Commitment to Marriage

• Marriage has always played an important part in China's culture. Marriage was so important that arranged marriages were typical for centuries. Such marriages were expected to endure for a lifetime. This important decision was not left to the young people, but was made by their elders. While that has changed today, marriage is still considered the desired state and the basis of the family. Even now, a couple typically requests the approval of their parents before marriage as a sign of respect for the knowledge and experience of their elders.
  
  

Respect for Elders

• Unlike many western cultures that value youth, the Chinese revere their elders and respect the knowledge that is gained with age and experience. Chinese families typically take care of their aging family members, rather than leaving them to fend for themselves. Recent changes in society, however, have prompted the possibility of a law requiring children to visit and care for their parents in cases where the children fail to uphold a duty to support their parents.
  
  

Respect for the Dead

• Ancestor worship is important within the Chinese family. The Chinese believe that the spirits of deceased family members continue to watch over them and influence the lives of those they've left behind. Remaining family members often create an altar in the home with candles, a photo of the relative and several items of offering. Articles the deceased may need in the great beyond are placed on the altar. Grooming items, favorite foods and money are commonly found on altars.
  
  

Importance of Education

• Chinese families place a great value on education and Chinese children are expected to assume the same attitude without question. Students of both sexes spend considerable time studying and striving to excel in the subjects they take in school. Television, computer games, sports and playtime are often given low or no priority in favor of academic pursuits. Intense pressure and a competitive atmosphere prevail, as parents insist on nothing short of academic excellence in the hope of securing a good future for their children.