History

• Present-day Chinese culture, like other cultures throughout the world, is very much under the sway of globalism but maintains certain societal values that are rooted in ancient philosophy. One of the most notable of these philosophies is Taoism. Taoism comes from the teachings of Lao Tzu (literally translated as “Old Man”). Lao Tzu wrote a series of proverbs and wisdoms that became the "Tao Te Ching." This philosophy extols man’s connection to nature, a policy of non-interference and a holistic way of thinking.
  
  

Misconceptions

• The stereotype of the monkish old man who talks in riddles represents Western society's perception of an ancient Chinese sage, but the “riddling monk’s” holistic thought is something that is prevalent in Chinese culture. According to University of Michigan researcher Richard Nisbett, “East Asians reason in a holistic way whereas Westerners, especially European Americans, rationalize in an analytical way.”
  
  

Significance

• The significance of the holistic thought present in Chinese culture is exhibited within its medicine, art and politics. Nothing is separate from the whole; nothing can be understood out of context. This prevalence of holism may influence the cognitive development of a Chinese child, allowing them to see the “bigger picture” in greater complexity.
  
  

Expert Insight

• Cognitive development is influenced by culture.china quiet image by Steve Pelletier from Fotolia.com
  
  Studies involving volunteers from both China and the West asked them to look at a picture of fish swimming against a background of ocean. The Chinese subjects were much more likely to notice the details of the background and the fish’s relationship to it; the Western subjects were far more likely to notice the details of an individual fish, while barely remembering the details of the background. This study, among others, led Nisbett to conclude: “Cultural differences in cognitive processes are so tied to cultural differences in basic assumptions about the nature of the world that the traditional distinction between content and process begins to seem somewhat arbitrary.”
  
  

Effects

• The effect of Chinese culture on the development of cognitive processes is essential to the continuation of Chinese culture. According to Nisbett, “Cultural practices and cognitive processes constitute one another. Cultural practices encourage and sustain certain kinds of cognitive processes, which then perpetuate the cultural practices.” All babies are born with the same learning development process; it is the culture we are born into that shapes that development and our perception of the world around us.