Culture is a human phenomenon that is infinitely changing, evolving and being added upon. In East Asia, culture changed and stayed the same whether it be from contact with external forces such as foreign civilizations or changes in societal beliefs. This was never more evidently displayed than in China, which had many continuities and changes of its culture from 220 BCE to 1368 CE. From the beginning of 220 BCE to 1378 CE, Chinese culture changed in its outlook on certain classes and types of people. However, it stayed the same in its outlook of themselves and their own superiority. Culture in civilizations in East Asia changed when patriarchy in China strengthened seen through the popularization of foot-binding and the status of merchants elevating. Nevertheless, it also had continuities such as China’s very prevalent ethnocentric …show more content…
Before Mongol influence, merchants had a significantly low social status in China and were seen as lazy and dishonorable. This attitude stemmed from the belief that merchants weren’t doing any work because they were selling products that others had worked very hard on to make and perfect. After Mongol influence, the outlook towards merchants elevated considerably, no longer having a stigma around their profession and even seen as important to the economy. This change in attitude was because the nomadic Mongols saw merchants as a useful and necessary part of their survival since they were reliant on trade to have all the materials they needed to live. Therefore, after the Mongols invaded China this stance on merchants was promoted by the new states approval, even going so far as to actively endorse the merchant industry by making paper money more available. Altogether, after the merchant industry was seen as vital to Chinese prosperity, the outlook on them changed drastically from before Mongol