Comment on China Culture and China People

What I want to talk about today is "China culture and China people". Why are we talking about this? There is a simple reason. Because we all come from China and live in the cultural environment and atmosphere of China, what we do, our survival and development are closely related to this culture. If you don't understand China culture, you can't understand yourself; If we don't know ourselves, it's hard to do our own things better.

First, what is culture?

Then we have to face a question immediately: What is culture, or what is China culture? Of course, to answer the question "What is China culture", we must first understand what is culture. So what is culture? There are about two or three hundred definitions of "culture" in culturology. If I talk about these definitions this afternoon, I'm afraid I'll lose two-thirds of the audience. I'd better tell a story. Four people went to a coffee shop to drink coffee and found a fly in the cup. The first person who found it was an Englishman. He stood up, took out his wallet, took out a bill, put it under the cup, and left. Why? He must be angry because there are flies in the coffee that he can't drink, but he is a gentleman and can't be angry, so he protested by paying but not drinking coffee. The second discovery was Japanese, and he flew into a rage. "bagru!" "Call the waiter again:" Your job or something! There are flies! Do you know management and want to develop? "Very angry. Because the Japanese are very delicate and in place, this situation is not allowed. The third is an American. He smiled, hooked his fingers and called the waiter: "Yes, there are flies in coffee, but coffee is not served like this in America. We brought a cup of coffee, a can of milk, a small dish of sugar cubes and a small dish of flies. "Americans have a good sense of humor, and he protested in this way. I want to ask a question. What if it's from China? China people will say, "Go ahead! Go to your leader! "What's the difference? This is the cultural difference.

China people look for leaders, and Americans look for lawyers. For example, two people collide on the road. They don't fight. They will get off the bus, exchange business cards and say, please find my lawyer. Because the United States is a country ruled by law, its culture is the culture ruled by law. Although they don't like lawyers either, Americans have ambivalent attitudes towards lawyers. There is a joke in America. A young couple went to heaven and fell in love. Then they went to God: "God, we want to get married." God said to them, "This matter is easy to handle. In a week, a priest will go to heaven and he can marry you. " A month later, the young man came to God again. God, we want a divorce. God said, it will be difficult, and God knows when lawyers will go to heaven! This joke shows that Americans don't like lawyers, but they can't do without them. Because they are a country ruled by law, they focus on solving everything through legal channels. But the fact that there is a fly in the coffee is really not worth looking for a lawyer. Just make fun of the waiter. This shows that everyone should be angry about flies in coffee, but the way to express anger and protest is different.

So we find that culture and way are related, or to be precise, culture is the way of human survival and development. People of different times and nationalities have different ways of survival and development. Including communication methods, including various ways, which constitute different cultures. For example, westerners greet each other when they meet, hello, shake hands and hug if they are intimate. China people greet each other in the form of "I've heard so much about you" and "Long time no see". This is a different way. For example, Westerners eat with knives and forks and China people eat with chopsticks, which are also different ways. However, if we compare these methods together, we will find some similarities behind them. For example, these two ways reflect the different personalities of westerners and China people. Westerners are extroverted, while China people are introverted. Therefore, Westerners reach out and hold other people's hands, while China people reach out and hold their own hands. Westerners use forks with knives, which are offensive, while China people use chopsticks with inward force. One is the way of communication, the other is the way of eating. In these two unrelated aspects, we found common ground. This shows that there is a more important way, a way, a general way. On the basis of many specific cultural ways, we call it "the ideological core of culture".

Second, the ideological core of Chinese and western cultures.

This leads to another question: What is the ideological core of China culture? I'd better tell a story. A gentleman works as a public relations manager in a company in Taiwan Province, and is responsible for receiving customers from all over the world. One day, two Americans came, and the boss said to the public relations manager, "Xiao Wu, please invite two American guests to dinner." It is the custom in China to hold a banquet when guests come and say goodbye to them when they leave. The boss didn't have time, so he arranged for the public relations manager to invite him, but Xiao Wu thought, how can three people eat? It is not convenient to order. So, he called five colleagues, and eight people happened to be at the same table. When I arrived at the restaurant, the waiter handed me the menu, and the public relations manager immediately handed it to the Americans to order. One of the Americans who ate Chinese food in Chinatown is an expert. He opened the menu and looked at it. Hey, sliced chicken with hibiscus, ok, I'll have it. Then, pass it on to another American who has never eaten Chinese food and can't understand it. So, Xiao Wu took the menu and asked his colleagues to order one. Finally, the menu came to the American again, but he still couldn't order it. Xiao Wu said, "There is still a soup missing, or you can order mustard and shredded pork soup." All right! Americans readily agreed. The first one came up with hibiscus chicken slices. The American who ordered the food knew it, so he put it in front of him, said "I'm sorry" and began to eat. The host was dumbfounded and thought, "Otherwise, we will eat whatever we order, just like him." . As a result, everyone ate their own food. Finally, a big pot of pickled mustard tuber and shredded pork soup came up. At this time, the owner can't explain clearly. I don't know how to explain it. Americans crustily skin of head and drank pickled mustard tuber and shredded pork soup. I think from this story, we can see that the two cultures have different ideological cores. The ideological core of China culture is group consciousness, while the ideological core of western culture is individual consciousness. What do you mean? Ordering food is a personal matter for westerners, so everyone orders and eats by themselves. Even when dating, I order my own food, eat my own food and pay my own bill. In China, once we get together for dinner, it's everyone's business, not a group's business. The food ordered by individuals is for everyone, and everyone will eat it after serving. Of course, who pays the bill in the end, but if it is a brother party, everyone will scramble to pay the bill, regardless of you, me or each other, otherwise they will not get together for dinner. From this incident, we can clearly see the differences between the two cultural ideological cores.

But we have to explain, what is individual consciousness and what is group consciousness? Individual consciousness is such a concept that everyone is an independent individual, and each independent individual has his own independent personality and free will. Society is made up of such individuals with independent personality and free will. The individual is the smallest unit of society and an inseparable unit. Because everyone has an independent personality and free will, everyone's behavior is his own decision and choice, and he is responsible for it. For example, just now, he chose to eat hibiscus chicken slices himself. Even if he drinks the mustard and shredded pork soup wrong, he is still responsible for his choice. Everyone has an independent personality, which is inviolable. Therefore, Westerners are not allowed to eat, and everyone eats their own, which is contrary to our concept of China. In China, the host will give the food to the most distinguished guests first, but in the eyes of westerners, this is simply rape. Why should I eat this food? We regard it as goodwill and leave the best things to our guests. There will be cultural conflicts and cultural misunderstandings.

In China, what individuals do is for and responsible for the group. Therefore, in our country, when you are invited to dinner, ordering food is an art. Especially the role of office director, it is not easy to master this art, and it is not easy to ensure that all the dishes ordered are happy, complete in variety and colorful, and at the same time within the prescribed budget. Therefore, this is an art and a science. In fact, we can see the differences between the two cultures from many details. For example, when Americans write a letter, they should first write their own name and home address, then the city, province and country. The more groups there are, the more they are put behind. People in China are just the opposite. The more groups you have, the more you put in front. All these show that the ideological core of our China culture is group consciousness, while the ideological core of western culture is individual consciousness. This is another conclusion we have reached.

Third, how to form the ideological core of Chinese and Western cultures?

(A) Westerners' means of dealing with interpersonal relationships

At the same time, another question was raised. How are the ideological cores of these two cultures formed? This question will be talked for a long time. The source of the western culture we are talking about today is the ancient Greek culture, which came into being in 10 century BC. An Akayan from the north came to the Greek peninsula. Akaya people are a branch of Aryans, who are a race from the north. They are tall, fair-skinned, with yellow hair and blue eyes, and are standard whites. Somehow, Aryans went south from the north, one came to India and the other came to Greece. The Akaya are nomadic people in the north. When they came to Greece, they found that it was neither suitable for developing animal husbandry nor agriculture, because the soil here was very poor, but olive trees could be planted and olives could be used to extract oil. So, they developed handicrafts here, producing olive oil and pottery jars filled with olive oil. In addition, they also found a problem. The coastline of the Greek peninsula is tortuous and long. When it's calm, it only takes one day to reach the other side. Therefore, it is also suitable for developing the navigation industry. The result of handicraft industry and navigation industry is industry and commerce, so the Greeks turned themselves into a country of industry and commerce. The characteristics of industrial and commercial nations are that property rights must be clear, and property rights must be clear to individuals, and things that do not belong to them cannot be exchanged. This is the first point. The second point is that these individuals must move, because if goods and money are to circulate, business practitioners will move. Therefore, at this juncture, the Greek nation has undergone a major change, that is, it has blown up the clan blood relationship and turned into a group of independent, scattered and independent individuals.

Well, the problem suddenly came out again. We know that society is made up of individuals, but people are a dual existence. He exists both as an individual and as a society. On the one hand, everyone is single and independent. On the other hand, we independent people can only survive if we form a society. Everyone has an independent will to do things by himself, but wouldn't it be a mess if each of us had an idea? There must be a solution to this problem, and there must be something to maintain our relationship. Because the Greek nation is an industrial and commercial nation, the first means they think of is contract, and the economic relations in the commercial society are maintained by contract, which is what we call contract. The most important thing in business society is to abide by the contract, and everyone is equal before the contract. Westerners then think of using contractual relationships to deal with interpersonal relationships between each other.

In fact, the interpersonal relationship of westerners is a contractual relationship. For example, getting married means signing a contract in the eyes of westerners. Their wedding was presided over by the priest. The priest will ask whether the two sides love each other and are willing to be together for a long time. When both sides gave a positive answer, the priest asked them to exchange rings, and then they could kiss. What does this process mean? Answering questions actually represents the true wishes of the parties in this contract, because we know that the contract must reflect the true wishes of the parties. As for the content of true will, the law does not care. For example, a westerner can leave all his property to his dog in his will. Wearing a ring means signing the contract text, and kissing means exchanging the contract text. Therefore, the wedding of westerners is a signing ceremony. Because the marriage relationship between the two parties is contractual, there is a festival called "wedding anniversary". Every day, the couple always celebrate it. What does this mean? Reiterate the validity of the contract.

This marriage is settled in this way, but people are not just married. Of course, the relationship between people is not only a marriage relationship, but also other issues need to be dealt with. Therefore, westerners believe that we should sign a contract for everyone and a contract for everyone to regulate social behavior. This contract is called "law" What is the law? Law is a contract signed by all citizens to regulate social behavior, referred to as "social contract" or "national convention". Therefore, the law is a contract, but it is not a contract between Party A and Party B, but a contract between all citizens. Once this contract is signed, everyone must abide by it. "Everyone is equal before the law" comes from "everyone is equal before the contract". In a commercial contract, both parties are equal, so in front of a social contract, all people are equal, and once they break the contract, they will be punished.

But the law cannot solve all problems. For example, the law can't solve moral problems. For example, the law can prohibit citizens from setting fires, but the law cannot require citizens to put out fires. Because citizens may not have the ability and skills to put out fires, many problems may arise if every citizen is required to put out fires. Therefore, the law can only stipulate that the fire brigade has the obligation to extinguish the fire. If the fire brigade doesn't put out the fire, it is inaction. However, the society should also advocate being courageous. Is there any way to solve the problems arising from being courageous? Solve it with morality.

What is morality? Morality is a kind of "soft control", which appeals to conscience. Once there is a moral problem, we will ask, do you have a conscience? If the other party answers no, then we can't do anything about him. One of Confucius' students named Zai Yu asked Confucius, "Why should I stay in Dai Xiao for three years after my parents died?" ? Why can't I eat white rice and wear silk clothes for three years? Confucius said, "I'll tell you a truth." Parents will not hold their children until they are three years old. It's called' three years without parents'. Parents have held their children for three years, so the children have to mourn for three years in return. Besides, less than three years after your parents died, you began to eat white rice and wear silk clothes. Can you get by? " Yu said, "it's okay, I rest assured. Confucius trembled with anger and said, "If you are safe, do it." "Meaning, if you think your conscience is all right, just do it. I don't care.

Therefore, morality is a kind of "soft control", so morality cannot be ignored. You must have strong control. Some people say that it is wrong to set up a "moral court", which confuses morality with law. What shall we do? There must be a solution. We can only sign another contract. Who should we sign a contract with? Be with God. Therefore, if a person is immoral, he can't go to heaven after death, but can only go to hell. God has agreed with us that you will convert to me and do good deeds all your life. I promise you will go to heaven after death, and the faithless will go to hell. The problem of good and evil has been solved, but the problem of right and wrong has not been solved. When we have an argument, who is right or wrong about this matter will decide. Sign another contract, and this contract is science. Just as we agreed that one plus one equals two. This is called equality before the truth. So, there are four contracts. Everyone is equal before the contract; Everyone is equal before the law; Before god, everyone is equal; Everyone is equal before the truth. Therefore, many things in western culture can be summed up as contracts, and the means by which westerners deal with interpersonal relationships is contracts.