Chinese Culture and Traditions

This section has pages covering all sorts of Chinese customs and traditions. We are continuing to add more pages to this section.

Culture Index- Festivals - New Year - Calendar 2018 - Customs - Religion - Ancestor veneration - Confucius - Daoism - Buddhism - Christianity - Islam - Women - Astrology - Stars - Feng Shui - Qi - Yi Jing - Dragons - Symbolism - Bird symbols - Animal symbols - Flowers and Fruit symbols - Color symbols - Nature symbols - Assorted symbols - Architecture - T'ai Chi - Name for China - Chess - Go - Mahjong - Inventions - Exams - Medicine - Rice - Food - Tea - Silk - Performance - Opera - Music - Jade - Porcelain - Kites - Torture - Weights & measures - Money

Traditional Chinese calendar

Culture

The traditional Chinese calendar is still used to determine the date of some festivals, and in particular the most important one - Chinese New Year. Our calendar shows each month with both Chinese and Western calendar information together with all the important anniversaries occurring on each day and the whole year. Read more…

Quintessence of the Nation

Culture

Traditional Chinese Opera was the entertainment of all Chinese over many centuries. A long evening performance contains elements of drama, music, comedy, acrobatics and martial arts. Each region has its own distinctive form. Over time complex movements have been given specific meanings as a very sparse set is used - open on three sides. The art form has inspired many Western composers to emulate the style. Read more…

Fish for good fortune

Culture

Fish (渔 yú) have been a frequently used symbol for good fortune for centuries. This is because 余 yú means 'surplus; abundance' and so a picture of a fish is a wish for prosperity. They are often eaten at Chinese New Year partly as a symbol for a wish for abundance in the coming year. Read more…

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Chinese Tortures

Culture

China since early Imperial times has had a system of brutal punishments for crime. Torture was routinely used to extract a confession and there was no defence attorney to help you. For high treason a particularly gruesome and painful death was devised - death by a thousand cuts. Even today China uses the death penalty more frequently than the rest of the world put together. Read more…

Symbols and Motifs

Culture

Chinese arts and handicrafts are full of hidden symbols. Bats, goldfish, peonies and bees all give a specific meaning to a painting or decoration. Exploring the world of Chinese symbolism opens up a whole new layer of appreciation. Read more…

The ancient art of Chinese Calligraphy

Language

The Chinese language is a treasure trove of history and traditions. This is not all that surprising as the language script has been in use for the past 4,000 years. Fine historic pieces by the great masters continue to achieve as high a price at auction as a great painting.. To appreciate Chinese writing it is important to know how the characters are made with the brush. Our page on brush strokes lets you learn how to write in Chinese calligraphy .A good piece of calligraphy fetches Read more…

Great Inventions

Culture

The four great Chinese inventions are considered to be: paper; printing; compass and gunpowder. Other key inventions include the abacus, iron casting, pasta, silk etc.. However the production of paper and then printing must be considered the most important of these. Read more…

Jade - China's precious gemstone

Culture

Jade is highly valued in China, and much of Asia, above gold and diamonds. The gemstone that is harder than steel can be carved into exquisite shapes. Read more…

China A to Z

Covers etiquette, traditions and a fair bit more: film stars, history summary. A very useful guide to anyone moving to China and wanting a quick introduction to the culture. Written by Chinese authors so this is authentic information.
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