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My Chinese Identity
Student name
Course name and Date
Date
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I am of Chinese origin, female, and speak Mandarin. I identify my race as Asian. I am
short and have yellow skin, black hair, and brown eyes. I consider myself shorter than most races
I have come across. I am shorter than most European and American people that I have come
across. Typically, In China, men are taller than females. I am shorter than most males in China.
Chinese are most conspicuous for their physical characteristics, language, and culture.
Combining these three factors produces a typical Chinese person (Keightley et al., 2024).
Though the Chinese have different subtribes, these tribes or ethnicities do not create much
difference when understanding the Chinese people. A person from America or Europe may need
help to differentiate people of different ethnicities in China. Something that has also greatly
impacted the Chinese identity is the embracing of industrialization and politics among the
people.
My native language is Mandarin. Unknown to most people, Mandarin is also spoken in
Taiwan and Singapore. Due to urbanization, other foreign languages have entered big Chinese
cities like Beijing. Globalization has affected the Mandarin spoken in Singapore. As a result, it is
diluted and awash with foreign dialects. Like Chinese students who have studied abroad, most
people mix their language with foreign words and accents, creating a hybrid of dilute Mandarin
(University of Kansas, 2024). The rural villages of China still speak in traditional Mandarin.
Mandarin is a very big part of the identity of a Chinese person. Our language has a strong
identity to our lifestyles and who we are.
Mandarin is a very tonal language. The tone used can change the meaning of the words
spoken instantly. One of the aspects of the language that create the Chinese identity is how we
use our words. For instance, we use "sister," "brother," "aunt," or "uncle" to refer to friends and
even strangers. The use of these words is courteous and welcoming. The Mandarin language is
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very respectful, with very few cases of disrespect. The language also encourages refereeing to
older people as Master. Generally, any older person must be referred to in a respectful language
(University of Kansas, 2024). The explanation of the Mandarin language is critical because I try
to translate the language into English when speaking to people outside China. A Chinese may
struggle to address someone in a foreign language while searching for words such as brother,
sister, Master, etc. One very common characteristic of Mandarin is its use in the common
greeting. In Mandarin, asking if someone has eaten is knowing about their welfare. Due to the
Mandarin language and culture, I am much more direct about issues (Huan, 2023). For instance,
you can compliment a person's weight or pimple without worrying about them getting upset.
Culture is a great point of identity for the Chinese. Our culture defines us, our
mannerisms, and our way of life. We live as a collective culture. There is more preference for
harmony than conflict. This has shaped the way we relate with people and our families. I am
more attached to the family and prefer to stay with my parents and grandparents in an apartment.
This is very different from the European and American way of life, where they prefer to stay
individually (China Highlights, 2024). It is common for me to stay with my family and my
grandparents. Our relations are based on the Confucianism. Confucianism has three principles
that strongly control our lifestyle.
The first principle is filial piety. This is respect for both parents and older adults. This
principle is entrenched in all Chinese ethnicities and lifestyles. There is great respect for parents
and any older person. There is also gratitude to the parents. This is not shown as reciprocation for
being taken to school and cared for but because they are parents. This is why I have to call
parents to find out how they are doing as an expression of respect and recognition (Huan, 2023).
Whenever I can, I send money to my parents to support them.
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Kindness, mercy, and sacrifices are also other principles of Confucianism. This principle
is called "Ren." This is altruism. According to the Chinese, altruism is the highest form of virtue
and morality. Selfishness and helping needy people are critical to our Chinese identity
(University of Kansas, 2024). This is also reflected in the collective culture, where we see people
as a family and community.
The third principle is ritual, known as "Li" in Mandarin. This defines the importance of
traditions, rituals, and day-to-day provided for in culture. Chinese have their calendar, New Year
celebrations, holidays, and celebrations. The Chinese celebrate their holidays and close their
businesses and other commercial activities to celebrate holidays. Among the most notable are the
Chinese New Year celebrations, which follow the Chinese lunisolar calendar. This is called
Chunjie (CLI Team, 2023). Chinese observe and follow the Chinese calendar, which leads to
various holidays.
I belong to a middle-class family. Urbanization featured a blend of traditional values and
greatly affected globalization due to the great urbanization in China. The blend of the two has
corrupted the original social structure of social classes and created a near-capitalistic social class
in the country (China File, 2020). While the Chinese value the communist economic and political
system and have a strong attachment to Mandarin, the Chinese culture and Confucianism social
classes have separated according to power and wealth. The ruling class is at the top of the
hierarchy, made of the best contenders for power and the nation's rule. Following closely are
wealthy power brokers, political causes financiers, and people who can influence critical
decisions of the country (Norwood, 2023). They are followed by elite government officials and
successful business people. This group is followed by the middle class, belonging to stable
employment, and upcoming business owners. The last group is the lower-class people who
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spring from poor employment to the homeless people. These sub-divisions of the socioeconomic
classes mimic the Western divisions of economic classes.
China's economy and political state allow people to create wealth through hard work,
employment, and innovation. Though the strong effect of urbanization is shifting the economy,
tradition and culture remain strong in our identities. The collective culture, Confucianism, and
urbanization combined create my identity. Chinese are not very traditional and embrace modern
lifestyles as long as they do not disrupt harmony. Ideologically, we share a lot with the West,
including issues like women's empowerment, international political stability, and the promotion
of interregional trade and globalization.
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References
China File. “A Guide to Social Class in Modern China.” 2020. Retrieved from
https://www.chinafile.com/reporting-opinion/media/guide-social-class-modern-china
China Highlights. “Chinese Ancient Currency.” 2024. Retrieved from
https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/culture/chinese-ancient-currency.htm
CLI Team. “A Brief Guide to China's Seven Major Holidays,” 2023. Retrieved from
https://studycli.org/chinese-holidays/#2_Chinese_New_Year_Chunjie
Huan, W. “Femininity and masculinity in Chinese culture. Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy in
China.” 3.2020. 30-49. 10.33212/ppc.v3n1.2020.30.
Keightley, D. N. , Lieberthal, . Kenneth G. , Chen, . Cheng-Siang , Elman, . Benjamin , Wilbur, .
C. Martin , Chan, . Hoklam , Rawski, . Evelyn S. , Hucker, . Charles O. , Young, . Ernest
P. , Hsu, . Cho-yun , Silbergeld, . Jerome , Twitchett, . Denis C. , DeWoskin, . Kenneth
J. , Franke, . Herbert , McKnight, . Brian E. , Feuerwerker, . Albert , Zürcher, . Erik ,
Lewis, . John Wilson , Liu, . James T.C. , White, . Lynn , Suzuki, . Chusei and Dull, . Jack
L.. "China." Encyclopedia Britannica, May 8, 2024.
https://www.britannica.com/place/China.
Norwood. “Ancient China: Social classes” 2023. Retrieved from
https://library.norwood.vic.edu.au/c.php?g=946985&p=6861122
University of Kansas. “Mandarin Chinese Language Guide: Cultural Differences,” 2024.
https://guides.lib.ku.edu/mandarin/culturaldifferences
