Understanding Chinese Culture

Promoting cultural understanding in a globalized world, this text is a key tool for students interested in further developing their understanding of Chinese society and culture. Written by a team of experts in their fields, this book provides a survey of Chinese culture, delving deeper into areas such as Chinese philosophy, religion, politics and education. It offers the reader a wide range of essential facts to better understand contemporary China through its history and cultural background, touching on key areas such as the development of science and technology in China, as well as the country’s economy and trade history, and is a key read for scholars and students in Chinese Culture, Sociology and Politics.

This mind-opening take on indigenous psychology presents a multi-level analysis of culture to frame the differences between Chinese and Western cognitive and emotive styles. Eastern and Western cultures are seen here as mirror images in terms of rationality, relational thinking, and symmetry or harmony. Examples from the philosophical texts of Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and classical poetry illustrate constructs of shading and nuancing emotions in contrast to discrete emotions and emotion regulation commonly associated with traditional psychology. The resulting text offers readers bold new understandings of emotion-based states both familiar (intimacy, solitude) and unfamiliar (resonance, being spoiled rotten), as well as larger concepts of freedom, creativity, and love. Included among the topics: The mirror universes of East and West. In the crucible of Confucianism. Freedom and emotion: Daoist recipes for authenticity and creativity. Chinese creativity, with special focus on solitude and its seekers. Savoring, from aesthetics to the everyday. What is an emotion? Answers from a wild garden of knowledge. Understanding Emotion in Chinese Culture has a wealth of research and study potential for undergraduate and graduate courses in affective science, cognitive psychology, cultural and cross- cultural psychology, indigenous psychology, multicultural studies, Asian psychology, theoretical and philosophical psychology, anthropology, sociology, international psychology, and regional studies.

The Chinese: understanding a people and their culture through key words and language. The Chinese Mind pinpoints areas of China's traditional values and behaviors that play a significant role in the business and social relationships of the Chinese. It also identifies key areas of Chinese culture that have changed as a result of the adoption of a market-based economy and other elements of Western culture. It includes discussion topics and questions, along with an extensive selection of Chinese "code words" that explain the essence and role of key elements of the traditional culture that have survived into modern times. Covering everything from the importance of Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher, to the influence of foreign fast food and video games, this book provides a wide-ranging glimpse into the seemingly opaque Chinese mind. The Chinese Mind is an excellent overview of Chinese tradition, history, and culture that is perfect for the classroom, tourists or outsiders living or doing business in China. Some of the vital concepts explored here include: Yin and Yang, the search for balance in all things Mianji, the importance of face Hong, looking at things holistically De, the power of virtue Guo cui, the national essence of the Chinese Zhong fu, the pursuit of insight Bi, unity the Chinese way

Even though instant communications and strides in transportation have made it easier for individuals to travel and communicate, the great divide across global cultures continues. Nowhere is this more evident than between the cultures of China in the East and the United States in the West. With Chinas elevation to global superpower status, it is vital for Americans to improve their understanding of the principles that are core to the way our friends and counterparts in China think and act. In Confucius Says There Are No Fortune Cookies in China, authors Edward V. Yang, Kate Ou, and Dennis Smith discuss the customs, history, and business practices in China, with an eye toward enhancing relationships through a better understanding of the culture of the East through American eyes. Yang, Ou, and Smith translate more than one hundred combined years of real-world living and working experience in China and across Asia into practical, everyday lessons intended for anyone wishing to build better business and personal relationships in China. This guide contains one hundred lessons, including common sayings, proverbs, idioms, quotes from ancient Chinese philosophers, and the authors own experiences. Yang shares fundamental lessons derived from his personal experienceknowledge gained through his upbringing, through his traditional Chinese and US education, through his work experience in Asia and the United States, and, most importantly, through his mistakes.

Promoting cultural understanding in a globalized world, this text is a key tool for students interested in understanding the fundamentals of Chinese culture. Written by a team of experts in their fields, it offers a comprehensive and detailed introduction to Chinese culture and addresses the fundamentals of Chinese cultural and social development. It notably considers Chinese traditional culture, medicine, arts and crafts, folk customs, rituals and etiquette, and is a key read for scholars and students in Chinese Culture, History and Language.

Understanding China and the Chinese is of paramount importance in today's world. With China's rapid economic growth and increasing political influence, there has been significant interest in learning the Chinese language around the world. While we constantly hear about China in political and economic terms, we rarely come across a book that explains what Chinese culture or a Chinese person is like today.This book offers a critical overview of Chinese culture intended for college students as well as for general readers interested in the topic. While 'Chinese culture' is often deployed in terms of kung fu, Confucius or calligraphy, this book refers to the traditional and modern experiences out of which contemporary Chinese people have grown. Internationally renowned scholar in China Studies, Professor Qian Suoqiao invites readers to join him on an exciting intellectual journey to critically explore important issues including history, language, governmentality, self-cultivation, aesthetics of life, nationalism, cosmopolitanism, communism, the rise of China and her soft power which contribute to the formation of what we call 'Chinese'.

A practical and accessible guide to an ancient but rapidly changing culture—now revised and updated Perfect for business, pleasure, or armchair travelers, China A to Z explains the customs, culture, and etiquette essential for any trip or for anyone wanting to understand this complex country. In one hundred brief, reader-friendly essays alphabetized by subject, this fully revised and updated edition provides a crash course in the etiquette and politics of contemporary China as well as the nation’s geography and venerable history. In it, readers will discover: · How the recently selected President and his advisors approach global relations · Why China is considered the fastest growing market for fashion and luxury goods · What you should bring when visiting a Chinese household · What’s hot in Chinese art · How recent scandals impact Chinese society From architecture and body language to Confucianism and feng shui, China A to Z offers accessible and authoritative information about China.

First Published in 2009. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.