Understanding China – Part I

Since China has an impact on our everyday lives News New Mexico has created a brief synopsis of thousands of pages of research on the ancient nation. Fortunately, a historical overview of China, written by our favorite historian Will Durant (left), was available in Volume # 1 of The History of Civilization. Early on in our read of what Durant has to say on the subject of China, we reached the conclusion that the biggest mistake any American can make in attempting to analyze China would be to view China through the Judeo/Christian/American prism.

    While America’s history is relatively short, China’s history is very long. The contrasting differences in our two nation’s backgrounds are so stark the perspective necessary for gaining a better understanding of China, is to leave all preconceived American notions and moralistic baggage at the proverbial research door.

    China’s recorded history spans 5,000 years. When the west first encountered China, it quickly became the marvel of the western world. Reports on all aspects of Chinese society during the days of Marco Polo (right - 1254 -1324) suggest it was by far the most advanced in the world at that time. Evidence of ancient Chinese culture suggests the society has always produced citizens with the ability to innovate (printing press, paper, gun powder, ceramics, and the compass). Knowing China’s ancient accomplishments in engineering feats, including the early use of hydraulics, metals, and other mechanical processes is informative. At one time long ago, China’s incorporation of technology exceeded that of anything in the Middle East or Europe.

    Unfortunately for the subsequent advancement of living standards for the Chinese, like the nations dominated by Islam, (also once a marvelous cradle of advanced scientific knowledge) China began to gradually fall behind other cultures in the world, due primarily to an unwillingness of its leaders to open its culture, borders, and thought-processes so the nation could simply benefit by learning from others.

    Eventually, mired in rhythmic alternations between various forms of feudalism, and the weakness and corruptions associated with hereditary monarchies, China became the target of imperialists in both Europe and Japan. Foreigners occupied and repeatedly humiliated the sovereignty of Chinese rulers (left) particularly during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Atrocities by outsiders against Chinese citizens became an increasingly commonplace occurrence leading up to the 20th century.

    Early in the twentieth century, revolution finally came to China. Citizen activists interested in breaking away from the chains of monarchy, feudalism, and the partitioning of Chinese territory by foreign interests sought new ideological platforms. Conveniently, the Russian Revolution broke out around the same time. Once Lenin (right) achieved revolutionary success in Russia, Marxism quickly ascended to the top of the popular revolutionary ideological heap in China. In Part II we will examine how revolution affected China during the 20th century and how Mao's rule made an impact on the leadership that has succeeded him to this very day.

Understanding China – Part I