Chapter 1

Background of China

Objectives:
1. Learn the background of China
2. Prepare a critique of the development and progress of China
3. Appreciate and recognize the Chinese people

China is officially known as People’s Republic of China. It is known as “middle

country” or “central land” because of the belief that it is geographically located at the
center of the earth.

Topography and Climate

China has a total area of more than 9,560,000 square meters. It is considered as
the third largest country in the world. Its mountains occupy about 43% of China’s land
surface, its mountainous plateaus about 26%, and basins about 19%, and only 12%
classified as plains.
China shares a land border spanning about 21,260 kilometers with fourteen
countries, namely, Mongolia, Russia, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, India,
Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. The
Himalayas, which is located along China’s southwestern frontier with India, are among
the world’s tallest mountains. China’s largest river is Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) with a
stretch of 5,470 kilometers and is considered as the world’s fourth longest river.
China lies in the temperature belt and with complex climatic patterns ranging from
cold-temperature north to tropical south.

People
China has a population of more than 1.2 billion which makes it to be world’s most
populated country. About 92% of its population is of ethnic Han Chinese origin. The
remaining 8% belong to smaller ethnic groups such as Huis, Mongols, Uygurs, Tibetan,
Miaos, Manchus, Uis, Buyis, and Koreans.

Religion
The major religions of China are Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Modern
religions such as Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism are also prevalent in China.
Confucius, the greatest philosopher of China, initiated Confucianism. He taught his
followers the virtue of good life such as benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom,
and loyalty. He also taught them to preserve the family unit as it is the foundation of the
nation. Moreover, he also introduced six arts such as rites, music, archery, chariot riding,
calligraphy, and mathematics which he advised them to master.
Taoism was introduced by Lao Tzu. His teachings are in the book, “The Way of
Virtue”. He emphasized that man could find lasting happiness if he possesses humility,
calmness, and patience.
 Buddhism was introduced from India. The Chinese accepted the teachings of
Buddha because they found no conflict between Buddhism and Confucianism. Buddhism
improved the government and the society of China by way of the spiritual life of the
Chinese. Beautiful temples called pagodas were erected all over China as a clear
evidence of the Buddhist influence.

Language
The Chinese language dated back almost 3,000 years ago. Although the spoken
language is comprised of more than a dozen major dialects, but all writings are done in
the same script or characters. The diversity of the spoken dialects is so great that people
from different regions often cannot understand one another.
There are three languages of the Chinese: Mandarin, Fookien, and Cantonese.
The official or national language is Mandarin which originated from Beijing of northern
China and declared as the common language at the National Conference on Reform of
the Chinese Written Language in 1955. Fookien is used as the conversational language
and Cantonese is the dominant language in Hong Kong
.
Inventions
The Chinese have many inventions and discoveries. One of the greatest
contributions of the Chinese to the world was the invention of paper. It was during the
Han Dynasty that the Chinese started using plant materials and silk rags to make paper.
By 105 A.D., a more durable type of paper was made which became the common form
of writing materials for records and books and used for creating landscape and figure
paintings, windows, lanterns, umbrellas, and fans.

Below is a list of more Chinese inventions:

Abacus Gunpowder Paper money
Acupuncture Harnessing animals Planetarium
Bamboo cannon Herbal medicine Printing press
Baskets Holders Rudder
Blast furnace Horoscope Seismograph
Books Ink Silk cloth
Cast irons Kites Toys made of paper
Civil service examination Magnetic compass Umbrella
Clock Noodles Wheelbarrow
Fan Origami Wine as anaesthetic
Fireworks Paper

Dynasties
China has one of the world’s oldest civilizations and a recorded history that dated
back 3,500 years ago. The imperial dynastic system of government was established as
early as 221 B.C. Although dynasties were often overthrown, the dynastic system
survived for centuries. The major dynasties and their contributions are the following:
1. Shang (or Yin) Dynasty – the first dynasty which lasted for some 500 years. It
was during this dynasty that the Chinese writing system was developed.
 2. Zhou Dynasty – saw the rise of Chinese philosophers and thinkers like
Confucius and Lao Tzu.
3. Qin Dynasty – marked the building of the Great Wall of China by Shih Huang
Ti to keep the Tartars out of North China.
4. Han Dynasty – saw the rise of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.
5. Tang Dynasty – contributed great achievements in poetry and painting.
6. Sung Dynasty – the era when gunpowder was first used for military purposes.
7. Yuan Dynasty – the Mongol dynasty founded by Kublai Khan. It was during this
time that Marco Polo visited China which marked the beginning period of
contact with the west.
8. Manchu (or Ch’ing) Dynasty – the last dynasty in China and during this time
that China began losing much of its territory, specifically Hong Kong to British
encroachment.
The dynastic system was overthrown in 1911 and a republican form of government
shortly existed until 1949. After a long civil war, the People’s Republic of China, with a
communist form of government, was proclaimed in the same year. The Communist party
has ruled China since then.

Modern History
During the first decade of the 20th century, dissatisfaction with Manchu rule grew,
Dr. Sun Yat Sen initiated a revolutionary movement called Kuomintang (Nationalist Party)
or KMT. On October, 1912, Dr. Sun led a National Revolution (also called the Wuhan
uprising) that resulted to the downfall of the Manchu Dynasty and a republican
government was formed.
The republican government maintained only a tenuous existence as problems
persisted such as imperialist supporters and warlord factions and caused disunity in the
country. It also caused the rise of the Chinese Communist Party under Mao Zedong who
actively mobilized peasant support in the countryside and the Japanese aggression in
North China.
During World War I, Japan gained undisputed supremacy in China and virtually
reducing it to a Japanese protectorate. As Japanese aggression intensified, the Chinese
realized that it had to stop among themselves and to unite against Japan. In 1937, the
KMT and the Communists adopted a united front against the Japanese.
In 1945, shortly after Japan had surrendered, fighting broke out between
Communist and KMT troops over the reoccupation of Manchuria. Hostilities continued
until finally in the summer of 1949, the nationalist government sought refuge on the island
of Taiwan from the Communist troops where it established a democratic form of
government called Republic of China. Only Taiwan, Pescadores, Quemoy, and Matsu
remained under the rule of the nationalist government.
In mainland China, the Central People’s Government Council served as the
supreme policymaking organ of the state. Mao Zedong served as the chairman and head
of the state. The new regime, a communist form of government called People’s Republic
of China, was officially proclaimed on October 1, 1949 and has controlled China ever
since.
Influences and Impact of the Chinese on the Philippine Life
When the Spaniards came to the Philippines in the 16th century, they found
evidences of Chinese influences on the native Filipinos. The Spaniards called the
Chinese traders “sangleyes” who established settlements in the country and became the
backbone of the Spanish colonial economy. These Chinese settlers were the masons and
carpenters who built the grand Spanish houses and churches. They were also the
sculptors, silversmiths, goldsmiths, and artists who produced exquisite religious images
and figurines such as the image of the Nuestra Senora del Rosario at the old San Agustin
Church in Intramuros.
In the course of the long history of the presence of the Chinese in the Philippines,
they have made significant contributions to the Philippine socio-economic history and
culture. Through time, these have become an integral part of the Filipinos’ way of life. The
following are some of their contributions:
1. sugar extraction from sugarcane
2. use of lime as a binder for stone building
3. pottery making
4. textile weaving
5. dyeing
6. carpentry
7. smith crafting
8. soap and candle making
9. chocolate making
10. commercial farming, fruit-growing, and vegetable gardening
11. domestication of farm animals
12. introduction of household utensils and materials
13. food processing
14. printing
15. use of metal tools for fishing

Intermarriages between the early Chinese and Filipinos resulted in a closer link
and greater depth of interaction. The Chinese mestizos were called illustrados. It is
estimated that Chinese blood makes up 10% of the Filipinos’ racial composition, meaning
one out of ten Filipinos is of Chinese descent.
Some elite Filipinos of Chinese descent are the Yuchengcos, Tuazons, Sisons,
Cojuangcos, Yangcos, Chuidians, Limjaps, Ongpins, Sanciangcos, and Paternos,
Foremost among these is Dr. Jose Rizal. Both sides of his parentage have ancestors with
Chinese blood in their veins.