Japanese culture. Traditions of the Japanese people.

The traditional Japanese costume, the national interior, the literary Japanese language, the tea ceremony, the kabuki theater, the noh theater, the bunraku theater and many other no less peculiar traditions have remained practically unchanged since the Middle Ages. And all this - surrounded by ultra-modern technogenic civilization!

The number of traditions and rituals that are obligatory or recommended for observance is simply huge. Almost all areas of the country's life are permeated with a network of traditions and ceremonies, this is especially noticeable in communication between people.

The Japanese treat nature with care and love, admiring the natural beauty of the landscape, weather, flowers or the sea. Numerous ceremonies of contemplation of flowering trees, the full moon or autumn colors are integral elements of society.

Handshakes are not accepted, they are replaced by bows, and "return" bows are required with the same frequency and deference shown by the other side. The Japanese are polite and helpful in communication. Hospitality is in the blood of the Japanese. A direct refusal is not accepted even if it is impossible to fulfill the request, so you should think in advance about the feasibility of your wishes. Also often misleading is the traditional smile of the Japanese, especially women, under any circumstances - even a refusal or some unpleasant moment will be accompanied by a smile, which confuses many foreigners. At the same time, "familiar" relations (even a too small distance between the interlocutors) are completely unacceptable and cause a sharply negative attitude among the Japanese. It is also not recommended to look the Japanese directly in the eyes (this is perceived as aggression) and actively gesticulate.

Crockery, table setting and decoration of dishes are of great importance. Before eating, it is customary to wipe your face and hands with a special hot napkin. oshibori". Each dish is served in dishes specially designed for it and occupies a strictly defined place on the table, and an individual table is allocated for each person. , spirit stoves) or combining dishes (separate gravy boats, sets with spices, etc.) Dishes and serving items are strictly divided into "male" and "female".

For chopsticks ("hashi" or "hashi"), there is a separate stand "hashi-oki" (a small ceramic rectangle or a specially cut wine cork), and they are served in a special colorful paper case "hashi-bukuro". Although traditionally food from a communal dish should be taken with the back ends of chopsticks, this custom is now obsolete and is practiced in a very formal or feminine society. "Hashi" should not be crossed or stuck in rice (this is associated with death - it is in this form that offerings are usually made to the spirits of ancestors), you should not point with chopsticks at anything, gesticulate or wave them while eating - this is considered a sign of bad taste. In no case should you transfer food "from sticks to sticks" - according to Buddhist custom, this is how the remains are transferred during the funeral rite.

Traditionally, soup should be drunk rather than eaten with a spoon; the exception is New Year's soup "o-zone", as well as soups with noodles, usually served in large bowls - the noodles themselves can be eaten with chopsticks, and the broth can be drunk. It is acceptable and even necessary to smack your lips while tasting hot noodles ("udon", "ramen" or "soba") - it is believed that in this way the flavor of the noodles seems even more pleasant. It is allowed to eat rice, holding a bowl in one hand. In a friendly atmosphere, as well as restaurants ("kaitenzushi") sushi, "nigiri-sushi" (fish slices on rice) and "maki" (rolls) can be eaten with your hands, and "sashimi" with chopsticks. It is advisable to eat sushi and rolls whole and immediately - otherwise, the bitten piece should be held in your hand, and not put on a plate. Women must hold their hand under the food that is sent to the mouth; men don't have to do it. Also, do not move food on a plate or dishes on the table.

At the common table, drinks are poured by the youngest of those present. Having bypassed all the guests (starting with the oldest), he puts the bottle on the table and waits for him, in turn, to fill the glass of the eldest in age. It is considered offensive to pour drinks with the back of the hand up. Drinking "to the bottom" and pouring yourself is not accepted. It is recommended to fill a neighbor's glass or bowl, and he, in turn, should do the same for you.

The "passion" of the Japanese for hygiene and cleanliness is also widely known.

Incredibly, against the backdrop of the relentless development of modern man-made developments national traditions and the culture of Japan have remained virtually unchanged since medieval period! This also applies to the traditional interior, and the literary language, and the tea ceremony, and the kabuki theater, and other equally interesting and peculiar traditions of Japan. The number of various Japanese rituals that are either mandatory or recommended for observance is incredibly huge. The whole life of a native Japanese is a network of traditions. They are most clearly manifested in the communication of the inhabitants of the country. rising sun.

Every Japanese considers it his duty to take good care of natural wealth. He is genuinely amazed beautiful landscapes nature, weather phenomena, flowers and the sea. An integral element of Japanese life is the ceremony of contemplation. It is no less touching and striking to observe the relations in Japanese society. It has no place for handshakes, which are replaced by bows. The Japanese are distinguished by hospitality, politeness, respectfulness and courtesy. They never refuse directly, so they carefully consider all their requests and wishes so as not to put the interlocutor in an awkward position. In the most unpleasant difficult situations smiles can be seen on the faces of the Japanese. Europeans are discouraged and even annoyed. But familiarity and communication at close (in literally) distance are considered invalid. Probably, this is somehow connected with a manic passion for cleanliness and hygiene. And do not try to look into the eyes of the Japanese - this is a sign of aggression, as well as active gestures.

The modern traditions of Japan extend to everyday life. You will not see smokers in a public place. Smoking in a house, car, office is allowed only if others have given their consent. Tradition and modernity are closely intertwined. So, against the backdrop of a luxurious high-tech interior, you can see old straw tatami. By the way, you can only step on them with bare feet. Shoes on a straw mat are sacrilege. And it doesn't matter where the rug is laid - in a house or a temple. By the way, in every house near the toilet you will see slippers in which you should change your shoes in order to go to the restroom.

The Japanese pay great attention to the traditions associated with eating. Before a meal, you should wipe your face and hands with hot oshibori napkins, and the dishes on the table are placed in strict order and only in the dishes that are intended for them. All dishes are put on the table at the same time. Please note that both serving items and the dishes themselves have a gender, that is, they are “female” and “male”. The rules for handling traditional hashi bamboo sticks are so complicated that it is not easy for a European to master them. The Japanese drink the first dishes, and do not eat with spoons. Spoons are used only when serving New Year's Eve soup "o-zone" and soups with noodles. By the way, smacking the Japanese is not considered bad manners. They think smacking helps bring out the taste of the food.

The age of a person is a cult for the Japanese. This manifests itself in all areas of life. Even at the dinner table, you can start a meal after all those present who are older than you have already done so.

No less interesting are the holidays, which in Japan are full of traditions. If for a European New Year- this is fun and gifts, then for the Japanese - a period of self-purification, prayers, self-improvement. The inhabitants of Japan celebrate the Day of the Foundation of the State, and the Day of Spring, and many other holidays, most of of which are unofficial.

Tradition is the most important trait Japanese people. They vividly express their attitude to life, their customs and rules, their worldview. The traditions of the Japanese people have been carefully honored for centuries and are embodied in all spheres of life. Despite the dynamic development of their society, the Japanese find support in constancy and following the traditions of the past. In everything they see a meaning that is rooted in the history of the nation. What is only the traditional Japanese tea party, or hanami - a holiday during which everyone takes to the streets in order to watch the cherry blossoms.

Sakura is to whom poems and songs are dedicated, and the traditions of the Japanese people are strongly associated with it. Every year, meteorologists report to the whole country about this important event - cherry blossoms. IN central park Tokyo Shinjuku, in the presence of the imperial couple and important political figures, the opening of the hanami festival takes place. Since the sakura blooms for a very short time, everyone tries to go out and admire its flowers, because the slightest breeze can blow away these airy and delicate creations of nature. Followers of Buddhism consider sakura flowers a symbol of the impermanence of being.

The traditions of the Japanese are closely connected with previous generations, their image and way of life. The tea drinking ceremony has remained unchanged for centuries, which is a whole ritual strictly performed by all its participants. It embodied such features of the Japanese as strict observance of the rules, reading the laws, respect for elders, and so on. Tea drinking for them is not just spending time associated with drinking their favorite drink, it is also receiving. Before tea drinking, guests are first treated to a host entertains them interesting stories trying to make the pastime enjoyable and relaxed. Then everyone moves on to the tea drinking process itself.

Japanese customs and traditions are quite strongly expressed in the tea ceremony. Here everything is scheduled in advance, and each participant follows the rules established for centuries. First, thick tea is served, which is poured by the youngest participant, then liquid tea is served, followed by trays of cakes. The ritual is performed with all respect for the participants in the ceremony and the traditions of the ancestors. Forms of tea drinking exist in Japan a large number of, and some of them, such as night, morning or afternoon tea, are held in a strictly established order.

The traditions of the Japanese people are expressed in everything: in the interior, literary language and theater. The number of rituals is huge and applies to almost all spheres of life of the people of Japan. Japanese hospitality is known all over the world. Their smile became their calling card. But I must say that the Japanese do not perceive any familiarity and familiarity at all. It is traditionally considered unacceptable to look them directly in the eyes, this is perceived as a challenge or a manifestation of aggression.

The very process of eating is also permeated with many echoes of the traditions of past centuries. Napkin "Osobori" is an essential attribute, without which not a single meal can do. Hashi sticks also require traditional and careful handling. They cannot be gesticulated, in no case should they be stuck into food, crossed. "By crossing wands, you can bring death to the owner," - this is how the traditions of the Japanese people say. Passing food with chopsticks is strictly prohibited, because according to Buddhist belief, this resembles the burial rite of the deceased.

Traditional for Japan are origami - a crane and a paper lantern. The ability to fold paper figures is considered a good manners and a sign good manners. Another distinguishing feature of the Japanese, which characterizes their adherence to the traditions of antiquity, is strict adherence to the rules and regulations. The Japanese will never violate the established restrictions, for example, in terms of time. they are also located in certain areas, and this is an original national tradition. In Japan, you can feel safe everywhere - this is a hallmark of the wonderful people of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Japan is amazing country. Anyone who comes here for the first time plunges into the metropolis and hectic life, on the one hand, and calm, peace on the other.

tea culture

The traditions and customs of Japan are very different from similar phenomena in other countries, and the people themselves are different. One of these customs is the tea ceremony, or chanoyu. For the Japanese, it is very important and even painted on specific steps. Not only two people can take part in it, the main thing is to observe all the prescribed stages of tea drinking. The tea master is in charge of this ritual. He brews and pours the drink into cups. This ritual is closely related to the laws of Zen Buddhism and is widely popular throughout the country. The Japanese are very fond of and observe all the canons of it in order to obtain moral satisfaction and pleasure.

You can hold the ceremony on any day, but there are also serious reasons for holding it. Japanese tea traditions include:

• Invitation - when the host calls guests or sends a postcard.
• Thanksgiving - a few days before the ceremony, the guests thank the inviter.
• Tea ritual - those invited come fifteen or twenty minutes before the right time, gather in a special room and elect the main (honorary) guest. It is called shokaku. This guest can be a person with high social status or the oldest of all. Japan is very fond of the tradition of tea ceremonies. Further, the second, third, fourth and so on are determined. According to the queue assigned to them, the invitees wash their hands, enter the room and sit down. Before this, the obligatory stage is kaiseki. We would call it a buffet. This is such a treat for guests before the ceremony, and it can be varied. Starting from soups, ending with potatoes or fish. At the same time, the owner always tells something interesting, since the guests should like everything. The treat is accompanied by a portion of sake. That country is Japan. Its traditions are very unpredictable. The tea party itself begins with the arrangement of cups. Thick tea - the first stage. The host prepares a drink in a large cup, and the guests pass it around, drinking a little. It evokes bonding and intimacy. A prerequisite for this process is the praise of the cup by each guest. Next comes the turn of liquid tea. At the same time, cakes are brought into the room. There are a lot of tea drinking ceremonies, only some of them are strict.

Examples of tea rituals

This is Japan. Traditions have been established for a long time. Here are some examples of tea ceremonies:

• Night - this ceremony begins with the moon around 23:30. Guests must leave the house no later than four in the morning. Powdered tea is brewed and served from crushed tea leaves. It can be drunk only after a meal, so guests are treated to dishes before tea drinking.
• Rising Sun - held around 4 am, guests stay until 6:00.
• Evening - beginning around six o'clock in the evening.
• Morning - at six o'clock in the morning, especially popular in the heat.
• Afternoon - in the afternoon, accompanied by the serving of cakes.
• Special - guests gather about. It can be both a holiday and a simple meeting, as well as a change of season.

According to the Japanese, such rituals educate a person. Make it natural, neat, simple and sociable. This is true, but there is another subtext to all this. The ceremony accustoms people to order, diligence, observance of social rules. This is the basis of the education of national feelings.

Japan: Dressing Traditions

The Japanese have their own national dress. It's called Wafuku. We are used to using the word "kimono", but this is not correct. Kimono means all clothing in general. Here and yukata (robe), hakama (pants), obi (belt) and so on. Sandals have two names - geta or waraji.

Japanese in Everyday life don't wear national clothes, they have long switched to European.

Japan: traditions of etiquette

In the Land of the Rising Sun, all people are divided into social classes. This is manifested in their behavior and even in the manner of communication. Duty and obligation are central to the Japanese, they are taken very seriously and are called giri. In the case of young people, this is not so important, they are less attached to these concepts.

Gesticulation is also not very welcome in Japan. The more modest and quiet a person is, the better and more respectful the attitude of others towards him. The Japanese do not like to be touched, tugged on the arm, or tapped on the shoulder. This can easily offend a person.

When greeting, a slight bow will suffice. By the way, bows accompany the whole life of these people.

Theater and music

The theater appeared a very long time ago and was very fond of the Japanese. They wore masks and fancy clothes. Kabuki appeared in the 17th century. This is the most famous theater in Japan. A very complex, but beautiful make-up is applied to the face of the actor. Onnagata were considered the most revered. These are theater actors who played female roles. Now women are also allowed to participate in productions. Kabuki use drums, zither, oboe, flute in their productions. Also famous is the bunraku theater. This puppet show. At first, plays were written for small theaters, then they were played in large ones. But there are also those who were taken from real life, for example, "Forty-seven Samurai", or ronin. No one knows for sure how things really were, but it is historical fact, which is played on the stage of many theaters.

The culture and traditions of Japan are also reflected in music. But they are not very popular now. Pop is common these days. Local bands are getting more and more popular every day.

Literature and aesthetics

The original Japanese language is called hiragana. A lot of everything from the early days was written in this language and by women. Do you know why? Previously, women were forbidden to study. Men wrote in hieroglyphs, which were copied from Chinese writing. The most famous authors are Murasaki Shikibu, Matsuo Bashō, Yuko Mishima and Murakami Rui. All of them gave a piece of their soul to literature. Matsuo Bashō, for example, perfected haiku in the 17th century, and Murasaki Shikibu wrote one of Japan's most famous tales of Japanese court intrigue. Aesthetics found reflection in architecture. There's a lot here beautiful temples and shrines, castles and so on. It is impossible to see enough of Buddha temples. And to hide in the castle, where centuries-old walls protect from the heat, is simply wonderful. Just look at Japanese gardens. How beautiful they are, and only because plants are treated like a living being. Sakura is considered the national symbol of the country. This is the culture and traditions of Japan. People there are very fond of cleanliness and order and live by the principle: "Do not litter where you live."

Food

Do you know why you can visit Japan? Yes, at least for the food. Japanese food is becoming more and more popular in Europe and other countries. Arriving in this country, you will understand that you can eat there not only sushi, tempura and sukiyaki. By the way, this is a common misconception. cultural traditions Japan, in terms of food, is so wide that, if you understand, it will take many years. We will tell you briefly.

In many restaurants, with the exception of canteens called shokudos and izakaya pubs, you can choose your own dish. That is, you can choose what will be included in its composition. Mostly order meat, seafood or their mixture and vegetables. All this together or separately baked in cabbage leaves.

There are other types of restaurants specializing in charcoal cooking. They buy charcoal and delight their guests with beautiful culinary delights. There are, of course, fast food chains called shokudo. They give a standard set of food in the hall or "to go". It's pretty cheap and fast.

Alcohol

The traditions and customs of Japan, as you have already understood, are closely connected with alcoholic beverages. The Japanese favorite drink is beer. They drink it everywhere: in bars, restaurants, at home, at work and even in temples. Nothing stops modern man before craving this drink. You can buy it everywhere, whether it's a vending machine or a supermarket. In fact, alcohol is what holds society together. Everyone drinks alcohol here: men, women and even most teenagers. Sake is another favorite drink. Some say it's rice wine, others call it rice vodka. Sake is consumed warm or cold, but always with a warm snack. You need to drink it very carefully, as a hangover after a "bust" is simply unforgettable. By the way, as we mentioned earlier, the country is also known for its green tea, which is great for fighting hangovers, contains a large amount of vitamin C, as well as caffeine. The ancient traditions of Japan for drinking tea will help you a lot, as this drink refreshes and energizes the body.

In Japan, they honor and cherish their national traditions no less than in England. What distinguishes the Japanese from the inhabitants of foggy Albion is the flexibility with which they adapt millennial customs to the modern way of life.

Cherry and sakura are practically the same thing. True, unlike European cherries, fragile sakura flowers do not bear fruit. Their flowering is fleeting, therefore it is especially valuable. During the blooming of the buds of this amazing tree, the whole country seems to be covered with pearl pink snow. The cherry blossom branch is a symbol of Japan. For decades, the Hanami tradition in Japan has been admiring the flowering of Japanese cherries. More Buddhist monks short life cherry blossoms evoked associations with the transience of life and the frailty of earthly sorrows and joys. Once upon a time, sakura was considered the last refuge of the souls of departed ancestors. Modern Japanese on the day of "khanami" arrange a kind of corporate parties: instead of increasing their capitalist happiness with shock work, they go to city parks with the whole team, where they sit on the grass, under the canopy of sakura. A light breeze showers soft pink petals on the heads and shoulders of the employees, who contemplate the fleeting miracle, reinforcing their strength with sake with rice sweets.

During its history, which has more than 2 millennia, the kimono has not lost its relevance for the Japanese. Moreover, fashion designers around the world began to use the details of this national costume in their clothing models. It got to the point that we call silk robes of a free (or shapeless?) cut "kimono". In fact, there are as many similarities between these things as between rice sushi prepared in the true traditions of Japan and "sushi" with mayonnaise in another domestic bar. In wardrobe modern Japanese necessarily there are several types of kimono. Some of them are worn only a few times in a lifetime, but there are events that, as customs dictate, cannot be attended without a kimono. A real authentic kimono set in Japan consists of at least 12 pieces of clothing. A person can put on them only with the help of a professional licensed dresser who knows how to wrap seven belts around the waist of a Japanese, and knows how to tie them into a magnificent bow resembling a bright butterfly. The dresser will never tie an obi (belt) in front, because in Japan only corrupt women - zeros - do this. This professional knows that the kimono should only be wrapped on the right side (on the left side, the kimono is tied for the dead).
Kimono - a long semblance of a dressing gown - when cut out, it resembles the letter "T". Exists big variety kimono. Its details, such as colors, length and width of sleeves, can tell a lot about the age, status and occupation of a resident of Japan. So, for example, a black kimono with the image of a family coat of arms on the chest and sleeves - kurotomesode customs require mothers to wear to the wedding ceremony of their children. Embroidered along the entire length with outlandish flowers, birds of paradise and butterflies, furisode is worn by a girl on the day of majority, and, as required by the customs of Japan, wears it until marriage. The sleeves of this kimono are so wide and long that they resemble the attire of the Frog Princess, in which the lake overflowed from one sleeve, and swans flew out of the other. For a country walk or for a visit, a Japanese woman will put on a komon - a kimono made of lightweight fabric, with a small pattern of the same type. According to tradition, the design of this national robe changes depending on the season. Branches of cherry blossoms in spring-summer clothes are replaced by the image of bamboo and falling maple leaves.

The traditions of Japanese poetry are as bizarre and unshakable as bonsai, the rules for writing hieroglyphs, or Japanese cooking. As well as possible, haiku reflects the spirit of Japan and the inner worldview of its inhabitants. Haiku is an integral part of the knowledge of the world, It involves immersion in the contemplated object or phenomenon, their concise form makes the poet look for special means of verbal expression that can give deep meaning It was born from the folklore of Japanese peasants, and, just as a beautiful butterfly is born from a gluttonous caterpillar, a simple ditty gave rise to a perfect poetic form. The understatement and lyrical mood conveyed by haiku is intended to awaken the imagination and feelings of the reader. Hoku grants an unexpected insight after long and thoughtful reasoning. The customs of the tea ceremony include reading haiku, and the art of versification is taught to children in schools. According to tradition, a marriage proposal is accompanied by a haiku about love and relationships between a man and a woman. According to Japanese tradition writing haiku, it comes in 3, 5, and 17 lines. In order to understand at least a little the principle of Japanese versification, let's try, in the form of a funny experiment, to shift the well-known children's rhyme into haiku:

The son of a bull moves with an uneven gait.
Take a deep breath - fall can not be avoided,
The mats are over.

Almost everyone knows that the Japanese way of greeting is to bow. It is an integral and vital part of Japanese etiquette, all employees of various companies prepare to bow in the correct manner. The reason for worship is very important as they show respect to the opposite person. Thus, the practice of bowing while greeting should not be taken lightly. Curves informal and formal. While the general norm for men is to keep their arms at their sides and lean forward from the waist, for girls it is the same with their hands on their knees, with their eyes downcast. Formal curves are deeper than informal curves. Shaking hands, sometimes combined with a bow, has now become a common practice in Japan, especially with outsiders and tourists. As a tourist, if you are returning this greeting, you should bow indirectly to avoid running into the opposite person. Any greeting must be dynamic, otherwise it is considered a rude tone.

When visiting a house in Japan, where an invitation is a great honor, it is polite to take off your shoes in front of the house so as not to stain the floors in the house. When shoes are removed, they are placed away from the front door. It is important to maintain foot hygiene, as foot odor is a gross departure from normal etiquette. If you wear open shoes, you should have a pair of white socks with you to put on when entering the house, this gesture shows concern for the host's hospitality. The hosts usually provide slippers, but it is the responsibility of the guest to ensure their cleanliness. Hats and coats should be near open door at home, and only after the guest leaves the premises of the house, the door of the house is closed. It is considered a polite sign to present the Gift in the paper bundle in which it was bought, and is given with both hands, immediately after entering the living room.