CHINESE VALUES

Chinese culture is highly complex but scholars across the world are agreed that despite the
diversity of Chinese communities many shared characteristics persist.
These derive largely form the pervasive influence of Confucian philosophy on Chinese culture
and they are at very core of Chinese identity. Indeed, since Confucian thought has dominated the
Chinese way of life for 2,000 years, it is unlikely to cease its influence - even after two or three
generations of participation in British society.
The Chinese value the importance of the family; the hierarchical structure of social life; the
cultivation of morality and self-restraint and the emphasis on hard work and achievement.
Various researchers also stress the pride which Chinese people take in their culture as well as the
fact that Chinese culture and society can be defined as collectivist
.

I was brought up here. I think for the Chinese, everything can be summarised from the
family, your cultural value.
Community member, male, 26 years old
In many ways the family unit takes precedence over its individual members. Children must learn
not to answer back to their parents or other elders. It is assumed that the family as a whole will
thrive and prosper if harmony prevails at home.
In other words the basic rules of obedience,
moderation and self-restraint amongst family
members should be observed.
Expectations related to family life account for many
of the difficulties faced by Chinese immigrants. The
second generation finds it hard to cope with the
demands of their parents'.
They want to fulfil their own potential - like opting
out of the catering business. And, stripped of their traditional position, deprived of respect,
abandoned and isolated, the first generation feels unable to shape their children's way of life,
Guilt on the children's part, and shame on the parents', often results.

Chinese Culture
China is an extremely large country, and the customs and traditions of its people vary by geography and
ethnicity.
More than 1 billion people live in China, according to the Asia Society, representing 56 ethnic minority
groups. The largest group is the Han Chinese, with about 900 million people. Other groups include the
Tibetans, the Mongols, the Manchus, the Naxi, and the Hezhen, which is smallest group, with fewer than
2,000 people.
"Significantly, individuals within communities create their own culture," said Cristina De Rossi, an
anthropologist at Barnet and Southgate College in London. Culture includes religion, food, style,
language, marriage, music, morals and many other things that make up how a group acts and interacts.
Here is a brief overview of some elements of the Chinese culture.

A dragon dance celebrates the temple at Foshan, China.

Credit: windmoon / Shutterstock.com
China is an extremely large country, and the customs and
traditions of its people vary by geography and ethnicity.
More than 1 billion people live in China, according to
the Asia Society, representing 56 ethnic minority groups. The largest group is the Han Chinese, with
about 900 million people. Other groups include the Tibetans, the Mongols, the Manchus, the Naxi, and
the Hezhen, which is smallest group, with fewer than 2,000 people.
"Significantly, individuals within communities create their own culture," said Cristina De Rossi, an
anthropologist at Barnet and Southgate College in London. Culture includes religion, food, style,
language, marriage, music, morals and many other things that make up how a group acts and interacts.
Here is a brief overview of some elements of the Chinese culture.

Statue of Confucius at Confucian Temple in Shanghai, China.

Credit: Philip Lange Shutterstock

Religion
The Chinese Communist Party that rules the nation is officially atheist, though it is gradually becoming
more tolerant of religions, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Currently, there are only five
official religions. Any religion other than Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism are
illegal, even though the Chinese constitution states that people are allowed freedom of religion. The
gradual tolerance of religion has only started to progress in the past few decades.
About a quarter of the people practice Taoism and Confucianism and other traditional religions. There are
also small numbers of Buddhists, Muslims and Christians. Although numerous Protestant and Catholic
ministries have been active in the country since the early 19th century, they have made little progress in
converting Chinese to these religions.

Language
There are seven major groups of dialects of the Chinese language, which each have their own variations,
according to Mount Holyoke College. Mandarin dialects are spoken by 71.5 percent of the population,

followed by Wu (8.5 percent), Yue (also called Cantonese; 5 percent), Xiang (4.8 percent), Min (4.1
percent), Hakka (3.7 percent) and Gan (2.4 percent).
Chinese dialects are very different, according to Jerry Norman, a former professor of linguistics at the
University of Washington and author of "Chinese (Cambridge Language Surveys)" (Cambridge
University Press, 1988). "Chinese is rather more like a language family than a single language made up of
a number of regional forms," he wrote. "The Chinese dialectal complex is in many ways analogous to the
Romance language family in Europe. To take an extreme example, there is probably as much difference
between the dialects of Peking [Beijing] and Chaozhou as there is between Italian and French."
The official national language of China is Ptnghu, a type of Mandarin spoken in the capital Beijing,
according to the Order of the President of the People's Republic of China. Many Chinese are also fluent in
English.

Food
Like other aspects of Chinese life, cuisine is heavily influenced by geography and ethnic diversity.
Among the main styles of Chinese cooking are Cantonese, which features stir-fried dishes, and Szechuan,
which relies heavily on use of peanuts, sesame paste and ginger and is known for its spiciness.
Rice is not only a major food source in China; it is also a major element that helped grow their society,
according to "Pathways to Asian Civilizations: Tracing the Origins and Spread of Rice and Rice
Cultures," an 2011 article in the journal Rice by Dorian Q. Fuller. The Chinese word for rice is fan, which
also means "meal," and it is a staple of their diet, as are bean sprouts, cabbage and scallions. Because they
do not consume a lot of meat occasionally pork or chicken tofu is a main source of protein for the
Chinese.
Chinese calligraphy. Chinese writing is based on symbols.
Credit: ariadna de raadt Shutterstock

The Arts
Chinese art is greatly influenced by the countrys rich spiritual and mystical history. Many sculptures and
paintings depict spiritual figures of Buddhism, according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Many musical instruments are integral to Chinese culture, including the flute-like xun and the guqin,
which is in the zither family.
Eastern-style martial arts were also developed in China, and it is the birthplace of kung fu. This fighting
technique is based on animal movements and was created in the mid-1600s, according to Black Belt
Magazine.
Ancient Chinese were avid writers and philosophers especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties
and that is reflected in the countrys rich liturgical history.

Customs and celebrations

The largest festival also called the Spring Festival marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year. It
falls between mid-January and mid-February and is a time to honor ancestors. During the 15-day
celebration, the Chinese do something every day to welcome the new year, such as eat rice congee and
mustard greens to cleanse the body, according to the University of Victoria. The holiday is marked with
fireworks and parades featuring dancers dressed as dragons.
Many people make pilgrimages to Confucius' birthplace in Shandong Province on his birthday, Sept. 28.
The birthday of Guanyin, the goddess of mercy, is observed by visiting Taoist temples. It falls between
late March and late April. Similar celebrations mark the birthday of Mazu, the goddess of the sea (also

known as Tianhou), in May or June. The Moon Festival is celebrated in September or October with
fireworks, paper lanterns and moon gazing.

Chinese Traditions
China is a country steeped in ancient customs and traditions of which the native people are
proud. To many people in the west countries, the word 'China' typically conjure up thoughts of
dragons, giant pandas, the color, the number 8 and the distinctive calligraphs, all of which
are traditional to this country.
China and the whole Europe share similar-size land area. With such a large area, customs are
always different in different parts. In addition, due to the fact that this country is one of the
existing oldest cultures, traditions have grown over centuries with unique festivals, customs, arts
and cuisines.

Festival
Chinese New Year (or Spring Festival) is the most important festival celebrated all over the
country. It is the first day of the whole year in Chinese lunar calendar. It's hard to miss the good
fortune or happiness messages hung in red from every doorway and the smell of feasts being
cooked as families gather at this time.

Legend

As a legend goes, a monster, named Xi, always finds food in villages for its lack of food in
winter. Villagers are afraid of this monster, so they come up with a way to frighten and expel Xi
by lighting bamboos and paste red paper on their doors. Xi fears the sound of lighted bamboos
and red color, so it runs away.
People successfully chase away Xi. The day people expelling Xi, people call it Chu Xi which is
the Chinese of New Years Eve. (Chu in English means expelling or killing.). Nowadays, people
still kindle bamboos in New Years Eve, but just for celebrating the coming of New Year.

Art
Chinese calligraph has played a significant role in Chinese art. Dating back over 3,000 years,
characters were pictures of objects representing their meaning.
The Oracles is the origin of Chinese characters. According to Chinese mythology, Cang Jie
invented Chinese characters. Findings show that the earliest characters are the Oracles which
were engraved on animals bones or tortoises shells.
Master Wang Hsi-chih (303361 A.D.) was an outstanding representative of Chinese
calligraphy. Many people facsimile his works until today
Through all these years evolution, characters have evolved into the words we used today.

Cuisines
The food is one of the traditional cultures in China which is famous around the world. From
Roast Duck and Noodles with Bean Paste in Beijing to dim sum in Hong Kong, no one would
deny that the kinds of Chinese cuisines are various. It's not uncommon to hear people greeting
each other by asking "Have you eaten yet?" Many travelers are aware but unsure of all the
etiquette traditions but most locals will be tolerant of the odd mistake; a smile and following
what your fellow diners do will get you through.

Explore More about the Traditions and Custom by Yourself

The age-old Chinese culture, permeating the heart and soul of every Chinese person, is hugely
different from western culture. Traditions such as greeting friends with Have you eaten? are
sometimes difficult to explain in words or pictures. The best way to understand how and why
Chinese people have unique traditions and customs is to visit China.
It would be advisable to prepare a little bit before any trips. China Travel can help you tailormaking your China trip, worry-free, save time and money! You can also join the Memorable
Karst Landscape and Best of China Tour and stroll around the hutongs in Beijing; or have a
traditional dinner by the riverside in Guilin, a city with both beautiful scenery and rich cultural
history.

Topics on Traditions and Custom:

Fishing with Cormorants in China

Chinese couplets

Ancient Rituals
Chinese Names

Traditional Etiquette and Taboos

Weddings in China

Chinese Idioms

Chinese Dragon
Chinese Lucky Numbers

Chinese Calendar
Chinese Feng Shui

Chinese Zodiac Signs

Chinese Solar Terms

Chinese Astrology
Family Tree

Chinese Riddles and Slang

The Origin of Chinese Surnames