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1. JAPANESE AND
CHINESE TRADITIONS

2. TWO MAIN RELIGIONS DOMINATE THE JAPANESE
CULTURE: BUDDHISM AND SHINTOISM.

3. Four Noble Truths (Content of the first sermon of the
Buddha)
1. Life is full of sorrow because it is inevitably
associated with sickness, old age, and death.
2. Sorrow is due to craving—happy moments are
always fleeting and you can never rely on them.
3. Sorrow can only be stopped by ceasing craving.
4. Ceasing craving can only be done by the eight-fold
path that leads out of suffering.
The Five Precepts (The simplest form of Buddhist
morality that was intended for the lei folk, not monks
and nuns.)
1. No killing
2. No stealing
3. No lying
4. No sexual misconduct
5. No use of intoxicants

4. Shintoism believes in kami or spirits that are anything out of the
ordinary or awe-inspiring. There are four types of kami in Japanese
society:
1. Nature Kami (sun goddess and the star goddess) are the most
common.
2. Kami that protect the uji
3. Hero kami (great marshal men, scholars, and poets
4. Kami of locales (areas that kami presided over)
According to Shinto beliefs, when bad things happen they are due
to unhappy kami and so they use rituals to appease the kami. These
rituals have four components:
1. Purification- before one can approach the sacred a cleansing
process must be completed
2. Offerings- gifts for the kami such as cloth, water, food, and
dance are expected at a ritual ceremony
3. Prayer- the recital of magic, certain words and sounds that are
repeated again and again
4. Sacred Meal- a communal meal is eaten after the ritual is
performed to promote health and healing

5. THE JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY
The Japanese Tea Ceremony is a cultural
tradition that originated in China. The
tea was considered medicine that
promoted physical and spiritual health
and was consumed for enjoyment
purposes primarily. The spiritual aspect
involves harmony between the persons
participating in the ceremony, respect
for those involved in the ceremony, and
purity. These three aspects bring
tranquility to those who participate in
the tradition.

6. The tea is a bitter green tea called Matcha and
when mixed with water it creates a warm bitter
taste. The combination of the bitter and sweet
compliment each other and are a sign of
harmony.
Proper Behavior
a. When you recieve your chawan--cup of tea-
-you should bow.
b. Take the tea with your right hand and place
it in the palm of your left hand
c. Turn the chawan clockwise three times
before you take a drink
d. When the tea is gone, make a loud slurp to
show the host that the tea was truly enjoyed
e. Wipe the part of the chawan your lips
touched with your right hand
f. Turn the chawan counterclockwise and
return it to the host
Before the ceremony begins the host cleans the serving
bowls, boils water, prepares a sweet treat for the guests,
and then mixes the tea.

7. JAPANESE THEATER
NOH DRAMA
KABUKI DRAMA
Noh drama is rigidly traditional Japanese drama which in it's present form dates back to the early 14th century. Noh plays are short dramas
combining music, dance, and lyrics, with a highly stylized ritualistic presentation. Kabuki drama combined elements of no drama and folk
theater. Dance was the basis of performances and the musical dance dramas that developed revolved around stories that were romantic and
often erotic performed by women. It was then decided that they were too erotic to be performed by women and men’s troupes were formed
to impersonate the women and do the performances.

8. THE JAPANESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
In preparation for the New Year the Japanese clean their houses thoroughly, discard of any
items that are not needed any more and pay all outstanding debts so that they are able to
start the New Year anew.

9. KIMONO AND YUKATA
Kimono and yukata are traditional Japanese clothing. Kimono are made of silk and are usually very
expensive. Nowadays they are worn at formal or traditional occasions such as funerals, weddings or tea
ceremonies. Only rarely kimono can still be seen in everyday life.
Kimono differ in style and color depending on the occasion on which it is worn and the age and marital
status of the person wearing it. To put on a kimono needs some practice. Especially tying the belt (obi) alone
is difficult so that many people require assistance. Wearing a kimono properly includes proper hair style,
traditional shoes, socks, underwear, and a small handbag for women. The yukata, on the other hand, is more
of an informal leisure clothing. It is a comfortable dress on summer days or after a hot bath. Yukata are
relatively inexpensive and made of cotton. While staying at a ryokan, you will be provided with a yukata.

10. SUMO WRESTLING
Sumo is a Japanese style of wrestling
and Japan's national sport. It
originated in ancient times as a
performance to entertain the Shinto
deities. Many rituals with religious
background, such as the symbolic
purification of the ring with salt, are
still followed today. In line with
tradition, only men practice the sport
professionally in Japan.

11. TATAMI MATS
Most houses in Japan have tatami mats.
Tatami were originally a luxury item for the
nobility. During the Heian period, when
the shinden-zukuri architectural style of
aristocratic residences was consummated,
the flooring of shinden-zukuri palatial
rooms were mainly wooden, and tatami
were only used as seating for the highest
aristocrats. It is said that prior to the mid-
16th century, the ruling nobility and
samurai slept on tatami or woven mats
called goza, while commoners used straw
mats or loose straw for bedding

12. HAIKU
Japanese Haiku started as Hokku, an
opening stanza of an orthodox collaborative
linked poem, or renga, and of its
laterderivative, renku (or haikai no renga).
By the time of Matsuo Bashō (1644–
1694), the
hokku had begun to appear as an
independent poem, and was also
incorporated in haibun(a combination of
prose and hokku), and haiga (a combination
of painting with hokku). In the late 19th
century, Masaoka Shiki (1867–1902)
renamed the standalone hokku or poem to
haiku.

13. TEA
In the beginning, tea was cultivated and used
solely as herbal medicine mostly within
temples. Monks began to use tea to teach a
respect for nature, humility and an overall
sense of peace and calm.
Today, there are six major aspects to consider
when performing a ChineseTea Ceremony:
attitude of the person performing the
ceremony, tea selection, water selection, tea
ware selection, ambiance and technique.

14. CHINESE WEDDING CEREMONY
Chinese weddings have certain
traditional customs. As a form of
expressing gratitude, the bride and
groom kneel in front of their
parents and offer them tea.
In olden times, drinking the tea
offered showed acceptance of
marriage

15. CHOPSTICKS
Chopsticks are believed to
symbolize kindness and
gentleness.
Confucianism taught the Chinese
to abandon knives and forks from
the dining table. So they have
their food cut to bite-size before
it comes on the table.

16. CHINESE NEW YEAR
New Year is one of the most prominent
festivals of the Chinese calendar. It is
about getting together.
Red is believed to abolish bad luck. So
people clothe in red for the New Year
celebration. A long dragon made of silk,
bamboo, and paper are carried along
streets. Young men hold the dragon
and dance while carrying the dragon
along. The Dragon dance is an ancient
Chinese tradition.
When you give your gift make sure to
wrap it in red and gold never with white,
black or gray as they symbolize death.