Culture in the East Asia
Definition of culture


Culture is defined as all the modes of
thought, behavior, and production that are
handed down from one generation to the
next by means of communicative
interaction.
Communicative interaction is possible
through speech, gestures, writing, and all
other communications.
Sociological use of culture



The sociological use of culture is the entire
way of life of a society.
Culture is everything made or thought by
humans, not just sophisticated tastes such
as literature, music, movie, and fine arts.
So, everyone who participates in a society
is ‘cultured’.
Culture and society




Culture consists of the shared products of a
society.
Society consists of the interacting people who
share a culture.
What are the main characteristics of Korean
culture?
Korean culture vs Chinese culture vs Japanese
culture; Oriental culture vs Western culture
Dimensions of culture


Material culture: consists of all the
artifacts or physical objects what
human beings create. (ex) Clothing,
schools, factories, cities, etc.
Non-material culture: ideas, values,
norms
Ideas

Ideas are ways of thinking that
organize human consciousness. (ex)
beliefs, languages, myths, skills,
ideologies, values, knowledge.
Values




Values are socially shared ideas about what is
right, good, and desirable.
In a large and diverse society, there is bound to
be a good deal of conflict over values. (ex: on
beauty; capitalism vs communism)
The values of a society are important because
they influence the content of the norms. (Values
are more abstract than norms.)
They are the ideas that support or justify norms.
楊貴妃(Yáng Guìfēi)
Who is the most beautiful?
Karen(China)
Change of norms
Norms




Norms are accepted ways of doing or carrying out
ideas. (ex) customs, rules, folkways, mores, laws
Norms are shared rules or guidelines that
prescribe the behavior that is appropriate in a
given situation.
Norms define how people ‘ought’ to behave under
particular circumstances in a particular society.
So, without norms life would be chaotic and
dangerous. (e.g. norms of driving)
Application of norms


(Most) norms apply to every member of
society. (ex) In Korea – Nobody is
permitted to marry more than one person
at the same time. In Islamic World,
however, 4 wives are permissible.
Some norms apply to some people but not
to others. (ex) There is a very strong
norm against the taking of human life, but
this does not apply to policemen in
shootouts, soldiers in combat.
Change of norms


Norms are subject to change in societies
where values are in conflict or where
changes are occurring rapidly.
(ex) Smoking – ‘No smoking’ regulation is
(now) severe; Curfew in Korea (until 1982);
Long hair; Smoking Western cigarette (until
1975 – prison for ten years)
Norms and social control


Norms are what permit life (in
society) to proceed in an orderly
fashion without violence and chaos.
Social control is a set of rules and
understandings that control the
behavior of individuals and groups in
a culture.
Types of social control



Folkways → norms → mores → laws (in order
of strength)
Folkways are the ordinary usage and
conventions of everyday life. (“the ways of the
folk”)
Conformity to folkways is expected but is not
absolutely insisted upon. (ex) table manners,
classroom attitudes (don’t chat).
Mores




Mores are much stronger (than folkways) norms that people
consider vital to the continuation of human groups and
societies.
Offenders of mores may be strongly criticized or punched.
(ex) A man who walks down a street wearing nothing on the
upper half of his body - violating a folkways(in China)
A man who walks down the street wearing nothing on the
lower half of his body (‘streaking’) - violating a mores.
Laws



Laws are norms that are included in a
society’s official written codes of
behavior.
They are backed by the power of the
state.
Laws are carried out by governmental
officers such as policemen and
prosecutors.
Language and culture



Language is the most significant of the inventions
made (possible) by culture.
The learning of a culture takes place through
language.
Language is the symbol → Language enables us
to give a meaning to the world. (One of the
characteristics of a culture.) (ex) Chinese
character; National flag ( → patriotism); Cross for
Christians
Functions of language




Language transmits elements of culture from one
generation to the next.
Language permits people to interact with and
understand one another.
It is an important tool in overcoming cultural
barriers. (ex. International marriage)
Language gives human beings a history.
Crossing cultural lines




Global transactions of all kinds (cultures) are a
feature of the contemporary world.
Globalization → cross-cultural perspectives
Ethnocentrism - The tendency to assume that
one’s own culture is superior to all others. (ex)
Germany (Hitler); Chinese - barbarian (other
people); Regional conflict ; Racism (KKK);
Apartheid in South Africa
Cross-cultural perspectives avoid ethnocentrism.
Cultural relativity (relativism)




Cultural relativity is a cross-cultural perspective.
The norms and values of a culture cannot be arbitrarily
judged by those of another culture.
From the viewpoint of American culture, the traditional
Middle-Eastern practice of hiding the entire female body
using Chadol seems silly.
From the viewpoint of the Middle-Eastern people, the
American practice of exposing so much of the female body
to public view would be shameful and obscene.
Debate topic

Is it OK to eat dog meat ?
Civilizations and cultural
change


Civilization is an advanced and
extensive culture that encompasses
many societies.
They share specific forms of science,
technology, religion, art, and so on.
Effects of cultural contact

Acculturation (문화변용)

Assimilation (동화)

Accomodation (적응)
Acculturation


Acculturation occurs when people from one
civilization incorporate norms and values from
other cultures into their own.
Most acculturation occurs through intercultural
contact and the borrowing or imitation of
cultural norms. (ex) KFC & McDonald (American
culture) to all over the world
Assimilation


Assimilation takes place when
acculturation results in a situation in
which members of a less dominant
culture are able to assume equal statuses
with members of the larger culture.
(ex) A major issue for immigrant groups
in the U.S.A. → ’Americanized’; Will
Koreans in America (LA, New York) give
up Korean (language) over time?
Accomodation


A small society may resist total
assimilation and preserve the major
features of its culture.
When such resistance is successful,
even after prolonged contact with a
larger society → accomodation.
Cultural contact Immigration policy

Melting pot vs segregation

USA – LA, New York

China – Beijing (Wangjing, Wudaokou)

Japan – Tokyo, Osaka
Contact theory


Contact theory is a way of improving
relations among groups that are
experiencing conflict.
The premise of contact theory states that
under appropriate conditions interpersonal
contact is one of the most effective ways
to reduce prejudice between majority and
minority group members.
Transmitting Chinese culture
Contents of East-Asian
culture



Asian art, music, and cuisine, as well as literature,
are important parts of Asian culture.
Eastern philosophy and religion also plays a major
role, with Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Islam
, and Christianity all playing major roles.
One of the most complex parts of Asian culture is
the relationship between traditional cultures and
the Western world (Esp. American culture).
Chinese cultural sphere



East Asia was one of the cradles of world civilization, with
China developing its first civilizations at about the same time
as Egypt, Babylonia and India.
Korea and Japan had historically been under the Chinese
cultural sphere of influence, adopting the Chinese script,
and incorporating Chinese religion and philosophy into their
traditional culture. Chinese culture → Korean culture →
Japanese culture
Nevertheless, both cultures retain many distinctive elements
which make them unique in their own right.
Greetings



Greeting – 你好, 安寧, 今日わ(今晩わ)
Greeting 方式
Farewell greeting - 再見, 安寧, さよぅ
なら
Way of expression

Korea – Too frank (straight)

Japan – Two sided (本音, 建前)

China – Before and after the Cultural
Revolution
What is Confucianism?



Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical
system developed from the teachings of the Chinese
philosopher Confucius (Kǒng Fūzǐ, 孔子 "Master
Kong”).
It is a complex system of moral, social, political,
philosophical, and quasi-religious thought that has
had tremendous influence on the culture and history of
East Asia.
It might be considered a state religion of some East
Asian countries, because of governmental promotion
of Confucian philosophies.
Confucius (Kǒng Fūzǐ, 孔子, 551–
478 BC)
Countries influenced by
Confucianism

Cultures and countries strongly
influenced by Confucianism include
mainland China, Taiwan, Korea,
Japan and Vietnam, as well as
various territories settled
predominantly by Chinese people,
such as Singapore.
A main idea of Confucianism



In Confucianism, human beings are teachable,
improvable and perfectible through personal and
communal endeavor especially including selfcultivation and self-creation.
A main idea of Confucianism is the cultivation of virtue
and the development of moral perfection.
Confucianism holds that one should give up one's life,
if necessary, either passively or actively, for the sake
of upholding the cardinal moral values of Ren (仁,
Humanity), Yi (義, Righteousness).
Characteristic of Confucianism
1.
Emphasize the loyalty and filial piety
2.
Emphasize the manner, politeness
3.
Value the vertical relationship
4.
Emphasize the importance of
education and improve oneself
The Five Bonds

Ruler to Ruled

Father to Son

Husband to Wife

Elder Brother to Younger Brother

Friend to Friend
Confucianism in China
Above all, the Confucianism served as an
educational system in China. The educational
system of China was affected by
Confucianism for nearly 2,000 years.
The tradition of Confucian still remain in nearly
all life style of the Chinese, such as behavior,
attitude, belief, language, etc. and function
as an unification in the cultural, mental
aspects to the Chinese.
Confucianism in Korea



Korean Confucianism is the form of Confucianism developed
in Korea. One of the most substantial influences in Korean
intellectual history was the introduction of Confucian thought
as part of the cultural influence from China.
Today the legacy of Confucianism remains a fundamental
part of Korean society, shaping the moral system, the way
of life, social relations between old and young, high culture,
and is the basis for much of the legal system.
Confucianism in Korea is sometimes considered a
pragmatic way of holding a nation together without the civil
wars and internal dissent that was inherited from the Goryeo
dynasty, and before.
Confucianism in Japan
Japan accepted Confucianism lastly among
three main countries in east Asia. In Aska era,
Japan accepted Chinese culture in earnest.
By accepting Confucianism, Korea attached
importance to filial piety and emphasized a
scholar ideas, but Japan attached importance
to loyalty and emphasized samurai ideas.
Confucianism of Japan didn't have power and
only remained filial piety and loyalty in
contrast with Korea or China.
Religion or Philosophy ?



There is debate about the classification of
Confucianism as a religion or a philosophy. Many
attributes common among religions—such as ancestor
worship, ritual, and sacrifice—apply to the practice of
Confucianism; however, the religious features found in
Confucian texts can be traced to traditional nonConfucian Chinese beliefs (Chinese folk religion).
The position adopted by some is that Confucianism is
a moral science or philosophy. The problem clearly
depends on how one defines religion.
Since the 1970s scholars have attempted to assess
the religious status of Confucianism without assuming
a definition based on the Western model). Under such
a definition Confucianism can legitimately be
considered a religious tradition.