日本文化介绍(全英文版)

1、,quiet city,the way to Japan,Japan,Japan is an island nation in East Asia comprising a large stratovolcanic archipelago extending along the Pacific coast of Asia. Measured from the geographic coordinate system, Japan is 36 north of the equator and 138 east of the Prime Meridian. The country is north

2、-northeast of China and Taiwan (separated by the East China Sea) and slightly east of Korea (separated by the Sea of Japan). The country is south of the Russian Far East.,The main islands, sometimes called the Home Islands, are (from north to south) Hokkaid, Honsh (the mainland), Shikoku and Kysh. T

3、here are also about 3,000 smaller islands, including Okinawa, and islets, some inhabited and others uninhabited. In total, as of 2006, Japans territory is 377,923.1 km, of which 374,834 km is land and 3,091 km water. This makes Japans total area slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Montana, sligh

4、tly bigger than the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Japan is bigger than Germany, Malaysia, New Zealand and the U.K., and is 1.7 times the size of Korea.,Composition,Climate,Japan belongs to the temperate zone with four distinct seasons, but its climate varies from cool temperate in the north

5、 to subtropical in the south. The climate is also affected by the seasonal winds that blow from the continent to the ocean in winters and vice versa in summers. Japan is generally a rainy country with high humidity. Because of its wide range of latitude, Japan has a variety of climates, with a range

6、 often compared to that of the east coast of North America, from Nova Scotia to Georgia. Tokyo is at about 35 degrees north latitude, comparable to that of Tehran, Athens, or Las Vegas. The generally humid, temperate climate exhibits marked seasonal variation celebrated in art and literature, as wel

7、l as regional variations ranging from cool in Hokkaid to subtropical in Kysh. Climate also varies with altitude and with location on the Pacific Ocean or on the Sea of Japan. Northern Japan has warm summers but long, cold winters with heavy snow. Central Japan has hot, humid summers and short winter

8、s, and southwestern Japan has long, hot, humid summers and mild winters.,Population,As of March 2009, Japans population is 127,076,183,1 making it the worlds tenth most populated country. Its size can be attributed to fast growth rates experienced during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After

9、 having experienced net population loss over a number of years due to falling birth rates and almost no net immigration, and despite having one of the highest life expectancies in the world at 81.25 years of age as of 2006,2 Japans population rose for a second year in a row in 2009,3 mainly because

10、more Japanese returned to Japan than left.citation needed The population of Japan in 2000, at New Year, was 127 million. Its population density was 336 people per square kilometer. The population ranking of Japan dropped from 7th to 8th in 1990 and from 8th to 9th in 1998 and 10th since,Clothes-Kimo

11、no (和服）,The kimono is a Japanese traditional garment worn by women, men and children. The word kimono, which literally means a thing to wear (ki wear and mono thing), has come to denote these full-length robes. The standard plural of the word kimono in English is kimonos,but the unmarked Japanese pl

12、ural kimono is also sometimes used. Kimono are T-shaped, straight-lined robes worn so that the hem falls to the ankle, with attached collars and long, wide sleeves. Kimono are wrapped around the body, always with the left side over the right (except when dressing the dead for burial),and secured by

13、a sash called an obi, which is tied at the back. Kimono are generally worn with traditional footwear and split-toe socksToday, kimono are most often worn by women, and on special occasions. Traditionally, unmarried women wore a style of kimono called furisodewith almost floor-length sleeves, on spec

14、ial occasions. A few older women and even fewer men still wear the kimono on a daily basis. Men wear the kimono most often at weddings, tea ceremonies, and other very special or very formal occasions. Professional sumo wrestlers are often seen in the kimono because they are required to wear traditio

15、nal Japanese dress whenever appearing in public,A womans kimono may easily exceed US$10,000;a complete kimono outfit, with kimono, undergarments, obi, ties, socks, sandals, and accessories, can exceed US$20,000. A single obi may cost several thousand dollars. However, most kimonos owned by kimono ho

16、bbyists or by practitioners of traditional arts are far less expensive. Enterprising people make their own kimono and undergarments by following a standard pattern, or by recycling older kimonos. Cheaper and machine-made fabrics can substitute for the traditional hand-dyed silk. There is also a thri

17、ving business in Japan for second-hand kimonos, which can cost as little as 500 (about $5). Womens obis, however, mostly remain an expensive item. Although simple patterned or plain colored ones can cost as little as 1,500 (about $15), even a used obi can cost hundreds of dollars, and experienced cr

18、aftsmanship is required to make them. Mens obis, even those made from silk, tend to be much less expensive, because they are narrower, shorter and less decorative than those worn by women.,The cost of Kimono,2/Sukiyakisuki:j:ki: 鸡素烧,Sukiyaki is one of the representative foods of Japan. The name come

19、s from the farmer spade sometimes used to cook on. Sukiyaki refers directly to broiling beef on the spade, along with soybean curd, leeks, and vegetables. The seasoning 调料includes soy sauce s:s, sweet sake, and sugar.,Japanese Food,The staple steipl 主食of the Japanese diet is rice, rice and soybean c

20、urd soup酱汤being common breakfast foods. There are also many people who eat bread for breakfast. Japanese food mostly consists of fish instead of meat, and also soybeans, so it is good for the health. Foods that are most well received by foreigners are tempuratempur天妇罗, sukiyaki suki:j:ki: 鸡素烧, sushi

21、 su:i: 寿司, sashimi s:i:mi生鱼片, buckwheat noodles荞麦面条, and soybean curd.,First:Tempuratempur天妇罗,1:Tempuratempur天妇罗,This dish mostly consists of deep-fried eggplant, squashskw, sweet potato, and other vegetables, along with shrimp rimp 小虾and Fish. One theory is that the word tempura came from the Spani

22、sh tempera, meaning temperature. Tempura is eaten with a special soy sauce-based dip. 天妇罗主要是茄子、南瓜、甘薯等菜类以及虾、鱼等的油炸食品。有一种说法认为“天妇罗”的语源是西班牙语“tempera（温度）”。吃天妇罗时要蘸着一种特制的油，这种油的主要成分是酱油。,3Buckwheat bkwi:t noodles 荞麦面条,Buckwheat noodles or soba is also a typical Japanese dish. There are some people that eat so

23、ba at least once a day. Many office workers make it a habit to have soba for lunch. Soba noodles are a mixture of buckwheat, flour flau 面粉and eggs. It looks similar to spaghetti in shape. It is first boiled, and then dipped in a soup made of soy sauce, salt, sweet sake, and bonitobni:tu shavings whe

24、n it is being eaten. Because soba is long, it is considered a symbol of long life.,Culture-tea ceremony,The Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. In Japanese, it is calle

25、d chanoyu (茶湯) or chad (茶道; also pronounced sad?). The manner in which it is performed, or the art of its performance, is called otemae .Zen Buddhism was a primary influence in the development of the tea ceremony.,Tea gatherings are classified as ochakai or chaji (茶事). Chakai is a relatively simple

26、course of hospitality that includes the service of confections, thin tea (薄茶 usucha), and perhaps a light meal. Chaji is a more formal gathering, usually with a full-course meal (kaiseki), followed by confections, thick tea and thin tea. A chaji will likely last at least four hours.,Bushid meaning W

27、ay of the Warrior, is a Japanese code of conduct and a way of the samurai life, loosely analogous to the concept of chivalry. It originates from the samurai moral code and stresses frugality, loyalty, martial arts mastery, and honor unto death. Born of two main influences, the violent existence of t

28、he samurai was tempered by the wisdom and serenity of Japanese Shinto and Buddhism. Bushid developed between the 9th and 12th centuries and numerous translated documents dating from the 12th to 16th centuries demonstrate its wide influence across the whole of Japanalthough some scholars have noted t

29、he term bushid itself is rarely attested in premodern literature,Culture-Bushido武士道,Sight spot,Osaka Castle Park Mount Fuji Tokyo Disney,Osaka Castle Park,Japans three major cities of Osaka Castle, the first park, cherry blossoms around the city of Gilbert, about 4000 of the cherry. Osaka City has m

30、ore than 400 years of history, high eight, the maximum level set is expected to Taiwan, you can view panoramic view of Osaka. Osaka City is unparalleled by numerous large stones from the composition. People with a heavy sense of dignity.Park green everywhere, very lush cherry trees is a good place f

31、or leisure walks. Have been around in Japan, Yokohamas Chinatown Chinese New Year is really great fun. Where you can experience the traditional Chinese beside can enjoy traditional Chinese dishes . .,Tokyo Disney,Tokyo Disney Resort is split into two different theme parks: Tokyo Disney Land and Toky

32、o Disney Sea.It was first opened on April 15th, 1983 and has since earned many positive reviews.Both of the theme parks open at 9 am in the morning and closes at 10 pm in the evening. The most amazing things about this resort is that is is revolved around the Disney Dream theme, and involves a lot o

33、f simple yet attractive rides for kids. The Disney parade every Saturday afternoon is also a huge event involving puppet shows, dress ups, princess competitions and many more.,Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776.24 m (12,389 ft) . An active stratovolcano5 that last erupted in 170708

34、, Mount Fuji lies about 100 kilometres (60 miles) south-west of Tokyo, and can be seen from there on a clear day. Mount Fujis exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and photographs, as well as visited by sightseers and climbers. It is one

35、of Japans Three Holy Mountains (三霊山) along with Mount Tate and Mount Hakeu.,Mount Fuji,Mount Fuji,The current kanji for Mount Fuji, 富 and 士, mean wealth or abundant and a man with a certain status respectively. However, these characters are probably ateji, meaning that the characters were probably s

36、elected because their pronunciations match the syllables of the name but do not carry a meaning related to the mountain. The origin of the name Fuji is unclear. A text of the 10th century Tale of the Bamboo Cutter says that the name came from immortal and also from the image of abundant soldiers asc

37、ending the slopes of the mountainAn early folk etymology claims that Fuji came from 不二 (not + two), meaning without equal or nonpareil. Another claims that it came from 不尽 (not + to exhaust), meaning neverending. A Japanese classical scholar in the Edo era, Hirata Atsutane, speculated that the name

38、is from a word meaning a mountain standing up shapely as an ear (ho) of a rice plant. A British missionary Bob Chiggleson (18541944) argued that the name is from the Ainu word for fire (fuchi) of the fire deity (Kamui Fuchi), which was denied by a Japanese linguist Kysuke Kindaichi (18821971) on the

39、 grounds of phonetic development (sound change). It is also pointed out that huchi means an old woman and ape is the word for fire, ape huchi kamuy being the fire deity. Research on the distribution of place names that include fuji as a part also suggest the origin of the word fuji is in the Yamato

40、language rather than Ainu. A Japanese toponymist Kanji Kagami argued that the name has the same root as wisteria (fuji) and rainbow (niji, but with an alternative word fuji), and came from its long well-shaped slope.,festival,New Year (正月, Shgatsu) Date: 1-3 of January (related celebrations take pla

41、ce throughout January) Other Names: Oshgatsu (O is an honorific prefix) Doll Festival (雏祭, Doll Festival) Date: 3 March Other Names: Sangatsu Sekku (3rd month Festival), Momo Sekku (Peach Festival), Joshi no Sekku (Girls Festival),Information: This is the day families pray for the happiness and pros

42、perity of their girls and to help ensure that they grow up healthy and beautiful. The celebration takes place both inside the home and at the seashore. Both parts are meant to ward off evil spirits from girls. Young girls put on their best kimonos and visit their friends homes. Tiered platforms for

43、hina ningy (hina dolls; a set of dolls representing the emperor, empress, attendants, and musicians in ancient court dress) are set up in the home, and the family celebrates with a special meal of hishimochi (diamond-shaped rice cakes) and shirozake (rice malt with sake).,festival,Hanami (花见, Hanami

44、) Hanami party along Sakai River in Beppu, OitaDate: April Other Names: Hanami (flower viewing), Cherry Blossom Festival Boys Day (子供日, Kodomo no hi) Date: 5 May Other Names: Iris Festival (菖蒲节句, Shbu no Sekku), Tango Festival (端午节句, Tango no Sekku),Information: Various flower festivals are held at

45、Shinto shrines during the month of April. Excursions and picnics for enjoying flowers, particularly cherry blossoms are also common. In some places flower viewing parties are held on traditionally fixed dates. This is one of the most popular events during spring. The subject of flower viewing has lo

46、ng held an important place in literature, dance and the fine arts. Ikebana (flower arrangement) is also a popular part of Japanese culture and is still practiced by many people today. Some main things people do during this event are: games, folk songs, folk dance, flower displays, rides, parades, co

47、ncerts, kimono shows, booths with food and other things, beauty pageant, and religious ceremonies.,Information: May is the month of the Iris Festival. The tall-stemmed Japanese iris is a symbolic flower. Its long, narrow leaves resemble the sharp blades off a sword, and for many centuries it has bee

48、n the custom to place iris leaves in a boys bath to give him a martial spirit. Originally May 5th was a festival for boys corresponding to the Doll Festival, for girls, but in 1948 it was renamed Childrens Day, and made a national holiday. However, this might be a misnomer; the symbols of courage an

49、d strength mainly honor boys. It is customary on this day for families with male children to fly koinobori (carp streamers, a symbol of success) outside the house, display warrior dolls (musha ningy) inside, and eat chimaki (rice cakes wrapped in cogan grass or bamboo leaves) and kashiwamochi (rice

50、cakes filled with bean paste and wrapped in oak leaves). Also known as kodomo no hi,festival,Tanabata (七夕, Tanabata) Date: 7 July Other Names: The Star Festival Bon Festival (盆, bon) Date: 13-15 August Other Names: urabon (盂兰盆, urabon) 7-5-3 Festival (七五三, Shichigosan) Date: 15 November,Information:

51、 Five-year-old boys and seven- or three-year-old girls are taken to the local shrine to pray for their safe and healthy future. This festival started because of the belief that children of certain ages were especially prone to bad luck and hence in need of divine protection. Children are usually dre

52、ssed in traditional clothing for the occasion and after visiting the shrine many people buy chitose-ame (thousand-year candy) sold at the shrine.,festival,Preparation for the New Year and Year-end fair Date: late December Other Names: Year-end (年瀬, toshi no se),Year-end Fair (年市, Toshi no Ichi) miso

53、ka (大晦日, misoka) Date: 31 December,Information: People do the general house cleaning (sji) to welcome coming year and not to keep having impure influences. Many people visit Buddhist temples to hear the temple bells rung 108 times at midnight (joya no kane). This is to announce the passing of the old year and the coming of the new.