Chinese culture

Chinese culture is one of the world's earliest and most fascinating cultures, with roots that go back over five thousand years. It began in a large area of East Asia and has grown into a rich and varied tradition across many regions. Over time, Chinese culture has shaped many parts of the world, including ideas about life, art, music, dance, food, and more.

Many important parts of Chinese culture are known and loved all around the globe. These include beautiful Chinese characters, delicate ceramics, amazing architecture, exciting martial arts, tasty cuisine, deep philosophy, and lively festivals. These traditions continue to be celebrated by people everywhere.

Today, Chinese culture remains a strong influence in many areas of life. From the way people think and behave to the art they create and the holidays they enjoy, the ideas and customs from China have touched many lives. This rich culture continues to inspire and connect people all over the world.

Identity

In ancient China, people were grouped into four main classes: gentry, farmers, craftsmen, and merchants. Gentry and farmers were considered the most important groups.

Today, China has many different ethnic groups, with the Han Chinese being the largest group. They make up most of the population in China and many other places around the world. China officially recognizes 56 different ethnic groups, each with its own traditions and languages.

The characteristics of Chinese culture

China is one of the world's oldest civilizations, with a culture that has lasted for thousands of years. People in China have always focused on learning and improving themselves, working together, and accepting different ideas. This has led to a rich and varied culture with many traditions and ways of thinking.

Regional

Main article: List of regions of the People's Republic of China

Chinese culture covers large areas, and each place has its own special traditions. For example, Guangdong is known for chenpi, aged ginger, and hay. The ancient city of Lin'an (Hangzhou) is famous for tea leaf, bamboo shoot trunk, and hickory nut. These differences are why there is an old saying: "praxis vary within ten li, customs vary within a hundred li". The 31 provincial-level divisions of the People's Republic of China are grouped by their traditional areas.

Social structure

Main article: Social structure of China

For thousands of years, China has had leaders called monarchs who were the most important people in the land. Society was organized in a way where government and military leaders were at the top, and everyone else followed Chinese law. During certain times, people were grouped into four main classes based on their jobs.

Over time, especially during the Song dynasty, these groups began to mix more as trade grew. Education was very important, and young men would study hard to take tests called imperial examinations. Those who did well could become important government officials. Women also had their own guidelines for behavior, written by historians like Ban Zhao.

In the 1800s, Europe became very powerful, and China began looking at new ways to organize itself, mixing old Chinese traditions with new ideas from Europe.

Spiritual values

Main articles: Chinese spiritual world concepts, Chinese mythology, and Buddhism in China

Most spiritual practices come from Chinese Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. These ideas have shaped Chinese art, literature and thinking. Important figures include Guan Yin, the Jade Emperor and Buddha. Beliefs about life after death and rebirth connect everyday life with the spirit world.

Chinese Buddhism grew by mixing with Indian religions, Chinese folk religion, and Taoism. During early dynasties, people worshipped gods like Shang Di. Today, many traditions continue, such as Chinese fortune telling and stories that became traditional Chinese holidays.

Religion

Main articles: Religion in China, Taoism, Chinese folk religion, and Fortune-telling § Eastern fortune telling

Taoism teaches living in balance with the Tao, meaning "Way". It values simplicity, naturalness, and harmony. Taoism is different from Confucianism, which focuses more on rules and order. Both have influenced Chinese life for thousands of years.

Philosophy and legalism

Main articles: Chinese philosophy, Confucianism, and Legalism (Chinese philosophy)

Confucianism became the main way of thinking in China. It taught about respect, family, and good government. People studied Confucian books to work for the government. Other ideas, like Legalism, focused on strict laws. Even today, these thoughts affect Chinese culture.

Hundred Schools of Thought

Main articles: Hundred Schools of Thought, Mohism, The Art of War, and School of Naturalists

From 6th century to 221 BC, many new ideas grew in China. Scholars shared thoughts on life, government, and the world. This time is called the Golden Age of Chinese thinking. Ideas from then still influence people today. Teachers like Mozi and writers like Sunzi shared important lessons about life and leadership.

Language

Main articles: Spoken Chinese and Varieties of Chinese

The ancient written language was called Classical Chinese. It was used for thousands of years, mostly by scholars and educated people. Ordinary people could sometimes learn it by taking written tests. Later, beautiful writing became a valued art, and famous works were treasured. Chinese literature has a long history; one of the earliest books, the I Ching or "Book of Changes", dates back to around 1000 BC. A time of great thinking during the Warring States period brought important books like Confucius's Analects and Laozi's Tao Te Ching. Big history books began with Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian, written between 109 BC and 91 BC. The Tang dynasty was a golden age for poems, and the famous Four Great Classical Novels were written in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Printing with movable type was invented during the Song dynasty. Schools of scholars were created to study and discuss important books, both printed and handwritten. Royalty often took part in these discussions too.

Chinese thinkers, writers, and poets were greatly respected for keeping and sharing the culture of the land. Some writers dared to describe everyday life in their stories, which sometimes upset leaders.

Main article: Varieties of Chinese

At the start of the 20th century, most people could not read or write, and many different languages were spoken across regions like Mandarin, Wu, Yue (Cantonese), Min Nan, Jin, Xiang, Hakka, Gan, Hui, and Ping. This made it hard for people from different places to talk to each other. But writing allowed messages and official papers to be shared across all of China. Leaders decided to create a national spoken language and chose the Beijing version of Mandarin. After the May 4th Movement, Classical Chinese was replaced by a newer written style based on everyday speech.

Calligraphy

Main article: Chinese calligraphy

Chinese calligraphy is a special kind of writing that is also an art. It is about writing in a beautiful way and showing human language in a special form. People in China, Japan, and Korea all have their own names for this art. In China, it is called Shūfǎ, meaning "the way of writing." This kind of art uses similar tools and ways to ink and wash painting. It focuses on movement and energy, making each piece unique.

Calligraphy in China is seen as one of the arts. It is not just about how to write, but also about building good character. It is taught as a special skill and discipline.

Literature

Main article: Chinese literature

The Zhou dynasty played a big role in shaping Chinese culture. Important early texts from this time talked about topics like poetry, astrology, astronomy, the calendar, and constellations. Some key books include the I Ching and the Shujing. Ideas like Yin and Yang and Qi came from these early times. By the end of the Qing dynasty, Chinese writing changed to include everyday language for all people. Writers like Hu Shih and Lu Xun were leaders in modern literature. After People's Republic of China was founded, studying modern Chinese literature grew a lot.

Poetry in the Tang dynasty

Main article: Tang poetry

Tang poetry was poetry written during the Tang dynasty. Poetry was very important in daily life and even needed for government exams. Two famous poets were Li Bai and Du Fu. Tang poetry kept influencing literature around the world.

Ci in Song dynasty

Main article: Ci (poetry)

Ci was a special kind of poetry that followed certain rhythms and tones, often based on songs. It became very popular during the Song dynasty. This type of poetry talked about many topics and was written in beautiful, musical ways.

Qu in Yuan dynasty

Main article: Qu (poetry)

Qu poetry came from songs and had set patterns of sound and rhythm. It was very popular during the Yuan dynasty and often used in plays.

The novel in Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty

Main article: Classic Chinese Novels

Novels in China began to appear during the Song dynasty and grew during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Famous books like Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, and Journey to the West became very well known. The Story of the Stone, or Dream of the Red Chamber, is thought to be one of the greatest Chinese novels ever written.

Fashion and clothing

Main articles: Chinese clothing, Hanfu, and Qipao

China has a rich history of fashion, with clothing styles changing greatly over many centuries. In early times, people used clothing to show their social rank. For example, only the emperor could wear the color yellow.

During the Qing dynasty, a new style of clothing called the qipao appeared. This loose, straight dress originally came from Manchu traditions. Over time, it changed into a more fitted style, especially in cities like Shanghai. Today, the qipao is a popular and elegant dress often worn for special occasions.

Arts

Chinese art includes many kinds of visual art made in China or by Chinese artists. It has one of the oldest traditions in the world, with simple pottery and sculptures from around 10,000 BC. Over time, Chinese art grew by following different ruling dynasties, each lasting many hundreds of years.

Art in China often includes decorative items made in large workshops, like fine ceramics. Many forms of art were shaped by philosophers, teachers, religious leaders, and political figures. These include fine art, folk art, and performance art. Early music and poetry were influenced by ancient writings. Painting became very popular in royal courts, especially landscapes. Music started with drums and later included string and wind instruments. After paper was invented, papercutting became a new art. Chinese opera and other performances also developed.

Chinese lantern

Chinese paper lanterns are made from thin, colorful paper and come in many shapes and sizes. The simplest ones are like paper bags with a candle inside, while more complex ones have frames made from bamboo or metal covered in paper. Some lanterns are made from silk or vinyl and can last longer. Paper lanterns are often used in festivals and can be found in China, Japan, Korea, and places with large Chinese communities. Sky lanterns are small hot air balloons made of paper with a flame at the bottom that makes them rise into the sky.

Chinese hand fan

The oldest Chinese fans date back to the 2nd century BCE and were made from bamboo, wood, or paper. Fans were important in ancient China and could show a person’s status or gender. During the Song dynasty, artists often painted on fans. Fans came in many shapes, like leaves or half-moons, and were made from materials such as silk or bamboo.

Carved lacquer

Carved lacquer is a special kind of decorated lacquerware that developed in China around the 12th century CE. It is very time-consuming to make and was a luxury item. The carvings often show patterns, figures, birds, plants, and sometimes religious symbols or imperial dragons. These items were usually small containers or boxes, and sometimes screens or furniture.

Folding screen

Folding screens are free-standing pieces of furniture with several connected panels. They began in ancient China and were originally made from wooden panels painted with lacquer. Later, paper or silk became popular materials. Folding screens became very popular during the Tang dynasty and were used to display paintings and writing. Artists often created special painted or calligraphed folding screens, and landscape paintings on screens reached their peak during the Song dynasty.

Chinese jade

Chinese jade has been mined and carved in China since the Neolithic period. It is valued for its hardness, durability, and beautiful colors. Early jade items, known as the Six Ritual Jades, were thought to represent the sky, earth, and the four directions. During the Han dynasty, jade burial suits were made for the royal family to preserve the body. Jade was also used in traditional Chinese medicine and remained an important art form. It influenced art in Korea and Southeast Asia but was less common in Japan.

Mythological beings

Loong

Main article: Loong

Loongs, also called Chinese Dragons, are famous creatures in Chinese stories and traditions. They often look like snakes with four legs and can change shapes. Dragons are symbols of great power, especially over water and weather. They also stand for strength and good luck. In old China, emperors used dragons to show their power.

Fenghuang

Main article: Fenghuang

Fenghuang are special birds in Chinese myths that rule over all other birds. They are sometimes called the "August Rooster." In Western countries, they are often known as the Chinese phoenix, though they are different from the Western phoenix.

Qilin

Main article: Qilin

The Qilin is a mythical animal in Chinese culture, often appearing when a wise person or great leader is about to come or has just passed. It has one horn and hooves, like a deer or ox.

Xuanwu

Main article: Xuanwu

Xuanwu is one of the important symbols in Chinese constellations. It is usually shown as a turtle with a snake wrapped around it. Xuanwu stands for the north and the winter season. In Japan, it is also a protective spirit for the city of Kyoto.

Music, instruments and dancing

Main articles: Music of China, List of Chinese musical instruments, and Dance of China

Music and dance have been important together since the earliest times in China. Chinese music started a very long time ago, with old writings and objects showing a rich musical life back in the Zhou dynasty (1122 BCE – 256 BCE). In those early days, music often went with dancing. Some of the oldest music we know about comes from around the time of Confucius. A big growth in Chinese music happened later, especially with the popular qin, a special plucked instrument, during the Tang dynasty.

China has many musical instruments that are important to its culture, like the Xun, Guzheng, guqin, sheng, xiao, erhu, and pipa. Dance in China comes in many forms, from folk dances to shows in opera and ballet. Dances are used in celebrations, rituals, and ceremonies. With 56 recognized ethnic groups in China, each group has its own folk dances. Today, two of the most famous Chinese dances are the Dragon dance and the Lion Dance.

Architecture

Main article: Chinese architecture

Chinese architecture is a special style of building that has been around for many centuries and has influenced buildings in East Asia. The main ideas behind Chinese architecture have stayed the same, but the decorations have changed over time. Since the Tang dynasty, Chinese architecture has influenced places like Japan and Korea. Chinese buildings, even those over 2,000 years old, show important features like symmetry, which makes buildings look grand. Gardens are an exception, as they are often designed to be unbalanced and natural, like walking through a painting.

Chinese palace

Main article: Chinese palace

A Chinese palace is a big, fancy place where kings and queens lived and worked. These palaces have many buildings, big halls for important events, smaller rooms, temples, towers, and beautiful gardens. Sometimes there were smaller palaces outside the main city where kings could stay when they traveled.

Paifang

Main article: Paifang

A Paifang is a traditional Chinese arch or gateway. It started as a way to mark the entrance to important places and later became more of a decoration.

Chinese garden

Main article: Chinese garden

Chinese gardens are special places designed to show the beauty of nature. They can be big gardens for kings or smaller ones for people to relax. These gardens usually have walls, ponds, rocks, trees, flowers, and paths that wind around. Visitors move from one part to another, seeing new views like pages in a book.

Physical culture

Martial arts

Main articles: Chinese martial arts and List of Chinese martial arts

China is one of the main birthplaces of Eastern fighting styles. These fighting styles, often called kung fu or wushu, have developed over many years in China. They are grouped by shared features, like family, sect, or school. Some styles focus on physical exercises, like those inspired by animals or old philosophies. Others work on inner energy, while some improve strength and health. These styles can also be grouped by where they come from, like northern or southern China.

These fighting styles are known as Kung Fu, meaning "human achievement," or Wushu, meaning "martial arts." Famous places like the Shaolin Monastery and Wudang Mountains are tied to these arts. Over time, these styles have changed and branched out. They have also been used with many different weapons. Some famous fighters, like Wong Fei Hung, have come from China. These schools also teach performances like the lion dance, which began as a display of fighting skills and became a fun dance.

Leisure

Chinese culture has many fun games and pastimes that people enjoy. One of the most popular games is Mahjong, and there are other similar games like Shanghai Solitaire, pai gow, pai gow poker, and bone domino games. People also like to play Weiqi and xiangqi. There are even special ethnic games like the Chinese yo-yo that people play at social events.

Another activity many people enjoy is Qigong. This is a practice that combines spiritual, physical, and medical techniques, and it is often used as a form of exercise. While it is popular among older people, anyone of any age can try it during their free time.

Cuisine

Main article: Chinese cuisine

Chinese cuisine is a big part of Chinese culture. It comes from many different areas in China and from Chinese people living around the world. Because Chinese people have moved to many places and China has been powerful, Chinese food has influenced foods in many parts of Asia. The way Chinese food is seasoned and cooked changes depending on where it comes from, the history of the area, and the kinds of people living there. The landscape, like mountains and rivers, also affects what ingredients are available. Special preferences of emperors and kings have also shaped Chinese cooking over time. As China grew and traded with other places, new ingredients and cooking methods were added to Chinese food. The four most famous types of Chinese food are from Chuan, Lu, Yue and Huaiyang. Today, there are eight main styles of Chinese food from Anhui, Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Sichuan, and Zhejiang. Chinese food is judged by its color, smell, and taste, as well as its meaning, look, and nutrition. Cooking is evaluated by the ingredients, how the food is cut, how long it is cooked, and what seasonings are used. It is not proper to use knives at the dining table. Instead, chopsticks are the main tools used to eat Chinese food.

Tea culture

Main articles: Chinese tea, Chinese tea culture, and History of tea in China

Drinking tea has a long history in China, where it began. For thousands of years, Chinese people have enjoyed tea. Scholars thought tea could help with health problems, rich people drank special tea to show their status, and everyone else liked the taste. In 2016, scientists found old tea leaves in the tomb of Emperor Jing of Han in Xi'an, showing that emperors in the Han dynasty drank tea as far back as the second century BC. Tea became very popular during the Tang (618–907) and Song (960–1279) Dynasties.

Tea started in China, and during the Tang dynasty, Chinese tea was made using old methods from ancient China. According to a story, the emperor Shen Nong found tea in 2737 BCE when a tea leaf fell into his boiling water. Tea is very important in Chinese life, considered one of the seven necessities, along with firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar. In old times, during the Spring and Autumn period, people used tea for health and enjoyed the flavor from chewing tea leaves.^{[citation needed]}

Chinese tea culture is about how tea is made and when people drink it. The way tea is prepared and enjoyed in China is different from places like Britain and Japan. Even today, people in China drink tea often, whether it is a casual or special occasion. Tea is also used in traditional Chinese medicine and in cooking. Green tea is one of the main kinds of tea that came from China.

Food culture

Further information: Manchu Han Imperial Feast and Customs and etiquette in Chinese dining

The tastes of emperors, kings, and nobles helped change Chinese food over time. As China expanded and traded, new ingredients and cooking methods from other cultures were added to Chinese dishes. The huge variety of Chinese food comes mostly from times when emperors had huge banquets with over 100 dishes. Many chefs and helpers worked to prepare these meals, and over time, some of these dishes became everyday food for normal people. Some of today’s best restaurants still use recipes from those old times, like Fangshan restaurant in Beihai Park in Beijing and the Oriole Pavilion. All types of Hong Kong eastern style food come from these old recipes.

Manhan Quanxi, or the Manchu Han Imperial Feast, was one of the biggest meals ever in Chinese food. It had at least 108 different dishes from both the Manchu and Han Chinese cultures during the Qing dynasty, and was only for emperors. The meal lasted three days with six different banquets. When the Manchus conquered China and started the Qing dynasty, the Manchu and Han Chinese people had disagreements. The Kangxi Emperor wanted to bring them together, so he held a banquet for his 66th birthday with dishes from both groups, and leaders from both sides attended. After the Wuchang Uprising, regular people got to hear about this special meal. The original feast was served in the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Major subcultures

Chinese culture has many different subcultures. The differences between nearby areas in China can be as large as those between countries in Europe. Because of this, people classify groups within the larger Han ethnicity based on language.

Some well-known subcultures in China include: