初中英语作文范文10篇关于传统文化（最新20篇）

Cartoon is my favorite thing. every day when i get home, the first thing i do is to open the tv and watch the cartoons. maybe someone would think that watching cartoons is a so naive thing, but i dont think so.

Cartoons refer to many things, containing some profound thought, which often makes me think about it a lot.

To conclude, i love watching cartoons. cartoons give me happiness and cause me to think deeply.

In my life I have met many people who are really worth mentioning.But perhaps the most unforgettable person I have ever known is my English Teacher.

It is his special quality that is always kept in my memory.

For one thing,I was attracked by his wide range of knowledge.I remember that we students always attended his class with great eaherness because his lectures were humourously delivered,and he never failed to give us valuable advice.Nothing seemed difficult to learn after his explanation.

For another,I was deeply impressed by the respect he showed for us.As he treated us like friends rather than students,we all liked to visit his home for social activities as well as for advice.

Although it is over a year now since I attended his last class,he is the talk of our old classmates,and I know part of him has already stayed in my heart.

I remember once upon a time, when I was running 800meters, I felt there

seemed to be the impossible mission for me, I wanted to give up, then my teacher

told me that I should not think about the 800meters, I should set up 100meters

for myself, then I wouldn’t be so tired. I did as he told me, indeed, every time

when I finished the small goal, I was happy, in the end, I finished the running.

I learn the lesson that we need to set up the best goal, it means we can make

the small goals, which are so easy for us to realize. Then every time we finish

the small goal, we will close to our final destination.

大年三十那天有很多习俗，如放鞭炮，吃团圆饭，看春节联欢晚会……我却唯独喜欢贴春联。

大年三十早上，我和爸爸一起去超市买过年的商品，有过年的鞭炮，美味的蛋糕、一大堆的零食……还买了一幅春联和两个福字。啊，这下我可高兴了，我回家要马上把它们贴好。

回到家里，我找来剪刀和双面胶，马上拿起那幅春联小心翼翼地贴在大门上，又拿起两个福字端端正正地贴在大门的左右两边。爸爸出来看见了，连忙说：儿子，你把春联贴反了，春联的上联要贴在右边，下联要贴在左边，因为古人写字时都是从右写到左的。福字也贴错了，要倒着贴。表示福要来到我们家。哦，我恍然大悟，原来贴个春联也有这么多学问，今天我又学到了不少知识，我和爸爸又认认真真地把春联和福字重新贴了一番。

贴好了，我站在大门前仔细端详着春联。红红的纸上写着几个苍劲有力的大字，上联是：人和家和万事兴，下联是：财旺业旺千家乐，横批是：万事如意。寓意着全家新年快乐，身体健康，工作顺利！就像横批所说的那样，祝我们全家万事如意！两个金色的倒福字象征着福要到来了啦……

我喜欢过春节，更喜欢贴春联！

腰鼓是民间的传统文化，它在陕北最为流行，属于打击乐的一种。腰鼓两端略细，中间稍粗，两面蒙皮，是挂在身上敲的。

腰鼓在民间十分流行。人们跳着腰鼓舞，变换队形。扭秧歌的.时候，每次都要跳腰鼓舞，腰鼓舞最初流行在陕西，后来在全国发展流行。现在，腰鼓舞已经在许多大城市的村民中跳腰鼓舞。主要是用来娱乐，同时也是一种业余生活。陕北有腰鼓非常有名，在我国有悠久的历史。在一些主要流行地区，几乎是家家户户都有鼓手。因为人太多，所以舞蹈的基本动作大致相同。但在一些不同地区，形成了风格不同的习俗。

腰鼓一代接一代的流传下去，成为了我们流行的打击乐器，每年的元宵节，我最喜欢看的节目就是那些爷爷奶奶打击腰鼓的节目。

剪纸、雕塑、戏曲都是我国的传统文化，其中最为著名的戏曲当属京剧。

京剧的前身是安徽剧，通称黄皮戏。清乾隆五十年起，相继进入北京演出，同时吸收了汉调、秦腔、昆曲的部分剧目。曲调和表演方法，融合演变成一种新的声腔，更为悦耳动听，称为“京调”，现在我们称为京剧。

在我们家，爷爷和爸爸都非常喜欢京剧。每到周末时，中央电视台戏曲频道都会播放京剧节目，我们都会准时来收看，丰富的唱腔字正腔圆，京胡锣鼓的伴奏时而铿锵有力，时而委婉动听。

我特别喜欢京剧的脸谱，脸谱是京剧表演者脸上的绘画，用于舞台演出的化妆造型艺术。为此我在美术班专门向老师请教，学会了很多脸谱的画法，比如曹操的白脸，张飞的黑十字门蝴蝶，关羽的红脸，窦尔墩的蓝花三块瓦脸。

京剧是中国戏曲的瑰宝，希望大家都能够喜欢它，祝愿它继续发扬光大，成为我们的文化生活。

My winter holiday was very interesting.as that day I got back to my native hometown,cousins and cousines took me to ski.My skiing skill isnt well,got down for 15 times,they laughed at me behind,I cant help smiling too.

The day of spring festival was the most happiness day,we had meal for the first,a table of delicious food,that made me so glad.then we played the fireworks.The childrens waving the lightening ticket while watching the adults playing the fireworks.that was so beautiful!like the stars rainning down the world.at the end,it was time to get the red bag.

We were very exciting,and satisfied.sometimes,we also go shopping and buying something we like.

Winter holiday life was really abundant!

中华传统文化，源远流长，从古至今，从现代追溯五千年的.历史。传统文化顾名思义，就是从古代一直流传至今的文化，这些文化都是古人，我们的失人，从他们身上演变而来的。比如，屈原是清明节的代表，屈原如果穿越到现在，绝对会是一位伟大烈士，供在中国最大的烈士陵园。

由于屈老的坚贞不屈，为国为民，不畏强权，誓死不做卖国的，宁可跳入江中牺牲自己的性命，也不会为了一点小利益，而出卖国家出卖自己的人格，不会践踏自己的尊严。

屈原死后，他的后人们为了纪念他，虽然他一直活在人们的心中，但是现实中还是需要表示一下的，他们在屈原自杀的江中划着小船，撒着用叶子包着的米团，人们觉得这样鱼虾就会吃这些米团，而不会吃屈原的躯体了。由此在江中划船变成了赛龙舟，撒米团演变成了现在家家吃的粽子，而在那一天人们把那一天定位了纪念屈原这位伟大的爱国之士的纪念日，每年的4月4日就是纪念屈原的日子，我们叫它“清明节”。

例如这样事例还有很多，很多人肯定都不明白，在除夕春节为什么要放鞭炮，让我来告诉你为什么。

相传每年有一天，有个叫“年兽”来扰乱居民的安全，出居民粮食，毁他们的房子，弄的他们人心惶惶。可是看年兽那么凶恶高大，他们却又不敢与之抗衡，终于有一天他们发现年兽怕响声，于是家家户户都在年兽来的那天放起了鞭炮。年兽听见这些鞭炮响声，吓得落荒而逃，人们终于又回到了平静的生活。那天就成了除夕春节，就是这么来的，家家户户都要过年，给红包，这样才吉利，说这一年都会富富贵贵，平安无事。

这些都是我们中华的传统文化，我们中午的传统文化节，所以源远流长，就说明我例举的仅仅是个皮毛，还有好多好多的传统文化是我们所不知道的，就是有了这些传统文化我们才会多姿多彩，这传统文化代表了我国古代到今天，人民的智慧结晶。

就是靠的这些传统文化，而就是这些传统文化是别的国家，甚至别的星球所没有的，它们是我国独一无二的，是智慧，是结晶，是成果，所以它们会源远流长。

中华传统文化又是博大精深的，你想模仿想复制那是远远不可能的。如果是简简单单的，有何是堪称“传统”这两个字，就算再给你十年，五十年甚至一百年，它只会越来越神秘，你永远知道的不是它的皮毛，其精髓不是精深，而是很精深，非常的精深。

所以我说中华传统文化是源远流长，是博大精深，是独一无二的。

中国是一个繁荣昌盛的国家，是一个历史悠久的国家，更是一个具有传统文化的国家。

在中国的传统节日中，我最喜欢的是春节和中秋节。春节又称“过年”“新年”。春节时传统节日中最隆重的一个节日，也是一个可以让远方的亲人与家人团聚的日子。

每年过年，小朋友都穿上了新衣服，房前挂着一串串红灯笼，晚上听着啪啦啪啦的鞭炮声，一家人坐在电视机前看着春节联欢晚会。12点时，一家人围坐在桌子前吃着年夜饭，接下来就是守岁，可以让父母健康平安，长命百岁。

据说，新年有一个传说：古时候有一个叫做“年”的怪兽，它非常的凶猛，它有着锋利的牙齿，还有着一对很吓人的角，它常年居住在海底，一到过年的时候，它就会从海底爬到岸上，袭击附近的村庄，偷食一些粮食，有时候伤害人命，所以每年过年的这一天，村里的人们都会带着父母和孩子们藏到深山之中。可是，到了第二年除夕的时候，村里来了一个乞讨的老婆婆，村民们给她一些食物，劝她到山上躲一躲，老婆婆却说要在这住一夜，并且一定会把“年”这个怪兽赶跑，村民们拗不过她，也只好答应了她。到了晚上，“年”这个怪兽来到村子里，见到这个房子灯火通明，门口贴着红对联，这时“年”不禁抖了一下，当它走到门口时，响起了啪啦啪啦的响声，这时它浑身一抖，就被吓跑了，这时老婆婆穿着一身红色的衣服走了出来，不禁笑了一声。原来，“年”这个怪兽怕红色的东西，从此以后，每年过年的时候，每家每户都会贴上红红的对联，也都过上了安逸的生活。

而中秋节的时候，人人都喜欢吃月饼，而我喜欢中秋节是因为有一个凄美的爱情传说。

古时候，天上有10个太阳，使人间的庄稼枯萎，人们民不聊生。这时候有一个英雄名叫“后羿”，他因为同情老百姓来到昆仑山顶，拉下神弓，射下了9个太阳，并且命令一个太阳每天升起落下，因此后羿也受到了人们的尊敬与爱戴。不久之后，后羿取了一个美丽的妻子名叫——嫦娥。不久之后，拜师求学的人来找后羿，坏心的蓬蒙也加入了其中，一天，后羿去昆仑山求师学道，不料遇到了从此经过的王母娘娘，并向她求了一颗不死药，据说，吃下这颗药，便可得道成仙，可是，后羿不忍心撇下他的妻子，于是就把不死药交与嫦娥保管，不料却被蓬蒙发现，他也想吞下不死药，得道成仙。一天，后羿外出打猎时，蓬蒙拿着剑闯入嫦娥的房间，逼嫦娥交出不死药，但嫦娥知道自己不是他的对手，于是就自己吞下了不死药，向天上飞去，成了仙。后羿回到家后，得知嫦娥已经成了仙，当他看见月亮的时候，才发现月亮非常圆，于是在月亮下摆设画案，以纪念嫦娥，从此，拜月的风俗就传开了。

中国有5000多年的悠久历史，并不是寥寥几笔就能描述的，我们中国的传统文化还有很多很多，最后，愿我们的国家更加繁荣昌。

Water is very important to us. If you don’t have water for three days, you

will die. We can use water for flowers, swimming, washing and many different

things. We use it to cook, make electricity, put out fires and so on. We use

millions of liters of water every day.

Do you know how does the water come to your home? It travels through water

pipes. Some are long and wide but some are short and narrow. Then the water

travels through the water pipes to the reservoirs. Then it travels through the

water pipes to the river and to the special factories (we call water plants)

that purify the water. When the water is purified, we can drink it. Please don’t

leave garbage in the water on which we line, and keep the water clean.

我与中国传统文化

说起中国传统文化那但是数不胜数，而让我记忆深刻的就是这春节了。

春节是中国人民最隆重的传统节日，是象征团结、兴旺，对未来寄托新的期望的佳节，如何庆贺这个节日，在千百年的历史发展中，构成了一些较为固定的风俗习惯，有许多还相传至今。其中有一个风俗习惯就是吃饺子。吃饺子之前当然要包饺子啊。我为了能吃上美味的饺子，便自己动上手。

想吃饺子就要包饺子，这饺子可不是很容易做的。包饺子之前首先要和面。我倒了一些面放在盆里，又拿碗倒了一些水放了进去。刚开始水倒少了，揉出来的面拿起来向下掉面渣。又加了点水之后，面又都粘在我手上。哎，水总是加的不适宜，光和面就这么难，等到吃上饺子要等到什么时候啊!又加了一点干的面粉，面总算弄好了。但是一听妈妈说面还要放半个小时，真等的我不耐烦了。面好了我等不及的冲到面旁边，拿出一小块面学着妈妈以前包饺子的动作把面揉成一个细长条。结果揉的一节粗一节细的还好揉了好长时刻最后揉好了。我突然想：既然饺子作为中国传统文化流传了下来，饺子就必须很美味，但是肯定有必须的制作难度。为了吃上美味的饺子发奋!接下来开始把面切成小块，再继续擀皮。擀皮是最难的事了，也是重中之重。如果皮薄了饺子容易破，如果皮厚了饺子馅熟了皮没熟。我把一小块一小块的面按成了可爱的小柿饼大小，便准备擀皮了。我一手拿着小饼，一手拿着擀面杖擀饺子皮。哎，像妈妈那样擀皮好难啊，我实在学不会最后我就像擀大饼一样擀了饺子皮。虽然方法笨拙但是效果还是不错。该包饺子了，妈妈给我做了我最爱吃的猪肉大葱馅。我拿起擀好的皮在妈妈的旁边学着包饺子。包出一个饺子之后突然觉得包饺子不是

那么困难。最后包好了开始煮了，我在锅的旁边盼着饺子煮熟。看着饺子在过的翻腾如同一条条白色的鱼在欢乐的游戏。饺子煮熟了!嘴里吃着饺子心里说不出的开心。霎时，我觉得我离中国的传统文化也近了一步。

我爱中国传统文化!

描写家乡的变化初中英语范文篇一

Changes in My Hometown

My hometown used to be a backward place, because it was deep in the mountains, where there were no nice buildings and the roads were so narrow and dirty. People lived a poor life.

我的家乡过去是一个落后的地方，因为它在深山里面，那里没有漂亮的建筑物，公路也是又小又脏的。人们的生活都很贫苦。

While in recent years, with the development of society, my hometown has been greatly changed. Now the roads are getting much wider. There are many different cars and buses running on the roads. Trees and flowers are planted on the two sides of the roads. They can provide us with oxygen and fight against the pollutants. So the sky becomes cleaner and brighter. Whats more, you can see many modern and beautiful buildings everywhere, and the living conditions are improving. People are enjoying a comfortable life now.

近年来，随着社会的发展，我的家乡发生了很大的变化。现在的路是越来越大了。有许多不同的汽车和公交车在道路上运行。道路两边种满了树木和鲜花。他们可以为我们提供氧气，与污染物抗争。现在天空变得更清洁、更明亮。更重要的是，你随处可见到许多现代和美丽的建筑，人们的生活条件也得到了改善。现在人们在享受舒适的生活。

描写家乡的变化初中英语范文篇二

Great changes have taken place in my hometown for recent years.big department stores and factories are everywhere. Different kinds of cars and buses are running in the big streets.with the development of the society，The life of the us is greatly improved.

I used to live in a small house and small houese surround the whole city. the qaulity of our life is very low,people were always worried that they would have no money for using or they can not get what they like. we could seldom see any foreign tourists.

But now, with the support of the government . My hometown has developed quickly and has changed a lot.people are living in a rich and high quality society,almost each person has a car,the transportation is convinient,meanwhile. more and more high buildings are being built which brings our hometown a new look. many wonderful places have been opened up that attracts many tourists.

Also,the people in my hometown are getting busier, everywhere you can see peoples footprints.

描写家乡的变化初中英语范文篇三

In recent years, my hometown has changed greatly, because of new road and railway has been built. Previously, my hometown was closed to the outside world. Several years ago, the government paid much money on changing the basic equipment of my hometown. Building new roads is the biggest project. It took about half a year to build the new road. After finish, people have more methods to make money. And we have more communication with other places, which is a good way to develop ourselves. About two years latter, the railway was built. After that, there have been more and more changes happened in my hometown. Now, my hometown has developed into a big and rich town. People live a happy life.

最近几年，由于建成新的公路和铁路，我的家乡发生了很大的变化。以前，我的家乡与外界隔绝。几年前，政府花了大量资金改变家乡的基本设备。新建公路是最大的工程。新建公路大约花了半年时间。公路建成后，人们找到了更多赚钱的方法。而且，我们可以与其他地方互通，这是我们发展自己的好方法。大约两年后，铁路修好了。从那以后，我的家乡发生了越来越多的变化。现在，我的家乡已经变成一个富裕的大城镇。人民过着幸福的生活。

It

is important to know our good and bad points because this knowledge will help us

to improve ourself. We should examine ourselves and learn who we are.

Above

all, we should recognize our strengths and weaknesses. For example, I am healthy

and fit, so I can work hard. Im also optimistic, humble and polite. These are

my strengths. However, I also have weaknesses. For one thing, Im stubborn and a

little impatient. Im sometimes lazy as well and can spent a whole day just

watching TV and eating junk food. Im not ashamed to admit these bad pints.

Knowing what they are lets me focus on improving myself.

我的朋友

My best friend is Mary. She lives in a tall building. She lives on the fifth floor. Everyday she takes the lift up and down. She is twelve years old. She is tall and thin. She has short black hair，two big eyes and a small mouth. She is very cute. I like playing with her. We are in the same class. I like to read books but she likes playing games. She likes to eat popcorn and ice creams. I like them， too. Her favourite food is fish， so she is clever. She loves her cat. She often plays with her. The cat likes Mary，too. They are cute.

这篇是讲述我的好朋友玛丽。介绍她的住址，她住在一幢高楼里。她住在五楼。她的年龄，她十二岁。她的外貌，她又高又瘦。她有短的黑色的头发，两只大眼睛和一个小嘴巴。

生活中的传统文化博大精深、丰富多彩，就比如绘画、中国结或是书法……而我最喜欢的就是剪纸了，下面就让我给你介绍一下吧！

剪纸又被称为剪花或窗花，虽然纸的发明是在两千多年前，但是剪纸这种艺术形式的出现可以追溯到三千多年前，那时的人们都是在树叶、皮草上剪或刻出镂空的图案，用于装饰。在一千多年前的中国唐代剪纸得到了飞速的发展，那时还留下了许多剪纸的诗句，比如“欲剪宜春字，春寒人剪刀”。

为了了解这个传统文化，我还亲自做了做，首先我拿出红纸，之后画出喜欢的图案，接着拿来刻刀和剪刀，然后我把细小的图案刻出来，最后把大图案和外形剪出，一副美丽的剪纸就做好了。

剪纸可真有趣呀！这一张小小的红纸不仅可以呈现姿态不一的图案，更是体现出了我国古代人民智慧的结晶。生活中的传统文化就像一座大宝库，以后我要了解更多的传统文化。

Everybody has a best friend that they can share everything with. I also

have a best friend. We met in school, and were in the same grade.

My best friend is a good student because he is very hardworking. I learn a

lot from him. He helps me with math; I help him with English. We always help

each other. Besides that, hes honest and reliable. I trust him completely and

we share secrets all the time.

My best friend is a loyal and brave boy. When a bully teased me, he came to

my rescue right away. He always remembers my birthday and he is fun to be with.

He tells funny jokes and stories. He always makes me laugh. Finally, he is a

very good listener and he knows how to cheer me up when Im down. I hope well

stay friends forever.

有关这传统的节日，有很多种说法。在此我只想说我家乡的端午节。 There are many ways to say about this traditional festival.I just want to say the Dragon Boat Festival in my hometown.

自从我能跟在哥哥，姐姐后面跑开始到离家工作几乎每个端午节都是在村子西北的的沙丘上过的。

有很多年，我爷爷都黎明前就挑过来无根水，又上山采回艾蒿草放在窗台上，夹在门把后，还夹在我们姐弟几个的耳朵上。这过节的气氛就是在这艾草的淡淡清香中弥漫开来。无需任何华丽的语言，满是对儿孙健康，幸福的祝福。

有时我爷一给我夹上我就能醒过来，而有时却是闻到那艾蒿的阵阵清香后慢慢才从睡梦里醒来。不管咋醒这天早晨没喝无根水以前是不能说话的。平时叽叽喳喳闹个不停的我们几个这天都很乖的，喝完无根水，象征性的用无根水洗洗脸，下一个程序该分鸡蛋了。鸡蛋是我妈或我姑起早煮好的，但得分好。那时鸡蛋不是天天有，不是想要多少就有多少。大哥是男孩，爷爷奶奶总分给他十个，而我们姐妹几个能分到六道八个。每每这时看我撅嘴奶奶也能偷偷的多给我一两个，还不忘在我后脑勺上轻轻拍一下。

我们揣好分得的鸡蛋，叫上左邻右舍的小朋友很早就出发。必须在日出前爬到北沙丘的最顶端，然后回头再看日出。五月末六月初的家乡已绿成一片，每家每户的孩子，还有邻村的都从四面八方往这赶。

男孩们领着小狗，吹着口哨从我们身边呼啸而过，看谁能第一个爬到呢。往上爬时不穿鞋的，网上裤腿就上，有时还倒滚回去。每爬上一个小山丘拿出鸡蛋相互磕一下谁的现碎现吃她的鸡蛋，所以分鸡蛋时都挑红皮儿的小一些的。

登上处的都很自豪的跟下面的挥手，喊叫，就这样边吃鸡蛋边上。四五个人扯着手唱着歌上，春风伴着欢笑飞舞，春日迎着我们升起。北沙丘的每一粒沙子也都欢快地在震动。

等疯累了，玩够后，满身是沙子的我们回到家时，香喷喷的韭菜卧鸡蛋，还有我妈烙的荞面饼已经摆好了。

A letter of thanks

Dear mother ,

The mothers day is coming and I would like to say “Happy mothers day” in

this letter. I love you and thank you so much for everything you did for me.

This day，I will stay away and cant give you my appreciation at home. I know I

will watch myself，so dont worry about me. I am doing very well on my study. My

schoolmates and teachers are all very nice. Though I cant be at home， I hope

you will have a wonderful mothers day.

Your son,

Li ming

It was early in the morning. The sun was just creeping(爬) out of the eastern horizon(地平线)and golden red was penetrating (穿透) through the white clouds and across the sky. The lakes,the trees and the bamboos looked as if they were all gilded. The ground was covered withtender grass, on whose blades some dew drops were glistening(晶莹剔透) under the sunshine.

Birds flew around the woods singing cheerfully and restlessly. Some boys were quietly joggingalong the path, while a couple of girls were reading aloud under the trees lining the bank of thelake.

A gentle breeze came up, wrinkling(使…起皱) the surface of the lake. It was really a beautiful andlively morning.

中国有许多传统节日,但我最喜欢过年。每到新年，家家户户喜贴春联，敲锣打鼓，张灯结彩，送旧迎新的活动热闹非凡，每一个人脸上都洋溢着节日的喜悦。但你知道吗，过年为什么会有这些喜庆的活动呢？这里面有着一个美妙的神话传说故事，现在让我来讲给你们听听吧！

传说中，古时候有一种叫“年”的怪兽，它长着锋利的牙，尖尖的角，凶猛无比。“年”长年深居海底，每到新年的晚上，怪兽就会爬上岸，去袭击山角下的一个小村庄，吞食牲畜，伤害人命。村里人知道会来怪兽，把门锁的紧紧，可是不管怎样，“年”就会进来，偷吃村民的东西，伤害人畜，大家都害怕极了，但又无能为力。

这一年的除夕，人们正准备扶老携幼去避难。这时，一位仙翁走过来，他告诉村民“年”怕红色和响声，人们听了连忙准备了红对联贴在门上。晚上，“年”又来了，它一见红色，听到锣鼓声阵阵，吓得赶紧逃跑了。从此，村里太平了。以后每逢过新年家家户户都贴春联、贴年画、放鞭炮，这个习俗一直延续至今，还越传越广，逐渐成了中华民族最隆重的传统节日。

春节不止有传说，还有许多习俗呢！比如贴窗花、贴春联、贴年画、吃饺子，发压岁钱、穿新衣、放爆竹……其中，我最喜欢发压岁钱。因为，每到发完压岁钱，我都会跑到文具店，买新的文具，学新的知识。我还可以用压岁钱买很多的书籍和好玩的玩具。压岁钱还代表着长辈对我的美好祝福，它是长辈送给孩子的护身符，保佑我在新的一年里健康吉利。

我最喜欢热闹的春节了，你最喜欢什么呢？

The Culture of China is home to one of the worlds oldest and most complex

civilizations. China boasts a history rich in over 5,000 years of artistic,

philosophical, political, and scientific advancement. Though regional

differences provide a sense of diversity, commonalities in language and religion

connect a culture distinguished by such significant contributions such as

Confucianism and Taoism. Confucianism was the official philosophy throughout

most of Imperial Chinas history and strongly influenced other countries in East

Asia. Mastery of Confucian texts provided the primary criterion for entry into

the imperial bureaucracy.

With the rise of Western economic and military power beginning in the

mid-19th century, Western systems of social and political organization gained

adherents in China. Some of these would-be reformers rejected Chinas cultural

legacy, while others sought to combine the strengths of Chinese and Western

cultures.

China is a unified nation consisting of many different ethnic groups.

Fifty-six different ethnic groups make up the great Chinese national family.

Because the Han people accounts for more than ninety percent of Chinas

population, the remaining fifty-five groups are generally referred to as "ethnic

minorities." Next to the majority Han, the Mongolian, Hui, Tibetan, and Uygur

peoples comprise the largest ethnic groups. Although Chinas ethnic minorities

do not account for a large portion of the population, they are distributed over

a vast area, residing in every corner of China.

Particularly since the implementation of Chinas opening and reform policy,

the central government has increased investment in minority areas and

accelerated their opening to the outside world. This has resulted in an upsurge

of economic development in these areas. Each of Chinas ethnic minority groups

possesses a distinctive culture. The Chinese government respects minority

customs, and works to preserve, study, and collate the cultural artifacts of

Chinas ethnic minority groups. The government vigorously supports the

development of minority culture and the training of minority cultural workers,

and fosters the development of traditional minority medicine.

The relation among Chinas ethnic groups can be described as "overall

integration, local concentration, mutual interaction." Concentrations of ethnic

minorities reside within predominantly Han areas, and the Han people also reside

in minority areas, indicating that there has been extensive exchanges among

Chinas ethnic groups since ancient times. With the development of the market

economy, interaction among ethnic groups has become even more active in the

areas of government, economics, culture, daily life, and marriage. Linked by

interdependence, mutual assistance, and joint development, their common goals

and interests creating a deep sense of solidarity, Chinas ethnic groups

resemble a great national family, together building Chinese civilization.