Chinese communities around the world have formed through cultural and ethnic identity. These communities are often influenced by social and cultural policies and are dominated by kinship and independence priority acquaintance networks.
Traditional urban enclaves, such as Chinatowns in San Francisco and New York City, still exist, but many Chinese Americans bypass inner cities to settle into ethnically concentrated suburban communities. Those communities face growing nativist anxiety and anti-immigrant sentiment.
What is a Chinese family?
Chinese culture places a high value on family. In the past, when China was primarily an agrarian society, extended families lived together to help support each other as they worked the land.
Even today, filial piety is still an important value. Children are expected to respect and care for their parents, and to take responsibility for them until they die.
In addition, it is a good idea to stay in touch with older relatives and attend funerals. These are all expressions of the Chinese values of harmony, benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom and loyalty.
Like most Asian cultures the Chinese family is patrilineal, meaning that women retain their own family name when they marry and don’t take on their husbands’ names. Traditionally, men were responsible for providing the income and making decisions on behalf of the family. However, influenced by Western culture, the role of modern Chinese men and women is changing.
What is the Chinese culture?
In addition to traditional values and philosophy, Chinese culture is influenced by its unique physical and geographical environment. In addition, the cultural emphasis on unity and respect for relationships leads to a strong sense of community and social responsibility. Chinese culture also lays great importance on the concept of ‘face’ – an individual’s reputation, influence, dignity and honour – which influences all interactions between individuals. People often try to avoid actions that may harm or damage someone’s face, even if the action is considered minor.
The most important value that Chinese culture teaches is the idea of harmony (hexie, He Xie). This concept is based on yin-yang, and taiji, as well as a number of other philosophical concepts. Those who practice this belief believe that it is important to balance the yin and yang of life, which includes work, play, family and friends. Having balance in life is considered to be the key to happiness and success.
What is the Chinese language?
Chinese is one of the oldest written languages in existence, dating back 6,000 years. The Chinese characters (also known as Han characters) have changed far less than the spoken language over time, and are still recognizable by almost a quarter of the world’s population today.
Mandarin Chinese is by far the most commonly spoken variety of Chinese. It is also considered to be the standard language of China, and is used in official communications. It is also widely taught in schools.
However, there are many other dialects of Chinese that are not mutually intelligible, and most people in the country will speak a combination of Standard Chinese and their own regional variation. This is known as diglossia, and it creates some problems in the country. In an effort to solve these issues, the government created a standardized language called Standard Chinese which they refer to as Guoyu (
What is the Chinese religion?
As one of the oldest cultures in the world, China has had a long history of religion. Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity have all influenced Chinese culture, while ancient traditions like ancestor worship continue to be practiced.
While the Chinese government only recognizes five religions, many people follow traditional folk beliefs. These include a belief in fengshui, Chinese astrology and the veneration of ancestors. They also incorporate animism, which is the belief that all living things have spirits or souls.
Confucianism, a body of traditional practices rather than a specific religion, plays a big role in the lives of most Chinese. It teaches that relationships between people are naturally unequal and encourages respect, loyalty and devotion to family and society. The teachings of Confucianism are deeply ingrained in the Chinese culture and are still important today. However, this enduring tradition has not been immune to government interference. Up to 2 million Muslims in the Xinjiang region are being held in reeducation camps and face strict religious restrictions.