Hello everyone.
Many of my friends know that I taught myself Japanese when I was in junior high school.
Later, many people expressed puzzlement:
With the relationship between the two countries, it's so strange to learn Japanese.
But I have a very clear purpose in learning Japanese:
It's about learning their language and understanding their history.
Those who are familiar with history know it;
Both the Wuxu Reform and the Meiji Restoration were important reform movements in history.
The difference is that the Pentecostal Reform Law met with strong opposition from conservatives and ultimately failed.
However, the Meiji Restoration led to the rapid rise of Japan as the first industrialized country in Asia.
It can be said that this "turning point" in Japan aroused my great curiosity;
It was my original intention to learn Japanese.
In our eyes, Japan is a Confucian culture like ours.
But Japan as a nation has its own unique place.
For example, in Confucian culture, we have an important part of the farming culture.
However, on the basis of Confucian culture, Japan also learned the nomadic culture of the Mongols.
So in Japan's Junguoism;
There are things from traditional Confucian culture, such as tea ceremony and flower arrangement;
It also has the characteristics of nomadic riding and archery.
And the more they arrived in the Tang Dynasty, the more they tended to the nomadic culture of the Mongols;
Began to like to be aggressive and advocate force.
On the other hand, the development of our country has always been dominated by Confucian culture.
The characteristic of Confucian culture is that it emphasizes "stability and harmony".
This means that we don't really like "change" in our bones.
However, maritime cultures and nomadic cultures are inherently adaptable to changing environments.
Let's take marine culture as an example, due to the changeable and unavoidable nature of the ocean;
People often have to deal with the challenges of natural factors such as sea breezes, waves, ocean currents, etc.
Not only do they need to have seamanship and maritime knowledge;
It is also necessary to have a strong sense of adventure.
Cultures such as ancient Greece and England fall into this category.
Therefore, we see that Westerners love adventure and challenge activities in their bones.
Let's take Japan's nomadic culture as an example;
Cultures like theirs are constantly migrating and changing their way of life;
Therefore, it must be highly adaptable and flexible.
You may have to go to a different place every year to live, and when you get there, you start to set up camp.
Of course, our Confucian culture does not advocate "immutable";
Instead, the emphasis is on "changing in time".
But for many more people;
We still hope that we can put down roots in one place for a long time.
Although we don't like change, our character is more peaceful.
Ruth Benedict, an American cultural anthropologist;
He wrote a book "Chrysanthemum and Knife" dedicated to Japanese culture.
This book is a report on traditional Japanese cultural life.
As we all know, in Japan, "chrysanthemum" represents the family coat of arms of the Japanese imperial family;
The "sword" represents the Japanese spirit of bushido.
Although these two may seem contradictory, they constitute the essential characteristics of the Japanese nation.
Take the chrysanthemum, for example, it was originally a symbol of humility and accompaniment;
It carries the hope and perseverance of the Japanese people.
Bushido, on the other hand, contains their belligerent side.
But the combination of the two illustrates the contradictions in the Japanese character;
For example, they can be very polite;
It can also be extremely aggressive.
This contradictory character and complex duality is an important feature of Japanese culture.
Perhaps this is also a different reaction after the fusion of Confucian culture and nomadic culture.
From the historical comparison of the Wuxu Reform and the Meiji Restoration;
and then to the differences between Confucian culture and nomadic culture;
We find cultural differences;
It will make the two peoples have different attitudes in the face of reform.
But from the Confucian culture's attachment to stability and harmony;
and then to the militant and aggressive that the nomadic culture gradually reflected;
We will also find that there are advantages and disadvantages between different cultures.
In fact, each baptism of history will make their respective cultures develop and change.
The success of the Meiji Restoration led to Japan's rapid rise to become a modern country;
It also allows them to gradually expose their inferior side.
Although our Pentecostal method has failed;
However, we have made positive changes and explorations in the subsequent historical development.
So sometimes exploring foreign cultures allows us to understand ourselves more objectively.