Introduction
The civilization and ethnicity of China is the base of one of the worlds ancient and most composite civilizations, the country proudly possesses a history abounding in more than five thousand years of political, philosophical, artistic and scientific progression. The history of science and technology in China dates behind first millennium BC is technological contribution of this country to the development of the society and mankind has both a long and rich history. Thus, it is important for the rest of the world to understand the basic aspects of the cultural side of China.
Sports and Recreation
Physical fitness and exercise is very common in China. People, specially the elderly, gather at parks to practice qigong and Tai Chi Chuan. Acrobatics became very popular after the China Acrobatic Troupe was formed in 1950. China’s traditional and indigenous form of sports includes martial arts and dragon boat racing. The former originated almost 2000 years ago and the latter takes place during their Duan Wu festival. Board games like, Xiangqi, Chinese chess, Go, or Weiqi and International Chess are also popular. A number of imported sports are also played in China, like badminton, weightlifting, diving, basketball, shooting, judo, football or soccer, table tennis, baseball and golf and the young Chinese people have excelled in each of them. (Selmer & Leon, 321-338)
Major products and services
The following are the major products available in China are alcohol, tea, slippers, belts, calligraphy, ceramics, tire, locks, trolleys, handbags, dye, fertilizers, mouse, memory cards, floors, doors, air conditioners, OFC, antenna, furniture, mirrors, massager, LEDs, elevators, bearings, alloys, stationery, telephone, alarm, skateboard, silk, linen and abrasive. (Bergeron & Schneider, 116-137) The major services available in China are advertising, aviation, insurance, banking, fitness, commercial service, consultation, education, entertainment, hospitals, legal, printing, public service, real estate, restaurants, shipment and storage, technical services and travel.
Industry
After the New China was formed in 1949, the construction of the Chinese industry was started on a large scale. Throughout its industrial reform, China’s industry managed to eliminate its backwardness becoming technologically advanced. Today, china produces a number of things and its industry is more advanced than most of its neighboring nations. China’s astronautics and aeronautics industry was formed at Chengdu, Shenyang, Shanghai and Xi’an having huge airplane manufacturing bases that also produce military and civilian aircrafts. It also has a very advanced electronic information industry, heavy industry that includes chemical, machinery, iron, steel, energy industries, textiles, and light industries that include household appliances, metal products, household chemicals, electro-optical sources, plastic products, mechanical devices, fur and leathers. (Luo & Park, 141-155)
Media entertainment
The Chinese entertainment industry has seen a rapid growth in the last few years making over $3 million. Their advertisement revenue has been such that it has put China in front of most other nations in media entertainment growth. In addition, China’s popular culture demonstrates a bright future of its media entertainment. There has been an increase in the number of private TV companies in China, which have actual control over these channels. The major TV companies in China are Walt Disney, News Corporation, Viacom, Time Warner, Sun Media, TVB, Phoenix Satellite TV, Hunan TV, SMG, China Central Television, Star TV, Sun TV and Channel V. (Bradley, 49-67)
Roles of men and women
Since the family life of china has undergone dramatic changes in the past few decades, more emphasis has been placed on the freedom and equality of the men and women of China. However, even though the Chinese women have been given equal rights, China was still dominated by the men, mainly due to their traditional practices and ideas. Women are normally the chief caregivers of the elderly Chinese people. Although the men are, still the main providers in the family the modern Chinese women not only play the role of true professionals but also take proper care of the family. Earlier, the women were faced with the burden of bearing a male child to honor the family. However, now due to modern thinking, this has lessened and a lot and women go hand in hand with their men in building their family. (Dainton & Zelley, 154-55)
Family life
Confucius, an ancient sage of china, has a lot of influence on the Chinese family life. However, after the People’s Republic of China was created, new marriage laws were introduced and old practices, like bigamy, polygamy and cohabitation were outlawed. In their post-Maoist period, family life of china has changed radically since a number of Single Parent’s Club, reproductive services and Divorce Clubs have been launched there. One of the aspects of their family life is their One-Child Policy, which was enforced in the 1980s restricting families to only a single child. Although this had a positive effect on their population, status of women and education, there has also been an increase in female feticide since most couples wanted a male baby, creating a gender imbalance. Recently, nuclear families have become very popular in the urban areas of China, too. (Cooper, 303-325)
Dating, Courtship, marriage
China has almost 56 ethnic groups and thus, is a multinational country. Each of these groups has their distinctive courtship and marriage customs and rituals. For example, the Dai people of China practice traditional courtship activities like “visiting girls” that take place in the agricultural slack seasons, “countryside fairs” and “throwing embroidered bags”. However, courtship activities may take place anywhere and often men visit women in their stilt houses. Once they get acquainted, the parents are informed and preparations are made for engagement. The wedding date is fixed by the parents and normally takes place in the girl’s house. Traditionally the newly weds visit a Buddhist Temple and the wedding is presided by the oldest male of the family. They also follow the binding thread ceremony where that oldest male binds the couple’s shoulders to a table and blesses them. (Dainton & Zelley, 154-55)
Conclusion
In conclusion it should be mentioned China being one among the world’s ancient unremitting civilizations has always left back rest of the world with its intelligence and self reliance. The record of China’s progress over the past two decades has demonstrated naysayer wrong and optimists not positive enough. Instead of all its back drafts China managed to pave its path to development. The culture, lifestyle and economy of China are the driving forces of this development.
Works Cited
Bergeron, Natasha & Barry Schneider. ‘Explaining cross-national differences in peer-directed aggression: A quantitative synthesis’. Aggressive Behavior 31.2 (2005): 116-137.
Bradley, Thomas L. ‘Cultural dimensions of China: Implications for international companies in a changing economy’. Thunderbird International Business Review 41.1, (2006): 49-67.
Cooper, Danielle. ‘Understanding multinational organizations in China’. Journal of Organizational Behavior 28.3 (2007): 303-325.
Dainton, Marianne & Elaine D. Zelley. Applying Communication Theory for Professional Life: A Practical Introduction. New York: SAGE, 2006.
Luo, Yadong & Seung Ho Park. ‘Strategic alignment and performance of market-seeking MNCs in China’. Strategic Management Journal 22.2 (2006): 141-155.
Selmer, Jan & Corinna de Leon. ‘China: Organizational acculturation in foreign subsidiaries’. The International Executive 35.4 (2004): 321-338.