China's Culture, Timeless Traditions, and History with Lantern Festivals Explained.
China has an exceptionally rich culture that dates back thousands of years. As one of the oldest countries in the world, China is known for having one of the highest populations and tourism rates. From a global perspective, people have come to appreciate and endear China as a country known for its timeless traditions.
A History of Chinese Culture
Chinese history dates back to more than 5,000 years ago, and it has evolved gradually over the millennia since then. Throughout history, the Chinese culture has changed in its practices but remained steadfast in its values.
Ancient China
Ancient China dates back many millennia, and much of the country’s traditional artwork got its start during this period. The dynasties of ancient China have had a long-term impact on the culture, and many of the philosophies of ancient China have continued into the modern era. In addition, some martial arts can trace their origins back to ancient China, and many elements of traditional Chinese architecture trace their roots back to ancient China.
Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, conditions in China were often significantly better than those in medieval Europe, and this means that the Chinese culture had a much longer period to evolve. The reason for this is that China managed to avoid many of the problems associated with the Middle Ages, such as war, political instability, and other conflicts.
In addition, China was involved in extensive trade during the Middle Ages, and this is especially true with regard to the silk trade. China’s silk trade along the silk road allowed the country to sell silk as far as Europe, and the influence of China’s past in the silk industry has caused artistic silk designs to continue to play a strong role in the culture of China today.
Many aspects of Chinese artwork have their origins in medieval China, and many of China’s martial arts continued to be refined during the medieval period. Furthermore, many techniques that are currently used in the country for the creation of ceramics got their start during the medieval period, and gunpowder was invented in China during the Middle Ages.
Post-Middle Ages
After the Middle Ages in Europe, contacts with Westerners began to increase, and this influenced certain aspects of the culture. In addition, many key aspects of China’s cuisine have their roots during this period of time, such as hotpots.
The Modern-Day Culture of China
Many of the western influences on China’s culture are a very recent phenomenon, and many American corporations currently have branches in China, such as fast food chains. In addition, it has become much more common for people in China to be familiar with English than in the past, and this has made it much easier for Westerners to communicate with people in China. Furthermore, the industrialization of China has led to an increasingly urbanized culture.
The Traditional Dishes of China
China has a unique and rich cuisine complete with many dishes that are unique to the country, and many of these dishes have been passed down from generation to generation.
Peking Duck
Peking duck is a popular Chinese dish, and it is especially popular in the area near Beijing. This dish has been popular since the Imperial days in China, and it involves a specific procedure for raising and preparing the bird.
Hotpots
Hotpots allow food to remain heated during the meal with a small tabletop stove, and there are many different types of dishes that can be served in a hotpot. Often, thinly sliced meats and vegetables are included.
There are two main theories as to how hotpots became an important part of Chinese cuisine. According to one theory, the tradition began when an emperor during the Qing Dynasty developed a love of hotpot cuisine, and his son had a celebration after reaching the throne. Since the celebration was large and included more than 1,500 people, hotpots began to become popular amongst ordinary people in China.
However, according to another theory, the hotpot became popular simply because it can be a great way to unite family, colleagues, and friends. Not only does the close nature of the dining help to unite people, but the warm air from the stove helps to make people feel more at ease.
Noodles
Noodles play a major role in Chinese cuisine, and there are many different types of noodles that are used. In addition, there are many different types of sauces that are traditionally added to noodles, such as soy sauce. Chinese cuisine features many unique textures of noodles, and noodles have been an integral part of Chinese cuisine since ancient times.
Lantern Festivals are an Important Part of Chinese Culture
Lanterns are a very important part of the Chinese culture, and traditional lantern elements include bamboo, paper, silk, and wood. Lanterns can be floating, flying, or hanging lanterns, and colorful lanterns can also be created life-size to resemble animals, mythical creatures, and folk customs.
People from around the world are attached to lantern festivals which are artistic events to celebrate the Chinese culture by having colorful lanterns of all shapes and sizes. Lasting for around a month, one of the most popular festivals is the Zigong Lantern Festival which is also one of the largest folk cultural activities in China. This festival spans back centuries and originated with the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). Full of cultural attractions and activities, the festival includes several smaller fairs including the Lion Lantern Fair, Mantianguohai Lantern Fair, and Niu’er Lantern Fair.
The Practice of Drinking Tea Originated in China
Prior to interactions between Westerners and those in China, the practice of drinking tea was largely unknown in the west. There are many different types of tea that are traditionally consumed in China, and these teas can be found in a wide range of flavors. This practice began during ancient times, and it was consumed both for its flavor and medicinally.
The Regional Differences Within China
There are more than 56 different ethnic groups within the country, and each of these groups has its own unique identity. Each region has unique elements that are known throughout the area, and despite China being one of the largest countries in the world, it still has unique elements that are only found in small sections.
Tibetan Culture
Most people in Tibet follow Tibetan Buddhism, and this philosophy has distinct differences from other forms of Buddhism. One key difference between Tibetan Buddhism and other forms of Buddhism is that Tibetan Buddhism is influenced by a wide range of beliefs that are unique to Tibet, such as the Bon religion.
In addition, the main language of Tibet is Tibetan, and this has important differences from the dialects of Chinese. In addition, Tibetan artwork contains unique forms of symbolism, such as the use of mandalas.
Cantonese Culture
The Cantonese culture is dominant in certain regions of the southern part of China, and this region has a different dialect than the rest of the country. This culture is mostly restricted to two provinces in the southeastern region of China. These are some of the major traditions in the Cantonese culture:
- The predominant religion in the Cantonese culture is Taoism, and a deity known as Wong Tai Sin is commonly worshipped among those in the Cantonese culture.
- Another tradition in Cantonese culture is eating a dish called dim sum, and this dish is small, bite-sized servings of a variety of foods. These foods are served in bamboo cookers.
Mandarin Culture
The mandarin culture is dominant in the northern part of China, especially the northeastern region of the country. This includes the major cities of Beijing and Shanghai, and there are some customs that are unique to Mandarin culture in addition to the dialect. Here are some important things to know about Mandarin-speaking China:
- Mandarin has been the most commonly spoken dialect in China for many years.
- In some cases, the cuisine of Mandarin-speaking regions of China differs from those in other areas.
- There are local dialects in certain regions that are primarily mandarin speaking, and one example is that some Shanghai residents speak their own dialect that’s unique to the city.
The Religious Beliefs and Philosophy of China
The predominant religious beliefs in the country vary significantly by region, and within China, there are several religious believes common to the people.
Buddhism
Unlike most religions, there is not a specific deity associated with Buddhism, and the religion focuses more on one’s own spirituality instead. One of the tenets of Buddhism is a circle of life, and this includes the concept of reincarnation. According to Buddhism, living a good life brings one closer to nirvana.
Taoism
Taoism is an ancient philosophy that dates back to the 4th century BCE. This faith incorporates shamans into the religion, and there are both male and female shamans in Taoism. In addition, Taoism plays a significant role in many forms of Chinese artwork.
Confucianism
This religion is also known as Ruism, and it was started by a Chinese philosopher during ancient times. The name of this philosopher was Confucius, and he developed a humanistic philosophy that includes the “Golden Rule” of do onto others as you would have them do unto you. However, it does not include any deities, but the philosophy that is taught is quite wide-reaching and covers many aspects of day to day life.