The Chinese Culture
Tre Henricks
Donna Hershberger
PSY-230
April 15, 2013
The Chinese Culture Chinese people have had the world’s most successful continuous culture for the past four millennia, and culture and traditions remain prominent wherever they live. Even in the twenty-first century, Chinese people living in China, Taiwan and the United States of America still value their culture and traditions. And people from Chinese culture living in Australia and the United Kingdom follow Chinese culture and traditions in relation to their health beliefs. Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism are the main three philosophies or religions in Chinese culture. Taoism is considered both a religion and philosophy emphasizing the independence of the individual and connection to natural forces of life, Confucianism provides the moral code or ethics of behavior, and Buddhism contains the rituals of the spiritual life. Like all cultures, Chinese culture has a particular perspective on dying and death. Chinese society and its people have developed meanings about death throughout history, particularly in relation to religious beliefs, philosophical beliefs, and cultural practices. Death is a taboo and Chinese families will not discuss issues of death and dying for fear of invoking bad luck. In order to postpone bad luck associated with death, Chinese people will try to prolong the patient’s life as long as possible, while also acknowledging that death is part of the lifespan.
When a person is dying Chinese people believe that dying in the main hall of the house enables an individual symbolically to join her/his ancestors represented by these tablets or the family altar.
Since cremation is traditionally uncommon, the burial of the dead is a matter taken very seriously in Chinese society. Improper funeral arrangements can cause ill fortune and disaster on the family of the deceased. To a certain degree, Chinese funeral rites and burial customs are determined by the age of the deceased, cause
Donna Hershberger
PSY-230
April 15, 2013
The Chinese Culture Chinese people have had the world’s most successful continuous culture for the past four millennia, and culture and traditions remain prominent wherever they live. Even in the twenty-first century, Chinese people living in China, Taiwan and the United States of America still value their culture and traditions. And people from Chinese culture living in Australia and the United Kingdom follow Chinese culture and traditions in relation to their health beliefs. Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism are the main three philosophies or religions in Chinese culture. Taoism is considered both a religion and philosophy emphasizing the independence of the individual and connection to natural forces of life, Confucianism provides the moral code or ethics of behavior, and Buddhism contains the rituals of the spiritual life. Like all cultures, Chinese culture has a particular perspective on dying and death. Chinese society and its people have developed meanings about death throughout history, particularly in relation to religious beliefs, philosophical beliefs, and cultural practices. Death is a taboo and Chinese families will not discuss issues of death and dying for fear of invoking bad luck. In order to postpone bad luck associated with death, Chinese people will try to prolong the patient’s life as long as possible, while also acknowledging that death is part of the lifespan.
When a person is dying Chinese people believe that dying in the main hall of the house enables an individual symbolically to join her/his ancestors represented by these tablets or the family altar.
Since cremation is traditionally uncommon, the burial of the dead is a matter taken very seriously in Chinese society. Improper funeral arrangements can cause ill fortune and disaster on the family of the deceased. To a certain degree, Chinese funeral rites and burial customs are determined by the age of the deceased, cause
Cited: "Cultural Approaches to Pediatric Palliative Care in Central Massachusetts ." World 's People in Central Massachusetts. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2013. "Cultural Approaches to Pediatric Palliative Care in Central Massachusetts ." World 's People in Central Massachusetts. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2013. "Cultural Facts." Cultural Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2013. Johnston, Alastair Iain. Cultural Realism: Strategic Culture and Grand Strategy in Chinese History. N.p.: Princeton UP, 2006. Print.