Verified Document

Influence If China On The West Essay

¶ … China on the West UNPRECEDENTED, CHALLENGING

Risen Power

Freed at last from 150 years of humiliation as a worthless Soviet-style command economy and nation, China first became a "rising power" and then as an actual "risen power (Brookes 2005). Unprecedented economic reforms two decades ago led to its amazing economic growth and expansion. Achieving an almost double-digit growth in the last two decades, China has clearly restored its old grandeurs as the "Middle Kingdom." Chinese analysts believe this immense growth will continue and challenge traditional world powers, including the United States, in dominion and control of international mechanisms. At present, it has the largest population in the world and the second largest defense budget and ranks as the second largest economy. These capabilities allow China to play big roles in global politics. It is not only a permanent member of the UN Security Council. It is also a nuclear weapons state. Its political clout is growing beyond Asia too. It has been playing major roles in international issues, such as weapons proliferation, human rights and energy security. In the next decades, China can visualize coming to its "rightful place" among established great powers in the world system, possibly on top of them (Brookes).

China's Gifts to the West

China was already conducting trade with Europe and other countries when Christopher Columbus discovered the territory, which became America (Bodde, 2005). China endowed the West and the rest of the world with material and intellectual gifts, which greatly contributed to civilization. Among its material gifts in the form of goods, inventions and discoveries are silk, porcelain, tea, paper, printing, gunpowder, the compass, lacquer, medicines, plants, kits, playing cards, intensive breeding, wallpaper, the folding umbrella, and the sedan chair or palanquin used as comfortable transportation means (Bodde).

In addition, the Chinese contributed ideas, which...

These ideas include the origins and influence of the civil service system, alchemy and chemistry, agricultural methods, thought in the Age of Enlightenment, Western literature and Western political and economic theories (Bodde).
Civil Service System - This is one of the established institutions in modern democracies (bode, 2005). It did not originate from America itself or from Europe. It took after the systems of Britain and France, which adopted the same system from an earlier source. China inaugurated the first merit system of competitive government examinations in the year 165 BC (Bodde).

Literature -- A Chinese tale written in the 9th century appears to be the oldest version or original of the famous story of Cinderella (Bodde, 2005). The next version appeared 700 years later in 1544 in Lyons, France. The original was written by a Chinese scholar named Tua Ch'eng-shih, who gathered and published strange and supernatural stories. One of them came from a "caveman" from South China. That original dealt with the same lessons on human virtues, which were later adapted in the Western world (Bodde).

Alchemy -- The Chinese initiated this ancient art, which later evolved into modern chemistry (Bodde, 2005). They pioneered in experiments to convert base metals into precious ores. Their theories attracted the attention of others in the 18th century. It is commonly believed that alchemy evolved from Alexandria in the early centuries after Christ. The practitioners were applying philosophical ideas dating back to the ancients. Records state that Chinese alchemy dates back to more than 2 centuries before those practiced in Alexandria in 133 BC. Chinese alchemy is rooted in the theory that the fundamental law of the universe is constant change (Bodde).

The Age of Enlightenment Thought -- European scholars who lived in China in the 17th century wrote their observations on the great Chinese civilization (Bodde,…

Sources used in this document:
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bodde, D. (2005). Chinese ideas in the West. Committee on Asian Studies in American

Education: University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved on November 14, 2011 from http://www.learn.columbia.edu/nauxuntu/html/state/ideas.pdf

- (2005). China's gifts to the West. Retrieved on November 15, 2011 from http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/song/readings/inventions_gifts.htm#conclusion

Brookes, P. (2005). China's influence in the Western Hemisphere. Asian Studies Center:
The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved on November 1, 2011 from http://www.heritage.org/research/lecture/chinas-influence-in-the-western-hemisphere
from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/coment/personal-view/5927146/Weve-made-huge-strides-but-Chinas-influence-has-its-limits.html
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

China and Globalization Three Research Questions on
Words: 3146 Length: 10 Document Type: Essay

China and Globalization THREE RESEARCH QUESTIONS ON FACTORS INFLUENCING CHINA'S RISE TO SUPERPOWER STATUS In evaluating China's prospects for achieving superpower status, especially during this economic crisis, the first research question would take into consideration whether and to what degree the United States is in decline as a superpower, and if it is, then whether China is simply going to achieve superpower status by default. This is what happened to the British

China's Influence in Africa Though
Words: 3416 Length: 10 Document Type: Research Paper

This is true not only in African countries with "dictatorial or authoritarian regimes but in fact China's […] commonly shared roots with African nations […] has struck a chord even with those democratically elected leaders in Africa," allowing China access to even those countries that might at first glance appear to natural allies to the United States due to their democratic form of government. Thus, Africa's colonial past has simultaneously meant

China and the Rule of
Words: 4898 Length: 16 Document Type: Research Paper

I do not approve of reading so many books. The method of examination is a method of dealing with the enemy. It is most harmful and should be stopped" (Johnson 1992:552). Mao wanted control of China's destiny -- and he wanted that destiny out of the hands of the religionists, whose doctrine was not formulated by him but by an outside body. Thus, places like Sacred Heart convent in

China and India Trends Towards Western-Style Consumption
Words: 1177 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

China and India Trends towards Western-Style Consumption Products that interest these youth markets In these markets, the youths are intrigued by technological applications. They lead the world in innovation ranging from mobile platforms, automated cars and internet purchasing. This has been accelerated by the emulation of Western-style consumption, which is characterized by mobile devices instead of television or computers as their principal source of information access. Experts in social media argue that

China-Puerto Rico K -- 12 Students in
Words: 1389 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

China-Puerto Rico K -- 12 Students in China and Puerto Rico In this essay, the author will use the 2009 PISA analysis to compare the China and Puerto Rico's policies on education and the impact or influence on the performance of K -- 12 students. Both countries are radically different in that they have different relationships with PISA and OECD. China is not a member and the Puerto Rico is via its

China, the New Neo-Imperialist Power
Words: 2723 Length: 8 Document Type: Essay

China's massive growth over the last two decades has brought with it a similarly explosive need for energy resources, a need that as of yet cannot be fulfilled by domestic reserves. Thus, China imported 3.5 million barrels of oil per day in 2006, and that number is expected to increase to 13.1 million barrels per day by 2030 (Hanson 2008). Subsequently, "as the world's second-largest consumer of oil, and with

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now