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Imparting Cultural Values to Chinese Children Through Literature

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Abstract

Based on the occurrence of modernization and globalization in Chinese society over the last few decades, the content of 145 stories, published in the most popular Chinese children’s story magazine from the 1980s to the present, were examined for the representation of cultural values. The presence of Chinese, Western and social-moral values in stories were assessed using checklists. The ANOVAs analyses compared cultural values found in the fiction and folklore stories published in each of the three decades reviewed. The presence of Western cultural values steadily increased over the past 20 years. Some Chinese traditional values (e.g., self-control) were consistently reflected in stories across all decades, while a few traditional values occurred less frequently, and Western values were introduced. Fiction stories reflected more Western cultural values, but fewer Chinese traditional values than folklore stories. The findings suggest that Western culture has an impacted on Chinese children’s stories. However, the continuity of Chinese traditional culture appears to be as strong as ever within the Chinese children’s stories reviewed.

Résumé

Compte tenu de la modernisation et de la mondialisation qu’a connues la société chinoise au cours des dernières décennies, le contenu de 145 histoires, publiées des années 1980 jusqu’à maintenant dans les magazines d’histoires pour enfants les plus populaires de Chine, a été examiné sous l’angle de la représentation des valeurs culturelles. Des listes de contrôle ont permis d’évaluer la présence de valeurs sociales et morales chinoises et occidentales. Les valeurs culturelles trouvées dans les histoires de fiction et de folklore publiées à chacune des trois décennies observées ont été comparées au moyen d’analyses de variance (ANOVA). La présence de valeurs occidentales a augmenté constamment au cours des 20 dernières années. Certaines valeurs traditionnelles chinoises (par exemple, le contrôle de soi) apparaissent constamment alors que quelques autres se manifestent moins et que des valeurs occidentales sont introduites. Les histoires de fiction reflètent davantage de valeurs occidentales et moins de valeurs traditionnelles chinoises que les histoires folkloriques. Les résultats suggèrent que la culture occidentale a eu un impact sur les histoires chinoises pour enfants. Néanmoins, la continuité de la culture traditionnelle chinoise semble toujours aussi forte dans les histoires chinoises pour enfants analysées.

Resumen

Basado en las ocurrencias situaciones de modernización y globalización en la sociedad de China en las últimas décadas, el contenido de 145 historias, publicada en la revista de historia de los niños más popular en China desde los años ochenta hasta el presente, fueron examinados por en sus valores culturales. La presencia China, los valores Occidentales y la moral social en las historias fueron evaluados por una lista. Los análisis del ANOVA compararon los valores culturales encontrados en las historias de ficción y las historias folclóricas publicadas en cada una de las tres décadas revisadas. La presencia en de los valores culturales Occidentales aumentó constantemente durante los últimos 20 años. Los valores tradicionales Chinos fueron reflejados en historias en todas las décadas, mientras algunos valores tradicionales (por ejemplo, suprimiento emocional auto control) pudieron ocurrir menos mosytraron una menor presencia debido a la introducción de valores Occidentales. Las historias de la ficción reflejaron valores culturales más Occidentales, pero y menos valores tradicionales de la China, que las historias folclóricas tradicionales de la China. Las conclusiones sugieren que la cultura Occidental ha impactado las historias Chinas de los niños. Sin embargo, la continuidad de la cultura tradicional China parece estar tan fuerte como nunca siempre dentro de las historias folklóricas Chinas para niños, dentro de las que fueron revisadas.

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Correspondence to Chenyi Zhang.

Appendix A: Checklist of Cultural Values

Appendix A: Checklist of Cultural Values

Story Name—

Chinese traditional values

 Harmony with nature

 Conformity

 Harmonious interpersonal relationships; conflict avoidance, restraint, self-control

 Consensus, assumption of the “middle” position

 Indirect, nonverbal expression of ideas, thoughts, and feelings

 Stoicism, suppression of emotions

 Tradition and continuity

 Respect for older persons (age/wisdom)

 Hierarchical positions and status; respect for authority

 Cyclical concept of time

 Collective orientation and group accomplishments

 Mutual consideration and self-depreciation

 Familism

 Interdependence

 Formality

 Educational achievement

 Strong work ethic

Western values

 Mastery of nature

 Competition

 Assertion of one’s thoughts and feelings

 Dissensus acceptable (holding of a different position)

 Open, direct expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings

 Open display of emotions

 Change, innovation, progress

 Adulation of youth and youthfulness

 More egalitarianism in status and relationships

 Specific points, schedule, clocks

 Individual orientation and self-accomplishments

 Assertiveness and self-determination

 Individualism

 Independence

 Informality

 Flexible definition of achievement

Moral values

 Nationalism

 Love for Chinese people

 Love for the new society

 Sharing and offering

  1. Ashmore (2002), Bi (2003), Chao (1994), Cheung et al. (2005), Friedman et al. (2003), Fong and Wu (1996), Ho (1989), Maosen (1990), Wu (1996), Xu (2007)

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Zhang, C., Morrison, J.W. Imparting Cultural Values to Chinese Children Through Literature. IJEC 42, 7–26 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13158-010-0001-y

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