What is the phenomenon of Japanese holding a group?

The reason why the Japanese love "holding a group" so much has a profound historical background. Geographically, Japan is an island country, such as a single-day ship "hanging on the sea alone", named "Daiwa Guowan". Judging from the ethnic composition, except for a few Ainu people (only over 20,000 people), the Yamato ethnic group accounts for more than 98% of the national population, and its ethnic purity is unique in the world. Moreover, due to the large population and small area, regional cultural differences can easily melt, and the national cultural identity is very strong.

The relatively closed geographical environment of the Japanese archipelago makes the Japanese introverted and pays attention to strengthening the unity on the island to cope with the external environment; National unity and cultural identity provide favorable objective conditions for Japanese people to coordinate and communicate with each other. Judging from the mode of production, the survival of the Japanese nation mainly depends on growing rice and fishing. Because Japan is a mountainous country with few plains, rice planting and water diversion was a complicated project in ancient times, which was difficult to complete with the efforts of only one family and needed the cooperation of many households.

At the same time, Japan is a traditional fishing country, famous as a "fish-eating nation", especially the whaling industry has a long history. Because of long-term fishing, it is easy to produce the effect of "being in the same boat in May", especially whaling needs the close cooperation of many fishing boats. In traditional Japanese ukiyo-e paintings, we can often see the scene of Japanese collective whaling. Dozens of small boats, such as Ye Zhou, call each other, chop waves, shuttle around the whale, or throw harpoons or fly ropes, and their spirit of courage and unity is vividly on the paper. This unique production environment has undoubtedly played an important role in promoting Japanese people's sense of coordination and unity.

Of course, for the Fusang Ancient Road, Japanese social and family organizations are also conducive to enhancing Japanese group consciousness. Although influenced by Confucian culture, there are many similarities between Japan and China in family, such as emphasizing "filial piety", respecting ancestors and emphasizing family interests; Emphasize "loyalty" within the collective and the group. China's five permanent members are "people's righteousness, courtesy, wisdom and faith", while Japanese permanent members are "loyalty, courage and faith".

In family organization, the Japanese pay more attention to the status of the eldest son, and there is a strict hierarchical relationship between the eldest son and the brother. Whether it is folk custom or Japanese law before World War II, it is clearly stipulated that only the eldest son can enjoy the right of inheritance. The eldest son lived with his parents after marriage and became a "home". Other brothers either stayed in this home like employees when they grew up, or they had to leave and set up another "separation".

Generally speaking, the number of non-firstborn sons is much larger than that of firstborn sons, so for most Japanese men, they must leave their families to find another support when they grow up. As a result, they tend to imitate the family organization and establish social groups on which to live, which is the unique "family system" in Japanese society today. Therefore, forming groups is an important way for most Japanese people to survive and live in ancient society. Over time, "like to hold a group" has become a social habit.