s5 chinese culture 1

Theme 2　Chinese Culture and Modern Life

Topic 1 traditional concepts of the family and modern life

Theme Mind Map Traditional

concepts of the family and modern life1

2Changes in Chinese

family patternsTraditional

Chinese customs and modern life

3

Different views on traditional customsin modern society

4

Chinese culture and modern life

Exploration Journey:Are traditional

concepts of the family outmoded?

Main functions of traditional families

Challenges to traditional concepts of the family in

modern life

1. Traditional concepts of the

family and modern life

Characteristics of the traditional family systems

Are traditional concepts of the family outmoded?

Exploration Journey: Are traditional concepts of the family outmoded?


What are the characteristics of the traditional Chinese family

systems?

Characteristics of the traditional Chinese family systems

Traditional Chinese family systems




Lineage and clan system:

A group formed by families of the same

family name and ancestors, with the

same paternal descent.








Inheritance system:The eldest son of the legal wife is given priority in

inheriting his deceased father’s identity, rights and

responsibilities.










responsibilities.

Patriarchy:The blood

relationship of the entire family is

defined by patrilineality.










responsibilities.

Patriarchy:The blood

relationship of the entire family is

defined by patrilineality.

Patriarchal supremacy:

A father has the highest authority in a family. He controls

all family affairs.



Father-son domination:

Interaction between parents and

children are valued, especially the

father-son relationship.








Male dominance and female

subordination:Women are

subordinate and dependent on men.











Family orientation:The family is

considered more important than an individual and is regarded as the dominant entity.











Family orientation:The family is

considered more important than an individual and is regarded as the dominant entity.

Family first:The interests of the

family and the needs of the clan

are extremely important, personal efforts aim to bring

honour to one’s clan and ancestors.



What are the main functions of traditional families?

Let's Think


Economic support


Ø Most Chinese families make their living by farming, and forms a self-sustaining economy.

Economic support




Ø Traditional families provide family members with their daily needs.

Economic support





Ø Family properties are used to finance the daily expense of the family members and are divided

among the children upon the father’s death.

Economic support





Ø Family properties are used to finance the daily expense of the family members and are divided

among the children upon the father’s death.

Traditional Chinese society was mainly based on a ‘small peasant economy’.

Economic support



Continuity oflineage and clan


Ø Traditional Chinese families advocate having more sons and many children and grandchildren.





Ø There are three reasons:





Ø There are three reasons:1. To ensure someone will inherit the male lineage.2. To ensure that parents are provided for. 3. More family members increase production.




Nowadays, Hong Kong’s social security is getting better. Will the function of continuity of lineage and clan of traditional Chinese

families be weakened as a result?


Socialization


Ø For their children, traditional families will:

Socialization




- pass on rules in life;- instil moral values;- teach them how to read and write; - develop skills for work.

Socialization




- pass on rules in life;- instil moral values;- teach them how to read and write; - develop skills for work.

In a traditional society, fathers are often role models

for their sons.

Socialization



　　Socialization refers to the process in which a person understands how to speak

and act appropriately according to one’s own role through learning and imitating the

behaviour of other people.


Socialization can be carried out through the agents below. Discuss with

classmates how they bring about the process of socialization!

Family Media

Schools

Government

Peers


Other functions:security, welfare, leisure


Ø Security: the clan has the responsibility to protect the rights of the clansmen.





Ø Welfare: the clan offers assistance when clansmen encounter difficulties.






Ø Leisure: family members get together at leisure time to enjoy all forms of entertainment to improve their relationships.






Ø Leisure: family members get together at leisure time to enjoy all forms of entertainment to improve their relationships.

Worshipping ancestors is also a function of traditional families.




What are the challenges to traditional concepts of the

family in modern life?


Collectivism Individualismvs.


Challenges to traditional concepts of the family in modern life



Ø Modern people are more and more concerned about personal interests and their own points of view.





Ø Personal responsibilities towards one’s family have not completely disappeared.





Ø Personal responsibilities towards one’s family have not completely disappeared.

Ø Family members help one another in times of difficulties.




Authoritarianism Egalitarianismvs.


Ø Husband and wife are more equal.





Ø Children’s will is more respected by the parents.





Ø Children’s will is more respected by the parents.

Ø Family members negotiate and cooperate with their family members.




How did reform and opening-up lead to the concept of equality of husband and wife in China?


Spiritualism Materialismvs.


Ø Still take spirituality and ethics as the basis for maintaining family relationships.




Ø Still take spirituality and ethics as the basis for maintaining family relationships.

Ø There are often contradictions between personal enjoyment and family relationships, which may result in conflicts.




Think about the situation in Hong Kong. Are there some examples

which show that individuals have conflicts with family members due

to enjoyment of life?


Familysocialization

Non-familialsocialization

vs.


Familysocialization


vs.



Ø The function of socialization is gradually being replaced by other agents, such as schools, the media, government propaganda, religious bodies, etc.

Familysocialization


vs.




Ø But the family’s function of socialization still holds a very important place.

Familysocialization


vs.




Ø But the family’s function of socialization still holds a very important place.

Traditional families serve an important function in socialization.

Familysocialization


vs.



Do modern Hong Kong families have the function of nurturing

their children’s values?


Family education in Hong Kongdevelops national awareness

　　On the National Day, some local parents brought their children to watch the flag raising ceremony, participate in the National Day carnival and watch the fireworks display. By doing so, they hoped to nurture their

children’s national identity. 　　Mrs. Chan, who lives in Quarry Bay, specifically arranged a ‘national education one-day trip’ and said, ‘I fear that my two children do not have national awareness, so I want to take them out to learn more. I want them

to realize that they are Chinese and should feel proud of their country.’

(Source: Adapted from reports of various local newspapers dated 3 October 2009.)


Productionand allocation

Consumptionand leisure

vs.




vs.



Ø Most modern people work outside their home or run their own business.



vs.




Ø The development of the free market broke the tradition of self-sustainability of families.



vs.




Ø The development of the free market broke the tradition of self-sustainability of families.

Ø Most families have lost their function of production and allocation. Consumption and leisure have become the major activities of a family.



vs.



Life in Hong Kong is tense, and everyone is ‘working hard for a

living’. But family affection is also very important. How should modern

people allocate the time spent on work, studies, and with their family?


The End

s5 chinese culture 1

Health & Medicine

family affairs

family inmodern life

entire family isfamily

modern society family

thefatherson relationship

clan system

eldest son ofsupremacy

thefatherson dominant