FOREIGN CULTURES 63 9.21.

2005

(note: readings to complement the lectures; won’t be systematically mentioned in class)

Theme: three time periods (before 1st rev, between revs, after 2nd rev) to be studied
shifts in social/cultural trends each time

Video: 1) traditional story – concubine of the Yang dynasty

2) modern revolutionary opera during the cultural revolution (Japanese
occupation)
3) modern pop in China by Faye Wong (present day)

question:
Would taking American music from three different historical periods show the
same amount of change?
Whyte: recall that during the second period (between revolutions) the other genres
were in accessible (i.e. traditional music was banned, pop was not allowed).
Currently, the revolutionary operas have gone out of style.

Background:
Worlds largest population (1.3 billion)
Chinese is the most spoken language in the world
Much of the terrain is mountains and deserts – therefore most of the population is
concentrated along the Eastern seaboard
25% of the world’s population, but only 7% of the world’s arable land
92% Han Chinese, 8% national minorities (which live in more-sparsely populated regions
near the boarders)
Many different dialects – mutually unintelligible (although characters are
interchangeable)
even within the dialects there are sub-dialects unique to local regions
perennial problem with linguistic intercommunication – communists started a
program of Mandarin education, but still problems
rice and tea are the dominant crops in the south – wheat and millet are dominant in the
north; thus, the diets are different depending on the region
China is still a predominately rural country
Mao tried to prevent cities from growing very fast (urban population suppressed)
Recent dramatic city growth (35%-40% is now urban) and increased numbers of
rural inhabitants are engaged in non-agricultural trades (factories,
construction)
Divided into 32 administrative provinces; 4 cities (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai,
Chongging) are treated as provinces
Hong Kong and Macao are under “one country, two systems”
Taiwan ruled previously by nationalists – now a democratic country essentially

Political Order in Late Imperial China

Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) – Manchu presence after an invasion
focused on traditional Chinese institution
FOREIGN CULTURES 63 9.21.2005

continuity in political institutions and values for more than 2 millennia; led by
orthodoxy (Confucianism), codified by Confucius (ca. 551-479 BC)
Bureaucratic Empire
Officials were periodically moved from place to place
Bureaucrats were appointed after many years of classical training (very difficult
classes, rigorous classes) – the point: meritocracy prevailed (no family
ties/military emphasis)
relatively small bureaucracy ruling a huge population, therefore the government
had only modest aims
government “floated across” the top of society; county magistrate was the lowest
official paid by the government (1,500 total in China)
How did the keep in control? Answer on Monday