The word "culture" seems simple, but it is actually a big topic. One interpretation in the dictionary is "the sum of wealth created by human beings, especially spiritual wealth, such as literature, art, education and science". Culture is a noun, but its content is extremely rich, including people's thinking, social customs, architecture, diet and so on. Regarding the differences between Chinese and western cultures, from different angles, we must pay different attention to different aspects and have different views. Although I have lived abroad for many years and have friends from different countries and nationalities with different colors, I dare not say that I have a very accurate view of the differences between Chinese and Western cultures, dare not easily criticize whether Western culture is ugly, or underestimate whether China culture has many dross.
With the development of globalization, not only the world has begun to understand China, but also China has made efforts to go global, with more and more exchanges. I believe that more and more people have stepped out of the small world where they used to live, and have the opportunity to understand the cultural backgrounds of different nationalities and countries. Here, I might as well discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Chinese and Western cultures with interested friends from my own small perspective, just to learn from each other's strong points and hope that China will be at the forefront of the world.
Because of the broad meaning of culture, it is difficult to summarize the differences between Chinese and western cultures in simple language. But on the whole, it is the difference between abstraction and image in thinking mode, and it seems that westerners are more practical in life attitude, while China people pay more attention to some spiritual feelings. Westerners are easygoing and casual in character, while China people are relatively reserved and reserved.
literature and art
I believe most people will agree that Chinese and western literature and art have their own strengths. There is a saying that China literature is implicit and good at realism, while foreign countries are good at writing about the psychological activities of characters. There is also a saying that western literature pays attention to the growth of individual mind, while China literature pays attention to the group. If literature has a long history, only ancient Greek literature and ancient Indian literature can be compared with China literature; If the literary tradition continues, the literature of any other country or nation can't be compared with that of China.
In terms of poetry, China's poems of Tang and Song Dynasties are unique in the world, with beautiful rhythm and unique antithesis, and also reflect the unique reserved and restrained character of China people. In addition, on the whole, China's poems are mainly about comfort, while the West is mainly about narration.
In painting, the characteristics of western oil painting are that the coloring can be modified repeatedly and the colors can cover each other. Therefore, the order of applying colors in painting is more random; Chinese painting uses different colors, paying attention to from shallow to deep and leaving blank in advance, meticulous brushwork is rigorous and exquisite, paying attention to delicate techniques, and splashing ink and freehand brushwork is relatively flexible.
Wenzi
Chinese characters are hieroglyphics, and English is said to have originated from hieroglyphics. Twenty-six letters originally originated from Egyptian hieroglyphics, and later the Phoenicians improved and invented the Phoenician alphabet. The Greeks reformed the Phoenician alphabet and created the Greek alphabet. The ancient Romans reformed the Greek alphabet and invented the Latin alphabet, and the English alphabet belongs to the Latin alphabet.
In terms of writing, English does have the advantage of convenient and fluent writing, while Chinese is much more complicated and profound. In terms of expression, there are many Chinese meanings that cannot be expressed in English. Of course, some English humor is also difficult to translate in Chinese, which is probably because cultural differences are a comprehensive way of thinking.
To some extent, people in China are used to using hieroglyphics, and they have stronger memory and thinking ability in images.
Education
The western pragmatic education system is superior to China's exam-oriented education system. Western culture emphasizes analysis and independent thinking, while eastern culture emphasizes induction and memory.
In terms of thinking, the characteristics of the west are to complicate simple things, for example, a question will allow students to put forward their own views from completely different angles; In terms of management, western culture will simplify some complicated things, such as obeying traffic rules, such as implementing a rule and system. As long as there are rules and regulations to follow, it doesn't matter who handles it. Everything is routine and business is business-like.
In management, Chinese thinking complicates simple things, such as a procedure, rules and laws, but often adds the subjective attitude of the people in power and the executors; In terms of thinking, Chinese culture will also simplify some complicated things, for example, a question is that there is only one standard answer to a question.
In terms of basic intelligence, children in China often far surpass those in the West, but they are bound by the stereotype of exam-oriented education. After graduating from college or graduate school, their ability to invent and create has not been fully exerted, so there often appears the problem that what they have learned, memorized and tested in school is useless in practical work. Many people think that the relative backwardness of science in China is related to the educational system determined by the political system.
Catering culture
Europeans agree that there are three great cuisines in the world, each version contains China and France, but there are different opinions about the third one, some say it's Italian, some say it's Turkish, Tunisia or Moroccan. Although we are at loggerheads, we all have a common understanding that diet can often reflect the differences in living habits and cultural thinking of different ethnic groups.
Chinese catering is famous for its diversity and emphasis on the production process and methods, while western catering is characterized by simplicity and convenience.
Catering culture shows that China people sometimes pay more attention to form. Therefore, the ostentation and extravagance and time-consuming of China people's dinner party make westerners feel tongue-tied. In China's cooking, the styles of dishes are ever-changing, and each dish pays great attention to the collocation of color, flavor and fragrance. For example, Sichuan cuisine, Cantonese cuisine and Northeast cuisine can all be listed as a series of signature diets, such as "Quandeju", "Taoyuanju", "Yipin Xuan" and "Imperial Restaurant", etc. The cooking methods are fried, fried, expanded, fried, stewed and steamed, and all kinds of colors, flavors and sauces are emphasized. Therefore, Chinese food is famous in the world, and no foreigner doesn't like it. Western food, in fact, is similar and simple. Most of it is made by baking and roasting. Except steak and lamb chop, it is hamburger fillets. Although hamburgers are criticized as unhealthy food, they still account for a considerable proportion abroad. Therefore, the combination of meat, vegetables and bread is really convenient and easy to use, saving time, but the taste is unaccustomed to many people in China, but the simplicity in face form is actually of great significance.
In addition, the separate dining system in western catering is also very different from the dining habits of Chinese food. Personally, I think the separate meal system has more important health significance.
Architectural culture
If the father of architecture is technology and the mother of architecture is aesthetics, the soul of architecture is ideology and culture.
China's large palace buildings are characterized by a central axis, with ancillary buildings placed symmetrically on both sides. It embodies the order of monarch and ministers and the concept of respecting the elders in China's political and cultural system, and has the inherent characteristics of stability, moderation, introversion, conservatism and harmony. China's thought of power regime can be traced from palace buildings, and China's thought of harmony between man and nature and artistic aesthetic taste can be found from garden buildings.
Western architecture has experienced different historical periods with different styles, which is in sharp contrast with the architectural style of China, which has been unified by Confucianism for more than two thousand years. The characteristics of western architecture in each development stage are very different (so there are specific nouns to name buildings), and people with a little common sense can distinguish Gothic architecture from Baroque architecture at a glance; However, there are very few traces of delayed changes in China architecture in different historical periods, unless professionals can correctly date an ancient China architecture from the nuances such as the number of stories of the arch (aside from other technical means, only from the architectural style).
On the whole, another feature of western architecture is its openness, magnificence and unobstructed view. This is in sharp contrast with the closed, restrained and hidden wall culture in China.
Spiritual culture
China is a country with a long history, and its spiritual and cultural richness is recognized by the world. I ching, hundred schools of thought, etc. are profound and profound, which has a far-reaching impact on the world. For example, Leibniz, a western scientist, saw the clue of binary from the gossip deduction of the Book of Changes, which inspired him to apply binary to electronic computers and laid a solid foundation for today's computer science and information science. Many western military strategists have devoted themselves to studying Sun Tzu's Art of War.
China culture is characterized by the trinity of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Confucianism advocates "joining the WTO", while Taoism and Buddhism advocate "being born", which complement each other and shape the unique cultural connotation of China.
The main contributions of Confucianism are the spirit of actively joining the WTO and the spirit of "keeping away from ghosts and gods". However, its concept of "hierarchy" and its "ethical code" for maintaining the unity and stability of the whole feudal society should be eliminated. The idea of "the mean" (impartiality) is not conducive to the competition in modern society, nor to the cultivation of innovative spirit, so we should also take advantage of its advantages and avoid its disadvantages.
The thoughts of Taoism and Buddhism are mainly embodied in "being born". The thoughts of "doing nothing" and "Taoism is natural" look at the world from a surreal perspective, which is not limited to "food, clothing, housing and transportation" in the world, but pursues a super spiritual realm (the natural environment at that time allowed him to think freely). This spirit is embodied in art, that is, the interpretation of the so-called "artistic conception" has far-reaching significance in art history, both in China and the West.
Buddhists (referring to China-style Zen Buddhism) pay attention to "samsara", emphasizing that "good is rewarded with good, and evil with evil". They believe that there are buddhas everywhere in the world, and as long as there are buddhas in their hearts, they can become buddhas without having to practice in seclusion. The introduction of this thought has played a great role in shaping China's cultural psychology, especially among the people. Among intellectuals, it also had a great influence.
Due to the influence and edification of Hebrew culture in the west, religion plays an indispensable role in historical development. In the Middle Ages, it once monopolized the whole West, and the power of the church reached the point where it dominated the operation of the country. At the same time, the influence of Greek and Roman cultures on the West is quite far-reaching. After the Renaissance, their functions have been brought into full play, which can be said to have a decisive impact on the development of the modern and contemporary West. Among them, "scientific spirit" and "democratic spirit" are their treasures. The research of natural science and social science has developed vigorously, and the country's awareness of legal system and human rights has been thoroughly implemented.
Any religious belief based on goodness and righteousness in any country should be respected.
Scientific development
China's other inventions, such as gunpowder, compass, seismograph, papermaking, printing, magnetic pole principle, seismograph, typesetting and printing methods of movable type printing, etc., some of which have also been shown to the world at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
If China's culture shows an inward-seeking vitality, then the West shows an outward-expanding vitality. If the object of China's cultural spirit is more "people", then the West pays more attention to "things" precisely because it pays attention to things and separates them. "Things" is the object to be studied by "people", unlike China, where "people" and "things" are unified and pay attention to "harmony between man and nature".
Because of the opposition between "people" and "things" in the west, it is based on this spirit that people try to understand objective things, and the scientific spirit is gradually born. And China pays attention to the harmony between man and nature, just like brothers, so he will not study it with his heart, so there will be no birth of scientific spirit. The scientific inventions of early China were only based on practical purposes, and did not refine what he found into knowledge and do systematic research. This also caused China's original invention to become a tool for others to use and develop.
Western culture has gone through a certain development process to conquer nature, and it has been recognized that it is necessary to protect nature as the environment for human survival. Based on the original intention of looking for objective natural laws, there are all ways to measure and summarize it scientifically. Under the guidance of this method, the unequal political system and the relationship between monarch and minister will lead to doubt and overthrow. As a result, people's self-awareness has been strengthened, and the corresponding social system has been changed and established.
In contrast, the characteristics of Chinese culture, such as moderation, harmony and ease of life, tend to form an attitude of "settling for second best" or being content with the status quo. This attitude of China people certainly has its philosophical side of life, but it indulges the accumulation of social problems to some extent by not questioning the injustice of the world and insisting on theoretical discussion.
democracy and the rule of law
The "democratic spirit" of western culture emphasizes individual rights and equality, that is, recognizing others, equality between people, being reasonable, depending on the majority, and respecting individual basic rights and freedoms.
In fact, China is not without democracy. For example, Mencius put forward that "the people are the most important, the monarch is the least, and the country is the second", "Don't do to others what you don't want them to do to you", "Those who lose the people's hearts will lose the world", "Those who gain the Tao will be helped more, and those who lose it will be helped less" and so on.
Under the influence of the "ethical standard" thought, China did not seem to explore the rule of law enough, but worked too hard on the relationship between personnel and human feelings. From this perspective, the person in power is the head of the family, but the scope of this family is relatively large. If we want to make the family and the country exist in an orderly way through the ethical birthright thought, and rely on the moral order that advocates tenderness to ensure a fair social order, it will inevitably produce many disadvantages. The development of today's society, when everyone can't get paid according to their needs, still needs a reasonable and perfect legal framework supervision mechanism to restrain those illegal acts driven solely by economic interests, so as to protect the basic interests of individual people, otherwise, the Sanlu incident will not happen again.
Collective and individual
China culture focuses on the collective, while western culture focuses on the individual's basic life rights and freedom. Therefore, there is a powerful figure in China, such as Qin Shihuang and Zhu Yuanzhang, and such a powerful dictator can completely change the face of China.
Although we also advocate seeking common ground while reserving differences, most people are basically used to eliminating different kinds, which is why once there are one or two discordant voices, they will be attacked by groups. China people emphasize that individuals should obey the collective, should integrate themselves into the collective, do not flaunt themselves, and should reflect the collective will and style everywhere. Focusing on the overall situation, individual interests, even individual dignity, can be sacrificed for the benefit of the overall situation.
Because of the strong sense of group, "the eyes of the world" has a powerful influence in China. Some people say that foreigners pay more attention to what they are doing, while China always pays attention to what others are doing.
Westerners advocate keeping their own lifestyles because they pay attention to themselves.
attachment to one's family
Westerners pay more attention to the relationship between marriage and spouse than to the relationship between parents and children. China paid attention to the concept of family, especially the relationship between parents and children.
The reports on Gates' retirement reflect the differences between China and the West. The European and American media are concerned about the future of Microsoft after Gates leaves office, and the donations to Gates are often brushed aside. Chinese public opinion, on the other hand, focuses on marveling at the amount of donations raised by Gates, leaving no property for his children, and emphasizes that Gates' behavior highlights the entrepreneur's moral height, and some media have not forgotten to ridicule the "meanness" of the rich in China.
In the eyes of westerners, they put themselves in the first place and are responsible for their own lives. Children are independent individuals, equal to their parents and equally responsible for their own lives. Therefore, parents and children are also very polite, "please" and "thank you" are to be said every time, and adults have their own independent living space;
In the eyes of China people, children are the whole and sustenance of their parents' lives. Subconsciously, they are regarded as a part of their parents' industries. Although family relations are closer than those in the West, the contradictions become complicated accordingly.
Relationship between rich and poor
There is an explanation in economics: the pursuit of wealth by individuals or enterprises is a contribution to society (of course, this refers to the wealth legally obtained through the market). Adam Smith said that the process of people's pursuit of maximizing their own welfare is the process of moral establishment. In fact, human beings bid farewell to the jungle society and develop into a welfare society, and regard charity as an unshirkable duty, which is not unrelated to the moral drive. In the market environment, people pursue wealth and gradually improve their moral level.
Therefore, in western society, there is such a concept: the creation of wealth by individuals or enterprises is the main guarantee of society. Therefore, it is not surprising that the western media only reported in one sentence that Gates donated all his wealth to the society. They pay more attention to Microsoft's future prospects, because as long as companies like Microsoft make money, society can be in a virtuous circle of protection and progress. In the eyes of the media, Gates' donation is just the icing on the cake of a virtuous circle system.
In China, because social welfare construction has not yet taken shape, and folk charity is subject to many restrictions, people don't care how much money enterprises or rich people earn, but prefer to see real things, so people exclaim the amount of Gates' donation with their own eyes.
At the same time, due to the lack of transparency of tax fiscal expenditure, the poor do not care about the usefulness of the rich in paying taxes, and there is no respect for the rich who have really contributed to society. Even because the society is too flattering to wealth, it will cause more serious grade injustice, resulting in a plot of hating the rich. In this way, it is not conducive to the rich to give back their wealth to society more actively, which becomes a vicious circle.
Concept of life
In the war, westerners always regard life as the first priority, and don't make meaningless resistance and sacrifice. However, if China surrenders and runs away, it will be intolerable.
Chinese and western medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine are two incomparable and complementary medical systems, each with its own material basis and epistemological premise. There is no difference between them, only the difference in indications. Western medicine pays attention to treating symptoms, with the main purpose of quickly relieving symptoms, which has inflammation and anti-inflammation, and has fever and fever reduction; Traditional Chinese medicine pays attention to the root cause and regulates itself, but the speed of relieving external diseases is slow, and it is easy to cause loss to body organs because of the slow effect. Therefore, the combination of Chinese and western medicine has been widely accepted at present, which is a progressive significance of the integration of Chinese and western cultures. It is proved that Chinese and western cultures are not irreconcilable contradictions.
Humanistic character
Chinese character is relatively reserved, while westerners are relatively easy-going. Because the west attaches importance to individuals, people are more easygoing, such as calling each other names, while downplaying status and age. China people stress a collective environment, so there are more rules in addressing than in the west.
China people pay attention to subtlety and tact, which further influenced China's aesthetic and cultural psychology. For example, in aesthetics, women pay attention to the implicit beauty of "smiling without showing their teeth", while in literature and art, they pay attention to the implicit beauty and emphasize expression rather than reproduction.
Relatively speaking, the West emphasizes the publicity of individuality and the full display of its own charm, including the charm of the body (such as the beauty of the human body shown in Greek mythology and the sculpture art developed later).
Perhaps, we have to admit that China lags behind the West in literature and art, film and television media, economic development, philosophy and history, but this is a political reason. The root cause should be found from the social system and political strategy-whether some people in power have reached an admirable level of responsibility for the future of mankind from their own personality, spiritual realm and cultural level; Whether the quality of the ruling class's understanding of modern countries is good enough or not, and the political restrictions, repression and imprisonment decided by being closed and conservative and narrow-minded will affect the development of modern culture.
To discuss the cultural differences between China and the West is not to narrowly care about the high and low. Different nationalities in the world and different cultures of the East and the West are absorbing each other and developing in the process of mutual absorption and infiltration. Western culture has absorbed the essence of many eastern cultures, and the same eastern culture has absorbed the essence of many western cultures and extended itself. They have all contributed to the development of world culture, and each of them has different characteristics, so we should not arbitrarily criticize either side.
In the future world, it is difficult to distinguish between eastern culture and western culture. With the development of world globalization, various cultures have already integrated with each other, and it is difficult to draw a dividing line. Just like China people eating hamburgers and playing with the Internet, Westerners are preaching the spirit of Lei Feng, eating Chinese food and using chopsticks.
We should recognize our respective cultural advantages and disadvantages, so as to foster strengths and avoid weaknesses. Instead of blindly worshipping foreign things and flattering foreign countries, it is not arrogant. Today's world is open, competitive and cooperative. Since we agree with "people-oriented", as long as it is beneficial to the people, society and the country, good management experience and scientific and cultural development are worth learning and learning.
Perhaps there is a certain distance between our current development and that of developed countries, which does not mean that our cultural foundation and humanistic foundation are insufficient. We need rational new thinking to restrain the social damage caused by those who have vested interests. To be precise, this damage is the result that a considerable number of leaders put personal interests and face above the interests of the country and the nation, and their ideological consciousness can't keep up with the process of human modernization and civilization, and they don't have a broad mind of "being kind and caring for others" and refuse to accept the concept of progress. China has a profound cultural heritage, and needs better management and development. It is not that some people get rich to achieve their goals. In fact, it is more necessary for the rational elite to improve their life values through their own cultivation, jump out of the comfortable and comfortable living environment, stand at a higher level and consciously shoulder more social responsibilities. On the internet, we can already see that countless people are actively exploring, quietly working hard and making unremitting efforts. More and more people are paying attention to the social focus that is actually related to themselves. Then, the imperfect side will be changed one day.
Due to the limitation of personal knowledge, there must be many shortcomings or deficiencies, so it is a good idea to learn from each other and discuss them.
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There is a short article on the Internet attached below, which combines some conversations on the way of American Apollo spacecraft flying to the moon more than 30 years ago with the scene of the just successful visit of Shenzhou 7, which is a comparison between Chinese and Western cultures for friends who are interested in the comparison between Chinese and Western cultures:
First of all, the dialogue between Chinese astronauts and administrative and military chiefs-short, very China-like a part of a political document (a bit boring), and you can immediately feel a kind of "human" relationship between "up" and "down"-completed a kind of traditional etiquette in China.
Cao Gangchuan: You have worked hard! How do you feel now
Yang Weili: I feel good. Thank you for your concern.
Cao Gangchuan: Now, I'm talking to you from the Beijing Aerospace Command Center. At present, all systems are working normally, the landing site preparation is ready, and the spacecraft will return as planned. Here, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission, and on behalf of President Jiang, I would like to extend my sincere greetings to you! I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to you for your great contribution to China's space industry! I hope you will make persistent efforts, operate carefully and finish the scheduled work. The motherland and people are looking forward to your triumph.
Yang Weili: Thank you for your concern and encouragement. Please rest assured that I will work hard, do the follow-up work well and give a satisfactory answer to the motherland and people.
The following is a conversation during Apollo's trip to the moon in 1969. One side was three American astronauts, and the other side was then American President Nixon. The general feeling is that both presidents and astronauts talk too casually, too much like natural people, and a bit indecent (according to China standards)-
Nixon: There is a question, which I think everyone is willing to ask. We saw that your cabin outside the earth was very bumpy, so I thought, is this the most difficult moment of this trip? Is it-are any of you seasick?
Armstrong: No, I don't get seasick. Although this is the most difficult moment in our voyage, it is also the most comfortable moment. You can miss our words.
Nixon: OK, OK, I know you can share our feelings here. Besides, can you know something about this place? Ever heard of the All-Star Game?
Armstrong: Yes, sir. The spokesman of the control center gives us news every day.
Collins: They report to us every day.
Nixon: Do you support the national team or the American team?
Armstrong: I am on the side of the national team.
Aldrin: I'm impartial, sir.
Collins: By the way, me too.
Nixon: This is the politician in the group, isn't it?
Armstrong: We are sorry that you missed this event.
Nixon: Yes, yes-have you heard about this?
Armstrong: We also heard that-
Nixon: It's raining-
Armstrong: It's raining. And we haven't been able to control the weather yet, but we can treat it as tomorrow's task.
Nixon: Yes, yes. Then, I just want to make a summary of everything, because I don't want to delay your's time. You still have a lot to do. That's amazing. You guys look really energetic. Is your as healthy as your?
Armstrong: Oh, we feel great. Mr president ...
Nixon: Well, let me conclude by saying one more thing. I thought, yes, when you came down, we knew it was a great achievement, and the whole process was only eight days, just one week, a long week, but it was the greatest week in the history of the world. Because of what happened in this week, the world has become infinitely vast ... For this, we want to thank you ...