-PEOPLE-
 

Section 3
Customs

Every ethnic group in China has their own way of celebration, living, hunting, gathering, eating, drinking and even of dying.  The idea of religion in China has been oppressed since 1949, but many of the worlds religions are still observed and practiced, sometimes in complete secrecy.  There are, for example, more Jewish people living in China than in all of Israel; more Muslims than in all of the Middle- East and more Catholics than in all of eastern Europe.  This is just one example of the vast diversity of people living in China.  Unlike the Middle- East, though, the Jewish and the Muslims are not at war, nor are the Catholics and the Protestants.
Within each ethnic group, there can be dozens of religions practiced, even though there may only be a few thousand in that one group.
The divisions between each ethnic group are few, if any, and mostly due to land dispute.  A large portion of China's population seem to coexist very well without racism, bigotry, sexism, ageism.  Much of what the West makes of these types of divisions unto themselves stems from the 'look' of a particular ethnic group.  Black, Caucasian, Asian and Jewish are the terms for the majority of minorities in Western society, and thus either the presenter or receiver of racial intimidation.  In China, however, this is not the case.  The 'look' of different ethnic groups are defined by clothing, for the most part.  Racism can take the form of Manchu versus Han.  This is an old dispute dating back to the 17th century when the former conquered the latter to establish the Qing dynasty.
A Han cannot very easily distinguish a Manchu from another Han.  This is the main reason why the ethnic populations around the area can coexist in a relatively peaceful state.

../images/line3.gif

Section 2 | Chapter 9

../images/line.gif

BackHome

../images/line.gif

Copyright DateRichard R. Wertz