Traditional society and culture in China

Question 1

What is China going through now?

Answer 1

undergoing profound and permanent social change that is evident in all levels of society.

Question 2

what does the inflation of Confucianism mean?

Answer 2

long standing adherence to certain ethical and moral codes.

Question 3

what was Confucianism?

Answer 3

• the pillar of moral and religious establishment
• emphasised merit (those that were meritorious could improve standing in society)

seen as a moral and ethical guide

Question 4

What was traditional Chinese social org based on?

Answer 4

villages and provinces run by feudal lords, particularly during the Zhou dynasty
it was based on traditional cultural beliefs

Question 5

what is an imp part of trad chinese culture?

Answer 5

values and beliefs

Question 6

list the 4 other ethical and moral codes of confucianism:

Answer 6

• filial piety : importance of family and respect for parents
• frugality : to live with minimal requirements, no indulgence in unnecessary things
• modesty : act/dress conservative, demonstrate humility in accomplishments
• self-restraint : control reaction and emotions

Question 7

what did confucianism promote?

Answer 7

elitism in social classes, which elevated the roles of male nobility such as ruling class, scholars and those in official positions, as ppl in such positions were considered superior.

Question 8

what did patrilineage mean in China?

Answer 8

eldest males were highly values, carried on family names, keeping land and property within family and responsible for taking care of their family (parents/grand)
importance of male reinforced thru education

Question 9

what was the role of women under Confucianism?

Answer 9

a subordinate role due to practices that reinforced patriacrchy.

Question 10

What was taught to women under con?

Answer 10

strict gender roles and submission to male leadership especially in family.

Question 11

What did division of labour also mean for women?

Answer 11

they were economically and socially reliant on men. Were were allocated only menial roles and confined to domestic tasks in home due to foot binding (raise status), therefore considered property of men.

Question 12

what kind of family was norm?

Answer 12

big families

Question 13

what were some of the practices associated with family and marriage?

Answer 13

possession of concubines, polygamy, child betrothal, arranged marriage

Question 14

what were the categories that the imperial traditional social structure had for ppl?

Answer 14

• landlords
• peasants
• craftsmen
• merchants

Question 15

social structure was a strict order which:

Answer 15

neighbourhood committees at the meso level played a sig role in regulating daily life by org sanitation initiatives, dispute resolution, family planning and helping less fortunate

Question 16

what kind of society based on social order?

Answer 16

collectivist society, adopt sense of group identity before personal identity.
express personal needs = selfish

Question 17

What was China like after 1949?

Answer 17

change was rapid

Question 18

what was the aim of the ‘great leap forward’? was it successful?

Answer 18

shift societies from its rural and agricultural basis to an industrialised and urban society. Although wasn’t successful?

Question 19

what did the ‘great leap forward’ cause?

Answer 19

a collapse of the agricultural basis of the economy and resulted in food shortages and famines that caused the death of approx 30 million ppl