1. FAMILISM THE FOUNDATION OF CHINESE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION.
- Author
-
Cheng Ch'Eng-k'Un
- Subjects
SOCIAL structure ,FAMILIALISM ,FILIAL piety ,POSTWAR reconstruction ,NATIONALISM - Abstract
Long before the collapse of the Manchu Monarchy in 1911, the social organization in China was founded on a large family system. This system exercised such a powerful influence that it completely dominated the thoughts and actions of the Chinese people. It taught them the necessity of cooperation, courtesy, patience, and self-control in family relationship. It inculcated in their minds the supreme importance of working for the honor and glorification of the family name. No satisfactory understanding of China and her present titanic problems of adjustment can be attained without an analysis of the deep-rooted influence of this system of social organization from which the Chinese people are emerging to play their part in the post-war reconstruction of the world. In a country like China where "society" as an idea of human organization did not exist and where nationalism was never greatly developed because of her rarely challenged position, filial piety acquired a great variety of applications. Filial obedience has been recognized the world over as an important virtue of man.
- Published
- 1944
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