Chinas Many Faces - Research Paper Example

 China’s Many Faces The article to be discussed is en d: China’s many faces in terms of ethnical, cultural, and religious pluralism. This article has been written by Susan D. Blum. The article discusses the many hidden issues about china that are not normally known by many people, especially those who are not anywhere near China. Many of these people assume that china has got only one race and one language. In this review, the summary of the article is given section by section, so as to give an overview of what the article is all about. Thereafter, implicit and explicit values of the author are identified and discussed, including the theoretical and methodological framework followed by criticism of the author. The criticisms given are supported by evidences. A final evaluation of the article is given; this includes the contribution of the article in the understanding of the many Chinese faces, and the importance of the title in the development of knowledge. To summarize the review, there is a conclusion concerning the article. Keywords: China, Pluralism, Issues, Race, Language, Criticism, Ethical, Religious, Cultural, North, South Summary of the Article The writer is focusing on the racial segregation in China. She first compares it with other developed nations that have mixed races, but the racial factor is less regarded. The author has introduced China basing it on three factors as viewed by the Americans. These include political image, injustices waved on the people and violation of human rights, and the last dimension is the economical image. However, the author has decided to distant herself from this perspective and decided to bring about how China exists in many faces in terms of ethnical diversity. The major ethnical tribe in China is the Han, which constitute about 92% of the total population, the other 8% is for the minority tribes which are marginalized and are referred to as the Minzu (Blum, n.d,). The author has decided to raise concern on this minor ethnic group. In China people are not classified according to their physical appearance. This fact is supported by the anthologists, who state that physical appearance is not a distinctive factor for human beings. This mode of approach is different from the one used in America, where identification of persons is based on appearance. Although some groups like the Yi and the Tibets are tall, they are not classified using this feature. Most of these minority groups live along the borders of China and the good thing is that they have not been neglected by the state. Rather, there is high concern and their residence along the border is beneficial to the country. The larger majority group is in the central area and is less conversant with the minority tribe, except in the regions where both the majority and the minority are found. Although the government had impacted a lot of efforts to ensure that the minority live in harmony, they still suffer from discrimination and abuse whenever they mingle with the Han (the majority tribe) in the urban regions. Due to their marginalization, they are poor, uncivilized, and uneducated, features that clearly distinguish them from the Han. As a result, according to the author, they have not been able to hold powerful positions in the government. The author further took an outlook on each of the minority groups, the largest of them being the Zhuang, who live in the Vietnam border. Others are the Hui ethnic group, who are well spread across the nation; they are Chinese speaking Muslims with Asian ancestry. The Hui community is also known for their constant clashes with the Han. The Mongolian community is another minor group, whose main economic activity is pastoralism. Wa are hunters and are the most primitive with a unique religious belief. The Han, who are the majority tribe, have diverse cultural practices and regional diversity. According to the author, China is divided in to two main regions; the north and the south; the north is where there is government and politics, while the south is the rich agricultural region ( Blum, n.d.). In terms of physique, the northerners are tall with big noses, while the southerners are short with flat noses. Looking at the language factor, almost 70% of the population speaks the national language (Mandarin), the other dialects vary. This situation is often complex, some of those who speak the national language have the accent of their dialect. Other minorities totally speak their languages, Muslim, and Arabic. The many faces of china are also clearly seen in the religious expression. In china, there are the Christians, Muslims, and many other small religious groups, but the most dominant is Buddhism. Theoretical and Methodological Approaches The author has explicitly defended her arguments and theories brought in this article concerning China. The author beginning from the ethnical diversity has brought out the idea that china is not only dominated by one community, rather, there are several small communities. To defend this argument, she has presented a figure of 92%; this evidence is true as supported by Gladney, who also acknowledges that china is an ethnically diverse nation with multicultural practice (2004). Dru further argues that there is also ethnical diversity among the minority groups and also cultural differences among the majority group. This supports the author’s argument and the use of figures and tables for the reader to clearly get the facts. While explaining the differences of ethnicity in china, the author decided to directly engage the natives to get the detailed information. She interviewed a lady from the countryside, who gave her story of how she was received in the urban region. This technique of first hand information has helped the author to vividly bring out the topic of ethnical diversity (Blum, n.d.). The author is highly determined to achieve her targets, and therefore uses explicit examples to support her theory. To a larger extent, this technique has worked and easily convinces the reader about the information. The author on several occasions has been comparing the American approach towards minorities with that of china. The article draws similarities, for example, the reservation system in America and the system of autonomy in China. This method of comparison is the technique that has helped the author to make a clear picture of how the minors are treated in china. Another technique that has been applied by the author while searching for the information is her presence in the field; she directly engages the locals in interviews. Ethnical Diversity As the author introduces ethnical diversity in China, she talks of the presence of a major community called the Han, although she chooses to discuss the issue of the minority. I have a feeling that discussing about the majority would have brought a better comparison. The only thing the author mentions about the Han is the lamentation on the problematic phase of the Han. Leaving this feature would depict the Han as bad people with less importance, yet according to Wang (2013), the Han have been intermarrying with the Chinese Muslims, and they do business deals with Muslims. They have also helped Muslims to learn Chinese and engage in politics. Given the fact that these minor groups may be discriminated by the majority group, the author has given us an overview of this claim basing it on one side; an interview conducted on only minority groups (Blum, n.d.); the author here is being biased. For better and correct judgment, the author should have also consulted the majority group. This however shows that the author was looking for weaker points to make criticism without making balanced consultation; that is, to also conduct an interview with the majority. Cultural and Regional Diversity Once again, regarding this aspect, the author introduces divided china; south and the north. The north is the region of governance and politics, while the south is the rich agricultural land. However, the author is highlighting the point that implies the imbalance of wealth distribution, though she has argued it implicitly. To my argument, money dictates everything, but the question is why the author decided to capture such an issue? According to my interpretation, she meant that china still has poor communities that still languish in abject poverty. In spite of this, the author should have also shown what the government is doing to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor. Therefore, it is not only enough to imply the poverty, but also the efforts made to improve the wellbeing of those living in poverty. With government efforts of granting privileges to the minority, they can no longer be viewed as barbaric and uncivilized. This is so because even the majority groups have preferred to acquire the status of minority. This has led to the increase in the growth of minority groups compared to majority growth. There are also inter-nationality married couples and their children, who prefer to be considered among the minority (Yeung & Shen, 2004). Conclusion The author has fairly tackled her topic “China’s many faces”. She has been able to defend this by drawing the reader to view china in many angles as far as social, religious, and political life is concerned. In many instances, one may think that China is a one language and one religion nation. The author’s technique in handling this issue, for example, carrying out interviews and use of government data has been instrumental in handling the topic and to a larger extent, has demonstrated the diverse life in China that often go un noticed. However, the author seems to have majorly dwelt with the negative issues concerning the majority and the minority. She did not discuss the good relationship that co-exists between the two (Decker, 1997). Decker further states that the relationship has brought positive consequences to the majority and the entire nation. Reference List Blum, S. D. (Eds). (n.d). China’s Many Faces: Ethical, Cultural and Religious Pluralism. Decker, D. (1997). China (the Mainland and Taiwan) in Transition: Selected Essays. Indianapolis: university of Indianapolis. Gladley, D. C. (2004). Dislocating China: Reflections on Muslims, Minorities and Other Subaltern Subjects. London: C. Hurst and Co. (Publishers) Ltd. Wang, Y. (2013). Language, Culture and Identity among Minority Students in China. New York: Routledge. Yeung, Y. M. & Shen, J. (2004). Developing China’s West: A Critical Path to Balanced National Development. Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press. Read More