A COMPARISON OF

INDIAN ,AMERICAN
CHINESE AND
JAPANESE CULTURES
 WHAT IS CULTURE
Culture word originates from the Latin cultura stemming from colere,
meaning "to cultivate")
It is a term that has various meanings.
However, the word "culture" is most commonly used in three basic
senses:

•Excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as

high culture.

•An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that

depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning

•The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes
an institution, organization or group
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AMERICAN AND INDIAN CULTURE

No two cultures are the same. The American and Indian cultures have
very vast differentiation between them..While the culture of America is a
mixture of different cultures, the Indian culture is unique and has its own
values.

One of the major differences that can be seen between American and
Indian culture is in family relations.

 While the Indians are very much family oriented, the Americans are
individual oriented. In Indian culture, the family values are given more
prominence than the individual values. Indians respect family values.
On the other hand, in American culture the individual values gets
prominence than the family values. Indians are more committed to
their family where as the Americans are more committed to
themselves only.

In another sense, it can be said that the American culture is

more goal oriented and the Indian culture is more people or family
oriented

Unlike the Indians, the Americans plan things ahead. The

Americans believe in dominating nature and controlling the world
around them. On the contrary, Indians believe in the harmony with
nature.
 Another difference that can be seen between Indian culture and
American culture is that the Indians love stability where as the Americans love
mobility.

 In American culture, one can see that the individuals think of self-reliance and
independent. On the other hand, Indians are more dependent on others. While
the children in the US are brought up to live an independent life, the children in
India are not brought up in that way.

 In Indian culture, there is respect for the elders and it is they who make
decisions. But in American culture, each individual makes his own decisions.

 Coming to competition, Indians are more competitive than the Americans.

 Coming to work nature, the Indians work for meeting the family needs. On the
contrary, an American will only strive to rise on his own capacity or getting rich.

 Another difference that can be seen is that Americans have great regard to time
and its value. On the other hand, Indians do not value time that much.
Overview to Japanese culture
 The culture of Japan has evolved greatly over millennia, from the
country's prehistoric Jōmon period to its contemporary hybrid culture,
which combines influences from Asia, Europe and North America.

Japanese language
 The Japanese language has always played a significant role in Japanese
culture. The language is spoken mainly in Japan but also in some
Japanese emigrant communities around the world. It is an agglutinative
language and the sound inventory of Japanese is relatively small but has
a lexically distinct pitch-accent system.
Visual arts of Japan
 Painting
Pictorial Scroll of Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu
Painting has been an art in Japan for a very long time: the brush is a
traditional
writing tool, and the extension of that to its use as an artist's tool was probably
natural.
Chinese papermaking was introduced to Japan around the 7th century
by Damjing and several monks of Goguryeo later washi was developed from
it.
 IKEBANA
 Ikebana (生花?) is the Japanese art of flower arrangement.
 It has gained widespread international fame for its focus on harmony,
color use, rhythm, and elegantly simple design.
 It is an art centered greatly on expressing the seasons, and is meant to
act as a symbol to something greater than the flower itself.
 Traditionally, when third party marriages were more prominent and
practiced in Japan, many Japanese women entering into a marriage
learned to take up the art of Ikebana to be a more appealing and well-
rounded lady.
 Today Ikebana is widely practiced in Japan, as well as around the
world.
TRADITIONAL CLOTHING:KIMONO

 Traditional Japanese clothing distinguishes Japan from all other

countries around the world.
 The Japanese word kimono means "something one wears" and they are
the traditional garments of Japan.
 Originally, the word kimono was used for all types of clothing, but
eventually, it came to refer specifically to the full-length garment also
known as the naga-gi, meaning "long-wear", that is still worn today on
special occasions by women, men, and children).
 Kimonos come in a variety of colors, styles, and sizes.
 Men mainly wear darker or more muted colours, while women tend to
wear brighter colors and pastels, and, especially for younger women,
often with complicated abstract or floral patterns.
SOME BASIC JAPANESE ETIQUETES
 Never enter a house with your shoes. This is one of the few rules for
which Japanese will not make allowance just because you are a
foreigner.
 When you are invited into a Japanese family, bring a small present or
"omiyage" (souvenir, usually food). If you are coming straight from your
country, it is preferable to bring some local culinary specialties from
your home town/region.
 Say "o-jama shimasu" (sorry for disturbing) while entering someone's
house.
 Some shops, cafes or department stores provide plastic covers for
umbrellas. Make sure not to enter with a dripping wet umbrella
without one.
 You should not eat while standing or walking in the street. Even inside
a house, you should sit down to eat
 Do not point your finger, feet or chopsticks at people. If you have to indicate an
object or direction to someone, wave your fingers with the palm downwards.
 Avoid being expressing your opinion too directly. Japanese have what they call
"honne" (real opinion) and "tatemae" (public opinion). They will express the
latter in most situation so as not to disturb the group harmony. It is of course
flexible and consist in agreeing with the people around you as much as possible.
This is the reason why Japanese are so bad at debating serious issues in public
(including the media). "Honne" is what you really think but do not say openly, or
only to close friends or relatives.
 Avoid interrupting people when they are speaking or thinking about an answer.
Japanese do not mind short periods of silence in the middle of a discussion.
 Avoid fixing someone in the eyes (for men, even, or especially beautiful girls
sitting in front of you in the train).
 Money should be given in an envelope, but only about half the Japanese really
take the trouble.
 In addition, the number of banknotes given to the married couple should be an
odd number, as superstitious people believe that the couple might separate if the
number can be divided in two.
SUMMARY OF JAPANESE CULTURE
 The Japanese are very service oriented and service is
the pillar of Japanese business culture.
 Japanese society is very polite well mannered and
reserved. They are highly formal and don’t believe in
any kind of physical contact on first meetings, unlike
Indians and Americans who appear warm Japanese
seem cold due to their extremely formal behavior.
 Japanese are group oriented with emphasis on
harmony.
 Consensus on any decision matters a lot for Japanese
people.
 Chinese culture
The Culture of China (simplified
Chinese: 中国文is one of the world's oldest
and most complex cultures.
The area in which the culture is dominant
covers a large geographical region in eastern
Asia with customs and traditions varying
greatly between towns, cities and provinces

A Chinese Opera(Beijing Opera performance in Beijing

Chinese Society & Culture

 The Importance of "Face"

The concept of 'face' roughly translates as 'honour', 'good
reputation' or 'respect'.
There are four types of 'face':
1) Diu-mian-zi: this is when one's actions or deeds have
been exposed to people.
2) Gei-mian-zi: involves the giving of face to others through
showing respect.
3) Liu-mian-zi: this is developed by avoiding mistakes and
showing wisdom in action.
4) Jiang-mian-zi: this is when face is increased through
others, i.e. someone complementing you to an associate. It
is critical you avoid losing face or causing the loss of face at
all times.
 Confucianism

 Confucianism is a system of behaviours and ethics that

stress the obligations of people towards one another based
upon their relationship. The basic tenets are based upon
five different relationships:
 . Ruler and subject
. Husband and wife
. Parents and children
. Brothers and sisters
. Friend and friend
 Confucianism stresses duty, sincerity, loyalty, honour,
filial piety, respect for age and seniority. Through
maintaing harmonious relations as individuals, society
itself becomes stable.
Collectivism vs. Individualism

 In general, the Chinese are a collective society with a need for group
affiliation, whether to their family, school, work group, or country.

 In order to maintain a sense of harmony, they will act with decorum

at all times and will not do anything to cause someone else public
embarrassment.

 They are willing to subjugate their own feelings for the good of the
group.

 This is often observed by the use of silence in very structured meetings.

If someone disagrees with what another person says, rather than
disagree publicly, the person will remain quiet. This gives face to the
other person, while speaking up would make both parties lose face.
 Non-Verbal Communication
 The Chinese' Non-verbal communication speaks volumes.

 Since the Chinese strive for harmony and are group

dependent, they rely on facial expression, tone of voice and
posture to tell them what someone feels.

 Frowning while someone is speaking is interpreted as a

sign of disagreement. Therefore, most Chinese maintain an
impassive expression when speaking.

 It is considered disrespectful to stare into another person's

eyes. In crowded situations the Chinese avoid eye contact
to give themselves privacy.
Chinese Etiquette and Customs

Meeting Etiquette
 Greetings are formal and the oldest person is always greeted first.

 Handshakes are the most common form of greeting with foreigners.

 Many Chinese will look towards the ground when greeting someone.

 Address the person by an honorific title and their surname. If they

want to move to a first-name basis, they will advise you which name to
use.

 The Chinese have a terrific sense of humour. They can laugh at

themselves most readily if they have a comfortable relationship with
the other person. Be ready to laugh at yourself given the proper
circumstances.
 REFRENCES
 http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=72
0396
 http://www.edac.org/downloads/presentations/2006_
JanECC/ALL_06Japan_ECC.pdf
 http://www.webershandwick.com/newsroom/thought
leadership.cfm/contentid,13831.html
 http://www.stylusinc.com/business/india/cultural_tip
s.htm
THANK
YOU