I was once instructed to look for examples that would show that China had the characteristics of civilization, and also to show how Chinese civilization differed from that of Mesopotamia and Egypt. Numerous examples show that China possessed the characteristics of civilization. When one considers their ceremonial temples, their Book of Wisdom, the I-Ching, their world-renowned poetry and cuisine, the sheer longevity of their society and their overcrowded cities, it is clear that the Chinese knew as much about civilization as they did about civilization. . the Mesopotamians and Egyptians did. However, conversely, the Chinese also differed in their experience of a civil society. We will explore the commonalities and differences here. As you may know, the five main characteristics of a civilization are large population centers in cities, writing, ritual centers, continuity, and the arts.
China had a highly developed cultural core that was used to promote a moral order for its people. As the text “China: Heaven’s Mandate” (Wood) reveals, Confucius proposed that “the state is a moral order sustained by virtue, ritual, and reverence for one’s ancestors.” (Wood) All aspects of Chinese civilization were initially imbued with these values. Ceremonial temples and shrines throughout China were a big part of this. These ritual centers attracted millions of people to the major cities of China. Noteworthy are the famous Taoist temple on top of the sacred mountain, Tai Shan, in Shandong province, and the Confucius monument in Suzhou, China.
The Chinese Book of Wisdom, the I-Ching, was another example of the presence of the characteristics of civilization in China. Considered one of the landmarks of oriental writing, it testifies to the importance of the written word in Chinese society. This is a vital document for anyone studying the history of ancient civilization.
In addition, there were the arts of China. The arts, as we know, are one of the fundamental characteristics of civilization. Poets Li Po and Du Fu topped the list in a long tradition of Chinese arts. If cooking was allowed to rank among the arts, then Chinese cuisine would lead the world. It was one of the oldest known and most sought after kitchens. Its famous centuries-old dishes have become a literal art form.
It is common knowledge that China has the largest population in the world. Much of this population resided and still resides in the cities of China. While the details of the particular living arrangements and standards of living among the millions of residents of cities such as Kai Thanks, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Tianjin are the subject of another scenario, no one can doubt China’s commitment to living. in the cities. This is one of the most obvious characteristics of civilization that China demonstrates well.
Finally, China is one of the oldest civilizations on Earth. Its culture and traditions impressively span several millennia, as those who have studied any ancient civilization in the world well know. They have demonstrated the kind of intergenerational continuity that few civilizations have enjoyed. While parallels to all of these examples can be found in the civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt, three examples in particular serve to accentuate some differences between the three civilizations.
In ancient China:
1 – One man set the tone forever
2 – Religion was less dogmatic
3 – An integral component of the company was imported
While possessing the same civilizational characteristics as other ancient civilizations of the world, one of the main areas of difference was with respect to leadership. As said, one man significantly influenced Chinese society forever … without help! In Mesopotamia and Egypt, tribes, elders, and divine kings set the tone for society for hundreds of years. Confucius believed in and promulgated the belief that “goodness” was the foundation of a successful civilization. Therefore, leaders were only granted authority as long as they remained “upright.” Confucius was concerned with establishing a sustainable moral order on Earth. Only Confucius should be credited with shaping Chinese civilization, past and present. While both Mesopotamia and Egypt had their heroes, their influence was not as great as that of Confucius in China.
Second, in China the religion had a much more humble and less dogmatic tone than the religions of Mesopotamia and Egypt. Less was said about divine or divine directives, and more emphasis was placed on personal enlightenment and honoring one’s lineage. It seems that the Chinese were more concerned with spirituality than with traditional forms and themes of religion. With the introduction of Taoism in China, everyone sought the “right path.” Even this, in itself, is in contrast to the religions of Mesopotamia and Egypt. The act of looking for the “right way” was an admission that one did not know the way and had to find it. This thought was juxtaposed with the more dogmatic polytheistic religions linked to the propitiation of Mesopotamia and Egypt.
There was also the question of Buddhism. This was an idea imported from India. While all three civilizations learned from other cultures and made their important and distinctive contributions to humanity over the years, among the three, only China imported a significant component of its civilization from another country. Buddhism came from India. It seemed to perfectly complement Confucianism and Taoism, emphasizing inner enlightenment and ritual meditation. The Chinese quickly adopted and employed its precepts.
Taken together, all these many examples show that the Chinese possessed the necessary characteristics of civilization. Furthermore, we could conclude that the Chinese are masters of urban life. Alchemists, so to speak, carefully combining the arts, large populations in cities, ceremonial temples and other ritual centers, enshrined scriptures, and unparalleled continuity in a closely knit civilization, while maintaining significant deviations from the paths to civilization that Mesopotamia and Egypt They had. taken.