Chinese Culture

A Brief Look at the Rich Culture of China

China is a vast country with a culture going back at least 5,000 years. When visiting China, visitors will be immediately confronted with the various ways this culture is lived out by millions of Chinese every single day. Below, we offer a very brief introduction to essence of what constitutes Chinese culture to help you enjoy your trip a little more and give you a sense of just what it means to be Chinese.

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Beijing Opera

With a history of more than 200 years, Beijing opera, the essence of Chinese culture, is an intricate combination of music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics, which is lauded by foreign visitors and local Chinese. Beijing opera originated in Beijing around 1840 during the Qing Dynasty and came into its heyday in 1930, when its popularity caught on throughout Hebei Province, including nearby Tianjin.

Now, Beijing opera has become one of the largest influential opera forms in the world. Characterized by its rich characters, sophisticated performances, and overwhelming momentum, Beijing opera has become representative of Chinese opera as a whole.

The Roots of Beijing Opera

Beijing opera is derived from four local operas, Hui opera in Anhui, Han opera in Hubei, Kun opera in Jiangsu, and Qinqiang opera in Shaanxi, which drawn from the merits of these local operas and created in its own style. Beijing opera is of the Banqing style, which applies gongs, drums, erhu (“Chinese violin”) or other types of stringed huqin and yueqin (“moon guitar”) to accompany.

Speech, song, dance, and combat are the four classic performing arts in Beijing opera, which are the basic skills required for performers who are typically instructed in such since their youth. There are many roles in Beijing opera, mainly Sheng, Dan, Jing, and Chou, each of which has its own related costumes and mask-paintings. Masks with different colors have different meaning, which is used to portray the character of the roles and illustrate their emotional state.

Chinese Kung Fu

Chinese Kung Fu, also known as Wushu, is a traditional sports originated in ancient China, which is a remarkable combination of exercise, practical self-defense, and discipline which has become one of the more well-known parts of Chinese culture.
Chinese Kung Fu features dynamic and fluid motions. It is usually practiced with bare hands, while sometimes participants make use of some simple weapons like the cudgel.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, many sects of Chinese Kung Fu were created and thrived; probably the best known are Taichi, Xingyi Quan and Baguan Quan. Since the foundation of People’s Republic of China in 1949, Chinese Kung Fu has experienced a flourishing in popularity across the globe.

Shaolin Kung Fu

Tai Chi

Tai Chi, another style of Chinese martial arts, is widely known for its long history and inasmuch as it can contribute to a longer life, which has become a popular fitness activity outside of China. During a visit to China, you may see many people, particularly the old, are practicing Taichi in open areas in the morning.

Famous Actors

Bruce Lee, a famous Chinese-American martial artist and actor, has made great contributions to the development of Chinese Kong Fu. Since the release of his films which heavily feature martial arts, Chinese Kong Fu has dramatically increased in popularity all over the world.

Chinese Tea

When speaking about Chinese culture, tea drinking needs to be mentioned. Chinese tea culture is the ancient tradition of making and consuming tea, which differs from such traditions in Europe and Japan.

China is home to many different kinds of tea, including Green tea, Oolong tea, Black Tea, scented tea, white tea and yellow tea, each of which has its own distinct color, scent, and taste.

In China, drinking tea is usually referred as tasting tea, which not only refers to discerning the quality of the tea, but the tradition also has to do with engaging in reflective thought and interacting socially while drinking tea.

A short respite from the business of life, make a cup of tea and taste it in a tranquil place on your own can be not only invigoration but also refreshes the soul. Generally, the Chinese look to drink tea somewhere tranquil atmosphere where crisp fresh air is available.
Gardens in China are world famous, where breathtaking scenery and a peaceful ambiance is available. Drinking tea in such gardens never fails to be a fantastic experience and is common among the Chinese.

Chinese Zodiac Signs

The Zodiac is prevalent among many countries in Asia, Eastern Europe, and North Africa, and China is certainly no exception. Chinese zodiac signs, also known as “Shengxiao” in Chinese, is a scheme, which uses Twelve Earthly Branches and 12 animals to symbolize the year when a person is born. The cycle of the Chinese zodiac signs is completed every 12 years.

The zodiac traditionally begins with the sign of the Rat. The twelve zodiac signs are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig, each of which has its matching earth branch and character. In Chinese astrology, the animal signs assigned by year represent what others perceive you as being or how you present yourself.

The zodiac signs also have another function, that is, reckoned by a person’s age from the sign of the person. Knowing the current sign of the year, a person’s perceived age would then be deduced. For example, if it is the year of ox is in 2011, then persons born during the year of the ox are either 12, 24, 36, or 48 years old in 2011, while persons born in the year of the rabbit are two years younger than those born in the year of the ox.
Chinese Zodiac years of birth are known as Ben Ming Nian in Chinese, in which people usually wear something red like to avoid bad luck during this year, such as socks, a ribbon, clothes, underwear, a waistband or a bracelet and the like.
The following are characteristics traditionally assigned to individuals born during their respective sign:

1. Rat – 鼠 (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water)

Forthright, tenacious, intense, meticulous, charismatic, sensitive, hardworking, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, artistic, shrewd. Can be manipulative, vindictive, self-destructive, mendacious, venal, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, scheming.

2. Ox – 牛 (Water buffalo in Vietnam) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Water)

Dependable, ambitious, calm, methodical, born leader, patient, hardworking, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.

3. Tiger – 虎 (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood)

Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish, aggressive, moody.

4. Rabbit – 兔 (Cat in Vietnam) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Wood)

Gracious, good friend, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, shy, astute, compassionate,lucky, flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent, opportunistic, stubborn.

5. Dragon – 龍 (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Wood)

Magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, jealous, eccentric, intellectual, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, artistic, generous, loyal. Can be tactless, arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, impetuous, brash.

6. Snake – 蛇 (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Fire)

Deep thinker, wise, mystic, graceful, soft-spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, elegant, cautious, responsible, calm, strong, constant, purposeful. Can be loner, bad communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, distrustful, mendacious, suffocating, cold.

7. Horse – 馬 (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Fire)

Cheerful, popular, quick-witted, changeable, earthy, perceptive, talkative, agile—mentally and physically, magnetic, intelligent, astute, flexible, open-minded. Can be fickle, arrogant, childish, anxious, rude, gullible, stubborn.

8. Sheep, Goat, or Ram – 羊 (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Fire)

Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, mild-mannered, shy, artistic, creative, gentle, compassionate, understanding, mothering, determined, peaceful, generous, seeks security. Can be moody, indecisive, over-passive, worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, complainer, weak-willed.

9. Monkey – 猴 (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Metal)

Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, sociable, artistic, polite, dignified, competitive, objective, factual, intellectual. Can be egotistical, vain, selfish, reckless, snobbish, deceptive, manipulative, cunning, jealous, suspicious.

10. Rooster – 雞 (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Metal)

Acute, neat, meticulous, organized, self-assured, decisive, conservative, critical, perfectionist, alert, zealous, practical, scientific, responsible. Can be over-zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical, abrasive, opinionated, given to empty bravado.

11. Dog – 狗 (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Metal)

Honest, intelligent, straightforward, loyal, sense of justice and fair play, attractive, amicable, unpretentious, sociable, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic, practical, affectionate, sensitive, easy going. Can be cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental, pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, quarrelsome.

12. Pig – 猪 (Wild boar in Japan and Elephant in Northern Thailand) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Water)

Honest, gallant, sturdy, sociable, peace-loving, patient, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate, intelligent.
Can be naïve, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic, materialistic.

Find Your Animal Year!

Rat	Ox	Tiger	Rabbit	Dragon	Snake	Horse	Goat	Monkey	Rooster	Dog	Pig
1900	1901	1902	1903	1904	1905	1906	1907	1908	1909	1910	1911
1912	1913	1914	1915	1916	1917	1918	1919	1920	1921	1922	1923
1924	1925	1926	1927	1928	1929	1930	1931	1932	1933	1934	1935
1936	1937	1938	1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	1946	1947
1948	1949	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956	1957	1958	1959
1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969	1970	1971
1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983
1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026	2027	2028	2029	2030	2031
2032	2033	2034	2035	2036	2037	2038	2039	2040	2041	2042	2043
2044	2045	2046	2047	2048	2049	2050	2051	2052	2053	2054	2055
2056	2057	2058	2059	2060	2061	2062	2063	2064	2065	2066	2067
2068	2069	2070	2071	2072	2073	2074	2075	2076	2077	2078	2079
2080	2081	2082	2083	2084	2085	2086	2087	2088	2089	2090	2091
2092	2093	2094	2095	2096	2097	2098	2099	2100	2101	2102	2103

Table Manners

Table manners are an important component of Chinese culture, which are usually expressed through inviting guests, seating, eating, using chopsticks, and use of teapots.

Inviting guests

When the guest enters the room, the hosts stands until the guest sits down. Dishes are usually ordered by the host while guests are expected to keep silent. Before dining, a toast initiated by the host is usually made, when guests express their thanks for the invitation. When the dishes arrive, the host will invite the guest(s) of honor to taste first.

Seating

In China, a round table is commonly used for eating. On this occasion, the seat facing the entrance is the seat of honor, which should be reserved for the people with the highest status. The seats on the left-hand-side of the seat-of-honor are in descending order of importance.

Eating

Chopsticks

Chopstick are mostly used in Chinese dining, and certain protocols govern their use. Chopsticks are not used to toy with one’s food or with dishes in common and they should be placed neatly to the side after used. It is impolite to point at someone with chopsticks. Never dig for food in the common dishes with your chopsticks. Obviously, you should never bang your chopsticks as though you were playing the drums.

Teapot

Given the long history of tea drinking in China, use of the teapot also has its own etiquette. The teapot should never be placed pointing someone directly at someone, which is considered quite impolite. If you are getting tea for yourself, make sure to ask others whether they need tea or not first and serve others before serving yourself.

Chinese Valentines’ Day

The Chinese Valentines’ Day, also known as Double Seventh Festival, is another traditional festival in China, which is celebrated on July 7th in the lunar calendar every year and is particularly popular among young people.
When it comes to the origins of the holiday, it was told that there was a poor cowboy, who felt in love with a weaving girl, 7th daughter of the Emperor of Heaven. They lived a happy life together and had two children. When the Emperor of Heaven heard this, he got angry and took the weaving girl back to heaven, while the cowboy held the hands of the weaving girl tightly. Seeing this, the Emperor of Heaven drew the silver river with his hairpin between them and they were separated eventually. The weaving girl was forced to move to the star Vega and the cowboy moved to the star Altair. They are allowed to meet only once a year on the day of 7th day of July lunar month.
It was said that on the Double Seventh Day, people could see the weaving girl and cowboy’s reunion on the Silver River. If you hide yourself under the fruit trellis, you might overhear the conversations between cowboy and weaving girl on this night.
On Chinese Valentine’s Day, people in love usually go to the Matchmaker’s Temple to pray for their love and for the possibility of marriage. Those still single will do the same thing, to ask for good luck of love in the Matchmaker’s temple. On this romantic night, girls usually set tables with fruits displayed to pray for intelligence and love.

Tomb-Sweeping Day
Tomb-sweeping Day, also known as Pure Brightness Day, is one of the most important traditional festivals in China, which usually falls onto 4th, 5th or 6th of April. On tomb-sweeping day, people will visit their ancestors’ graves and mourn for the dead, burn incense, offer food and paper coins. They will also clean the grave area, including removing weeds growing around the tomb and removing dust. After that, some flowers are also presented.
During the days around Qingming, everything is recovered and refreshed, so many outdoor activities like traveling around, flying kites and planting trees are taken up by many people.

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