个人主义在中美两国人民的认识中存在的差异英语

PAGEPAGEivThedifferentConceptiontowardsIndividualismbetweenChineseandAmericanCulture聂娜班级:指导教师:

AbstractThepaperrepresentsadifferentconceptionbetweenChineseandAmericanpeopletowardsindividualism.Americanpeoplethinkthatindividualismis“individuality”,whileChinesepeoplethinkindividualismisequalto“selfishness”.DifferentculturebackgroundsbetweenChinaandAmericaaffectthedifferentconceptiontowardsindividualism.Asasocialproductandaphenomenonoftheculture,rightorwrongshouldnotbebrandedwithindividualismandasaMarxist,anobjectiveanddialecticalmethodshouldbeusedtojudgeindividualism.Thenaftertheyunderstandindividualisminarightway,theycouldtakeadvantageofitintheconstructionofChinesesocietyandthedevelopmentofthemselves.Keywords:Individualismculturalphenomenonthepositiveaspectsocialproduct

摘要本文阐释了个人主义在中美两国人民的认识中存在的差异。美国人认为个人主义是一种个性，而中国人则认为它代表的就是自私。产生这种差异的根本原因在于中美两国不同的文化背景。作为社会发展的产物和文化现象，个人主义不应该用“对”或是“错”来衡量，而作为马克思主义者，就更加应该客观、公正的看待从不同文化当中衍生出来的东西。中国人要正确认识个人主义必须从美国文化当中理解个人主义。只有真正认识、理解了个人主义的精髓，才能从根本上消除中国人对个人主义产生的误读以及对个人主义错误的运用。在此之后，也就可以将个人主义中积极合理的一面应用到中国社会的发展中，并以此来完善和发展自己。关键词:个人主义文化现象积极因素社会产物

Contents1.Introduction……………………12.RightConceptionofIndividualismandItsPositiveAspects……………22.1TheCharacteristicsofIndividualism……22.2RightAcknowledgementsoftheIndividualism…………42.3AdvancedAspectsofIndividualism………53.IndividualisminAmerica……………………63.1TheSourceofIndividualism……………63.2TheAffectionofIndividualismonAmericanSociety……73.3American’sAttitudetowardsIndividualism……………94.IndividualisminChina………104.1TheRecognitionsofIndividualisminChina……………104.2TheInfluenceofIndividualismonChina………………114.3Chinese’sAttitudetowardsIndividualism……………125.Conclusion…………………13Bibliography…………………14PAGE21ThedifferentConceptiontowardsIndividualismbetweenChineseandAmericanCulture1.IntroductionThispaperdiscussesthedifferentconceptiontowardsindividualismbetweenChineseandAmericanpeoplebasedonthedifferentculturalbackground.Americanpeoplethinkthatindividualismstandsforpersonality;itisalsoanalternative,whichshowsapersonwhohasself-relianceandself-struggle.Itemphasizesontheindependence,value,status,andpersonalright.Allofthemaresacredandinviolable.Americaisamulti-culturecountry,afterColumbusdiscoveredthisland,peoplefromdifferentplacesoftheworldflowedtothenewland.Americanshavebeencalledrootlessnationality,formostpeopleliveinAmericaarefromotherplaces.DuringthereignofJamesI,thePresbyterianmajorityunsuccessfullyattemptedtoimposetheirideasontheestablishedEnglishchurchattheHamptonCourtConference.TheresultwasmutualdisaffectionandapersecutionofthePuritans,particularlybyArchbishopWilliamLaud,thatbroughtaboutPuritanmigrationtoEuropeandAmerica.Theyhopedtolookforfreedomandanewworld.SowhentheEuropeansontheMayFlowersteppedonthisland,whichhadnonationalsentimentthatshouldformedduringalongtime,thepersonalinterestshavebeenconsideredmuchimportantthananythingelse.Itisaruletoprotectone’sowninterestsinastrangeplace.However,inChina,whichhasalonghistoryofmorethan5,000years,theculturaloriginscoulddatebacktotheprimitivesociety,whenShandingcavepeoplelivedandworkedtogethertheinterestsofthecollectiveweresuretobemuchhigherthanpersonalinterestswere.Therefore,undertheinfluenceofthecollectivethepersonalinterests,whichcouldbeconsideredasindividualism,aremuchlookeddownupon.Theviceinfluenceofindividualismiscertainlyexists,butit’spositiveandreasonablesidemakeAmericadeveloptobeapowerfulcountryinonly200years.Thoughcollectiveinterestisaboveeverything,extremelydenyingtheindividualismisalsonotanobjectiveandjustway.InChina,thepositivesideofindividualismcouldstillplayafavorablerole.Recentlyassomanypeopleignoredthegoodaspectofindividualism,rightrecognitionsshouldbeemphasizedagain.Individualismisaphenomenonwithgreatculturalcharacteristics,anditcannotbejustifiedonlywithrightorwrong.Itshouldbejustifiedobjectivelyandjustly.Onlyafterrightrecognitionshavebeenaccepted,Chinacouldgainabrand-newwaytodevelopitandChinesepeoplecouldalsobuilduptheirconfidenceandpromotetherelianceoftheirself-worth.2.RightConceptiontowardsIndividualismandItsPositiveAspects2.1TheCharacteristicsofIndividualismPrimarily,therearetwokindsofcharacteristicsofindividualismthatcannotbedenied.Individualismhasbeenexistinginwesternworldforalongtime,andsomanyshortcomingsappearedgradually.Nowitundergoesthecrisisthatboughtbyitsshortcomingsandneedstofacemanynewchallenges.First,individualismhasanabilityofdevelopingwithhumanbeingstogether,foritisnotafixeddogma,butakindoftheorythatindicatesindividual’sself-confidence,independenceandself-conscious.Asaproductthatappearedunderacertainsituationofthehistoryandsociety,individualismtrulyhasabasisofitsestablishment.Sowhenthebasischanges,therearetwowaysforindividualismtochoose.Oneistofollowthechanges;theotheristobeknockedout.Eventhoughindividualismwouldbeinsomechanges,itisstillineffect.Thatisthesituationofindividualismnowadays.Itisintheprocessofbeingnewlydefined.Secondisthemostimportant.Indemocraticcountry,thespiritofindividualismnotonlybeacceptedbutalsobelegalized.Soanillusionalsohasbeenmade,thatisindividualismseemstobeout-of-date.Ifamoderndemocraticsocietywerewithoutindividualism,howcoulditgoonwithitsdevelopment?

Individualismisineverywalkofpeople’slife.Romanticismistheindividualisminemotion;Liberalismistheindividualisminthoughts;Diversificationistheindividualisminsociety;Laisser-faireistheindividualismineconomyanddemocracyistheindividualisminpolitic.Allinall,individualismhasbeenexpandedandrootedinwesternworldgreatlysincethetimeofTocquevilleandEmerson,anditislegislatedandhasbecomeakindoflivingstyleexistingineverywalkoflifeinwesternworld.Althoughthe17thcenturyBritish’straditionalthinkingisconsideredtobetheoriginoftheconceptofindividualism,thefounderoftheword“individualism”isTocqueville.HeinvestigatedinAmericafor9month,andin1835hepublishedDemocracyinAmericainwhichbookheusedindividualismforthefirsttime.Hebelievesthattheexistenceofindividualismismuchearlierthanthesocialorder,andtheself-interestsisthepurposeoftheactionofindividuals,andthesocialsystemoriginatedintheinteractionamongindividuals.Heindicatedthatindividualismisanewwordcreatedbyanewconcept.Onlyknowourancestorsisegotismwhichmeansakindofradicalandexcessivelovetoone’sown,anditmakespeopleonlycareaboutthemselves.Individualismisakindoffeelingwhichpeoplefeelnoqualmsaboutself-concern.Withtheincreasingofequality,alargenumberofIndividualsarise.Theyhaveenoughwealthandpowertosatisfytheirownneeds,therefore,theyareindependentandholdtheirownfateintheirhands.RalphWaldoEmersonaffirmedtheindividualinhisessaysself-reliance.Hesaid,“Characterteachesaboveourwills.”(Emerson,18)Healsothinkthat,“Amanshouldlearntodetectandwatchthatgleamoflightwhichflashesacrosshismindfromwithin,morethanthelusterofthefirmamentofbardsandsages.”(Emerson,6)Insistonyourself;neverimitate.Yourowngiftyoucanpresenteverymomentwiththecumulativeforceofawholelife’scultivation;butoftheadoptedtalentofanother,youhaveonlyanextemporaneous,halfpossession.Thatwhicheachcandobest,nonebuthisMakercanteachhim.Nomanyetknowswhatitis,norcan,tillthatpersonhasexhibitedit.(Emerson,42)“Itisonlyasamanputsoffallforeignsupport,andstandsalone,thatIseehimtobestrongandtoprevail.”(Emerson,46)Atlastheconcludedthat,“Nothingcanbringyoupeacebutyourself.Nothingcanbringyoupeacebutthetriumphofprinciples.”(Emerson,48)Aboveall,individualismisaproductofsocialdevelopment,anditisaculturalphenomenon.Thereisnorightorwrongshouldbeprintedonindividualism,ontheotherhand,itsessenceshouldbeanalyzedobjectively.Besides,individualismshouldnotbebrandedwithselfishandegoismsinceitspositiveeffectonthedevelopmentofChinesesociety.Asanewdevelopingsocialistcountry,thedevelopmentinChinahasbeyondtheimaginationofallovertheworldandnowChinaplaysanimportantroleintheworldanditmayachievemoreinthefuture.Withtheabilityofstartanewwaytodevelopitself,Chinaachievedagreatsuccessinconstruction.2.2RightAcknowledgementsoftheIndividualismTohavearightrecognitiontowardsindividualism,atfirst,oneshouldrealizeitsessencecorrectly.Therearetowimplicationsinindividualism.Firstispositive,thatisonehasanabilitytostruggleforhimself;grasphisownfate;dependonhimselfandupholdhisownpersonality.Itemphasizesonself-confidenceandbelievinginuniqueness.ThebeliefofAmericanpeopleis:IamI;youareyou;IamnotyouandyouarenotIndividualisminAmericaisquitedifferentfromitinChina.Americaisamulti-culturecountry,afterColumbusdiscoveredthisland,peoplefromdifferentplacesoftheworldflowedtoit.Americahasbeencalledrootlessnationality,formostpeopleliveinAmericaarefromotherplaces.SowhentheEuropeans,whohavecarriedonthebeliefoffreedom,independence,anddemocracy,ontheMayFlowersteppedonthisland,whichhadnonationalsentimentthatshouldformedduringalongtime,thepersonalinterestshavebeenconsideredmuchimportantthananythingelse.Itisaruletoprotectone’sowninterestsinastrangeplace.However,inChina,whichhasalonghistoryofmorethan5,000years,theculturaloriginscoulddatebacktotheprimitivesociety,whenShandingcavepeoplelivedandworkedtogethertheinterestsofthecollectiveweresuretobemuchhigherthanpersonalinterestswere.WhatindividualisminAmericaisdifferentfromitinChinaisthatinAmericaallthethingsthatconnectedwithIndividual,suchaspersonaffair,independence,thinking,expression,freedomandsoonandsoforth,aregreatlyrespectedbypeople.IndividualisminAmericanotemphasizesontheindividualwhoisseparatedfromotherpeopleandthewholesociety.Itadmitsthesocialunitsbiggerthanindividual,suchascountry,class,politicalparty,family,company,community,andchurchandsoon.Individualformsallthecollectives,withoutindividualtherewouldbenocollective,likewisewithoutcollective,individualisworthless.Individualisthesmallestsocialunit,anditcannotbedividedanymore.Therefore,individualisminAmericaisnotasradicalandlopsidedasChinesepeoplethink;itisonlyabeliefthataffirmstheexistenceofindividual,andtheworthofhumanbeings.Secondly,oneshouldrealizethereasonwhyChinesepeoplehaveamisunderstandingtowardsindividualism.IthassomethingtodowithChineseculture.Undertheinfluenceoffeudalismforthousandsofyears,thereisnoconceptofindividualforChinesepeople.Whattheybelieveinishowtobeobediencetotheruleoftheiremperorandshowtheirloyaltytotheircountry.Freedomandindividualityhasneverexistedintheirdailylife.Thus,whenindividualismappearedinChina,theyappraisedthenewideologyonlyfromtheirowntraditionalcultureandignoredthepositivesideofindividualism.2.3AdvancedAspectsofIndividualismThegoodaspectofindividualismreferstoakindofspiritthatonereliesononeself,holdsone’sownfateandprotectsone’sownindividuality.Inaddition,itemphasizesonconfidenceandindependence.ConfucianismisgreatlyesteemedinChina,thereforerankorderisstrictlyemphasizedandindividual’sdignityandvalueisworthless.Influencedbythatideology,Chinesepeoplebecomelackofindividualityandlackoftheabilitytothinkoverquestions.Theydonotknowhowtoexpressthemselvesanddarenottospeakouttheirownthoughts.OnlywhenChinesepeoplerealizedtheimportanceofself-worthcantheyshowtheirabilityinabetterway,anddomoreconstructiontotheircountry.Fornowadaysmoreandmoreconvergenceandpublicawarenessmakesthemtolosethecourageanddesiretoexpress.Second,thespiritofcreativityadvocatedbyindividualismisalsoagoodaspectthatcouldbeused.Itissaidthatfrom1901to1984thereare130AmericanpeopleachievedNobelPrize;theothersare10inSovietUnionand5inJapan.However,thereareonlysixChinesepeoplegainedNobelPrizeandsomeofthemareChinesedescents.ThatisduetotheChinesepeoplelackofabilitytoblazenewtrails,andoveremphasizeoncollectivismmakestheyrelymoreonotherpeopleratherthancultivatetheirownabilityofcreativity.Receivingpassivelybecomesquitecommon.Furthermore，theindividualitythatadmittedbyindividualismalsocanhelpalottotheconstructionanddevelopmentofChinesesociety.BuildingasocialistcountrywithChinesecharacteristicsandtheprincipleofonecountry,twosystemsarebothbasedontheprincipleofindividuality.TheleaderofChinafoundadevelopingwayforChinaitself.3.IndividualisminAmerica3.1TheSourceofIndividualismAstotheoriginofindividualism,differentscholarshavedifferentrecognitions.TheconceptofindividualofAmericansrootedinthephilosophyin17thcenturyrepresentedbyBritishphilosopherLock.Lockclaimedthatthebasicunitofthenatureisindividual,andhepresumedthatalltheindividualsfoughtfortheirowninterests.IndividualismfirstlyappearedintheFrenchRevolution,whichcreatedbySaint-Simoncamptoexpresssituationofthepeopleinthe19thcentury,thatisrootless,idealessandfaithless,andtheirmercilesscompetitionandexploitation.Nevertheless,themuchsuitablerecognitionisRenaissanceandreformation.SinceRenaissance,theattitudetowardsliberalismhasbeguntoform.ThemainconstructionfortheliberalismgivenbyRenaissanceishumanismandtheindividualism.Whenthewriter,theartistandthethinkertalkabouthuman,theyrefertotheindividualmoreandmore.IfRenaissanceisthebeginningofindividualism,thereformationpromptsthefurtherdevelopmentofindividualism.Inwesternworld,religiousplayanimportantroleoftheindividualism’sformation.GodcreatehumanandgivethesoultoeveryonethatmeansHealsogivespeoplethemeaningofexistenceandthebasicright.EarlyReformationaffirmedtheconscienceandjudgmentofindividual,andwidenedthewayforthedevelopmentofindividualism.Inaddition,theprosecutiontothepuritanscausedthemtoseekforfreedom,independenceanddemocracyinthenewland,America.Therefore,immigrantsofEuropebroughttheirnewthinking,whichformedaftertheReformationtoAmerica,andinthisnewland,thiskindofnewthinkingbegantodeveloptodemocracyandindividualism.Futuremore,theappearanceofindividualismhasnothingtodowithsomebodyorsomethingbutwiththedevelopmentofcapitalismcountry,andtheruleofBourgeoismorality;thereflectionofprivateownershipofthemeansofproductioninpeople’awarenessandakindofculturalphenomenon.3.2TheAffectionofIndividualismonAmericanSocietyDuringtheprosperousdevelopmentofcapitalism,individualismplayedaveryimportantroleinfightingagainstFeudalasceticism,Autocracyandreligiousrule.Therefore,inAmerica,individualismdevelopedtoaquiteactivedirection,andshowedapositiveinfluence.IntheprocessoftransplantformEuropetoAmerica,individualismalsocompletesthetransformationfromnegativetopositive;fromyoungtomatureandfromtheorytopractice.Individualism’ssuccessinAmericashowsthattheacceptanceofindividualisminAmericahassomethingtodowiththefreedom,theequalityandthechanceofasociety.Asweallknown,Americaisacountrywhichquiteadvocatesthelawandthesystem,andAmericanpeoplehaveagreatbelieftothem.TheUnitedStatesConstitutionandtheLawprovidethatthepowerofthegovernmentisfromthepeopleandbelongstothepeople;thepowerofgovernmentisnotabsolutebutrestrictedbythelaw.TheDeclarationofIndependenceplaysaveryimportantroleinAmericanhistory;itemphasizes,“Weholdthesetruthstobeself-evident,thatallmenarecreatedequal,thattheyareendowedbytheirCreatorwithcertainunalienableRightsthatamongtheseareLife,Liberty,andthepursuitofHappiness.”

Therefore,afterthelawadmittedtheindividualright,theAmericansfoundthebasistorealizetheirself-worth.TherearemainlytwokindsofinfluencesofindividualismtowardsAmerica.First,thesloganofindividualism“freedomandequality”reallybecomestheGreatSpiritthatinspire,educateandmobilizeallthepeople.IndividualismhelpsAmericaalotbothintheearlydevelopmentandintheIndependentWar.Americanpeopleconquerthenature,anddeveloptheirnationalborderwiththestrengthofindividualism,andtheycreateagreatnumberofwealthfortheirmotherland.

TheDeclarationofIndependencealsoencouragesthenorthernAmericanpeople’srevolutionarymorale.Becauseofindividualism,peoplehaveamoreactivethinkingsothattheycouldkeeponcreating.Americansocietyisinchanginganddeveloping,fortheAmericanpeoplekeeponseekingfornewthings.Thatisreallypromptthedevelopmentoftheirsociety.Inaddition,individualismhelpAmericanparentseducatetheirchildren.AmericaalwaysadvocatesIndividualizedEducation,anditemphasizesonindependenceandtheabilityofself-analysisandproblemsolving.Therefore,inAmerica,therelationshipbetweenparentsandchildren,teachersandchildrenarenottheelderstothejuniorsbutfriends.Aftergrown-upofthechildren,theyshouldmoveoutandlivewithouttheirparents,andtheyshouldsupporttheirlifebythemselves,fortheyhaveaconceptthatwhenonebecomesanadult,heshouldberesponsibleforhimselfandsupporthimselfwithhisownability.Thatistheindependencebroughtbyindividualism.Individualismalsobringsmanyproblemssuchasthegapbetweenrichandpoorbecomewiderandtheoverliberalization.ThoughAmericaadvocatesequality,theyonlytalkabouteveryonehasanequalstartwhichpolarizationbecomequiteserious.Overliberalizationcausesmanysocialproblemslikedrugandviolence,forpeopletreatindividualismasthejustifiedreasonforthemtoallowthemselvestodegenerate.Overall,nothingcouldbethealternativeforindividualism,anditisthecoreoftheAmericanculture.3.3American’AttitudetowardsIndividualismAccordingtothemeaningofetymology,individualismmeansindividualisasocialunitandonlyindividualcannotbedivided.Individualismholdsopinionthatindividualisboththebasicandthehighestunitposingthesociety,andnothingcouldabovetheindividual.Everyoneisequalandnoonecouldgainhisinterestsbasedondamagingothers,andindividualismadvocatesthatoneshouldacquirewhathewantsbyhisownefforts.FrancisFukuyamahaseveraffirmedtheAmericanindividualism;hesaidthatAmericanpeopletreatindividualismnotasashortcomingbutaperfectmoral.Itstandsforcreativity,innovative,aspiritofproactiveandaproudofneveryieldtotheauthority.Tosomeextent,Americanpeopleareproudofindividualismandtheyagreewithindividualism.Theybelieveinthedignityandthesanctityoftheindividual.AnyactionthatinterferetheindividualisnotmoralbutalsoblasphemingtheGod.SoitcanbesaidthatthehighestidealofAmericaandthemostvaluableworldattitudeisindividualism.FortheAmericans,togiveupindividualismmeanstoabandontheirprofoundidentity.Underthecomputationaleconomicsystem,Americanenterprisesalwaystakeadvantageoflayoffstokeepthecompanytotideoverthedifficulties.Somethinkitistheperformanceofindividualism,butontheotherhand,theysacrificedtheinterestsofindividualinordertokeeptheircollectivei.e.theircompany,inagoodcondition,sothatmorestaffscouldkeeptheirinterests.Fromthatpointofview,inAmerica,individualismcombineswithcollectivism.Nomatterwhatkindofcriticismtheothersgivetoindividualism,Americanpeoplestillholdtheirfaith,andworshiptheiruniquecultureofindividualism.4.IndividualisminChina4.1TheRecognitionsofIndividualisminChinaIndividualisminChinaisquitedifferentfromitinAmerica.IfindividualisminAmericaemphasizesonthespecificindividualbehavior,itemphasizesonspiritualindividualinChina.IntraditionalChineseculture,individualismhasneverexisted.However,itdoesnotmeanindividualismcannotbeanalyzedbyChineseculture,andtherearenoculturaloriginsofindividualisminChineseculture.InearlyConfucianism,“gentlemenseekharmonybutnotuniformity”hasalreadyhadsomethingtodowithindividualism.Thiskindofthinkingespeciallyemphasizesonfreeingoneselffrommentalwhichreallyinfluencestherisingofpastoralpoetryinancienttimes.Itadvocatesgivingupthefameandseekingforliberationofspiritandhappinessoflife.WhenindividualismisintroducedintoChina,differentscholarsholddifferentopinionsonit.Onesideisindividualismshouldbecriticized,foritisadecadentideathatoriginfromcapitalism.Chinaadvocatecollectivism,soitishardforChinesepeopletoacceptanewideathatquitedifferentfromtheirfaith.Hushirepresentstheotherside;headvocates“thesoundindividualism”,whichleadstheyoungtoliberatetheirthoughts,breakthroughthetraditionalvaluesthosebasesonfamilyandmotherland,andfreestheirindividuality.Therealindividualismisindividuality,ithastwocharacteristics:firstisindependentthinking,whichmeansrefusetofollowotherpeople’thoughts,andopinions;secondistoberesponsibleforone’sbelief,whichmeansnotdaretheauthority,onlyacceptthetruth,andthinklessofone’sowninterests.However,inChinesecultureindividualismonlyreferstoselfish,whichisquitedifferentfromitinAmericanculture,forinAmerica,Godgiveone’sowninterestsandittakestobegranted.In1918,Hushisaidthatdevelopingone’individuality,twowaysshouldbefollowed.Oneisthesenseoffreedom;theotheristheresponsibilityofone’sown.HistheoryplaysanimportantroleinthedevelopmentofChinesesociety.4.2TheInfluenceofIndividualismonChineseSocietyAsacollectivismcountry,thedevelopingwayofindividualisminChinaistortuous.Chinaputscollectiveinterestsinthefirstplaceandalwaysadvocatessacrificingindividual’sintereststosatisfytheinterestofcollective.Therefore,whenindividualismappearsinChina,itreallyhitstheconceptofChinesepeople.Justasthethinkersrealize,individualismcouldbeagreedinAmericanotbecauseitgivesaproperreasonforthepeopletobeselfish,butitemphasizesthecharacteristicandself-worthofindividual;givesspacesandmotivesforself-development.Sobasedonthatsituation,newgenerationinChinarealizehowimportantindividualismisandtrytheirbesttotakeadvantageofitspositivesidetodevelopthemselvesanddevelopthesocietyofChina.Aftertherealizationofthepositivesideofindividualism,leadersinearlydaysleadChineserevolutiontosuccessagainandagain.Ifthereisnoemphasisonself-consciousnessandself-revolutioninindividualism,Chinesepeoplemaybestillbaretheimperialism,bureaucrat,andfeudalism.DuringtheconstructionofsocialistChina,individualismalsoplaysanimportantrolebothintheconstructionofbuildingasocialistcountrywithChinesecharacteristicsandthelodgingoftheprincipleofonecountry,twosystemswhichputforwardbyDengXiaoping.Chinaisintheprimarystageofsocialism，andproperdevelopingwayisneededurgently.AfterthedisorganizationofSovietUnionandthedrasticchangesinEasternEurope,theleaderofChinarealizedthatChina’sdevelopmentshouldnottotallydependonothercountries’helpandexperience.IntheTwelfthNationalCongressoftheCommunistPartyofChina,DengXiaopingfirstsetforththeprincipleofbuildingasocialistcountrywithChinesecharacteristics.ThatisnotonlythethemeofthatCongressbutalsotheguidingideologyofthenextnewcentury’sReformingandOpeningandtheconstructionofmodernism.ChinacanachievethestrongandprosperousonlyafterChinafindsasuitabledevelopingwayforitself.AfterHongKongreturnedtoChina,alotofpeopleworriedthatinthefuturetheremustbemanyproblemsofHongKong’sdevelopmentandconstruction.However,thatisnotthecase.Relyingontheprincipleofonecountry,twosystems,HongKongtakesself-governmentandreceivesabrand-newprosperity.Therefore,individualismhasapositiveinfluenceinChina.Itmeanscharacteristicsandindividuality.However,basedontheerroneousandradicalrecognitionstowardindividualism,moreChinesepeoplereceiveandtakeadvantagesofitsnegativeside.Underthesituationofmarketeconomy,lawofthejunglebecomesahabittoeveryone.Inordertosurviveinthatsituation,manypeoplechoosetosacrificeothers’interests.InChina,especiallyintheyounggeneration,whichinfluencedbyindividualism,theybecomemoreselfishandindifferent,fortheyonlyfollowthetrendoftheglobalizingandtheydonotrealizetheculturalimplicationofthatphenomenon.IfindividualismbeacceptedinAmericabecauseofthebelieftoemphasizetheirindividualityandself-worthitgivestoAmericanpeople,itisquitecontraryinChina,justbecauseofindividualism,peopleholdabasistobenonchalant.4.3ChineseAttitudetowardsIndividualismTherecognitiontowardsindividualisminChinaisnarrow.ThedefinitionofindividualisminChinesedictionaryCiHaiindicatesonlyselfishness.Inthehighschool’textbook,individualismis