Han Chinese

Han Chinese ({{zh-stp|s=汉族 |t=漢族 |p=hànzú}}) is a term which refers to the majority ethnic group within China and the largest single human ethnic group in the world. The Han Chinese constitute about 91 percent of the population of mainland China and about 19 percent of the global human population. The name was occasionally translated as the "Chinese proper" in older texts (pre-1980s) and is commonly rendered in Western media as the "ethnic Chinese."

Related Topics:
Ethnic group - China - Human - World - Mainland China - Global human population - 1980s

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The term is used to distinguish the majority from the various minorities in and around China. The name comes from the Han Dynasty which ruled most parts of China proper where Han Chinese originate and which is considered a high point in Chinese civilization. Even today many Chinese people call themselves "Han persons" (Hànrén). The term Han Chinese is sometimes used synonymously with "Chinese" without regard to the 55 other minority Chinese ethnic groups; usage of this kind tends to be frowned upon by Chinese nationals, who regard the phrase Zhongguo ren (???) to be a more precise terminology.

Related Topics:
Various minorities - Han Dynasty - China proper - Civilization - Chinese

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Amongst Southern Chinese, a different term exists within various languages like Cantonese, Hakka and Minnan, but which means essentially the same thing. The term is Tangren (唐人, literally "the people of Tang"). This also derives from another Chinese dynasty, the Tang dynasty, which is regarded as another zenith of Chinese civilization. The phrase probably came into existence due to the fact that the Tang dynasty ruled over broader territories southwards than did the Han dynasty, and its influence was felt far more acutely by Southern Han Chinese. In fact, the term survives in most Chinese references to Chinatown, known as 唐人街 ("Street of Tang People").

Related Topics:
Cantonese - Hakka - Minnan - Tang dynasty - Chinatown

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