Relations between China and Egypt date back to 1956, so lets take a look at some of the similarities that has made the two nations compatible. With expectations of China’s President visit to Egypt mid-January this year, and the setting of 2016 as the Chinese – Egypt cultural year, it is time that a brief exposure on the two countries bond is done.
- Both countries had great empires in the ancient world
The ancient civilizations of these two countries contributed to our world today. Both countries had dynasties; a dynasty is when a leader’s successor came from the same family or line. Although the two nations had different kinds of dynasties they have both had a lasting impact on history. China’s government was feudalistic, being a big nation, nobles watched over the pieces of land while the emperor watched over them. China had many rulers reporting to one while Egypt had the Pharaoh who watched over the whole of Egypt. The Chinese believed the emperor was chosen by heaven while the Egyptians believed the Pharaoh was god himself.
- Religion
Religiously, Egyptians were polytheistic and believed in divinity of the ruler and eternity of the soul. While the Chinese were also polytheistic they had ancestral worship which was later blended in Taoism, Buddhism or Confucianism. Both societies used oracles, however, the Chinese used the oracles to talk to their ancestors for help while Egyptians used them to talk to god.
- Martial Arts
Chinese are known the world over for their martial arts promoted hugely by Chinese movies that are popular globally. China’s practices Kung Fu and tai chi among other martial arts. Egypt has for ages had a form of stick fighting which is known as Tahtib.Tahtib is mostly viewed as a dance than an actual fight.
- Writing
China and Egypt developed a very sophisticated and strange way of communicating ages ago, both using symbols for their writing however the two forms of writing were not related. Egypt called the form of writing hieroglyphics; used mostly in ancient world for writing spells and keeping records. In China the writing was used particularly for trade and money records.
- The Rivers
With the surrounding desert in Egypt and the Himalayas Mountains plus Gobi desert surrounding China, both countries relay heavily on the rivers that cut through their lands. The Nile River is the life saver for Egypt; it allowed Egyptians to farm along the river. The Huang, He or Yellow River gave China a food source as well; running through the heartland of the Asian country creating land along its path the food basket of the nation.
