Learning and Understanding Confucianism: Chinese Philosophy

Confucianism is one of the backbones of Chinese culture and way of life. In China, this philosophy is blended with Taoism and Buddhism in much of the country. It is difficult to say how many people follow Confucianism, as it is not a registered philosophy or church, and few people describe themselves only as Confucianism followers. Nevertheless, it is essential to understand Confucianism if you are planning to move to China or other countries in East Asia.

Confucius, aka K’ung Fu Tzu, was born in 551 BC in the state of Lu, or modern-day Shantung, China, which was during the Chou Dynasty. Confucius opened a school when he was 22, and was then appointed Minister of Justice of Lu. He left his position and spent 13 years wandering around China and teaching philosophies to assorted rulers. He gained some followers, and then settled in Lu and continued to teach there, until he died in 479 BC. By today’s standards, he was a conservative thinker who valued order.

The main rules of Confucianism are as follows:

• Li: Manners and etiquette
• Hsiao: Love in the family
• Yi: Righteousness
• Xin: Honesty
• Jen: Humaneness, Benevolence
• Chung: Loyalty to the state and order

Confucius believed that one must obey the written laws of society. However, there must not be an abundance of arbitrary laws. For society to run smoothly, there should not be too many invasive laws.

Another essential belief is the five relationships:

• Ruler to Subject
• Father to Son
• Husband to Wife
• Elder Brother to Younger Brother
• Friend to Friend

Needless to say, Confucius was not an egalitarian. The only one of these relationships that is on equal grounds is friend to friend. He believed that there needed to be hierarchy and order for greater society (or for a family, school etc) to function. Confucius also emphasized a respect for deceased ancestors. These beliefs and relationships were not solely for the living, but for all souls. Children must respect their parents greatly, and they owe a lot to their parents. However, those who are superior, like parents, owe benevolence and protection of the younger and more inferior people.

There are six sects of Confucianism: Han Confucianism, Neo-Confucianism, Contemporary Neo-Confucianism, Korean Confucianism, Japanese Confucianism and Singapore Confucianism. The philosophy has adapted to different times and separate cultures.

World's Amazing Flood 40,000 Cubic Meters per second

China's Three Gorges reservoir faces test as water level breaks records

Flood waters are sluiced with the water outflux monitored at 40,000 cubic meters per second at Three Gorges Dam in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province, July 20, 2010. China's Three Gorges Dam project on the Yangtze River stood its biggest flood-control test at 8 a.m. Tuesday since completion, as the flow on the river's upper reaches topped 70,000 cubic meters a second. All ferry services were halted at the Three Gorges Dam on Monday, and would be resumed after the influx decreased to 45,000 cubic meters per second.





BEIJING/YICHANG, July 23 -- A continuous deluge along the swollen Yangtze River has pushed the water level of China's Three Gorges reservoir to its peak this year on Friday and it may rise further, testing the country's mega water control system built to tame the worst floods.
The water level rose to 158.86 meters at 10 a.m. Friday, about 13.86 meters above the reservoir's water-releasing level, said engineers of the reservoir, located in Yichang City, central Hubei Province.



As of 2 p.m. Friday, the water level dropped to 158.83 meters and has remained largely stable since. The maximum capacity of the multibillion dollar reservoir is 175 meters. On Tuesday flood waters gushed into the reservoir 70,000 cubic meters per second -- the greatest velocity since it was built. The flow reduced to 34,000 cubic meters per second at 2 p.m. Friday.

The reservoir continued to release water at a speed of 40,000 cubic meters per second.

Top 10 Cities in China with the Most Beautiful Women

This post features the top ten cities in china where you can find the most beautiful women. Women’s beauty should not be intimidating, but beautiful women make men lose self-control. Beautiful women flaunting their intractable personality, is not passive but charm that can destroy men’s rationality. Often, when beautiful women formed into a group, they will intimidate men with great pressure. Take a look at the beautiful cities with beautiful girls of motherland.

1. Dalian
B0ld but graceful
Score: 95

Girls from northeast of China always have the reputation of being light skinned and tall. Dalian girls are undoubtedly the cream of the crop among girls in the northeast of China. Compare with women in southern China, Dalian girls might not be as graceful, but they are more bold and prideful; Compare with women in other northeast China and other inland cities, Dalian women added more elegance. For example actress Dong Jie is a typical representative of the girls in Dalian.

2. Chongqing
Warm like fire
Score: 94

Maybe it’s because Chongqing is a city in the mountains, Chongqing girls are climbing the hills ever since they were young their long legs are therefore beautiful and sexy. Girls at Chongqing are full of personality, full of charm and warm hearted like fire. Recently red hot actresses Jiang Qinqin ( Yu Na) and Singer Chen Lin are all products of Chongqing.

3. Chengdu
Pure as the eye solution
Score: 93

Chengdu girls have delicate and white skin and they do not seem to like the heavy make-up. Whether she is a working class, or a school girl, they are mostly light on the make-ups, but the natural beauty is truly amazing. Chengdu girls are like the city, vaguely reveals a faint, lazy, leisure scent. Their beauty is like a soft kitten. Maybe the only drawback of Chengdu girls is that they are not very tall. But it can also be a good thing if you appreciate the petite style. Therefore, if you want to have a romantic story, it is best to find a girlfriend in Chengdu. No wonder that foreign men in Chengdu all have the same sigh “Married too early”. In picture: Actress Xie Na.

4. Suzhou & Hangzhou
Pretty girl of humble birth
Score: 92

Suzhou is the most girly city in China. Some say more than half of the beauties of southern China are in Suzhou. They all have admirable pretty hands. Needless to say, Suzhou girls are most suitable to be kind, considerate and desirable lovers. Suzhou and Hangzhou are known to produce beauties, is indeed well-deserved reputation. In picture: Han Xue.

5. Changsha
Beauty of blandness
Score: 91

Changsha girls have both the body frame of northern China girl and the face of southern China girl. Famous actress Qu Ying and host Li Xiang are the representatives of Changsha. Qu Ying has been voted for “Changsha’s city flower”.

6. Nanjing
Delicate, free and natural
Score: 90

Being the ancient capital for six dynasties, Nanjing-born pretty girls naturally formed their Delicate and unconventional graceful beauty. Nanjing actress Mei Ting gives the feeling of gentle and quiet. she is always simply dressed, with simple languages but leaves a very deep impression.

7. Shanghai
Fashionable and exquisite
Score: 89

Almost all Shanghai women think they are the women of women. They love fashion, perfumes, cosmetics… just like they love their own bodies. Shanghai is a stylish city, destined to create a different temperament of beauties. Actress Betty Sun is such a representative. With a pure and beautiful appearance, we are all attracted by her petite body with a pair of big beautiful eyes. Her extraordinary refined temperament is unforgettable.

8. Beijing
Aristocrat of the century
Score: 88

Ubiquitous opportunity for profound historical and cultural heritage, Beijing girls grew very fast, they are capable, smart, intelligent and savvy. They make themselves more beautiful through many ways. Grew up in Beijing, Xu Jinglei was an actress first then became a director. She not only showed people Beijing girls’ beauty also demonstrated their “aristocratic temperament”.

9. Hong Kong
Fashion Pioneers
Score: 87

Hong Kong has been leading the main stream fashion of China and East Asia. Despite Hong Kong girls maybe not be outstanding looking but their fashion sense is no match for the other cities. Michelle Reis and Maggie Cheung are the representatives of the city.

10. Guangzhou
Soft inside and hard outside
Score: 86

Someone once said Guangzhou has no pretty girls, and it is hard to find real beauty that is actually from the city. However there are still a lot of beauties in Guangdong province. For example, Athena Chu and Chen Hui-Shan are beauties of Guangdong province.

Pre-school institution in China

State of the Art Pre-school design based on the latest international models and standards for early childhood care. Pods like flower pods spreading their seeds to the winds, fanned to optimize access to southern light and heat. The concrete structure is also designed to redirect cold winds aways from outside playgrounds. Pods are clad with "Green" resin fiberboard instead of wood, minmizing maintenance and weathering.
Overall, concept was to create a fluid and spiritual environment distant from the more mechanistic, rigid and prosaic late-modern designs that have come before it. We want to allow the architecture to invigorate a child’s sense of wonder and generate unique memories without resorting to theatrical stage design or applied nostalgic detailing.

Pre-school institution in China

Pre-school in China

architecture in China

Pre-school architecture

Book Criticizing Foreigners in China Backfires

A book translated as China is Not Happy was released a little over a month ago, expecting to spur Chinese nationalism and anger against foreigners, particularly Western foreigners. But the intent of the book has backfired as public outcry has instead been directed at China.

“Outwardly this is a book about patriotism,” said commentator Chang Ping in the liberal Southern Weekend newspaper. “The problem is that it does not help China solve its problems by revealing them. On the opposite, it wants China to succeed by hating other countries and by castigating Chinese people that like other countries.”

Of course, this is good news for expats living in China. Despite attempts to shelter the public, the unexpected reaction to the book showcases that the Chinese are more open to the West than nationalistic propaganda would otherwise suggest.

This also portrays the dangers of nationalism to the open spirit that so many expats share about the world. Expatriating is about more than just seeking a different way of life. It is also about diluting lines between borders, celebrating differences, and challenging ourselves to see and think anew every day.

Eating Traditions of China

Many of us are familiar with Chinese style food, whether it is authentic or adapted. However, Chinese eating customs are very particular to their culture.

In China, meal times tend to vary by region and class. However, it is most common for families to gather for meals three times per day. Much of Chinese family life is central to their eating tables. Unlike in Western culture, it is not as common to differentiate between the types of food served for each meal of the day. They serve the same food regardless of the time of day. Sometimes laborers will only eat two meals a day and then have three smaller meals at tea houses.

The Chinese generally do not drink when they eat. They drink tea throughout the day, but there is usually not even water on the table during meals. At family events or special occasions there may be wine or liquor to accompany dinner. Soup is usually the only liquid on the table, and the Chinese use it to wash down food. Dessert usually is not served with a meal, and sweet foods are usually reserved for special events, and eaten between meals rather than after. Dairy is also not usually found in Chinese food.

Meals revolve around the fan, which means grain. Rice is more common in Southern China and in urban areas. Wheat and wheat products like grains, noodles and bread are more common in Northern China. Both of these products are considered expensive. Lower classes stick to less pricey grains, such as millet, corn or sorghum. The Chinese often consider meats and vegetables as side products of the main grain ingredient.

At the table, each person will usually have a bowl of fan, chopsticks, a spoon and a saucer. The saucer is used to place animal bones or shells, or to rest food on that is too big to eat all at once. Meat and vegetable dishes are all laid out in the center of the table, and everyone eats from these bowls directly with their own chopsticks. Chinese tables are generally square or round shaped so that everyone is equal distance from the center. Soup is also eaten communally from a common bowl. Napkins are not typically used during the meal, but people use hot towels following their meals to wipe their face and hands. In general, the most senior person sitting at the table will initiate eating. It comes from the Confucian principal of respect of elders. It is required that you finish all of your fan, as it considered disrespectful to leave any over.

Taoism: Beliefs in China and Taiwan

“Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river” Lao Tse.

Tao, or “Dow,” can be described in English as “the path” or “the way,” but has no clear definition. It is a reference to some type of power that flows through all animate and inanimate entitles, and regulates the balance in the universe. It also recognizes the need of contrasts for balance; light and dark, man and woman, etc. The Yin Yang is a Taoist symbol.

History

The founder of Taoism is supposedly Lao Tse, who lived around the same time as Confucius, 604-531 BCE. However, it is not clear if Tao was actually a real person or a legend, nor a mixture of a few thinkers. Some believe he was an actual person seeking a way to avoid aspects of society like warfare, but others feel he was just mythical. Taoism began as a philosophy, but was turned into a state religion in 440 CE; it is one of the great philosophies of China along with Buddhism and Confucianism. Taoism had been oppressed during the strict communist control periods from 1949-1960, and during the cultural revolution from 1966 to 1976. Many temples and texts were destroyed. However, there is more tolerance and practice of this belief ever since 1982. There are about 20 million Taoists, mainly based in Taiwan.

Beliefs and Practice

One Taoist belief is that the Tao is a force flowing through all aspects of life, and believers must harmonize themselves with this energy. It surrounds everyone, which gives everyone the chance to achieve enlightenment. They believe that time goes in a cyclical pattern, rather than linear. Health and vitality are very important to people’s lives.

Everyone must respect the air around them, as it gives them life. There are “Three Jewels” in Taosim: compassion, moderation and humility. Taoists believe that nature should have its natural flow, and you shouldn’t disturb that. Before taking actions, Taoists believe that humans should think about the consequences.

Some Taoists practice Tai Chi to maintain health. It is a practice to balance the energy flow that connects our bodies to our surroundings. It is believed to lower blood pressure and stimulate the central nervous system, as well as to loosen the tension in the muscles.

Learning and Understanding Confucianism: Chinese Philosophy

Confucianism is one of the backbones of Chinese culture and way of life. In China, this philosophy is blended with Taoism and Buddhism in much of the country. It is difficult to say how many people follow Confucianism, as it is not a registered philosophy or church, and few people describe themselves only as Confucianism followers. Nevertheless, it is essential to understand Confucianism if you are planning to move to China or other countries in East Asia.

Confucius, aka K’ung Fu Tzu, was born in 551 BC in the state of Lu, or modern-day Shantung, China, which was during the Chou Dynasty. Confucius opened a school when he was 22, and was then appointed Minister of Justice of Lu. He left his position and spent 13 years wandering around China and teaching philosophies to assorted rulers. He gained some followers, and then settled in Lu and continued to teach there, until he died in 479 BC. By today’s standards, he was a conservative thinker who valued order.

The main rules of Confucianism are as follows:

• Li: Manners and etiquette
• Hsiao: Love in the family
• Yi: Righteousness
• Xin: Honesty
• Jen: Humaneness, Benevolence
• Chung: Loyalty to the state and order

Confucius believed that one must obey the written laws of society. However, there must not be an abundance of arbitrary laws. For society to run smoothly, there should not be too many invasive laws.

Another essential belief is the five relationships:

• Ruler to Subject
• Father to Son
• Husband to Wife
• Elder Brother to Younger Brother
• Friend to Friend

Needless to say, Confucius was not an egalitarian. The only one of these relationships that is on equal grounds is friend to friend. He believed that there needed to be hierarchy and order for greater society (or for a family, school etc) to function. Confucius also emphasized a respect for deceased ancestors. These beliefs and relationships were not solely for the living, but for all souls. Children must respect their parents greatly, and they owe a lot to their parents. However, those who are superior, like parents, owe benevolence and protection of the younger and more inferior people.

There are six sects of Confucianism: Han Confucianism, Neo-Confucianism, Contemporary Neo-Confucianism, Korean Confucianism, Japanese Confucianism and Singapore Confucianism. The philosophy has adapted to different times and separate cultures.