Overview of Chinese
Chinese refers to the Chinese language, which is a group of related, but in many cases mutually unintelligible, language varieties, forming the Sinitic branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. The term "Chinese" also relates to various aspects of Chinese culture, history, and the ethnic groups of China.
Language
- Mandarin Chinese: The most widely spoken variety, often referred to simply as Mandarin, it is the official language of the People's Republic of China, Republic of China (Taiwan), and one of the four official languages of Singapore.
- Varieties: Other major varieties include Cantonese, Wu (Shanghainese), Min (including Hokkien and Teochew), Xiang, Gan, and Hakka.
- Writing System: Traditionally, Chinese characters were used, but with Simplified Chinese characters introduced in mainland China in the 1950s to promote literacy. Traditional characters are still used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.
- Pinyin: A system of Romanization for Mandarin, used internationally to teach and learn the language.
History
The Chinese civilization has a history stretching back over 4,000 years. Key historical periods include:
- Ancient China: From the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE) known for its oracle bone inscriptions, to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) which established many aspects of Chinese culture, philosophy, and bureaucracy.
- Imperial Era: Encompassing numerous dynasties like the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing, this era saw significant developments in art, literature, science, and governance.
- Modern Era: Marked by the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, which ended over 2,000 years of imperial rule, leading to the establishment of the Republic of China and later the People's Republic of China in 1949 after the Chinese Civil War.
Culture
Chinese culture is incredibly rich and diverse, influencing and being influenced by numerous other cultures throughout history:
Sources
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