What are the cultural differences between China and the United States?

1. The antiquity of Chinese culture and the modernization of American culture

Chinese culture has a history of thousands of years, and the differences in corporate culture between China and the United States are endless. Wealth and culture are just like famous places and historical sites. The longer they last, the more incomparable their value becomes. However, it is also like a thousand-year-old tree. On the one hand, it is deeply rooted and has lush branches; on the other hand, it also contains some dead branches and leaves. China's sages have left behind rich historical treasures and heavy historical baggage to future generations. When you look at this towering tree that blocks out the sky and the sun, you will be impressed by the differences in Chinese and American food cultures. You will be impressed by its vigor and beauty, and you will also imagine how many years of magical secrets are contained in it. China's extensive and profound traditional culture is deeply rooted in the land of China. It can no longer be transplanted. All modern civilization in China can only be grafted on this big tree; consider anything in China. , are inseparable from the influence of the invisible hand of history on reality. Social relations in China are like the root system of this big tree. The older the tree, the more complicated the root system is. Chinese traditional culture is the theoretical basis for the formation of Chinese people's thinking patterns and behaviors, and has an irresistible influence on China's social relations.

The United States only has a history of two hundred years. American culture is a palace of modern civilization built by a group of modern people according to their will and thinking patterns. Americans do not have rich historical treasures to excavate, but they do not have heavy historical baggage to bear. Americans are creating science, creating wealth, and creating a democratic social system based entirely on the needs of modern people. American interpersonal relationships are also established according to modern standards. The developed business culture, science and technology of the United States are outstanding symbols of its modern culture.

2. The nationality of Chinese culture and the diversity of American culture

China’s Han people account for more than 90% of the total population, and there are 56 other ethnic minorities in the country. The skin color and race are basically similar to those of the Han people, so China can be said to be a country with a single race and a single culture. Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism culture form the main body of Chinese culture, especially Confucian culture, which has a dominant influence on Chinese people's thoughts and behaviors. Chinese culture has a strong national character.

The United States is a country of immigrants with an extremely complex population structure. Talents from all over the world gather here, and various cultures complement each other, forming a melting pot of various nationalities and cultures. Therefore, American culture is diversified and has a strong flavor of the times, which changes with the changes of the times.

3. The political nature of Chinese culture and the economic nature of American culture

As a unified country, China has a history of more than two thousand years. For more than two thousand years, it is indeed not an easy task to rule such a large country with such a vast territory and such a large population. If the governance is imbalanced, it means that the country will be divided, feuding princes will fight, and war will continue. Therefore, since ancient times, stability and unity have been two major events in Chinese history. Politics is the commander-in-chief, and centralization and unity are the soul. As a system in the superstructure of ancient Chinese society, Confucian culture is the source of cultural differences between China and the United States and complements the political power in the superstructure. Confucian culture contains a lot of information about educating rulers to implement benevolent governance and educating the people to observe ethical education. In terms of humanities, ancient Chinese society has always emphasized agriculture over commerce. The differences in communication culture between China and the United States have emphasized literature over commerce. The imperial examination system has closely connected culture and politics, and culture has a strong political nature. Throughout social relations, the relationships between people also have a strong political overtone.

The United States is a country with an extremely developed commodity economy. Its culture has a strong economic aspect, and science, technology, economic management and other cultures that are compatible with economic construction occupy a high status. Developed commercial cultures such as Hollywood movies, Disneyland, and McDonald's fast food have attracted the world's attention. The relationship between people in the United States also has a strong economic overtone, and brothers settle accounts openly.

4. Differences between the main cultures and subcultures of China and the United States

Many articles discussing the cultural differences between China and the United States point out that Chinese culture Focusing on collectivism, American culture focuses on individualism. However, in real life it confuses us. Living in Chinese society, we will find that many people are also very individualistic. Due to cultural differences between China and the United States, lack of unity often occurs; but when we come to the United States, we find that many Americans care about society very much. and collective. Someone has made this observation. When a group of Americans holds a conference, there will be fierce debates about different viewpoints before the meeting. But once the theme of the meeting is decided, everyone will hold the meeting together quietly; but when a group of Chinese people get together, they will have a heated discussion. There are often general meetings at the top and small meetings at the bottom, each working on its own agenda. Regarding this question of the difference between culture and reality, we find the answer from sociology. In a society, there is not only the orthodox main culture promoted by the ruling class, but also the subculture popular among the people. Subculture is often a kind of rebellion against the main culture, a kind of opposition and unity. Because Chinese culture overly promotes the country and the collective and despises individuals, the subculture of civil society complements and balances individual interests.

The United States excessively promotes individualism. People are not satisfied with the phenomenon of estrangement and indifference to each other, and have returned to harmonious social relations of caring for each other and being enthusiastic about public welfare. From this we know that if we want to truly understand a country, we must not only understand its main culture from books, but also live among that nation for a period of time and understand the subculture of that nation from the people. On the other hand, in terms of human nature, there are some things that are unique to mankind. For example, the idea of ??individualism is openly recognized in the United States, but criticized in China. However, no matter how much you deny it, it is deeply rooted. Hidden in people's hearts. Just like ancient China promoted asceticism, the cultural differences between China and the United States are reflected, but no matter how you promote it, the joy of men and women cannot be erased from people's hearts.

5. The bipolarity of Chinese culture and the multipolarity of American culture

Ancient Chinese philosophy attaches great importance to the dialectical unity of yin and yang, believing that everything in the world is composed of the two poles of yin and yang. The contradictory unity of opposites, such as: up and down, left and right, positive and negative, inside and outside, male and female, etc. China's Confucian culture, Buddhism and Taoism culture also form the polarity of Chinese culture. Confucian culture advocates being proactive, while Buddhist and Taoist cultures advocate passive avoidance, forming a contradictory unity of opposites. Many intellectuals in ancient China often respected Confucian culture and worked hard in their youth; when their career was full of hardships, in their later years they retreated to Buddhist and Taoist culture, seeking inner peace from the thoughts of Buddha and Lao Lao. Confucian culture is like a ladder, inspiring people with lofty ideals to climb hard to pick the fruits of their careers; while Buddhist and Taoist culture is like a safety net. If someone falls from the ladder, this big net will catch them. live. Therefore, the two poles of culture, Confucian culture and Buddhist and Taoist culture, are unified and complementary, forming a stable and developing Chinese cultural system.

The United States is a country that embraces multiple cultures, including not only British culture and French culture, but also Spanish culture, Mexican culture, as well as Chinese Confucian culture, Buddhist and Taoist culture, and so on. American culture is not bipolar, but multipolar, providing people with more choices.

6. The introversion of Chinese culture and the openness of American culture

China is a landlocked country, and Chinese culture is an inland culture developed on this large land. . Since ancient times, China has been constantly suffering foreign invasions, so it has constantly built the Great Wall and closed itself off. Affected by this, Chinese culture has also evolved into a conservative land culture, which has its own system and is highly exclusive of foreign cultures. From the Qing Dynasty's Reform Movement of 1898 to today's reform and opening up, every time we open the door, we have to make arduous efforts. Chinese culture continues to assimilate foreign culture, but it has never been assimilated by foreign culture. Even Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, which have most thoroughly accepted Western culture, have not been completely Westernized, but still retain many traditions of Confucian culture. However, in contrast to orthodox culture, open Chinese folk culture welcomes foreign cultures with an open mind. Hollywood movies, McDonald's fast food restaurants, Western philosophical trends, and other Western cultures have all spread to every village in China through the east wind of Chinese folk culture.

The mainstream culture of the United States originated from Europe and is an open ocean culture. The democratic and legal systems of the United States protect the free development of American culture from political attack and control. In addition, the United States recruits a large number of foreign students and scholars every year, which also brings a large number of different cultures and collisions. The United States is tolerant of various foreign cultures and absorbs the best parts of them to make itself richer.

7. China’s Confucian culture and American Christian culture

China is a country with Confucian culture as its mainstream culture. Confucian culture focuses on family relationships, clan lineage, and ancient Chinese family relationships. The two major characteristics are, first, paying attention to the distinction between superior and inferior, ordering elders and younger ones, parents disciplining their children, and children honoring their parents. The two cannot be crossed. Second, we use family ties and blood ties as ties, and extend this to society. We pay attention to the relationship between friends as brothers. We are brothers all over the world, and we talk about brotherhood.

The United States is a country where Christianity is the mainstream culture. Most Americans are religious and believe in God. According to Christian doctrine, no matter who you are, you are the son of God, and everyone is equal before God. The family is just a place to raise children for God. Therefore, even parents cannot beat and scold their children at will, otherwise they will be held accountable by law. Christianity emphasizes fraternity, and this value is also reflected in the relationships between people.

8. The dominance of Chinese culture and the popular nature of American culture

China has been a society with a small middle and big ends since ancient times. That is, the middle class constitutes a minority, while the ruling class and the general public constitute the majority. The ruling class controls the general public and has absolute influence on culture. Chinese traditional culture fully reflects the interests of the ruling class.

The United States is a society in which the middle class makes up the majority, with a large middle and small ends; American culture fully embodies the interests of the middle class. Coupled with a strict democratic and legal system, the general public can freely participate in the construction of culture. Therefore, American culture shows a strong popular character.

9. The humanistic nature of Chinese culture and the scientific nature of American culture

Confucian culture is the main body of Chinese traditional culture, and ethics and morality are the main body of Confucian culture. Ethics and poetry are the two main threads in traditional Chinese culture.

Ethics and morality focus on the coordination of social relations, and poetry and poetry focus on the catharsis of emotions. Therefore, in the traditional thinking and character of the Chinese people, humanities and emotions have been valued since ancient times.

Americans are mainly European immigrants, with the largest number. Therefore, American culture is modern European and American culture that is developed on the basis of European culture. The characteristics of European culture that value rationality and science have also been inherited in modern American culture. Americans use laws to coordinate social relations, not human feelings; Americans love science, believe in strength, and speak to the world with advanced science and technology and strong economic strength.

After understanding the deep cultural differences, and then looking at each other's thinking patterns and behaviors, you will have a feeling of enlightenment as the clouds are cleared and the sun is revealed. Therefore, studying the cultural differences between China and the United States will help us further understand each other's society and social relations, and will help enhance understanding and exchanges between both parties. The most important thing is that through comparison of differences, we can recognize our own shortcomings, absorb the advantages of others, learn from each other's strengths through communication and learning, and develop our own culture.

International Chinese Culture Publishing House Ren Jingsheng, the author Teacher Ren Jingsheng is currently a visiting scholar in the Department of East Asia at The Ohio State University in the United States. He once served as a Chinese teacher in the business culture course "Relationship Studies". After coming to the United States, Teacher Ren devoted himself to the study of Sino-US relations and wrote the book "Looking at Relations from East to West." This book has been published by China Southern Daily Publishing House, and has been selected as a bestseller by the world-famous Bertelsmann Book China Club in Germany for online sales. This book written by Teacher Ren not only uses a large number of examples to explain to readers how to behave in the world and how to coordinate interpersonal relationships, but also theoretically explores the ins and outs of relationship science.