Understanding Chinese Societies

Historical Background

• China boasts over 5000 years of recorded history, making it one of the world's oldest civilizations. Key periods such as the Qin and Han dynasties, the age of imperial China, and the 20th-century revolutions significantly shape Chinese society today.
• Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism have deeply influenced Chinese thought, governance, and attitudes towards life and death, despite official atheism under communist rule.
• The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) unleashed a decade of chaos, fundamentally impacting intergenerational relationships and societal values.
• Awareness of China's "Century of Humiliation" (mid 19th to mid 20th century) affects contemporary attitudes towards the West and informs nationalistic feelings.

Chinese Family Values

• Filial piety (孝, xiào), a cornerstone of Confucianism, revolves around reverence and respect for one's elders and ancestors.
• The "Four Generations Under One Roof" (四世同堂, sì shì tóng táng) ideal may no longer be common, but extended family links remain important.
• The "One Child Policy" (独生子女政策, dú shēng zǐ nǚ zhèng cè) has shaped demographics and family structure, exacerbating somewhat an ageing population and altering the traditional preference for male children.

Education

• Education is highly valued, with competitive exams, such as the gaokao, determining university placements and future careers.
• Efforts in recent years aim to de-emphasise rote learning, though memorisation and long study hours are still prevalent.
• There is a growing trend of study abroad, especially in English-speaking countries.

Economy and Work Life

• China's transformation from an agrarian to a predominantly industrial and service-based economy is one of the most rapid and vast in human history.
• A culture of overwork (加班, jiā bān) can lead to immense pressure in urban areas especially in high-tech industries; the term "996" (working 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week) has sparked controversy.
• Increasing wealth inequality marks a shift from the communalist ideals of the Mao era.

Social Movements and Trends

• Questions of gender equality are increasingly prominent, with changing expectations on women in work and family life.
• The internet has provided a new public sphere for social commentary and memes (biaoqingbao), as well as online censorship (The Great Firewall).
• Environmental awareness is rising as China grapples with the consequences of rapid industrialisation.
• "Little pink" (小粉红, xiǎo fěnhóng) denotes young, often female, netizens expressing fervent nationalism online.

Art, Music and Literature

• Traditional arts such as calligraphy, poetry, and guqin music continue to be esteemed, though less commonly practised.
• Contemporary Chinese literature and cinema often explore themes of modernity, migration and identity.
• The wave of sinophone pop music, or C-pop, including genres like Mandopop and Cantopop, is gaining international attention.
• Rapidly expanding urban landscapes have given rise to a vibrant street art scene and controversies about cultural preservation.