Editing Shanxi (section)

== Culture ==
{{More citations needed section|date=November 2013}}
[[File:Shanxi Museum 20110719.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Shanxi Museum located on the west bank of [[Fen River]] in downtown Taiyuan.]]
[[File:Muta 2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The [[Pagoda of Fogong Temple]], Ying County, built in 1056.]]

=== Language ===
The dialects spoken in Shanxi have traditionally been included in the Northern or [[Mandarin dialects|Mandarin]] group. Since 1985, some linguists have argued that the dialects spoken in most of the province should be treated as a top-level division called [[Jin Chinese|Jin]], based on its preservation of the Middle Chinese [[entering tone]] (stop-final) category, unlike other dialects in northern China. These dialects are also noted for extremely complex [[tone sandhi]] systems. The dialects spoken in some areas in southwestern Shanxi near the borders with Henan and Shaanxi are classified in the [[Zhongyuan Mandarin]] subdivision of the Mandarin group.

=== Cuisine ===
[[Shanxi cuisine]] is most well known for its extensive use of [[vinegar]] as a condiment, as well as for a huge variety of [[noodle]] dishes, particularly [[knife-cut noodles]] or ''daoxiao mian'' ({{lang|zh-hans|刀削面}}), which are served with a range of sauces. A dish originating from [[Taiyuan]], the provincial capital, is [[Taiyuan Tounao]] ({{zh|links=no |s=太原头脑 |l=Taiyuan Head}}). It is a [[breakfast]] dish; a porridge-like stew made with mutton, [[Chinese yam]] ({{lang|zh|山药}}), lotus roots, ''[[Astragalus (plant)|astragalus]] membranaceus'' ({{zh|labels=no |s=黄芪 |l=membranous milk vetch}}), tuber onions, and yellow cooking [[huangjiu|wine]] for additional aroma. It can be enjoyed by dipping pieces of unleavened flatbread into the soup, and is reputed to have medicinal properties. [[Pingyao]] is famous for its unique [[corned beef|salt beef]], while the areas around [[Wutai Shan]] are known for wild [[mushrooms]]. The most popular local spirit is [[fenjiu]], a "light fragrance" variety of [[baijiu]] that is generally sweeter than other northern Chinese spirits.

=== Music ===
[[Shanxi Opera]] ({{lang|zh-hans|晋剧}} ''Jinju'') is the local form of [[Chinese opera]]. It was popularized during the late Qing dynasty, with the help of the then-ubiquitous Shanxi merchants who were active across parts of China. Also called ''Zhonglu Bangzi'' ({{lang|zh|中路梆子}}), it is a type of ''bangzi'' opera ({{lang|zh|梆子}}), a group of operas generally distinguished by their use of wooden clappers for rhythm and by a more energetic singing style; Shanxi opera is also complemented by ''quzi'' ({{lang|zh|曲子}}), a blanket term for more melodic styles from further south. [[Puzhou Opera]] ({{lang|zh-hans|蒲剧}} ''Puju''), from southern Shanxi, is a more ancient type of ''bangzi'' that makes use of very wide linear [[interval (music)|interval]]s.

=== Ancient commerce ===
[[Shanxi merchants]] ({{lang|zh-hant|晉商}} ''Jinshang'') constituted a historical phenomenon that lasted for centuries from the Song to the Qing dynasty. Shanxi merchants ranged far and wide from Central Asia to the coast of eastern China; by the Qing dynasty they were conducting trade across both sides of the Great Wall. During the late Qing dynasty, a new development occurred: the creation of ''piaohao'' ({{lang|zh-hant|票號}}), which were essentially [[bank]]s that provided services like money transfers and transactions, deposits, and loans. After the establishment of the first ''piaohao'' in [[Pingyao]], the bankers in Shanxi dominated China's financial market for centuries until the [[Xinhai Revolt|collapse of Qing dynasty]] and the coming of British banks.