How important is the role of the government on the revival of traditional philosophies and beliefs in modern day Chinese society? The concept of revival suggests a return return of the popularity of traditional Chines Chinese e philos philosoph ophies ies and belief beliefs. s. The gover governme nment’ nt’s s role role is shapin shaping g this this partic particula ularr change change in Chines Chinese e societ society y is undeni undeniabl able, e, while while the exten extentt of importance is debatable. Although traditional philosophies here would mainly refer to Confucianism, aoism and !uddhism, it is mainly Confucianism and certain traditional Chinese cultural values that the government promotes. "ince #ao’s time, Chinese society has been moulded to the CC$’s needs, through policies li%e the Cultural &evolution. However, the thesis ignores the fact that there are other sources of in'uence that shape this process of revival, namely, the role of the media, unforeseen impact of the opening up of China, the search for identity by the Chinese people after the Cultural &evolution etc. These factors contribute extensively to the current revival that China is experiencing as well. Chinese Chinese government government actively see%s to employ employ traditiona traditionall philosophi philosophies es to reinforce reinforce their social programs. The CC$’s greatest contribution to the revival of traditional Chiense philosophies and beliefs was the willingness to ignore the the prac practi tice ce of thes these e phil philos osop ophi hies es and and beli belief efs s afte afterr the the deat death h of #ao. #ao. $reviously, the only belief endorsed by communism was atheism. #arxism argued that religion was the (opium of the people). #ao played an active role in purging traditional philosophies and beliefs. Confucianism synergies with the hierarchical structure and communal tendencies of communism and prov provid ide es poli politi tic cal legi legiti tim macy acy for for CC$ CC$’s rule. ule. *the ther than than impl impliicitl citly y endor endorse seme ment nt,, expli xplici citt endo endors rsem emen entt woul would d incl includ ude e the the appr approv oval al of the the creation of Confucian schools and teaching of Confucianism in universities. Hu’s Hu’s and and +en’s en’s comm commem emor orat atio ion n of Conf Confuc uciu ius s and and the the prom promot otio ion n of a (Harmonious "ociety) mar% an unocial endorsement of Confucianism as a pillar pillar of moder modern n Chines Chinese e societ society y. Howev However, er, it is import important ant to note note that that government policies are not always conducive for the revival of philosophies and beliefs. *ne Child $olicy contradicts the traditional aspirations of having large families. Traditional Traditional cultural values and practices are also promoted by the government to raise nationalistic pride among the people. This is evident is ocial celebrations of traditional festivals previously banned at the height of #ao’s rule such as the -unar ew /ear, /uan 0iao, ragon !oat and the -antern -antern #oonca%e #oonca%e 1estivals. 1estivals. CC$ statesmen statesmen often often ma%e ma%e refer reference ence to the term term (descenden (descendents ts of the /ellow ellow antecedent, antecedent, with Confuciani Confucianist st in'uence, in'uence, that peace can only be occurred under one uni2ed regime is also employed. 3lori2cation of paternalistic Confucianist political culture was also evident in nationalistic state4sponsored dramas li%e (hao emperor, wu di) and (history of the 5ing dynasty).
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6n'u 6n'uen ence ce of mass mass medi media a was was also also cruc crucia iall at reinfo einforrcing cing the the reviv evival al of traditional values and beliefs. The government also utili7es the media as a medium to convince the Chinese people of the inherent value of traditional philosophies and beliefs. /u an’s rise from obscurity to host the show (The Anal An alec ects ts of Conf Confuc uciu ius) s).. Howe Howeve ver, r, the the end end of tota totali lita tari rian anis ism m and and the the inevitable forces of change, from opening up China’s mar%et, granted greater autonomy to media institutions. -iberali7ation of the Chinese economy also created space for entrepreneurial individuals to ta%e advantage of the CC$’s new stand on traditional philosophies and beliefs. 6ntellectuals li%e /u an have capitali7ed on these developments by publishing a boo% presenting her lectures on Confucianism in everyday language. 1ilm producers found greater space space fro fro expr express ession ions s langua language ge 1ilm produ producer cers s found found great greater er space space for expression by incorporating elements of martial arts and mysticism derived from Taoist Taoist traditions in their wor%s such as Chen 8aige’s the $romise, 9hang yimo yimo’s ’s (h (hou ouse se of 'yin 'ying g dagg dagger ers) s),, (h (her ere) e) etc. etc. This This is a depa depart rtur ure e from from Chinese cinematography that was grounded in the realm of reality. *penin *pening g up of China China e:ecte e:ected d the revival evival of tradit tradition ional al philos philosophi ophies es and belief beliefs. s. +ith +ith the opening opening up of China China to exter external nal trade trade and in'uen in'uence ces, s, Chinese society 2nds itself exposed to foreign philosophies and beliefs with no cultur cultural al ballas ballastt as refere eference nce.. The in'ux in'ux of +ester estern n in'uen in'uence ce was an unav unavoi oida dabl ble e side side of econ econom omic ic libe libera rali lism sm.. The The reviv evival al of trad tradit itio iona nall phil philos osop ophi hies es and beli belief efs s has been been iden identi ti2e 2ed d as the the balla ballast st agai agains nstt the the (dec (d ecad aden ence ce and and inte intell llec ectu tual al pove povert rty) y) of +este esterrn soci societ ety y. #eanw #eanwhi hile le,, tradit tradition ional al Chines Chinese e philos philosoph ophie ies s and belief beliefs s were were revi revived ved as they they were were (brough (broughtt bac%) bac%) to the mainla mainland nd by overse overseas as Chines Chinese e schola scholars, rs, relig religiou ious s clergies etc. This led to the renewed interest in all things traditional. "earch for self4identity amongst the common Chinese also led to the revival of the traditional philosophies. A return to cultural roots is evident as the faith in communism erodes. ;conomic development has brought about new found con2dence in the embracing of Chinese culture. China is no longer (the sic% man of Asia) and associated with a history of strife and poverty from from the past past centur century y. Chines Chinese e tradit tradition ional al philos philosoph ophies ies and belief beliefs s were were deeme deemed d as the drivin driving g force force of the Asi Asian an mirac miracle le until until <= <==> =>.. Tradit radition ional al phil philos osop ophi hies es and and beli belief efs s also also serv serve e as a mora morall guid guide e for for famil familie ies s and and communities, 2nding themselves lost in the pursuit of money as the Chinese economy develop rapidly. 6n conc conclu lusi sion on,, it is clea clearr that that the the Chin Chines ese e gove goverrnmen nmentt has has play played ed an important role in the revival of traditional Chinese philosophies and beliefs in
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