The Chinese community is a vibrant one that is diverse in both culture and economics. They have contributed to the city of Amherst and its citizens in many ways.
The Amherst Chinese Club and the Chinese School are two of these organizations. They are a place where local Chinese can get together to learn about their heritage and culture.
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is a time for celebrating the arrival of a new year. It’s based on the lunar calendar and is celebrated by a large number of Asian communities worldwide.
It’s a time of renewal and celebration, and the traditions are steeped in legend. One story tells of a monster named Nian, which attacked villagers at the start of the year. People used red paper, fireworks and other decorations to scare the beast away, and this remains a key part of the celebrations today.
It’s a time to celebrate with family, friends and neighbours. There are many different activities and shows, including lion dances and dragon dancing.
Chinese Festivals
Chinese festivals are a major part of China’s cultural heritage. They’re a feast for the senses, and bring people together in the most festive way possible.
Each festival has its own unique origins and customs, which reflect the traditional practices and morality of the whole nation. They play an important role in enhancing national cohesion, maintaining social harmony and stability, elevating soft power, and strengthening the competitiveness of the country.
The most popular Chinese festivals are the Spring Festival (Yuandan), the Lantern Festival, the Qingming Festival, and the Dragon Boat Festival. They’re all deeply rooted in Chinese culture and deeply enshrined with religious and spiritual beliefs.
Chinese Language
Chinese is a language that is spoken by over one billion people around the world. It is primarily spoken in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and New York City.
As with most languages, Chinese has a lot of different dialects that are unique to each area. For example, Cantonese is the primary dialect spoken in New York City’s Chinatown.
All Chinese languages are phonologically similar, with a maximum syllabic structure of consonant-semivowel-vowel-semivowel-consonant (with exceptions). They also use a system of tones that can be lexical or grammatical and include some glottal features, though these rarely have a meaning.
The grammars of the spoken varieties share many traits, including the subject-verb-object word order and an extensive system of classifiers. However, each of these varieties has its own idiosyncrasies. This makes learning a Chinese language even more rewarding and exciting. It can be a great way to learn more about China and its culture! It can also help you to interact with the locals and build stronger relations.
Chinese Culture
One of the world’s oldest cultures, Chinese culture thrives across a wide geographical area in East Asia. Its unique traditions and customs are rooted in many important aspects of life, including philosophy, religion, arts, cuisine, literature, science and technology.
Though Chinese society is tightly regulated and reliant on embedded cultural traditions, it has become more international exposed in recent years. This has led to a modernisation that includes an increased exposure to the world and the ability for people to travel, learn other languages and participate in international trade.
Traditional Chinese values emphasize courtesy, modesty and self-discipline. They focus on rituals, family respect and obligation, worship of ancestors and social order. These philosophies have been influenced by the teachings of Confucius, who lived from 206 B.C. to 220 C.E. These teachings remain very important to the Chinese people. They also focus on establishing personal relationships of trust and common interest. This is reflected in the way they communicate and interact with others.