Chinese Culture
Chinese culture is one of the oldest in the world, with a history dating back thousands of years. It is extremely diverse, with customs and traditions varying greatly between different regions and provinces.
Identity
Traditionally, Chinese society was organized into four classes: gentry, farmers, craftsmen, and merchants. The majority ethnic group, the Han Chinese, constitute over 92% of the population of China.
Characteristics
Chinese culture places great emphasis on social structure, sociocultural change, and the relationship between these factors and the mental health of the Chinese people. Traditional Chinese society was organized into a hierarchical system of socio-economic classes known as the four occupations.
Spiritual Values
Most spiritual practices are derived from Chinese Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Reincarnation and other rebirth concepts are a reminder of the connection between real-life and the after-life.
Religion
During the Xia and Shang dynasties, Chinese religion was oriented to worshipping the supreme god Shang Di. A large part of Chinese culture is based in the belief in a spiritual world.
Philosophy and Legalism
Confucianism, also known as Ruism, was the official philosophy throughout most of Imperial China's history. There was often conflict between the philosophies, e.g. the Song dynasty Neo-Confucians believed Legalism departed from the original spirit of Confucianism.
Language
The ancient written standard was Classical Chinese. Chinese literature has a long past. Dynastic histories were often written. The Tang dynasty witnessed a poetic flowering, while the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature were written during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Calligraphy
Chinese calligraphy is a form of writing or artistic expression of human language in a tangible form. Chinese calligraphy and ink and wash painting are closely related.
Literature
The Zhou dynasty is often regarded as the touchstone of Chinese cultural development. Many Chinese concepts were theorized in the pre-imperial periods.
Fashion and Clothing
China's fashion history covers hundreds of years with some of the most colorful and diverse arrangements. Different social classes in different eras boast different fashion trends.
Arts
Chinese art has arguably the oldest continuous tradition in the world. Porcelain pottery was one of the first forms of art in the Palaeolithic period. Chinese painting became a highly appreciated art in court circles encompassing a wide variety of styles.
Music, Instruments, and Dancing
Music and dance were closely associated in the very early periods of China. There are many musical instruments that are integral to Chinese culture. Dance in China is a highly varied art form.
Architecture
Chinese architecture has long been an important hallmark of Chinese culture. There are certain features common to Chinese architecture, regardless of specific regions, different provinces, or use.
Physical Culture
China is one of the main birthplaces of Eastern martial arts. Chinese martial arts, often named under the umbrella terms kung fu and wushu, are the several hundred fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China.
Leisure
A number of games and pastimes are popular within Chinese culture. Qigong is the practice of spiritual, physical, and medical techniques.
Cuisine
Chinese cuisine is a very important part of Chinese culture. Seasoning and cooking techniques of Chinese provinces depend on differences in historical background and ethnic groups.
Tea Culture
The practice of drinking tea has a long history in China. Tea is deeply woven into the history and culture of China.
Food Culture
Imperial, royal, and noble preference played a role in the changes in Chinese cuisines over time.
Major Subcultures
Chinese culture consists of many subcultures. The concept of Han Chinese subgroups was born, used for classifying these subgroups within the greater Han ethnicity. These subgroups are, as a general rule, classified based on linguistic differences.