Chinese and Amercian, each of them has a great influential culture in the world. As I came to United States for about a year, I've experienced how Amercian lives and I'm understanding their culture. Many people may ask and want to know the differences between these two cultures. In my opinion, the best way is to observe people's values. In this case, We can know how different they are via seeing their religion, education and living custom.
Chinese has various religion. When I was a kid, I've heard a lot about Chinese mythology. One of the famous is the coming Mid-Autum Festivial whcih is about the mythology of moon. But the most powerful and influential thought is Confucianism, is the most important thought of Chinese, nowadays it even became a religion. Confucianism emphasizes the respect of the elder, take care the younger. In social system, it recommands a standard of etiquette, in political view, Confucianist has a stand of being loyal to the lord, and the lord deservedly be concern and love his people. Besides these, Taoism, Buddhism are also important in Chinese culture, some of my friends in Hong Kong are believed in Buddhism. And there are uncountable ethnic religion in Chinese population. On the other hand, American are mainly believed in Protestant Christianity, I can usually see plenty of people go to church in every weekend. To more, Christian religion is even affecting American politic. For example, from the presedent to witness on court who will swear with a Holy Bible. Christian Church is inalienable to American culture.
In education, Chinese is more rigid than American. Since acient China, examination was valued as the standard of selecting talent. Till nowaday, Chinese education still can't break away from the standard of exam. Credentialism becomes a social consensus, It's just like what the natives said "stuff the duck". In tradition, Chinese education not mainly focus on science knowlege but humanities, we can understand this by the flourish of Confucianism. But American is different. People proffer active learning, exam is only a part of anuual credit. People believe in science power, and think science can improve civilization. Critical thinking is also suggested, and teacher always encourage me giving my creativity and having a strong communication during the study.
The biggest different between them is the people's living custom. In general, compare to the American, Chinese is conservatives. I often told to being modest, always attenting other's feeling. Chinese praise Collectivism that when things happened, people always said "make sacrifice for the group". In American's view, personal value is more important. As same as the spirit of the nation, personal freedom is the main point. In America. Although team-work is also imortant, individualism is definely infrangible. Then, people also being brave in show-off themselves. They also giving their opinion freely and without scruple. American is more open-mind than Chinese, some of my friends even think that having sex is very ordinary.
Why there are differences between different culture is because of each background of religion, education and values. To turely understand a culture, these is surely not enough. But we can get a general view by watching their value. Every culture and thought must has defects, to improve ourselves, I believe it's good to study others advantage. And my Amercian study life is still under way.
Hi, It's really interesting topic. I thought I've already known Chinese culture because my culture and your culture are really similar. But, my culture is changing from yours toward American culture. It's really good to know the student of Chinese opinion :D
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