The Chinese Family System

ALL Western scholars who have some knowledge of Chinese history agree that Chinese civilization has been built on the basis of the family. This is, of course, true; but it is not peculiarly so of Chinese civilization. All types of civilization, no matter how different they may appear to be one from another, have been developed from this very same root of human institutions, namely, the family. In fact, it is only since the dawn of the industrial revolution, which has directly or indirectly undermined and overwhelmed the age-old family system of all races, that we begin to find a civilization radically diverse from all types hitherto produced. Its menace to the family is steadily increasing, despite all the efforts of the conservatives. Even the Orient, noticeably China, which is probably the last stronghold of the old family system, is gradually losing ground to its younger generations. In the course of time, China's family system will also perish and will be replaced by a civilization growing out of modern individualism, nationalism, capitalism, or socialism and communism. Thus the world industrial revolution will be completed.