Which policy was best for China toward foreigners?

Which Policy Was Best For China Toward Foreigners?

The Chinese have experienced both open and closed door policies toward foreigners. For many years, trade flourished as China welcomed contact with foreigners. Traders and visitors brought new goods, fashions, ideas, and religion to China. Even though some scholars believed that the closed door policy was best for China, there were disadvantages brought by closing China’s door to the rest of the world.  An open door policy was the best policy toward foreigners during the Tang dynasty because it brought new ideas and religions to China, encouraged cultural exchange, and introduced new goods and fashions.

One reason the open-door policy was the best policy for China was because it resulted in the introduction of new ideas and religions. Chinese music was strongly influenced by melodies and musical instruments from India, Persia, and Central Asia. Chinese artists and artisans copied new foreign styles too. For instance, silversmiths began using Persian designs. New religions such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam were also were introduced to China during the Tang dynasty. Jews, Christians, and Muslims built houses of worship in Chang’an where they could preach, even though they only converted a few Chinese. Under the Tang dynasty, Buddhism became a central part of Chinese life. While Chinese pilgrims went to India to study, Buddhist monks came to teach in China. The introduction of new ideas, and spread of Buddhism had lasting influence on the Chinese.

Furthermore, an open door policy brought significant cultural exchange to China. For example, the Chinese received ivory, cotton, perfumes, spices, and horses from foreigners in return for sending their silk, porcelain, paper, iron, and jade. The Chinese also learned from India, the skills of making sugar from sugarcane and wine from grapes. New medicines came from India as well. All of these things greatly enriched the Chinese culture.

Finally, the open door policy was a more advantageous policy is because the foreigners introduced new goods and fashions to China. For example, sitting in chairs from Central Asia instead of floor cushions became a status symbol. In addition, the upper classes in the Tang dynasty wore rubies, pearls, and other jewels, and they drank from goblets made of glass. Glass was previously an unknown material to China.  The Chinese were also introduced to new foods such as spinach, garlic, mustard, and peas. Polo, a Persian sport, became very popular within the upper class women and men. The introduction of new attractive goods and fashion into China significantly improved the quality of life for the Chinese.

Although many support the open door policy, some scholars believed that the closed door policy towards foreigners was the best policy for China. One concern was that an open door policy allowed foreigners to easily attack China. Another problem with the open door policy was that foreigners often enjoyed many more privileges than the Chinese. This also lead to resentment of the Chinese for the wealth and success of foreigners. However, a closed door policy would have prevented the valuable knowledge and enrichment of Chinese culture gained from cultural exchange with other countries. China would not know about  ivory, cotton, perfumes, spices, and horses. or, spinach, garlic, mustard, and peas. They would not have had sugar and glass making skills, more knowledge of medicines, or understanding of additional religions. As a result, Buddhism would not have become the main religion of China. China would not have enjoyed as much success with a closed door policy.

In conclusion, An open door policy was the best policy toward foreigners during the Tang dynasty because it brought new ideas and religions to China, encouraged cultural exchange, and introduced new goods and fashions. It would be difficult for the Chinese to imagine a life without Buddhism. It would be even more difficult for the Chinese to imagine life without sugar and glass, rubies and pearls, and even spinach, garlic, mustard, and peas. It is evident that foreigners greatly influenced China in many ways. Although the open door policy had its disadvantages, cultural enrichment flourished during this period along with the development of valuable skills, knowledge, and ideas. This had a lasting significant influence on the Chinese culture.