The Completed Lives of Ancient Chinese People

A long time ago in ancient China most people's lives were lived within the framework of the family.  A person was not merely a child, but someone's son or daughter.  When the child grew up, they were not simply an adult but also a father or a mother.  If they were fortunate enough to live so long at some point they would be a grandfather or a grandmother.  So it was from the family that an individual learned the most important values of Chinese society.

In ancient China the social hierarchies were natural not static.  Social harmony was supposed to be placed above personal goals.  In addition, life after death required corporate effort on the part of the family that person left behind.  There were significant rites of passage to indicate individual lives.  These took place from birth and acceptance into a family, through attainment of adulthood and marriage, to old age, and finally to death and burial.  It was this last passage "death" which was regarded by the majority of Chinese people as the most important one of all.  This was considered to be the realm of ancestors and spirits.  The Chinese view of the after life is also one of mystery and wonder.  Life itself, from beginning to end, is a grand cycle!

Best regards from the East,

Harlan Urwiler

For more information, feel free to visit my website at:  http://www.myorientalgallery.com/.