Do you like East Asian culture?

[Anonymous]

Longhua Temple, Shanghai, China - 2024

Sometimes, I feel very thankful to have moved here in the East.

This culture is so different from mine and I seem to learn more and became more open-minded.

I met the Chinese New Year in Longhua Temple, Shanghai,

It was so peaceful there… I loved it. It’s pretty close to my home, just 2 miles away, so I will visit again.

The monks blessed me and I was listening to the Buddhist Chant, while praying.

I don’t believe in God, but I prayed to Buddha. Even though I was raised as a Christian.

If there is the God, it must be only one and I enjoy the thought of finding it anywhere in the world, regardless of what people call him.

I like the philosophy of Buddha and while I am not religious at all, I respect it.

I hope before I leave China, I can learn as much as I can from the Chinese philosophy and the lifestyle.

[KostasKouvalis]

I like their temples and some of their folk culture, but I went to East Asia once and their customs are so strange to me. Of all the cultures I've experienced East Asian was byfar my least favorite. And I'm really holding back here. Though if I'm honest, I don't necessarily dislike their culture as much as I do their customs. I guess they go hand in hand, but I don't have any issue with things like Chinese Opera or Chinese New Year for instance. I think those are really cool. I'm talking about everyday things and behaviors that East Asians do that from a Western standpoint are downright strange. But the thing I dislike most about East Asians is their supremacy. They think THEY'RE the normal ones, and it's everyone else who is defective, and they view anyone who isn't like them, as racially and culturally inferior, and undeserving of equal treatment and respect. I've traveled to black countries, Hispanic countries, Muslim countries and have never gotten so many dirty looks and rude treatment as I did in Taiwan. And in Japan for example your birth certificate, language and behavior doesn't mean anything. If your blood isn't 100% Japanese, you'll never be considered a Japanese.

I'm STILL holding back, and I'm gonna stop before I go off on a rant.

[tremendousfern]

Based Japanese people preserving their cultural heritage from outsiders.

[KostasKouvalis]

@tremendousfern You can still preserve your culture without disrespecting others. But many young Japanese don't want to preserve the old Japanese culture. Like young people everywhere, they want to get with the times. There are many elements of Japanese culture that don't belong in modern everyday life. They turned something as simple as drinking tea and taking a shit into a complicated art form. If older Japanese people want to preserve that fine, but don't force it down other people's throats.

[handsomelad70]

I like long-haired, big-breasted East Asian babes.

[mobiusforniner]

Yes and no. I admire the humility and hard work of the people. I enjoy the cuisine. But growing up in it wasn't all roses. There's a very high emphasis on success, zero tolerance for failure, and overall feeling emotionally absent with your family. You're expected to be the best to honor your family. And when you perform at your best, your family tears you down to bring you back to "humility".

The culture erases any sense of individualism and crushes a child's self esteem.

[Asker]

I agree, I’ve seen that.

[midnightmoon05]

For sure. If you can learn more the about the traditions, values, idea, history will be very good. I am taking my kids to China for a month this summer. More towards western part of China like the smaller towns to meet the locals and see the rice paddies.

I left China with my family at 10 years. old... I have gotten bits and pieces by reading, watching some old drama shows... I hope the Chinese continue to hold on to their traditions...

Enjoy the Chinese celebration in China! you lucky girl!

[Kulotz]

yes, I absolutely like east Asian culture. when you grow up with western customs and ideas most of the time and when you figure out world is beyond that, it makes your perspective such wider and all. also food is very delicious haha.

[GuyAnswersGirls123]

It's home to me, especially Japan, but every East Asian country I've traveled to so far (Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, and Macau) has similarities that make them far more familiar to me in ways that feel like home.

The question of exactly what is home was a difficult one for me since I'm a dual-citizen to both US and Japan and lived in both countries for long periods of time as well as other countries growing up.

Also my little sister chose to stay in the US for a good while since she found her home in America, separating us for many years (she just recently returned to Japan). I became homesick for Japan. At the end of the day, I realized East Asia, most specifically Japan, is my home country and culture.

I suppose like all homes, I have a tendency to take it all for granted. It's easier for me to speak glowingly about the Western countries I visited since they were the "foreign" ones to me.

[GuyAnswersGirls123]

Oops sorry, Singapore counts as Southeast Asia. Exclude that one. I have a tendency to bundle it in with Hong Kong and Taiwan culturally since there's a strong Chinese and Taiwanese influence.

[tremendousfern]

There's a lot of things I admire about East Asian and especially Japanese culture, but ultimately America is my home. I don't deny these days there's a lot wrong with it and that much of its culture has been diluted by commercialization, multiculturalism, and modern/post-modern mind poison, but there is still some good stuff here too as long as somebody is around to keep the fire burning.

[Asker]

Japanese culture is mainly a child of a Chinese culture.

[Asker]

I like Japanese culture, but I believe it’s mainly the little modification of the Chinese culture.

[AviatorTom]

In my business career, I've dealt with East Asians, Chinese and Koreans in particular. It was originally a struggle to understand how important "saving face" is to them, and how stealing someone's ideas is considered a compliment. But I have learned to understand their culture, how to work with them, and have developed a few friendships with Asians.

[tfan1]

@AviatorTom - Stealing someone’s ideas is considered a compliment? Wow I wonder if the US government accepts that as an answer when they steal our designs for planes, etc 😉

[AviatorTom]

@tfan1 Ever noticed how Chinese jet fighters look a lot like French-made Mirage jets? Hint: They didn't buy them from France.

[DJB72]

Lots of cultures in the area. I have a friend who's brother is married to a girl from Singapore, my cousin worked in Thailand for 3 or 4 years and I had a good friend from Hong Kong at school.

Different philosophy each country. Fascinating to me. Far more respectful than the West.

[RavVid]

I agree with you on the god stuff. I think a major difference is Buddhism seems to say your life will be better if you live this way while the others say you will be punished if you don't do x, y, z.

I don't like the idolatry but I was told the not intelligent need it.

[Avicenna]

Well, there is obviously no single "East Asian" culture, but there are a lot of interesting cultures in that part of the world.

[Redstang88]

Honestly not really. There’s definitely good aspects of it, and I would be interested in visiting that that part of the world but it’s certainly not somewhere I’d ever want to live

[soe11]

Ofcourse I like it, my girlfriend is from East Asia also my girlfriend like western culture too.

By the way I am greeting you all Chinese New year day.

Stay blessed

[PeachyPie93]

Yes I would love to go to Japan and South Korea before I die.

[bobby_bush_eater]

Id say I'm mostly ignorant of it. I don't know a lot of people from there and the only way I'd actively find out anything would be through history

[Jackblue]

I spent a year in northern China, I liked some aspects of their culture others not so much. Overall I prefer life in the US or Europe.

[Phoenix98]

I appreciate many aspects of east Asian culture yeah.

[lightbulb27]

some of the culture yes. Chairman Mao crushed the people... not good. some parts good some not. and there isn't one culture there are many.

[moneymagnet24]

Hell no outdated culture still living in third world...

[CozyCoffin]

From what I've seen, it looks beautiful.

[zagor]

A lot of its aspects, yes.

[Dongie]

It's beautiful country.

[NathanDavis]

definitely so

[strateguy632]

budha is not a god he is dead.

[strateguy632]

... according to budhism... i meant.

[dinojames22]

Very much so... and I've seen many cultures