Chinese Street Scenes. Order and Philosophy.

In a country like China, where everyday life is complex, busy, and often crowded, order creates harmony. It enables Chinese life to work smoothly. Orderliness can be seen in the cleanliness of the streets, the hygiene applied to food preparation and the behaviour of the Chinese people. The ancient principles of Confucianism, a system of norms and propriety that determine how a person should act in everyday life, underlies many aspects of Chinese society, with later overlays of buddhism, daoism, communism and capitalism. Below: some sketches of everyday life in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.

Scene below the Ohm hotel, Chengdu. A very orderly dumpling operation.
Not a leaf or butt in sight. Kunming.
Street Recycling, Kunming.
Beautiful brooms made of twigs. Sichuan Province.

15 thoughts on “Chinese Street Scenes. Order and Philosophy.”

  2. In five photos plus a little text you so delightfully explode a number of ideas us ‘gweilo’ just might have about places about which we might have such misconceptions . . .

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  3. I worked in China for a year and every period of time off sent me exploring the delights (cultural, visual and eats) of villages far and wide. I could sit for hours watching food prep (always a surety of a tasting), cloth weaving, instrument making et al. The busyness of the Chinese in all aspects of their lives is something to behold. It inspired me build and grow edible gardens wherever I have since lived. Sometimes even a few pots of herbs and Asian greens is enough to fill the wok along with those unmistakable culinary aromas of Asian cooking. Ah! the garlic, ginger, chilli sizzling for a few minutes before the rest in tossed in with gay abandon (pun intended)! Your stunning streetscape images are amazing along with your knowledge of cultural and religious history. I really miss visiting rural temples with squillions of incense stick burning and the worshippers adorning little altars with food, flowers money etc. Such a thought provoking and serene experience. The broom image says it all. I’ve longed to make one but never had the opportunity to learn. So it’s back to the vac.

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  4. I hope you will post more photos and information like this. I know very little about the Chinese culture. I am intrigued and want to know more.

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  6. Pingback: Order in shopping | What's (in) the picture?

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