Culture of China: Difference between revisions

{{Contains Chinese text}}

==People in the culture==

===Identity===

Today there are 56 distinct recognized [[List of ethnic groups in China|ethnic groups]] in China.<ref>Chinatraveldepot.com. "[http://www.chinatraveldepot.com/Fifty-six-Ethnic-Groups-in-China Chinatraveldepot.com]." ''Fifty-six Ethnic Groups in China'' 1 June 2009.</ref> In terms of numbers however, the pre-eminent ethnic group is the [[Han Chinese]]. Throughout history, many groups have been assimilated into neighboring ethnicities or disappeared without a trace. At the same time, many within the Han identity have maintained distinct linguistic and regional cultural traditions. The term [[Zhonghua Minzu]] has been used to describe the notion of [[Chinese nationalism]] in general. Much of the traditional cultural identity within the community has to do with distinguishing the [[Chinese surname|family name]].

===Regional===

==Society==

===Structure===

Since the [[Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors]] period, some form of [[Chinese sovereign|Chinese monarch]] has been the main ruler above all. Different periods of history have different names for the various positions within society. Conceptually each imperial or feudal period is similar, with the government and military officials ranking high in the [[Social hierarchy|hierarchy]], and the rest of the population under regular [[Chinese law]].<ref name="Mente">Mente, Boye De. [2000] (2000). The Chinese Have a Word for it: The Complete Guide to Chinese thought and Culture. McGraw-Hill Professional. ISBN 0-658-01078-6</ref> From the late [[Zhou Dynasty]] (1046&ndash;256 BCE) onwards, traditional Chinese society was organized into a hierarchic system of socio-economic classes known as the [[four occupations]]. However, this system did not cover all social groups while the distinctions between all groups became blurred ever since the [[commercialism|commercialization]] of Chinese culture in the [[Song Dynasty]] (960&ndash;1279 CE).  [[History of education in China|Ancient Chinese education]] also has a long history; ever since the [[Sui Dynasty]] (581&ndash;618 CE) educated candidates prepared for the [[Imperial examinations]] which  drafted exam graduates into government as [[scholar-bureaucrats]]. Trades and crafts were usually taught by a [[shifu]]. The female historian [[Ban Zhao]] wrote the [[Lessons for Women]] in the [[Han Dynasty]] and outlined the four virtues women must abide to, while scholars such as [[Zhu Xi]] and [[Cheng Yi (philosopher)|Cheng Yi]] would expand upon this. [[Chinese marriage]] and [[Taoist sexual practices]] are some of the customs and rituals found in society.

== Music ==

[[File:Taipei Eye p1090619.jpg|thumb|left|A performer of [[Chinese opera]]]]

{{Main|Music of China}}

The [[music]] of [[China]] dates back to the dawn of [[Chinese civilization]] with documents and artifacts providing evidence of a well-developed musical culture as early as the [[Zhou Dynasty]] (1122 BCE - 256 BCE). Some of the oldest written music dates back to [[Confucius]]'s time. The first major well-documented flowering of Chinese music was for the [[Guqin|''qin'']] during the [[Tang Dynasty]], although the instrument is known to have played a major part before the Han Dynasty.

== Arts==

==Gallery==

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== See also ==

==References==

* [http://www.echinaexpat.com Embracing Chinese Culture]

* [http://www.ourorient.com Oriental Style -- The Genuine Soul of Chinese Culture]