跨文化交际-美日中三国对比.doc

Any culture can be compared and contrasted. There is no superior or inferior between two culture, but the similarity or differences.AmericaHuman nature：basically good（changeable）In respect to human nature, average, middle-class, mainstream Americans are generally optimistic, choosing to believe the best about a person until that person proves otherwise. Americans generally believe that in order to bring out the basic goodness in human beings all you have to do is change the negative social conditions in which they exist.Relationship of man to nature：Man the master of natureIn the man-nature orientation, Americans see a clear separation between man and nature and man is clearly held to be in charge. Americans, on the other hand, have an insatiable drive to subdue, dominate, and control their natural environment. Americans believe that man can conquer nature. Developing capitalism must overcome nature, for example, Westward Movement, exploiting natural resources, etc.Sense of time：Future-orientedConcerning orientation toward time, Americans are dominated by a belief in progress. They are future-oriented. This implies a strong task or goal orientation. They have an optimistic faith in the future and what the future will bring.Activity：DoingAs for activity, Americans are so action-oriented that they cannot even conceive what it would be like to be “being”-oriented. It is the objective requirement of developing capitalism. Americans think that time is money and therefore nor to be wasted. They believe in keeping busy and productive at all timeseven on vacation. Social relationships：IndividualisticTheir social orientation is toward the importance of the individual and the equality of all people. USA is a capitalism country which is developed from nothing. The key words are freedom, democracy, and independent. Stress on the individual begins at a very early age when the American child is encouraged to be autonomous. Friendly, informal, outgoing, and extroverted, Americans scorn rank and authority, even when they are the ones with the rank and authority.JapanHuman nature：mixture of good & evil（unchangeable）Every culture is not perfect. Japanese human nature has its thought limitation. There are two sides in Japanese mind-evil and good. The expansion of desire makes good turn to evil. In Japanese national character, there is deep Bushido sprit. Japanese loves sakura, which means their sacrifice sprits like the falling petals.Relationship of man to nature：Man in harmony with natureIn ancient day, the relationship between Japan and China was very close. Some people bring Chinese Confucianism to Japan. The old Japanese were affected by Chinese harmony culture, which named them Yamato people. On the other hand, the growing of rice requires that they conform the seasons and the climate. Many disasters, for instance, earthquake and volcanic eruption, make Japanese are obedient to nature.Sense of time：Past-oriented & future-orientedIn Japanese history, they invaded other Asian countries. They declared to build” Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”, which intends to extend Japans reach into unfamiliar parts of the globe. This history makes most Japanese are militarists. As for their future-oriented, since Japan is a developed capitalistic state, they tend to equate ”change” with “improvement” and consider a rapid rate of change s normal.Activity：growing（self-developing）& doingFor the farming of rice, Japanese have to fight with nature, also the frequent natural disasters. Thus they must work hard to guarantee the production. As defeated in the Second World War, Japan suffered the enormous catastrophe.in order to develop the capitalistic economy, they have to stress on self-developing and doing. They take various actions to accumulate funds, labor force, and explore the market.Social relationships：Authoritarian & group orientedBecause of the remaining evils of feudalism, Japan still has the Mikado. So the authoritarian prevail yet. Japanese staple food is rice. The growing of rice requires construction and maintenance of an irrigation system, something that takes many hands to build. More importantly, the planting and harvesting of rice can only be dome efficiently with the cooperation of twenty or more people.ChinaHuman nature：Basically goodConfucianism is the essence of thousands of years of Chinese history and culture. Confucianism is a set of practical principles and ethical rules for daily life. Its ideas have long held a central place in China. As the saying goes: people at the beginning of goodness. Human nature is assumed to be inherently good; it is the responsibility of each individual to train his or her moral character in these standards of behavior.Relationship of man to nature：Man in harmony with natureTaoism theory says people should govern by doing nothing that goes against nature. People tend to believe that man is driven and controlled by Fate and can do very lirrle, if anything, to influence. Ideally, people should learn to harmonize not only with others but with the universe as well.Sense of time：Past-oriented & present-orientedChina has a long history and rich culture. There are many traditional festivals in China, for example, Spring Festival, lantern festival and mid-autumn day. There is also the present-oriented. With the policy of reformation and opening, China developed the market economy. In order to seek the maximum economic benefits, many producer and sellers concentrate on earning money, but not the quality or safety.Activity：growing（stress on self-developing）China is a developing country, and its mainstream is working class. Since China is in the primary stage of socialism with Chinese characteristics, every aspect is not perfect. After the several decades of hard work, China has made remarkable achievements in refor