Cultural Anthropology: A Study of Chinese Culture and Society

This essay delves into the field of cultural anthropology, focusing on its application to understanding Chinese society and culture. It examines various aspects of Chinese life, drawing upon diverse literature and research. The essay explores the integration of different cultures in cities like Suzhou, analyzing the impact of urban planning, economic development, and the preservation of cultural heritage. It also investigates the role of technology, such as AI and ML, in shaping China's future, particularly in areas like shopping and economic growth. Furthermore, the essay touches upon historical perspectives, including the evolution of social classes, the impact of government policies, and the influence of traditional practices like Chinese medicine. Through the analysis of these multifaceted dimensions, the essay provides a comprehensive overview of cultural anthropology's relevance in understanding the complexities of Chinese society and its ongoing transformations.

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STUDENT DETAILS
STUDENT DETAILS

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Cultural anthropology deals with variety of human cultural. It incorporates the study of social
structure, language, religion, their lifestyle, their ancestral values, etc. Apart from this, the
three main branches of cultural anthropology are defined as archaeology, anthropological
linguistics and ethnology. Anthropology provides the tools to navigate complexity in the
cultural diversity around the world most effectively and efficiently. In this essay, the study of
cultural anthropology will be done through various literature.
According to Carroll (2006), people in China integrated with other people who belong from
different cultural to transform the Suzhou city (In the Twilight of the Quin Dynasty) in the
modern city. The author has identified the cultural diversity by considering the experience of
various groups such as poor and business elites people, the relationship among Chinese
people with foreigners, local people with outsiders, etc. All these experiences will help the
administration of the Suzhou city to form better aspirations for cultural diversity. This city
will incorporate the norms of social organizations, cultural architecture, etc. Apart from this,
the author also concluded that economic development in Suzhou city will benefit all the
communities equally without any interpretation because the urban development brings out the
mutual benefit in the effective and efficient way possible. In the end, this literature concluded
about respecting cultural diversity through the study of cultural anthropology, helps state
officials and local politicians in making efficient Western Urban planning in Suzhou city1.
According to Henderson (2012), Suzhou city is counted as the great garden city in the entire
universe because this city incorporates the great masterpiece of Chinese garden design that
built in the 11th century. The design of the garden which was built in the 11th Century still
fascinates millions of visitors and still fascinates international designers’. The gardens of
Suzhou city also took place in the UNESCO world heritage cultural. Apart from this, the
author also described that the garden of the Suzhou incorporates the designs which are made
1 Carroll, Between heaven and modernity: Reconstructing Suzhou, 1895.

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by the intellectuals in order to draw China’s rich traditions with cultural embedding.
Moreover, the gardens of Suzhou fascinate people from all over the world and it also
fascinates people from different cultural diversity because of its astonishing work and
showcasing effects2.
According to Koss (2015), the study of Chinese history can be done effectively in the
embedded patter of the 20th Century. The administration of two cities Suzhou and Wuxi
decided to form the museums which will demonstrate the Chinese history and perspective of
the ruler of these cities. The perspective of the ruler of these cities defines urban planning
because it is a great way to promote economic growth and to respect cultural diversity. Like
that, these museums will demonstrate the perspective of the rules, the process of making
urban planning in the past centuries, reveals about the programs, inhering development, etc.
The author has also concluded that the idea of museums for showcasing the history of urban
planning is great because it will send the message to the rest of the world that Suzhou city
and Wuxi city always welcomes the urban planning with cultural diversity from past many
centuries3.
According to Chao (1995), a Positive effect on the physiology and psychology condition
through Chinese medicines fascinate millions of people throughout many centuries. This
literature focuses on the medicines and physicians in Suzhou. This literature incorporates the
four topics such as: Confucian physicians, Cold damage for febrile disorders, Warm factor –
it incorporates practitioners and the professionalization, and Progenitors. Physicians in
Suzhou utilized their study through these four linked topics. Apart from this, it is assumed
that it is mandatory for the physicians in the Tang dynasty to worship medical arts so that
2 Henderson, The gardens of Suzhou, 102.
3 Koss, Beautiful Su: A social and cultural history of Suzhou, 101.

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they can incorporate the knowledge of the positive beliefs and meditation science. It was part
of the medications to teach the patients about the science of positive realms and meditation4.
According to Wang (2019), China is changing the future of shopping in all the sectors
through the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). 8
broadways were described by the author that are developed in mobile technology provides
the effective way for doing business, Ultra convenience helps the business owner in bringing
more orders, social shopping, on-time deliveries, feedback system, etc. The author has
marked that China is a very huge place for incorporating many innovation sciences not in the
field of internet and shopping online experience but also in the field of war science5.
According to Lan (2011), the new generation is remaking China with their advance
developing knowledge in the innovation field. Apart from this, a neural network with
weapons industry, banking facilities, financial sector, etc all is the major reason through
which the new generation is re-shaping great China. China is noted as the world's fastest
major economy with a growth rate of 6% per annum. The government is having a positive
monetary index which shows that they have the power to spend more on the infrastructure,
hospitals, transport, R&D centers, etc. The contribution to the growth rate is majorly done by
the public sector of China then the private sector6.
According to Economy (2018), China’s economic development incorporates the major role
through China’s aging population, their stock market, FDI’s, South China Sea, Government’s
intervention in the economic policy, etc. Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, China has
experienced major economic development with another achievement. Chinese leader Xi
Jinping has released a ground-breaking set of political and monetary changes: the
centralization of intensity under Xi, himself, the extension of the Communist Party's job in
4 Chao, Medicine and society in late imperial China: A study of physicians in Suzhou, 1600.
5 Wang, “How China is changing the future of shopping”.
6 Lan, “The generation that’s remarking China”.

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Chinese political, social, and financial life, and the development of a virtual mass of
guidelines to control all the more intently the trading of thoughts and capital among China
and the outside world. Past its fringes, Beijing has recast itself as an incredible force, looking
to recover its past wonder and to make an arrangement of universal standards that better
serves its progressively goal-oriented geostrategic targets7.
According to Liu (2018), the author describes the positive effect of the internet that is
growing in the country with immediate efforts. The Internet has to put the positive effects on
the transport industry, education and rural sector. The internet traffic of China will be
increased by 3.4 times by 2021 because the growth rate is compounding by 26% per annum.
As per the statistical data, 240 Petabytes per day internet is consumed in the nation and this
will reach 765 petabytes by 2021. When at regular intervals, the world's biggest human
relocation occurs in China. Over the 40-day travel time of Chinese New Year, three billion
outings are taken, as families re-join and celebrate8.
According to Goodman (2014), After 1978 class in China become more intellectually
interesting because of the reform and openness. Majorly after the year 1980, the country had
gained major positive growth changes which led to greater social differentiation. The
negative prospect of this social differentiation is that it disempowerment the state socialist
working class and rural class. Chinese Communist Party brought the cultural revolution.
According to the author, people who lived in rural areas were got adversely effect due to this
revolution because they indulge in various inequalities through other powerful people9.
According to Zhang (2009), this literature incorporates about socialism through the
conversation of the little Lijia Zhang. She was the little girl and her mother works in the state-
owned missile factory. As years go, Lijia Zhang develops the feeling and love for money,
7 Economy, The third revolution: Xi Jinping and the Chinese state, 150.
8 Liu, “The rapid growth of the chinease internet – where it’s headed”.
9 Goodman, Class in contemporary China, 143.

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freedom and passion. The 1980s were the wonderful and grateful time for China's economy
to experience positive growth changes. In the same year, Zhang started working at the Liming
machinery factory when her mother took advantage of the early retirement plan. Apart from
this, after this year the government also focuses on making intercontinental missiles and
Liming machinery factories joined the government for carrying nuclear warheads10.
It is concluded that Suzhou is known for the best garden designs in the world and it fascinates
millions of visitors. Since, the ancient time physicians of the Suzhou known for their ancient
medicines techniques to provide the immediate effect on the physiology and psychology
condition of the body. Apart from this, it is also considered that China’s new generation is
remarking the nation with strong economic growth through technology and innovation field.
AI and ML are the prime objectives of the technology innovation that is developing in China.
10 Zhang, Socialism is great! A worker’s memoir of the New China, 250.

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Bibliography
Carroll, Peter. 2006. Between heaven and modernity: Reconstructing Suzhou. Stanford:
Stanford University Press.
Chao, Yuan ling. 1995. Medicine and society in late imperial China: A study of physicians in
Suzhou. Los Angeles: University of California.
Economy, Elizabeth. 2018. The third revolution: Xi Jinping and the Chinese state. Oxford:
Oxford University Press.
Goodman, David. 2014. Class in contemporary China. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Henderson, Ron. 2012. The gardens of Suzhou. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylania
Press.
Koss, Stephen. 2015. Beautiful Su: A social and cultural history of Suzhou. San Francisco:
China Books.
Lan, Yang. 2019. “The generation that's remaking China.” ted.com. 21 11. Accessed 01 05,
2020. https://www.ted.com/talks/yang_lan?language=en.
Liu, Gary. 2018. “The rapid growth of the Chinese internet — and where it's headed.”
ted.com. 01 01. Accessed 01 05, 2020.
https://www.ted.com/talks/gary_liu_the_rapid_growth_of_the_chinese_internet_and_
where_it_s_headed/up-next?language=en.
Wang, Angela. 2017. “How China is changing the future of shopping.” ted.com. 14 12.
Accessed 01 05, 2020.
https://www.ted.com/talks/angela_wang_how_china_is_changing_the_future_of_sho
pping/up-next.

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Zhang, Lijia. 2009. Socialism is great!: A worker’s memoir of the New China. New York:
Anchor Books.