Changes in social customs

The Changes of Social Customs in Modern China

First, the basic context of modern folk changes

The change of modern folk customs is an important part of the change of modern society, which is consistent with the transformation of modern society. The changes of modern folk customs involve all corners and levels of society. The following is a summary from eight aspects: etiquette, consumption, clothing, diet, residence, travel, festivals, weddings and funerals, and we can roughly see the basic context of modern folk customs changes.

1. Changes in etiquette and customs: For a long time after the Opium War, traditional social etiquette and customs, including appellation and meeting ceremony, still dominated the society. When people meet each other, they should bow, hold hands, run to worship and greet each other. Bowing is a gesture of greeting each other, but in feudal times it became a etiquette of respect and obedience to reflect the hierarchy of feudal society. Bowing down is mainly for elders, and the most solemn is three kneeling and nine knocking, which is generally used by peers as a way of bowing and handing over. Correspondingly, there are a set of titles such as "adult", "grandfather", "wife" and "old lady". However, after the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC), influenced by the western concept of equality, first of all, among the new intellectuals, they gradually adopted the methods of shaking hands and bowing, and replaced the previous titles with "Mr", "Ms", "Miss" and "Comrade". After the founding of the People's Republic of China 19 12, it was clearly stipulated that when offering sacrifices to Confucius, "in addition to the ceremony of running, three bows were changed and the sacrificial clothes were casual clothes." (Note: Worship, [Shanghai] Shenbao1965438+March 5, 2002. ) Soon, the old etiquette such as kowtow, worship, worship and exchange in social activities was explicitly abolished, and it was changed to bow and bow. In August of the same year 17, the government of the Republic of China promulgated the "Ritual System", which established the legal status of new etiquette in the form of law (Note: Oriental Magazine, Volume 9, No.41965438+September 2002. )。 Bowing and bowing, using the title of "Mr" and "Jun", embodies the equal relationship between people in modern society. In a word, new customs and habits, such as taking off your hat, bowing to the target, shaking hands and clapping, have gradually become the usual "civilized ceremony" and "civilized ceremony" in China, reflecting the progressive trend of social customs and habits. In addition, the popularity of ballroom dancing, birthday parties and colleagues' banquets in cities reflects the new changes in modern communication customs.

2. Changes in consumption customs: The invasion of modern western capitalism and the emergence and rapid development of new businesses in China have had a huge impact on traditional consumption customs and directly led to changes in consumption customs. During the Daoguang period after the Opium War, it became a fashion for the upper class to enjoy foreign goods, but at first it was limited to a few areas such as trading ports and wealthy bureaucratic families. By the end of 19, with the number of trading ports increasing to more than 70, foreign goods were consumed in all walks of life. Even in shops in remote traffic areas of Yunnan, you can see many foreign goods, including all kinds of halal, serge, feather yarn, flannel and so on. Boben? Thank you? Tenon? 962 edition, page1106-1107. Many "farmers also compete for foreign cloth", and middle-class families even think that going out to spin is not a luxury. "Most young people are like frost" (Noe: Song Yanzhai: Records of the Sages in Puyin Township, quoted from Yan Changhong: History of Modern Social Customs in China, Zhejiang People's Publishing House, 1992 edition, p. 82. )。 In addition, horse racing, rowing, tennis, football, western food, beer, western snacks, western drinks, amateur drama clubs, parks, indoor concerts, movies, electric lights, telephones, tap water, postal services, trams and other western lifestyles have all affected the changes in China people's consumption patterns and greatly changed the consumption structure and content of China people. In addition, taking Shanghai as an example, erotic consumption and amusement consumption have also become important contents in the consumption patterns of businessmen and the rich.

3. Changes of dress customs: China's dress customs have a long history, and there are colorful dresses in each era. In the Qing Dynasty, robes and mandarin jackets were the main costumes in China, while women wore cheongsam. The folk proverb says "peacock feathers, horseshoe sleeves". Clothing has the characteristics of strict hierarchy and advocating clothing, which is not in harmony with the equality requirements of modern people and the acceleration of life rhythm. To this end, some people in China began to accept western-style clothing. 19 In the 1950s, people in Hong Kong and Guangzhou imitated foreigners' dresses, and more Chinese businessmen wore formal dresses. During the Reform Movement of 1898, Kang Youwei advocated "Yi Fu". At the beginning of the 20th century, more and more young people wore suits. Wuzhou Middle School 1903, where Hu teaches, allows students to "wear foreign clothes to praise Confucius and Mencius" on New Year's Day (note: Hu autobiography, [Beijing] Modern History No.2 +098 1). ), it can be seen that there are not a few students wearing dresses. At that time, there were more international students wearing dresses. After the Qing Dynasty, there was a "dress craze". In Datong, people "changed their foreign clothes and hats in an unknown number" (note: "Pan please use domestic products", [Shanghai] declaration1965438+March 4, 2002. ), in a remote town, "civil and military dresses, crowned with felt and leather, are completely European for short-term use" (Note: Cili County Records of the Republic of China, volume 17, customs. )。 In addition, foreign-style shirts, sweaters, sweaters, trousers, gauze socks, rubber shoes and leather shoes are gradually becoming popular. In a word, the western factors in China's clothing are increasing. It is worth mentioning that the tunic suit is the most typical symbol of the combination of Chinese and western costumes in modern times.

In the broad sense of costume folklore, dressing and dressing are an organic unity. Such as tattoos, makeup, hairstyles, ornaments, foot binding, etc. Before and after the Opium War, when westerners came to China, the first thing they saw were men with long braids and women with feet bound. "For many years, all of Europe thought that China people were the most ridiculous and strange people in the world; Their shaved hair, braided hair, squint eyes, strange clothes and disfigured female feet have long provided subjects for cartoonists who make funny things. (Note: Harry: Biography of the Taiping Revolution, translated by Wang Weizhou, Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House, 1997, p. 5 1. )。 Men dragging big braid, wearing wide robes, and women wrapped in feet, this is the basic costume of the Qing people in China. However, after the 80s of 19, the image of China people in this kind of clothing has changed obviously. First of all, some missionaries in China first advocated Tianzu. Reformists take the lead in opposing foot binding and advocating foot binding. 1883, Kang Youwei set up a foot-binding society in Nanhai County, Guangdong Province; 1896, a foot-binding society in Guangzhou; 1897, a foot-binding society was set up in Shanghai by Liang Qichao and others, which soon spread all over the southeast coastal areas. During the Reform Movement of 1898, Emperor Guangxu also issued an imperial edict prohibiting foot binding. 190 1 year, Empress Dowager Cixi issued an imperial edict prohibiting foot binding. 19 12 After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Sun Yat-sen, the interim president, ordered the Ministry of Internal Affairs to persuade all provinces to ban foot binding. From the perspective of opposing traditional morality and striving for women's liberation, the movement of not binding feet has anti-feudal political significance and is a profound social revolution.

Braided hair was a symbol of male image in Qing Dynasty, but it was the result of Manchu customs assimilating Han nationality. In front of foreigners, it has become the national symbol of China people, and this national symbol, in the modern civilized world, has become a symbol of "backwardness" and "uncivilized" that runs counter to the trend of short hair world.

During the Reform Movement of 1898, Kang Youwei publicly asked the Qing government to "cut off the hair and change the clothes into yuan folds" for Emperor Guangxu, and the broad masses of enlightened people also issued the voice of braiding. The Qing government even allowed officials and people to have their hair cut freely at 19 1 1. After the outbreak of the Revolution of 1911, braids were cut off one after another. At that time, there were even many barbershops instead of many "barbers". Even Yuan Shikai cut off his braid. The establishment of the Republic of China brought the popularity of short hair.

4. Changes in food customs: China is a country with developed food culture in the world. In the Qing Dynasty, Sichuan cuisine, Guangdong cuisine, Shandong cuisine and other local cuisines and snacks gradually formed. For a long time after the Opium War, the eating habits of China society did not change significantly. However, with the further infiltration of western culture, some western diets were gradually introduced into China. After the middle of19th century, western diets became popular in some coastal trading cities. 1876, Ge noticed that the western restaurant in Hongkou, Shanghai had "China people also go to eat" (Note: Ge et al.: Miscellaneous Notes on Shanghai, Song Nan Meng Lu, Shanghai Meng Ying, Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House, 1989 edition, p. 30. )。 In the 1980s and 1990s, western restaurants in Tianjin and Beijing opened one after another, becoming more and more famous. Looking through the Ta Kung Pao of this period, we can often see advertisements of "Dining Hall" such as "Pinsheng Building" and "Deyi Building", saying that they specialize in "English and French cuisine" and "inviting foreign chefs to prepare western food" (Note: Ta Kung Pao on May 25 and August 23, 2008). )。 Western-style restaurants in Beijing are of high grade, such as "Six Kingdoms Hotel, Dechang Hotel and Chang 'an Hotel, all of which are western-style feasts" (Note: Hu Pu 'an, ed. : The second volume "China Ethnic Customs", Shanghai Bookstore, 1986 edition, page 2. ), and even people from all walks of life come in and out of it. After Xinhai, eating western food became the fashion in some big cities. Haichang Tai Hansheng wrote in "Song Bin Zhuzhi Ci": "I love champagne when I try to taste the fragrance, taste the western taste at first, and dazzle the knife." (Note: Gu Shouquan: A Survey of Customs and Monuments in Shanghai, [Shanghai] East China Normal University Press, 1993 Edition, No.465438). In short, in the fashion of "foreign flavor", foods with western flavor are gradually welcomed by China people, such as beer, champagne, milk tea, soft drinks, popsicles, ice cream and so on. It shows that western-style diet has caused great changes in China's dietary customs and enriched the daily life of our people.

5. Changes in living customs: There are great differences between Chinese and western living customs, including urbanization and customs. Royal architecture is an outstanding representative of ancient architecture in China, but it has obvious grade difference with the folk houses. The quadrangles in Beijing, the caves in the northwest plateau, the patios and quadrangles in the south, the diaojiao buildings and earth buildings of ethnic minorities in the southwest, and the felt bags in the northern grassland are all typical forms of traditional houses in China. Usually, the traditional houses in China are mainly bungalows, which is mainly related to China's vast land and backward building materials and technology. In modern times, due to the influence of western architectural style and the improvement of urbanization level, China people began to build Western-style or semi-Western-style houses at some trading ports, and the fashion of "huá n ① hu ② imitating Western-style" appeared. In the History of China Customs, Deng said, "Gardens, pavilions and pavilions in the late Qing Dynasty also participated in western-style architecture, and the capital can be seen almost everywhere." In Tianjin, Xiaoyanglou has gradually replaced the quadrangles in the north and become a new trend of local bedroom architecture. In Shenyang, "the building is magnificent and familiar with France and Europe, so the building is even clouds, the sky is high and beautiful, and it stretches for dozens of miles" (note: "Fengtian Tongzhi" volume 97, customs 3, bedroom. ); In Qingdao, "most of the houses in the city are European-style buildings" (Note: Yuan Rongcuo: Social Records of Jiaoao People, p. 72. ); Hankou is "an inch of land and an inch of gold, the sun is waning, Chinese and western factories are flourishing, and the horn wins" (note: preface to Xiakou County Records of the Republic of China). ); In addition to building a large number of Western-style buildings, there are also China folk houses-Alleys influenced by Western architectural styles. Influenced by Shanghai, Hankou, Nanjing, Fuzhou, Tianjin, Qingdao and other places have also built Lane houses near concessions, docks and commercial centers. In addition, with the introduction of western-style buildings, steel, cement, machine-made bricks and tiles, building hardware, running water and electric lights are also widely used. The living customs of modern China residents, especially urban residents, have undergone tremendous changes.

6. Changes in tourism customs: Tourism customs are closely related to traffic. In traditional society, the main means of transportation are horse-drawn carriages, ox carts, shoulders (sedan chairs), wooden boats, horseback riding, donkey riding and camel riding. Its * * * features multi-purpose animal, human or natural forces, slow speed and small range of activities. Backward traffic will inevitably lead to social backwardness. In modern times, with the introduction of western trains, ships, trams, cars, bicycles and motorcycles, the traditional means of transportation in China gradually changed. People suddenly changed from "country people" to "people". After the rise of the automobile, the old concept of "men and women are not close" was broken, and "it is not too much for men and women to sit together". )。 Great changes have taken place in traditional ways of communication.

7. Changes in festival customs: The festival customs of the Chinese nation are unique. Generally speaking, the modern Lunar New Year still follows the folk customs formed since ancient times, such as New Year's Day (Spring Festival), Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Laba Festival. But these festivals are based on the traditional calendar, belong to the product of feudal agricultural civilization, and are full of traditional folk beliefs. Therefore, their backwardness in adapting to modern industrial society is very obvious. There was an appeal to change the calendar in the late Qing Dynasty. 19 10, Liang Qichao wrote a paper on "Changing the solar calendar", and advocated replacing the lunar calendar with the solar calendar (Note: Liang Qichao's Drinking Rooms 25, [Beijing] Zhonghua Book Company 1989, p. 1-2. )。 After the establishment of the government of the Republic of China, on June 5438+0912,65438+10.2, it was categorically announced that the whole country would switch to the solar calendar in order to be consistent with the international calendar. Changing the calendar will inevitably lead to a change in the holiday habits of 20-year-olds. First of all, some meaningful new festivals and anniversaries have appeared in people's political life and daily life. In the early years of the Republic of China, besides the founding day of the Republic of China (1 year 1 month) and the National Day (1year1month), there were also revolutionary martyrs' memorial day (March 29th). In the1920s and191930s, there was International Women's Day (March 8th). Especially influenced by western customs, Christmas and Valentine's Day are also very popular in cities. All these add luster to the festivals and seasonal customs in China.

8. Changes in wedding and funeral customs: Wedding is a folk form to mark and celebrate marriage. The main marriage form of modern Han nationality is still feudal arranged marriage. Influenced by the concept of equality between men and women and western wedding customs,1In 1950s and 1960s, a small number of scholar-officials who had close contacts with foreigners adopted western wedding ceremonies. "The day before yesterday was Chunfu's wedding day, and a wedding ceremony was held." (Note: Shanghai People's Publishing House: Diaries of the Qing Dynasty, Shanghai People's Publishing House, 1982, p. 250. )。 During the Guangxu period, in economically developed areas, there was a phenomenon of marriage regardless of family background, and western-style weddings gradually had an impact. 19 At the end of the 20th century, the form of civilized marriage became popular in big cities and coastal trading ports. "Civilized marriage prevailed at the turn of Guangxuan, originated in the commercial port of metropolis, and gradually spread in the mainland" (Note: Tsui Hark: Book V of Clearing Banknotes, [Beijing] Zhonghua Book Company 1984, p. 6544. )。 Civilized marriage, except that the wedding place is not in the church, and the priest does not care about extramarital affairs, many ceremonies are generally transplanted from western ceremonies. Although there are some contents of traditional weddings in China, the spirit and form are basically westernized. In a word, the popularity of "civilized marriage" in modern trading ports and coastal towns, after all, reflects the changes of marriage customs in China, and represents the correct direction of the changes of marriage customs in the late Qing Dynasty.