Yihan HuangCHIN3162TesinaProf. ZhangThe impact of historical events on society and individuals in China Throughout the entire history of China, we can clearly see that there are a series of historical events that have had a huge impact on Chinese society and generations in China. Some of these historical events had already ended a couple of generations ago; some of them are still being incessantly reformed and continue to strive until now; However, it is quite fair to say that each of them has had a tremendous influence on Chinese society, regardless of whether the influence is positive or negative. Ranking the most influential historical events throughout Chinese history, there are two main events that seem unforgettable: they are the Cultural Revolution. and China's economic reform. It is certain that people are unlikely to be able to give them an order that differentiates them in terms of the impact that each event has had on Chinese society and individuals; because each of them has influenced and continues to influence not a single aspect of Chinese society, neither positively nor negatively. Talking about the Cultural Revolution, for the generation that lived through it, is a nightmare. The decade-long Cultural Revolution has gradually become confusing in the minds of Chinese people, especially for younger generations like my generation. However, the consequences of the Cultural Revolution are profoundly devastating for Chinese society; as the Chinese said, history is like a mirror in which many problems occurring at the same time can be reflected. The same mistake we made can be made again in the future if we don't learn from our past. Undoubtedly, the Cultural Revolution was, as many believed, the “10 darkest years” for modern… paper students. Due to the Cultural Revolution, younger generations are increasingly Westernized and materialized and lose their interests in traditional cultures. It is difficult to judge whether these changes are right or not; only time can tell. ReferenceChow, Gregory C. “CHINESE ECONOMY: REFORMS AND PROSPECTS.” Princeton University. Np, April 15, 1999. Web. April 23, 2014. Croucher, Martin. "Sacking of the British Embassy during the Cultural Revolution". The Times of the Era. Np, 26 August 2006. Web. 23 April 2014. http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-8-26/45348.htmlIanchovichina, Elena and Will Martin. “Trade Liberalization in China's Accession to the World Trade Organization.” Google Books. World Bank Publications, June 2001. Web. 23 April. 2014.