Chinese Culture and Heritage

罗安老师
History of
China
OVERVIEW

 China is one of the Four Ancient Civilizations (alongside Babylon, India and Egypt),
according to Chinese scholar Liang Qichao.
 It boasts a vast and varied geographic expanse, 3,600 years of written history, as well as a
rich and profound culture.
HISTORY

 China has 11 dynasties, namely:

Xia, Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.
KUNG FU

 Chinese kung fu, also known as wushu or Chinese martial arts, is an important part of
traditional Chinese culture. It is probably one of the earliest and longest lasting sports,
which utilizes both brawn and brain. Different from self-defense and boxing, kung fu is
more holistic, developing internal discipline with external technique.
KUNG FU

TAIJICHUAN
 Taijiquan (/tie-jee-chwen/), i.e. tai chi, is a Taoist internal
martial art. One account of the history of taijiquan credits its
development to the Taoist immortal Chang San-feng, who is
said to have drawn the inspiration for the art by watching a
fight between an snake and an aggressive eagle.
 Tai Chi is an "internal" martial art in contrast to the "external"
Chinese martial arts, like Chinese Kung Fu.
 In Chinese it's taijiquan (太极拳 ‘extremely extreme boxing'),
often translated as Chinese shadow boxing.
KUNG FU

SHAO LIN
 Shaolin Kung Fu is well known in China and abroad. The
original purpose of Shaolin shadowboxing was keeping
health, treating illness, protecting famous mountains,
safeguarding ancient temples, self-defense, and repelling
enemies. It boasts diverse patterns, plain forms, and rich
internal and external Kung Fu.
ZODIAC SIGNS

 The Chinese animal zodiac, or shengxiao (‘born resembling’), is a repeating cycle of 12

years, with each year being represented by an animal and its reputed attributes.
Traditionally these zodiac animals were used to date the years.
 In order, the 12 animals are:
Historical
Landmarks
THE GREAT WALL

 The Great Wall of China is one of the greatest sights in the world — the longest wall in the
world, an awe-inspiring feat of ancient defensive architecture. Its winding path over
rugged country and steep mountains takes in some great scenery.
 Chinese name: 长城 ('Long Wall')
 Length: 21,196.18 km (13,170.7 mi)
THE GREAT WALL
THE FORBIDDEN CITY

 The Forbidden City is:

 the best-preserved imperial palace in China,
 the largest ancient palatial structure in the world, and
 the essence and culmination of traditional Chinese architectural accomplishment.
 The Forbidden City, situated in the very heart of Beijing, was home to 24 emperors of the
Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) Dynasties.
 There are 9, 999 rooms for 14 emperors.
 THE FORBIDDEN CITY

The Gate of Heavenly Peace The Outer Court

 THE FORBIDDEN CITY

The Inner Court

THE QIN TOMB TERRACOTTA WARRIORS

 The Terracotta Army was constructed to accompany the tomb of China’s First Emperor as
an afterlife guard.
 It is considered one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world, and one of the
greatest discoveries of the 20th century.
 Attraction name: The Qin Tomb Terracotta Warriors and Horses
 Chinese: 秦陵兵马俑 (Qinling Bingmayong)
THE QIN TOMB TERRACOTTA WARRIORS
THE WATER CUBE AND THE BIRD’S NEST

 Bird Nest (National Stadium) and Water Cube (National Aquatic Center) have been the
new landmarks of Beijing since the successful Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
THE WATER CUBE (morning)
THE WATER CUBE (night)
THE BIRD’S NEST
THE CCTV HEADQUARTERS

 The CCTV Headquarters is a 234-metre (768 ft), 44-story skyscraper on East Third Ring Road,
Guanghua Road in the Beijing Central Business District (CBD).
 The CCTV Headquarters won the 2013 Best Tall Building Worldwide from the Council on Tall
Buildings and Urban Habitat.
THE CCTV HEADQUARTERS
Famous
Chinese
CONFUCIUS

 Philosopher (c. 551 BCE–479 BCE)

 Confucius was an influential Chinese philosopher, teacher and political figure known for
his popular aphorisms and for his models of social interaction.
MAO TSE-TUNG

 Military Leader (1893–1976)

 Mao Tse-tung was the principal Chinese Marxist theorist, soldier and statesman who led his
nation's Cultural Revolution.
JACKIE CHAN

 Martial Arts Expert, Film Actor, Actor (1954–)

 Actor/director/producer Jackie Chan's unique blend of impressive martial arts and
screwball physical comedy has helped make him an international film star.
MICHELLE YEOH

 Actress (1962–)
 Michelle Yeoh is a Chinese actress and dancer known for her roles in Hong Kong action
and martial arts films and for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Chinese
Foods
CHINESE FOOD

 Chinese food is famous all over the world, but you may be shocked by its surprising range
and variety of ingredients if you’ve only eaten in Chinese restaurants abroad. Chinese
food has countless delicious and fantastic dishes. And people from different areas have
different cuisine types, which can be bland, sweet, salty, spicy, or sour.

WHAT THE CHINESE EAT?

“The Chinese eat everything with four legs, except tables, and everything that flies,
except airplanes.”
- Anon
The 8 Most Popular Chinese
Dishes
Sweet and Sour Pork 糖醋里脊

 Sweet and sour pork has a bright orange-

red color, and a delicious sweet and sour
taste.
Gong Bao Chicken 宫保鸡丁

 This is a famous Sichuan-style specialty,

popular with both Chinese and
foreigners. The major ingredients are
diced chicken, dried chili, and fried
peanuts.
Ma Po Tofu 麻婆豆腐

 Ma po tofu is one of the most famous

dishes in Chuan Cuisine with a history of
more than 100 years. Ma (麻) describes a
spicy and hot taste which comes from
pepper powder, one kind of condiment
usually used in Chuan Cuisine.
Wontons 馄饨

 Since the Tang Dynasty (618–907), it has

been a custom for people to eat wontons
on the winter solstice.
Dumplings 饺子

 With a long history of more than 1,800

years, dumplings are a traditional food
widely popular in North China. Dumplings
consist of minced meat and chopped
vegetables wrapped into a thin piece of
dough skin.
Chow Mein 炒面

 The "Chow mein" is the Cantonese

pronunciation of the Chinese characters
above, which means stir-fried noodles.
Generally speaking, this stir-fried dish
consists of noodles, meat (usually
chicken, beef, shrimp, or pork), onions
and celery.
Peking Roasted Duck 北京烤鸭

 Peking duck is a famous dish from Beijing,

enjoying world fame, and considered as
one of China’s national dishes.
Spring Rolls 春卷

 Spring rolls are a Cantonese dim sum of

cylindrical shape. The filling of spring rolls
could be vegetables or meat, and the
taste could be either sweet or savory.
After fillings are wrapped in spring roll
wrappers, the next step is frying. Then the
spring rolls are given their golden yellow
color.
Top 10 Most Popular Chinese
Desserts
Red Bean Bun 豆沙包

 One of the main ingredients in sweet snacks

and desserts is red bean. Though this may
sound unfamiliar, red bean paste and red
bean fillings are delicious. You'll certainly
encounter this filling when in China,
generally when you're expecting chocolate
(due to the similarity in color).
Dragon's Beard Candy 龙须酥

 Dragon's Beard Candy is not only a type of

Chinese candy, but it is also considered a
traditional art as it originates in the Han
Dynasty. It is similar to candy floss as it is
made of spun sugar, and is very sticky. It
melts easily, and becomes even stickier,
when it is exposed to high temperatures. This
food is generally sold by the side of the
road, or at stalls near popular tourist
destinations.
Egg Tarts 蛋挞

 The egg tarts were first introduced to

Mainland China via Macau, by Portugese
colonizers. It is basically a little custard tart,
with a hard and sweet crust. They are best
eaten warm, and usually found in
Cantonese-style restaurants. They are so
popular that some shops specialize in them
(generally hole-in-the-wall shops), and many
convenience stores sell them too, pre-
warmed. These are easy to pick up while
sightseeing.
Tanghulu 糖葫芦

 Tanghulu, the "Chinese toffee apple" is an

old Beijing-style snack consisting of a skewer
with crabapples dipped in liquid sugar and
dried. Common varieties, especially at food
markets and China's popular food streets,
include other fruits coated in sugar, such as
kiwi or grapes. These are most authentically
bought from carts by the side of the street,
and in Beijing they are hard to escape at
common tourist sites.
Pumpkin Pancake 南瓜饼

 Pumpkin pancakes are easily described:

they are deep fried pumpkin pancakes
consisting mainly of pumpkin, sugar, and
flour. They are very popular in winter, and
are some of the sweetest things around in
China. In fact, they may be too sweet if you
aren't a big fan. In some cases, the pumpkin
pancakes are covered in roasted sesame
seeds for extra taste and texture.
Sweet Egg Bun 奶黄包

 Another Southern Chinese favorite, the

sweet egg bun consists of a warm bun filled
with a mix of egg yolk and sugar. Although
this may sound odd, these buns are highly
popular and definitely worth a try. They are
commonly found at Cantonese restaurants,
and are perfect for those with a sweet
tooth.
Deep Fried Durian 榴莲酥

 Durian, Asia's most infamous fruit, is also

popular in China. Although infamous for its
strong and bad smell, the fleshy fruit tastes
good and is very popular. Many Chinese
restaurants sell it as a desert, with a slight
deep fried batter crust. The perfect dessert
for anyone wanting to step out of their
comfort zone. Also makes for the perfect
story with friends at home.
Tangyuan 汤圆

 Tangyuan is a warm soup that originates in

Sichuan cuisine and is a staple food on any
Sichuanese restaurant's menu. It is sweet
and filled with fermented rice and sticky rice
balls. Sometimes, because of the fermented
rice, the soup can be a little bit alcoholic
and taste like Southern Chinese mijiu, or rice
wine. This soup is usually eaten at large
family meals because of its name, which is
similar to the phrase for 'family reunion'
(tuanyuan twan-wyen 团圆).
Almond Jelly 杏仁冻

 Almond jelly is a cream colored jelly with a

soft consistency commonly eaten in across
the country from Beijing to Hong Kong, and
the South of China. The name is somewhat
misleading, as the dessert is generally made
using apricot kernel, which is soaked and
grounded with water. The milk is then
extracted, and a gelling substance is
added. This dish is available in most Chinese
restaurants.
Grass Jelly 烧仙草

 Another type of jelly commonly eaten for

dessert is grass jelly. Grass jelly is not only
famous in China, but is also a popular food
in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It is made
using boiled 'fairy grass' (仙草 i.e. mesona
chinensis, a type of mint) and adding starch
and a baking salt. Grass jelly can be eaten
in many different forms, either as jelly, in
drinks, or mixed with condensed milk, the
latter being commonly available in Chinese
restaurants.
Chinese
Festivals
CHINA’S FESTIVALS

 China has several traditional festivals that are celebrated all over the country (in different
ways). The most important is Chinese New Year, then Mid-Autumn Festival. China, with its
"55 Ethnic Minorities", also has many ethnic festivals. From Tibet to Manchuria to China’s
tropical south, different tribes celebrate their new year, harvest, and other things, in
various ways.
SPRING FESTIVAL

 Chinese New Year or 'Spring Festival' is China's most important festival and holiday. The
next CNY falls on Friday, February 16th 2018, beginning a year of the Dog.
 The main traditions include eating reunion dinner with family, giving red envelopes,
firecrackers, new clothes, and decorations.
MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL

 Mid-Autumn Festival is a harvest festival, celebrated in most East Asian countries, such as
China and Vietnam. The festival takes places on month 8 day 15 of the Chinese calendar.
In 2018 it's on September 24th.
 It is the second most important festival in China after Chinese New Year. To the Chinese,
the festival means family reunion and peace.
 It is also called "the moon festival" as it is celebrated when the moon is believed to be the
biggest and fullest.
MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL 中秋节
DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL 端午节

 Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a traditional and important
celebration in China.
 Dragon Boat Festival 2018 falls on June 18 (Monday). China will have 3 days of holiday
from Saturday (June 16) to Monday (June 18), and we will be back at work on Tuesday ,
June 19.
 It's a traditional festival full of traditions and superstitions, maybe originating from dragon
worship; an event on the sporting calendar; and a day of remembrance/worship for Qu
Yuan, Wu Zixu, and Cao E.
Chinese
Language
CHINESE LANGUAGE

 Interest in Chinese language is growing around the world as developments in transport

and communications make this planet seem a smaller place.
 Mandarin (standard Chinese) is the most used mother tongue on the planet with over 800
million native speakers.
 China has many languages, the most famous being Mandarin (China’s national
language) and Cantonese (spoken in Southeast China).
MANDARIN

 On October 31st, 2000, the Law of Universal Language and Character of the People's
Republic of China came into force, which stipulates Mandarin as China's universal
national language.
 The official language in China is called Putonghua (普通话), literally translated as 'common
speech', which is known in English as Mandarin Chinese, or Standard Chinese. It is the most
widely used language in China and the world at large, and one of the 6 official
languages of the United Nations.
CHINESE CHARACTERS

 Chinese characters are also known as '汉字(Han Characters)'. They are the oldest
continuously used writing system in the world. Its history is dated back to as far as the
Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC), when they were ideographs inscribed on oracle bones.
CHINESE WRITING

 The written Chinese language is one of the oldest active languages today, dating from
the Shang Dynasty, more than 3,000 years ago, and is used by approximately 1.3 billion
people today. Chinese characters in the written language can be very intricate, ornate
and beautiful; therefore it is really no surprise that writing the characters is considered an
art form, known as Chinese calligraphy.
 Chinese written characters have a unique ability to express spiritual feelings and other
emotions as well as character and integrity, and can even convey the temperament of
the one doing the writing. The Chinese art of calligraphy (书 shu), which is also called brush
calligraphy, is unique to the Asian culture and the most treasured of the four arts of
Chinese literati, which include painting (画 hua), playing a musical instrument (琴 qin) and
playing strategic board games (棋 qi).
FORMATION OF CHINESE CHARACTERS

 There are five general styles that are traditionally used in Chinese calligraphy, which are
zhuan shu, kai shu, xing shu, li shu, and cao shu. Each of these have their own special
characteristics, and are derived from different origins dating back to different dynasties.
Seal Characters 篆书

 This style gets its name from the ancient for of charactersused in official seals. Seal
characters are very popular with calligraphy artists for their elegant style and are divided
up into both small seal and big seal characters.
Formal Script 楷书

 Kai Shu, otherwise known as Zheng Shu script, evolved from seal characters. Kai Shu is
known for its squareness, and horizontally and vertically standardized structure. Its simplicity
makes it a neat and orderly way of writing, which is possibly why it is also very popular with
calligraphers.
Running Script 行书

 Xing shu is the cursive form of kai shu, thereby making it a very quick, convenient, and
practical way of writing. However, if xing shu is written carefully and deliberately it looks
very much like kai shu. Xing shu comes from the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD).
Cursive Hand 草书

 Another cursive form of calligraphy, cao shu also goes back to the Han Dynasty. Although
it had its origins with the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 8 AD), it did not become popular
until the Eastern Han Dynasty, between 25 and 220 AD. Cursive hand is very simple,
irregular and sketchy, yet highly artistic.
Official Script 隶书

 The strongest characteristic of li shu is its diversity. Although it has a neat look, it is a more
complex type of writing with its different variations. Li shu became the writing which
eventually transitioned into formal script. Once again the Eastern Han Dynasty is credited
with this style of writing.