China is an extremely big country. First in population and fifth in area, according to the CIA. The customs and traditions of its peoples vary according to geography and ethnicity.
About 1.4 billion people live in China, according to the World Bank. There are 56 minority ethnic groups in total. The largest group is the Han Chinese, with about 900 million people. Other groups include the Tibetans, Mongols, Manchus, Naxi and Hezhen.
Religion
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which governs the nation, is officially atheist. However, it is gradually becoming more tolerant of religions. Currently, there are only five official religions.
Any religion other than Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism is illegal. Despite this, the Chinese constitution states that people have religious freedom. The religion's gradual tolerance has only begun to progress in recent decades.
About a quarter of people practice Taoism and Confucianism. There are also a small number of Buddhists, Muslims and Christians. Numerous Protestant and Catholic ministries have failed to convert the Chinese to these religions.
The cremated remains of someone who may have been the Buddha were discovered in Jingchuan County, China. Buddha was a spiritual teacher who lived between the mid-6th and mid-4th centuries BC. His lessons founded Buddhism.
Tongue
There are seven major dialect groups of the Chinese language. Each has its own variations, according to Mount Holyoke College. Mandarin dialects are spoken by 71.5% of the population, followed by Wu (8.5%), Yue (also called Cantonese; 5%), Xiang (4.8%), Min (4.1%), Hakka (3.7%) and Gan (2.4%).
Chinese dialects are very different. Chinese is more like a language family than a single language made up of many regional forms. The complex Chinese dialect is in many ways analogous to the Romance language family in Europe.
China's official national language is Pŭtōnghuà, a type of Mandarin spoken in the capital Beijing. Many Chinese are also fluent in English.
cuisine
Like other aspects of Chinese life, cuisine is heavily influenced by geography and ethnic diversity. Among the main styles of Chinese cuisine are Cantonese, which features fried dishes, and the Szechuan, which relies heavily on the use of peanuts, sesame paste and ginger, and is known for its seasoning.
Rice is not only an important food source in China, it is also an important element that has helped to grow its society. The Chinese word for rice is ‘fan’, which also means “meal”. It is a staple food, as are bean sprouts, cabbage and chives.
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Because they don't eat a lot of meat – occasionally pork or chicken – tofu is the main source of protein for the Chinese.
the arts
Chinese art is greatly influenced by the country's rich spiritual and mystical history. Many sculptures and paintings depict spiritual figures from Buddhism.
Many musical instruments are an integral part of Chinese culture. These include xun and guqin, which are in the sitar family.
Oriental-style martial arts were also developed in China. The country is the birthplace of kung fu. This fighting technique is based on animal movements and was created in the mid 1600s.
The ancient Chinese were avid writers and philosophers. Especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and this is reflected in the country's rich liturgical history.
Scientific technology
China has invested huge amounts of money in scientific advances. Today the nation challenges the United States when it comes to scientific research. A recent development in Chinese science is teleportation.
Chinese researchers sent an information packet from Tibet to an orbiting satellite. The distance was 1,400 kilometers above the Earth's surface. This is a new record for quantum teleport distance.
Another advance is the development of new bullet trains. Nicknamed “Fuxing” which means “rejuvenation”, these trains are high-speed transport systems that run between Beijing and Shanghai. Trains can travel at speeds of up to 350 km/h, making them the fastest trains in the world.
Customs and Celebrations
The biggest festival – also called the Spring Festival – marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year. It falls between mid-January and mid-February. It's a time to honor your ancestors. During the 15-day celebration, Chinese people do something every day to welcome the new year. The holiday is marked with fireworks and parades with dancers dressed as dragons.
Many people make pilgrimages to Confucius' birthplace in Shandong Province on his birthday on September 28th. The birthday of Guanyin, the goddess of mercy, is celebrated by visiting Taoist temples.
The commemorative date is between the end of March and the end of 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.
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