If you give Chinese people two choices of life: a very long, yet ultimately, average and uneventful life or a very exciting, fun-filled life that only lasted 24 years. Most of them may choose the 1st choice. There is an idiom for the traditional Chinese attitude, “A good death is worse than a lazy life”. This saying reveals a deeply ingrained sense of optimism and acceptance of fate. Some people say Chinese people’s acceptance of fate originates from a geographical standpoint. The birthplace of the Chinese civilization is the Central Plains where the climate is very regular.
China’s two main rivers, the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, both run from west to east and don’t change much in latitude. This means the cultivation both upstream and downstream are very similar. This uniformity of the agrarian culture reduced the incentive for mutual trade and the need to travel. This would create a sense of optimism in the Chinese character.
Also some believes the Chinese practice of ancestor worship has significantly influenced the makeup of the Chinese people. Chinese people tend to return to the past. By comparing their lives to the past, it creates an unlimited feeling of satisfaction. With no other desires, people in ancient times had the opportunity to coexist harmoniously with nature. They worked towards an existence where their social development was in sync with the natural world. This sort of self-satisfaction and oneness with nature, helped Chinese people develop a more optimistic attitude towards life.