Chinese people

From Free net encyclopedia

(Redirected from Ethnic Chinese)

The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:

  • A person who resides in and holds citizenship of the People's Republic of China. This definition stems from a legal perspective.
  • The Chinese nation (zhong hua min zu), a supra-ethnic concept which includes the Han Chinese and other established ethnic groups who have lived within the borders of China since at least the Qing Dynasty. This definition stems from a nationality perspective, and includes most overseas Chinese.
  • A person of Han Chinese ancestry, also called ethnic Chinese. This includes most overseas Chinese. This definition stems from a genealogical perspective. Note that overseas Chinese may not identify with the PRC at all.


Many factors must be considered when deciding whether a person is Chinese. Apart from nationality (legal) reasons, place of residence (geographical factors), race (biological reasons) and ancestry (historical and genealogical factors), recognition as a Chinese and identifying with Chinese by that person and other people (mainly with those who share a close or intimate relationship with that person) is also very important.

See also

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