With the rise of China, Europeans and Americans have paid more and more attention to oriental culture. Some film and television dramas, such as: "Mulan", "Kung Fu Panda", "Shangqi", etc. are often on the screen, but what can be criticized is that although there are a large number of oriental elements, they only flow on the surface.
The antique Chinese architecture, the unearthly paradise, the beautiful costume style, and even the dialogue Chinese in the film, seem to be "Chinese", but in fact, it cannot stand up to pondering, not to mention the superficial expression of the oriental meaning.
Obviously, the screenwriters of these films have not studied the history of China in college at all, and even if they know more about some excellent Sinologists in the West, such as Fairbank, Shi Jingqian, or He Kai," they will not let Chinese watch and complain at the same time.
Recently, I read He Kai's "China in the Imperial Era", which is known as the American version of the "Outline of Chinese History" and has been listed as a Chinese history textbook by many well-known universities in the United States. There are two insights in the book that are quite insightful, and here are some to share:
Chinese's concept of clans
The general idea of Westerners is that there is not much obligation to "own one's own family", tacitus once said: "Our family is like a 'union', there is no coercive constraint between parents and children." ”
Europe established a "joint system" of family relations in the Middle Ages, and children can rely on their parents to support themselves when they are underage, but after the "rite of passage", all the costs of "eating and drinking Lhasa" have nothing to do with their parents, and it is impossible to "eat the old".
Contrary to the Westerners' desire for independence as adults, in ancient China, the traditional concept was to tie generations of family members together to form a large family.
The family is the most valued social element of the Chinese, and it is also the core unit.
3,000 years ago, China had surnames and families. In the face of harsh natural weather and complex living environment, it is only suitable for smaller (large-scale) families, and then groups of children and grandchildren who have independent survival ability gradually form clans away from the patrilineal family.
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the population of a clan could reach several thousand people. In the Han and Tang dynasties, the population of the aristocratic and noble clans even reached tens of thousands.
Family names are passed on to future generations by blood, as is wealth. The patriarchal property will certainly be distributed to the male heir, and because the property is spread everywhere, the family will branch out around the location of the property. Thus, smaller branches appeared.
According to the principle of father-son succession, the dignity and inferiority of clan members are extended downwards. There are several branches next to the main vein, and the status of the branches is determined by the proximity of the blood relationship with the main vein.
What is the relationship between the patriarch and the patriarch? "Father, Honor, Emperor, Emperor."
What does this sentence mean? Simply put, the father is the head of the family, and the head of the family is under the jurisdiction of the patriarch (zongzi).
In the Western Zhou Dynasty, the King of Zhou called himself the "Son of Heaven", and the Zhou Dynasty, also known as the "Greatest Sect", was the co-lord of the whole world, generally inherited by the eldest son.
The sons of Zhou Tianzi (嫡子) were divided into princes, relative to the Sons of Heaven, they were small sects; in their own country (territories) they became large sects.
The sons of the princes were divided into Qing Dafuhe, and they established their own families with surnames. After thousands of years of evolution, ordinary people have also had clans to rely on.
The clan (genealogy) can prove that you have come into this world: "Who I am, where I came from, and where I am going." ”
In feudal dynasties, the typical people's home was usually a single family living in a small village with a dozen or dozens of farmers of the same ancestor.
Men plough the fields, fish and hunt, women take care of the house, take care of children, raise silkworms and weave fabrics, the so-called "male cultivators and female weavers".
In ancient China, because the national policy was "based on agriculture", more than 90% of the population was farmers. In peacetime, farmers work hard every day to "feed on the sky", but they can only barely make ends meet.
In the event of natural or man-made disasters, individual farmers can only survive the difficulties by relying on mutual help within the clan. Everyone "huddled together for warmth" is the biggest reason why the clan can continue for thousands of years.
Expand the territory of ethnic integration
During the Ming Dynasty, the Italian missionary Matteo Ricci came to China, and he once commented on China's civilization with emotion:
"In our view (from the perspective of Westerners), China (Daming) is strong and well-armed, but has no intention of conquering abroad, and this civilization is incredible!"
From this sentence, we can also see the different consciousnesses and concepts of the East and the West, when the Western countries are strong, they will invade and enslave other countries, often accompanied by bloody wars and plunder, but China will not!
Our traditional culture is most reflected in the interaction with our neighbors is tolerance, neighbors sometimes have an advantage in force, but in the long run, they have no ability to shake the towering tree of Chinese civilization, on the contrary, they are gradually integrated by China.
Historically, there have been 3 times in total for such a large fusion:
1. Siyi merged into the Han nationality
The Xia Shang Dynasty, there are many ethnic groups in the land of China. In addition to the "Xia People", there are several major ethnic groups such as Qiang, Yi, Miao, Barbarian, and Baiyue.
Qiang, also known as Rong Di, is rumored to be from the ancient Qiang, distributed in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Qingganning and other regions.
Yi, known as "Dongyi", is distributed in the Shandong Peninsula and the Huai River Valley, and the Shang Dynasty was founded by the Yi people.
Miao was known as "Three Miao", also known as "Jingman", and the State of Chu was established during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.
Baiyue is on the southeast coast, Wuyue, Minyue, South Vietnam and so on. The Book of Han records that "there are many miscellaneous places, each with its own caste.".
According to the Central Plains, "Dongyi", "Beidi", "Xirong", and "Nanman", collectively known as "Siyi", occupied the four sides, and later became a member of the Han nationality.
2. Wuhu enters China
In the last years of the Western Jin Dynasty, the Central Plains were in chaos, and the Xiongnu, Xianbei, Qiang, Qiang, And other nomadic peoples from the north took the opportunity to invade the Central Plains. Although this period is known as the darkest period of the Han people, it also formed the second great ethnic integration in China.
The Jin Dynasty could not resist the attack of the nomads, and had no choice but to choose "Yiguan South Crossing". The migration of the Han Chinese accelerated the integration with the Baiyue ethnic groups in the south. While the nomadic peoples occupy the north, they absorb the traditional culture of the Central Plains, but they are also rapidly Sinicized.
The Sui Dynasty finally completed the unification of the north and the south, laying a solid foundation for the powerful Tang Dynasty, and the Li Tang imperial family had a humble bloodline.
3. The formation of the Chinese nation
The Ming Dynasty fell and the Qing Dynasty was established. Diplomatically, for the first time, "China" was designated as the name of the country, laying a legal foundation.
In order to consolidate its rule and sit firmly in the country, the Qing dynasty royal family abolished the "Huayi Distinction", making the Han and other ethnic groups part of the Chinese nation. Therefore, in the last years of the Qing Dynasty, Liang Qichao formally proposed the concept of "Chinese nation"
From the perspective of world history, peaceful national integration is conducive to the stability and long-term development of a unified multi-ethnic state. This ability to integrate and have super assimilation is the key to the continuation of Chinese civilization, which Westerners cannot learn if they want to. (Just look at how many Native American Indians are left.)
In today's society, the spirit of the Chinese nation is expressed as "dedication" and "unity", while Westerners are more inclined to "self" and "independence".
Two civilizations, two kinds of cognition, can not arbitrarily distinguish between high and low, good and bad, but the Chinese civilization has lasted for 5,000 years and has never been broken, which not only makes Westerners impressed, but also our pride!