Geographical Distribution
The Han belong to the largest ethnic group in China, with about 90% of people in Mainland China being Han. Taiwan also has 90% of its inhabitants as Han Chinese, Hong Kong has about 6.6 million Han Chinese, while Singapore has 2.7 million. The Han have long flourished in China, and more and more people have ventured abroad and settled around the world. Internationally, Han can be found in Macao, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Japan, Laos, India, Cambodia, Malaysia, Russia, United States, Canada, Peru, France and England. Almost 1 in every 5 people on our planet is ethnically Han Chinese, although most of them live in the People’s Republic of China.
Historical Role
At the time of the Han Dynasty, the Han ruled and influenced China, beginning with 206 in British Columbia. The arts and science flourished during this period, which is often called the golden age of China. The period introduced Buddhism, saw the spread of Confucianism and Taoism, and further developed the use of Chinese characters in writing. This was also the beginning of the Silk Road route, which established trade between China and many countries to the west. The first Chinese emperor, Huang-di, also called the Yellow Emperor, who united China, is considered by many Han as an ancestor. Huang-di led the Hua Xia tribe who lived near the Yellow River, hence his title of Yellow Emperor.
Language, Religion and Life Styles
Hanyuwas the original language of the Han, and a language that later developed into an early version of Mandarin Chinese. Then, a Chinese written in the vernacular was increasingly used as a link between and among the many local languages used at that time. Popular religion has also played a large part in the life of the Han. The cult of figures of Chinese mythology and ancestors of the clans has been merged with Confucianism and Taoist Buddhism. The structure of the Han family functioned like a business, with the chief, the director of the treasurer, and the family members all working together. A typical house had different areas and buildings for each member of the family. The food varied from spicy Sichuan cuisine to “small dishes”.
Remarkable Achievements of Han
The golden age of China during the Han Dynasty brought about a renaissance of Chinese literature, philosophy, arts and cuisine. The early Han people presented many discoveries to the outside world that came into contact with them. These included fireworks, rockets, gunpowder, crossbows, cannons and matches. Detectors of paper, printing, paper money, porcelain, silk, lacquer, compass and earthquake have also been developed in China a long time ago.
The Ming Dynasty, also ruled by the Han, contributed to the construction of the Great Wall, which was launched by the first Han Emperor, Huang-di, during the first imperial dynasty. The Huang-di’s terracotta army is also a success of Han. The Terracotta Army and the Great Wall have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Modern Presence and Influence
The modern Han are still praised for their significant contribution to the fields of science and mathematics. Some of them have received Nobel Prizes. Among the recipients of the Han Nobel Prize are Charles K. Kao, Daniel C. Tsui, Chen Ning Yang, Yuan T. Lee, Samuel CC Ting, Roger Y. Tsien, Tsung-Dao Lee and Steven Chu. One of the founders of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is also Han, Tsien Hsue-shen. In 1942, the Manhattan Project was aided by another Han, Chien-Shiung Wu, a Han physicist. Charles Kao is a Han considered to have discovered fiber optics and broadband. Ching W. Tang has also discovered Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) and is considered a leading researcher in the field of organic electronics.