Chinese Historical Context and Confucian Influence

Overview of Chinese Historical Development

• China exhibited unique inward development distinct from the West which experienced dynamic changes through events like the scientific and industrial revolutions.
• Chinese culture focused on stability and constancy, particularly regarding political rights, reflecting a deliberate choice to maintain traditional views.

Confucianism

• Nature and Influence

  • Confucianism is not a religion but a comprehensive code of conduct aimed at societal order, emphasizing family hierarchy and respect (filial piety).
  • Dominated Chinese thought from the 3rd century onward.

• Key Principles

  • Deference: Emphasizing acceptance of natural laws and one's fate.
  • Conformity: Demonstrates a lack of individualism; notably, there’s no direct equivalent word for 'individualism' or 'privacy' in Chinese, contrasting with Western notions, particularly Christianity, where loyalty is owed to God, rather than family.
  • Central to Confucianism is the principle of collectivism, where the nation precedes the family.

• Development into Ideology

  • Confucianism transitioned from a philosophical foundation to an ideology justifying autocratic rule and the maintenance of power structures.
  • Breaking Confucian relationships between rulers and subjects was typically unthinkable.
  • Emphasis on Meritocracy: Mandarins, or worthy scholars, would solely hold public office, elected through rigorous examinations based on Confucian texts (8-legged essay).
  • The bureaucracy created served the government's interests rather than critiquing it, forming a submissive elite class (scholar gentry).

• Social Implications

  • Approximately 2% of China's population held about one-fifth of the national income by the early 19th century, representing the scholar gentry's significant influence.
  • The concept of Fate underpinned political legitimacy—the idea that the emperor, regardless of birth status, could be deemed fit to rule based on ‘Mandate of Heaven’, which required obedience and respect.

China's Global Interaction

• Isolationist Stance

  • Maintained minimal external contact, viewing itself as self-sufficient without the necessity for foreign trade or interactions (notably rejecting British trade).
  • Encountering the West primarily occurred through tribute diplomacy and confrontation, culminating in the Opium Wars that catalyzed changes in perception.

• Impact of the West

  • The Opium Wars initiated a series of unequal treaties that imposed Western control over at least 50 treaty ports, where European laws were implemented, fostering resentment and undermining the Qing dynasty's authority.
  • China was never formally colonized but endured a scenario resembling a series of mini-states under foreign dominance, which led to a complex love-hate relationship with the West.

• Impact of the 19th Century Events

  • The considerable defeat by Japan sparked a shift in China's engagement with the West, influencing future relations and perceptions.