Transcript The Chinese Family Altar

The Chinese
Family Altar
Amanda Lewis
September 27, 2006
People’s Republic of China
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Under Communist rule
since 1949
1.3 billion people, 4th
largest economy
“One child per family”
Great Wall of China
PRC and the Republic
of China
History
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One of the world’s
oldest civilizations
Ancient China, Imperial
China, Modern China
Economic Isolation
The Forbidden City
The Last Emperor
Terracotta Army
Terracotta Army
Conflicts
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First Opium War and
the Treaty of Nanking
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Taiping Rebellion
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Boxer Rebellion
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Tiananmen Square 1989
The Altar
The Family Altar
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Usually in central room of
the house across door
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Meant to be seen
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Arrangement
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Worship daily at altar
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Take care of ancestors
Roundness
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Stands for continuity
and completeness
Confucianism beliefs
Importance of
Descendants
Patriarchal Society in
Household
Translations to
Business
Harmony
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Essential to lifestyle
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Symbol printed on door
frames, charms,
wedding cakes, walls
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Like to gamble to
reinforce harmony
Fluidity
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Capacity to change
while maintaining
tradition
Innovations and
Entrepreneurship
Religious Fluidity
Expatriate Chinese
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Over 60 million
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Can be discriminated in some countries
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Very successful businessmen
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Hong Kong’s booming business
Questions?