Modern Chinese History - Essay Example

Modern Chinese History I. Redness and Expertise in the World of Literature. Literary process is highly important issue in the modelling of national culture and views. Chinese literature has always been an interesting and special in the dimension of culture in China. Literary and art traditions of this country impress people in all periods. It is relevant to admit that literary and art process in the twentieth century experiences serious and significant changes in the field of Chinese culture. It is connected with the political and social changes that come to this country. The change of literary language, the Communists government and Cultural Revolution are basis of the social and political changes that have a great impact on the modelling of new literary tradition in China. The division on red and experts is considered to be one of the most relevant characteristics concerning the cultural process in twentieth century. Such influence can be straightforwardly related to the literary and art processes in this country, and predetermine the literary models in Communistic China of twentieth century. The beginning of the century can be characterized as the start of significant changes. The classical literature that has been regarded as a high literature has become rather outdated (Chen, 2013). The matter is that written literary language is regarded as a dead one as a huge number of people are not able to understand it. A new era in the world of Chinese literature has come. Vernacular language becomes more common for the creating the new literary masterpieces. Such innovation makes the world of literature available and understandable to common people. To such extend writers in China start to create new literary process that has been close to reality and everyday life. For example the novel Six Records of a Floating Life written by Shen Fu reflects the reality of Chinese society that seems to be natural for Chinese people and strange for the Western Tradition (Fu, 2004). The new political system includes new regulations to the different spheres of life. Communist party divides society into two groups that are considered to be red and experts. Each occupation in China includes people of these two groups. Red people are considered to be ardent supporters of a party and get work in different field without proper theoretical and practical skills (Min, 2005). Whereas experts designate smart people who are clever and proficient in their occupation (Min, 2005). Literature and art are not considered to be the exception from this rule. The change of political regime brings the new changes to the literary and art processes. Communist government establishes new regulations concerning the questions of literature and art. The Soviet doctrine of socialist realism has been successfully adopted by Chinese writers (Chen, 2013). The simplified and imposed by the government literary ideas start to function in modern Chinese art. However, it is possible to name the writers that create a provocative literature in China. It is relevant to admit famous Chinese novelist Ba Jin who has been popular among young readers. His novel Family leads “countless young readers to rebel against the feudal family system” (Chen, 2013). New generation has been definitely inspired by his creation that provokes them to fight with the system. In addition, it is significant to admit Lao She who is considered to be one more important figure in Chinese literature (Chen, 2013). His novel Rickshaw Boy reflects the way of life of common people in Chinese society and has a great impact on Chinese youth (Chen, 2013). Cultural Revolution headed with Mao Zedong is considered to be the most relevant challenge to Chinese culture and art. Still, new cruel regulations do not destroy Chinese people, but make them stronger and aware of their future. The division on red and experts becomes stronger with the Mao leadership. Red Guards has better and higher level of life than other people. Even small children have been involved into the politics and enter the Little Red Guards (Min, 2005). Year 1949 become extremely significant in the life and culture of every person in China (Chen, 2013). Mao Zedong provides a strict control under the cultural and literary process in his country. Novels and poems have been in need to be approved by the Communist party and have nothing contradictory with the policy of China. Within the Cultural Revolution a huge number of people have been experienced oppression from the government. Therefore, society together with culture has been divided into supporters and rebels. The parallel between red and experts can be conducted now. It is possible to find the rebels in literature that provoke people by their creation for fighting for their rights. After the Mao government and Cultural Revolution people start a new period of existence in social, political and cultural dimensions. The last thirty years of twentieth century can be called a new period in the dimension of Chinese literature and art. Writers start to create literary projects about real life of people in those periods. Fiction in that time reflects the history of the entire country and explicates the life of common people. It is possible to find a great number of literary stories that reveal difficult and contradictory period of Cultural Revolution in China. Taking all facts under consideration, it is possible to mention that Chinese literature and art experience a lot of changes and challenges in twentieth century. The change of literary language and new political system are considered to be the basic alterations. The division of society on red and experts has been reflected in the literature and art. Since that period common people have been able to read and create literature. To such extend the red ones follow all the rules of Communist government, while experts create and read a provocative literature. II. The True Place of Confucianism in Everyday Life. It should be admitted that Confucianism always plays an extremely great and significant role in the life of Chinese people, their history, culture and traditions. That is considered to be a huge philosophical doctrine that has been a basis of Chinese ideology and moral principles. Confucianism has been related to cultural, social and political concepts in this particular country for centuries. People in China respect and follow the Confucian doctrine and a huge number of generations in China regard Confucianism as a basis of their worldview and moral principles. It should be admitted that the situation is changed within the last years. The matter is that Western traditions and worldview provide a huge influence on Chinese people starting with the second half of twentieth century. It is relevant to mention that the basis of Confucianism is in the high ethnic and moral principles. The philosophy is related to the ancient Chinese public figure and wise man Confucius. This man sees the success of the nation in its social harmony, kindness and appropriate relationships between generations. Confucius’s ideas are basically consisted of the moral development of a person, ethic attitude to people and loyalty in society. In addition, a clear and definite class distinction has been also present in this ideology. It has been suggested that the country is in need of the strong ruler who remains to play a role of real father for the entire nation. His care and support for the country are the basis of the government. Chinese people follow this particular tradition till the twentieth century. Imperialistic society in China places this ideology in a high level. To such extent Confucianism has been a great and relevant part of life for people in this country. People follow the basic concepts of this particular ideology and regard Confucianism as an integral and important part of their life and existence. However, with the development of the country the traditions become alternated. The matter is that the close contacts with Western world bring new ideas and new changes into the Chinese culture and traditions. Confucianism faces different implications in the dimension of Chinese culture and life. Since that time it has not regarded as an official ideology in China, still some basic features of Confucianism is possible to found in Chinese worldview even in modern world perception. It is important to admit about the role of Confucianism in the Communist government and their innovations in the social and cultural life of China. The matter is that people in this country are always in need of a strong and strict leader (Chen, 2013). According to Confucius people have to follow the wise leader who knows the best way for the future of the entire country and give them opportunity to follow him. Therefore, Chinese people are so willing to Communist ideology. Mao Zedong’s experiments under the Chinese society are considered to be the crime against the nation, and are regarded as a hard misdeed in the perception of the West. At the same time, people in China do not regard Mao as an enemy or betrayer of their nation (Min, 2005). He has been a leader for that people, a leader with strict methods and socialistic views (Min, 2005). It is important to suggest that Mao and his cruel politics can be viewed as the abuse of Confucians ideas in the Chinese society. He claims his rules without any care about his nation and people. He tried to change culture, traditions and social system for the sake to build socialistic nation with the straightforward submission to the leader. Although, the progress of the country is unavoidable and different economic and social contacts with Western world brings a significant changes into the worldview of Chinese people and their moral principles. It should be suggested that with the introducing of the Christian traditions and Western philosophies people is China start to change their ethic dogmas and moral concepts. Present day situation shows that people in China become more and more willing to the Western philosophy and European traditions. Still, their unique and great culture of Confucianism has always been present in their worldview and principles. That is considered to be the dogmas laid by centuries into the Chinese minds and there is no power to uproot them forever. All in all, it should be suggested that Confucianism always performs a huge and extremely significant role in the life of Chinese people. This particular ideology predetermines their political and social state. The point is that people in China have absolutely different perception of the events in twentieth century because of the influence of Confucianism. Those horrible proceeding of Communist party does not seem wrong for Chinese people. Today, it is possible to see the great changes in the worldview of Chinese because of the huge influence of Western traditions and close connection with the Western world. III. Chinas Most Significant Revolution. It is highly important to mention that Chinese history is full of interesting facts and surprising or even shocking events. This country can be characterized as one with a huge number of different revolutions with the serious consequences and implications. Still, the most significant and essential from all of them is considered to be Cultural Revolution in China. The period of this takeover is remained to be difficult and important for the entire nation. The matter is that the consequences of Cultural Revolution in China are still visible nowadays. Such experience brings both positive and negative implications into the future of this particular country; still, this is always considered to be the dark and sad page in the history of China. Cultural Revolution in China is dated 1964-1976 and has been headed with the tyrant Mao Zedong (Min, 2005). It is essential to admit that the cruel and unfair proceeding of Mao can be regarded as a crime against Chinese society and against all the humanity. Chinese writer Anchee Min in her book Red Azalea describes Mao’s politics as actions that “brought destruction to every family in the nation and took millions of lives” (2005). This has been a revolution that tries to destroy Chinese nation; still, their spirit remains to be stronger and tried to fight with the consequences. Great Leap Forward can be regarded as the background of this particular revolution. The matter is that Mao desired to construct a new modern and highly-developed society according to his personal rules. His Five-Year Plan before the revolution has been tend to transform China into the industrialized country with high-quality products and socialistic regime (Min, 2005). Still, Mao’s intentions are considered to be unreal in the conditions that he creates by his new regulations. It has been natural that China experienced economic and industrial crash in that time. The matter is that the division of society on red and experts leads to the lower quality of products and effectiveness of productivity. Red people are remained to be the ones from the lower social layers that support the party, but have no professional skills in different fields. Experts are considered to be people who are regarded as the professionals in their occupations. The inclusion of red people into the industrial and cultural circles leads to the alteration of the occurred situation. The negative numbers in the field of industry make Mao to reinforce his totalitarian politics in China and to take radical measures. A huge amount of intelligent, educated and smart people in China who are considered to be the professionals in their spheres have been oppressed and send into the distant parts of the country or in the prisons. They have no opportunity to work and live appropriately. In addition, there have been a lot of examples when these harassments ended with death. Cultural, educational, technological, medical and even military spheres have experienced a huge number of losses in the field of professional staff in their spheres. This particular country has destroyed a huge number of historically and culturally relevant artefacts within Cultural Revolution in China. The matter is that all possible tries to criticize Mao’s totalitarian regime remains to be failed. Moreover, people have to pay their careers, families and lives for such brave intensions to contain cruel and despotic policy of Mao. There have been different articles, books and meetings concerning the question of dictatorial regime of Mao, but all of them experience sad end. It is important to mention that all intensions that have been contradictory with Mao’s politics remain to be wrong and have been punished severely. The aim of Cultural Revolution is to create a clean and perfect socialistic society with Communist regime. Mao’s ideas can be regarded as utopist in some measures. His importunate desire to be a strong and strict leader does not bring success to him and his country. Cultural Revolution has ended with the death of Mao Zedong. In that time country has started a new era in its existence. People in China feel some freedom in that period. An extreme development of culture and literature has occurred in China after Cultural Revolution. People start to refer to the Western tradition and change their culture and way of life. Such experience is considered to be difficult for the nation. Still, oppressions and attack from the dictatorial government do not allow Chinese people to give up and make the spirit of their nation stronger. It can be concluded that Cultural Revolution in China is considered to be highly significant and important part of history for Chinese people. This has been the period of hard oppressions for cultural and educational elite in China. Mao activates this revolution in order to make an ideal socialistic nation, but such proceeding remains to be impossible in modern society. People in China make some tries to fight with the system, but cruel and despotic actions of Mao spoil their hopes. After the revolution people get a new fresh hint for the development and have been able to construct a new economy and society in China. Reference List: Chen, Yuan-Tsung. (2013). The Dragons Village: An Autobiographical Novel of Revolutionary China. USA: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Fu, Shen (2004). Six Records of a Floating Life. USA: Penguin Putnam Inc. Min, Anchee. (2005). Red Azalea. USA: A&C Black. Read More