Chinese New Year

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Chinese New Year
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Taiwan

• Taiwan, formally known as Formosa is located off
  the mainland of China.. Taiwan has its own flag
  and money but it is still considered a part of
  the Republic of China.
• The island of Taiwan is inhabited by mostly
  Chinese but prior to the 1700s the natives of the
  island resided throughout. The great migration of
  mainland Chinese in the 1700s forced those
  natives into the hills of Taiwan and those 9
  tribes are still there today.

3
The People and Culture

• China is a very vast country and encompasses 56
  national groups whose beliefs and customs vary
  from region to region.
• It is divided into twenty one provinces and five
  autonomous regions but the majority of the entire
  population is Han Chinese. The Han trace their
  ancestry back to the Han Dynasty, which ruled
  China for four hundred years.
• Because of the many national groups, provinces,
  and regions, communication among the Chinese was
  difficult. This caused the government to mandate
  Mandarin Chinese as the official language of all
  areas of China. The Chinese still speak in their
  native tongues but also have learned the Mandarin
  dialect which is also taught in all Chinese
  schools.

4
Religion

• Its folk religion is filled with gods, demons,
  and spirits. The many traditional Chinese
  festivals are based on myths of the supernatural.
  
• There are four religions that are dominate in
  Taiwan (China). They are Buddhism, Confucianism,
  Taoism (Daoism), and Christianity.
• Buddhism brought to China from India, it is
  believed If you live a life of good deeds, your
  next life will be good and visa versa.
• Confucianism ideal person is polite, honest,
  courageous, and wise.
• Taoism teaches the importance of harmony with
  nature and encourages living a simple life.
• Christianity based on the teachings of Jesus
  Christ

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References for Middle School

• Chambers, Catherine. A World of Holidays Chinese
  New Year. Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1997.
• Chrisman, Arthur Bowie. Shen of the sea Chinese
  stories for children. New York Dutton, 1968.
• Fritz, Jean. Homesickmy own story. New York
  Dell, 1994
• Han, Carolyn. The demon king and other festivial
  folktales of China. University of Hawaii Press.
  1995.
• Jacobsen, Peter Otto. A family in China. Library
  Ed. New York Bookwright Press, 1986.
• Kalman, Bobbie. China the culture. Crabtree,
  1989.
• Kalman, B. China the people. Crabtree, 1989.
• Mah, Adeline Yen. Chinese Cinderella the true
  story of an unwanted daughter. New York
  Delacorte, 1999.

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References Continued

• Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations,
  volumes 2 and 9. Detroit, UXL Thomson/Gale,
  2004.
• Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cultures,
  volumes 2 and 8. Detroit, UXL 1999.

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Internet Sources

• http//www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/CHINA/ch
  inese_new_year.html
• http//go.grolier.com./gol
• http//www.new-year.co.uk/chinese/history.htm