Culture of Isolation in China

Daisy Pank (MM L6)

To understand the cultural isolation in modern-day China, we first need to understand its history. The Chinese Empire is regarded as one of the most advanced, inventive civilisations to date. The vast cultural and military success of the dynasties transformed Chinese culture, through the transformation and adoption of what they inherited. The dynasties saw China as the centre of the world, having no desire to be involved in global politics. This was the core reason for the birth of China’s cultural isolation. The Age of Discovery (15th–19th centuries) marked the first encounter with European traders, and from this time the Chinese struggled with the inevitable challenges that came with having to deal with the fast-changing world around them. But isolationism, in many ways, has remained a characteristic of China, even in modern times. It was not the collapse of the dynasties and the emergence of a nation state which enhanced the cultural isolation, it was the Chinese perception of cultural supremacy which led to the isolation of China as we know it today.

The seclusion of China in terms of culture, trade and technology passed through to the 19th century fairly unobserved. However, in modern times it was enhanced through the Communist Revolution of the 1940s, reaching a climax in the Cultural Revolution of 1966–76. The revolution, led by former Chairman Mao Zedong of the CPC, was an attempt to rid the country of both capitalism and of its long-standing traditions. These traditions were the ancient values of Chinese culture. Mao wished for the country to embrace a new set of values and beliefs, which included the replacement of Confucianism with the adoption of Maoism. Life was contained to the borders until 1974, and with a closed economy until 1978. However, the need for a shift in focus on science, culture, and prosperity monitored by the Communists Party’s control on individuals came about. A new era in which the Chinese wanted to be more in touch with the modern world emerged.

However, there is a division. The older generation and rural Chinese still generally hold on to the old traditional values and culture. These include Confucianism, ‘filial piety’ and ‘guanxi.’ Confucianism refers to the philosophy in China that focuses on the importance of healthy interactions, promoting the idea that relationships are unequal. Therefore, as relationships are unequal, there is an aspect of filial piety, (孝顺) in which there is respect for one’s parents and elders.

There is also a sense of unity in Chinese culture. With new economic growth and the opening of borders, there was an influx of individualist ideas in terms of financial independence. However, the Chinese consider that national unity is essential for a functioning society, above all such individualist ideas.

One could argue a recent example of their national unity was the Chinese handling of the Covis-19 pandemic. All citizens in China were compliant with stern rules and measures and, as a result, life quickly returned back to a more controlled situation.

Another cultural idea which differs from Western values is guanxi (关系): relationships. The principle of guanxi commits everyone from family to friends and colleagues to assist each other, thus furthering the collective ideal. Whilst the cultural isolation of China does come down to the beliefs of collectivism as in the West and arguably in the rest of the world, there is a sense of individualism. With the unified culture comes trust in the government. An example being the Golden Shield Project (or the Great Firewall over China). The firewall is a censorship engine allowing the government to regulate the internet and protect its citizens from ‘dangerous content’. The firewall has been managed by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security division since the late 1980s. This only isolates China further as access is denied to social platforms such as Google, Facebook, and YouTube. These platforms are designed to connect and educate people all over the world. They also allow for ideologies and beliefs to be shared, creating shifts in people’s lifestyle patterns and values. However, with the firewall present, the Chinese view of culture and history is heavily regulated, as the firewall is designed to preserve their national culture from any negative foreign influence. But indeed, this knowledge of Chinese history is inevitably skewed, as the firewall is based on heavy censorship. For instance, the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre, in which a student-led pro-democracy protest produced an unknown but high death toll, does not exist on the Chinese internet browser, Baidu. So, this iron curtain can also be seen as part of a kind of confinement and a limit to freedom.

Therefore, the cultural isolation and concept of collectivism allows for the government not only to shape the minds of its citizens, but also to prohibit content it deems unfit. In conclusion, whilst cultural isolation has conserved an ancient traditional culture from many kinds of foreign influence, it has also created a culture with restricted freedom.

July 2020 by Mr E.F.J. Twohig