Culture according
to Edward Taylor (1976) is “A complex whole which includes knowledge, belief,
arts, law, custom, morals and any other capacities and habits acquired by man
as member of society”. Taylor makes distinction of subculture which refers to
people who have migrated from their place of origin to other places but still
upholds their original identity, while universal culture dwells on learned
behavior and patterns irrespective of cultural origin and these may include
application of leadership rules and concept of privacy, use of gender and age
amongst others. This article underlines the predicament of the Chinese culture
and how it has pushed the country to occupy its present ranking in the world.
The Eastern Asian
country China stands tall among its neighbors from the North, South, West, and
East with very fascinating human and natural factors which originate from the
country’s ancient civilization that has had the good, the bad, and ugly moments which
all culminates to a remarkable China on the lips and bounds of every dick and
tom. The uniqueness of the Chinese culture has stood the test of time as an
indivisible factor and backbone to their outstanding growth and development.
The mighty China has moved from one innovation to another keeping intact its
history, originality and cultural heritage.
To the best of my
understanding the ever expanding, innovative and creative ideas of the Chinese
people lies in their culture that has made the country to blossom and attain
international recognition best described as a “paradox of positivity”. The
Chinese culture of “Can do mentality” which is common among Asian countries has
widen the country’s horizon making it a connecting belt of entertainment in
Asia. China’s entertainment facilities are a combination of traditional and
modern structures that gives a vivid memory of the cultural heritage of this
dynamic country. Traditional display and music during performances portrays
some unique cultural outfits that gives an impression to visitors that they are
in a country that welcomes everyone with no distinction of color, race,
culture, ethnic group or identity. Present day entertainment in China has taken
a new dimension where cultural and modern entertainment facilities exist as common
identities and visitors are kept spell bound as they watch with satisfaction and
anxiety. Spreading from one city to another, open door and indoor entertainment
spots have imposing and protruding cultural structures that even the blind can
feel their warmth and glamour.A combination of architectural know-how and expertis in the construction of entertainment facilities
gives visitors a refreshing feeling where the mind and soul can be at peace.
The Chinese
culture is held in high esteem reason why many ancient sites have been short
listed on the UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Sites. Such sites include the
Imperial palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing, the historic seat
of the Dalai Lama, the Ancient villages in Southern Anhui, the Ancient city of
Pingyao and many others. Some of these sites are located on the flanks of
mountains and valleys that harbor some natural vegetation with its undulating
steepness and spectacular geographic features. These sites are a symbol of
natural beauty with a mixture of ancient and modern structures. A glance of
these cultural heritage gives a vivid picture of the unity and success of the
Chinese people who have worked so hard to preserve their culture in a world
where globalization seem to be dismantling all cultural barriers. Tourist who
visit cultural sites are spell bound with the unique traditional dresses and
colorful regalia put on by very flexible men and women who swing from one end
to another with very captivating smiles and gestures that gives visitors the
feeling of belonging. Their cultural outfit carries attractive, captivating,
tantalizing and gorgeous colors which symbolizes unity in diversity.
The Chinese
are proud of their cultural identity which gives strength to the people. This
cultural bond has strengthen China’s economic identity as one of the most
creative and innovative economies in the world. The Chinese people through the “Can
do mentality” have fought hard to occupy the position of the second largest
economy in the world as they engage in major manufacturing and infrastructural
development around the world. China has penetrated to almost all continents of
the globe because they feel they can do what other world powers have been doing
and even do it much better.
China’s cultural
pattern has attracted and is still attracting multinational companies around
the world to invest in China despite the almost saturated market. Branded as a
communist country where freedom of speech is prohibited and there is gross
human rights violation, the people’s conviction of overcoming all obstacles has
made some world giants not to be too critical about the present modus operandi
but to fine-tune better ways of recognizing the people and their culture and
what they stand for as a nation.
China through its
culture of “Forward ever and backward never” has become a great friend of the
world especially developing countries. China has cut across
mainstream development initiatives with fabulous loan and aid packages that have
attracted limping nations to embrace them without any reservation. China
through this policy which some scholars call “Development without borders” is
helping to change the lives of people who have qualified China as a friend
indeed. In areas some donor countries designate as “no go zones” China has put
in working machineries that dismantle stumbling blocks of any kind. Chinese
merchants have successfully invested in regions around the world where very few
businessmen will venture to take such a risk.
China's success is
gradually reversing the way people do business around the world. Multinational
companies or individual business magnets no longer search for specific business
hubs but create opportunities from the unimaginable. What may
be termed as the Chinese miracle drew very little attention from the beginning
but the people’s believe in their culture of "No surrender" is pushing them to
get to the summit of their ambitions.
Conclusively,
China has demonstrated to the rest of the world that countries can create
opportunities even if they are at the bottom position but have ambitions to
get to higher heights with the sky as their only limit. China is often accused of
copying or pirating from others but this has never stopped their ambition of
being a great nation. I have the conviction that the Chinese culture gave a
blue print to their ever expanding development initiative both at home and
abroad pushing surrounding nations to also expand their development vision. No
country in the world has a perfect record or modus operandi as such criticisms on China to an
extent should not be exaggerated because they merit where they are in terms of hard
work, creativity, and innovation.
