The Psychological Peculiarities of the Chinese Nation
1. The Chinese nation: its psychological peculiarities
The Chinese nation is characterized by some psychological peculiarities. Firstly, the Chinese are past-oriented. They think that their ancestors were wiser and had more knowledge than the present generation. Secondly, the Chinese are collectivists. They emphasize the importance of social conformity and ignore individualism. Thirdly, the Chinese are traditionalists. They respect traditional values and follow settled patterns in their lives. Fourthly, the Chinese are religious. They believe in gods and spirits and follow the teachings of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Fifthly, the Chinese are conformists. They conform to tradition and social norms.
2. Individualism and collectivism in the Chinese nation
The Chinese nation is characterized by collectivism. Collectivism is the emphasis on the importance of social conformity and the downplaying of individualism. Collectivism is evident in the social organization of the Chinese nation. The family is the basic unit of society, and filial piety is highly valued. The five relationships – between ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, older brother and younger brother, and friends – are based on hierarchy and mutual obligations. Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism teach people to be altruistic and to put others first. As a result, individualism is not highly valued in the Chinese nation.
3. The social organization of the Chinese nation
The family is the basic unit of society in the Chinese nation. The family is a patrilineal kinship group descended from a common ancestor. The father is the head of the family, and his word is law. The eldest son has special privileges and responsibilities within the family. He inherits his father’s property and has the responsibility to take care of his parents in their old age. The other members of the family have filial duties towards their elders. The five relationships – between ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, older brother and younger brother, friends – are based on hierarchy and mutual obligations. Confucianism teaches people to uphold these relationships through proper conduct.
4. Religion in the Chinese nation
Religion is an important part of life in the Chinese nation. The three main religions are Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism. Confucianism teaches people to uphold hierarchal relationships through proper conduct. Taoism teaches people to live in harmony with nature. Buddhism teaches people to lead a moral life. Many temples have been built to honor gods and spirits. Ancestor worship is also an important part of religious life.
5. Conformity to tradition in the Chinese nation
Conformity to tradition is an important value in the Chinese nation. The Chinese believe that their ancestors were wiser than they are, so they should not deviate from tradition. Traditional values such as filial piety, loyalty, respect for elders,and harmony are still upheld today. Many aspects of life, such as architecture, cuisine, art,and literature, are based on traditional styles.
In conclusion, the Chinese nation has some psychological peculiarities. The Chinese are past-oriented, collectivist, traditionalist, religious, and conformist. These peculiarities are evident in the social organization of the Chinese nation. The family is the basic unit of society, and filial piety is highly valued. The five relationships – between ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, older brother and younger brother, and friends – are based on hierarchy and mutual obligations. Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism are the three main religions, and ancestor worship is also an important part of religious life. Conformity to tradition is an important value in the Chinese nation.