Term Paper ****Course: Intercultural CommunicationName: 张海文Student No: 20121402067Class No: 1201Topic: What foreign influences China has been through since ancient times? Summarize and explain. (自古以来中国文化受到过哪些外来影响？归纳并举例说明。

)IntroductionChina has been confronting foreign influences since ancient times. In this paper, those influences fall into two parts chronologically with the year of 1840 as the divide. In the first section, it is focused on foreign influences in ancient times: one is the invasion of ancient minorities, the other is religion. In the second section, it is focused on foreign influences facing modern China: English and America culture.Main body1. The invasion of ancient minoritiesThroughout the Chinese history, minority regimes were constantly established through war, such as Nuzhen nationality, Qidan nationality, Xianbei nationality, Mongolia, Manchu etc. One example is used here, Mongolia.Mongolia features grassland and nomadic culture. Geologically speaking, with a relatively small population occupying a vast tract of land, Mongolians attach great importance to solidarity. On the other hand, they value the role of individuals and make ensure everyone achieves his full potential. Based on Cultural Dimensions,Mongolia can be defined as a nation of high degree of individualism, while in ancient China with a large population, collectivism was highly advocated.In Mongolia, Woman occupy a high place in the lives of Mongolians. They were respected and given much more freedom, including learning kongfu, riding, archery and even engagement in politics. Women played a vital role in the whole nation. However, ancient China, a society with highly masculine cultures, believe that men should be assertive and women should be nurturing. As a result, When Mongolia conquered Zhongyuan District, the feminists view of woman being no inferior to man started to influence China though not great.From above, the two cultures were in contrast with each other, and thus conflicts occurred constantly. As a consequence, Mongolia was driven away as foreign forces.2. ReligionIn Gaoyihong’s theory of Going Across And Going Beyond, she proposed an individual-based model aiming to describe two stages one has to go through when in a foreign culture——going across and going beyond. The theory could also be employed in culture-based type, correspondingly with two stages——conflict and integration.In this section, One example is used here, Buddhism. Conflict between Buddhism and ancient Chinese culture is actually the conflict between the two major ideologies: Confucianism and Buddhism. Comparison is demonstrated in the following chart.ConceptsReligions View of life Political and familyethicsMoral idealBuddhism Anatman. one shouldbe a monasticpractitioner, free fromworldly distractionsand desires.All man are equal.Before the emperor,one does not need tokneel down; Oneought to forsake hisfamily for practicing.One ought to practiceto reach the stage ofNirvana which meanseternity.Confucianism The tenet is adaptingto the law of heavenand making use of it.Man should beconstantly pursuingself-improvement,The top priorities areloyalty and filial pietyOne ought to do hisbest to be a sage, amoral perfect man.To conclude, Buddhism was not welcomed among the people at first. Later on, Buddhism adjusted itself and gradually integrated into Chinese culture. The essence of Buddhism is leniency, which is widely accepted by the Chinese people and similar to the kindheartedness advocated by Confucianism. Another important concept is harmony, which thanks to Buddhism, has rooted in Chinese culture. Since modern China, the Chinese people have been striving to build a harmonious society, contributing not only to itself but to the whole world.3. English and America cultureDue to the march of globalization, people are more closely connected and mutually influenced. Major influences are from English and America cultures. One is the mentality, the other is changes in people’s daily life.Mentality change is mainly brought about by English Craze. Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis points out that Language directs the perceptions of its speakers to certain things. Young students in China gradually develop a western-like mentality through learning English since primary school. Core values advocated in the western country such as individualism, freedom, equality are spreading with time.Another is changes in people’s daily life. Western festivals such as Thanksgiving Day,Christmas are celebrated among the youngsters. Churches are built in cities.ConclusionsBefore 1840, The foreign forces, either driven away or integrated, thus have but mild influences on Chinese culture. In this period, Chinese culture remained stable and is the power culture compared with foreign cultures. However，In modern China, Chinese culture, as a relatively less advanced culture, are being influenced by the current power culture——English and America culture. China are now experiencing more foreign forces than ever, and how to coordinate opening up and culture preservation has become the major question facing China.Bibliography1. 国宇，李成. 论蒙古族文化对中国文化以及元代文学的影响[D]. 辽宁：辽宁师范大学，2011.2. 杜荣坤，白翠琴. 论古代少数民族政权与祖国的关系[J]. 民族研究，1979.3. 许力生. 新编跨文化交际英语教程(修订版) (学生用书) . 上海：上海外语教育出版社. 2009．4. 高一虹，跨文化交际能力培养：“跨越”和“超越”[J], 外语与外语教学，2002[10].5. 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