Remote,
mysterious, and dubbed the "Dragon Empire," China
was the only civilization in the world upon which Western thought
exercised little or no influence until modern times. Through
wondrous tales from ancient travelers of teas, silks, and other
exotic treasures, Western traders were lured to the East. China
limited their access to a few seaports, however, and remained
aloof.
Were the Chinese so different from their Western counterparts?
China's culture was based upon the same needs, actions, and
emotions of human behavior as in the West. Eastern thought,
however, evolved into a vastly different form of belief systems
and philosophies.
Uninterrupted for over 4,000 years of recorded history, China's
civilization has been a continuous but not a changeless culture.
Inventive modifications revealed a people of vitality and adaptability
who discovered breakthroughs in science and medicine and created
beautiful works of art. |
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