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During my amazing trip to Japan in November video. I hope you enjoy it.China is an
2008, I had the incredible good fortune of extremely large country, and the
staying with Fukiko Yuki Teramachi in her customs and traditions of its people vary
traditional Japanese home, which by geography and ethnicity.
she operates as a guesthouse.
More than 1 billion people live in
Fukiko is a fantastic hostess, who provided China, according to the Asia Society,
me with one of the richest travel experiences representing 56 ethnic minority groups.
Ive ever had.
The largest group is the Han Chinese,
I slept on a futon in a tatami-ed room. She with about 900 million people. Other
cooked me delicious Japanese dishes using groups include the Tibetans, the
fresh produce from her organic Mongols, the Manchus, the Naxi, and
garden, dressed me in one of her beautiful the Hezhen, which is smallest group,
kimonos, arranged an interview with a with fewer than 2,000 people.
meiko (a geisha in training), and took me on a "Significantly, individuals within
walking tour of her village, among many other communities create their own culture,"
things.Every morning before breakfast we
said Cristina De Rossi, an
chanted together to her ancestors. She told
anthropologist at Barnet and Southgate
me the story of her mother's life.
Fukiko's own life has not been easy (for one
College in London. Culture includes
thing, she is a breast cancer survivor). So the religion, food, style, language, marriage,
simplicity with which she lives, and the peace music, morals and many other things
that surround her are even more inspirational. that make up how a group acts and
If you watch the video below, you will hear me interacts. Here is a brief overview of
make a little gasp after she demonstrates how some elements of the Chinese culture.
to open the door to the main room in her ReligionThe Chinese Communist
home. I remember clearly the thought behind
Party that rules the nation is officially
that sharp intake of breath.
atheist, though it is gradually becoming
It was this: if we all paid more attention to the
more tolerant of religions, according to
exquisite beauty of simple tasks, and to doing
simple things in beautiful ways, instead of the Council on Foreign Relations.
being so concerned about having more of this Currently, there are only five official
and more of that, the world would be a much religions. Any religion other than
better place in which to live. Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism
In the few days I was with Fukiko, I made and Protestantism are illegal, even
many gaffs and mistakes. I also learned so though the Chinese constitution states
many things about her, about Japan, about that people are allowed freedom of
myself, and about life.
religion. The gradual tolerance of
Among the lessons were the seven in the
religion has only started to progress in Chaozhou as there is between Italian
the past few decades. and French."
The official national language of China is
About a quarter of the people practice Ptnghu, a type of Mandarin spoken
Taoism and Confucianism and other in the capital Beijing, according to
traditional religions. There are also small the Order of the President of the
numbers of Buddhists, Muslims and People's Republic of China. Many
Christians. Although numerous Chinese are also fluent in English.
Protestant and Catholic ministries have FoodLike other aspects of Chinese
been active in the country since the life, cuisine is heavily influenced by
early 19th century, they have made little geography and ethnic diversity. Among
progress in converting Chinese to these the main styles of Chinese cooking are
religions.LanguageThere are Cantonese, which features stir-fried
seven major groups of dialects of the dishes, and Szechuan, which relies
Chinese language, which each have heavily on use of peanuts, sesame
paste and ginger and is known for its
their own variations, according
spiciness.Rice is not only a major food
to Mount Holyoke College. Mandarin
source in China; it is also a major
dialects are spoken by 71.5 percent of element that helped grow their society,
the population, followed by Wu (8.5 according to "Pathways to Asian
percent), Yue (also called Cantonese; 5 Civilizations: Tracing the Origins
percent), Xiang (4.8 percent), Min (4.1 and Spread of Rice and Rice
percent), Hakka (3.7 percent) and Gan Cultures," an 2011 article in the journal
(2.4 percent). Rice by Dorian Q. Fuller. The Chinese
word for rice is fan, which also means
Chinese dialects are very different, "meal," and it is a staple of their diet, as
according to Jerry Norman, a former are bean sprouts, cabbage and
professor of linguistics at the University scallions. Because they do not consume
of Washington and author of "Chinese a lot of meat occasionally pork or
(Cambridge Language Surveys)" chicken tofu is a main source
of protein for the Chinese.
(Cambridge University Press, 1988).
The ArtsChinese art is greatly
"Chinese is rather more like a language
influenced by the countrys rich spiritual
family than a single language made up
and mystical history. Many sculptures
of a number of regional forms," he and paintings depict spiritual figures of
wrote. "The Chinese dialectal complex is Buddhism, according to
in many ways analogous to the the Metropolitan Museum of
Romance language family in Europe. To Art.Many musical instruments are
take an extreme example, there is integral to Chinese culture, including the
probably as much difference between flute-like xun and the guqin, which is in
the dialects of Peking [Beijing] and the zither family. Eastern-style martial
arts were also developed in China, and
it is the birthplace of kung fu. This the Japanese people since ancient
fighting technique is based on animal times. The age-old Japanese traditions
movements and was created in the mid- and customs which give a unique
character to the lifestyle of the Japanese
1600s, according to Black Belt
people have to be experienced to be
Magazine.
truly appreciated. Some of the unique
Ancient Chinese were avid writers and aspects of Japanese life are mentioned
philosophers especially during here as an introduction to the traditions
the Ming and Qing dynasties and of Japan.
that is reflected in the countrys rich
liturgical history. Japanese Gardens: The original
Customs and Japanese gardens were inspired by
Buddhist and Chinese philosophy and
celebrations later evolved to have their own distinct
The largest festival also called the Japanese identity. The gardens found in
Spring Festival marks the beginning Japanese temples and shrines are
inspired by the Shinto religion and the
of the Lunar New Year. It falls between belief in an ideal state of harmony. The
mid-January and mid-February and is a Japanese attempt to recreate this
time to honor ancestors. During the 15- idealized harmony in their beautifully
designed gardens that include aspects
day celebration, the Chinese do such as water, rocks, gravel, moss and
something every day to welcome the miniature plants or Bonsai. One of the
new year, such as eat rice congee and most famous Zen Rock Gardens in Japan
is the Ryoan-ji Zen Rock Garden in
mustard greens to cleanse the body, Kyoto.
according to the University of
Victoria. The holiday is marked with Japanese Architecture: Traditional
Japanese Architecture has a distinct
fireworks and parades featuring dancers style deeply influenced by Buddhism
dressed as dragons.Many people make and Shintoism. Houses and temples
pilgrimages to Confucius' birthplace in made of wood, placed on stilts to raise
them above the ground, and with
Shandong Province on his birthday, sloping roofs made of thatch or tiles
Sept. 28. The birthday of Guanyin, the create a distinctive silhouette in
goddess of mercy, is observed by traditional Japanese architecture. The
use of lightweight wood and bamboo to
visiting Taoist temples. It falls between
create Fusuma (sliding doors) and straw
late March and late April. Similar or woven grass to create Tatami (mats)
celebrations mark the birthday of Mazu, are other unique features of Japanese
the goddess of the sea (also known as architectural design. People usually sat
on the floor and furniture only came into
Tianhou), in May or June. The Moon widespread use after the late-nineteenth
Festival is celebrated in September or and early twentieth century.
October with fireworks, paper lanterns
Japanese Tea Ceremony: The
and moon gazing. Japanese Japanese ceremony of preparing and
Traditions offering tea to revered guests is a formal
Japan is known for its unique culture and and stylized ritual, almost like a
heritage, which has been preserved by meditative performance. The art or skill
of preparing tea and all the elements of delightful ambience of the blooming
the tea ceremony have special and Cherry flowers. The Cherry Blossom
symbolic meaning. Deeply influenced by festivals at Okinawa and at Matsuyama
Zen Buddhism, the Japanese tea Castle in Ehime prefecture are the best-
ceremony has evolved into a cultural known among many flower festivals
ritual which means much more than the across Japan. The natural beauty of the
mere sampling of powdered green tea, Cherry blossom season is celebrated by
and is a unique part of Japanese the Japanese in their art and music, and
traditions. even in the designs of their traditional
clothing, the Kimono.
Japanese Cuisine: Japan is an island
nation and seafood plays an important Japanese Kimono: The traditional
role in Japanese cuisine. Rice and fish Japanese costume, the Kimono, is a
along with vegetables are eaten by most graceful full-length robe that falls from
Japanese. Tofu or soy bean curd is the wearer's shoulders to the ankles.
another popular and healthy dish often The robe is tied around the middle with
consumed by the Japanese people. a sash called the Obi. Kimonos for
Japanese food such as Sushi (rice special occasions were made of rich
flavored with vinegar and combined with fabric such as silk, satin and brocade
seafood or seaweed and sometimes and feature designs inspired by nature
vegetables) and Sashimi (cut and sliced such as Cherry blossoms, autumn
raw meat, usually seafood) are forms of leaves, butterflies and pine trees.
Japanese cuisine that have become Kimonos are now worn mostly for
famous worldwide. Teppanyaki or food ceremonial occasions and events such
cooked on an iron griddle is another as festivals and marriages.
popular form of Japanese cuisine. Sake
or Japanese rice wine is also drunk at Japanese Painting: Japan has a long
traditional meals as a toast to the health tradition of painting and woodblock
and long life of one's dining printing. Some of the famous Japanese
companions. painters are Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-
1858) who is famous for the Ukiyo-e or
Japanese Festivals: The Japanese woodblock printing style of art. Another
people celebrate many festivals, most of famous Japanese painter is Katsushika
which are of the Buddhist and Shinto Hokusai (1760-1849) who is famous for
religions. Different temples or shrines a series of woodblock prints depicting
across Japan have their own specific Mount Fuji. The best known among
Matsuri or festive holiday. Some festivals these is The Great Wave off Kanagawa.
that began long ago are also celebrated
today in a modern form. These include Japanese Calligraphy: The Japanese
Aomori Nebuta Festival, the Hadaka script consists of characters which were
Matsuri Festival and the Cherry Blossom traditionally painted using smooth
Festivals, which are an integral part of brushstrokes on handmade paper. The
Japanese culture. fine art of calligraphy requires many
years of practice and was considered
Cherry Blossom Festivals: Every year essential learning for an accomplished
in spring the Japanese people take time person in Japanese society.
out to appreciate the beauty of nature
as the Cherry trees burst into full bloom Ikebana: The Japanese cultural practice
and their lovely pink flowers offer a of flower arrangement is a fine art that
wonderfully appealing sight. People encompasses the ideas of aesthetics,
picnic in the Cherry groves, drink tea spirituality, discipline and harmony with
and Sake and enjoy music in the nature. It is believed to have evolved
from the Buddhist practice of offering
flowers in memory of those who have Seafood plays an important role
passed away. The emphasis on in Japanese cuisine. Rice and
minimalism, attention to the line and fish along with vegetables are
form of the plants or flowers used in an
arrangement and the harmony of the eaten by most Japanese.
overall arrangement exemplify this Tofu or soy bean curd is a
Japanese tradition.
popular and healthy dish.
There are many more fascinating Sushi (rice flavored with vinegar
aspects of traditional Japanese culture, and combined with seafood or
such as viewing Mount Fuji, the Samurai Japanese
seaweed and sometimes
Code, Sumo Wrestling and the role of Cuisine:
the Geisha. You can find out more about vegetables) and Sashimi (cut
these uniquely Japanese traditions when and sliced raw meat, usually
you visit this fascinating country.
seafood) are famous Japanese
cuisines.
Filipino
Customs and
Traditions
Mano po Our culture is a big
reflection of our great and
complex history. It is
influenced by most of the
people we have interacted
with. A blend of the Malayo-
Polynesian and Hispanic
culture with the influence from
Chinese, Indians Arabs, and
other Asian cultures really
contribute to the customs and
traditions of the Filipinos.