In the West, independence and freedom of choice are highly valued. Though modern China has moved past these narrowly defined roles, the Chinese today are still used to thinking … It can be said that generally the West has a Christian moral framework. We found Chinese Yin-Yang thinking was compatible with Western critical thinking practices but revealed an ability to develop more encompassing creative solutiuons to resolving the given paradox. While Communism is not practiced in China today, its influence lingers in education and strong one-party government control of commerce and the populace. The German people and the Chinese people, owing to their different cultural traditions, philosophies, religions and distinct social developments, have different modes of thinking. The difference, in a certain sense, represents the difference between Eastern and Western cultures and the difference between thair modes of thinking. But, hopefully through this article, you can understand how and why Chinese thought has developed and can appreciate some of its benefits. Different conflicts: In China, the selfishness of consumerism conflicts with an inbuilt regard for family and society. More on Traffic in China>>>. display: none !important;
In the latter world, being polite makes you stand out from the crowd. It can be explained as the classifying feeling course of distinguishing and simplifying o outside objects. Some differences between Western and Chinese thought patterns are highlighted to help language teachers better prepare teaching strategies for Chinese-speaking students. People in the East tend to look at the whole picture and all the details, whereas people in the West concentrate on the main point or goal. Thus is it safe to say that Eastern philosophy is classical Chinese, while Western philosophy is more Latin in its roots. In China, many people are prepared to do things for the good of society. When visiting China (if coming from a Western country), it will help you greatly to think about the differences between Eastern and Western thinking, in order to understand Chinese culture, and to avoid so much culture shock. heavily stereotyped, generalized, and polarized. ) Actions have reinforced thought patterns, and established thought has led to more of the same actions, in a chicken-and-egg scenario lasting millennia.
This article discusses the many important differences in the thinking styles between Chinese and European North Americans (Americans and Canadians of European descent), as Chinese thought processes have always been difficult to comprehend. You can see this when you are offered a choice of drink before a meeting or when visiting someone’s house. It might surprise you how people from two different cultures can have such different thinking and attitudes! Western dialectical thinking is fundamentally consistent with the laws of formal logic, and aggressive in the sense that contradiction requires synthesis rather than mere acceptance.
This is because it allows us to engage in an interesting comparison. © 2020 ChineseLearnOnline.com. the school system, exercises, politeness, rituals). Keep on questioning after you arrive in China, but in many situations it may be advisable to keep your thoughts to yourself. In the Chinese world, politeness is part of a basic set of principles that has to be followed by all. Though Christianity teaches love for all people, unity, and an acceptance of God's word, its (Protestant) interpretation in the West tends to support individual, focused, linear progress ("innovation") towards a heavenly goal, and a questioning attitude in the pursuit of truth. Where a Chinese person does assist one of his friends (whether directly or indirectly), this assistance is noted by both sides. Basically Westerners seem always to have been individualistic externalists, whereas the Chinese seem always to have been society-favoring internalists.
Hopefully you will also be more understanding of the culture of the people of China, especially if you come to visit yourself. Chinese vs Western Culture. In the West, the indulgence of consumerism goes against the moral and rational virtues of simplicity and prudence, humility and frugality. Chinese honor them as symbols of God. However, in China people buy cars to fit in, whereas in the West people buy cars to stand out! Lead them with excellence and put them in their place through roles and ritual practices, and in addition to developing a sense of shame, they will order themselves harmoniously." Not being up front with your opinions and ideas might be considered rude in Western culture, whereas in Chinese culture it is considered polite, since by doing so they are allowing you to save face. Different behavior: In China, for example, people drive cars in the way (local) society deems okay, with no guilt regarding the law. Democracy, in its externalized focus on the individual, transparency (the truth will out), and questioning of government, can be seen to encourage "Western thought" even more than Communism and single-party government encourages "Eastern thought". While the modern influences of capitalism and consumerism are shared the world over, established thought processes in China and the West have produced differing responses and tensions in modern society. share their thoughts. In any case this ancestor veneration has again influenced thought in the direction of repetition, society, and shame. Chinese philosophy (Confucianism) can be summarized as: Socrates and Plato, the founders of rationalism, taught individual understanding, through rational deductive thought, as the basis for comprehending the world.
Chinese Culture vs. Western and American Culture There are many different aspects on Ancient Chinese culture that differ from Western and American culture. While China is surrounded by huge mountain ranges, deserts, and ocean , Western (European) nations have been surrounded by relatively smaller geographical obstacles and … 2. Basically there are four ancient influences (geography, history, philosophy, and religion) and three modern influences (government, capitalism, and consumerism). Here is one of the great divides between Western and Chinese ways of thinking and writing. ZHENG (1992) said in his book A Comparative Study on Cultures in China and the West that English is a language of sound which has inflection and stress and highlights creation while Chinese is a language , All Rights Reserved. You rarely see beggars on the streets in Chinese communities, and those you do see are usually seen approaching foreigners, whome they are more likely to get assistance from.
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In the East, the Universal precedes the particular, whereas in the West, the particular precedes the Universal. This means people who grow up in different cultures not only think about different things but also think differently. are now driving competition and innovation in China, which often goes against the grain, and consistency is also a goal in the West, but more difficult to achieve there. When rejecting others’ offers or requests of help, it is best to do so with a polite excuse rather than a flat out refusal, in order to maintain the dignity of the relationship. The main differences between the school of thought or the philosophies of the East and West are the West’s Individualism and the East’s Collectivism. Differences discussed include emphasis given to bigger/smaller units, tense, direct/indirect expression, individualism, appropriate behavior, linear vs. circular thinking patterns. Even if you politely decline, you will still be offered tea as the default. The founders of the contrasting philosophies of Confucianism and Rationalism all lived around 500 BC, but in quite different environments, as discussed above. In China primary reaction to personal 'bad behavior' is shame, but only if society judges the behavior as bad. Isolated, hostile geography may have contributed to insular thinking, and accessible geography may have promoted more individual and externalized thinking. Western philosophy can be summarized as follows: Although all the religions/beliefs covered below have Eastern roots, Christianity (particularly Protestantism) has developed according to and reinforced "Western thinking", whereas Taoism, Buddhism, and ancestor veneration dovetail with "Eastern thinking".
The short answer is it used to be a lot, and there aren’t much difference any more. XHTML: You can use these tags:
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