Chinese culture is a complicated and substantive thing. It has been put together over many centuries, which might make it difficult for people outside of the country to grasp. But the basic points of the culture are easy to identify, and they offer clues to how the Chinese view the world and their place in it.

Chinese culture embodies the philosophy of holism. Ancient Chinese philosophers believed that all things are interrelated, and that Heaven, Earth, and Humanity form a unified whole.

This holistic philosophy influences every aspect of Chinese language, literature, and art, as well as the daily lives and habits of the Chinese people. Chinese culture upholds the central position of human beings within the unity of Heaven and Earth. It emphasizes personal ethics and self-cultivation, and the pursuit of moral perfection. Advocating moderation, it seeks balance and harmony in all things.