Contrasting Chinese Society and Western Society

Now we proceed with the issue of “the Chinese Family”, and the best way to so is to contrast Chinese society and Western society.

The social structure in evidence at a certain time in a certain place truly embodies the “backbone” of that whole culture at that time and place, while all the other cultural elements constitute merely the flesh attached to the backbone. If there is virtually no difference between two places in terms of social structure, it follows that their cultures must be basically similar. On the other hand, if there is difference between two places in terms of social structure, it is impossible for all the other elements to be the same. This does not mean that all other elements are determined by social structure, but from this foundation one can discern the essentials of a culture. That is why we have taken “the Chinese Family” as our starting point. However, as the old saying goes, “How can I know what a mountain looks like, except by looking at it from the outside?” As the Chinese people are contained within the social structure of China, they can never get a clear idea of what their culture is. A look at another culture with reference to one's own will therefore be quite revealing.

For example, a cursory glance at the outside world will make you aware of the antagonism between the UK and the US, on one side of the divide, and the Soviet Union, on the other. The ways in which their countries have developed – that is, their social structures – differ from each other in that the former axis constitutes an individual-oriented society, while the latter consistutes a community-oriented society. The problem lies in the fact that, since they possess diametrically opposed views, each side lays the blame for these hostilities squarely on the other. If we probe into this further, we will see that this is an old problem in Western society. From the Middle Ages to modern times, and from modern times to the present, popular thought in Western society has swung back and forth between two poles, the collective versus the individual, vacillating as regards which one should be afforded priority and importance and which should be relegated to the subordinate position.