Ground Report

Comparing the Chinese and Japanese cultures

The word Japan “日本” is not written in the Japanese Hiragana or Katakana but Chinese Kanji. “Kan” or “æ¼¢” is the biggest Chinese tribe in China. China is made up of one big tribe and 4 small tribes as represented in the one big star and 4 small surrounding stars on the Chinese red five stars flag. “Ji” or “å­—” means Chinese characters. Why would “Japan” pen himself as a Chinese tribe is not without a reason?

History has it that …..King Shin who united all scattered tribes in China around B.C. 2000 established the Shin Kingdom. He ordered to burn books and writings of all tribes and united the Chinese writing in one single Kanji or known now as traditional Chinese. Mao, in A.D. 1950-1960 simplified the traditional Kanji to a simpler form of Chinese character know as Simplified Chinese.

Tradition also has it that …..Shin wanted to live a long-live-the –king life and ordered one of his closed aids to search the world for the miracle herbs. His aid left knowing full well he would not be able to find the herb and that he would return to have his head cut without the herb. He decided to gather 200 pairs of young men and women and sail forth into the sea. He hit the unknown shore few months later and settled down there. He named the land in Chinese Kanji “日本” – Japan.

The next similarity in the two cultures is calligraphy. Calligraphic may be far too esoteric for Westerner and often is being considered as an art. In China it is still a way of day to day form of writing and communicating. Japanese calligraphy is similar to the Chinese even the Sumi-e of making ink by grinding a solid ink stick on a special stone, and mixing it with water is exactly the same as the Chinese.

Sculpture is another area of similarity between Chinese and Japanese cultures. Traditional Japanese sculptures are mainly subject of Buddhist images such as Tathagata and Bodhisatta. Both use the same sculpture materials such as wood, pottery and stone. Bronze and other metals are seldom used. Both do the finishing often with lacquer, gild and bright colorful paints. Religion wise Japan and China are both Buddhist nations.

On the other hand, there is diversity among similarity of the two too and food is one of them. Japanese cuisine is not found in any part of China. Sashimi and Sushi are exotic to Chinese. So are miso-soup and sukiyaki. May be ramen would be similar to the Chinese noodle not only the food but also the word ramen itself which is the Chinese writing ramen (冷面).    

Sport and martial arts are areas of difference too. Japan is known of it’s Judo, Jujusu, and Sumo while the Chinese is Kang-Fu and Wushu of various schools. Japan plays more Baseball and Football (soccer) of Western sports. Chinese sticks to the Eastern Ping-Pong (Table tennis) and Badminton.

In clothing, kimono is the traditional garment which is still worn today on special occasion by women, men and children in Japan. Kimono is often known as “wafuku” or “華服” which means Chinese dress in Kanji. Strangely “wafuku” that can not be found in any Chinese traditional dress would have a Chinese name. The closest Chinese equivalent to the “wafuku” is the once popular “Chi-Pao” dress worn by women during 1940-1950.

Japanese New Year (正月, shōgatsu) was based  on the Chinese lunisolar calendar and celebrated at the beginning of spring, Japanese still have a custom of sending New Year Post card and most cards have the Chinese zodiac sign of the twelve animals.

Culturally, it is undeniable that China and Japan have so many things in common. Some are exactly the same like the Kanji writing and the calligraphy. Yet, there are also differences. Some are so wide apart like eating raw fish that most Chinese would not even consider trying.  In comparing the two I feel it is more of a comparison between two neighboring tribes than two parted nations.