Chinese Culture and Contemporary China

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/china-culture-contemporary

Introduction

### Course Review: **Chinese Culture and Contemporary China** If you're looking to deepen your understanding of one of the world's oldest and most influential cultures, the Coursera course **Chinese Culture and Contemporary China** is a commendable choice. This course delves into the foundations of Chinese civilization and intricately explores how traditional culture shapes the modern lives of the Chinese people. It serves not only as an educational resource but as a passport to the rich tapestry of Chinese culture, addressing its philosophies, artistic expressions, food, festivals, and much more. #### Course Overview From the moment you initiate the course, you’ll discover that it is thoughtfully structured, taking you through various dimensions of Chinese culture, particularly how these elements harmonize with present-day societal frameworks. The intention is clear: to provide a deeper understanding of how enduring cultural practices influence contemporary behaviors and beliefs in China. #### Syllabus Highlights 1. **Essentials of Chinese Confucian Thought** - This section lays the groundwork for understanding Chinese civilization through the lens of Confucian principles. Topics such as *Li* (ritual etiquette), *Ren* (benevolence), and *Tao* (the natural order) are explained, illustrating how these concepts foster social harmony and ethical governance. 2. **Essentials of Chinese Painting** - A fascinating exploration of one of the world’s oldest artistic traditions, this unit outlines what makes Chinese painting unique. It compares the Chinese approach to Western art, shedding light on philosophical underpinnings and aesthetic values that distinguish these two worlds. 3. **Essentials of Chinese Music** - Students will delve into the origins, essence, and evolution of Chinese music, including its interactions with Western musical influences. This unit offers a comprehensive overview, ensuring learners appreciate the richness of traditional Chinese music in the modern context. 4. **Essentials of Chinese Costume** - This segment reveals the societal implications woven into the fabric of Chinese traditional attire. By exploring different styles and their historical contexts, students gain insight into cultural nuances reflected in clothing, from imperial robes to common folk. 5. **Chinese Cuisine** - Here, the course highlights the significance of culinary practices in Chinese culture. It emphasizes how food reflects societal values, philosophical concepts, and historical context, making it a vital aspect of cultural understanding. 6. **Chinese Traditional Festivals** - Festivals epitomize the vibrancy of Chinese culture. This unit provides a rich exploration of various Chinese holidays, their traditions, and the underlying reasons for practices, accompanied by engaging media to enhance the learning experience. #### Overall Impression The **Chinese Culture and Contemporary China** course on Coursera is designed for anyone curious about the complexities of Chinese culture. Whether you're a student, a professional, or merely an enthusiast of global cultures, this course is accessible and engaging. The mix of theoretical and practical insights makes it valuable for both casual readers and serious scholars. The interactive elements, alongside the diverse media, facilitate a more profound grasp of the topics covered. #### Recommendation I wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone interested in gaining a comprehensive understanding of Chinese culture. Its thorough exploration of various aspects—from Confucian thought to contemporary practices—provides a holistic view that is both informative and enlightening. For those with ambitions of engaging in cross-cultural dialogues, conducting business in China, or simply appreciating a rich cultural heritage, this course will undoubtedly enhance your knowledge and perspectives. Enrolling in **Chinese Culture and Contemporary China** may very well be one of the most enlightening decisions you make, offering windows into a culture that continues to inspire and influence the world today. Whether you're looking to enhance your understanding for personal growth, academic pursuits, or professional endeavors, this course delivers valuable insights that are timely and timeless.

Syllabus

Essentials of Chinese Confucian Thought

Confucian culture is the cornerstone of traditional Chinese culture. In this segment, we introduce the three basic concepts of Confucian culture: Li or ritual etiquette, Ren or benevolence, and Tao. In the Confucian view, the variety of practiced rituals maintains the balance of society. Benevolence is the core of the ritual because only with benevolence one can truly observe li. Tao is the natural laws or order of the universe. One has to research the objective universe genuinely, to find those natural laws, and then use what was found to structure the human world. All these elements make the benevolence great.

In this unit, we introduce the world of Chinese painting, which is one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world. We discuss three important features that make Chinese art of painting unique and different from the Western painting. We also analyze the possible philosophical reasons lying behind that difference. By the end of the unit, one will know things like why Chinese paintings are usually not framed and without many colors, or why Chinese people when drawing might prefer having more than one artistic perspective, as well as other aspects of Chinese art.

This unit mainly focuses on three topics of Chinese music culture which are the origin and essence of the Chinese musical style, Confucian effect on the understanding of traditional Chinese music and Contemporary Chinese music development under the influence of western music. It is hoped that after completing this unit, students could feel and realize the uniqueness of Chinese traditional music, and have an overall understanding of the development of Chinese music culture.

With a large variety of clothes and accessories, from the dragon robe of emperor to the humble clothes of common people， Chinese traditional costumes show the beauty of the material world. It’s also related to the social classes, feudal ethics and traditional philosophies. This unit centers on three major questions, trying to show specific details of the splendid costumes as well as explaining the cultural implication, such as the ranks of imperial court, the customs of weddings and funerals, the gender issue in Tang dynasty, etc.

Chinese food is well-known throughout the world for its appearance, aroma and flavor. The uniqueness of Chinese food lies not only in its appearance and flavor, but also in its style of preparation, cooking and presentation. Chinese food culture was gradually formed in the development of Chinese society and civilization and was in turn helped shape the character and temperament of the Chinese people. As a panorama of Chinese culture, Chinese food is generally believed to be one of the best channels to know this country, its people and culture. There is a profound philosophy under Chinese food culture, and this lesson will help the learners understand why eating and drinking is of special importance to the Chinese, not only to their physical wellbeing but also to their mental health and harmony.

Festivals are an important part of Chinese culture. A significant number of festivals in folklore are rich in various elements of Chinese traditional culture. Do you know what the most important Chinese holiday is? Do you know what Chinese people eat, what clothes they wear and what other interesting things they do during those holidays? More important do you know the reason why they are doing that? Watch the "Festival Culture" unit to find that out. The unit is rich in contents supplied with exciting media that brings you to the amazing world of Chinese festivals.