Comparisons between Chinese and Western Culture
China dates its civilization back to five thousand years ago.Through these centuries,Chinese people have developed as a hard-working,brave,warm-hearted and neutral nationality.While most of the western people built up their countries several hundred years ago,they are characterized by liberty,opening,enterprising and risk-taking.Some detailed comparisons between Chinese culture and western one will be discussed as follows.
Wushu,known in the West as Kongfu,is a traditional folk sport.It's Chinese martial arts and is characteristic of various barehand and armed combat techniques.People practice it to build up body and protect themselves.Qigong and Taijiquan are also popular sports widely spread in China.On the other hand,the western are more interested in such sports as baseball,softball,tennis ball,golf,etc.Some need a team spirit,some need speed,and others need patience and luck.
Chinese opera,Beijing Opera for instance,is a comprehensive performing art.It combines music,singing,dialogues,acrobatics and martial arts.You must be fascinated by peculiar costumes,colored facial painting and excellent fighting scenes.The performers must spend many years practicing to guarantee the proficiency.However,the western opera doesn’t include much action and facial painting,most of the opera are music,singing,dialogues and the usual life performance,just telling the viewers what happen in a story.
Chinese traditional medicine is based on the theory of Yin (negative) and Yang (positive).If the balance in a person between Yin and Yang is disturbed,he is sure to become ill.Observing,listening and smelling,inquiring and palpating are four diagnostic methods.The medicine is mainly made from herbs,animals and minerals that are directly collected from nature.It must be boiled with water before the sick person takes it.On the contrary,the western doctors use high-tech equipment to diagnose the exact ill parts,prescript troches which can be directly swallowed with warm water,and maybe give an injection if necessary.
The celebration of Spring Festival,Chinese Lunar New Year,has a history of two thousand years.Before the day,people working in other places will go home for the reunion supper,"Tuanyuanfan".After the midnight,people set off firecrackers and fireworks,believing that they will drive away the evil spirit.During the holiday,people will visit their relatives and friends.Qingming,Dragon boat,Mid-Autumn festival are also Chinese popular festivals.On the other hand,in the West,Christmas Day is the most important festival.Before the day,they buy Christmas trees decorated with colored flash lamps,and spend the day with their family; the children will wait all night for Santa Claus to send them presents.Valentine's Day,Easter,April fool's Day,Thanks-giving Day are western popular festivals.