China
From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change
- For the article on the dishware, please see China (dishes).
China (in Chinese language, 中国, 中國, Zhōngguó "Central Country") is the second-largest country in Asia. It is also called the communist 
People's Republic of China (PRC).
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[change] History
China has one of the oldest civilizations in the world. It has a recorded history of over five thousand years. It reached its golden age during the Tang Dynasty (about A.D. 10th century). China is home to some of the oldest artwork in the world. Statues and pottery, as well as decorations made of jade, are some classic examples.
China's economic and military strength throughout the world was oppressed during the Qing Dynasty (around the 17th century to 20th century). Many of its lands were lost to Russia, the British, the Japanese and other strong countries. In 1911 a country, the Republic of China was founded by Sun Yat-sen (Sun Yixian). But its government was very weak. Army leaders in different area controlled the local governments, and later fell into the dictatorship of Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi). In 1931, Japan invaded Manchuria, a place in the northeastern part of China. On July 7, 1937, the Japanese attacked the rest of the country, starting what was named the Sino-Japanese War. The war later became part of World War II. The war was fought for eight years and millions of Chinese people were killed. In 1945, after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered unconditionally to the Allied Powers.
However, the Chinese Civil War later started between the Guomindang (Nationalists) of the Republic of China (ROC) and the Communists of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The Communists, led by Mao Zedong, eventually won the war. The Nationalists (led by Chiang Kai-shek) fled to the island of Taiwan and set up their new capitol city in Taipei.After the Chinese Civil War, the communist dictator Mao Zedong declared a new country, the communist People's Republic of China (PRC), in Beijing on October 1, 1949.
In 1989, there was a protest in Tian'anmen Square by students asking for freedom and democracy. Many people were injured or killed. There were fewer factories in China back then.
[change] Culture
[change] Martial Arts
China is the original birth place of Eastern martial arts. The names of martial arts were called Kung Fu or its first name Wushu. China also includes the home to the well-respected Shaolin Monastery and Wudang Mountains. The first generation of art started more for the purpose of survival and warfare than art. Overtime, some art forms have branched off, while others have retained a distinct Chinese flavor. Regardless, China has brewed some of the most renowned martial artists including Wong Fei Hung (Huang Fei Hung or Hwang Fei Hung) and many others. The art have also co-existed with a variety of weapons including the more standard 18 arms. Legendary and controversial moves like Dim Mak are also praised and talked about within the culture.
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