Table of Contents

Chapter One The Origin of Chinese Civilization 中国文化起源

1.1 Yellow River Valley Civilization

1.2 Chinese Mythology

1.3 Chinese Dragon

Chapter Two The Facts about China 中国概况

2.1 History of China

2.2 Geography of China

2.3 Chinese People

Chapter Three Chinese Language 中国语言

3.1 Chinese Language

3.2 Chinese Characters

3.3 Chinese Dialects

Chapter Four Chinese Philosophy 中国哲学

4.1 Conception of the Cosmos

4.2 Confucius and Confucianism

4.3 Laozi and Taoism

Chapter Five Ancient Chinese Education 中国传统教育

5.1 School System in Ancient Chinese Society

5.2 The Imperial Examination System

5.3 Comparison Between Ancient Chinese and Western Education

Chapter Six Chinese Literature 中国文学

6.1 Classical Poetry

6.2 Historical Books

6.3 Classical Novels

Chapter Seven Chinese Performing Arts 中国表演艺术

7.1 Chinese Opera

7.2 Chinese Quyi

7.3 Chinese Acrobatics

Chapter Eight Chinese Architecture 中国建筑

8.1 Civilian Housing

8.2 Classical Chinese Gardens

8.3 Imperial Palaces

Chapter Nine Traditional Chinese Festivals 中国节日

9.1 The Spring Festival

9.2 The Qingming Festival

9.3 The Dragon Boat Festival

Chapter Ten Chinese Food and Drinks 中国饮食

10.1 Chinese Food Culture

10.2 Chinese Cuisine

10.3 Chinese Liquor

Chapter Eleven Chinese Arts and Crafts 中国工艺品

11.1 Chinese Bronze Ware

11.2 Chinese Porcelain

11.3 Chinese Paper Cutting

Chapter Twelve Traditional Chinese Medicine 中国传统医学

12.1 TCM Theory

12.2 Chinese Materia Medica

12.3 Contrast Between TCM and Western Medicine

References

Appendix

 

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Abstract
Chapter One The Origin of Chinese Civilization 中国文化起源　　River valley civilization refers to an agricultural nation or civilization that is located on a river and derives its sustenance from the river. The river gives the inhabitants a reliable source of water for drinking and agriculture. The first great civilizations, such as Mesopotamia, ancient India and ancient Egypt, all developed in river valleys. Huanghe (Yellow River,黄河) civilization, is an ancient Chinese civilization that prospered in the middle and lower basin of the Yellow River. Agriculture was started on the flood plains of the Yellow River, and before long, through flood control and irrigation of the Yellow River, cities were developed and political power was reinforced. Some other rivers in China, such as the Yangtze River (长江) and the Zhujiang River (珠江)，also contributed to the development of Chinese civilization. Finally, Chinese culture has persisted continuously in this world as a great civilization.　　1.1 Yellow River Valley Civilization　　The Yellow River, the principal river in northern China, is the country’s second longest river—surpassed only by the Yangtze River. Its drainage basin is the third largest in China, covering approximately 750,000 km2. The river originates in the southern part of Qinghai Province on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and flows through six other provinces and two autonomous regions in its course before emptying into the Bohai Sea, an embayment of the Yellow Sea of the North Pacific Ocean.　　The Yellow River basin was the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilization. The basin, nurtured and sustained by the major rivers in northern China, has been the center of China for thousands of years. It is called the Yellow River because its water carries silt, which gives the river its yellow-brown color, and when the river overflows, it leaves a yellow residue behind, further cementing its name. While the river helps create fertile land suitable for farming, during certain times of the year, the Yellow River frequently overflows, and floods damage housing and crops across the North China Plain, an important agricultural region. For thousands of years, the Chinese have been building major public works to control floods and use water from the Yellow River for irrigation, such as hydroelectric dams in modern times. Despite the risk of flooding, the Yellow River basin is home to a huge population, and many of Chinas oldest cities are situated along its banks.　　It is hard to say exactly when villages and tribes began to appear in the Yellow River basin, but most scholars agree that a major consolidation of power took place from around 2070 BC to 1600 BC，marking the establishment of the Xia Dynasty. Da Yu (大禹）， a mythical figure who created systems to control floods in the Yellow River basin, is credited as the first emperor of the Xia Dynasty. With the ability to better control the Yellow River and save their crops from floods, Chinese rulers were able to consolidate their rule over China, and subsequently a number of dynasties headquartered in the region. The basin became the cultural, social and academic center of China. Therefore the Yellow River is often called “the cradle of Chinese civilization”.　　The Yellow River civilization originated in the Neolithic Age, a period characterized by the thriving of numerous regional cultures. Over time, some of these cultures merged, while others gradually declined. Despite these transformations, the Yellow River civilization continued to develop and strengthen. Through the integration and expansion of various cultures, it flourished during the Zhou Dynasty, significantly contributing to the unification of China. In terms of agriculture and technological advancements, the Yellow River civilization achieved remarkable feats, surpassing many of its contemporaries throughout the world.　　From the Xia and Shang dynasties to the Tang Dynasty, the Yellow River region remained the center of political, economic，, and cultural activities. Many ancient capitals were strategically located along the Yellow River, highlighting its pivotal role. Notable achievements in science and technology, such as the invention of the compass, which revolutionized navigation, and the development of advanced irrigation systems that significantly increased agricultural productivity, underscore the ingenuity of the Yellow River civilization. Handicrafts such as intricate pottery designs, luxurious silk fabrics, and elaborate bronze artifacts are also well-known and have become symbols of Chinese civilization. The written language that originated here has served as a vehicle for cultural transmission and laid the foundation for subsequent literary development. Renowned for these early accomplishments, the Yellow River civilization has laid the cornerstone for Chinese culture, philosophy, and governance, shaping the country's identity and influencing future generations.　　The Yellow River valley gave birth to the core elements of Chinese belief, such as the worship of ancestors and Heaven. Ancestor worship was deeply intertwined with the social structure of the time, with each tribe and dynasty organized around a patriarchal clan system. This practice reinforced blood ties, kinship ties, maintained family identity, and influenced power dynamics within the Yellow River civilization. To a large extent, ancestor worship involves rituals that maintain the integrity and continuity of the fundamental unit of Chinese society—the family. Moreover, these ancestral worship practices fostered a deeper sense of identity and intergenerational familial and geographical bonds. Meanwhile, the worship of Heaven cultivated a pervasive Chinese identity and gave rise to the concept of the Mandate of Heaven, which endowed the ruling emperor and dynasty with the divine right to govern as long as they maintained Heavens favor. This subsequently solidified the sense of a shared cultural and national identity among the people.　　The mighty Yellow River is the symbol of the Chinese nation. From the towering Kunlun Mountain to the immense Pacific Ocean, it passes through grasslands and deserts, splitting the Loess Plateau (黄土高原）and moistening the land. It is this melting pot of hundreds of rivers that breeds the brilliant Chinese culture, broadens the minds of the Chinese people, and nurtures the largest nation in the world—the Chinese nation.　　(Adapted from Travel China Guide, China Highlights and National Geographic websites.)　　……