Chinese Culture: Traditions, Symbolism, and Balance

Conclusion Chinese culture is among the oldest in the world. Their culture has a strongemphasis on philosophy, religion, martial arts, music, literature, ceramics, architecture, andvisual arts. From birth until death, Chinese people adhere to a wide range of beliefs andcustoms which all comes down to the symbolization of good or bad luck it brings to the peopleinvolved, or the maintenance of the “ Yin ” and “Yang” balance. In this review of related literature, it was addressed how essential it is for Chinese people to adhere to specific ethical norms inrelation to marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, health and disease, burial, and death. Marriages in traditional China typically place a greater emphasis on social andeconomic standing. Traditional families consider a couple's family's income, prestige, andposition before allowing them to get married since they perceive marriage as a tie that binds twodifferent families together (Li Dong, J., 2016). It reflects a great deal on the customs they upholdfrom engagement to post-wedding. When a couple gets engaged, the groom is required tomake a formal proposal to the bride's parents, known as Guo Da Li , by giving them gifts that represent prosperity and good fortune. A Chinese monk or Feng Shui master must be consulted by a couple in order to select a wedding date that will be prosperous. In Chinese culture, thecolors Red and Gold dominate almost everything. Gold is a symbol of wealth, whereas Redstands for love, success, happiness, prosperity, luck, fertility, honor, and loyalty. Particularly, thedesign and content of invites must adhere to certain rules. Additionally, the preparation of themarriage bed, known as An Chuang which takes place two or three days pre-wedding has to be dressed in a combination of Red colored beddings and pillows with a mix of dried fruits andnuts. This symbolizes a sweet and long lasting marriage blessed with fertility and well-wishes. Awell-known Chinese custom during the wedding is the couple and their families performing theChinese tea ceremony. It serves as a symbol of the couple's gratitude and the joining of bothfamilies in welcoming a new member into the family. The food given at the wedding feast alsoconveys wealth, the purity of the bride, peace, unity, and fertility. After the wedding, the couplethen are being formally regarded as members of their respective families when the brideprepares breakfast and receives small gifts from the groom’s family, and when both off themvisits the bride’s family. Pregnancy and childbirth also revolves around the maintenance of Yin and Yangbalance to protect the mother and baby. The human body is characterized as a yin-yang. Thetwo are intertwined and mutually dependent to one another. All throughout the pregnancy,expectant mothers are expected to be at ease. Thus, in order to safeguard and ensure thesafety of the mother and the unborn child, practices and norms are therefore centred on this.Hence, prenatal dietary prohibitions include eating large meals and drinking soup for protectionand strengthening, and avoidance of spicy foods and eating bird’s nest. Other restrictions havebeen imposed to prevent miscarriage and sickness to the unborn child, such as not eatingwatermelon, mango, lychee, and shrimp, or even mung beans during the first trimester.Pregnant women are advised to stay away from vigorous activities and anything that could harmher or the unborn child. Hence, they are forbidden from attending events, including funerals,unless absolutely necessary requiring they wear a red scarf as protection. Scissors and needlesis also strictly prohibited since they could result in a baby's deformity. During labor and delivery,traditional Chinese women does an upright position to facilitate delivery of baby using the

gravity. Lastly, in order to fully rest and heal after giving birth, a mother must stay indoors duringthe first 30 days and refrain from engaging in any rigorous activity. Even at burial and death, Chinese culture continues to put a great focus oncustoms that will ward off bad fortune and offer blessings to the spirit of the deceased and his orher family. Death rituals are carried out at funerals to restore harmony and order to the soul. Inpreparation of the wake, some customs after death include putting of all furniture out of thehome, covering deities with red cloth, and taking away all mirrors. Practices in preparation of thecorpse is aimed at assisting the soul on its journey to heaven such as cleaning the body andplacing of a mirror, bag of grain, and paper money in the coffin for the deceased to use in theafterworld. Chinese people commonly cremate deceased bodies. Contrary to popular opinion,Chinese people do it due to the lack of graveyard ground in their country. Reestablishing Yin and Yang balance is the main focus of health and illness. It is thought that the human body is influenced by its surroundings. Finding the balance betweenopposing energies, such as cold and heat or dark and light, is what is meant by the term"Health." On the other hand, illnesses are thought to be brought on by internal or externalevents that disrupt this equilibrium. The goal of medicine is to help the body restore this balanceonce more. Chinese people, however, use herbal liquids for recovery in the early stages ofillness, such as making Chrysanthemum tea to lower blood pressure. Chinese people are rich in culture. Each one revolving around symbolizations ofgood fortune and positive elements. Hence, they fill their lives with certain lucky things –numbers, colors, animals, days, and actions – incorporated in their practices such as Red beingthe most popular color, and “8” being the luckiest number or “4” as the unlucky. Culture plays anessential role in a person’s life and society. These unique cultural traits are what definesChinese. Understanding the meanings and purposes underlying their culture is a key to trulycomprehending them. Therefore, this study of related literature comes to the conclusion thatChinese people do not simply adopt these norms as part of their religious beliefs and practices.Chinese customs are carried out to protect, preserve, and restore the balance between evil andgood, similar to the practices of all other cultures that uphold ethical standards.