historical uniqueness of traditional China

Annotations:

• traditional chinese culture seemed homemade with our being slightly influenced by any outside elements

Annotations:

• in dealing with completion of history

1. lack of interactions between China and the World

   Annotations:

   • X intensive & meaningful interactions
   1. Sino centri approach

      Annotations:

      • in dealing with compilation of history
      1. Middle kingdom

         Annotations:

         • Adoption of Confucian (儒家) concept of the 'middle kingdom' to understand the world in hierarchical (分級) terms 
      2. 3 distinctive layers

         Annotations:

         • Top:  ChinaMiddle: 'periphery (周邊) states' influenced by Confucianism in a China-centered tributary (支流) system Bottom:  'barbarians' (蠻夷)     
      3. diplomatic flexibilities

         Annotations:

         • Tang Empire: not restricted by the sense of diplomatic superiority originating in Sino centrism

Annotations:

• Focus of attention in international politics since 1949

Annotations:

• Dr. Fane was not welcome by local Chinese inhabitants when he came to rural China to help during the outbreak of cholera epidemic

Annotations:

• illuminates countless challenges that frustrated foreign missionaries, doctors, teachers, engineerings and revolutionaries who had been try to "Change China" for more than 300 years

1. open-minded mentality of Chinese people

   Annotations:

   • regarding the issue of introducing foreign cultures
   1. How Chinese elements influenced historical development of other countries?
   2. How foreign elements influenced China historically?

Annotations:

• - many elements which shaped its developments were traceable to somewhere outside China;  - historical development of other civilisations were more/less related to China as well