China in General
If asked to describe China, you would probably say that it is a big country and that it has a long history, which briefly describes China quite well. But when going deeper, you may find it is not such an easy task to put the entire history of China into words. Being Chinese, I am not able to describe all aspects of China to you, due to my limited knowledge. Therefore, I am going to focus on some key aspects which I hope you may be interested in and hopefully my explanation will help you understand this beautiful country and its people better.
Reform and Opening Policy Family Planning Education System and Medical Care System
5000 Years of Civilization
As a Chinese citizen, I am always proud of talking about the long history and culture of my country. Every Chinese is proud of the 5000 years of civilization we have gone through. You may think we are bragging about it and that we are just flattering ourselves. The answer is definitely no.
The first primitive man known to have existed in China is Yuanmou Man who lived about 1.7 million years ago. Two fossil front teeth of that primitive ape-man were discovered in Yuanmou County, Yuannan Province, in 1965. During the years of 1963 and 1964, other fossils known as Lantian Man were discovered in Lantian County, Shaanxi Province. These were the earliest inhabitants in China. About 500,000 years ago, the Peking Man, the ape-man who lived in the southwestern suburbs of Beijing already had the basic features of Homo Sapiens: walking erect on two legs, being able to make and use simple tools, being able to ignite fire and maintain it.
Through an extremely long period of evolution, early Chinese culture came into being. The most representative ones were Yangshao Culture and Longshan Culture. Yangshao Culture flourished some 6,000 or 7,000 years. It was a matriarchal commune. The latter one existed around 5,000 years ago was a patriarchal commune. People in this period were capable of making stone tools for multiple purposes. The culture or civilization continues till now, never stopping its steps forward.
Dynasties
There are a great number of dynasties in Chinese history. They are easily mixed up. The following is a brief chronology of China's dynasties:
Xia Dynasty 2100–1600 BCE
Shang Dynasty 1600–1046 BCE
Zhou Dynasty 1045–256 BCE
Western Zhou
Eastern Zhou
Spring and Autumn Period
Warring States Period
Qin Dynasty 221 BCE–206 BCE
Han Dynasty 206 BCE–220 CE
Western Han
Xin Dynasty
Eastern Han
Three Kingdoms 220–280
Wei, Shu & Wu
Jin Dynasty 265–420
Western Jin
Eastern Jin
Southern & Northern Dynasties 420–589
Sui Dynasty 581–618
Tang Dynasty 618–907
5 Dynasties & 10 Kingdoms 907–960
Song Dynasty 960–1279
Northern Song
Southern Song
Yuan Dynasty 1271–1368
Ming Dynasty 1368–1644
Qing Dynasty 1644–1911
Among the dynasties, Qin, Han, Tang, and Qing Dynasties are of greater significance in China’s history. Qin Dynasty is the first united feudal dynasty of China. Ying Zheng, the First Emperor of Qin, united China in 221 B.C. Ying Zheng made great contributions to the unity of China. He standardized Chinese written language, weights, measures, ethics, etc. He recruited thousands of people to rebuild the Great Wall, which to some degree helped to prevent invasion of foreign forces. The following Han Dynasty is extremely influential. It became the most powerful empire in the world under the lead of Emperor Wu of Han. And the famous Silk Road opened the trade between the west and the east, making China a world trading center. Tang Dynasty is considered as a golden age of Chinese power and prosperity, and a high point in culture and productivity. At the highest point of Tang power, Changan, now Xian, the capital city of Tang Dynasty was one of the greatest cities in the world. It was seven times the size of Byzantine, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. Qing Dynasty, the last feudal power of China, must be the most controversial one in China’s history. The reign of early Qing emperors from 1663 to 1796 was a period of great prosperity. But due to its seclusion from the outside world, where the stirring Industrial Revolution was taking place, and its disregard of new technology, it slowly declined. The late Qing Dynasty was a big shame of China. China was invaded, robbed, insulted by foreign forces, which caused the severe decline of China. China became powerless, poor and starved from then on.
5000 Years of Civilization
As a Chinese citizen, I am always proud of talking about the long history and culture of my country. Every Chinese is proud of the 5000 years of civilization we have gone through. You may think we are bragging about it and that we are just flattering ourselves. The answer is definitely no.
The first primitive man known to have existed in China is Yuanmou Man who lived about 1.7 million years ago. Two fossil front teeth of that primitive ape-man were discovered in Yuanmou County, Yuannan Province, in 1965. During the years of 1963 and 1964, other fossils known as Lantian Man were discovered in Lantian County, Shaanxi Province. These were the earliest inhabitants in China. About 500,000 years ago, the Peking Man, the ape-man who lived in the southwestern suburbs of Beijing already had the basic features of Homo Sapiens: walking erect on two legs, being able to make and use simple tools, being able to ignite fire and maintain it.
Through an extremely long period of evolution, early Chinese culture came into being. The most representative ones were Yangshao Culture and Longshan Culture. Yangshao Culture flourished some 6,000 or 7,000 years. It was a matriarchal commune. The latter one existed around 5,000 years ago was a patriarchal commune. People in this period were capable of making stone tools for multiple purposes. The culture or civilization continues till now, never stopping its steps forward.
Dynasties
There are a great number of dynasties in Chinese history. They are easily mixed up. The following is a brief chronology of China's dynasties:
Xia Dynasty 2100–1600 BCE
Shang Dynasty 1600–1046 BCE
Zhou Dynasty 1045–256 BCE
Western Zhou
Eastern Zhou
Spring and Autumn Period
Warring States Period
Qin Dynasty 221 BCE–206 BCE
Han Dynasty 206 BCE–220 CE
Western Han
Xin Dynasty
Eastern Han
Three Kingdoms 220–280
Wei, Shu & Wu
Jin Dynasty 265–420
Western Jin
Eastern Jin
Southern & Northern Dynasties 420–589
Sui Dynasty 581–618
Tang Dynasty 618–907
5 Dynasties & 10 Kingdoms 907–960
Song Dynasty 960–1279
Northern Song
Southern Song
Yuan Dynasty 1271–1368
Ming Dynasty 1368–1644
Qing Dynasty 1644–1911
Among the dynasties, Qin, Han, Tang, and Qing Dynasties are of greater significance in China’s history. Qin Dynasty is the first united feudal dynasty of China. Ying Zheng, the First Emperor of Qin, united China in 221 B.C. Ying Zheng made great contributions to the unity of China. He standardized Chinese written language, weights, measures, ethics, etc. He recruited thousands of people to rebuild the Great Wall, which to some degree helped to prevent invasion of foreign forces. The following Han Dynasty is extremely influential. It became the most powerful empire in the world under the lead of Emperor Wu of Han. And the famous Silk Road opened the trade between the west and the east, making China a world trading center. Tang Dynasty is considered as a golden age of Chinese power and prosperity, and a high point in culture and productivity. At the highest point of Tang power, Changan, now Xian, the capital city of Tang Dynasty was one of the greatest cities in the world. It was seven times the size of Byzantine, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. Qing Dynasty, the last feudal power of China, must be the most controversial one in China’s history. The reign of early Qing emperors from 1663 to 1796 was a period of great prosperity. But due to its seclusion from the outside world, where the stirring Industrial Revolution was taking place, and its disregard of new technology, it slowly declined. The late Qing Dynasty was a big shame of China. China was invaded, robbed, insulted by foreign forces, which caused the severe decline of China. China became powerless, poor and starved from then on.
Language
The native language of the Chinese people is the Han and the official spoken language is Mandarin (the Putonghua) with many regional dialects. Over 50 minority languages are spoken only by 6% of the population.
China is divided into seven main dialect zones : Northern (which is very akin to the official Mandarin), Wu (Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces), Min (Southeastern China), Cantonese (spoken in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau), Hakka (Fujian and Guangxi Provinces), Jiangxi and Hunan.
The native language of the Chinese people is the Han and the official spoken language is Mandarin (the Putonghua) with many regional dialects. Over 50 minority languages are spoken only by 6% of the population.
China is divided into seven main dialect zones : Northern (which is very akin to the official Mandarin), Wu (Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces), Min (Southeastern China), Cantonese (spoken in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau), Hakka (Fujian and Guangxi Provinces), Jiangxi and Hunan.
Ethnic Groups
China's diverse population serves up a variety of ethnic groups. The majority of the Chinese population is of Han ethnic descent, which makes up 92 percent of the population (1.2 billion), the remaining 8 percent are 55 minority groups. The Han have ruled China through most of its ancient history except during the Yuan Dynasty where the Mongols had control of China for less than 100 years and in the Qing Dynasty where the Manchu's held power for almost 300 years. The Qing Dynasty is responsible for solidifying China's boundaries in the early 17th Century.
The ethnic groups are Mongolian, Hui (called as Muslim People in Chinese), Tibetan, Uygur, Korean and Manchu, with other less populous minorities living all over China. Although most of the ethnicities can be seen as ethnic groups, the correspondence is not one to one. For example, many Hui are indistinguishable from Han Chinese except for the fact that they practice Islam. Conversely, Hakka are often thought of as an ethnic group, but they are generally considered members of the Han ethnicity.
With the Han Chinese makes up the vast majority of China's total population, the distribution is highly uneven with large parts of western China having Han Chinese as a minority. In certain areas, to some extent, people in ethnic groups are to be assimilated into Han Chinese culture and lifestyle.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the government has implemented favorable policies to the ethnic minorities. For example, the "One Child" policy doesn't affect them strictly as to the Han Chinese. Local People's Representative bodies are established in order to speed up the economic development in these remote regions. Since the 1950s, the growth rate of the ethnic minorities has been higher than that of the Han Chinese. The living standard of these groups has improved greatly as well.
China's diverse population serves up a variety of ethnic groups. The majority of the Chinese population is of Han ethnic descent, which makes up 92 percent of the population (1.2 billion), the remaining 8 percent are 55 minority groups. The Han have ruled China through most of its ancient history except during the Yuan Dynasty where the Mongols had control of China for less than 100 years and in the Qing Dynasty where the Manchu's held power for almost 300 years. The Qing Dynasty is responsible for solidifying China's boundaries in the early 17th Century.
The ethnic groups are Mongolian, Hui (called as Muslim People in Chinese), Tibetan, Uygur, Korean and Manchu, with other less populous minorities living all over China. Although most of the ethnicities can be seen as ethnic groups, the correspondence is not one to one. For example, many Hui are indistinguishable from Han Chinese except for the fact that they practice Islam. Conversely, Hakka are often thought of as an ethnic group, but they are generally considered members of the Han ethnicity.
With the Han Chinese makes up the vast majority of China's total population, the distribution is highly uneven with large parts of western China having Han Chinese as a minority. In certain areas, to some extent, people in ethnic groups are to be assimilated into Han Chinese culture and lifestyle.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the government has implemented favorable policies to the ethnic minorities. For example, the "One Child" policy doesn't affect them strictly as to the Han Chinese. Local People's Representative bodies are established in order to speed up the economic development in these remote regions. Since the 1950s, the growth rate of the ethnic minorities has been higher than that of the Han Chinese. The living standard of these groups has improved greatly as well.
Reform and Opening Policy
China now has become an influential power once again. Its surprisingly great economic growth results from the Reform and Opening Policy brought forward by Deng Xiaoping, who is considered the Great Designer of China. The Reform and Opening Policy was raised up in 1978 during the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee. It has been 30 years since 1978. During the 30 years, things have changed greatly. The living standard of Chinese people has been improved year by year. The peasants of China, especially, have greatly improved their life during the 30 years. And people’s thoughts have changed greatly, too. In the past, the Chinese were addicted to all kinds of superstitions and knew little about science. They were not aware of using law to protect themselves. But now with the improvement of education system, the Chinese people gradually get to know science and keep away from superstitions. They have learned to use law to protect their rights. They used to be extremely close-minded. They prefer sons to daughters. If a woman could not bear a son, her husband and parents-in-law would definitely despise her. But now, as the Chinese are having more chances to know the outside world, they become open-minded. Numerous families now have only a daughter and the parents care for their daughters. They never think that having a daughter instead of a son is unlucky.
Family Planning
The Family Planning of China is a controversial topic. Many foreigners argue that it is a violation of human rights. But in my opinion, it isn’t. The topmost aim of Family Planning is to have the massive population in control and improve the rearing of children. China has such a big population that every day the Chinese are faced up with the pressure, the problems caused by the big population. Imagine you have to compete with thousands upon thousands of people for jobs, living space, and bus ride, etc. every day without intervals. And before the Family Planning was carried out, the Chinese, especially people living in the countryside tended to bear 3-6 children. But not all the children were given opportunities to go to school resulting from poor economic condition. Young as they were, they had to follow their parents’ step to do farm work every day. The Family Planning controls the number of children in a family and makes the family focus on better rearing and educating the children. In the cities, the citizens are allowed to have a child while in the countryside the peasants are allowed to have 2 children. For Chinese minorities, couples of any ethnic minority group, whose population is below 10 million, can have 2 children. For the ethnic minorities in border areas or those whose population is smaller, they can have 3 children. In sparsely populated ethnic minority areas such as Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 4 children are allowed for each couple. And there is no specific restriction on the number of children for peasants and herdsmen in Tibet Autonomous Region.
Education System and Medical Care System
The Chinese Education System includes preschool education, primary education, secondary education and higher education. Primary education and junior secondary education are mandatory. The students in China are generally overburdened by task-based learning, though the government has been calling on the schools and parents to remove the burden of the children. Higher education in China is developing fast in China. Every year, the colleges expand enrollment, which enables more and more students to go to college for higher education.
The medical system in China is not that developed. People pay for their medical care with the help of hospitalization insurance. In the urban areas, people buy hospitalization insurance monthly. In rural area, New Rural Co-operative Medical Care System is adopted to make medical care more affordable for the rural poor. But a great number of people are still not able to afford the medical care. Currently, the government is planning to carry out a reform in the Medical Care System. Maybe it will help to refine Chinese Medical Care System.
The above is a brief introduction to China, not quite a comprehensive one. Hope it is helpful for you.
