China vs Japan

Martín Questions


1- What does honor means to Japanese?
Honor is a very important thing in Japanese culture even more so than the Chinese. They'd rather die than surrender (the way of the samurai's or their Bushido) and there is no way to say surrender in JAPAN, it just doesn't exist. They would rather seppuku (basically suicide) than bring shame or dishonor their family and suicide is tolerated in Japan and some think it is a way to maintain one's HONOR.

2- What does the dragon means?
The dragon can mean a number of things in Japanese culture. The most significant meaning being fertility, humility, procreation and warding off evil spirits.

The Japanese have adapted to the Chinese culture of the Dragon, in their beliefs the Dragon brings strength, luck and fortune, but should be respected cause it would also be able to do the other way around. China therefore organizes a festival every year to honor the Dragon.

3-Who is more creative?
The findamental distinction between Japanese and Chinese is group creativity or individual creativity.
Japanese enterprise are better at individual creativity and Chinese at group creativity.
Regarding art, there is not a better one, they are different


4-Who copies who?
during the Tang Dynasty, China had a large sphere of influence over Japan.Japanese people then would import a lot of Chinese characters into Japan and help create their own language by making kanji, katakana, and hiragana. All of the three originated from Chinese A lot of Chinese people would agree that Japanes” "copied them but it depends who you talk to. But most would agree that Japan received most of its culture from China.


5-The difference in martial arts
Japanese fighting is more rigid like the karate stances, Korean always circular like in Hapkido, and Chinese more fluid, more like Korean but not as circular and more dependent on stance. Iaido is very fluid but  the cutting is always so solid and the cut stops right after the target is hit, wheres with like a Jian they cut but the sword ends up at the top after the hit.


6-Is the steering wheel in the same side than us?
In Japan cars are driven on the left side  of the road and have the driver's seat and steering wheel on their right side


7-Does Japan owns the moon?
No they dont,

India Japan and China are now circling the moon with their respective spacecraft – to be joined next year by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Then there's the Google Lunar X Prize, a $30 million competition for the first privately funded team to send a robot to the moon, travel some 1,640 feet (500 meters) and transmit video, images and data back to Earth.

8-Whic goverment works better?

China is a Popular republic and Japan is a Unitary parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy.

They are totally different but Chinese goverment has had lots of critisism.

9-Do they share traditions?



Origami: Origami is the art of folding paper. While it is quite popular in Japan, it is believed to have originated in China in the first century AD. One of the most popular origami shapes is the crane. The crane is thought to be a sacred animal in Japan and legend has it that if you fold 1,000 paper cranes, your wish will come true.

They also have similar forms of architecture. They both drink green tea. They both also use wet-rice farming. They both eat ramen, which came from china originally.

10-Which architecture is more amazing?

Chinese architecture has historically influenced that of Japan.  In spite of this, there are still major differences  between the two.  One variation with Japanese architecture typically placed people on the floor to sit, whereas that of China had them sitting in chairs.  This custom began to change though in the Meiji period (1868-1912). 

Another influence, besides lifestyle, is the climate.  Japanese have to plan according to the climate and season changes.  Since most of Japan has long, hot summers, the houses reflect that by being somewhat raised so that air can move all around.  Wood is a popular choice for material because it adjusts well to earthquakes and works well with season changes (cool in summer, warm in winter).

Buddhism as well has greatly influenced Japanese architecture since it's introduction from China during the Asuka period (593-710).  Horyuki Temple was built in 607 under the influence of Buddhism, and was registered in 1993 as a  UNESCO World Heritage property.  The layout of this temple has been unchanged and preserved over the years.  The Buddhist deity worshipped at the temple is housed in the main hall, which is the oldest wooden structure in the world and the center of the entire complex.