Introduction
“Modernization” is a widely used word in the present society, usually indicating progress in humans’ lifestyle, science and technology, and regional development. In the Plenum of the 11th Chinese Communist Party, Deng Xiaoping has put forward the “Reform and Opening-up” policy, which accelerated the social transformation of modern-day China by opening to the world again. As modernization and globalization broaden and deepen, this process has also impacted traditional Chinese festival folklore.
Learning outcome
After learning through this model, learners should be able to:
- Describe the impact of Modernization on Chinese Culture and the Chinese festival
- List and explain different changes in celebrating Chinese traditional festival
Learning Activities
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Modernization’s impact on Chinese Culture
Four Modernizations as four area of development – agriculture, industry, science and technology were raised by Zhou Enlai in early 1964 with a goal of fully modernizing those sectors by the end of 20th Century. To enhance this proposal, Deng Xiaoping further proposed the ideal of “Xiaokang” or “Moderately Prosperous Society” in late 1970s.
With the open, the word modernization today is interchangeably with “westernization” or “economic development”. People’s live in China has been impacted by the western culture in many way.  The younger generation of Chinese people are more affected by the trend of globalization. Here are some major impact to the China’s young generation found in research: ” Children of the reform and opening-up: China’s new generation and new era of development”
“The life course of this generation is intertwined with significant social changes, such as fast economic growth, the one-child policy, education expansion, the rise of the Internet, marketization, industrialization, urbanization, and globalization. These changes greatly affect their living circumstances and opportunities, shaping the generational characteristics while widening the intergenerational gap between them and the previous generations. “
“The post-1980 generation was born at the early beginning of the reform and opening-up. Having benefitted from the rapid improvement of living conditions, this generation also has to face an unprecedented level of competition due to the deepening of the marketization. Meanwhile, as pioneer internet users, the post-1980 generation shows attitudes and behavioral patterns that are mostly distinct from those of the previous generations. They make their voice heard online and in the new media, marking the rise of China’s young generation.“
“Later, as an authentic “internet generation,” the post-1990 generation grew up in more comfortable material conditions and a more tolerant and liberal social environment, which occurred in tandem with China’s insertion into globalization. Known for being more open-minded, diverse, and self-confident, the post-1990 generation is replacing the post-1980 generation to become the main force of China’s new generation. “
” The reform and opening-up led to the shift of the country towards a market economy, which has accelerated the industrialization and urbanization, and has triggered large-scale population migration.“
Li, C. Children of the reform and opening-up: China’s new generation and new era of development. J. Chin. Sociol. 7, 18 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40711-020-00130-x
Modernization’s impact on Chinese festival
In China’s new era of development, social, economic, and cultural changes is continuously shaping the country’s new generation. It is also show impact and transformation on how people celebrate Chinese Festival.
Transportation
With the progress of industrialization, urbanization, many people choose to left their hometown and working at a different place. However, it is important for all Chinese people to go home and having the Chinese New Year Eve dinner together. Thus the famous “Sprint Festival Travel Rush” also called “Chunyun” starts happen each year. And with the modernization coming. they way how people travels are also getting impact. Here is a short video to introduce this big event that happens every year.
Mass media, Social media and Technology
Watching China Central Television’s Spring Festival Gala Show (CCTV Gala Show’) has became a tradition to every family in China since 1983 when it starts.  With the rise of internet, young generations begins to have more choice now, and one of the entertain activities is to post their comments about the CCTV Gala show on “Weibo”, a similar social media tool like “Twitter”, and making meme for some of the funny performance. People are more tend to spending more time on the phone rather than just having the whole family watching the same show together. If you are interested about media changes and its impacts in Chinese festival, you can check out them in these articles:
One of the oldest New year traditions involves the giving and receiving of “hongbao” (red envelop filled with money). Physical way of given or receiving is still passing around but there is a shift to given digitally. In additional, hongbao usually given from the olderly to young people who haven’t married in the family. However, lately, there is a trend for young generation to send hongbao to friends just as new year greeting. New generation also tended to use instance social media tool to post their thoughts or their activities during the holiday time.
Learning Activities
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Quiz
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Reference
Wang, B., Meng, B., Wang, J., Chen, S., & Liu, J. (2021). Perceiving residents’ festival activities based on social media data: A case study in beijing, china. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 10(7), 474. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi10070474
Song, L. (2015). Chapter Six: The Spring Festival in Modem China. Chinese festival culture series-the spring festival. Paths International.
Xie, Z. (2022). The invention of Chinese “media tradition”: Mediatization of festival tradition and family cultural reproduction in contemporary China. Global Media and China. https://doi.org/10.1177/20594364221090711
