It is
well-known that "for much of their history, Americans defined their
society in opposition to Europe."[1]
"America, it was argued, was a distinct civilization."[2] George
Washington had believed that “the new nation would develop a unique American
character.”[3] Thomas
Jefferson alleged American civilization “was the part
of a form of civilization higher than the polished societies of Europe.”[4] US cultures
have evolved and absorbed elements from other cultures in the historic process
of the formation of American civilization. American civilization drew positive
elements from other major civilizations of the world, including Chinese
civilization. In contemporary society, American political leaders have also
clearly realized the influence of Chinese civilization on the development of
American civilization. Bill Clinton pointed out that China as “a stronghold
of creativity, knowledge and wealth” had an
impact on American life long before the United States was even born. He told
Americans that “From the printing China invented to the poetry
it produced, from medicine and mathematics to the magnetic compass and
humanistic philosophies, many of China’s earliest
gifts still enrich our lives today.”[5]
The founding fathers of
the United States were among the main weavers of the fiber of American
civilization. Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had
positive attitudes towards Chinese civilization and worked hard to borrow from
it in their efforts to make a new and flourishing society in North America.[6] Benjamin
Franklin studied and promoted Confucian Moral philosophy in his effort to cultivate
his own morals as well as to encourage Americans to do the same. George
Washington personally conducted an experiment to grow Chinese flowers in his
garden. Thomas Jefferson incorporated Chinese architectural elements into his
own buildings in Monticello.
[1] Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of
Civilizations and Remaking of World Order, Simon & Schuster, Rockfeller
Center, New York, 1996, P.46.
[2] Ibid.
[3] A. J. Langguth, Union 1812: The Americans
Who Fought the Second War of Independence, New York, Simon & Schuster,
2006, p.4.
[4] Robert W. Tuck and David C. Hendrickson,
“Thomas Jefferson and American Foreign Policy,” in Foreign Affairs,
Spring 1990, Vol. 69, Issue 2, p.135.
[5] Bill Clinton, Remarks at a state dinner
Honoring President Jiang, October 29, 1997, Executive Office of the President, Weekly
Compilation of Presidential Documents, Weekly Ending Friday, October 21,
1997 (Washington, D.C: US. Government Printing Office, 1997), 33: 1685-1686.
[6] As for more information on the founding
fathers’ connection with Chinese civilization, see Dave
Wang, “The Founding Fathers of the United States and
Chinese Porcelain Ware,” in Huaren-E
Magazine, January 2008; Benjamin Franklin and Chinese Civilization, U.S
–China Relation Series, No. 2,
New York, Outer Sky Press, August 2006; Benjamin Franklin’s Attitude toward Chinese Civilization, Social Science
Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology, Issue 4, 2006; Benjamin Franklin
and China: A Survey of Benjamin Franklin’s Efforts at
Drawing Positive Elements from Chinese Civilization during the Formative Age of
the United States, published since 2005 by the Official Website of the
Tercentenary Commission. The paper is available at http://www.benfranklin300.org/etc_essays.htm
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