China has a vast territory and 56 ethnic groups(official accouncement) which includes a lot of sub-cultures.
Today I would like to introduce Wu and Yue sub-culture.
Yangtze river delta area --- Jiang Nan Area
Mention China, friends may hear of a city called Shanghai.
Shanghai locates in an area called Yangtze river delta.
Yangtze river delta area is also called Jiang Nan(south of Yangtze river) area.
Jiangnan includes part of Jiangsu province, part of Zhejiang province，part of Anhui province and Shanghai city. Today Jiangnan area usaully refers Jiangsu,Zhejiang and Shanghai.(江浙滬）
Following picutre shows top4 GDP provinces in 2020（from January to June）
much higher than other areas.
Like California, Jiangnan area only has 2.3% of Chinese territory but produces nearly 25% of Chinese GDP. It is one of the most developed areas in China today.
At first, Jiangnan area was uncultured compared with areas in the north.
After 300A.D many well educated people migrated from north because of wars. Advanced technology and knowledge were brought to Jiangnan specially iron manufacturing skill.
Jiangnan area has four distinctive seasons in a year and has plenty of water.
So its environment is very suitable for agriculture. After receiving knowledge from north, Jiangnan became prosperous and be an important tax collection area.
In order to transport grain produced in Jiangnan as well as wealth to capital. Emperor of Sui Dynasty (600A.D.) built a canal which becomes the longest and oldest canal in the world.
At Song Dynasty (1000A.D) Jiangnan area is the top GDP area of China. In several periods, Jiangnan area provided 90% of Empire’s tax. So there is a saying: 「If Jiangnan has good harvest, the whole empire can be feeded.」
With economy prosperous, culture and technology developed fast in Jiangnan area. Jiangnan became Chinese commercial and cultural center.
The word "Jiangnan" does not only mean an geography region. For thousands of years, with uncounted famous people, events, stories, poetries, paintings, crafts related with Jiangnan, "Jiangnan" becomes a culture and spiritual concept.
It's hard to explain what exactly Jiangnan is. There is a saying that every Chinese people has their own understanding of "Jiangnan".
Impressions of Jiangnan includes "water town", "high educated", "delicate life", "peaceful" and "prosperous".
Culture relies on living environment. When mention Jiangnan, Chinese people always have an idea of 「Water Town」.
There are a lot of rivers in Jiangnan area such as Yangtze River and Tai Lake. Water network in Jiangnan area is very dense so most of residence houses are near water network. like Venice, people took boat to travel in ancient time.
「Water, bridges, houses, smoke from kitchen」 describes people’s daily life.
Water provides people rice and fish, also helps transportation. It connected with people tightly.
Because of the relationship with water, people’s character is also affected. Compare with other areas, Jiangnan people are more soft and moderate.People describes Jiangnan people tender and soft as water.
Local language is well known for "soft like water" , local people is national famous because of comely and delicate outlooking.
Knowledge highly valued culture
I have discussed with many foreign teachers in Shanghai and Wuxi, all of them mentioned that "People here really cares about education and attaches great importance to knowledge. Not like the US/EU you guys respect teacher a lot ."
In ancient China, go to school and pass examination is the only way to become an empire officer. Becoming an officer could bring a lot of benefit.
In Qing Dynasty（1700A.D）, there are 5 grades examinations. The person who passes the 3rd grade could get a position in government ( students who pass 2rd grade do not need to pay taxes). Less than 1500 students can pass 3rd grade exam every year.
Schools is not common in ancient China. Education is not cheap. To pass the first grade exam, at least 10 years education is needed. Tuition and other cost is really unaffordable for ordinary people.
In Jiangnan area, because of economy prosperity. Most families (a group of people who has blood relationship, shares same family name) built private schools and hired private teachers. Children of the family will be sent to those private schools. The family will pick one or two outstanding students and support them to take national exam. If one child passed the 3rd grade exam, the whole family will get benefit.
For thousand of years, knowledge is highly valued in Jiangnan area. When I was a child, my parents kept exhorting me:"Study hard and become a well-educated person."
Each year Jiangnan area has the most student who passed national exam( in every grade).
Because of knowledge been highly valued atmosphere, education rate in Jiangnan area is much higher than other areas and accelerates the development of Jiangnan.
When economy prospers, people started to pay attention on quality of life. With "soft" "water" character and Chinese traditional culture edification, Jiangnan people do not pursuit sumptuous lifestyle. Aesthetic standard in Jiangnan area is simply, elegant, moderate, peaceful and reserved.
This aesthetic standard permeates every aspect of daily life.
This delicate culture is a good demonstration of Chinese traditional culture.
That's why people always think of Jiangnan when talking about Chinese traditional culture.
There is a saying known by every Chinese people :"Paradise in Heaven;Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth." It is not because of rich and delicate life but also refers Jiangnan beautiful scenic.
Eastern mixed Western
culture in new era
Shanghai-Culture
Rich, traditional, well-educated, good looking people,delicated life, beautiful scene etc. Jiangnan is a dream of ancient Chinese people. That is why a lot of emperors have visited Jiangnan since Sui Dynasty(600 A.D.)
After 1843, Shanghai was forced to be open as a commercial port. Jiangnan area is one of the earliest area facing culture confliction. A new culture which combines traditional culture as well as Europen / American industrial, rational, commercial culture was born.
We called this culture Shanghai-style.