The document summarizes some key traditional Chinese values reflected in the novel The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. It discusses how the novel depicts the importance of gods and making offerings during good harvest seasons. It also explores the values of filial piety through unconditional respect for ancestors, and the significance of land ownership as it represents a permanent home and source of livelihood. The document further examines the tradition of sons being preferred over daughters to continue the family lineage.

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Álvaro Rausell
Prendergast
English 10
Ancient Chinese traditional values and their reflection in The Good Earth
During the first ten chapters of the book The Good Earth, the author reflects
traditions and values present since ancient times in the Chinese civilization. These are
traditions, such as the importance of gods, who are praised during good seasons; values
as the filial piety, which consists on unconditional respect and obedience for one’s
antecessors; the importance of the land, as it cannot be taken away from the hands of its
owner, and the importance of having sons over daughters, as they guarantee the
permanence of the family.
“He smelled the air and looked anxiously at the sky. Rain was there, dark in the
clouds, heavy upon the wind. He would buy a stick of incense and place it in the little
temple to the Earth God. On a day like this he would do it” (Buck 3). In ancient Chinese
civilization, gods were important in their daily life, as they were praised when the rain
was abundant and their land fruitful. Along the text, there are uncountable references
describing the role the gods played on Chinese society. Among the most important, the
idea of burning incense to thank the gods gave tranquility to the people, as they were

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now being protected by them. However, the gods were not always benevolent. Evidence
of this is the case of Wang Lung’s uncle, whose land was never fruitful.
"They cannot take the land away from me. The labor of my body and the fruit of
the fields I have put into that which cannot be taken away. If I had the silver, they would
have taken it. If I had bought with the silver to store it, they would have taken it all. I
have the land still, and it is mine"(Buck 53). Together with the gods, land was also very
important to their owners. It represented a source one could rely on that cannot be stolen
from him. All of Wang Lung’s effort put towards the land would someday give their
fruits as “Land is one's flesh and blood” (Buck 45). For when people only see fruitless
land, Wang Lung saw what could someday be their income and food source. Also,
Wang Lung understood that the land will be his, for it cannot be robbed. If he, instead
of fertile land, had money, he could be robbed and lose everything he had. That is why
Wang Lung put so much effort on buying land, as it represents not only food and
income, but mainly a home, for the land guaranteed a home.
Filial piety is a value reflected in the book as permanent and unconditional
respect and obedience. “‘Now that,’ he cried, ‘for speaking so to your father's
generation! Have you no religion, no morals, that you are so lacking in filial
conduct?’”(Buck 63). Although Wang Lung’s uncle did not respect him, Wang Lung
saw himself forced to lend money to his uncle, with the excuse that, because he was his
father’s brother, Wang Lung owed him respect and obedience. As Wang Lung’s uncle
thought Wang was rich, he forced him to give the little silver he had saved, for it was
his obligation as a successor. One last value reflected on the book is the fact that having
a daughter symbolizes bad luck, which wouldn’t be different to Wang Lung, as
mentioned in the book, “‘it is over once more. It is only a slave this time-not worth

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mentioning.’ Wang lung stood still. A sense of evil struck him. A girl!”(Buck 46). It is,
because for when sons grow up, they will take care of the land and guarantee the
permanence of the family more generations, while, on the other hand, a daughter will be
raised to end up married and becoming part of another family, not taking care of their
parents when they become old.
By reading The Good Earth, one can really experience the Chinese traditions
and realize how different they are from our occidental traditions, but at the same time
understand their base. Some of them, such as the filial piety, are not different from those
that existed in the western world a long time ago, but that have been losing their worth
over time. Others, such as the preference of having sons over daughters, which is still
alive in current China, have fortunately been overpassed in the western civilization.
Works Cited
Buck, Pearl S. The Good Earth. New York: Washington Square, 1973. Print.