China Cultural Analysis

China Cultural Analysis Brief History With nearly 1.5 billion people, China has the biggest percentage of the world population based on country terms. The vast majority of the country’s citizens is largely rural, as around eight hundred million people reside in rural areas while the rest, roughly 35 percent reside in urban areas. Since the introduction of new family planning laws took effect, the population growth rate considerably slowed down (Murphey 10).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on China Cultural Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Family values are very important to Chinese culture. Today, the family harmony still plays a very significant role in the hearts of Chinese people. Most families, even when they are busy, will spend their weekends with each other, doing whole families can get together to eat, chat, and enjoy lives. The role of family values remains relevant in the Chinese society. In this regard, fami ly harmony is viewed as being pivotal towards attaining success within families. Towards achieving this goal, families make efforts to meet and spend weekends together. Apart from holding talks on family issues, members drink, eat, and enjoy in such parties (Sang 21). Social life is a function of economic wellness. As a result, the income due to a family influences the levels of consumption. Just as it is the case in almost all countries, the urban population is always better off, and thus able to spend more since they earn relatively higher incomes in comparison to the rural people. Geography China is situated in the eastern part of Asia. The country stretches around three thousand four hundred miles from the North to the South while stretching approximately three thousand two hundred miles from the East to West. Fourteen countries border the Chinese Republic; they include Vietnam, Burma, Lao, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, North Korea, Mongoli a, Kazakhstan and Russia. The country also borderes with the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. China is rich in deserts, deltas, plains in the western part while its eastern part is predominantly hilly. Finally, it is important to mention that the country’s cover is largely covered with high plateaus and mountains. The country’s climate is reflected by changing temperatures as one moves from the south to the north. The temperatures are higher in the south in comparison to the north. A yearly range of approximately 85 degrees Fahrenheit between the two poles corroborates this fact (Sang 23).Advertising Looking for research paper on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Social Institutions Family The Chinese way of life revolves around living together as a family. It is hence little surprising that children (daughters and sons), parents and grandparents generally reside in one home. It is, ho wever, clear that on reaching the marriage age, daughters and sons, do not always prefer staying with the parents. At this stage, the children move out of the family homes to go and begin new lives away. In some cases, economic difficulties have forced people to prefer families without kids. However, until recently, the big family setup was the most dominant in the Chinese Republic (Thurston 94). In order to get a clear view of the family institution, it is imperative to digress to the ancient times. During these times, men were the focal points in the family setting. The men made all decisions affecting the family, as the role of the women was only supportive. The women were lowly ranked and they had to focus on household chores such as parenting. Women never ventured into business outside their homes. However, things have changed and women are more empowered. In this regard, women are able to seek work outside homes, and are thus in positions of making decisions. Despite the devel opments, one aspect of the Chinese culture remains, the expectation to respect the elderly (Thurston 95). Education China instituted a long-term project in 1986 to provide children with mandatory education which lasts for 9 years. By the turn of 2007, there were around hundred thousand secondary schools and four hundred thousand primary schools. In 2000, ninety-nine percent of the male population aged between fifteen and twenty-four were literate while ninety-eight percent of the female population in the same age category was also literate (Thurston 96). Education statistics Youth (15-24 years) literacy rate, 2004-2008*, male 99Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on China Cultural Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Youth (15-24 years) literacy rate, 2004-2008*, female 99 Number per 100 population, 2008, phones 48 Number per 100 population , 2008, Internet users 22 Primary school enrolment ratio 2005-20 09*, gross, male -111 Primary school enrolment ratio 2005-2009*, gross, female -116 Primary school enrolment ratio 2005-2009*, net, male 100 Primary school enrolment ratio 2005-2009*, net, female 100Advertising Looking for research paper on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Survival rate to last primary grade (%) 2005-2009*, admin data 100 Secondary school enrolment ratio 2005-2009*, gross, male 74 Secondary school enrolment ratio 2005-2009*, gross, female 78 Political system: structure, parties, stability, tax rates, local government The country is under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) (Terrill 63). The party draws its power from the constitution. Other parties in the country are the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National Peoples Congress (NPC). The leadership is largely dictatorial and dissenting parties are rarely allowed to have things their way. Despite the closed nature of the political system, the country remains very stable. It is worth noting that the role of the local government is largely limited, as the central government holds immense powers over national and local matters. Tax rates remain higher for rural populations although attempts to reduce them have been made. Legal system: ju diciary, code or common, intellectual property The legal system of China is relatively tied to the political wing of government. The legal system is tailored to serve the ruling party interests. However, it is important to underscore the importance of the legal framework in reference to the role it plays in streamlining relations in the country by settling all disputes in the country. Regarding intellectual property, there are minimal measures put in place to protect intellectual property (Thurston 97). Economy Up until 1970, the Chinese economy was small. Nevertheless, from this time, the country’s economy has been on an upward trend. Augmenting this view, the country has increased global interactions in terms of trading. Additionally, the country’s GNP has risen annually since 1970 (Cateora and Graham 46). Further, the shift of the Chinese economy to advanced technology also supports the development idea. However, the growing economy has led to other problems hithert o un-witnessed in the country. Such problems include limited energy sources, transport and communication facilities, etc. the setbacks aside, the Chinese republic continues to be a world leader in the production and supply of rice, crude oil, coal, soybeans, tobacco, wheat, etc. Table 1 proves that average disposable income and the consumption levels in the Chinese republic are relatively low when compared to other developed nations. Another aspect that springs up centers on the expenditure patterns of the Chinese people. Unlike other people from different parts of the world, the Chinese people prefer saving their money than spending. This is based on the Chinese tradition, which lays emphasis on saving for the future generations. Urban families (Yuan/person) Rural families (Yuan/person) Disposable income 3934.94 1280.5 Consumption expenditure 2619.55 1072.2 Table 1 showing consumption rates in 2007 Social organizations Recent developments have contributed to the growth o f various classes. There are the high social classes, middle and the lower classes. The presence of around thirty ethnic groups also contributes to the shape of relations in the country. Business practices and customs have continued to change from a collective to an individualistic focus (Thurston 96). Religion and Aesthetics Religious intolerance was common in China. However, there is a considerable religious freedom in the country, because many states allow certain religious organizations to operate. By 2007, 23 percent of the people were believers. Chinese folk religions, Taoism, and Buddhism are the most popular religions in the country. The role of visual arts, music, drama, ballet, folklore and symbols remains heavily rooted in the Chinese culture. In reference to these aesthetics, the Chinese republic rank among the most sophisticated countries across the globe (Selden 79). Living Conditions Diet and nutrition The Chinese diet remains diverse. Traditional foods such as Tianji n are preferred although acceptance of meat is on the rise. Malnutrition rates are high in the rural areas, although there has been a decline in the recent times. However, the diet differs from one social class to the other since the level of income heavily influences the meals consumed by locals (Selden 79). Housing Housing in the Chinese republic cuts across different categories. There are groups of people who own houses and others that rent houses. In the rural areas, the vast majority with few exceptions own the houses they occupy while in the urban houses a good proportion rent the houses they occupy (Murphey 19). In terms of clothing, national dress and work clothing are put into perspective. The national dress is uncommonly worn. The use of western style official clothes is uncommon in China as the preference of casual ware is high. It should however be noted that most people prefer observing the tradition of living in family houses (Murphey 22). The graph above illustrates the changes in home ownership in china between 1997 and 2007 Recreation, sports, leisure The government of China provides recreational facilities and services. Such facilities as playgrounds, show grounds, parks and stadia are in most instances run by the government. China encourages its nationals to participate in sports. Martial arts, along with swimming, table tennis, basketball and some others are very popular in China. Traditional sports including dragon boat, horseracing and Mongolian wrestling are also common. The holding of the last Olympic games is perhaps the hallmark of the position of sports in the country (Thurston 97). Social security is available mostly to the people who work with the government. However, a bigger percentage of the private organizations do not offer pension as work is contract based. The percentage of income that goes to pension ranges from five to fifteen percent. Health care The Ministry of Health and the Provincial Health Bureaux are in charge of h ealth matters in China. Since 1950, public health has been directed by public policy. The inefficiency witnessed during this time led to complaints on the long-term role of government in the provision of health services in the country. After 1978, Deng Xiaoping reforms improved health provision as healthcare became privatized (Selden 89). Language According to Selden, there are two primary languages spoken in China. Mandarin or standard Chinese are predominantly preferred in the republic and as such, they are the official languages (90). However, other languages such as Yue (Cantonese), Minnan (Taiwanese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Gan, Xiang, among other minority dialects are used. There are no major discrepancies between the spoken and written languages. However, the written language is more official than the spoken language. Cateora, Peter and Graham, John. International Marketing. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2006. Murphey, Robert. East Asia: A New History. Michig an: University of Michigan Press, 1996. Sang, Ye. China Candid: The People on the Peoples Republic. California: University of California Press, 2006. Selden, Mark. The Peoples Republic of China: Documentary History of Revolutionary Change. New York: Monthly Review Press, 1979. Terrill, Robert. The New Chinese Empire, And What It Means For The United States. New York: Basic Books, 2003. Thurston, Alfred. China Bound: A Guide to Academic Life and Work in the PRC. Washington: National Academies Press, 2006. Appendix Table 2 showing the volumes of world trade China rank by population Map of China Location in the World, Map of China

15 Hilarious Pranks to Pull on College Friends

15 Hilarious Pranks to Pull on College Friends Oh Lord, there are so many hilarious pranks to pull on college friends. Listen, if you’re looking for prank ideas and don’t want to get sucked into hours of prank videos, this article is for you. Here are 15 that you can always count on, as long as they go off without a hitch and are executed safely. #1 Tape the Contents of Their Trash to Their Door Make a statement. You can find out a fair amount about a person by exposing their trash. Go into their room, especially if they’re super-messy and tape everything (within reason of course) that’s trash onto their door and let them know it’s time to clean up! #2 Fill Their Dorm Room with Popcorn This is a cheap and easy trick. Making it goes really quick and you can easily fill an entire dorm room with only about 8 or 9 bags which cost maybe $2 each. Transporting it is easy as well†¦.industrial-sized trash bags. The trick is that ideally you should be able to leave the room through the window so you can make the popcorn 5 feet tall (or more)! #3 Put a Dead Thing in Their Cereal No, not a real dead thing, but a realistic looking one. It’s not over-the-top but it works (especially on girls) you could either big a furry spider in there of substantial size, a small snake, or perhaps even a rate. #4 Change Their Computer Log-In Sounds This is truly legendary. If you can get their log in information, or get into the computer while they’re away change the log-in sound to something crazy. Anything from a full-on gun fight to a ground shaking explosion with screams of terror. Then, turn their sound system up super-loud (not so loud you blow speakers) so that the next time they expect to hear some pleasant sound suddenly they’re under siege and could potential crap themselves. #5 The Almighty Soda Bomb Mentos are pretty old. But, what you do is put a tiny hole through one, latch it onto a string and then drop it into a big bottle of soda and close the cap tightly. Simply put it back in the fridge and wait. The next person who opens that will be bombarded with fizz and syrup unlike anything they’ve ever experienced before. #6 Butter Tiles Again, cheap and easy but effective. If you have any tiles, butter them up and then wait because regardless of what kind cleats someone may be wearing they’re going to end up on their butt. Really good for roommates or college friends with hard wood floors. # 7 Completely Cover them in Flour While they Sleep Don’t pour it on so they wake up. No, instead grab like 10 bags of flour (that’s a pretty hefty clean up job remember) and slowly stealth fully cover your college buddy while they sleep. Flour is actually quite comfortable. #8 Early Alarm + Flattened Tires They’re the type of person that jet’s out of bed last minute, scrambles onto their bikes and heads off to class. Okay, so set the alarm an hour ahead of schedule (and any other clocks in the room along with it) and then flatten the tires so they think they’re going to be late. #9 Put a Fake Person In their Bed Get a realistic looking mannequin and sneak them into bed next to someone. Making the mannequin’s face scary is a bonus. They could wake up in the night screaming, or they could wake up in the morning to an unexpected stranger. Hilarious. #10 Opposite Side Switch This one doesn’t make a mess, it’s free and it’s funny. While they’re away at class sneak into their room and switch everything to the opposite side so it’s a perfect match. Then, when they bring it to your attention, seriously act as if they’re nuts and it’s been that way the whole time. If you can hold your composure it will play an epic mind prank on them. #11 Early Morning Shower Prank Simply sneak into the dorm shower while they’re getting ready for another day of collegiate labor and steal their towel and clothes so they will have no other option but to grab the shower curtain. However, this may not occur to them for some time. #12-   Shaving Cream Floor Cover the floor, completely, in fragrant shaving cream. Super cheap, and not as hard to clean up. #13 Wrapping Paper Room Grab some festive wrapping paper and thoroughly set about wrapping their entire room in it. Even if it takes 10 rolls, that’s probably only $20 to do a full single dorm room. #14 Pubic Hair + Superglue Seriously, if they have a problem cleaning up their pubes, then (with gloves on) grab a bunch of the stuff and super clue it to something that’s valuable enough to them that they’ll get the point. #15 Wake Up in Unexpected Places If they’re a heavy sleeper or utterly passed out, have them wake up in a strange place. This is so awesome when pulled off correctly. We had to boil it down to these because there are hundreds of pranks out there. But, with a little creativity you could come up with just about anything. Check out even more cruel but funny roommate pranks! How about it gang, what kinds of pranks have you played on college friends that they’ll never forget?