Chinese Culture Principle - Literature review Example

Chinese Culture al Affiliation Culture is an integral component in any organization. The society within which a given culture exist tend to act based on a common agenda. Culture determines the manner in which people interact both internally and externally. Understanding different culture is essential as it defines the manner in which people undertake cross-cultural components. The Chinese culture bases on moral value, which is essential to the existence of societies. The manner in which people undertake these practices defines their personal perceptions. Beliefs, religious practices and other forms of traditions define the unique components existing in different cultures. The society acts as an environment under which different practices take place. The overview of a given culture will be essential to understand the environment under which a certain component needs to be implemented. Chinese Culture Introduction Different societies develop their beliefs and practices based on culture. Culture defines the manner in which societies interact. Different beliefs set preference to what is expected of a family or an individual within a certain society. Culture differs depending on environmental and other beliefs. The manner in which culture is used could determine the manner in which an individual is positioned within a given environment. The focus of the essay will be on the Chinese culture. The aim will be to determine major beliefs, rituals, religion and other cultural practices within this society. The families within this society are essential in ensuring certain practices are liner with their culture. The Chinese culture bases on positive and negative attributes within which an individual is expected to use the positive to advance their stay within the society. The society is a complex structure and culture is at tool used by many communities to foster unity and define the core values within which families need to adhere. Family values The Chinese culture is based on family values. According to Giskin and Walsh (2001), family is a major component and defines the manner in which people interact with each other. The family unit is expected to undertake an oversight role and ensure its members perform according to the cultural expectations. Huang and Zurcher (1995) states that in this culture, families play a pivot role in connecting the community based on a common belief and practice. Within the family, the elders are given respect regardless of their economic and social status. Huang and Zurcher highlights that culture is a core value and the younger generation is expected to show respect to their elders. Interfamily relations are enabled by common practiced within the community. The father in a given family is essential as he ensures the family performs duties based on cultural expectations. The cultural values are taught to the young ones to ensure continuity of values across different generations. Communication and greetings Communication is a vital component in any setting. In the Chinese culture, age, sex and social positioning determine communication. According to Giskin and Walsh (2001), Communication in this case implies information sharing and salutations. The manner in which a person is referred to will depend on the age difference between the parties involved in communication. According to Jin and Cortazzi (2006), the elderly and those high above the social class are treated differently with specific details placed upon the initial word and type of greetings. Jin and Cortazzi highlights how youth are expected to show some level of respect by addressing the adults in manner that represents respect and high cultural values. Gender also plays part in determining the way of communication According to Giskin and Walsh (2001) the females are expected to respect the male gender and address them in a manner that shows respect. In a family setting, the wife needs to address her husband in a way that portrays submissiveness and acknowledgement that the husband is the head and integral unit in the family. Celebration The culture also defines the manner in which people celebrate and perform certain events in life. In this case, marriages are an important practice within the Chinese culture. Giskin and Walsh (2001) highlights how the ceremony is essential as it mages two families and unite their cultural components. The culture beliefs that both families involved in the marriage ceremony should play a specific role to ensure unity. The authors highlight how marriage according to the Chinese culture ensures that females adapt the husband’s culture. The marriage is used as a tool to extend the husbands family size. The author indicates that inclusion of the wife is believed to have positive impact on the continuity of the society. Similar cultures across different ethnical groups within china enable different families to engage in marriage without fear of cultural conflicts. It is considered a taboo for any man to marry from members of his family. Incest is prohibited in this culture. Bad and Good Deeds The positive energy within the culture is prompted while negative energies discouraged. The social expectations are essential in determining good deeds and discouraging bad deeds from occurring (Yao, 2010). In this case, the culture exists on beliefs that the social setup needs to adhere to some level of ethics. According to the culture ethics in this sense mean ensuring positive energy across families (Huang & Zurcher, 1995). Respect is a key fact as it determines dignity. Dignity in this culture is based on marital status and age. The family carryout funeral ceremonies as way of appeasing the departed and ensuring a positive energy is felt between the living and the dead. The unmarried are treated with les dignity. This is evident during the burial rituals where the family members are not allowed to pray for diseased unmarried men. The ritual is amid at discouraging the spirit from recurring in future generation. The continuity of the community is essential and marriage is a guarantee that the lineage will continue. Dress Codes Dressing is a major component in the Chinese culture dressing in this culture defines the environment and defines the social status of individuals. According to Huang and Zurcher (1995) dress codes are sources of cultural heritage with females and males having to dress based on occasions and different ceremonies. Color is a major component in this culture. Bright colors are encouraged during a happy mood and dull colors encouraged during morning or doing manual jobs. The forms of dressing will define the age and the cultural elements. According to the author, it is prohibited for males to down female clothing on grounds that they attract bad luck. The male should wear bright colors as a symbol of power and a strong family unit. The youth wear clothes that are different from the elderly given their positions within the social settings. The married are expected to wear attires that define their status. Superstition Superstition and other negative beliefs exist among the Chinese culture. According to Nedostup (2009), superstition is used as a toll in ensuring the generations adhere to specific values championed by the society. According to these cultures, it is considered a taboo to use a broom in punishing or performing other factions apart from sweeping. It is believed that certain evil forces exist in the broom and using it for other factions may transfer the forces to other regions. Dream are also used as a sense tool to predict future occurrences. In some instances the author highlights how if one dreams of snow, death is imminent within the family. The culture also believes in curses. The elderly and parents can curse a given individuals he or she fails to act in an ethical manner. The curses aim at ensuring respect along the family lineage. Superstitions in this culture are aimed at ensuring a balance between the negative and positive forces that are key to the existence of the Chinese culture. Religion Religion is used in the Chinese culture to define the moral aspects of society. According to Yao (2010) religion is used as a means of balancing component between the positive and the negative energies. The culture believes that positive energy defines a person’s character and defines the good life within which a person exists. Religion in the Chinese culture defines the limits that in which a person should operate. The author identifies Yin and Yen philosophy as a means of differentiating between good and evil. Those who choose evil tend to face the consequence as defined by the Chinese culture. The individuals who choose the positive behavior are rewarded with good deeds and respect from other members of society. Conclusion The Chinese culture operates on one principle. The balance between the positive and negative energy defines the manner in which a person operates within the culture. The culture defines a family as a major component in promoting cultural practices. The decentralization of roles is aimed at ensuring each individual is aware of the requirements set by the social organization. Marriage and other ceremonies are essential as they define the connection between a person’s life as a human and as a spirit. The positive energy is encouraged will the negative energy discouraged. The balance between the two is used to explain positive happening within the culture. Marriage is seen as a way of continuing cultural practices while death is seen as a misfortune and religion is used to define the spaces within which a person needs to exist. Reference Giskin, H. & Walsh, B.S. (2001). An Introduction to Chinese Culture through the Family. New York: SUNY Press. Huang, J. & Zurcher, E. (1995). Time and Space in Chinese Culture. Boston, MA: Brill Jin, L. & Cortazzi, M.( 2006). Changing Practices in Chinese Cultures of Learning. Language, Culture and Learning, 19 (1) pp. 5-20 Nedostup, R. (2009). Superstitious Regimes: Religion and the Politics of Chinese Modernity. Boston, MA: Harvard University Asia Center. Yao, X. (2010).Chinese Religion: A Contextual Approach. New York: A& C Black. Read More