Interestingly enough, Chinese culture defines what we now know as "Oriental Culture" (often referring to Asian - particularly East Asian - culture. Semblances of Japanese, Korean and Mongolian culture can be traced to the Chinese, from their cuisine to their clothes to their practices to even - most obvious of all - their cuneiform or character set for writing. As such, it is but fitting to delve into Chinese culture to grasp a picture of what life in East Asia is all about. It is also because of this fact that 90% of Hollywood films about Asia focus on China as its springboard, mainly because China is not only predominant in East Asia, but in Asia as a region.
Also, as a famous writer says, there are simply too many Chinese people. According to a recent survey, there are approximately 1.27 billion people residing in China as of 2001, not to mention the Chinese immigrants in the Americas, Canada, European countries, other Asian nations and not to mention, here in the Philippines. Thus, the study of China and its culture is very relevant in not only Asia, but in world studies as well.
Here are some unique aspects of Chinese culture that are even practiced by Chinoys (NOTE: All Chinese notes are in Fookinese, unless stated otherwise):.
Bound by Blood, Race & Culture.
These concepts are very much apparent in Chinese culture as the family remains the central and most basic domestic arena for Chinese life. As they say, "blood is thicker than water", and this holds very true for the Chinese. For Chinoys, Gender isn't really an issue in the family (as many mothers are out there being CEOs of family companies and other businesses) as compared to age. Family hierarchy is very important in Chinoy families. This leads to ancestral worship as seen in "death anniversary dinners" (tsue ki), the lighting and offering of incense in front of pictures of departed elders (pai hiu), and the observance of several holidays for the dead as seen in the Lunar calendar (Ghost Month).
