The Chinese community in Olympia grew and adapted over time. As anti-Chinese discrimination decreased, more and more Chinese were able to purchase homes outside of Chinatown.
The new Chinese immigrants differed from the old ones in their attitude toward American society. They wanted to make America their home. They also preferred a more organized and structured society. This led to the development of clan and district associations.
Chinese culture
Throughout history, China has influenced world culture in art, food, medicine, clothing, music, philosophy, and more. Its rich cultural heritage has even influenced the Western world. It is known globally for its noodles, gunpowder, silk, and the Great Wall of China.
As early as the 1850s, large-scale emigration to the United States began, with Chinese immigrants seeking work in California and other west coast cities. They competed with White Americans in labor markets and faced racial discrimination. In response, the community banded together in haphazard ways to establish social centers, businesses, places of worship, and educational institutions.
As a result, the community has maintained many of its traditional values and traditions. Among the most significant is its strong attachment to its country of origin. In 1911, Sun Yat-sen stopped in Cleveland on his worldwide tour to speak at Old Stone Church and raise funds for the revolution against the Qing Dynasty. These efforts succeeded despite the passage of restrictive immigration laws.
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a family of languages with many varieties. Depending on the region, different pronunciations and vocabulary are used. These are called dialects. Standard Mandarin is the most common variety of Chinese, followed by Cantonese, Wu, and Min Chinese. Other regional variants include Gan, Hakka, and Xiang. These variations are not mutually intelligible, but some transitional areas allow for limited intelligibility (e.g., New Xiang with Southwestern Mandarin).
Historically, the Chinese have organized themselves into associations called tongs, which functioned as mutual aid and protection organizations in their communities. Some of these were based on illegal activities, such as gambling and prostitution, but others acted as genuine mutual aid and protection societies.
Today, most people in China speak Mandarin Chinese, but there are 55 minority nationalities in the country that have their own language and cultural identity. The Chinese government has worked to create a common standard of Mandarin for all of the people in China. This has been controversial, especially as it is at odds with the effort to promote a sense of national unity and a singular Chinese identity.
Chinese religion
From a very early date Chinese religious activities included the veneration of ancestors and divination. These practices, which were common among ancient cultures, persist to this day. During the dynasties that followed, a variety of religions were introduced into China, including Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.
These traditions influenced a number of local beliefs and cults, which together are known as Chinese folk religion. This elastic term includes such diverse ideas as otherworldly realms, ancestor worship, the use of spirit mediums and divination, and sky/heaven worship.
Since the death of Mao and the end of the Cultural Revolution, the government has relaxed its controls on religion. It recognizes only five religions, but tolerates the practice of others, especially those that incorporate elements of Chinese folk religion. These include Christianity, Islam, and various forms of traditional qigong exercise. However, the government still cracks down on a number of faiths that fall outside its official list and are characterized as heterodox cults.
Chinese immigrants
During the gold rush, Chinese immigrants worked in California and other states to find jobs. They were often employed in railroad construction and agriculture, but racial hostility made it difficult for them to compete with Caucasian American workers. In addition, they were unable to open their own businesses because of legal restrictions. Many families settled in small communities known as Chinatowns, which were self-sufficient enclaves within urban areas.
Initially, the Chinese largely assimilated into American society, but they continued to practice traditional values through community organizations and cultural festivals. In cities with significant Chinese populations, they formed benevolent societies and secret societies called tongs that served as both protectors against discrimination and providers of public services.
The Chinese Community Center of the Capital District (CCC) serves Chinese families and the surrounding community through educational programs, language schools, and social justice initiatives. Its goal is to promote an understanding of the Chinese heritage as a defining and precious part of American culture.