For centuries, nations around the globe converged on China to purchase precious commodities such as tea and silk. After a short period of economic decline, China has once again grown into one of the biggest crossroads of commerce and, according to The New York Times, is on its way to becoming the second-largest economy in the world. China's ancient history, population of 1.3 billion and place in the global economy make it more important than ever to understand the Chinese people and the land they call home.
Religion
The major religions and philosophies practiced by the Chinese people are Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism--or a combination of these, infused with Chinese folk beliefs and traditions. Buddhism, a foreign import to China from India, gained popularity with the Chinese people by the 4th century and has been the predominant religion in China ever since, according to the Department of Chinese Cultural Studies at Brooklyn College. Christianity and Islam have also had an influence in China, and the college estimates the country has about 2 million Christians and more than 5 million adherents of Islam.
Ethnicity
The Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Los Angeles states that although the majority of Chinese are ethnically Han Chinese, there are 55 other recognized ethnic groups in China. Many migrated to China from other countries by way of the Silk Road or during eras when China was ruled by foreign powers. Each ethnic group has distinct languages and traditional dress, and some members of each group continue practicing these customs today.
Language
The most commonly spoken language of China is Mandarin Chinese, better known in China as "Putonghua" or the "common language," says Professor Ulrich Theobald at Tuebingen University. Although more than 90 million people speak Mandarin, the dialects vary so widely that it is not uncommon for someone from Henan Province to have difficulty understanding someone from Guangxi. The second-most-common language is Wu, spoken in the regions near Shanghai and Ningbo. Despite the differences in the spoken language, there are only two written languages: traditional and simplified Chinese.
Dining and Cuisine
For the Chinese, eating is usually a social event. Traditional Chinese-style dining is done at a round table, with a rotating tray in the middle containing a variety of dishes shared by everyone at the table. The flavor of dishes varies according to region; cuisine from Sichuan Province, for instance, is well-known for its spiciness, while food from the coastal city of Ningbo is known for its lighter fare of seafood-based dishes. Despite the regional variance, most meals include rice or noodles and vegetables.
The Arts
The Chinese arts are a combination of the modern and the traditional. While progressing with the rest of the world in pop music and film, the Chinese people still maintain a deep respect for the ancient art forms of ink painting, pottery, calligraphy, opera and the martial arts. In China, it is not uncommon to find a filmmaker who also paints on silk or a pop singer trained in Peking Opera, for example.
