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On Differences between Chinese and Western Spiritual Culture And Origins
Zheng Weiwei
1. Introduction
Culture has many a definition. Linguistically speaking, “Culture means the total way of life of a people”, implying that “culture refers to the patterns of customs, traditions, social habits, values, beliefs and language of a society. ... 2000: 36)
Culture is a kind of crystallization.
Culture is distinctive.
The same holds true for Chinese and Western culture. ... Cultural Differences and Cultural Origins
2.1 Material and Spiritual Cultures
Since culture has two types in broad terms, one being material culture, concrete, substantial and observable, and another spiritual culture, the latter is focused on in the paper, for most of it is “indiscernible, that is, implicit, hidden and abstract” (Dai, Weidong, He Zhaoxiong, and Hua Jun, eds. ... 1 Chinese and Western Values
Here a core part of values—individualism and collectivism is discussed. ... (个人隐私)
These are three major aspects of individualism, essence of western culture, manifesting individual initiative, independence and privacy. ... But Chinese people conventionally consider the topics as a means to unbosom their sincere care to create harmonious and friendly relations. ... As early as thousands of years ago ancient Chinese scholars and poets called for devotion to community and country, expressed in 位卑未敢忘忧国 (Low as my status is, not dare to forget to worry about my suffering country), 修身、齐家、治国、平天下 (cultivate one’s own morality, manage a household, run and unify the whole country), 先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐 (Plan and worry ahead of the people, enjoy the fruits after the people), 风声、雨声、读书声，声声入耳；家事、国事、天下事、事事关心 (The sound of wind, patter of rain, voice of reading, each is pleasant; family matters, national affairs, world affairs, all are cared about. ... Furthermore, in newspapers and magazines lots of stories are repeatedly depicted about Chinese promising scholars and experts who after finishing their furtherance of education abroad return back to dedicate themselves to rejuvenation of Chinese nation. ... ” (杨自俭，2002: 292)
In a word, Chinese value system is responsibilities-based and duties-fulfilled while western one cherishes individual rights or interests. ... 2 Chinese and Western Concepts of the Universe
龙=Dragon? ...
科伯菲尔一大早就要到他姨婆那里去，那晚她凛然不可侵犯。
So, no wonder that westerners may be puzzled or amazed why Chinese people address themselves as “龙之子” (Descendants of Dragon) with pride beyond word, for in their cultural background dragon is a brutal, horrifying monster, emitting fierce flames and appalling shouts, which has an impressive description in Beowulf, an early nation epic of the English people. ... 2000: 445) However, as for Chinese people, 龙has been deified as a symbol of auspice, power and prosperity since ancient times. This particular cultural heritage attributes to Chinese people’s great reverence to龙, distinctly displayed by such vibrant idioms as 生龙活虎 (full of life and energy)，龙飞凤舞 (lively and vigorous)，龙腾虎跃 (vigorous and enthusiastic)，龙跃凤鸣 (talented and smart)，龙蛇飞动 (great capacity on calligraphy) and 龙争虎斗 (two powerful contenders). The sharp difference shows a totally unlike view of Chinese and Western people on the universe. ... Enlightened by western culture’s inclination to opposition between human and nature, earth and heaven, people believe in their capacity to probe and conquer the Nature-the mysterious world with cruelty and brutality and to pursue truth in blazing spirit, as the proverb goes, “God makes and man shapes”. Then comes the perception of dragon’s symbol as a sort of vile and abominable creature they have to vanquish by themselves, whereas under nothingness and wholeness of philosophical pattern, in an amicable mood Chinese feel the world in an ambiguous way.
Approximate Word count = 2760
Approximate Pages = 11
(250 words per page double spaced)
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