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This article contains Chinese text. Chinese Opera ( Chinese: 戏曲/戲曲 Pinyin: xìqǔ is a popular form of Drama and Musical theatre in China with roots going back Beijing opera or Peking opera ( is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music vocal performance mime dance and acrobatics Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters. Mojibake is the happenstance of incorrect unreadable characters (garbage characters shown when Computer software fails to render a text correctly according to its associated A Chinese character, also known as a Han character ( is a Logogram used in writing Chinese (hanzi Japanese ( |
The Culture of China (Chinese: 中國文化) is home to one of the world's oldest and most complex civilizations covering a history of over 5,000 years. A Civilization is a society in which large numbers of people share a variety of common elements The nation covers a large geographical region with customs and traditions varying greatly between towns, cities and provinces. A province, in the context of China, is a translation of sheng ( which is an administrative division Chinese culture (Chinese: 中華文化) is a broad term used to describe the cultural foundation, even among Chinese-speaking regions outside of mainland China. Mainland China, Continental China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term synonymous with the area that is under the jurisdiction
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People in the culture
Identity
Many ethnic groups have existed in China. The following are the Ethnic groups in Chinese history. Any non clear-cut connection is denoted by a question mark beside the equivalences Ethnic minorities in China refer to the non- Han Chinese population in Mainland China and Taiwan. The following is a list of ethnic groups in China where "China" is taken to mean areas controlled by either of the two states using "China" in their formal In terms of the numbers, however, the pre-eminent ethnic group is the Han Chinese. Han Chinese ( are an Ethnic group native to China and by most modern definitions the largest single Ethnic group in the world. 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. Zhonghua minzu ( Traditional Chinese: 中華民族 ( Simplified Chinese: 中华民族 Pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínzú sometimes translated as Chinese nationalism ( sometimes synonymous with Chinese Patriotism ( lit Much of the traditional cultural identity within the community has to do with distinguishing the family name. Chinese family name is one of the hundreds or thousands of Family names that have been historically used by Han Chinese and Sinicized Chinese ethnic
Regional
Traditional Chinese Culture covers a large geographical territories, each region is usually divided into distinct sub-cultures. Using modern names, here are some distinction:
- The Yangtze River areas include Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, Zhejiang and Jiangsu. ( Postal map spelling: Szechwan and Szechuan) is a province in western China with its capital in Chengdu. ( also spelled Kweichow) is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country ( is a province of China, located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting (hence the name Hunan, meaning ( Postal map spelling: Hupeh) is a central province of the People's Republic of China. ( Postal map spelling: Kiangsi is a southern province of the People's Republic of China, spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River Anhui (in Chinese: 安徽 Ānhuī) is a province of the People's Republic of China. Zhejiang ( is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. ( Postal map spelling: Kiangsu) is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country
Society
Structure
Since the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors period, some form of Chinese monarch has been the main ruler above all. The Chinese Dragon or Oriental dragon is a mythical creature in East Asian culture with a Chinese origin The Emperor of China ( refers to any sovereign of Imperial China reigning since the founding of the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC until the fall of Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China The social structure of China has a very long history going from the feudal society of imperial times to the industrializing and urbanizing society of today The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors ( were mythological rulers of China during the period from c Chinese sovereign is the ruler of a particular period in ancient China. 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 hierarchy, and the rest of the population under regular Chinese law. Social hierarchy is a multi-tiered pyramid-like social or functional structure having an apex as the centralization of power Chinese Law is one of the oldest Legal traditions in the world [1] Since the late Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE), traditional Chinese society was organized into a hierarchic system of socio-economic classes known as the four occupations. The Zhou Dynasty ( POJ: Chiu Tiau 1122 BC to 256 BC was preceded by the Shang Dynasty and followed by the Qin Dynasty in China. The four occupations or " four categories of the people " (Chinese 四民 pinyin simin) was a hierarchic social class structure developed in ancient However, this system did not cover all social groups while the distinctions between all groups became blurred ever since the commercialization of Chinese culture in the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE). Commercialism, in its original meaning is the practices methods aims and spirit of Commerce or Business. The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Ancient Chinese education also has a long history; ever since the Sui Dynasty (581–618 CE) educated candidates prepared for the Imperial examinations that drafted exam graduates into government as scholar-bureaucrats. The history of education in China began with the birth of Chinese civilization. The Sui Dynasty ( 581 - 618 AD and in the undertaking of other construction projects including the reconstruction of the Great Wall. The Imperial examinations ( in Imperial China determined who among the population would be permitted to enter the state's Bureaucracy. Scholar-bureaucrats or scholar-officials were civil servants appointed by the Emperor of China to perform day-to-day governance from the Sui Dynasty to Trades and crafts were usually taught by a sifu. Sifu (師傅 or 師父 Pinyin: shīfu, Cantonese: si1 fu6, Vietnamese: Sư phụ) is a Chinese term for 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 would expand upon this. Bān Zhāo {45-116 CE}( fl 1st century Courtesy name Huiban (惠班 was the first female Chinese Historian. Lessons for Women ( is a work by the Han Dynasty female intellectual Ban Zhao. The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. Zhu Xi or Chu Hsi (朱熹 born October 18, 1130, Yuxi, Fujian province China &ndash died April 23, 1200 Cheng Yi ( 1033–1107 Courtesy name Zhengshu (正叔 also known as Mr Chinese marriage and Taoist sexual practices are some of the customs and rituals found in society. Chinese marriage ( is a ceremonial ritual within Chinese societies that involve a marriage established by pre-arrangement between families. Taoist sexual practices (Simplified Chinese 合气 Traditional Chinese 合氣 pinyin heqiliterally "Joining Energy" or "The Joining of the Essences" is the way
Values
Most social values are derived from Confucianism and Taoism with a combination of conservatism. Chinese philosophy is Philosophy written in the Chinese tradition of thought Religion in China has been characterized by Pluralism since the beginning of Chinese history. Confucianism ( is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of the fifth century B Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions Conservatism is a term used to describe political philosophies that favour Tradition, where tradition refers to various religious cultural or nationally defined The subject of which school was the most influential is always debated as many concepts such as Neo-Confucianism, Buddhism and many others have come about. Neo-Confucianism (/( is a form of Confucianism that was primarily developed during the Song Dynasty, but which can be traced back to Han Yu and Li Chinese Buddhism ( Pinyin fójiào refers collectively to the various schools of Buddhism that have flourished in China proper since ancient times Reincarnation and other rebirth concept is a reminder of the connection between real-life and the next-life. Rebirth in Buddhism is the doctrine that the consciousness of a person (as conventionally regarded upon the death or dissolution of the aggregates ( Skandhas
Language
Spoken Chinese has consisted of a number of Chinese dialects and languages throughout history. The art of Calligraphy is widely practiced and revered in the East Asian Civilizations that use or used Chinese characters. The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Biography According to tradition he was a very smart boy with a great interest in arts and letters and an astonishing ability of memorising Standard Mandarin is the official Chinese spoken language used by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan and Singapore Spoken Chinese ( comprises many regional variants the largest of which are Mandarin, Wu, Cantonese, and Min. The following is a list of Chinese dialects and languages. Classification Linguists classify these languages as the In the Ming Dynasty standard Mandarin was nationalized. The Ming Dynasty ( or Empire of the Great Ming ( was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol -led Standard Mandarin, also known as Standard Spoken Chinese, is the official modern Chinese spoken language used in mainland China and Taiwan Even so, it wasn't until the Republic of China era in the 1900s when there was any noticeable result in promoting a common unified language in China. REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES China's many different ethnic groups speak many different Languages collectively called Zhōngguó Yǔwén (中国语文 literally " speech and writing
The ancient written standard was Classical Chinese. Classical Chinese or Literary Chinese is a traditional style of Written Chinese based on the Grammar and Vocabulary of ancient Chinese It was used for thousands of years, but was mostly reserved for scholars and intellectuals. By the 20th century, millions of citizens, especially those outside of the imperial court were illiterate[1]. traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write or the ability to use Language to read, write, listen, Only after the May 4th Movement did the push for Vernacular Chinese begin. The May Fourth Movement ( was an anti- imperialist, cultural and political movement in early modern China. Vernacular Chinese is a style or register of the Written Chinese Language essentially modeled after the spoken language and associated with This allowed common citizens to read since it was modeled after the linguistics and phonology of a spoken language.
Mythology and spirituality
A large part of Chinese culture is based on the notion that a spiritual world exists. Chinese spiritual world concepts are cultural practices or methods found in Chinese culture. Chinese mythology is a collection of Cultural history, Folktales, and Religions that have been passed down in oral or written form Chinese folk religion is a collective label given to various folkloric beliefs that draws heavily from Chinese mythology. Countless methods of divination have helped answer questions, even serving as an alternate to medicine. Innumerable methods of divination can be found around the world and many cultures practice the same methods under different names Folklores have helped fill the gap for things that cannot be explained. Chinese folklore has a long history going back several thousand years There is often a blurred line between myth, religion and unexplained phenomenon. While many deities are part of the tradition, some of the most recognized holy figures include Guan Yin, Jade Emperor and Buddha. Chinese mythology is a collection of Cultural history, Folktales, and Religions that have been passed down in oral or written form Guanyin (觀音 pinyin guānyīn, Wade-Giles kuan-yin) is the Bodhisattva of compassion as venerated by East Asian Buddhists The Jade Emperor ( or 玉帝 Yù Dì) is the Taoist ruler of Heaven and all realms of existence below including that of Man and Hell Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder Many of the stories have since evolved into traditional Chinese holidays. The Traditional Chinese holidays have been part of Chinese tradition for thousands of years they are an essential part of Chinese culture. Other concepts have extended to outside of mythology into spiritual symbols such as Door god and the Imperial guardian lions. This is about a Chinese custom See also Janus the Roman god of doors Along with the belief of the holy, there is also the evil. Practices such as Taoist exorcism fighting mogwai and jiang shi with peachwood swords are just some of the concepts passed down from generations. Exorcism (from Late Latin exorcismus, from Greek exorkizein - to adjure is the practice of evicting Demons or other evil The word mogwai is the Transliteration of the Cantonese word 魔怪 (mo1 gwai2 ( Mandarin Chinese: 魔鬼 Pinyin ：móguǐ meaning " Jiang Shi ( literally "stiff corpse " sometimes called Chinese vampires by Westerners are reanimated corpses that hop around killing living creatures A few Chinese fortune telling rituals are still in use today after thousands of years of refinement. Fortune-telling is the practice of predicting the future usually of an individual through mystical or supernatural means and often for commercial gain
Health
A large part of traditional Chinese culture is about finding the balance of Yin and Yang in relation to Qi, health and the meridian system in order to find harmony. In Chinese philosophy, the concept of yin and yang ( is used to describe how seemingly opposing forces are bound together intertwined and interdependent in the In traditional Chinese culture, qi (zh [[wikt氣 氣]] Pinyin qì, Wade-Giles ch'i Jyutping Channel ( also known as meridian, in Traditional Chinese medicine, is the common name of Vessel ( also known as channel and Collaterals ( Traditional Chinese medicine consists of a number of treatments including Chinese herbology and acupuncture. Traditional Chinese medicine (also known as TCM,) includes a range of traditional medical practices originating in China. See Herbalism for the non-Chinese tradition of herbology Chinese Herbology ( is the common name for the subject of Chinese History Antiquity In China, the practice of acupuncture can perhaps be traced as far back as Other less intrusive forms of health improvement include qigong and meditation. Qigong (or ch'i kung) refers to a wide variety of traditional cultivation practices that involve methods of accumulating circulating and working with Qi or energy Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness
Literature
The extensive collection of books that have been preserved since the Zhou Dynasty demonstrate just how advanced the intellectuals were at one time. Chinese literature extends back thousands of years from the earliest recorded dynastic court Archives to the mature fictional Novel that arose during the Ming Dynasty The Zhou Dynasty ( POJ: Chiu Tiau 1122 BC to 256 BC was preceded by the Shang Dynasty and followed by the Qin Dynasty in China. Indeed, the era of the Zhou Dynasty is often looked to as the touchstone of Chinese cultural development. The Five Cardinal Points are the foundation for almost all major studies. Concepts covered within the Chinese classic texts present a wide range of subjects including poetry, astrology, astronomy, calendar, constellations and many others. Chinese classic texts or Chinese canonical texts ( refer to the pre- Qin Chinese texts especially the Confucian Four Books and Five Classics Chinese Poetry is the most highly regarded literary genre in China. The Chinese Zodiac is a 12 year cycle Each year of the 12 year cycle is named after one of the original 12 animals Astronomy in China has a very long history Oracle bones from the Shang Dynasty ( 2nd millennium BC) record eclipses and novae The Chinese calendar is lunisolar, incorporating elements of a Lunar calendar with those of a Solar calendar. Some of the most important early texts include I Ching and Shujing within the Four Books and Five Classics. The I Ching ( Wade-Giles) or “Yì Jīng” ( Pinyin) also called “Classic of Changes” or “Book of Changes” is one of the oldest of the The Classic of History ( is a compilation of documentary records related to events in ancient history of China The Four Books and Five Classics ( are the authoritative books of Confucianism in China written before 300 BC Many Chinese concepts such as Yin and Yang, Qi, Four Pillars of Destiny in relation to heaven and earth were all theorized in the dynastic periods. In Chinese philosophy, the concept of yin and yang ( is used to describe how seemingly opposing forces are bound together intertwined and interdependent in the In traditional Chinese culture, qi (zh [[wikt氣 氣]] Pinyin qì, Wade-Giles ch'i Jyutping Four Pillars of Destiny is a Chinese conceptual term that describes the four components creating a person's destiny or fate
Notable confucianists, taoists and scholars of all class have made significant contributions from documenting history to authoring saintly concepts that seem hundred of years ahead of time. This is a partial list of people who follow Confucianism, selected for their influence on that belief or for their fame in other areas Classical Chen Po (Chen Tuan Chen Hsi I 871-989 Ge Hong 284–364 Guo Xiang (Kuo Hsiang d Many novels such as Four Great Classical Novels spawned countless fictional stories. The Four Great Classical Novels, or Four Major Classical Novels ( of Chinese literature, are the four novels commonly counted by scholars to be the greatest and most By the end of the Qing Dynasty, Chinese culture would embark on a new era with Vernacular Chinese for the common citizens. Vernacular Chinese is a style or register of the Written Chinese Language essentially modeled after the spoken language and associated with Hu Shih and Lu Xun would be pioneers in modern literature. Hu Shih ( 17 December 1891 — 24 February 1962 born Hu Hung-hsing (胡洪騂 Hu Hongxing was a Chinese philosopher and Essayist Lu Xun ( or Lu Hsün ( Wade-Giles) was the Pen name of Zhou Shuren ( ( September 25, 1881 &ndash October 19
Music
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 BC - 256 BC). The Music of China dates back to the dawn of Chinese civilization with documents and artefacts providing evidence of a well-developed musical culture as Music is an Art form in which the medium is Sound organized in Time. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The Zhou Dynasty ( POJ: Chiu Tiau 1122 BC to 256 BC was preceded by the Shang Dynasty and followed by the Qin Dynasty in China. Some of the oldest written music dates back to Confucius's time. Confucius ( lit " Master Kung " September 28, 551 BC - 479 BC) was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher The first major well-documented flowering of Chinese music was for the qin during the Tang Dynasty, though it is known to have played a major part before the Han Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by
Arts
Different forms of art have swayed under the influence of great philosophers, teachers, religious figures and even political figures. Chinese art encompasses all facets of fine art, folk art and performance art. Fine art is any Art form developed primarily for Aesthetics rather than Utility. Chinese folk art are artistic forms inherited from a regional or ethnic scene in China. This article is about Performance art For other uses see Performance (disambiguation Porcelain pottery was one of the first forms of art in the Palaeolithic period. Chinese ceramic ware is an Artform that has been developing since the dynastic periods. This is an alphabetical list of Paleolithic sites or cultures in China: Bailiangdong Baojiyan Bose Early Chinese music and poetry was influenced by the Book of Songs, Confucius and the Chinese poet and statesman Qu Yuan. Shi Jing ( translated variously as the Classic of Poetry, the Book of Songs or the Book of Odes, is the earliest Confucius ( lit " Master Kung " September 28, 551 BC - 479 BC) was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher Biography Qu Yuan born in the Xiling Gorge area of what is today western Hubei province was a minister in the government of the state of Chu descended from nobility Chinese painting became a highly appreciated art in court circles encompassing a wide variety of Shan shui with specialized styles such as Ming Dynasty painting. Chinese painting is one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world Shan Shui ( lit "mountain-water" refers to a style of Chinese painting that involves the painting of Scenery or natural landscapes with During the Ming Dynasty, Chinese painting developed greatly from the achievements in painted art during the earlier Song Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty. Early Chinese music was based on percussion instruments, which later gave away to string and reed instruments. Traditional Chinese musical instruments comprise a wide range of string wind and percussion instruments By the Han dynasty papercutting became a new art form after the invention of paper. The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. Chinese Paper Cutting or Jianzhi (Chinese 剪纸 jiǎn zhǐ is the first type of Papercutting design since Paper was invented by Cai Lun Chinese opera would also be introduced and branched regionally in additional to other performance formats such as variety arts. Chinese Opera ( Chinese: 戏曲/戲曲 Pinyin: xìqǔ is a popular form of Drama and Musical theatre in China with roots going back Chinese Variety Art (Chinese 雜技藝術 is the name giving to the collection of performances that include a wide range of Acrobatic, balancing acts and other spectacles
Martial arts
China is one of the main birth places of Eastern martial arts. Kung fu and wushu are popular terms that have become synonymous with Chinese Martial arts. The hundreds of different styles and schools of Chinese martial arts (中國武術 are collectively called Kung Fu (功夫 Wushu (武術 Kuoshu Theories of the origins of Asian martial arts range from the highly Diffusionist to models which show greater recognition of independent invention The names of martial arts were called Kung Fu or its first name Wushu. Kung fu and wushu are popular terms that have become synonymous with Chinese Martial arts. This article is specifically about the word "Wushu" For the modern exhibition sport see Wushu (sport. China also includes the home to the well-respected Shaolin Monastery and Wudang Mountains. The Shaolin Monastery or Shaolin Temple ( is a Chan Buddhist temple at Song Shan in Zhengzhou City Henan Province The Wudang Mountains ( also known as Wu Tang Shan or simply Wudang, are a small Mountain range in the Hubei province of China, just The first generation of art started more for the purpose of survival and warfare than art. Overtime, some art forms have branched off, while others have retained a distinct Chinese flavor. Regardless, China has brewed some of the most renowned martial artists including Wong Fei Hung and many others. Kung fu and wushu are popular terms that have become synonymous with Chinese Martial arts. The art have also co-existed with a variety of weapons including the more standard 18 arms. The Eighteen Arms ( is a list of the eighteen main weapons of Chinese martial arts. Legendary and controversial moves like Dim Mak are also praised and talked about within the culture. For the American Death metal band see Dim Mak (band Dim Mak, ( Jyutping: dim2 mak6 alternatively diǎnxuè (
Fashion
Different social class in different time eras boast different fashion trends. Chinese Clothing is the clothing ancient and modern worn by the Chinese people. China's fashion history covers hundreds of years with some of the most colorful and diverse arrangements. Fashionable but questionable practices such as footbinding have also been part of the culture. Many symbols such as phoenix have been used for decorative as well as economic purposes. Fenghuang are mythological Chinese birds that reign over all other birds
Architecture
Chinese architecture, examples of which can be found from over 2,000 years ago, has long been a hallmark of the culture. The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial Palace from the mid- Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. Chinese architecture refers to a style of Architecture that has taken shape in Asia over the centuries The term architecture (from Greek αρχιτεκτονικήarchitektoniki) can be used to mean a process a profession or documentation There are certain features common to Chinese architecture, regardless of specific region or use. The most important is its emphasis on width, as the wide halls of the Forbidden City serve as an example. The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial Palace from the mid- Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. In contrast, western architecture emphasize on height, though there are exceptions such as pagodas. A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered Tower with multiple Eaves common in China, Japan, Korea
Another important feature is symmetry, which connotes a sense of grandeur as it applies to everything from palaces to farmhouses. Symmetry generally conveys two primary meanings The first is an imprecise sense of harmonious or aesthetically-pleasing proportionality and balance such that it reflects beauty or One notable exception is in the design of gardens, which tends to be as asymmetrical as possible. Like Chinese scroll paintings, the principle underlying the garden's composition is to create enduring flow, to let the patron wander and enjoy the garden without prescription, as in nature herself. Feng shui has played an important part in structural development. Feng shui ( ˈfəŋˌʃueɪ fehng-shway in English is an ancient Chinese system of Aesthetics believed to utilize the Laws of both heaven (astronomy and earth (geography
Cuisine
The overwhelmingly large variety mainly comes from the emperors hosting a banquet of 100 dishes each meal[2]. Suzhou ( ancient name 吳) is a City on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Lake Taihu in the province of Jiangsu Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many True shrimp are swimming decapod Crustaceans classified in the Infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh The eggplant, aubergine, or brinjal ( Solanum melongena) is a plant of the family Solanaceae (also known as the nightshades Pickled tofu also called tofu cheese, preserved tofu, or fermented tofu) is a form of processed preserved Tofu used in Chinese Stir frying is an Umbrella term used to describe two fast Chinese cooking techniques chǎo ( 炒) and bào ( 爆) This article is about the vegetarian dish For the New York gang leader see Mock Duck. Bamboo is a group of Woody perennial Evergreen Plants in the True grass family Poaceae, subfamily Chinese cuisine ( Traditional Chinese: 中國菜 Simplified Chinese: 中国菜 originated from the various regions of China and has become widespread in The Emperor of China ( refers to any sovereign of Imperial China reigning since the founding of the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC until the fall of Countless number of imperial kitchen staff and concubines were involved in the food preparation process. Concubinage is the state of a woman or youth in an ongoing quasi-matrimonial relationship with a man of higher social status Overtime, many dishes became part of the everyday-citizen culture. Some of the highest quality restaurants with recipes close to the dynastic periods include Fangshan restaurant in Beihai Park Beijing and the Oriole Pavilion[2]. Fangshan District ( Simplified Chinese: 房山区 Traditional Chinese: 房山區 Hanyu Pinyin: Fángshān Qū is situated in the southwest of Beijing Beihai Park ( is an imperial garden to the northwest of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Arguably all branches of Hong Kong eastern style or even American Chinese food are in some ways rooted from the original dynastic cuisines. The cuisine of Hong Kong is Cantonese cuisine with extensive influences from parts of non-Cantonese-speaking China (especially Chaozhou, Dongjiang, American Chinese cuisine refers to the style of food served by certain Chinese Restaurants in the United States.
Leisure
A number of games and pastimes are popular within Chinese culture. The most common game is Mah Jong. Mahjong (also called mah-jongg by the American association Traditional Chinese 麻將 Pinyin: májiàng is a Game for four players that originated in The same pieces are used for other styled games such as Shanghai Solitaire. Mahjong solitaire is a Solitaire matching game that uses a set of Mahjong tiles rather than cards. Others include Pai Gow, Pai gow poker and other bone domino games. Pai gow (牌九 Pinyin: pái jiǔ Jyutping: paai4 gau2 is a Chinese Gambling Game, played with a set of Chinese dominoes Pai Gow poker (also called Double-hand poker) is an Americanized version of Pai Gow (in that it is played with Playing cards bearing Poker hand Chinese Dominoes are used in several Tile-based games namely Tien Gow, Pai Gow, Gwat Pai, Che Deng, Tiu U, Go proverb and Xiangqi is also popular. Go proverbs are traditional proverbs relating to the game of Go, generally used to assist weaker players in determining a good move during a game Ethnic games like Chinese yo-yo are also part of the culture. The Chinese yo-yo is a toy from China consisting of two equally-sized discs connected with a long axle
Gallery
 The Chinese Dragon, Fu dog and incense comprise three symbols within traditional Chinese culture. The Chinese Dragon or Oriental dragon is a mythical creature in East Asian culture with a Chinese origin Joss sticks are a type of Incense used in many East Asian countries traditionally burned before a Chinese religious image, idol or shrine |
 No. 4 of Ten Thousand Scenes (十萬圖之四). Painting by Ren Xiong, a pioneer of the Shanghai School of Chinese art circa 1850 |
 A goldfish pond is a signature Chinese scenery depicted in countless art work. Ren Xiong (任熊 1823-57 Chinese painter from Xiaoshan, active during during the late Qing dynasty |
 "Nine Dragons" handscroll section, by Chen Rong, 1244 AD, Chinese Song Dynasty, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the largest museums in the United States attracting over one million visitors a year |
References
See also
- Sinology
- Chinese Literature
- Chinese Thought
- Traditional Chinese objects
- Chinese name
- Chinese dragon
- Fenghuang
- Chinese dress
- Chinese garden
- Chinese folklore
- Color in Chinese culture
- Numbers in Chinese culture
- Science and technology in China
External links
- A Classification of Chinese Culture by Ying Fan
- Exploring Ancient World Cultures - Ancient China, University of Evansville
- Yin Yu Tang: A Chinese Home explored
- Chinese Culture Articles
- Embracing Chinese Culture
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