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China fascinates. It intrigues, it inspires conversation, it impresses. We know about its ancient temples, its legendary wall, its succulent dishes (hello steamed dumplings), and its growing global influence. But one question remains: where do the Chinese come from? Not in the geographical sense—we've all seen the map—but rather: how did this people form? What are its origins , its human history, its roots? Spoiler: it's quite a journey, between migrations, myths, and dynasties.
So fasten your seatbelts, we're going back in time.
Before we talk about emperors, dragons, and calligraphy, we have to start somewhere. And that "somewhere" is a long time ago. No, not just before Jesus Christ. Long before. We're talking 1.7 million years ago . Yes, with rocks and clumsy campfires.
In China, notably at the Zhoukoudian site near Beijing, the remains of the famous Peking Man (Homo erectus pekinensis for the intellectuals in the back) have been found. This very, very distant cousin of modern humans had already taken up residence in China long before the invention of chopsticks... or even the first Chinese Paper Balls !
But let's be honest: these weren't "Chinese" yet. More like hominids in survival mode. It wasn't until Homo sapiens arrived in Asia around 40,000 years ago that things got serious.
Around 10,000 BCE , small groups of people settled permanently in certain river valleys, notably around the Yellow River (the Huang He) and the Yangtze . This is where it gets interesting: they began to cultivate millet in the north, rice in the south, and to raise pigs and dogs.
Yes, yes, the dog is one of the first domesticated animals in China. Man's best friend for ages.
These proto-Chinese villages gradually developed unique cultures, with pottery, tools, and even paintings. These were the beginnings of a civilization, but still far from the imperial China we know.
Okay, let's skip ahead a few thousand years (otherwise you'll lose interest). Let's get to Neolithic cultures like Yangshao and Longshan, which existed between 5000 and 2000 BC. These people laid the foundations of what would become China: agriculture, a hierarchical society, crafts, and... fascinating objects like Chinese figurines , artistic and cultural witnesses of the time. Oh, and of course, the wars between villages, because hey, that's human nature.
They are best known for their stylish, decorated red pottery . Their way of life? Organized farmers, with a division of labor already in place. The women farmed while the men went to carve flint (or vice versa, we don't know, but you get the idea).
They are sedentary, build semi-buried houses (not very Feng Shui, but practical), and begin to form clans.
There, things go up a notch. The pottery becomes black and very refined , the social organization becomes more complex, and above all: we begin to see the first signs of writing , or at least symbols. Central power begins to appear. It is the beginnings of a State.
We also see the first territorial conflicts , with wooden palisades around the villages. Atmosphere.
China, like any civilization, needs to tell itself a story. And what better way to unite a people than to offer them mythical ancestors, veritable Chinese clocks that mark time and collective identity?
Enter the legend: Fuxi, Nuwa, Shennong, and the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi). Figures halfway between gods, inventors, and philosophical kings.
According to legend, Fuxi and Nuwa were brother and sister (and also husband and wife… yes, those were weird times). They are said to have molded the first humans from mud. Fuxi is also said to have invented fishing, writing, and even hunting nets. A real Swiss Army knife.
His name literally means "the divine farmer." He supposedly taught people how to grow plants, use medicinal herbs, and drink tea (thanks to him). Shennong tasted all the plants, even the poisonous ones, to see which ones were healing. We didn't have a lab, but we had courage.
The Yellow Emperor , considered the father of Chinese civilization , is said to have reigned around 2700 BC. He is said to have invented the compass, clothing, wheeled vehicles, Chinese medicine, and even martial arts. Just that.
So, we're talking about legend, right? But these characters served as a symbolic foundation to unite very different peoples around a common identity .
Here, we leave mythology to flirt with "official" history. According to ancient texts, notably the Historical Annals (Shiji), the first Chinese dynasty was the Xia dynasty, founded around 2100 BC by King Yu the Great, a time when the Chinese Lucky Cat already symbolized luck and prosperity in local culture.
He reportedly became famous for taming the Yellow River floods . Apparently, he worked for 13 years without returning home once. Now that's motivation.
Then followed the Shang (1600-1046 BC) and Zhou (1046-256 BC) dynasties.
The Shang, for their part, had already mastered bronze , writing ( primitive Chinese characters ), and a religious system based on ancestors. The Zhou, for their part, invented the famous "Mandate of Heaven" , which allowed an emperor to reign as long as he did not behave like a cad.
It was during this period that the idea of a "Chinese people" truly began to emerge. Diverse cultures, spread across a vast territory, but united under dynasties, a written language, and shared values.
When we talk about "Chinese," we often think of a single entity, much like we imagine a single, uniform Chinese vase . But in reality, China is an incredible patchwork of more than 50 official ethnic groups. The majority are the Han, representing about 92% of the population. But there are also the Zhuang, Hui, Miao, Tibetans, Uyghurs... and many others.
The Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) is a period in Chinese history that saw the emergence of the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), which had a profound impact on Chinese history. Writing, culture, and institutions all crystallized around this period. Confucius, Taoism , and the idea of a strong centralized state emerged from this period.
Being Han is not just a matter of blood: it is about belonging to a culture, a language (Mandarin Chinese, among others), and a common heritage.
But other ethnic groups, while very present, have also shaped China's history. Sometimes integrated, sometimes marginalized, sometimes in conflict, they have enriched the country with their traditions, languages, and customs.
There is not a single origin of the Chinese , but rather many interwoven origins , which tell a story much more complex than a simple family tree.
The origins of the Chinese are not just a matter of prehistory, ancient Chinese vases , or ancient dynasties. It is also a modern construct. Since the 19th century, with the opening up to the world, revolutions, the Republic, communism, the Mao era, and globalization, Chinese identity has been regularly reconstructed, debated, and redefined.
Since the fall of the Qing Empire in 1911, China has sought to reassert its identity . The Han have become the bedrock of the nation, but other ethnic groups have been emphasized within a "harmonious multi-ethnic" framework, at least on paper.
Let's not forget the overseas Chinese! Millions of people of Chinese descent live in Southeast Asia, the United States, Europe, and Africa. Some have been here for generations, others have recently left. All contribute, in their own way, to fostering a pluralistic Chinese identity, far from the clichés surrounding it.
So, what is the origin of the Chinese? It's difficult to answer in one sentence, but we can say this: it is the fruit of a human evolution several millennia old , enriched by powerful myths , structured by organized dynasties , diversified by numerous peoples , and reformulated by modern history .
It's not an origin, it's a path . A little winding, sometimes unclear, but always fascinating. And for those who thought the Chinese were "just Chinese," surprise: they come from everywhere, and a little from nowhere.
And you, did you know that Peking Man lit your barbecue in the Stone Age?