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This section contains broad information that may be helpful for those with little familiarity with Chinese culture. This information needs to be applied recognising that each person is an individual; there is national/regional diversity among theethnic Chinese in Ireland; and some of the Chinese community may be more Westernised as a result of having been born in Ireland or living here for decades.
Essential Practice Point 1
- Fusion of beliefs: Chinese people are influenced by various belief systems that developed in China over previous millennia, some of which has also influenced the development of other parts of Asia.
- Confucianism is believed to have had the strongest influence on Chinese personal and societal development. Originating in China almost two thousand five hundred years ago, Confucianism is a personal and social code governing personal behaviour, morality, ethics and societal functioning. Within the belief system people are socialised to behave themselves with dignity in social settings, respect authority and obey their leaders, originally viewing the Emperor (and later leaders) as the Son of Heaven.
- Taoism developed at the same time as Confucianism and is a more philosophical and individualistic thought stream. Taoism speaks of the way of the Tao, a belief that there is a natural flow to the universe and remaining in harmony with this underlying flow will ensure positive wellbeing and good health. Among other things Taoism reinforced the need to maintain balance between Yin and Yang, the opposites that Chinese philosophy has believed to be part of all life for eons of time. The principles of Taoism, and the need to maintain the balance of Yin and Yang in particular, have influenced the development of the system of medicine calledTraditional Chinese Medicine, music, arts and practices such as Qi (Chi) Gong and Tai Chi.
- Buddhism developed over two thousand years ago. Observers indicate that there has been a mutual influence between existing Chinese thought streams and the development of Buddhism. As Buddhism developed in China it emphasised a religion relatively free of prescribed ritual and accessible to ordinary people and family life. Chan (known as Zen elsewhere) Buddhism initially developed in China.
- Chinese folk religion has been practised in much of China for thousands of years. It includes worship of the family ancestors; worship of the sun, moon, earth, heaven and various stars; and figures within Chinese mythology, among them the Chinese dragon.
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- Communism: The Communist Party of China established the People's Republic of China in 1949 and its first leader was Mao Zedong (also known as Chairman Mao). Initially, thought streams that detracted from Communist thinking, including religious practice, were not favoured under Communist rule. This has relaxed since approximately the 1980s and many Chinese are practicing particular religions including Buddhist, Taoism and Christianity. Some Christian churches have mission programmes in China.
- Family bonds: In Confucianism one of the virtues to be cultivated is filialpiety, a love and respect for one's parents and ancestors. This includes taking care of one's parents into old age, not damaging the good name of the family, not be rebellious, and ensure heirs so that the family and ancestral name lives on. This virtue continues to influence those of Chinese origin, including young Chinese migrants, some of whom are supporting parents at home with money earned in low paying jobs in Ireland.
Essential Practice Point 2
- Social interaction norms:Chinese and some other Asians are socialised to conduct themselves to particular standards in public settings, some of which are different to the socialisation processes in the West. The Asian norms are indicators of respect for the other in that society and not an indication of sociability or capability. With these caveats in mind, some Chinese/Asians:
- May appear reserved when speaking with another.
- May be deferential to those in authority and may not always seek clarity on an instruction that is not understood in order to not cause offence.
- May hold personal feelings in check and avoid conflict with others in order to maintain social harmony and avoid loss of dignity in social situations. May go to considerable lengths to avoid saying 'No' in order to not be impolite.
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Essential Practice Point 3
- Naming convention: In the written form, the surname usually comes first, followed by the family generation name (which may not be used) and finally the personal name. In the Western world many Chinese reverse the order of the name so that it appears like a Western name. A female example is where Li (surname) and Lan (personal name) is written as Lan Li in the West and a male equivalent is where Wang (surname) Chen (personal name) is written as Chen Wang in the West. If a hyphen is used in the written form, for example Lan-Yee Li, the first part continues to indicate the personal name and the second part the generation name. Check which name is the surname for patient information purposes.
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