China (Vegetarian World)

China (universally known by the Chinese characters "秦亜" - but called various names such as Qínyà (Mandarin), Zing6ia5 (Wu), Ceon4aa3 (Jyut), Cin2a1 (Hakka) in various Chinese nations) is a cultural region of East Asia. Today, it is largely synonomous with the ten nations of, , , , , , , , , and. However, the idea of China existed long before the current Chinese Union was formed. The name comes from the Qin Dynasty, which united China for a time.

Chinese culture is distinct. There are major linguistic differences between the Chinese and surrounding peoples such as the Koreans, Japanese, Manchurians, Viet, Thai, Tibetans, and others. However, as a dominant culture for millennia, it has impacted surrounding cultures to a great extent. China is the origin of many inventions that are now part and parcel of modern life. Although there has been turmoil from time to time, China has never completely lost its prestige and today continues to be one of the grandest civilizations in the world, with high living standards and dynamic economies.

Concise History
Ancient China was one of the earliest centers of human civilization. Chinese civilization was also one of the few to invent writing independently, the others being Mesopotamia, Ancient India (Indus Valley Civilization), Maya Civilization, Ancient Greece (Minoan Civilization), and Ancient Egypt.

The first unified Chinese state was established by the short-lived Qin Dynasty in 221 BCE, and this is what gives China its name to this day. The subsequent Han Dynasty ruled China between 206 BCE and 220 CE, and created a lasting Han cultural identity among its populace that would also last to the present day. Many things Chinese have the character for "Han" (漢/汉) in them. For example, the "Hanzi" (Chinese character) writing system literally means "Han characters". After Han's collapse, another period of disunion followed, including the highly chivalric period of the Three Kingdoms. Independent Chinese states of this period also opened diplomatic relations with Japan, introducing the Chinese writing system there. It was during this time that Emperor Wu of Liang (梁武帝) founded the Liang Dynasty. The Liang Dynasty, while only controlling a certain area of China, is still thought of as a golden age, espeicially as far as philosophy goes. Emperor Wu created universities and extending the Confucian civil service exams, demanding that sons of nobles study. He was well read himself and wrote poetry and patronized the arts. Although for governmental affairs he was Confucian in values, he embraced Buddhism as well. He himself was attracted to many Indian traditions. He banned the sacrifice of animals and was against execution. Emperor Wu was a vegetarian, himself, and was a major disseminator of vegetarian around China at that time. He was also a monastic for a brief period of time. It was said that he received the Five Precepts and the Bodhisattva Precepts during his reign, earning him the nickname The Bodhisattva Emperor.

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