An Introduction to Traditional Chinese Culture

Since ancient times, China has been known as the “Celestial Empire.” This refers not only to China’s strength and position as East Asia’s Middle Kingdom, it also captures a more profound meaning, describing a land where the divine and mortal once coexisted. It refers to the belief that the divine, through various dynasties, transmitted a rich and abundant culture to the Chinese people. Chinese culture is thus known as “divinely inspired,” and is the only culture in the world to have a continuous recorded history of 5,000 years. It has left behind countless literary classics, historical documents, cultural relics, and national records reflecting its immense scope.

Chinese culture is said to have begun with the Yellow Emperor, over 5,000 years ago. He was a cultivator of the Tao (or the Way), and was said to have great power and wisdom. He taught his subjects how to live in accordance with the heavenly Way. Ancient Chinese legends speak of many deities who passed on to humans essential elements of culture. For example, Cangjie created Chinese characters, Shennong imparted agriculture, and Suiren revealed the uses of fire.

Taoist thought, considered a wellspring of Chinese culture, was systemized by the sage Lao Zi over 2,500 years ago in his book Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching). The book expounds on the mysterious Way of the universe, which he calls the Tao.

In 67 C.E., Buddhism reached China from ancient India. Its focus on personal salvation and meditation had a profound effect on Chinese culture, lasting until today. It was during the Tang Dynasty (618 C.E.–907 C.E.) that religious practice in China reached its peak, an era often seen as the pinnacle of Chinese civilization.

Under the influence of these faiths, Chinese culture has generated a rich and profound system of values. The concepts of “man and nature must be in balance,” “respect the heavens to know one’s destiny,” and the five cardinal virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faithfulness (ren yi li zhi xin) are all products of these three religions’ teachings. These principles have constantly played out over China’s 5,000-year-long history.

Every 'culture' proceeded and proceeds at the same time and the same pace..... wherever humans live there is a 'culture' and so there is no difference worldwide... even Aboriginal culture has been around since the cave man times..... and, of course, the likes of 'judge' Lee and that boss of the King's Navy in Toowoomba, in hot pursuit of Deuce,  are happy to lapse into the old cave man style of 'jurisprudence'....  'someone accuse - knock him on head... like Bolsheviks Mbungwa see in dream we have most guns in chamber.... rest get out - we run show with biggest fists... they no like we knock 'em out whup up side head..... no need justice fair play and proper rules .... do what like because can .... cave man rules - is no rules ......'

No idea what I'm getting at?  'biggest cave man run show' - judge have biggest group cave men to back - do what wants.... land claim have biggest government and departments money to back up - do what wants....... might make right, no?

athos wrote on Jul 11^th, 2024 at 12:14pm:

Nonsense.

athos wrote on Jul 11^th, 2024 at 12:14pm:


Nonsense.

Frank wrote on Jul 11^th, 2024 at 6:13pm:


Please elaborate on Australia's culture.

Laugh till you cry wrote on Jul 11^th, 2024 at 1:32pm:


Homer, Herodotus, Plato, Aristotle etc date from 3000-2500 bc.  FAR, FAR more impactflul on human development than China, India, Aborigines, Incas and Africans.

Laugh till you cry wrote on Jul 11^th, 2024 at 12:45pm:


So true. There is evidence for this.
Not only have they trivialized and destroyed authentic indigenous Australians and their culture, but the primitive Anglo Yobbos also hate any Aussie who rises above the level of a mediocre convict mentality to become a cultured person of high virtue and moral integrity. Anglo-barbarians hated and exiled Robert Hughes, Geoffrey Smart and Julian Assange. I suspect this is typical of the legacy of Britain's penal colonial status. Sad very barbarically sad.

Laugh till you cry wrote on Jul 11^th, 2024 at 1:32pm:


A book written 2,500 years ago does not predate Western Civilisation by more than 5000 years.

Perhaps you should tell us when both started so we have a common frame of reference?

You are full of poo though.

Laozi, 6th-century BC semi-legendary Chinese philosopher, founder of Taoism.

You were only out by 2 millenia.

Laozi, 6th-century BC semi-legendary Chinese philosopher, founder of Taoism.

Quote:


Some Chinese texts mention Lao Tsu leaving China via western gate.
Few decades later there was a man in Greece saying things remarkably similar to teaching of Lao Tzu.
Was it just a coincidence?
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/5017/BKbErH.png

Frank wrote on Jul 12^th, 2024 at 2:59pm:


Lao Tsu: “To realize that you do not understand is a virtue"
Socrates: “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”

China is a magic country with special culture, traditions and ancient civilization. The Chinese civilization is one of the world’s ancient calcinations, aged almost 5,000 years. Its first written records date back to IV millennia BC. The Chinese civilization originated in Hwang Ho and Yangtze river basins. And it was there, where the ancient farmers’ settlements developed into first Chinese towns and national unions.

The Chinese history may be divided into three periods:

1. Pre-imperial China (the dynasties of Xia, Shang, Zhou up to 221 BC);
2. Imperial China (Qin dynasty 221 BC - Qing dynasty 1911);
3. New China (1911 – modern time). ...

... The Chinese history of imperial dynasties covers a huge period of time from221 BC till 1911 AD. China under eight powerful dynasties: Qin Han, Sui, Tan, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing, developed into one of the world’s strongest countries, becoming the leader in the Asian Continent.

Development of China as a single integrated country starts under emperor Qin Shi Huang Di (221 BC), who united seven Chinese kingdoms and conquered many adjacent territories. However Qin Shi Huang Di is famous not only for his political services for China, but also for his well-known Terracotta Army, which has been protecting the entrance to his shrine almost 2,000 years. An etched mark in history of China was left by the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD), whose ruling is often called as “Golden Age” of China. ...