Chinese communities worldwide are known for their work ethic and a strong commitment to education. They have a culture of sending remittances to support relatives back home.
The core value of Chinese society is harmony, which encompasses rationality, propriety and compatibility. Modern Chinese society strives to maintain harmony between humankind and nature, people and their families, and between different communities.
Education
CSAUS promotes educational opportunities for its members and their children, as well as the general community. The organization’s Chinese language schools and cultural groups offer classes in dance, chorus, folk art, playhouse and sports. Its members participate in regional culture events as well as serve at nursing homes and a food bank.
By the end of 1987, a large number of people had graduated from evening universities, workers’ colleges, television universities and correspondence schools. But the government still struggled to develop higher education, with its resources being strained by other modernization programs.
The government aimed to universalize 9-year school education in larger cities and developed coastal areas. Rural areas were to popularize basic education without a timetable, and in some places junior high schools would be established. The government also aimed to make Putonghua (Modern Standard Chinese) the primary language for the national broadcast media, simplify written characters and introduce romanized forms. Regional dialects continued to be spoken, however, complicating interregional communication.
Employment
The earliest Chinese immigrants to America developed various strategies to maintain their cultural heritage while adapting to their new environment. These included the formation of community organizations, charities and sports groups that encouraged social interaction and shared interests.
The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association was established in 1883 and continues to play a critical role in Chinatown. It provides support for small businesses, assists with naturalization services and helps register voters. It also serves as a liaison between local government agencies and the Chinese community.
The Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) is a non-profit organization that supports the Chinese immigrant community in New York City. The organization offers housing, employment, and social service programs, as well as educational programs for children and adults. It also works to promote civic responsibility and facilitate youth participation in the community. The organization is affiliated with the Chinese American Citizens Alliance, which has been active for more than a century.
Religion
Unlike adherents of monotheistic religions in the West, whom tend to think of their religious identities as requiring exclusive allegiance, many Chinese believe that different traditions interpenetrate and inform each other. Consequently, there is a greater degree of religious syncretism and tolerance in China than in many other cultures.
Divination, the practice of using omens or supernatural powers to discern movements in the supernatural world, remains an important aspect of Chinese religion. Whether consulting inscriptions on tortoiseshells or animal bones during the ancient dynasties or using wood blocks to learn the response of an ancestor or god in modern temples and homes, divination provides a common point of continuity for Chinese religious culture.
The state-sanctioned Communist Party-run churches and government officials oversee the majority of China’s registered believers, but traditional folk religion and the country’s numerous underground house church communities are also significant components of Chinese religious life. Despite this, the CCP’s anti-religious rhetoric and policies have increased in recent years, reflected in increasing self-censorship among China’s clergy and stricter laws on religious activity.
Culture
Chinese communities around the world celebrate their culture and heritage. They support their language through community-run Chinese schools and cultural organisations that offer classes, as well as through the use of Chinese mobile apps and online resources. Mandarin often acts as a lingua franca to facilitate communication, but regional dialects also help preserve cultural identity.
Chinese people have one of the most collectivist cultures in the world, with a strong focus on interpersonal relations. They consider the concept of ‘face’ – the quality that represents an individual’s reputation, influence, dignity and honour – to be very important. As a result, they often act deliberately and conservatively to protect their status in society.
Chinese immigrants have made significant contributions to many nations, including building the western half of the Transcontinental Railroad and establishing Chinatowns in major cities. They are also known for their austerity, toughness and low profile. They are regarded as business-savvy and make an important contribution to Latin America, with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Peru having substantial Chinese populations.