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ED 590 Student teaching in China. China and Chinese Culture. Ruohan Sun. What is Culture?. Culture: a society’s (group’s) system of shared, learned values and norms; these are the society’s (group’s) design for living Values: abstract ideas about the good , the right , the desirable
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ED 590 Student teaching in China China and Chinese Culture Ruohan Sun
What is Culture? • Culture: a society’s (group’s) system of shared, learned values and norms; these are the society’s (group’s) design for living • Values: abstract ideas about the good, the right, the desirable • Norms: social rules and guidelines; guide appropriate behavior for specific situations • Folkways: norms of little moral significance dress code; table manners; timeliness • Mores: norms central to functioning of social life • bring serious retribution: thievery, adultery, alcohol
Cultural Appreciation Values Customs Aspects of culture Symbols Language
Geography of China • Fourth largest country in the world. • Eastern Hemisphere 12-13 hours different from US • Climate varies • North • Temperate and cold • South • Subtropical • Important rivers • Hwang ho (Yellow River) – north • Yangtze River – central China • Enclosed by high mountains, hot deserts, wide oceans
This country has the largest population in the world. 1,331,460,000 - 2009 Map of countries by population for the year 2010
The President HuJingtao China National Flag
Most traditional social values are derived from Confucianism and Taoism with a combination of conservatism in China.
Buddhism • Buddhismwas 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.
Taoism • Taoism 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 The Analects Confucianism was originally the philosophy of Confucius who stressed the maintenance of a stable system of inter-personal relationships at different levels of society.
Confucianism • 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 education 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 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~~
In China, people have many unique ways to demonstrate their happiness. Dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck)
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. Zongzi is an essential food of the Dragon Boat Festival. Dragon boat racing is an indispensable part of the festival, held all over the country.
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. The delicious moon cakes~~ Chang Er ,the most beautiful woman in Chinese myth. She lives in the moon in legend.
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.
Do 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.
Communist to Capitalist Economy transfromation Chinese Economy of Transformation
One-child policy The 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 China Ask you personal question. (Don’t take it person) Personal space Silence Worry about the class management, say your expectation before the class. What are your standers Having language barrage. (Some teacher’s is not bilingual or do not speak English well ) Drink alcohol
“Face” • Giving face (giving due respect)is a very important concept in China. You must give the appropriate respect according to rank and seniority.
Gift Giving • Do 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 Etiquette • If 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
Western Culture Chinese Culture VS General Comparisons (Picture from Yang Liu)