中国梦与美国梦 的文化蕴含 英文

Cultures Embodied in Chinese Dream and American Dream

Abstract:

Just after becoming party chief in late 2012, Xi announced what would become the hallmark of his administration. “The Chinese Dream,” he said, is “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” Chinese Dream has become a hot issue.

This paper is going to talk about the cultures embodied in Chinese Dream and American Dream. At last, the brief comparison between the two dreams will be presented.

Key words: Chinese Dream, American Dream, Cultures

Content:

I. The Introduction about Chinese Dream and American Dream

II. Culture in Chinese Dream

2.1 Collectivism

2.2 Hierarchy

2.3 Harmony

2.4 Past and Present Time Orientation

III. Culture in American Dream

3.1 Individualism

3.2 Competence

3.3 Equality

3.4 Future Time Orientation

IV . The Chinese Dream vs. the American Dream

V . Conclusion

VI. Reference

I. The Introduction about Chinese Dream and American Dream

The Chinese Dream is a new term within Chinese socialist thought and describes a set of ideals in the People's Republic of China. It is used by journalists, government officials, and activists to describe the role of the individual in Chinese society.

In 2013 the Communist Party (CPC) General Secretary Xi Jinping began

promoting the phrase as a slogan, leading to its widespread use in the Chinese

media. Xi has described the dream as "national rejuvenation, improvement of people’s livelihoods, prosperity, construction of a better society and military strengthening." He has stated that young people should "dare to dream, work assiduously to fulfill the dreams and contribute to the revitalization of the nation." According to the party's theoretical journal Qiushi, the Chinese Dream is about Chinese prosperity, collective effort, socialism and national glory.

The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an

upward social mobility achieved through hard work. In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller

for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.

The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the United States Declaration of Independence which proclaims that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights" including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

II. Culture in Chinese Dream

2.1 Collectivism

Chinese culture is famous for modesty and courtesy. This is the universally-acknowledged fine tradition with which the society, the schools and the families educate the new generations. We Chinese have been used to measuring others’ moral behavior as well as their outlook on life and world by this standard, which is, in other terms, collectivism.

In Chinese Dream, collectivism also plays an important role. As President Xi said, "n ational rejuvenation, improvement of people’s livelihoods, prosperity, construction of a better society and military strengthening.” So the main goal of our Chinese Dream is to make the whole people to become rich.

2.2 Hierarchy

One way to get the goal of our Chinese Dream is that people in different positions, in different classes should do they own jobs well, and take their own responsibilities. Thus, hierarchy is also an important part in both Chinese culture and Dream. Every person is supposed to have a set position in family and society in order to achieve harmony between people. There is nothing wrong with inequality because, the obligation between senior and junior run in both directions.

2.3 Harmony

We Chinese believe that man should live in harmonious with nature, with everyone around.

In our Chinese Dream, being harmonious with everyone and everything is deeply rooted in Chinese. What’s more, to build a harmonious society and live a harmonious life are greatly wished be every Chinese.

2.4 Past and Present Time Orientation

The Chinese Dream has been viewed as a call for China's rising international influence. Xi Jinping refers to the dream as a form of national rejuvenation. Young Chinese are envious of America's cultural influence and hope that China could one day rival the US as a cultural exporter. Members of Chinese military support China's military development, opining that the "strong-nation dream of a great revival of the Chinese people" can only result from a "strong-army dream". United States Secretary of State John Kerry has promoted the idea of a "Pacific Dream" to accommodate China's rise through regional collaboration over shared interests like the environment and economic growth.

Chinese values are always placed in the past. They tend to believe tradition is important. To them, cultural memory is rich and deep. They like to look back to a period when their culture was at the height of its power and glory. But some scholars

think that now the Chinese view is changing into present-oriented.

III. Culture in American Dream

3.1 Individualism

Americans believe that the individual is the atom of the society, independent on others or the collective, the individual right is sacred and cannot be violated.; one’s proficiency should be brought to full play, while one’s personal preference and hobbies should have great chance to developed.

The main goal of American dream is to make the individual rich, and every individual can live the life he wants.

3.2 Competence

Americans match their energy and intelligence against that of their neighbors in a competitive contest for success. People who like to compete and are more successful than others are honored by being called “winners ”.

In American Dream, the people are supposed to be competitive enough to get their individual dream.

3.3 Equality

The value President Lincoln expressed is “equality of opportunity ”, by which Americans mean that each individual should have an equal chance for success, not that “everyone is or should be equal”. They see much of life as a race for success. For them, equality means that everyone should have an equal chance to enter the race and win.

In American Dream, equality is deeply embodied in it.

3.4 Future -Time Orientation

"L ife should be better and richer and fuller for everyone”. Americans tend to look to the future and make plans for the future. They emphasize the future and except it to be grander and nicer than the present. IV . The Chinese Dream vs. the American Dream

Author Helen H. Wang was the first one to connect the Chinese Dream with the American Dream. In her book The Chinese Dream, Wang wrote: “The Chinese Dream, taking its title from the American Dream, alluding to an easily identifiable concept…” Wang attempts to demonstrate that the Chinese people have similar dreams as those of the American people. “This new [Chinese] middle class." Wang wrote, " which barely existed a decade ago, will reach the size of more than two

Americas in a decade or two. They number in the hundreds of millions, with the same hopes and dreams that you and I have: to have a better life, to give our children an even better life….”

V . Conclusion

In order to live harmony with other world “villagers ”, we need to know that all people on the world are both similar and different. The similarities that unite us should be appreciated and the differences that divide us should be respected, so that harmony and development will be enhanced in the world community.

VI. Reference

美国文化模式----跨文化视野中的分析. 百花文艺出版社 庄恩平. 东西方文化差异与对外交流. 华东理工大学出版社 张爱琳 重庆大学出版社 2011