China: The Past Is Always the Present

China: The Past is always the Present – Part 1
China: The Past is always the Present – Part 2	<br />
Speaker	Dr. Thomas Gold
Summary	In the first part of the speech, Prof. Gold provides an introduction to China’s geography, the nature differences between the north and south, China’s history of controlling nature, the dominate Han culture, culture artifacts, and the standardization of language. In the second part of his speech, Dr. Gold illustrates China’s current value system as still somewhat based on the Confucius concept of class, social harmony, and upward mobility through education. In governing, however, there is also the history of legalism – ruling with the iron fist, suppressing decent, and emphasis on the collective over individual rights. Dr. Gold also talks about the Communist Party’s goal of restoring the golden age of China, as when it was the “Middle Kingdom”.
Keywords	Culture, History, Confucianism
Publish Date	August 5, 2013
Source	Keynote speech at 1990 Institute Teachers Workshop on “China’s Growning Global Impact”, August 5-6, 2013, at San Mateo County Office of Education, Redwood City, CA.
Speaker Bio	Thomas Gold Bio