe that the good of the group overrides the good of an individual. It is common for a person to give in rather than create a disturbance by holding his ground in a disagreement.

Love of learning and strong moral character are among the major concepts of Confucius schools of thought. The disciples of Confucius have not been encouraged to appreciate sports except archery, which was considered a good activity for upper echelon people. Likewise, the reading of novels has been frowned upon so it has been somewhat replaced by reading of the lives of famous people as well as essays of quality. A few novels have been considered somewhat acceptable. For the most part, however, the writing of poetry and the art of calligraphy are considered more praiseworthy. A Chinese style of painting is highly regarded although western painting styles are not.

Some Communists, who ruled China for some time, did not care much about traditional Chinese culture. There is some degree of new interest in the old Chinese arts nowadays. Still, the most common and popular forms of entertainment are drinking and eating.

With the arrival of television in China, TV watching is another popular pastime. With the Hong Kong movies' popularity, an interest in martial arts is growing stronger. The government approves only a few western-style movies for the Chinese to see. The old art of taichi is only actively pursued by the older generations now. Younger people prefer various types of dancing to more modern and upbeat dance crazes.

It is clear that the ideas of Confucius are losing value among younger Chinese people. The ideas will probably influence the culture for some time although their importance is diminishing somewhat as the Chinese people mingle more with the outside world and are influenced by it.