On the Development of ChineseFolk Culture1 IntroductionAs an ancient culture, folk customs has had a great influence on China from ancient times to the present, Folk culture has been becoming a must of society. Folk customs, that is to say, the traditions of ancient People and they can be divided into several categories, we will study several groups of folk customs in order to make readers feel the great of Chinese culture.2 Theoretical Foundations2.1 Chinese Customs2.1.1 Lantern riddlesLantern riddles are displayed during traditional Chinese festivals, such as the Chinese Lantern Festival, Chinese middle autumn festival, etc. The full name of …Lantern Riddles… are …riddles written on lanterns….In ancient China, people believed that it was as difficult to kill a tiger as it was to guess a lantern puzzle, so, it had another name –tiger lantern. Usually, there were four riddles written on red vertical strips of paper pasted to each lantern which was attached by a string.The guessing tradition can date back to more than 2,000 years ago. In the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD), guessing riddles gradually became a contest among men. It reached its peak in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) when it is became popular among all the people.The main subjects of the riddles included traditional songs, poems, stories or historical events, etc.A example of Lantern RiddlesRiddles: What‟s full of holes but still holds water?Answer: a sponge2.1.2 Spring FestivalChinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional festival in China. Its history can date back to the Shang Dynasty (1600BC –1100BC).The festival consists of a period of celebrations, starting on the first day of the first lunar month and ending with the Lantern Festival, the fifteenth day of the month. In Chinese culture, it is the most important festival for all the family members to get together.CelebrationSweeping of the GroundsFor the preparation for the New Year, every corner of the house must be swept and cleaned ten days before the New Year Day.Spring CoupletsSpring Couplets represent best wishes and fortune for the comingyear. They will be posted on the front doors in the month before the New Year‟s Day, and often stay up for two months.Reunion DinnerAll the family members will get together to have dinner on the New Year‟s Eve.2.1.3 Dongzhi FestivalThe Dongzhi Festival, also called Winter Solstice Festival, is one of the most important traditional festivals in China. It is a solar term in Chinese lunar calendar and in the solar calendar, it always falls on December 22 or 23 each year.As early as more than 2500 years ago, winter solstice was mensurated by Chinese via observing movements of the sun with sundials. During the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), it became a festival of great importance for the Chinese people. On that day, all the family members would get together and have meal together. Ancient Chinese also regarded this day as a day to offer scarifies to heaven and their ancestors.In the southern parts of China, all the family members would make and eat Tangyuan, a kind of stuffed dumpling ball which is made of glutinous rice flour, symbolizing reunion in the Chinese culture. In some parts of the northern China, people would eat dumplings, believing that doing so would keep them from frost in the upcoming winter.2.1.4 Tomb-Sweeping DayQingming Festival, also called Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the 106th day after the winter solstice, usually occurring around April 5 of the Gregorian calendar.Qingming, which means clear and bright, is the day for the living to mourn the dead. In ancient China, it was one of the occasions when sacrifices were made to ancestors.On Qingming, people visit their ancestors‟ graves. They tidy up, remove weeds and sweep away leaves. It is the reason for its another name, namely Tomb-Sweeping Day. Also on Qingming, people go on family outings, singing, dancing and flying kites.2.2 Chinese Traditional Art2.2.1 Lion DanceAs one of the most widely spread folk dance in China, lion dance is the dance in which performers mimic a lion‟s movements in a lion costume. It combines Chinese art, history and kung fu moves.It has a history of more than a thousand years. The earliest record of the dance dates back to the Han Dynasty (205 B.C. to 220 A.D). It reached its peak during the Tang Dynasty (716-907 A.D.).In Chinese culture, the dance represents joy and happiness, so it is particularly performed during festivals and celebrations, such as Chinese New Year, the openings of restaurants and weddings, etc. The dance is performed by two dancers. One handles the head and the other plays the role of the body. According to the styles, theperformance is divided into civil lion and martial lion. Civil lion depicts the docile and funny images of a lion, while martial lion portrays the power of a lion.2.2.2 Four Gentlemen in the World of FlowersIn ancient China, a gentleman referred to a man of great virtue. In the world of flowers, plum blossom, orchids, bamboo and chrysanthemum are known as the Four Gentlemen, also called the four Noble Ones or Four Friends. It was believed that their natural characters had something in common with human virtues. Therefore, they have always been featured in ancient paintings and works to express the virtues of loftiness, righteousness, modesty and purity.As early as the Song Dynasty (960–1279), they were used in the Chinese painting. Later, they were also adopted by the artists in Japan, Korea, etc. As they bloom in different seasons (the plum blossom blooms in spring, the orchid in summer, the chrysanthemum in autumn, and the bamboo in winter), they are also used to depict the unfolding of the seasons through the year.2.2.3 Silk PaintingSilk painting is an ancient art form in China. It originated in the Warring States Period (476-221 BC) and reached its artistic peak in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD25).Over a long period, plain silk, together with bamboo and wood slips were the material for writing or painting on. Compared with others, silk has its ownadvantages, such as light, easily to be cut in desired shapes and sizes, convenient to be kept and carried, etc. However, due to its high cost, it was only popular among the noble status.The earliest extant silk painting is Lady, Dragon and Phoenix Painting, which was unearthed in Changsha city, Hunan Province. It was used at funerals to lead the dead to heaven. Among all the remaining paintings, the most representative one is the silk painting unearthed in the Mawangdui Han Dynasty tomb in Changsha City. The painting contains three parts: the Heaven, World and Hell.2.2.4 Goddess of LuoLady Mi was the daughter of FuXi, the legendary Chinese emperor deemed to be the mythical creator of fishing, trapping, and writing. Because she was very fascinated with the beautiful scenery on both sides of the Luo River, Lady Mi descended onto the Luo River basin and lived there to teach them how to create nets, the skills of hunting, etc.However, HeBo, the prodigal demigod of the Yellow River was mesmerized by the beauty of Lady Mi. He subsequently transformed himself into a white dragon, caused a great havoc in the Luo River and caught Lady Mi.HouYi rescued her and returned to the Luo River. Both of them fell in love. HeBo was so angry that he again transformed himself into a white dragon and attacked the Luo River, gobbling up the villages, farms and livestock.HouYi came to the rescue and shot an arrow into HeBo‟s left eye.Since then, Lady Mi and HouYi led a happy life. HouYi was later conferred the title of God of ZhongBu by the King of Heaven and Lady Mi was conferred Goddess of Luo.2.3 Drink and Food2.3.1 Tang YuanTang Yuan, also called Yuan Xiao, is a kind of stuffed dumpling ball which is made of glutinous rice flour. Its history can date back to the Song Dynasty (960–1279).In Chinese, the pronunciation of Tang Yuan is similar to the word Tuan Yuan, which has the meaning of reunion and happiness in Chinese. Therefore, Tang Yuan is traditional served on the Dongzhi Festival and the Lantern Festival. It is also commonly found at Chinese weddings. It is believed that the new couple will have a sweet and round (no conflict) life. It can be filled or unfilled and its fillings can be chopped peanuts, red bean paste, sesame paste, etc. Besides the wide choice of its fillings, you may also found Tang Yuan of various colors in the market nowadays.2.3.2 Manchu Han Imperial FeastManchu Han Imperial Feast is regarded as the greatest achievement of Imperial Court Food. It is also one of the most luxurious feasts in the Chinese food history. Not counting fruits and。