I was once instructed to find examples showing that China had the characteristics of civilization, and also to show how Chinese civilization was different from that of Mesopotamia and Egypt. There are numerous examples that 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 evident that the Chinese knew as much about civilization as the Mesopotamians did. and the Egyptians. Conversely, however, the Chinese also differed in their experience of a civil society. We will explore the commonalities and the 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: The Mandate of Heaven” (Wood) reveals, Confucius proposed that the “State is a moral order sustained by virtue, ritual, and reverence for ancestors.” (Wood) Every aspect of Chinese civilization was initially imbued with these values. Ceremonial temples and shrines throughout China were a big part of this. These ritual centers drew millions to the major cities of China. Notable are the famous Taoist temple on top of the sacred mountain, Taishan, 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 referents of oriental writing, he tested 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. The poets Li Po and Du Fu headed the list in a long tradition of Chinese arts. If cooking were allowed to be ranked among the arts, then Chinese cuisine would lead the world. It was one of the oldest known and most sought after kitchens. Its centuries-old famous dishes have become a literal art form.
It is well known 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 individual living arrangements and living standards among the millions of residents of cities like Kai Thanks, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Tianjin are the subject of another scenario, no one can doubt China’s commitment to living in cities. This is one of the most obvious features of civilization that China demonstrates well.
Finally, China is one of the oldest civilizations on Earth. Their culture and traditions impressively span several millennia, as those who have studied any ancient civilization in the world know well. They have demonstrated the kind of intergenerational continuity that few other civilizations have enjoyed. While parallels to all of these examples can be found in the Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations, three examples, in particular, serve to accentuate some differences between the three civilizations.
In ancient China:
1 – A man set the tone forever
2 – Religion was less dogmatic
3 – An integral component of the company was imported
While it possessed the same civilizational characteristics as other ancient civilizations in the world, one main area of ​​difference was regarding leadership. As said, one man significantly influenced Chinese society forever… singlehandedly! In Mesopotamia and Egypt, tribes, elders, and divine kings set the tone for society for hundreds of years. Confucius believed and promulgated the belief that ‘goodness’ was the foundation of a successful civilization. Therefore, leaders were only given authority as long as they were ‘standing’. Confucius was concerned with establishing a sustainable moral order on Earth. Only Confucius should be credited with the formation of 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 religion was much more humble and less dogmatic in tone than the religions of Mesopotamia and Egypt. There was less talk of the divine, or divine directives, and more of an emphasis on personal enlightenment and honoring one’s lineage. It seems that the Chinese were more concerned with spirituality than with the traditional forms and themes of religion. With the introduction of Taoism in China, everyone searched for the “right path.” Even this, in itself, is in contrast to the religions of Mesopotamia and Egypt. The act of seeking the ‘right path’ was admitting that one did not know the path and had to find it. This thinking was juxtaposed with the more dogmatic and propitiatory polytheistic religions of Mesopotamia and Egypt.
There was also the issue of Buddhism. This was an idea imported from India. While all three civilizations learned from other cultures and made their major contributions to humanity over the years, among the three, only China imported a major component of its civilization from another country. Buddhism came from India. It seemed to perfectly complement Confucianism and Taoism, emphasizing inner illumination and ritual meditation. The Chinese quickly adopted and used its precepts.
Taken together, all these many examples prove that the Chinese possessed the necessary characteristics of civilization. We could also conclude that the Chinese are masters of city life. Alchemists, if you will, carefully combining the arts, large populations in cities, ceremonial temples and other ritual centers, time-honored writings, and unparalleled continuity in a close-knit civilization while maintaining significant deviations from the paths of civilization that they had Mesopotamia and Egypt. taken.