What are the differences between Chinese and Japanese traditional culture?

I. Comparison of Chinese and Japanese Customs and Culture

1. Both China and Japan are known as "countries of etiquette". In China, especially for men, many occasions are greeted by shaking hands. When you meet someone for the first time, or when you meet an acquaintance after a long period of time, you express your goodwill by shaking hands to say goodbye or to see someone off, because this is the most common form of greeting and farewell. Sometimes on special occasions, such as congratulations, thanks or condolences to people; both sides of the conversation appeared satisfactory **** the same point; or the two sides of the original contradiction appeared in some good turnaround or complete reconciliation is customary to shake hands as a gift. This can not only show people's basic etiquette, but also through this etiquette to resolve some of the conflicts, so that we can live in peace.

And in Japan, bowing is the most basic etiquette. There is also a deeper lesson in bowing, where the person of lower status bows first and most y. The deeper and longer the bow, the stronger the expression of respect, gratitude, sincerity, honor, humility, and repentance. The Japanese attach great importance to exchanging business cards when meeting for the first time. If you don't bring a card with you when you first meet a Japanese person, not only will you be rude, but the other person will think that you are not a good person to talk to. When exchanging business cards, it is important to bow and receive the card with both hands. Usually, the person of lower status or age is the first to hand over the card. To the Japanese home guests or to the company to visit the guests, to pre-agreed time, there are Japanese people have the habit of giving gifts, visiting friends and relatives, attending banquets, traveling to bring back the お土产(土特品), usually some of the very cheap things, the gift is not in the thick, the gift of the packaging on the very thought, in order to impress the other party, to the other party to express their own feelings.

The Chinese give gifts in pairs, like 2, 6, 8, 9 and other numbers. Japanese people give gifts in general is an odd number, usually with 1, 3, 5, 7, etc., and the Japanese people are very taboo "9" and "4". According to Japanese custom, gifts to individuals should be given in private, not in public. The Japanese taboo green, gifts avoid sending handkerchiefs, combs, lotus flowers, etc.; visit the sick can not send plants with roots.

Chinese people also pay attention to the norms of etiquette, formal occasions, formal dress, the requirements are not too strict, while the Japanese pay great attention to etiquette and clothing. Different occasions require different clothing, especially for men, who must wear a formal suit. An interesting phenomenon in Japan is that when attending weddings and funerals, men wear a black suit. How can you tell if you are attending a wedding or a funeral? You can tell by the tie that the man wears. Those who attend funerals must wear black ties; those who attend weddings will wear a bow tie, or a tie of another color.

2. In terms of belief in the gods, the Yamato people are a people who believe in nature, and nature is a god. Those who go along with it will prosper and those who go against it will perish, just as we Chinese people regard the dragon as the soul of the nation. They believe in such "gods" and "spirits," and they consider their beliefs to be very pious. There are countless shrines and temples all over the country, especially in the Kyoto area. Many tourists visit Kyoto as a temple/shrine destination in Japan. The following is a small compilation. The Japanese have a strong devotion to their gods, and although they are devout, they are also reverent.

Chinese deities are more "friendly" in comparison, as myths are based on political ideas. In China, the gods are shaped similarly to Western Christianity, and all of them tend to teach "truth, goodness, and patience". The Japanese are also very stoic, but there is a difference. As I said before, Chinese deities tend to follow the values of Christianity, emphasizing the equality of all beings, and their images are portrayed in a very lofty and perfect manner. However, this is different from the Western religious and mythological deities, which are characterized by sharp edges. Therefore, Chinese deities are very distinctive.

II. Comparison of food culture in China and Japan

As the saying goes, "Food is the God of the people", and China and Japan, as two countries closely linked geographically and culturally, share some **** in the same language on the key issue of food. Of course, in the end is two different countries, so there are still some differences in the diet. Chinese food and Japanese food, both belong to the product of the Oriental civilization, with subtle, elegant characteristics. A large part of Japanese culture is inherited from Chinese civilization, and food is no exception. However, the Yamato nation is a creative people, the specific geographic environment, limited natural resources, prompted them to continue to innovate, and then unique, which is rooted in the Yamato nation's unique understanding of nature and people. The following is a comparison of some of the food in China and Japan, through which we can understand the concepts of the two cultures, the traditions in the food reflected.

Japanese cuisine respects the idea of bringing out the flavor of the ingredients themselves, and eating them raw is the best option, depending on the situation. Chinese people are not good at raw food, raw materials often have to be fried by frying and stir-frying fried brine stewed and grilled braised and other multi-process production before the pot, plate, on the table. Under the cooking of different temperatures, the raw materials are stereotyped, the original flavor can be enhanced, and the texture is also richer. The formation of the famous eight cuisines, which have a thousand flavors, a thousand stories, as a Chinese, can only feel its vastness, it is difficult to describe its subtlety. It is said that Chinese cuisine is a culture of fire, while Japanese cuisine is a culture of knife. Many countries believe that fire is the origin of human civilization and enlightenment, and raw food is too barbaric. This creates a big difference.

The Japanese take the good parts of foreign cuisine and actively introduce them and re-improve them according to their own palate. The Japanese have a great curiosity about a wide variety of flavors and actively introduce and improve even foreign things as long as they feel good. They often make a difference with careful thought, fine workmanship and distinctive thinking. Nowadays, some bread made in Japan is even better than the bread made in the West; apples are imported from the U.S.A., and after improving the varieties, they have created a new Japanese variety called "Fuji", which has gained worldwide acclaim. However, in terms of Chinese cuisine, they have not yet been able to produce anything that would make Chinese people marvel. However, in the field of ramen, Japan is a master of the art. The beauty of Japanese cuisine is that it is infused with a sense of the seasons. The Japanese love to savor the seasons. For example, when spring arrives, they taste a kind of mountain vegetable tempura, and like to fill all their organs with the smell of spring. The Japanese also enjoy the details of seasonal flowers on the sides of pots and pans. The Chinese, on the other hand, emphasize eating at the right time and temperature, which is essentially much the same. Chinese people are good at health, diet and Chinese medicine is linked to the formation of a unique "food therapy", health care in the daily diet, they are wonderful.

Another specialty of Japanese cuisine is the deep attention to the apparatus. Japanese people not only with the mouth, but also with the eyes to eat. The same is a pleasant atmosphere of pottery, porcelain, Chinese people are more willing to play in the hands, for eating utensils but lack of examination. In Japan, there is a saying: "Dishes are the decoration of the basin, and the dishes served in the beautiful basin are so refined that they are delicious." This may seem like putting the cart before the horse, but I also think it's half true. Tasting does require the coordinated cooperation of the senses of sight and taste. And what the eye sees is never just the dish itself, but also the eating utensils. In this regard, we still need to learn from Japanese food.

The combination of simplicity, natural flavors and refined culture -- this is the true essence of Japanese cuisine. And Chinese cuisine contains philosophy, which is a rarity when viewed in the world. It is often said that China has a history of 4,000 years, and Chinese food culture, indeed, can be felt in this heavy background. It can be said that Chinese food is as endless as a kaleidoscope on the surface, and as vast and deep as a vast sea inside.

Entering the 21st century, the cultures of various countries will compete on the world stage, historical accumulation is an advantage, and innovation is also an advantage. We should extract the essence of other cultures and explore the depth and potential of the traditional diet, so as to carry forward the Chinese diet. By comparing these two aspects, we can study the similarities and differences between Chinese and Japanese cultures, and at the same time, we also have some understanding of Japan as a country. As Chinese people should not only understand their own culture, but also a deeper understanding of foreign cultures, so that we can have a deeper exchange with foreigners, in order to better contribute to the country's economic development.