中美两个节日的文化差异

论文题目CulturaldifferencesbetweenChineseandAmericanfestivals

CulturaldifferencesbetweenChineseandAmericanfestivals

Contents

Introduction......................................1.

ChineseandAmericantraditionalfestivals..........3

Twoculturalcharacteristicsoffestivals..............4

TheinheritanceofChineseAmericanculture.......5

5.Culturalopeningandexchange.....................6

【Abstract】

Festivalsbearthedeepstructuralconnotationofmanynationalculturesformedandaccumulatedbyanation'shistory.Theyaretheresultsandimportantcarriersofthelong-termbreedingofnationalspiritinaspecificsocialsoil.ThroughtherepresentationoffestivalsinChinaandtheUnitedStates,thispaperanalyzesthedifferencesintimesequence,beliefandvalueorientation,moraltrendandspiritualpursuit,inordertofacilitatecommunicationandlearnfromeachother.

【Keywords】China;America;traditionalfestivals;culturaldifferences

1.Introduction

FestivalCustomsshowinfrontofpeople,withbeautifulcustomsanduniquecharacteristics.Theyreflectthehistoricalcharacteristicsandsociallifeofthenationfromdifferentanglesandsides,withdistinctnationalcharacteristicsandstronglocalflavor.Itcontainsthevalueorientationofcharacter,psychology,belief,concept,thinkingmode,moralsentiment,aestheticsentimentanddeepstructureconnotationofmanynationalculturesformedandaccumulatedinthehistoryofanation.Itistheresultandcarrierofthelong-termcultivationofthenationalspiritinthespecificsocialsoil,andthemostprominentandcharacteristicexpressionofanation'ssurvivalform.Festivalcustomsareeasytounderstand,andnationalspiritisdeeplyrootedinvariousappearances.Therefore,throughthecomparativestudyofthesimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenChineseandAmericantraditionalfestivals,wecanrevealthepersonality,psychology,culturalvalueorientationandnationalspiritofChineseandAmericantraditionalfestivals.

ThetimeseriesofChinesetraditionalfestivalsreflectthedominantpositionofagriculturalcivilizationinthedevelopmentofChinesehistory,andclearlyrecordthehistoricaltrack;whilethetimeseriesofAmericanfestivalsreflectthestatusofWesternreligiousbeliefinlifeandhumannaturereturnaftertheRenaissance.Chinesetraditionalfestivalsmainlyinclude:SpringFestival,LanternFestival,QingmingFestival,DragonBoatFestival,TanabataFestival,MidAutumnFestival,ChongyangFestival,LabaFestival,etc.,arrangedinchronologicalorder.LabaFestival,SpringFestivalandLanternFestivalareinwinter,QingmingFestivalinspring,DragonBoatFestivalandQixiFestivalinsummer,MidAutumnFestivalandChongyangFestivalinautumn.ThislawjustreflectstheleadingpositionofagriculturalcivilizationinthedevelopmentofChinesehistory.Historically,Chinaisalargeagriculturalcountry.Traditionally,itattachesgreatimportancetotheimpactofclimatechangeonagriculture.TheoldestfestivalinChinaistheagriculturalFestival,whichoriginatedfromthesolarterm.Thisistheseasonoftheyear.Itisaffectedbyperiodicchangesinweather,phenologyandclimate.Thepurposeoffestivalactivitiesisdirectlyrelatedtothesecularagriculturalproduction.Forexample,theSpringFestival,themostceremoniousfestivalinChina,originatedfromtheancientsacrificialceremonyandtherewardfromGodafteroneyear'sfarming.AnotherexampleisQingmingFestival,"beforeandafterQingming,ordermelonseedsandbeans",whichisagoodtimeforspringploughingandsowing.

AmericanfestivalsmainlyincludeValentine'sday,AprilFool'sday,Easter,mother'sday,father'sday,Halloween,Thanksgiving,Christmas,MartinLuther'sday,Washington'sbirthday,Lincoln'sbirthday,martyrs'day,nationalday,ColumbusDay,veterans'day,etc.ontheonehand,theymainlycommemorateGodinChristianity,ontheotherhand,theyalsocommemoratemajoreventsandsupremacyinhistoryThesupremefigurereflectsthestatusofWesternreligiousbeliefinlifeandthereturnofhumannatureaftertheRenaissance.Americanindustryandanimalhusbandryarewelldeveloped.Immigrantlifemakesthempursueinnerpeaceandattachimportancetoreligiousactivities,especiallyChristianity.Christianfestivalsrunalmostthroughouttheyear.Therearethreekindsofcoordinationandbalancebetweenthetwo,namelytheso-called"heavenandmancultureconnectAmericanfestivals".

2.ChineseandAmericantraditionalfestivals

Chinesetraditionalfestivalshaveastrongsecularandpantheisticcolor,whileAmericantraditionalfestivalshaveastrongmonotheisticreligiousandculturalcharacteristics.Therefore,onthedayofsacrifice,peoplehavetopreparerichofferingsforhim.Theyoftenuseglutinousricemadeofglutinousriceandotherstickysweetfoodtopasteonhismouth,burnpapermoneyandotherofferingstohim,bribehim,sothathecan'tspeakillofthemaster'sfamilyaftergoingtoheaven,butcanonlyspeakgoodwordswithsweettongues.ItisalsosaidinTaiwanthatZaojunisagodoflust,Intheolddays,therewasacustomthatwomenoftenbathedbythekitchenstoveonfestivals.TheybribedthekitchenKingsexually,sothathecouldsayafewgoodwordsforhisfamilyafter"satisfyingthedesireofvoiceandcolor".Thiskindofbehaviorisnottotrytorestraintheirownbehaviorandpurifytheirsoul,buttotrytopreventthekitchengodfromtellingthetruththroughthebriberyaftereatingandlusting.IfithappensinaChristiancountryandnation,itwillbeaserioussacrilegebehavior.However,ithasbeenpasseddowntothisdayinChina,andnoonehaseverquestioneditslegitimacy.Whocannotsaythatitisareflectionofreallifebehaviorandnationalpsychologyandconcepts.Fromthispointofview,theChinesenationisactuallyaverysecularnationwithnoreligiousbelieforpurereligiousbelief.MostofthetraditionalChinesegodsworshipthegodswhenpeoplepursuethesecularinterests,ratherthanarational"logos"thatseeksspiritualpurification,spiritualsublimation,spiritualdestinationandultimatehumanisticconcern.TheChristianGodisthecreatorofallthingsintheworld.Heneitherallowspeopletoworshipothergodsandidols,norisitnecessaryforpeopletoworshipothergodsandidols.Thepresentlifeofhumanbeingsisonlyaprocess,anditsblessings,longevity,wealthandwealthareallGod'sinborndestinyratherthanacquired.ThemainChristianfestivalsChristmas,GoodFriday,EasterandascensionareallreligiouscelebrationsaroundJesus.

3.Twoculturalcharacteristicsoffestivals

Chinesefestivalculturerespectspeople,butintegratesindividualsintogroupsandemphasizescollectivismvalueorientation.Americanfestivalcultureexcavatesindividualvalueandemphasizesindividualrightsandfreedom,namelyindividualism.

TheChinesenation'sthousandsofyearsoffarmingcivilizationanditsintrovertedeconomicmodellinkedbybloodandfamilydeterminetheharmoniousunityofindividualsandgroups.Individualsaregenerallyincludedinthewhole,andindividualvaluesexistandarereflectedbygroups.SupportedbyConfucianculture,familyorclansystemplaysanimportantrole.Individualsareinthefamilyorclanrelationship.Theprimaryrelationshipbetweenpeopleisbloodrelationship,whichisthebasisoftheexistenceoffilialpiety.Confucianismhasbroughtthissocialsystemofpatriarchalrelationshipintothetraditionalfestivals,whichhasadistinctiveculturalfeatureof"paternitysystemasthecenterandbloodrelationshipasthebasis".Forexample,theinterestdemandsandspiritualsustenanceof"QingmingFestival"isthetraditionalworldviewofChinesepeople,thatis,theinheritanceofconsanguineousdescendants.Thiskindofcontinuoussustenanceisreflectedintherespectforancestorsandlife,aswellasinthematerial(money,property,officialrank,occupation)andspiritual(ideal,ambition,career).Peoplewhocan'tinheritandpublicizetheachievements,spirituallegacyormaterialheritageoftheirancestorsareregardedasunworthydescendants,TocarryforwardthespiritualandmaterialheritageofourancestorsistheoriginalmissionofeveryChineseborn.

UnlikeChina'slongtraditionofsealsystem,thehistoryoftheUnitedStatesiswrittenonacleanwhitepaper.Beforethewarofindependence,intheAmericancontinentwheretherewasnovestigeoffeudalism,theconceptoffreedomandequalityadvocatedbyEuropeancapitalismandthespreadofhumanismintheRenaissancemadeAmericansbelievethattherewasakindofspiritualconnectionbetweeneverydevoutChristianandGod.Therefore,allmenarethesamebeforeGod,regardlessoftheirstatusorwealth.IndividualsareonlyresponsibletoGod,orthroughtheirownactionstoseekGod'sforgivenessorfavor,afterdeathintoheaven;inthefaceofGod's"finaljudgment",everyoneisequal,regardlessofkinship,inferiority,wealth.Theindividualpursuestherealizationofhisownlifevalue,obtainsmaterialwealthandsocialstatus--asthe"symbol"ofGod'selectorate,andfinallyascendstoheaven.Atthesametime,wealthyAmericansbelievethatalthoughwealthisasymbolofpersonalachievement,itisasintobringtoomuchwealthintothecoffin.Asaresult,businesstycoonswillspendasmuchmoneyastheycanasanimportantwaytoimprovethemselves.Americancultureisconsistentwithitsiconicanimal,thevulture:independence,freedomandtenacity,pursuingindividualsuccessandtherealizationofself-worth.

4.TheinheritanceofChineseAmericanculture

TheearlysocialstructureofChinaisbasedonthehabitualpowerofthecombinationofnaturalworshipandhumanisticspirit.ItisdifferentfromancientWesterntheocracyandmodernhumanism,andhasthehopeofbasicphilosophyandidealism.Forexample,onChineseValentine'sday,whenpeopleareintheuniverse,theyarelookingforwardtothebeautyofthewholeworld;ontheMidAutumnFestival,theyarelookingatthemoonandenjoyingthereunionofthewholeworld;ondoubleninthday,theskyishigh,theearthisthick,theautumniscrispandtheheavenandmanareharmonious.ThespiritinChinesemindisthespiritformetouse,althoughitoftenappearsintheformofGodprotection.Thiskindofculturalcharacteristicisshowninthetraditionalsacrificialactivities.Forexample,inthefolkcustom,ZaojunistheGodsentbytheJadeEmperortomonitorpeople'sgoodandevilbehaviorsandtakechargeofthemisfortunesandblessingsofallethnicgroups.Bytheendoftheyear,ZaoJunwillreportpeople'sguilttoheaven.

Chinesetraditionalfestivalsinheritheavyethics,butdeveloptomodernutilitariancolor;AmericanfestivalshighlightThanksgivingplotandpursuespiritualpleasure.

ThefamilysystemcenteredontheparentsisthesocialstructurethatChinesetraditionalculturerelieson.Itcontainstheelementsoffilialpiety,suchas"respectfortheancestors","sacrificefortheancestors","seekingtheroots","newspaper","filialpiety","Reunion","dedication","responsibility"and"carryingforwardthepastandopeningupthefuture".Chongyangrespectfortheold,DragonBoatFestivalrespectforthevirtuousallperspectiveofthevirtuesoftheChinesenation.However,theformsoffestivalsarebecomingmoreandmoreutilitarian.Take"NewYear'smoney"asanexample:onNewYear'sEve,eldersgivemoneytotheyoungergeneration,whichisstrungwithredthreadandcoppermoney,andhungonthechestofchildren.Thatistosay,itcansuppressevilspiritsandexorciseghosts,soit'scalled"suppressingmoney".Butintherealsociety,ithasbecomeakindofpuremoneycommunicationalmostcompletely,peopleoftencomparewiththeamountofgiving.Inaddition,inthefestivalgreetings,thetraditionalelegantculturehaslosttherealisticbasisofsociallife,encounteredtherapidchangeofpeople'swayofthinkingandlifestyle,soitisgraduallyfaded,evencompletelydisappeared.Forexample,ShangsiFestivalisafestivalfortheancientstogooutingandhaveapicnicinspring.Itishighlypraisedbytheancientliteratibecauseofitsrich"elegant"culture.Forexample,theprefacetoLanting,knownas"thebestrunningscriptintheworld",waswrittenbyWangXizhi,agreatcalligrapherofJinDynasty,whichrecordedthegrandoccasionofShangsifestivalofliterati"qushuiliujinyinyanentertainment";thevividverseofDufu"walkalongtheriver,lookbacktoseethenationalflag";LiuChangqingsketchedtheromanticfestivalsceneofliteratiandscholars'outingbanquetinJiangnanwithalightpen:"what'sthesceneryofJiangnan,Iwanttopassthenewpavilion."Ancientfestivalsare"thefestivalofliterati",whichhaveastrongsocialfunctionofculturalexchange.Butuptonow,ithasbeensimplifiedbysuchauspiciouswishesas"congratulationsonmakingafortune","greatauspiciousness","risingstepbystep"and"moneyrolling".

IntheUnitedStates,manyfestivalsarefilledwithgratitude,gratitudeandrecognitionofindividualcontributions.ThisspiritiscloselyrelatedtotheAmericanmainstreamculture,namelywhiteculture.BasedonChristianity,Americanmainstreamculturegenerallyacceptedthetraditional"originalsintheory".Accordingtothisbelief,allpeoplesufferbecauseoftheoriginalsin.AlthoughJesushimselfisnotguilty,inordertoreachthereconciliationbetweenmanandGod,hedidnothesitatetocrucifyhimselfinordertotakeawaythesinofhumanbeingsandmakethemliveforever.ThedeepsenseofguiltandthegreatcompassionofthesonofGodmakeChristiansinthemainstreamculturehaveauniqueunderstandingof"fraternity"andinfinitegratitudetoGodandhisson.Basedontheunderstandingofhumannatureinthetheoryoforiginalsin,themainstreamculturepaysmoreattentiontohumanvirtuesandgooddeeds,andregardsthemasthereturntoJesus,resultinginthecultureof"gratitude".Traditionalsocialinteractions,suchasChristmascards,mother'sDayflowersandValentine'sDayroses,embodymoreemotionalfriendship.Thegiftsexchangedpaymoreattentiontotheiremotionalvaluethanmaterialvalue,which