First Reflection Essay. The foundations of Chinese society

Reflection Essay
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Reflection Essay
Chinese society is fascinating to study. Given its long history, it is surprising how China has managed to survive for such a long time. Chinese history is complex and hence the need to take time to understand it. Joining this class was an opportunity for me to learn more about China’s history. At the same time, I realized that some of the ideas I had regarding the history of China were not accurate.
The foundations of Chinese society
Today, the emergence of urban centers in China can hide the reality of its past. An examination of the history of China demonstrates that its foundation is rural. A majority of the people in China make a living out of farming (Fei, Fei, Hamilton & Zheng, 1992). The country individuals cannot live without the soil since their livelihoods depend on it. Even today, despite the advancements in technology and the emergence of alternative industries, most people in East Asia make a living by working in the fields. In earlier times, China’s three largest rivers were extensively used for agricultural activities. Hence, as individuals migrated to other areas, they carried with them the tradition of farming to the places they went to.
I used to scorn China’s countryside for its dependence on the soil. What I failed to appreciate is that the livelihoods of the country people largely depends on the soil. Indeed, farming is different from other forms of agriculture like herding. While pastoralists drift about looking for pasture, farmers are connected to the land where they till. Other workers say in the industries may choose to move to different places. However, farmers do not have such freedom since they cannot relocate their crops.
Chinese rural areas versus urban areas
Life in rural areas differs significantly from that in urban areas. For the individuals in the countryside, solidarity is critical. I learned that the nature of their occupation constrains their lives (Fei, Fei, Hamilton & Zheng, 1992). Individuals see each other on a daily basis since childhood. People know the other community members just as they know their family members. None of the people select the kind of a society to live in; instead, they are born in it. Hence, unlike people in urban areas, those in the countryside have become familiar with one another due to the frequent interactions over a long time. Such kind of intimacy does not exist in urban areas, where people do not get to know each other so much. It is possible to live with people without knowing them and caring about what is happening in their lives.
West’s attempt to interfere with China
I learned that Western countries have been attempting to interfere with China for the longest time possible. One of the attempts can be seen where the British under King George III wanted to undertake trade with China during the reign of Qianlong Emperor in late 1700. King George III send McCartney for the first British mission to China in 1793 (Harris, 2012). He wanted trade restrictions to be relaxed, be allowed to procure an island near Zhou Shan so that the British can reside and store their goods and the establishment of a British Embas...