{"id":7063,"date":"2024-09-12T14:12:47","date_gmt":"2024-09-12T20:12:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teachingnomad.com\/living-abroad\/11-cool-chinese-history-facts\/"},"modified":"2024-09-12T14:12:48","modified_gmt":"2024-09-12T20:12:48","slug":"11-cool-chinese-history-facts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teachingnomad.com\/blog\/china\/11-cool-chinese-history-facts\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Cool Chinese History Facts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.6.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]

Ah, the rich tapestry of Chinese culture! With a civilization stretching back thousands of years, China offers a wellspring of history and tradition that could captivate you for a lifetime\u2014and that’s just the beginning. For those about to embark on the extraordinary journey of teaching and living in China<\/u><\/a>, here are 11 cool facts about Chinese history that might just make you see this incredible country in a whole new light.<\/p>\n

\"Ancient<\/p>\n

1. The Original TP<\/h3>\n

Ever thought about who we have to thank for the convenience of toilet paper? Contrary to what many people think, toilet paper was invented in China in 1391<\/u><\/a>. The Romans are known for using various objects (leaves, moss, their hands, etc.) as toilet paper prior to the 14th century, but they had not yet invented a paper-like item for this particular use.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Luckily, the invention was incredibly popular in China, and by the late 14th century it took off. Approximately 10 million packages of toilet paper were being manufactured each year, each containing 1,000 to 10,000 sheets each. Emperors would order this paper in two by three-foot sheets for maximum cleanliness (for reference \u2013 modern sheets are 6 square inches).<\/p>\n

\"Chinese<\/p>\n

2. The “Middle Kingdom”<\/h3>\n

The first use of the modern word \u201cChina\u201d was in 1555. The origin of the name \u201cChina\u201d<\/u><\/a> is a topic of disagreement among scholars. Some people think that it came out of the word \u201cQin\u201d (China\u2019s unifying dynasty \u2013 pronounced \u2018cheen\u2019), and others think that it came from the Persian word \u201ccin\u201d and was spread my Marco Polo. Either way, the term \u201cChina\u201d was known throughout the world by the middle of the 19th century.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

That being said, Chinese natives actually refer to their country as the Middle Kingdom or\u00a0\u201czh\u014dnggu\u00f3\u201d (\u4e2d\u56fd).\u00a0 Natives historically regard their country as \u201ccentral,\u201d compared to other civilizations nearby. The term\u00a0zh\u014dnggu\u00f3 has many different meanings behind it, all of which relate back to the centrality of China.<\/p>\n

\"Chinese<\/p>\n

3. The Dragon in the Carp<\/h3>\n

Imagine the mighty dragon, the emblem of power, hiding in the guise of a humble carp. This delightful comparison is drawn from the carp’s scales and whiskers, which resemble those of the Chinese Dragon. The main inspiration for this idea is from an old Chinese folktale called “Carp Leaps Over the Dragon Gate”<\/u><\/a>. This has made the carp a symbol of strength and perseverance in Chinese culture.<\/p>\n

\"Ancient<\/p>\n

4. A Culinary Innovation: Chopsticks<\/h3>\n

The oldest surviving pair of chopsticks dates back to 1200 BCE (the Shang Dynasty), but evidence suggests they were used as early as the Xia dynasty (2070 \u2013 1600 BCE). As the Chinese population grew over time, people had to conserve cooking fuel by chopping food into small pieces so that it would cook faster. The earliest chopsticks were used as cooking\u2014not eating\u2014utensils. People would use chopsticks to cook, stir the fire, and serve pieces of food.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Make sure to brush up on Chopstick etiquette<\/u><\/a> before you visit!<\/p>\n

\"Chinese<\/p>\n

5. A Flag Born from Competition<\/h3>\n

Out of a staggering 2,992 entries, the current Chinese flag<\/u><\/a> was chosen in 1949. Its main color, red, was chosen to represent the revolutionary spirit of communism and the traditional ethnic color of the Han people who make up a majority of China.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

From 1644 to 1912 under the Ch’ing Dynasty, the Chinese flag was usually yellow which is the traditional ethnic color of the Manchu people. In 1912, the flag had 5 stripes of different colors to represent the five ethnic peoples in China. Since then, 5 has been a special number for symbolism in China, thus the 5 stars.<\/p>\n

\"Ancient<\/p>\n

6. Honoring Time with the Lunar Calendar<\/h3>\n

The Chinese lunar calendar arranges the year, month, and day number upon the astronomical date. The Chinese calendar is not the official calendar in China anymore, but it is still used for traditional activities in China and overseas Chinese communities.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The lunar calendar originated<\/u><\/a> in 2600 B.C. and has 12 zodiac signs. There are 12 or 13 months in a year. The years with 12 months are common years, there are 353, 354, or 355 days in the common year. The years with 13 months are leap years, there are 383, 384, or 385 days in the leap year. February 5, 2019, marked the first day of the year 4717 on the Chinese lunar calendar.<\/p>\n

\"Ancient<\/p>\n

7. The Paper Money Trailblazers<\/h3>\n

The Chinese were the first in the world to use paper money<\/u><\/a>. The first records of it were found to be from during the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century. Before the use of paper money, the Chinese used circular coins with a rectangular hole in the middle. This way several coins could be strung together on a rope. As the country\u2019s economy flourished, merchants found that their strings of coins became too heavy to be carried around.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

To solve this, coins were often left with a trustworthy person, and the merchant was given a slip of paper recording how much money he had with that person (this is also considered to be the origin of banking). Copper shortages also led to the introduction of paper money.<\/p>\n

Being the first area to use paper money, China ran into a few problems over the years. The main problem was that the Yuan Dynasty decided to print an\u00a0excessive amount of paper money and release it all into circulation, thus leading to extremely high inflation.<\/p>\n

\"Ping<\/p>\n

8. Ping Pong: A British Import Perfected<\/h3>\n

Despite being a national pastime in China, table tennis actually originated in Britain<\/u><\/a> in the 1880s. It started as an after-dinner parlor game for the upper class. Yet, since its introduction to China in 1901, the country has come to dominate the sport on the global stage, turning a leisurely parlor game into a fierce competitive endeavor.<\/p>\n

\"Origins<\/p>\n

9. The Ball Game of Ancient Times<\/h3>\n

Soccer (futbol)\u2014the most popular sport in the world\u2014was <\/span>played in China over two thousand years ago<\/u><\/span><\/a>. The earliest form of soccer was, in fact, a military exercise in the third and second centuries BCE in China. The game (cuju or \u201ckick ball\u201d) consisted of kicking a leather ball filled with hair and feathers through a small, netted opening thirty feet in the air.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"colorful<\/span><\/p>\n

10. Dragons: From Myth to Symbol<\/h3>\n

In contrast to their often menacing portrayal in the West, dragons in China are auspicious creatures<\/u><\/a>, representing wisdom, power, and good fortune. They are held in high regard as one of the four greatest creatures in Chinese mythology. “Discovering the positive symbolism of dragons in China was a beautiful surprise,” shares Mark, who delved into mythology during his teaching stint.<\/p>\n

\"Ancient<\/p>\n

11. Innovations in Warfare: The Crossbow and Gunpowder<\/h3>\n

China’s contributions to warfare technology are unparalleled, with the invention of the crossbow (5th century BCE) and gunpowder (11th century CE) reshaping battlefields worldwide such as in the European Battle of Hastings<\/u><\/a> (popularization of crossbows). These innovations underscore China’s longstanding tradition of ingenuity and invention. China is also credited with inventing the repeating crossbow, capable of firing 10 bolts in 15 seconds at around 200 CE. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Eager to explore more about this fascinating culture while making a tangible impact through education? Dive into the adventure of teaching in China<\/u><\/a> with us at Teaching Nomad. Our latest job openings could be your gateway to a journey filled with discovery, understanding, and lifelong friendships. “The support and guidance from Teaching Nomad were pivotal in my transition. I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my journey in China!” shares Emily, one of our many teachers who found a new home in the heart of the Middle Kingdom. Join us, and let’s embark on this extraordinary voyage together!<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chinese culture is one of the oldest in the world; the culture’s roots go back thousands of years. That being said, you could spend years and years learning about Chinese culture<\/a>, and you wouldn’t even scratch the surface!<\/span><\/p>\n

Immersing yourself in this culture first-hand is an experience that can’t be matched by anything else, and there are tons of cool facts to learn before you jet off!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":7064,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"

Chinese culture is one of the oldest in the world; the culture's roots go back thousands of years. That being said, you could spend years and years learning about Chinese culture<\/a>, and you wouldn't even scratch the surface!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Immersing yourself in this culture first-hand is an experience that can't be matched by anything else, and there are tons of cool facts to learn before you jet off!<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

1. Toilet paper is a Chinese invention<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

\"Historical<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Contrary to what many people think, toilet paper was invented in China in 1391. The Romans are known for using various objects (leaves, moss, their hands, etc.) as toilet paper prior to the 14th century, but they had not yet invented a paper-like item for this particular use.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Luckily, the invention was incredibly popular in China, and by the late 14th century it took off. Approximately 10 million packages of toilet paper were being manufactured each year, each containing 1,000 to 10,000 sheets each. Emperors would order this paper in two by three-foot sheets for maximum cleanliness (for reference - modern sheets are 6 square inches).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

2. Chinese natives call their country the \"Middle Kingdom.\"<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

\"China<\/p>\r\n

The first use of the modern word \u201cChina\u201d was in 1555. The origin of the name \"China\"<\/a> is a topic of disagreement among scholars. Some people think that it came out of the word \"Qin\" (China's unifying dynasty - pronounced 'cheen'), and others think that it came from the Persian word \"cin\" and was spread my Marco Polo. Either way, the term \"China\" was known throughout the world by the middle of the 19th century.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

That being said, Chinese natives actually refer to their country as the Middle Kingdom or \"zh\u014dnggu\u00f3\" (\u4e2d\u56fd).  Natives historically regard their country as \u201ccentral,\u201d compared to other civilizations nearby. The term zh\u014dnggu\u00f3 has many different meanings behind it, all of which relate back to the centrality of China.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

3. Chinese citizens thought the carp resembled a dragon<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

\"magikarp<\/h1>\r\n

The carp is a symbol of strength and perseverance in China. Plus, the scales and whiskers of the fish make it resemble a dragon, the greatest symbol of power in China. Now it finally makes sense why Magikarp evolves into Gyarados!<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

4. Chopsticks are a 3000-year-old invention<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

\"old<\/h1>\r\n

The oldest surviving pair of chopsticks dates back to 1200 BCE (the Shang Dynasty), but evidence suggests they were used as early as the Xia dynasty (2070 \u2013 1600 BCE). As the Chinese population grew over time, people had to conserve cooking fuel by chopping food into small pieces so that it would cook faster. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The earliest chopsticks were used as cooking\u2014not eating\u2014utensils. People would use chopsticks to cook, stir the fire, and serve pieces of food. If you're moving to or visiting Asia in the near future, be sure to look up chopstick etiquette<\/a> to avoid any mishaps!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

5. The current Chinese flag was selected out of a total of 2992 entries<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

\"Flag<\/span><\/p>\r\n

China\u2019s national flag was adopted in September 1949 as a result of a flag design competition that received a total of 2992 entries. The design features one large star, with four smaller stars in a semicircle set off towards the fly (the side farthest from the flagpole). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The red in the flag symbolizes revolution. The large star symbolizes communism, and the little stars represent the Chinese people and their respective social classes. The five stars and their relationship represent the unity of the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party. Plus, the number five is considered lucky in Chinese culture.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

6. The Chinese lunar calendar is still used here and there<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

\"moon<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Chinese calendar is a lunar calendar which arranges the year, month, and day number upon the astronomical date. The Chinese calendar is not the official calendar in China anymore, but it is used for traditional activities in China and overseas Chinese communities. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The lunar calendar originated in 2600 B.C. and has 12 zodiac signs. There are 12 or 13 months in a year. The years with 12 months are common years, there are 353, 354, or 355 days in the common year. The years with 13 months are leap years, there are 383, 384, or 385 days in the leap year. February 5, 2019, will mark the first day of the year 4717 on the Chinese lunar calendar.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

7. China was the first country to use paper money<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

\"ancient<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Chinese were the first in the world to use paper money, during the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century. Before the use of paper money, the Chinese used circular coins with a rectangular hole in the middle. This way, several coins could be strung together on a rope. As the country\u2019s economy flourished, merchants found that their strings of coins became too heavy to be carried around. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

To solve this, coins were often left with a trustworthy person, and the merchant was given a slip of paper recording how much money he had with that person. Copper shortages also led to the introduction of paper money. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Being the first area to use paper money, China ran into a few problems over the years<\/a>. The main problem was that the Yuan Dynasty decided to print an excessive amount of paper money and release it all into circulation, thus leading to extremely high inflation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

8. Ping Pong is not<\/span> a Chinese invention<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

<\/span>\"minions\"ancient<\/p>\r\n

Table tennis (ping pong) is the most popular amateur recreational sport in China. However, the game originated in Britain during the 1880s as an after-dinner parlor game for the upper class. Initially, a row of books was stood up along the center of the table as a net, and two more books served as rackets that were used to continuously hit a golf-ball from one end of the table to the other. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The game was introduced in China via western settlements in 1901, and the Chinese have dominated the world championships since 1953.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

9. Football (soccer) is<\/span> a Chinese invention<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

\"chinese-ancient-football-cuju-soccer\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n\"minions<\/p>\r\n

On the other hand, soccer (football)\u2014the most popular sport in the world\u2014was invented in China over two thousand years ago. According to FIFA<\/a>, the earliest form of soccer was, in fact, a military exercise in the third and second centuries BCE in China. The game (cuju or \u201ckick ball\u201d) consisted of kicking a leather ball filled with hair and feathers through a small opening.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

10. In China, dragons are auspicious creatures<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

\"dragon<\/p>\r\n

While the dragon is typically seen as an evil creature in Western culture, it holds first place among the four greatest creatures in Chinese mythology. The other four are the phoenix, tiger, and tortoise. In ancient times, the dragon was the symbol of imperial power. Even today, as a magical creature beloved by the people, it represents wealth, wisdom, success, power, and good fortune.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

11. The crossbow is a Chinese invention (and so is gunpowder!)<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

\"crossbow<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The use of crossbows in European warfare became popular after the Normans defeated the English in the Battle of Hastings<\/a> (1066 CE). However, the Chinese invented the crossbow around the 5th century BCE, fifteen centuries earlier! China is also credited with inventing the repeating crossbow, capable of firing 10 bolts in 15 seconds at around 200 CE. Gunpowder was also invented in the 11th century CE.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If you're interested in teaching in China and immersing yourself in the culture, check out our newest job openings.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

View available teaching positions<\/span><\/a><\/div>","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[8,21],"tags":[70,17,69],"yoast_head":"\n11 Cool Chinese History Facts - Teaching Nomad China<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dive into the heart of China with 11 cool facts that will make you see this ancient land in a new light. From the invention of toilet paper to the symbolism of dragons, this guide by Teaching Nomad is your warm, friendly beacon into Chinese culture. "Their support was my compass," says a fulfilled teacher. 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