Is China really the world's most contiguous culture? Is this actually accepted by a majority of historians?

by Truth_

I have heard quite often that China is the world's longest running/most continuous culture, but having read a number of Chinese history books I have a hard time believing that.

Of course you must first define what "culture," "contiguous," and then later "culture" means, but... assuming we're being generous, what thoughts do you have?

Although you may find similarities in religion over time, was it always the same set/pantheon of gods and spirits?
Although you may find (many) similarities in writing/characters over time, was it always the same throughout the traditional geographical core area of "China," and/or throughout the dynasties?
Although you may find similarities in the language over time, was it always the same throughout the traditional geographical core area of "China," and/or throughout the dynasties?
Was there always the same sense of cultural similarity within the core/traditional area of China?

I don't know what else defines a "culture" or "civilization," but from my amateurish knowledge of Chinese history, "China" has always been a diverse area (including up to today), with many different religions, languages, writing scripts, government styles, sense of identity, etc. So how can we say that "China" is a contiguous civilization? (It certainly seems more so than many others, but that still doesn't make it so).

Searocksandtrees

hi! not discouraging more discussion, but you'll find a good thread on this here, which includes links to a few more

Please give this foreginer living in China some 'outside' world opinion: is it true that China has the longest continuous civilization? but... and some questions on Mexico

SanKyuu39

In a sense, the western concept of China has existed for thousands of years, and is contiguous. However, you are right when you bring up points of the differing people (Southern people vs Northern vs Taiwanese), language (Cantonese vs. Mandarin vs. Hakka, etc.), religion (Confucianism vs. Daoism vs. Traditional Chinese Ancient Animism vs. modern Chinese atheism). A lot of Chinese can't even decide what is "Chinese" or not, with modern day China calling Tibet and Taiwan "China", but those places don't consider themselves so. Many Taiwanese wouldn't even consider themselves Chinese, which you can perceive that however you like, but they do exist. Cantonese and Mandarin are about as close as say Spanish and Italian, but they (Spain and Italy) are two separate countries. I think this question brings up important points.