m

 
 

 
mm 
   


 

Submitted By:
Smit Kumar
Roll No. 214094
 m m
 m

m

r China, an ancient, mysterious and beautiful land

r As the third largest country in the world occupying an area of 9,600,000 sq km,
it spans 62 degrees of longitude and 49 degrees of latitude
r Abundant in a variety of resources, plants, animals, and minerals
r One of China's greatest treasures is her long, rich history
r On October 1st, 1949, modern China was founded as the 'People's Republic of China'.
r greatest gifts to the world are the four greatest inventions (paper, gunpowder, printing and
the compass).
r Chinese arts and crafts, including painting, calligraphy, operas, embroidery and silk are
distinctive and unique.
r Martial arts, which have only recently begun to enjoy popularity in other parts of the
world have been part of Chinese culture for centuries
r Chinese literature is testifies to the country's rich heritage
m 

r „ull Name: The People's Republic of China
r Temple of Heaven in Beijing
r Area: 9,600,000 sq km
r Population: 1.3 billion (as of 2004)
r Capital City: Beijing
r National „lag: „ive-Stars-Red-„lag
r Main Religions and Beliefs: officially atheist,
r Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam (over 22
million), Catholicism (over 4 million) and Protestantism
(over 10 million)
r Currency and Monetary Unit : Renminbi/Yuan
r Chinese President: Hu Jintao
  




pdentity
r -6 distinct recognized
Regional
r Traditional Chinese Culture covers large geographical territories, where each
region is usually divided into distinct sub-cultures. Each region is often
represented by three ancestral items.
Society
r ›old detailing on a throne used by the Qianlong Emperor. The Chinese dragon
was a symbol reserved for the Emperor of China
ralues
r Most social values are derived from Confucianism and Taoism. The subject
of which school was the most influential is always debated as many
concepts such as Neo-Confucianism, Buddhism and many others have come
about. Reincarnation and other rebirth concept is a reminder of the
connection between real-life and the after-life.
6

manguage
r The ancient written standard was Classical Chinese
r first 4,000 years of Spoken Chinese encompassed both Old Chinese and Middle
Chinese, after which it began to split into various dialects and languages about
1,000 years ago
r ancient written standard was Classical Chinesewas used for thousands of years,
but was mostly reserved for scholars and intellectuals
Mythology and spirituality
r the supreme god Shang Di
r . A large part of Chinese culture is based on the notion that a spiritual world
exists
r , some of the most recognized holy figures include ›uan Yin, Jade Emperor
and Buddha
r Martial arts
r China is one of the main birth places of Eastern martial
arts
r names of martial arts were called Kung „u or its first
name Wushu
r The first generation of art started more for the purpose of
survival and warfare than art
r The arts have also co-existed with a variety of weapons
including the more standard 18 arms.

m m
r mocated in Southeast Asia along the coastline of the
Pacific Ocean
r China is the world's third largest country, after Russia
and Canada.
r With an area of 9.6 million square kilometers and a
coastline of 18,000 kilometers, its shape on the map is
like a rooster.
r -0 degrees of latitude and 62 degrees of longitude.
r China is bordered by 14 countries -- Korea, Vietnam,
maos, Burma, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan,
Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakstan,
Mongolia, and Russia.
r Marine-side neighbors include eight countries -- North
Korea, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia,
Malaysia and Vietnam.
 
m m

r The vast land expanses of China include plateaus, plains, basins,
foothills, and mountains.
r Defining rugged plateaus, foothills and mountains as mountainous,
they occupy nearly two-thirds of the land, higher in the West and
lower in the East like a three-step ladder.
r . The highest peak in the world, Everest, at 8844.43 meters high is
known as 'the Roof of the World'.
r On the second step are large basins and plateaus, most of which are
1,000 - 2,000 meters high. The Daxing'an, Taihang, Wu and Xuefeng
Mountains divide this step and the next lower one
r The third step, abundant in broad plains, is dotted with the foothills
and lower mountains, with altitudes of over -00 meters. Here are
located famous plains: the Northeast, the North China, and the
Middle-mower Yangtze Plains, neighboring with each other from
north to south.
r These well-cultivated and fertile lands produce abundant crops.
m  
r the physical features are as described, people tend to
divide China into four regions, that is, the North, South,
Northwest and the Qinghai-Tibetan areas. Because of
geographical differences, residents of each region have
distinctive life styles and customs.

„ertile Plain Picturesque mi River

r North and South regions are located in the Eastern
monsoon area and are divided by the Qin Mountains-
Huai River
r Northwest and Qinghai-Tibetan regions that occupy --
percent of the land, have fewer people, although most of
the ethnic groups cluster there
Rivers and makes
r more than -0,000 rivers
r rivers can also be classified as exterior and interior rivers
r The Yangtze, the longest in China and even in Asia, is the third-
longest in the world.
r The Yellow River, 'Mother River of the Chinese People', is just
behind the Yangtze, both flowing into the Pacific Ocean.

Yangtze River Qinghai make

r makes are also important
r Many lakes in the northwest are salty. Qinghai make, a
beautiful natural salt-water lake, is the largest.
r In southeast China, most lakes are fresh water. Poyang
make, Dongting make , and Taihu make are all fresh water
lakes.
r These provide China with precious resources such as
aquatic products, petroleum, natural gas, mines and
renewable resources including tide power.

m

r China has large areas of mountainous land, about two-
thirds of the country.
r The ranges mainly run from east to west and from
northeast to southwest.
r Out of the mountains throughout the world at the altitude
of over 7,000 meters, over -0 stand in China.
r To the east in China, lower mountains like Mt. Taishan,
Mt. Huashan, and Mt. Emeishan, also display their
unique beauty.
r they hide rich treasures including botanic, zoologic, and
mineral resources.

  mm    
r China has the world's largest population.
r Chinese descend from Yan Di and Huang Di, the two mythical
kings or chieftains who had ruled the land 4,400 years ago.
r The tempered Chinese national characteristics emerged after
three subsequent dynasties: the Xia, the Shang, and the Zhou.
The turmoil endured by people during the Spring and Autumn
Period and the Warring States led to a common desire for a
unified country.
r Emperor Qin Shi Huang ruled as the first emperor, with Han
tribes forming the nucleus of a united China. But the name
Han is associated with the Western Han Dynasty that came
after the first emperor's reign.
r Another unsettling period arrived with the Three Kingdoms,
Western and Eastern Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties.
The Chinese nation had finally emerged.
Πin Shi Huang -Emperor of in Dynasty)Πmiu Bang-Emperor of Han Dynasty)
  
m
r Chinese society has progressed through five major stages
- Primitive Society, Slave Society, „eudal Society, Semi-
feudal and Semi-colonial Society, and Socialist Society.
r The rise and fall of the great dynasties forms a thread
that runs through Chinese history, almost from the
beginning. Since the founding of the People's Republic
of China on October 1st, 1949, China has become a
socialist society and become stronger and stronger.
   
m
r Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism are the three major
religions in China, although it is true to say that
Confucianism is a school of philosophy rather than a
religion
r ›enerally speaking, Chinese people do not have a strong
religious inclination
r The fact that Confucianism is a philosophy rather than
religion meant that it became the orthodox doctrine for
Chinese intellectuals in the days of the feudalist society
r Many people say they are Buddhists yet have never read
the sutras.
r Most people will say they believe in gods, destiny, fate,
luck and an afterlife.
r Even so, on most occasions, rather than rely on prayer,
people will make decisions all by themselves or resort to
either family or friends for help.

    
r With thousands of years' development, Chinese cuisine
and drink are indispensable to Chinese culture, presently
enjoying world-wide fame and a positive reputation.
r Chinese intellectuals have created countless dishes with
apt names, aromas, flavors and colors, greatly enhancing
the dining experience.
r Chinese Tea

r Chinese tea is regarded as an exquisite art form that

requires sampling. Now it has become the national drink
and one of the three soft drinks in the world (the other
two are coffee and cocoa).
r It is from China that the tea planting techniques,
processing, drinking methods and tea ceremony were
directly or indirectly introduced to the world. So China is
regarded proudly as the hometown of tea
r Chinese tea sets mainly include teacup, teapot and tea
saucer. Their materials differ in porcelain, pottery,
lacquer ware, glass, bamboo and wooden fish stone.

  
6
   6
 

r Just as the ingredients of each dish and presentation is

important, table manners and courtesy among diners are
very much part of the Chinese cultural tradition.
r To see even the smallest child eat with such dexterity is
quite amazing for many foreigners. The use of two
simple sticks in this way is an art in itself and chopsticks
have determined the way in which Chinese food is
presented at table.
r Only by combining excellent food with good manners
can the high art of Chinese cuisine be truly enjoyed to
the full.

  m

   

r China was one of first countries to have a medical
culture. In comparison with Western medicine, the
Chinese method takes a far different approach.
r With a history of -,000 years, it has formed a deep and
immense knowledge of medical science, theory,
diagnostic methods, prescriptions and cures.
r It is a wonder that Chinese doctors could cure countless
patients without any assistant apparatus but only a physical
examination.
r The four methods of diagnosis consist of observation,
auscultation and olfaction, interrogation, pulse taking and
palpation.
r Observation indicates that doctors directly watch the outward
appearance to know a patient's condition
r Auscultation and olfaction is a way for doctors to collect
messages through hearing the sound and smelling the odor.
r Interrogation suggests that doctors question the patient and his
relatives, so as to know the symptoms
r The taking of the pulse and palpation refer that doctors noting
the pulse condition of patients on the radial artery, and then to
know the inner change of symptom. Doctors believe that
when the organic function is normal, the pulse, frequency, and
intension of pulse will be relatively stable, and when not,
variant.
r ›inseng Hawksbill turtle's shell

  m m
m

r The arts and crafts are not only the embodiment of the
people's longing for aesthetic beauty for themselves and
as gifts for others, but also great treasures for China and
the rest of the world.
r The result being that they are the most valuable treasures
both for a family and for the nation.
r , the most representative are Bronze Vessels, „olk Toys,
Embroidery, Calligraphy, Music, Opera, Painting,
Cloisonne, Jade, Kites, macquer Ware, Paper-Cuttings,
Porcelain, Pottery, Seals, and Silk. They are not only a
vivid reflection of Chinese culture but also the
embodiment of both the Chinese people, and of the
nation itself.
 m 
m
r Chinese people legally enjoy over 11- days off including
104 days of weekends and 11 days of festivals.
r Employees have - to 1- days of paid annual leave.
Students and teachers have summer and winter vacations
for about three months.
r The summer vacation in China generally starts around
July 1st and ends around August 31st, and the winter
vacation usually falls on January or „ebrury according to
the date of the Spring „estival.

  m
r The people of China have a long held belief that they are
descendents of the dragon, a tradition that is firmly
embedded in their culture and one that is encountered
across all aspects of Chinese society and in the minds of
its people.
r Whereas in western cultures dragons are usually
regarded as a symbol of malevolence, in China the
dragon is held in high esteem for its dignity and power
for good.
    m 


 

r It was said that the dragon had nine sons, each of whom
was endowed with a unique supernatural power. These
appear in many aspects of art as well as forming part of
daily life.
 m


mm  
  m 
r The dragon, phoenix, tortoise, and kylin
are the four most revered animals of
ancient China.
r Of these only the tortoise is real, the
others being entirely fictitious; each was a
symbol of good fortune and this is why
people paid them so much respect.
r The phoenix is splendid and regarded as
the king of birds.
r The tortoise is one of the animals that has
endured longest on earth and as such is a
symbol of longevity and wealth
r The kylin has a compound appearance with dragon's
head, antlers, horse's hoofs, an oxtail, wolf's forehead
and a colorful scute. It is lively, intelligent, and gentle,
but valorous to ward off devils. It is the custom in some
regions for people to believe that the kylin will give them
a son. So a common theme in paper-cut works and
paintings is for this mythical beast to be shown carrying
a plump baby.

 m   m


m
r ëaper Making

r Gunpowder

r ërinting Technique
r Compass

m mm m 


r Martial Arts are traditional Chinese sports which hav e
developed over a long historical period. In order to
survive the extremely hostile environment, our primitive
Chinese ancestors learned some primary means of attack
and defence such as leaping, tumbling and kicking.
r they generally knew how to fight with weapons made
from stones and wood or bare-hand fighting. This is
considered to be the origin of martial arts.
r The movements in martial art include kick, boxing,
wresting and seizing, which are performed by rules.
Sects of martial arts are various
 m mm m
m

  mm


r a marriage would be decided not by a young couple's
love, but by their parents' desires. Only after a
matchmaker's introduction and when parents considered
the two family conditions were similar and could be
matched,
r If a boy's family was well-off or an official family, his
parents would never permit him to marry a girl from a
poor family
r Proposing: when a boy's parents intended to make a
match, they would invite a matchmaker to propose with
them at the girl's home. It was the custom that the first
time matchmaker went as a guest they could not be
served tea in order not to 'lighten the marriage'. If the
proposal was successful, however, the matchmaker
(usually a woman) would be rewarded with profuse gifts
and feasts to show the two families' gratitude. Many
unmarried young people could not see and were
unfamiliar with each other till their wedding day.
r full name and birthday, Birthday
Matching: after knowing the girl's they
would ask a fortune teller to predict
whether that could match their son's
and whether there would be a happy
marriage. The Chinese zodiac would
be surely taken into consideration.