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The use of chopsticks -

Chopsticks were first used in China for cooking, not eating. They were invented during China's Neolithic era. By the time of the Han dynasty, (206 BCE–220 CE), they started using them as eating utensils.

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The dragon -

The dragon is to this day regarded as a symbol of good fortune. Chinese emperors called themselves sons of dragons, meaning they were born with power to rule the country.

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China was the first country in the world to use paper money -

The first type of paper money was called jiaozi. It was printed in 1023 CE during the Northern Song dynasty, in Chengdu. Before that, there were various forms of currency, including shells, coins, silver, and gold.

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Porcelain in ancient China -

The term "china" is sometimes used for porcelain because China was, for a while, the only source for porcelain in the West. Porcelain was made from kaolin clay covered with petuntse glaze, and then fired together in high heat.

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Paper was invented in China -

Papermaking was invented in China. Before its invention, the Chinese transcribed characters on tree bark, scrolls, cloth, bronzeware, and bamboo.

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Foot-binding was a common practice -

Foot-binding, the practice of curling young girls' feet to modify their shape, was a common practice. Foot-binding started during the Northern Song period (960–1127 CE), and became prevalent during the Southern Song period (1127–1279 CE).

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Religions in ancient China -

The ancient Chinese had three doctrines: Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Christianity and Islam arrived only in the 7th century.

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The first imperial dynasty was the Qin dynasty -

The first imperial dynasty was the Qin dynasty that ruled between 221 and 206 BCE. Located in modern-day Gansu and Shaanxi, the dynasty was founded by its first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.

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Traditional Chinese medicine -

Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history that goes beyond herbal teas. Most traditional Chinese doctors were general practitioners with specializations in gynecology, pediatrics, and surgery.

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It was a patriarchal society -

Women were expected to follow three rules of obedience and four virtues. The obedience rules referred to a woman needing to obey her father or brother before marriage, her husband during married life, and her son in widowhood. The four virtues included speech, action, tolerance, and giving.

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Before soccer came cuju -

Cuju was an ancient version of soccer, invented during the Han dynasty. The rule of the game was that one could only kick the ball with the feet. The use of hands was not allowed.

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Concubines of the dynasty -

Concubines were legal and normal in ancient China. Many men would have a main wife along with many concubines. The emperor had the most.

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The Yongle Encyclopedia -

Largely known for his military achievements, Emperor Ming Chengzu was the founder of the Ming dynasty. He's also known for the creation of the world’s largest paper-based general encyclopedia. It contains 2,937 manuscript chapters that cover subjects like science, art, literature, geology, history, drama, and astronomy.

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Farmers were in the majority -

Farmers were in the majority, with only a small percentage being merchants, government officials, scholars, and rulers. Agriculture was highly valued, but farmers' economic conditions were still poor.

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Emperors used eunuchs as servants -

As many concubines lived in the palaces, emperors and the imperial family used eunuchs as servants. Many peasant boys and men castrated themselves to get jobs in the palace to escape poverty.

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Female ruler Wu Zetian -

One of the most famous women in Chinese history was Wu Zetian, the only female emperor. She ruled during the Tang dynasty as empress, and then as emperor for 15 years.

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The Great Wall of China -

The Great Wall of China was first built as a defensive barrier during the Warring States period between 475 and 221 BCE. Then, Emperor Qin Shihuang consolidated the wall to secure China's northern border from invaders.

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Popular garments -

Ancient Chinese clothes were the symbols of prestige and the embodiment of culture, and essential to show social status. Poor people wore hemp clothes that were durable, loose-fitting, and comfortable for working in the fields. Rich people’s clothes were made from silk, dyed with specific colors, and had fancy designs.

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Unifying the fonts -

In ancient times, there were various dialects in China, but the Chinese writing system has been the same since Qin Shihuang unified the fonts. People from different regions can today interact fluently.

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Horses were important -

Horses were the most important means of transport and were usually used in the army. Everyday transportation would be provided by cows, donkeys, and mules.

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Chinese New Year - One of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, it's associated with nian, a fierce beast who lived underwater and would come up at the beginning of Chinese New Year to cause havoc. To ward him off, the people wore red clothes and lit lamps and firecrackers. That's how the modern Chinese New Year tradition began.

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Education was important for success -

Education meant success for many people. Boys whose families could afford it were sent to school from childhood. There were also schools for girls, but they were only taught simple theoretical knowledge and female virtues.

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The phoenix -

The antithesis of the dragon is the phoenix, representing feminine power. Both creatures are auspicious in Chinese culture.

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The earliest archaeological records date back to the Shang dynasty -

China's earliest archaeological records date back to the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BCE). Before then, there were almost 2,000 years of prehistoric times without written history.

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Sun Tzu's battle strategies are still used today -

'The Art of War' is a famous book on battle strategy written by military strategist Sun Tzu. It was published in the 5th century, and it's still quoted today.

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The discovery of silk -

According to legend, silk was discovered in the emperor's garden in 2700 BCE by Hsi-Ling-Shi. She was the wife of Emperor Huang-Ti.

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The Zhou dynasty was China’s longest dynasty -

The Zhou dynasty is the longest dynasty in Chinese history, lasting from 1046 to 256 BCE. That's an impressive length of 790 years.

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China had a Bronze Age -

The Shang and Zhou dynasties are known as the Bronze Age of China. This is because archaeologists have found many weapons, vessels, and tools made from bronze from that time.

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The emperor who was buried with his army -

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Terracotta Army is a collection of sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It's a form of funerary art buried with the emperor with the purpose of protecting him in the afterlife.

Sources: (World History Encyclopedia) (China Highlights) (Thought.Co)

See also: The amazing history behind China's Terracotta Army

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