Chinese American communities have long been highly organized. They developed benevolent societies and secret societies called tongs.
These quasi government organizations provided social services, arbitrated disputes, certified documents and guarded their members’ treaty rights. They also helped preserve their cultural heritage and identity. They were a powerful force for reshaping Chinatowns.
Family life
Despite the fact that Chinese family conventions have been influenced by Confucianism, they have been undergoing radical changes over the course of the last century. Family responsibilities are still emphasized and the father is seen as the main maintainer, provider and protector of his family but he no longer has absolute control.
The focus on children has also shifted and many couples don’t want to have (as) many kids anymore. Furthermore, the notion of Xiao Shun (filial piety) is still highly valued and many Chinese are expected to live with their parents as long as they can. This differs from non-Han ethnic groups like the Mosuo who do not follow this tradition and have a matrilineal inheritance pattern.
Teenagers
Unlike Western teenagers, Chinese teens are deeply imbued with family values. They feel a responsibility to care for their parents as they get older and frequently explain their dedication to study by citing an obligation to their families.
They are influenced by popular music, and concert halls fill with young people who attend performances by bands like Cui Jian and Tang Dynasty. They follow fashion trends and are especially fond of streetwear.
They are also influenced by the guochao or national chic movement which promotes products made in China. This has led to a boom in the Chinese fashion industry and triggered sales for streetwear brands that cater to this group. Many young Chinese live in Melbourne’s southeast and eastern suburbs. Some are university students, others have migrated to work in Melbourne’s flourishing tech industry.
Education
The Chinese system of education stresses scholastic achievement. Education in China is largely centralized and state-financed, although the quality of schooling can vary widely across regions and between urban and rural areas.
The Ministry of Education sets centralized goals in education strategies, certifies teachers and approves curriculum, while funding responsibilities fall mainly on local governments. In addition to promoting domestic excellence, the MOE actively recruits international students and maintains educational links with foreign universities.
The Chinese Culture Connection empowers immigrants and their descendants in the Greater Boston area to appreciate and retain their heritage, develop bicultural fluency, and enrich others through a deeper understanding of Chinese language and culture. Through diverse educational programs, cross-cultural dialogues and special events. The CCC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Religion
Many Chinese people participate in beliefs and rituals from multiple traditions. Chinese surveys do not ask about this explicitly, but CFR research on the 2018 China Family Panel Studies indicates that combinations are common.
The state encourages a mix of values. It also recognizes the need for new sources of support, given that few Chinese buy into its main ideology, communism.
It is difficult to measure the number of religious believers in China because Western definitions of religion and measures of religiosity are not well suited to Asian contexts. Moreover, the state’s own understanding of zongjiao (religious belief) is more along the lines of superstition than the traditional concepts of organized religion. Nonetheless, the state is concerned about Islam and Christianity because these faiths challenge a core Communist Party view that views religion as a backward mindset incompatible with socialism.
Holidays
The Chinese celebrate a wide variety of holidays based on both the lunar and Gregorian calendars. The full list of public holidays is usually not issued until mid December of the current year.
The largest holiday of the year is Chinese New Year, typically in January or February. It embodies themes of renewal, prosperity and family and is a major celebration across the country with fireworks, temple fairs, parades and a feast featuring symbolic foods like dumplings.
Qingming Festival or Tomb Sweeping Day is observed in April to honor ancestors. Labor Day is a reminder of the value of hard work, and the Dragon Boat Festival commemorates loyalty and filial piety. This vibrant festival centers around dragon boat races and consuming special foods, including sticky rice dumplings called Zongzi.