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by A. W. Gunawardhena

Excerpts from the lecture delivered by Dr. A J Ruhunuhewa, Senior Lecturer of the University of Ruhuna, Matara at the Computer Centre - Rahula Road, Matara.

I remembered my student life in the University of Sorborne in 1980s, in the Faculty of Oriental Studies, which is well-known in Europe as INALCO, Langues'O. I still remember the details of corridors in the department complex of South Asia and Far East, where we enjoyed the heritage of cultural variety of 7 countries (Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, Korea and Japan).

This was my first encounter with China and its first impression, particularly with the academic milieu and her vastly emerging European interest in Sinology.

The composition of the teaching staff during 1980s in Langues'O, the faculty of Oriental Languages, was proportionally representing the popularity i.e. Chinese 39, Japanese 32, Hindi 15, Korean 5, Bengali 4 and Sinhalese 2. The number of students in the Department of South Asia was about 100, about 600 in the Dept. of Japan/Korea and about 1,000 in the Dept. of China.

According to the latest statistics in the year 2000 the number of students in the Department of Chinese Studies is more than 2000. These figures indicate that China is worth to be associated, worth to be observed as a matured Asian economist and politician, worth to be studied and so on.

Influence on Sri Lanka and the world

The ancient traveller Fa-hien has left behind not only his interest in Sri Lankan traditional education and resources in Mahavihara and Abhayagiriya but also the name "Fa-hien" engraved in the heart of the Sri Lankan nation because one of our ancient archaeological sites is known as "Fa-hien gala" or "Fa-hien cave", according to legends, where he stayed during his visit to Sri Lanka, in the 5th century.

Even our schoolchildren today, learn the cultural history of China, for example Advanced Level 2001 examination on BC syllabus has proposed five questions about China where they check the knowledge on Hiung Siang, Lao-tze, Chinese religious beliefs etc.

But today we have to observe the behaviour of this biggest and proudest State of Asia in the context of globalization, and all the while keeping up her own economical, political, educational and cultural values and her own identity.

The Chinese culture is the unique basis of their nationalism and particularism (distinctive identity).

The modern Chinese society is a product of this sino-culture. The Chinese are extremely proud of their cultural attainments and this background influenced and improved China's relations with the outside world throughout history. The people of China considered their land to be the centre of the world and called their country not China but Tien Hua, which means "under the heaven" and Chena Kuo (Chung Kuo) "middle kingdom". It is also interesting to observe how they write "China" in two Chinese characters.

The word "middle" is written with a drawing - "mouth" by a smaller symbolic 'square' shape and a vertical line at the centre. "Kingdom" is written drawing a bigger square shape than the latter, in which we find a king and a gem. The king is indicated by three horizontal lines connected each other by central vertical line. The gem is shown at the right side of the bottom line by a dot. (typically Confucianist).

Kung Fu-tze or better known as Confucius is respected as one of the greatest teachers of the nation. He taught his students history, poetry and music. He emphasized that "a man's character is formed by the odes, developed by the rites, and perfected by music".

In the 8th century the Japanese scholars had already quoted in their classical Chinese compositions the Chinese experience of history, administration, literature etc. Kukai (774-835) a student in Kyoto indicates some impressive Chinese instructions popular in his time, in Japan: "I have heard that, in ancient times, Wang Pao was an expert in singing, and so the people of Kao-t'ang followed his singing; that Tsung-Chih; (Wen Weng of Former Han) liked learning, and so the people of Pa-shu came to like learning.

An orange tree, when transplanted (from Huai-pei), bears thick-skinned oranges; some crooked grasses, when grown side by side with hemp, straighten up of their own accord". The contribution of Confucianism to the world culture was so important through this type of lucid and simple way of instructions.

Struggle for identity

The Chinese struggle of respecting their cultural and political identity and territorial integrity remarkably appears throughout history. The Chinese wall, a world heritage, is a symbol of its challenge and resistance. While the (Maha) Bharata was becoming isolated as India giving up its former territorial integrity of Gandhara, Nepal etc. And China had already built its boundaries by the Great-Wall of everlasting Dragon-like-enthusiasm.

In 19th century, K'ang Yu-wei (1858-1927) a leading reformer of that time and a brilliant scholar, he won the highest degrees in civil service and cultivated the habit of reading Chinese translations of western books, on history and geography. He visited, Shanhai and British Hong Kong, and on his return he launched a campaign by refusing to bind the feet of his infant daughter and as a result an anti-foot binding society was organized. He urged the court to undertake purposeful reforms.

In a letter addressed to the Emperor he indicated the cost of territory and pleaded for immediate reforms. His words are enthusiastic and remarkably energetic and he is much concerned about the stability of Asia.

But the progress of reforms and other activities in modern Chinese history judged by the present point of view of China today. In this regard the Kuomintang Government was incapable of benefiting due to the situation created by the end of the war. The main events are followed by establishing control over the major part of Manchuria by the communists, in 1947.

New era

In 1949 Chiang Kai-sek declared his willingness to make peace with communities. It is quiet transparent that at the time he was offering to make peace, all fronts had been attacked and beaten by the communists. In October 1949, the central government of the Chinese People's Republic was enshrined at Peking.

The Kuomintang regime shifted from Canton to Nanking, from there to Chumsking and then to Chengtu. In December 1949, the hectic and restless journey of Kuomintang government ended reaching at the shelter of Formosa.

We cannot neglect the most important Soviet observation regarding the surprising changes and the new trends in China and modern history remark that till 1945 Stalin did not believe that the Chinese communists could play an effective role in bringing about a socialist revolution in China.

Turning a page of history regarding this particular era is a result of the effort of many, specially those who followed 6,000 miles of long march. The names such as Mao Tse-tung, Chu-en-lai, Li li-san, Chen Tu-hsiu are the outstanding leaders in the modern Chinese history. That was also the beginning of the new era of the Chinese economy.

Since 1949, this giant Far East nation has made spectacular effort to transform itself from a colonial and feudal economy to a well-planned highly industrialized nation.

According to the statistics during the period of rehabilitation, 1949-1952 the following table gives a clear and lucid indication of the rapid growth of national income and production.

This table shows an increase of 70 percent in national income in four years i.e. from 1949 to 1952.

1949-100.0

1950-118.6 (+ 8.6)

1951-138.8 (+ 20.2)

1952-169.7 (+ 30.9)

(Page 322, History of Modern China, RS Gupte)

Encounters in modern world

The most intelligent point of maintaining and dealing with world powers is a skilful art of modern political and economical strategies. In this regard Mao-tse-tung was an exemplary leader. He was conscious of the need of Soviet economic assistance for the industrialization of China. Mao was not hesitating to praise Stalin in his speeches, in December 20 1939 he said; "To congratulate Stalin means to support him, to support his cause is to support the victory of socialism and to support the path he pointed out for mankind".

In other worlds, this is my personal opinion, Mao accepted Soviet leadership, more as a matter of diplomacy than any conviction that the Soviets were the leaders of world communism.

Between 1949 and 1957 the main communist achievement was the stabilization of the economy. This period was internationally significant for the Sri Lankan politics.

Changing role

The impacts of globalization in modern China are worth to be observed to learn their way of existing in the present world situation. In this respect, the Chinese policy of opening their territory of foreign investment is very important to be studied.

In this regard we can observe the statistics of 1995 concerning the foreign investment in Asian countries including China.

Singapore 10,708 Companies

Taiwan 5733 Companies

South Korea 3671 Companies

Hong Kong 2628 Companies

Sri Lanka 139 Companies

China 15,966 Companies

Foreign viewpoint

As a student who began to learn Chinese through French press I would like to quote some latest information of Chinese progress in economy. "Le Nonvel observateur", a world famous French magazine, the volume No. 1913 of July 2001 says: "L'est le pays due miracle economique de notre temps, et deja 30% des Salarie's ont acquis un niveau de vie proche due standard occidential ..... Les choses etaient simples antrefois quand Deng Xiaoping a lance les reformes. Sa methode s'appelait: "Traverser le gue en tatant les Pierres.

Les problems seraient traites au fur a mesure et resolus grace a la longue experience et an pragmatisme du vieux leader. La receltle a reussi. Trop reussi, trop vite? Vingt ans apres I'economie choinoise est sept fois plus grande. Le ruissean est deveun un gigantesque yangatse. Aucun responsble du paxe uaete confronte aux probacemes qui ze pozent aujourd'hui les solution sont a inventer".

Today the biggest dam in the world is constructed in the Yangatse river in China. 2,309 meters long, 185 meters high, 28 million cubic meters of concrete. This plant is generating 18,200 megawatts (Equivalent to 18 nuclear reactors). This project highlights the size of the dragon and its ambition of China today.

As I mentioned earlier the Chinese contribution to the new technology and science is vigorous an energetic in the international academic milieu. For example Yang Huanming, a geneticien whose contribution to the bio-technological revolution and research programme conducted in Europe and Canada is impressive. But Sri Lanka and China have to follow a long way to fulfil the targets of development and we have many common challenges in globalization to envisage experience. I am very much thankful specially to this audience for your attention.

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