Comparison between Chinese traditional culture and

Ethiopia traditional culture

1) The Most Fascinating Chinese Traditional Culture from My
Two Year Experience in China.
China is the most populous country in the world. It is a superpower in Asia. China, also known as the red
dragon, is one of the first places on earth that saw civilization settle around the Yellow River. China has
given birth to many great philosophers, leaders and social movements. Just like most Asian countries,
China lays a huge importance on culture and tradition. Why shouldn’t it? After all, China is the land that
gave the world Kung Fu, which is considered one of the most difficult arts to master. The Chinese
language, Mandarin has the more speakers in the world than any other language. To understand the
People’s Republic of China and its culture better, let’s dig out some facts about Chinese culture and
tradition.

A) Chinese Language
Mandarin is the official language of
China and also the most widely spoken
language in China. The word
“Mandarin” comes from the Sanskrit
word “Mantrin” which means Minister.
The Chinese language does not have any
alphabets like most languages but has
thousands of characters, which makes it
one the most difficult languages to learn.
Some of the characters in Mandarin are
derived from real shapes and landscapes
that exist in China. For example, the character, 山, represents three mountain peaks in China. The
tone in which the speaker speaks Chinese matters a lot because many Chinese characters sound
similar and one has to adjust their pitch and tone to say the words correctly.
 B) Chinese Kung Fu
Kung Fu is an integral part of Chinese
Culture. There are several types of
Martial Arts in China and Kung Fu is a
common name given to all of them.
Kung Fu began in China during the
Zhou Dynasty (1111 – 255 BC). It was
also used in ancient China by people to
fight off beasts and animals. Kung Fu
actually means “Achievement through
great effort”. Chinese Kung Fu focused
on enhancing the power of the body as well as the mind of the Shaolin Monks. It was in the
Shaolin temple where the practice of Kung Fu first began through the teachings of an Indian
Buddhist Monk Bodhidharma. In the 19th and the 20th century, Kung Fu spread to cinema
screens and helped Chinese Cinema receive wide acclaim. Bruce Lee Films based on Kung Fu
were a rage in the west in the 1970s. Today, many people from around the world practice and
learn Kung Fu in order to maintain a healthy body and mind.

C) Chinese Festivals
China has a rich tradition and many
festivals are celebrated in China as
a part of the tradition. Many of the
Chinese festivals have their origin
in the Han Dynasty. Some of the
most popular Chinese festivals are
the Chinese New Year or the
Spring Festival and, the Dragon
Boat Festival. The Chinese New
Year marks beginning on February
 16, which is the beginning of the lunar year. Chinese New Year is celebrated with a
great fervor with people stopping their business and work to join the family for
celebrations. As the Chinese new year arrives, the Chinese are especially curious
about the zodiac animal of that particular year and use it to predict fortune.
The roots of the Dragon Boat Festival can be traced back to over 2000 years ago when a scholar
and poet killed himself because of the corruptness of his state. During the festival, people
participate in boat racing competitions using long boats oared by a team.

Dragons
The Chinese dragon is an important
symbol in China. It represents
wealth, power and, leadership.
Dragon is one of the animals in the
Chinese Zodiac. Every 12th year is
the year of the dragon. The next year
of the dragon will happen in 2024.
Dragons are demonstrated during
the Dragon boat festival. The dragon
boats are carved to have dragon heads and tails. In fact, the dragon dance is quite popular in
China and can be seen in many of their movies. This dance is also performed during the Chinese
New Year Celebrations. Chinese believe that the people born in the Dragon year are influential.
Many leaders in the world including Martin Luther, Vladimir Putin and, Deng Xiaoping were
born in the year of the dragon.

D) Family culture
Like most Asian countries, family values hold high
importance in Chinese Culture. Offsprings are
expected to respect and rever the elders of the
family. For many years, the male members of the
family were supposed to take the role of decision-
making, protecting and providing for the family, while the female members had little say in
important family decisions. Also, ultimately decisions like marriages were also made by the
family male-head with little attention paid to the romantic interests of the couple to be married.
Also, family members have their share in the property and wealth of the family.

E) Chinese Zodiac: Sheng Xiao

The Chinese have a zodiac system that

consists of 12 animals representing
different years. The animal representing
the person’s birth year is known as Sheng
Xiao. The 12 animals are rat, ox, tiger,
rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep,
monkey, rooster, dog and, pig. As per
their Sheng Xiao, the year that people are
born determines their personality,
strengths, and weaknesses. Some Chinese
people predict their future, calculate marriage and love compatibility. The Chinese Zodiac can be
traced to the Han Dynasty. Since then, Shen Xiao has been accepted and used by many people as
a crucial part of their Chinese culture; however, there is no scientific evidence that this is true.
2018 is the year of the dog as per the Chinese Zodiac, while 2019 will be the year of the pig. Of
all the Chinese Zodiac years, the year of the dragon is considered to be the luckiest.

F) China and Confucianism

Confucianism was a socio-political movement in
China that transformed the country’s belief systems
as well as its administration. Confucianism is a term
derived from Confucius. Confucius was among the
greatest influencers of his time. Confucius believed
that education for all is must for establishing a
social order in the state. He was one of the greatest
teachers that history has known. In that time he had about 30,000 disciples. In fact, many Chinese
proverbs that we know today were given by Confucius.
China has many temples dedicated to Confucius and his teachings. The largest Confucius Temple is
in Qufu, Shandong Province. Confucianism also spread to neighboring countries of China like Japan,
Vietnam and Korea influencers of his time. Confucius believed that education for all is must for
establishing a social order in the state. He was one of the greatest teachers that history has
known. In that time he had about 30,000 disciples. In fact, many Chinese proverbs that we know
today were given by Confucius.
China has many temples dedicated to Confucius and his teachings. The largest Confucius Temple
is in Qufu, Shandong Province. Confucianism also spread to neighboring countries of. Even
today, there are many people around the world including many western countries that follow the
principles of Confucianism.

G) Chinese Tea Culture

Tea-drinking is a constituent part of Chinese
culture. China is an original producer of tea
and is renowned for its skills in planting and
making tea. Its customs of tea-drinking spread
over to Europe and to many other regions
through cultural exchange via the ancient
"Silk Road" and other channels of trade. The
Chinese nation has written a brilliant page for
its tea culture in the history of world
civilization. The development and promotion of tea has been one of China's principal
contributions to the world. Tea Ceremony drinking and appreciating tea can be life style. The
Chinese tea ceremony contains the wisdom of oriental philosophy.

2) Most interesting Ethiopia traditional culture

Tradition is Everything
Ethiopians are very traditional. In a culture as ancient as this one, the old way of doing things is
very revered. That’s partly why Ethiopia is so lovely to visit. The beautiful values have remained
strong in a quickly changing world. But it also has important implications for business people
and investors. New products and services that do well in other countries might not be easily
adapted here.
The Ethiopian culture is ancient, enchanting, and like none other in the world. Impress the locals
and enjoy your stay in the country with a quick course on the Ethiopian culture.

Never Colonized
There are 54 countries in Africa, and only Ethiopia and one other African country were never
colonized. The story goes that Ethiopian tribes were at war with each other. But when the Italian
invaded on March 1, 1896, they banded together and achieved victory against the invasion at the
famous Battle of Adwa. The date has become a national holiday and is still celebrated today.

What year is it?

While the rest of the world is halfway through the year 2021, Ethiopia is currently in year 2013.
This is because the country observes the Julian calendar (most of the world is on the Gregorian
calendar). A great time to visit is during Ethiopian New Years celebrated the second week of
September. Regardless of when you arrive, enjoy peeling back time and being 7.5 years younger
than you are now!

13 Months of Sunshine
The Ethiopian calendar not only has a different year,
but also a different way of calculating months.
Instead of alternating months that are 30 or 31 days
long, the Ethiopian calendar has 12 months that are
each 30 days. The 13th month (yes there are 13
months in their calendar) contains the “extra days”
and is only 5 or 6 days long depending on if it’s a
leap year. That’s why Ethiopia’s nickname is “Land of 13 Months of Sunshine. One of the
beautiful sunsets in Ethiopia.
Eating together with others
Let’s Eat
A common phrase you’ll hear is “Inebele,” which
means “Let’s Eat.” In Ethiopian culture, it’s
expected to offer your food to those around you. At
a crowded restaurant, you’ll overhear locals say it to
the table beside them if they are served first. Or if
you’re walking down the street while eating, you’ll
surely have several by-standers say it. As a traveler,
locals know that you won’t understand or probably feel comfortable sharing food like this. But
don’t be surprised or alarmed, if strangers invite you to share a meal or take a bite of their snack.

Coffee Culture
Coffee Time
Ethiopians were the first to discover coffee (you’re
welcome world). As such, the drink is deeply
embedded into their society. Most city dwellers enjoy
drinking a macchiato at least once per day. If you’re
vegan or have a dairy allergy, make sure you request a
“Fasting Macchiato” which uses soy milk.
Whatever you do, don’t leave Ethiopia without
experiencing a traditional coffee ceremony. Made in
traditional clay pots, you’ll be served three rounds of coffee in tiny cups. The first round is very
strong, while the subsequent cups get more watered down. In the Ethiopian culture, coffee
ceremonies always include incense and popcorn.
It’s also quite popular to be served a vibrant green leaf with your coffee called, “Tena-Dom.” It
means “The Health of Adam” and is known internationally as “Grace Herb.” It adds an
antioxidant boost and unique taste to your morning drink that most travelers find enjoyable”.
Injera is Life
Injera is a sour flatbread used in Ethiopian and Eritrean
cuisine that is thicker than a crepe but thinner than a
pancake and has a delightfully sour taste. In Ethiopian
and Eritrean cuisines, vegetable, lentil, or meat dishes are
served on top of the injera, and the food is eaten with
your hands, using the injera to scoop up the food
The Ethiopian cuisine is centered around injera, a
fermented crepe-like food made from teff grain. It’s
served with every meal. You’ll love it or hate it. There is
no in-between. But for the health conscious individual, it’s a great gut-friendly food off the charts
in iron, calcium, and fiber. The proper way of eating injera is by using your right hand to roll up
the injera with accompanying stews in a clockwise direction.

For the Love of Raw Meat

Raw meat is a delicacy in Ethiopian culture. Locals eat it in
big chunks (called “Tray Sega”) or ground (called “Kitfo).
Dip it in a spicy barbeque-like sauce and cheese before
enjoying. Travelers may want to think twice.
Eating raw meat in Ethiopia is something real men do. We do
not bake or broil their meat. We love eating raw meat. You
can eat raw meat in Ethiopia at large meat markets like the
one in Doro Manekia. Men and women there prefer to cut the raw beef from the bone.

Three Kiss Greetings

Greetings are everything in Ethiopia. A typical greeting is
three kisses on the cheek, however, it can be up to four or
five kisses if you haven’t seen the person in a long time.
This applies for men and women. Another popular, less
formal greeting, is to shake hands and then tap your
shoulder to the person’s opposite shoulder.
It’s also not uncommon to shake someone’s hand and remain holding their hand for the next few
minutes while you chat about what’s new.

Dance, Dance
Or “Whaz, Whaz,” as we say it. Traditional Ethiopian
dancing is a celebration of culture. The country is
composed of 80 different tribes each with their unique
moves. An oversimplified way to generalize it is in the
north the dancing mainly involves moving the head and
neck. Tribes further down begin using the shoulders.
The central part of the country starts to incorporate the
waist. And by the time you’re in the south, it’s full body
and jumping.
Dancing is so embedded in the Ethiopian culture that it’s one of the top things to do in Addis
Ababa. Don’t worry about doing it perfectly. Just have fun and enjoy.

Stand up for the Elderly

The Ethiopian culture shows high regard for the elderly. It is traditional to stand out of respect
when an older individual enters the room and bow your head slightly. You should also offer your
seat on the bus if you’re in the front row.
Even the way elders are addressed in the language is with special suffixes indicating extra
politeness.

The Most Hospitable People on Earth

The Ethiopian culture is one of the most welcoming, friendly, and hospitable in the world. As a
traveler, don’t hesitate to ask someone on the street for directions or help finding something.
Ethiopians take it as an honor and even a religious mandate to show kindness to foreigners.

3) ADDING NEW THING INTO CHINESE CULTURE

I have written the comparison between China traditional and Ethiopia traditional culture, it have
not so many differences between two countries culture. The both country have rich of long lived
traditional culture and it was interesting. I am glad to write this document because when I
compare and contrast the Chinese traditional culture and my country traditional culture, I learned
so many amazing things from my two year experience in china. So China have so many unique
traditional cultures and such a good traditional cultures had a great impact on the modern
Chinese peoples and across the world. We see today that behavior like loyalty, integrity, the sense
of hard working in the community and as individual, so such good a good behavior makes
Chinese peoples as exemplary for other peoples and nations.
So to sum up my idea, I don’t add anymore on it but I can’t wait to share this amazing Chinese
traditional culture to my country peoples and to other African’s country and friends.