Chinese People and Their Lifestyle
China is the most populous country in the world and also a multi-national country. There are 56 ethnic groups in the country. The largest population among them is Han Chinese making up nearly 92% of the population. Major ethnic minorities are Zhuang, Mongolian, Hui, Miao, Dong, Uygur, Manchu, Tibetan and Yao.
Currently China’s population is over 1.3 billion, which is almost 20% of the whole world’s population. Government very concerned about its population growth and has attempted, with mixed results to implement a strict family planning policy. The government's goal is one child per family, with some exceptions for ethnic minorities and flexibility in rural areas.
Currently China’s population is over 1.3 billion, which is almost 20% of the whole world’s population. Government very concerned about its population growth and has attempted, with mixed results to implement a strict family planning policy. The government's goal is one child per family, with some exceptions for ethnic minorities and flexibility in rural areas.
LANGUAGES OF CHINA
Standard Mandarin language is the official language of People’s Republic of China. Mandarin is also the most spoken language if China (spoken by over 70% of the population. Other spoken languages include Wu, Yue (Cantonese), Min, Xiang, Gan, and Hakka. Non-Sinitic languages spoken widely by ethnic minorities include Zhuang (Thai), Mongolian, Tibetan, Uyghur (Turkic), Hmong and Korean.
RELIGION
There is no one prevalent religion in China. Buddhism remains the most popular single religion in China since its introduction in the 1st century from India and Central Asia. Buddhism is the largest organized faith in China and the country has the most Buddhist followers in the world. Many Chinese, however, identify themselves as both Taoist and Buddhist at the same time.
Taoism is an indigenous religion of China and is considered a folk religion of China. Popular Taoist ideas include Feng Shui, Sun Tzu's Art of War, and acupuncture.
Islam in China dates to 651, 18 years after Muhammad's death. Muslims came to China for trade, dominating the import/export industry during the Song Dynasty.
Judaism in China dates to as early as the 7th or 8th century CE. In the first half of the 20th century, many Jews arrived in Shanghai and Hong Kong during those cities' periods of economic expansion, seeking refuge from the Holocaust.
Christianity began to make significant movements in China after the 16th century and has been a growing minority religion for over 200 years. Growth has been more significant since the loosening of restrictions on religion after the 1970s within the People's Republic.
With so many beliefs China has plenty of religious artefacts including world's highest statues, and even the highest one amongst all. Most of them represent Buddhas, deities and religious personalities and have been built in the 2000s. The world's tallest statue is the Spring Temple Buddha, located in Henan. Recently built in the country are also the world's tallest pagoda and the world's tallest stupa.
Taoism is an indigenous religion of China and is considered a folk religion of China. Popular Taoist ideas include Feng Shui, Sun Tzu's Art of War, and acupuncture.
Islam in China dates to 651, 18 years after Muhammad's death. Muslims came to China for trade, dominating the import/export industry during the Song Dynasty.
Judaism in China dates to as early as the 7th or 8th century CE. In the first half of the 20th century, many Jews arrived in Shanghai and Hong Kong during those cities' periods of economic expansion, seeking refuge from the Holocaust.
Christianity began to make significant movements in China after the 16th century and has been a growing minority religion for over 200 years. Growth has been more significant since the loosening of restrictions on religion after the 1970s within the People's Republic.
With so many beliefs China has plenty of religious artefacts including world's highest statues, and even the highest one amongst all. Most of them represent Buddhas, deities and religious personalities and have been built in the 2000s. The world's tallest statue is the Spring Temple Buddha, located in Henan. Recently built in the country are also the world's tallest pagoda and the world's tallest stupa.