Asian culture has always attracted people from all over the world.The cradle of civilization, the birthplace of the world's religions, gastronomic paradise - all this can be said about any country in this part of the world.And especially about China.It was made many discoveries, without which the modern world would look very different.Here, everyone is proud of its culture and history.Many of the great dynasties, wars and insurgencies, this powerful state was able to overcome all difficulties and to take one of the main places on the contemporary international scene.Only the most interesting thing about China, customs, culture and people of this country - the continuation of the article.
Language
Chinese is distinguished by its complexity.Any foreigner who wants in any way clear to speak to him, to be more than a year of hard work.Here are the features of this language may seem interesting to Europeans:
- in Russian language common expression "Chinese puzzle" and some others have equivalents.For example, in English it sounds like 'It is Greek to me'.In others, it's different.German expression refers to the difficulty of Spanish, Romanian - Turkish and Chinese stands out against the background, appealing to the bird language.
- Among the inhabitants of China and Vietnam are so many people who have perfect pitch.What is the reason?The thing is that the two tonal language, this means that the word can vary depending on how to speak.As Vietnamese and Chinese are used to it from childhood, and then hearing their well developed.
- name of the Chinese currency "yuan" means "round coin."Corresponding to this concept character "moved" in Korean and Japanese, where the name of money changed on the "Won" and "Yen", respectively.What is interesting
- China to foreigners, so it is their cultural differences.For example, in 1928, when the well-known all over the world, "Coca-Cola" appeared in the Chinese market, some entrepreneurs have decided to translate the name of the drink.Used for this character that most sounding similar to "Coca-Cola", they forget to take care of the sense of translation.The result is a title that can be translated into Russian as "bite the wax tadpole."Rebranding, of course, spectacular, yet marketers have decided to fix the name and just changed it to "co-ku-ko-le," which means "mouth full of happiness."
Gastronomy
While the whole of Europe the usual eating utensils, the Chinese remain faithful to its traditions, continuing to use the chopsticks.Since the density of the population here exceeds all possible limits, we have to adjust, using all possible and impossible products that are sometimes so surprising tourists.So, a few interesting facts about China and gastronomic preferences of its inhabitants:
- Few people know that the fortune cookies, which many people know how the Chinese, in fact, the Japanese!Particularly popular is the US, where he was brought by immigrants from Japan, borrowing an idea in their temples.Misconception about cookies appear, probably during the Second World War when Japanese Americans found themselves in concentration camps, and there is a tradition handed over to the Chinese.
- squeamish Chinese people are no different.The food here can convert almost all.However, no cost and without quite specific traditions.The city Dunja, for example, there is a tradition - cooking eggs in the urine of young boys.Dish, so unusual for the West, may be prepared up to a day, and, allegedly residents smell spring.
- Cooking in this country has reached and crocodiles.Not only does one make the bags, so they are still forced to guard the house, and then eat.Since local gourmets love crocodile meat, that are actively engaged in catch reptiles.Since a large crocodile difficult to catch, catch them mostly young and fattened, keeping them at the entrance to the house, making the animal is actually a security guard.But the sad fate of the watchdog does not shy away from a crocodile and a tail when it reaches the desired length, it becomes dinner omnivorous Chinese.
- Soup "Swallow's Nest", despite its name, no relation to these birds has.And they do it not because of the birds, and the use of swifts nest, which are made from the saliva.
little about gloomy
Speaking of interesting facts about China, not to mention the relation of the inhabitants of the Asian country to death and excessive superstition.
- So, in many countries is considered an unlucky number 13, and for this there is a fear of even the name, as in some Eastern countries fear the numbers 4. Why?Just in Japanese, Korean and Chinese number 4 on the sound resembles the word "death."There are often even absent floors, rooms ending in 4.
- In China, there is a tradition to burn paper money drawn at the funeral.Where it has its roots?The fact is that the Chinese see the afterlife as a place where spirits dwell.Once in hell, the dead have to give him a bribe to the governor, to avoid punishment.Therefore, people who come to the funeral, burn-drawn notes to "pass" to the spirit of the deceased.Often they are portrayed traditional symbols such as a dragon.Although in recent years and can often find images of famous personalities.Often there are Einstein and Marilyn Monroe.
briefly about China.Interesting facts for kids
- Many scientists believe that the Chinese civilization - the oldest in the world.And rightly so!There are cultural monuments that date back to the 6th century BC.e.
- Despite the fact that the territory of this state is huge, it is only one time zone.
- Here invented toilet paper in 1300.However, initially it was allowed to use only the members of the imperial family.
- China is home to not only the toilet paper, but many varieties of fruits and flowers, which is now distributed worldwide.
- As often as in Russia pets are cats and dogs in China this role crickets.Children even arrange fights with these insects.
- telling interesting facts about China, it should be noted that the most popular hobby among the Chinese - a philately.
- mourning are considered white, not black, as in all European countries.
- China deserves praise for his invention, and ice cream, the recipe of which came to Europe with the help of Marco Polo.
- suspension bridge, like many others, including the compass, printing and gunpowder, too, came from the Asian country.However, here they appeared in 25 BC.e., and in Europe they were 1,800 years later.
- symbol of prosperity and good luck in this country - a bat.
- And, of course, not to mention the most important festival, which is a new year.
History of China.Some interesting
interesting events took place during the formation of the state.Today, it is certainly a prosperous country, but what is remarkable happened on the way of its formation?
- important historical event for China, which adversely affected it was the kidnapping of insects!The Byzantine emperor Justinian I sent two monks who had to learn the secret of creating silk, famed for China in the 6th century.They managed to take with them silkworm larvae, which then successfully landed on the mulberry trees.This event contributed to the prosperity of Byzantium, but the position of China and Persia, on the contrary, shattered.
- The recent history of China, too, is full of unusual facts.For example, an unknown Chinese man appeared in the list of most influential people of the 20th century, which was the magazine Time.In 1989 there was a demonstration in Beijing, which killed several hundred people.It might die a lot more if it were not a courageous man, who managed to hold their own column of tanks.Unfortunately, his personality, however, as what was all over for him on that day, it remains a secret, though his picture printed newspapers around the world.
China is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, which has no less than 5 millennia.There are even written sources, the age of which reaches 3.5 million years.Archaeologists believe that the ancestors of modern Chinese are Sinanthropus, who lived about 400 thousand years ago.
first Chinese civilization
China's development in the Neolithic period is divided into two main stages.The first is represented by the Yangshao culture (3-2 thousand. BC. E.), Whose existence is confirmed by the discovery of ceramics.Second - Longshan - from which one can see many dishes very fine work.
Dynasty
For several centuries ago on the territory of modern China appeared dynasty.The very first of these is the Xia, whose founder was Yu.Center dynasty was in Henan Province, although it is believed that his influence extended to other regions.Over time, the power of the emperors was reduced, and the powers of the sovereign began to apply only to spiritual guidance.A very important role during the Xia Dynasty played a calendar, which was struck by a millennium later, Confucius.As soon as the emperors began to neglect their spiritual duties dynasty went into decline.Soon, however, the new born.
modern country China was created under the influence of Yin Shang dynasty, which includes about 30 rulers.It featured totemism and matriarchal type of power.More significant was considered the goddess of the earth, rather than the god of the sky.The territory of the state located on a significant part of modern China, and has been divided into regions.A representative of each of them was supposed to appear periodically in the palace of the emperor with gifts to honor him.
Next was the Zhou Dynasty, which toppled the rulers of the Shang-Yin.Subsequently, and this state is in the territory of almost the entire basin of the Yellow River, was divided into a number of others who are constantly competing with each other.
Chinese empire
In the period from 221 to 207 BC.e.came to power, the Qin Dynasty, which managed to unite disparate territory together.It is now well affected the entire territory of the modern state of China.The most interesting thing happened with the formation and development of the empire.The feudal system was destroyed, and transport, on the contrary, developed.During this period, developed economy, trade and agricultural products.However, the dynasty lasted only 10 years old and died, along with their ruler, after the state began flashing a fierce rebellion.
replaced by the Han dynasty, which marked the crisis and wars.Over time, the emperors of the right, and has gained popularity among the people Confucianism.Later, however, came to power the Sui Dynasty, during which was built by the Grand Canal.However, the constant wars and strife neighboring provinces depleted coffers.
considering interesting facts about China, we can not talk about the Tang Dynasty, which was able to establish the relative peace and stability in the country.During this period, special flourished art and culture.This was taken care of many of the rulers of the dynasty.It was a powerful state, which is actively developing not only art, but also science and religion.However, the rulers could not take care of the army and soon due to constant riots toppled the dynasty.A number of other dynasties were in power in the territory, including the Yuan, Ming and Qing.
New History
important period in the development of the state was the 18th century, when much developed international relations, and many Europeans would find interesting about China, its traditions and the people, because it was possible to buy the best silk, porcelain and much more.A little later there was a war with Japan, which resulted in lost China Taiwan, Korea and the Pescadores.Last Qing dynasty fell in 1911, and a year later the state was proclaimed a constitutional republic.Later, Beijing announced the country's capital.
In 1917, China enters the First World War, wishing to bring back lands taken by Japan.But support from allied countries he gets.Then "at the helm" of the state it is the Communist Party and one of its leading advocates Mao Zedong, one of the most prominent leaders of all time, made a lot of changes in the state.Disunity countries have tried to eliminate a number of rulers, but to no avail.Since then, China has passed the civil and the Korean War, in the state there have been many reforms, and the economy was restored.
results
cradle of civilization - it is definitely China.Interesting facts for children and adults, as well as a brief digression, which were presented above give only a faint idea of how strong the effect of this state has had on the world in the past and continues to until now.There simply was not made many useful discoveries, there is born of religion, an incredible civilization and traditions that survived centuries.Attractions in China, of which the most famous - is the Wall each year attract many tourists and for good reason.People are always beckon mysterious, ancient and great civilization.Interesting facts about China are only a keyhole in the door, behind which is hidden a world different from Europe, but such attractive and full of mysteries.