# This article was written before the Takeshima / Dokdo island and Senkaku / Diaoyu islands dispute which occurred in summer, 2012. After this incident, feelings among Japanese, Korean and Chinese people become worse again.
Japanese perspective of Korea
Japanese people who say or write negative comments about Korea and Korean people are easy to find. When I was a child, I heard some adults swear about Korean people. Nowadays, I see many negative words about Korea and China on many electronic bulletin boards (except the North Korean government – I have never seen positive words about the country. About Korea and China, I also see many neutral words.) However, the contents of these negative messages are different between those days and these days.
From the beginning of the Japanese modernization (circa 1870) to the 1980s, many Japanese people looked down on Korea as a country behind. Japan ruled Korea as a colony from 1910 to 1945. In order to justify the occupation, the Japanese government made propaganda that said "Korea is behind, so Japan has to control her." Actually, Korea was behind Japan in modernization, so many Japanese people recognized the propaganda as truth.
In addition, many Korean people who lived in Japan (not only coming to Japan voluntarily but also perhaps being brought forcibly for hard mining labor) lived in poverty under discriminations. After the end of the rule by Japan, some Koreans in Japan ran non-conventional business, for example gambling, so many Japanese people thought of Koreans as dirty people.
However, from the 1990s, the situation had changed. In 1987, the Korean government became democratic. The former government was a military administration which had been controlled by the US to guard and bring up Japan as an Asian base of anti-communism. So the Korean military government oppressed their citizens who spoke out against the Japanese occupation. Japan paid compensation to Korea but the Korean government used it for the social infrastructure, not citizens. After their democratization, Korean people began to publicly criticize Japan's ruling. They developed their economy.
Meanwhile, from the 1990s, Japan was and still stuck in a bad economic situation. Some Japanese patriots lost their pride for the nation which used to have a strong economy. The Korean economy was developing more, requested more compensation (informally), and set policemen on Takeshima / Dokdo, which is the territorial disputed island of Japan and Korea. Some of the Japanese people began to think that Koreans are greedy. Japanese nationalists began to recognize Korean people in Japan not as poor dirty people, but as people with special privileges (they began to think that Koreans in Japan have many more privileged rights than other foreigners in Japan) and started to criticize them. The name of their group is "Citizens against Special Privilege of Zainichi (Koreans in Japan)"
In 2004, other big change had occurred. A Korean TV drama suddenly became a big hit in Japan. Before that, Korean culture in Japan was only for a few admirers. After that, Korean drama and pop music became popular genres in Japan. This tide is not temporary. The number of Korean language learners and visitors to Korea is increasing. NHK (Japan's public broadcasting station) published Korean language class textbooks, the number in 2001 was 80,000, while in 2005 it was 320,000. I don't know the reason why, but some people said Korean drama lovers in Japan found a conservative and tidy atmosphere (rather than an extraordinary story and direction) in the dramas.
As above, now in Japan, there are both people who hate Korea (I think it is absurd notion) and people who love Korean culture.
# This article was written before the Takeshima / Dokdo island dispute which occurred in August, 2012. The president of Korea first visited Takeshima / Dokdo. In addition, he said, if the emperor of Japan would like to visit Korea, he has to apologize for the people who fought for the independence of Korea and were killed under Japanese oppression of Korea. After this incident, feelings between Japanese people and Korean people become worse again.
Takeshima / Dokdo from Wikipedia Commons (Rachouette, teacher in Seoul, SOUTH KOREA)
From the perspective of Korean people to Japan
Korean people seem to hold onto their anger against Japan. The reasons why are the oppression by the old Japanese government and no-reflection on Japan's past.
During the Japanese occupation era, the Japanese government forced the Korean people to admire the Emperor of Japan and to learn the Japanese language. The government also forced the people of Korea to change their names to Japanese. These things were a big humiliation for them because they had their own customs of worshipping their ancestors. Some or (many) Japanese people seemed to use violence against Korean people. This story of oppression was passed down from generation to generation of Koreans. (On the other hand, some Japanese people insist that the Japanese rule developed the Korean infrastructure and hygiene improved.).
*Why did the old Japanese government force the worship of the Emperor and the adoption of the Japanese language? One Japanese historian said that the reason why is that only those two things were originally from Japan and not from western society. The logic of the government to rule Korea was that Japan had developed more than Korea. However, this "development" also meant westernization. So if Japan didn't have its original power, it could not have ruled Korea reasonably. There was the contradiction of Japan potentially ruling Korea in a western style as opposed to a traditional Japanese style. These two things – the Emperor and the language were the key supporting reasons for Japan's rule. I agree with this explanation.
After WWII, an explaination of the Japanese occupation of Korea was written in Japanese government approved history textbooks, in a few lines. Koreans got angry about them, so the Independent Hall in South Korea in 1987 was established by Korean citizens' donations. It features Korean history, in particular, during the Japanese occupation. I visited it in 1994. The exhibition includes life-size mannequins depicting, for example the torture of a bloody half-naked Korean lady by Japanese policeman. An Jung-geun, who assassinated Hirofumi Ito, the first prime minister of Japan and the governor-general of Korea, was considered a citizen's hero. A picture book for kids admired An as a respected man. This hall is a popular place of Korean elementary school excursions.
Koreans' anger hasn't calmed down even now. In the past the Korean law prohibited the sale, performance, and broadcasting of Japanese pop culture (songs, movies, manga and so on) – while bootleg copies of these things seem popular in Korea. The law was abolished in 1998 in several stages, but Even in 2012 Japanese TV dramas are still banned on non-satellite Korean TV stations.
My opinion
I think of the country of Korea and the Korean people as follows:
Ancient Korea strongly influenced Japan. Many parts of Japanese culture, including script, religious beliefs and many traditional industrial techniques are based on Chinese ways via Korea. I think of many aspects of Korean culture, such as their writing system, Korean movies, and foods as great. In addition, Japanese politicians and business people can learn a lot from modern Korean politics to strategically prioritize policies regarding intellectual properties and internationalization of business. Therefore, there are some things I respect about Korea and the Korean people.
As for the way Japan ruled Korea, I think that most of it was not done in a proper way, because it lacked concern for the culture and people of Korea. On the other hand, I don't think that the Japanese occupation was completely a mistake. In those days, Japan expanded its own colonialism in order to survive among dominant western powers. I think that we cannot properly argue about the rights and wrongs of colonialism in the past from the perspective of today's values (but we can and have to learn a lot from it.)
I understand that Korean people feel angry about the Japanese occupation. However, perpetuating hate and anger at a neighboring country doesn't have any value. The era of development based on such policy has passed, and now co-operation is more important.
From the perspective of China people to Japan
The feeling between Japan and China has been changing. When I was a young teenager, in the 70s and the 80s, I heard several times, adults around me say "Korean people have severe feelings for us, but Chinese people do not. Even though both countries were under the control of Japan, Koreans are still in anger, Chinese are not. Chinese are more tolerant."
One of the reasons why they said so was "proper name problem" happened. The problem is: English speakers pronounce "paris" for the city Paris, even though French speakers pronounce it "Pari". English speakers pronounce "bock" for the German composer Bach, even though German speakers pronounce it "ba-h". In the same way, Japanese speakers pronounce foreign place names and person's names in Japanese pronunciation.
In the 80s, a Korean Japanese criticized it and requested Japanese mass-media to pronounce Korean place and person names in Korean way. He insisted that pronouncing Korean names in a Japanese way was against Korean human right, so NHK must provide monetary compensation. In 1988, the Japanese Supreme Court rejected his argument but admitted to abusing his human rights. After that, NHK and other mass-media changed to pronounce Korean names properly.
Meanwhile, Chinese Japanese didn't insist on such an issue. The Chinese government also didn't speak out about the Japanese occupation responsibility till the 80s. However, after the 90s, the condition changed. The Chinese leader, Jiang Zemin(1989-2002), established his policy to promote anti-Japan education and propaganda. It was one of the ways to strengthen the orthodoxy of their rule after the Tiananmen Square incident. In my opinion, nowadays the feeling between Japanese people and Chinese people is worse than the one between Japanese and Korean people. The relationship between Japan and China depends not only on the Chinese policies mentioned above but also on Chinese economic growth and Japanese economic decline.
# Again: This article was written before the Takeshima / Dokdo island dispute which occurred in August, 2012. After this incident, feelings between Japanese people and Korean people become worse again.
The strange tendency of Taiwan
All of my friends who have been to Taiwan have said, "Taiwanese people are kind to Japanese people." Their favor towards Japan is well known among Japanese people. As for objective data, here is the statistics of the amount of donations for given the east Japan big earthquake in 2011 from the Red Cross all over the world (the name of country, amount, and population)
Korea, $30m, 49m people
Taiwan, $25m, 23m people
FYI: China, $9m, 1.3b people (As you know, this country's economic base isn't suitable to compare with the other two countries)
#I don't like to compare the amount of donations because all the donations are symbols of people's kindness. The aim of the above list is to merely show you the reality of Taiwanese favor in comparison to Japan's objectivity.
Most Taiwanese are from the Chinese mainland. Both folks of majority are the same. As with Korea and China, Taiwan was under the control of the Japanese government and also experienced same oppression. For instance, at the beginning of the occupation, the Japanese Government executed 50,000 Taiwanese people after the occupation battles.
However, unlike Chinese and Koreans, the Taiwanese tend to be fond of Japan. Why?
I think that it in order to understand this strange tendency, it is important to know Okinawan history.
The history of Okinawa
The Okinawa islands weren't a part of Japan untill 1879. After that, some Okinawan people struggled to adapt to Japanese society and customs, other Okinawan people wanted to be independent from Japanese rule.
Since the end of the Pacific war, the US military began to control Okinawa. The government limited Okinawan people human rights. It was lower priority than the policy of the US military government. The government claimed a lot of land in Okinawa only providing small compensation.
Therefore, Okinawan people made a move to rejoin Japan even though they had a history of struggling under the rule of Japan. For example, in the 60s, Okinawan elementary school pupils to wave a Japanese flag in their schools. Finally, in 1972, the US gave away Okinawa to Japan.
After rejoining, the mind set of Okinawan people had changed. In my opinion, Okinawa is the most anti–central government area in Japan. They recall and experience the unfair treatment by the Japanese government. People don't change, but the situation have changed.
My opinion
We can learn from the history of Okinawa. People's feelings between countries depend not on their national character and their history but on the situation of their countries. Therefore, I think that it is nonsense to appreciate or deny a country depending on the countries citizens'feelings about my country.
Related posts
-How do Japanese think about the Pacific War?
-How do Japanese think about the Pearl Harbor attack?
-Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor?
-The Great Tokyo Air Raid - More Victims than the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb
-Which was the best era in Japan? An interview with my grandparents who were born in the early 20th century
156 comments:
Many Chinese people truthfully like Japanese people. They only do not really like the government. Trust me, I myself am a Chinese girl learning English and I can tell you many stories of my ancestors being good friends with Japanese people, a soldier during one of the world wars actually having given a sweet candy to one.
I appreciate your comment. Many Japanese people also like Chinese but the government. Ishihara, who is the ex-Tokyo mayor and notorious for his many nationalistic and foreigner-discriminate(in particular about Chinese and Korean) comments, said to an interviewer from China, "I like Chinese culture. Only I hate the Community party of China". I'm afraid that such aggression to a foreign government become dislike to whole of a foreign country, including its citizens.
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I am chinese. No matter what political conflict there is with the government, I really like the japanese culture. I have been to Japan, and I think japanese citizens are polite and friendly. It makes me sad to think that a lot of chinese people hate the japanese and vice versa. I really wish everyone could just put the past behind us and all get along.
I agree with you so much. I also wish everyone could get along and respect all cultures. Of course, I respect Chinese culture, too. Japan has learned a lot from your country for 2,000 years. Conflicts between China and Japan for these years are misfortune for both of us, I think.
1) Dokdo belongs to Korea as many past Japanese official documents prove so.
2) The problem is even Germany which did more or equal thing as Japan apologized and is still paying to countries regardless of the contract. According to the contract, Germany does not need to pay anymore penalty, but it is voluntarily paying because of guilt. Japanese does not seem to care about what they did to many surrounding countries such as China and Korea.
3) The problem is Japanese old politicians seem to live in the past and is brainwashing new young generations, which worsen the relationships among other countries. Politicians use the nationalism as a tool to get votes from many old people in Japan.
Thank you for your commment.
My opinion is as follows:
1) As for Takeshima / Dokudo problem, I think that the Japanese and Korean government should seek the judgement of the International Court of Justice.
2) I also think that the Japanese government doesn't face the reallity of the past enough. However, that's one thing. Paying money is another.
3) I agree with your last sentence. And yes, some Japanese old politicians live in the past. But unfortunately, some Japanese young generations voluntarily pursue extreme nationalism and swear other countries. I'm against such attitudes strongly and hope Win-Win relationships among Asian countries.
I like your blog but let's put it this way not all Chinese dislike or hate the Japanese people, I was born in Hong Kong in the end of the 80s and if I had the chance of moving back to Asia, I would choose to move to Japan, Hong Kong is now very unstable and to be honest, I would rather see Japanese people and Hong Kong people get along, I would like to see Hong Kong people trying having relationships with the Japanese people, the Hong Kong men who I know are complaining about Hong Kong having a lady drought actually Yoshiteru, I like to know over in Japan are there any statistics in Japan on Hong Kong people or Mainland Chinese getting married to the Japanese people in terms of male and female, it would be very interesting to see some statistics
Thank you, Mr. Alex. I know some Chinese people like Japanese people. Some Japanese people also like Chinese people. However, unfortunately, I see an upsurge in reports of anti-Japan acts in China and anti-China demo in Japan. I understand they aren't representatives of both nations, but I feel sorry such increases of anti-demos. Your comment is good proof for existing Chinese who like Japan, therefore I'm glad. Thanks.
Yoshiteru you got to remember the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) is pretty much behind Anti Japanese activity including anti japanese movies in China, they have not tried it on Hong Kong yet because there is massive opposition about Hong Kong being part of China, if there is anti Japanese it's because the CCP is behind it and also many Hong Kong people regret that Hong Kong was handed over back to China by Britain in 1997 if you want to see Hong Kong people liking the Japanese it's pretty much the young generation and also it is very well known during the 60s and 80s or even 90s there were Japanese people who worked in Hong Kong's movie industry good example is Michiko Nishiwaki
Mr.Alex, I saw many Japanese manga works in Hong Kong when I travelled there in 1999. And in Japan, many Japanese peole like Hong Kong movies, for exmaple Jackie Chen's works (My 7-year-old son also like him very much), Wong Kar-wai's works and "Infernal Affairs"... I believe that arts can role as a bridge between any countries.
I agree that Hong Kong makes some pretty good movies
I'd like to add it's pretty sad that some Chinese hate Japanese the deeper and longer the hatred goes, war comes again and I'd like to add, even though there is a chance for me to come back to Asia should I get my bachelor in Information Technology in New Zealand, I would rather live in Japan than Hong Kong, look at the protests that took place in Hong Kong recently, I'd say Japan is more stable than Hong Kong, I literally fell in love with Japan when I visited Kyoto last year as well.
Watching demonstrations in Hong Kong, I recognize again that Hong Kong is under control of China. Japan's democracy is immature but isn't under control of any other country like China. So I agree with your comment, I think that Japan's political condition is more stable than Hong Kong.
The way I see Hong Kong in the next 40 years is that it will not become a place to retire in, back in the British days if you reach 65, you would get a pension but post 1997 handover the pension for civil servants who joined the Government after June or July of 1997 are no longer eligible for a pension but will have to work to save for retirement under the scheme known as MPS, I have 2 uncles who joined the Government pre 1997 and one was a Police Officer who gets the old pension scheme is struggling to live in Hong Kong because he owns a apartment and owns a car, in Hong Kong car maintenance is not cheap. It is very foolish to own a car in Hong Kong. My second uncle who works in the Hong Kong Government lands department hits retirement in 2019 will have a easier life in retirement because he does not own a car and also he is eligible for the old pension scheme. When it comes to myself, my cousin and my second younger cousin, retirement in Hong Kong is not a option because we cannot get a pension from the Hong Kong gov, as for myself, I would count on retiring in Japan should it happen
You cannot get a pension from the Hong Kong government? Unbelievable. When it comes to Japan, we, under-50-year-old people, cannot get enough pension to live in retirement. Many younger people know this problem, but their rate to vote is so low, therefore the pension reform plan makes progress so slowly.
Basically after I reach 55 which hopefully I do not retire in Hong Kong, I won't be eligible for a pension because the Hong Kong Government won't give its citizens a pension, it's now done by the Hong Kong Government scheme of MPS which is work from you're young and save till your retirement, Yoshiteru if you visit Hong Kong, try visiting Tsuen Wan on a Sunday and go near the Tsuen Wan District Council Building, the amount of beggars hanging out at the council building begging for money is staggering, Hong Kong apparently has a serious problem with wage inequality and its going to hurt a lot of people
Yoshiteru, I'll show you this photo taken in Hong Kong, I have seen heaps of old people do this:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6122/5957256168_72d337e39b.jpg
Oh...this photo makes me change my image of Hong Kong... I thought that such scene had been vanished already in Hong Kong.
I have seen it happen in Mong Kok, Yau Man Tei and etc, that is a good example of what income disparity does
Those scenes are very common and with Hong Kong when the media says its a good town, well if you look at the income inequality gap, it's a wide divide and I can assure you it's much worse than Japan's income inequality, the inequality of income in Hong Kong will go to until 2047
Thanks for your report. Why until 2047?
The agreement between China and Britain meant all laws set by the British Government will stay in place until 2047, I believe it applies to income in Hong Kong, after 2047, the laws set by Britain will expire
I can't thank you enough for writing this. You consider different points of view without being biased and handle the whole thing maturely. I'm a Korean American teenager with parents who are extremely hateful towards Japan, and try to convince me to be hateful as well. My younger sister and I often argue with them over their opinions on Japan. I just think it's childish for many Koreans to cling onto the past, even after the Japanese government has apologized many times. It's not as if Korea was completely innocent in its history either. And it's sad how Koreans are brought up to harbor negative feelings for Japan, so the younger generations in Korea are stuck with this hate too.
I hope that one day, the two countries will hold no resentment for each other, even though it seems almost impossible to achieve.
Mr_Alex, thank you. I've learned what 2047 means.
Mr./Ms. Korean American teenager, when I read your comment, I'm so impressed and feel that it's a good thing I wrote this article. How can I thank you? I also hope that all Asian countries make their harmony. Yes, it seems so difficult, almost impossible now. However, when I talk with some young people, including you, I think that times are changing, it's getting better, even though little by little.
Yositeru, as you see, Hong Kong won't be a nice place anymore, this is why I like Japan better, regardless its very sad that hatred on Japan exists on this day when it is undeserved
I m chinese. Have no problem ceding senkaku/diaoyu island to Japan. However since the island is nearest to Taiwan, why not Japan and mainland china just back off and let Taiwan take it. Its just a tiny rock. The russians had stolen more chinese land- outer manchuria, northwestern Xinjiang etc.
In fact , the present chinese government do not raise these issues at russia bcoz russia has too many nukes and china needs russia as an ally in UN security council. I love japanese products- synonymous with reliability and affordability.
Mr_Alex, I think that all the nations have their own problem. I wish nations can learn each other.
Thank you Mr./Ms. Chinese Anonymous for your comments. Some people say that there are a lot of natural resources (oil and gas) in the area of Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. This fact (or hypothesis) makes the issue difficult. In my opinion, the better way is that we should make this problem gone by the wayside, like both Chinese and Japanese leaders did in the 70s.
I like your country's classic culture - if they didn't exist, Japan couldn't develop in the past.
BULLSHIT...WOW YOU KNOW NOTHING In 1905 Japan claims they found uninhabited island called Dokdo and incorporated in to their territory because on the basis of international law, if an uninhabited island is found that belongs to the country that first discovered. However, distincly Dokdo was not first discovered by Japnese. The two countries had been aware of the existence of Dokdo island in history. The evidence started to come out from both countries that they knew the existence of Dokdo. Therefore Japan disquised the island called Takeshima that were in the past history of Japan to Dokdo. They started to claim it was their territory from the past. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT Japanese notation Takeshima [竹 島] means Bamboo island and Dokdo island does not grow a single bamboo.
1. Dokdo is 87km away from Ulleungdo in korea and 158km away from the Oki island in Japan. In Ulleungdo, Dokdo come in sight distance but not from Japan.
2. If you find online you can find a map that French geographers Dangbil drew in 1737 of Chosun kingdom and Dokdo is drawn into our territory.
3.In 1667 Japan observed in old documents, Eun - ju City Hall Aiki " In that document next to our land Ulleungdo and Dokdo they put that it is korean territory.
4.In January 1696 Japan reaffirmed 竹 島 Chosun territory, and send Korea diplomatic documents and commanded to prohibit 竹 島 Japanese. (This documents are in National Archives of Japan Institute)
5. There is a evidence written in 19th century, in the Japanese diplomatic documents by Ministry of Foreign Affairs they wrote "There is Ulleungdo and Dokdo in Korean parts."
6. In 1877 Japan Ancient Prime minister determined that Ulleungdo and Dokdo is Korean territory and said "Ulleungdo and Dokdo is irrelevant places with Japan"
7. In the late 19th century the Imperial Government showed exactly Ulleungdo and Dokdo is South Korea's territory
8.in 1900 we announced it to the world.
9. Japan incorporated Dokdo in force Cabinet in 1905 as a Japanese territory, "Takeshima"
The map, famous geographer Hayashi Shihei(林子平) drew clearly states Dokdo is korean territory. In 1802 Japanese territory was stated with red color and korean territory yellow, even in 1910,when Japan took over Korea it was stated as Korea territory
and we can go on on on all day
KOREANS THINK IT IS KOREAN'S??? EXCUSE ME IT IS OURS AND ALWAYS WILL BE SO FIND ANOTHER ISLAND AND TRY TO CLAIM IT'S YOURS SORRY AND THANKYOU^^
보미야님, I appreciate the information you wrote because it is a good chance for me to learn Takeshima / Dokdo problem.
I will write my opinion for your comment later. I need a couple of week or more. Thank you.
보미야님, I accept some of your opinions and cannot accept others, as we shall see later. My conclusion is as follows; There are no clear historical evidences for the territorial right of Takeshima / Dokdo. (So I revised some of my descriptions of Takeshima / Dokdo in my blog article.) Therefore the Japanese and Korean government should seek the judgement of the International Court of Justice for this problem. (Why did the Korean government refuse the proposal of bringing this problem into ICJ from the Japanese government in 2012? What is your opinion for this action of the Korean government?)
The real issue about Takeshima / Dokdo island problem is to make and grow big seeds of bickering between Japan and Korea over this small island. Therefore, this problem should be eliminated soon. The best way to do so is to seek the judgement of ICJ, I think.
Anyway, my opinion for your opinion is as below:
Your opinion No.1: “Dokdo is 87km away from Ulleungdo in korea and 158km away from the Oki island in Japan. In Ulleungdo, Dokdo come in sight distance but not from Japan.”
My opinion: According to international law, territorial rights are never recognized on the ground of geographical proximity alone between territories and territorial disputed area. For example, on the judgement for the dispute between Honduras and Nicaragua over territorial issue in the Caribbean Sea in 2007, ICJ didn’t recognize the geographical proximity as the reason of territorial rights they argued.
(to be continued. I will write my following opinions later for your opinion No.2-9.)
（continued）
2. (your comment) If you find online you can find a map that French geographers Dangbil drew in 1737 of Chosun kingdom and Dokdo is drawn into our territory.
- (my comment) I check the map out. Dokdo, Tchain-chan-tao was on French geographer Danville's map. I think that it proved that some people who thought Takeshima / Dokdo is Koreans' existed. However, it was written by French man, not Korean nor Japanese. Therefore, this map isn't suitable for our discussion about Takeshima / Dokdo problem very much.
3. (your comment) In 1667 Japan observed in old documents, Eun - ju City Hall Aiki " In that document next to our land Ulleungdo and Dokdo they put that it is korean territory.
- (my comment) In the official memorandum by the Delegation of the South Korea Government in Japan on 25th of September in 1954, The delegation member wrote such as; Japan's document "Ou-shu Shichou Gouki" was inadmissible as evidence for Dokdo territory because the document had been written in the era of Japan's invasion for Ulleungdo area. You think that the document, which your country's government think inadmissible as evidence, is admissible. Please tell me the reason why you think so.
4. (your comment) In January 1696 Japan reaffirmed 竹 島 Chosun territory, and send Korea diplomatic documents and commanded to prohibit 竹 島 Japanese. (This documents are in National Archives of Japan Institute)
-(my comment) Yes, it was true. However, at that time, Ururutou /
Ulleungdo was called "Takeshima" at that time. Therefore, this diplomatic document stated not "Takeshima (which now we call) /Dokdo was Korean territory" but " Ururutou / Ulleungdo was Korean territory"
When I read some documents around Takeshima / Dokdo at that time for writing these comments, I learned that the names of Takeshima /Dokdo and other small islands were changed, and that the governments confused them. These facts mean that such small islands, including Takeshima / Dokdo were not important for both Japan and Korea, I think.
5. (your comment) There is a evidence written in 19th century, in the Japanese diplomatic documents by Ministry of Foreign Affairs they wrote "There is Ulleungdo and Dokdo in Korean parts."
-(my comment) Unfortunately, I cannot recognize the document you wrote. Therefore, I'm sorry, I wish to refrain from answering your this comment.
6. (your comment) In 1877 Japan Ancient Prime minister determined that Ulleungdo and Dokdo is Korean territory and said "Ulleungdo and Dokdo is irrelevant places with Japan"
-(my comment) The original document about the determination stated "Takeshima and other one island were Korean's" As you've already known, at that time, "Takeshima" meant "Ulllleungdo". Therefore, this determination stated "Ulleungdo and other island are Korean's"
What does "the other island" mean? Is it Takeshima /Dokdo? or other island竹嶼 / Dukdo, the island lies 2 km east of Ulleungdo? I checked some documents out for this issue, I couldn't get the obvious answer.
7. (Your comment) In the late 19th century the Imperial Government showed exactly Ulleungdo and Dokdo is South Korea's territory
8. (Your comment) in 1900 we announced it to the world.
-(my comment) The Korean imperial ordinance in 1900 stated "Ulleungdo and Sokdo(石島） are Korean territory". I know that many Korean say that Sokdo meant Dokdo because these pronunciation are similar. I admit that Sokdo and Dokdo sounds alike, however, I don't understand such important document about the important territory issue didn't use the proper island name. I would like to said again, this fact - the name of Dokdo was vague in the past- meant that Takeshima / Dokdo were not important for both Japan and Korea.
（continued）
9. (Your comment) Japan incorporated Dokdo in force Cabinet in 1905 as a Japanese territory, "Takeshima"
-(my comment) Yes, you are right. By the way, I think that such Japanese diplomatic muscle and ruling Korea had many improper factors. cf. my main entry of this blog.
My opinion: As above, I think that Takeshima / Dokdo in the past wasn't recognized clearly by both Japanese and Koreans. Then, now, What country does Takeshima / Dokdo belong to? ICJ should judge this issue, as I commented. 보미야님, My deep wish is that Japan and Korea never use our energy for such small island, but for our future-oriented co-operation.
P.S. Hayashi Shinei's map "Sangoku Tsuran Zusetsu" was banned by the Japanese government in the past. It wasn't the official map and had little value for thinking over Takeshima / Dokdo issue.
- Most younger generation Koreans such as myself (under 40) do not personally hate Japan and do not feel strongly about the colonial history.
- However, the older generations have conditioned younger generations to have a negative opinion toward Japan. So Koreans, when in a group setting, will exaggerate their hatred, in order to fit into the general consensus. But in reality, most young people don't really care personally.
- Having said that, even the younger generations have a strong sense of rivalry against Japan which can be seen in our attitude toward any international sports match against Japan or toward economic statistics comparing both countries. People will say things like "We HAVE to win Japan." or "We cannot lose. it's JAPAN~".
"Yay! Samsung is beating Sony in electronics" or "We are catching up to Japan's level"
- For the most part, this attitude stems from being a smaller neighbor who started later in the economic race and benchmarked a bigger, more successful neighbor who was way ahead of the game, but it's not necessarily hatred. In modern age, Japan has always been more advanced and Korea has been trying really hard to surpass Japan as a society. So most Koreans subconsciously think very highly of Japanese technology, civic mind, trend, culture, but at the same time feel the anxiety to be better than them.
- Bottomline, how Koreans feel about Japan is way more complex than how Japanese people feel about Korea.
Thank you Mr.Yi. So interesting.
Having reading your comment, I remember that many Japanese people had tendencies to compare Japan and western countries when I was a child (in the 70s). For instance, My father very often said "Japan's bullet trains made the world record of speed" or something like that.
After the 80s, I felt such tendencies gradually came to disappear. However, after the 90s, with Japan's economic declaration, the tendencies to compare other countries appear again. Japanese sense of rivalry now is not only against western countries, but also Asian countries including Korea. In particular for Korea and China, many Japanese people may have complex mind because those countries' growth makes Japanese remember downfall of Japan.
In next decades, what will Korean, Chinese and Japanese feel together, and against others?
Thanks for your reply.
I think South Korea and Japan are already demographically mature societies and will not see a drastic change.
If there is any external pressure, it will come from China.
There will be more cultural and economic exchange especially with China.
But, South Korea and Japan will feel more threatened by China, because China is already a superpower that we cannot face without the help of the US. And the US is losing power relative to China.
We will see more and more Chinese tourists. Chinese capitalists buying our asset. More of military display. That might instigate right wing politics in both South Korea and Japan. But I think the right wing movement will be very populist. People in Korea or Japan care about their material well-being the most.
Hopefully, China does not fall under the hands of crazy people because it looks like China is going through the same process of modernization-centralization-militarization repertoire that many European countries went through before participating in World War 1 & 2.
Mr. Yi, I agree so much for your comment.
If I add a more personal thought, it is about a big and inevitable problem of China - the population decline. As you know, Korea and Japan also have the same problems now, but China's problem is more lager than ours. In future, this problem of China will make massive spread effect not only for our countries but also all over the world, in particular, for economics.
I really enjoyed this post!
I myself am Korean American, but my relatives are Japanese Korean. As a child I lived with them so I grew up in both cultures and I genuinely treasure and love both, and it pains me to see the constant bickering amoung the two nations
It scares me that I might be treated differently for being Korean if I ever go back to japan, but I feel like your blog kind of pacified that fear. I hope that one day all this bickering and bashing would come to an end.
Very nice post, I agree with almost everything you said. I also would like to explain the reason of why Taiwanese like the Japanese while the Koreans don't like the Japanese, although both Taiwan and Korea were being colonized by the Japanese. Maybe my explanation could be an insight for you. I am just
The reason why Taiwanese like the Japanese is because the Taiwanese feel they are economically benefitted by the Japanese. Taiwanese feel they are economically benefitted by the Japanese because the Japanese hired a lot Taiwanese to work for them in the manufacturing and trading jobs during the Japanese rule of Taiwan period. Japanese hired the Taiwanese to work in the manufacturing and trading business in order to stop the Taiwanese from rebelling against the Japanese. When the Japanese came to rule Taiwan, there were Taiwanese who rebelled against the Japanese. So, to avoid of being rebelled by the Taiwanese, the Japanese quickly came up with the decision to hire the Taiwanese to work for the Japnese in the manufacturing and trading jobs throughout the Japanes ruling period. There were even Taiwanese who were recruited by the Japanese to join the Japanese military during the WW2, there were about hundred thousands of Taiwnaese joined the Japanese military during WW2 to get more food ratio and money from the Japanese.
As for Koreans, the reason of why Koreans don't like the Japanese because Japanese ever killed the Korean Royal family members. When Japanese came to colonize Korea, they killed the Korean Royal family members. Japanese killed the Korean Royal family members because the Korean Royal family members didn't want to kowtow to the Japanese. After the Koreans found out their Royal family members got killed by the Japanese they rebelled ah isn't the Japanese. Then, the Japanese suppressed the Koreans to stop the Koreans from rebelling against the Japanese. Koreans throughout the Japanese ruling period never stopped rebelling against the Japanese, as the result Koreans were treated like second class citizens by the Japanese in their own soil. Then another reason was because during the 16th century, Japanese pirates lead by Toyotomi Hideyoshi ever attempted to invade Korea.
Thank you for your comment, Mr./Ms. Anonymous Korean American.
As I read your comment, I'm glad that I wrote this post and you read it. Thank you.
I hope for peace between China and Japan, I'm Chinese myself from Canada and never saw any positive aspects of either country's view of each other from their media. I wasn't particularly into anime as well, so I didn't have a particularly opiniated view on Japan growing up, but came to realize the growing political, economic, and military power of China is to be feared in the west. I was unsure how the government meant to propagate China. Either way, I realized I needed to investigate. And dig further into the truth. My first thoughts were "should I fear my own people?"
Surly, I had come across sites that view China as a big bad red giant. At the same time there were sites that depicted Anti American propaganda, not by China, but by Americans themselves glorifying the Russian-Sino cooperation and plans to create new order and all that.
Later, I found sites that contained both Korean and Chinese views on Japan. Of course I hear issues like the anti-sentiments and all that but both nations also appear to back it up with more propaganda. As for Japan, they too criticize the issues on China.
I was still convinced that the West had denounced China due to its potential capabilities to destabilize the region. I thought this because China appeared to be the catalyst for the changing of status quo. Though, I wasnt anti-Japan, I became more pro-China and its government seeing the results of its development since Mao, and the criticisms it takes in pulling the nation out of the era. I had turned to acknowledge relative to other major countries and its achievements and I understand the point you'd had made with the super speed train in Japan during Japan's rise.
This was my opinion until I started local university after high school. I had met this Japanese girl, from Yokohama, who later became my girlfriend. She was raise in Canada from a very young age. When we started going out, I had curiously one day asked what she thinks about China. Her response was neutral, and seemingly innocent, but a meaningful answer as I didn't think she seemed to hesitate when answering, later saying she actually likes China. She had thought I was from China since I was Chinese, and never mentioned the Canadian thing. I knew she was from Japan, so I didn't think that she'd be so casual with the response. She would the one to tear down the Berlin Wall I had set up about Japan through my heart.
This was the point at which my opinion had started to radically change of Japan. As in "how can a Japanese be so neutral or positive of China?" Yes we are neighboring countries but one which shows each other in negative images.
We chatted on this topic for quite a bit and we saw each other's views on the argument. We ended up at "why must we hate?" and "why can't we love?". From both our sides, we were convinced that the propaganda between our 2 nations was born from the voices broadcasted by a few and the government. Why must we submit ourselves to how others want us to be and act as though we're pawns on a chessboard for sacerifice for those that play us against each other.
After that all of my pro-China ideas we're still in place, but not out of nationalism but simply respect in its development and placement of Chinat, but also gained a strong pro-Japan motto. I've come to understand all of our suffering against powers in the past, and now we must both make a better future. I'm pro-China and pro-Japan, but not their governments along with western media that plays the citizens against each other but out of mutual respect and progress for everyone alike. I'm not anti west either.
As with her ideology, I'm unsure how she stand but one thing for sure is that we're still together and she'd mentioned that she would like to visit China with some friends and me, just out of curiosity. I'm sorry this this post is long but I want to emphasize, long live our great nations, the land of the rising sun, Japan and, emerging superpower, China.
Ms. Tiffany Cheng, thank you very much. Your comment has brought new viewpoints and knowledge to me, in particular, as for "The reason why Taiwanese like the Japanese". Economy affects all kinds of relationship - of course including between nations. If the Japanese government and people made jobs for Taiwanese, it might be big help to Taiwanese feelings for Japan.
I also agree with your comment as for "Koreans don't like Japanese". Fundamentally, the Japanese government lacked respect for Koreans and their symbol, the Royal family of Korea. I learned that from a picture of Japan's Governor-General of Korea at first sight. It was located in the Korean Royal Palace (Gyeongbokgung), so rude location.
Oh well, you are welcome. Sorry if some of my explanations are offensive. I didn't mean to fuel the hatred towards the Japanese or anyone else, I have just made the explanation for the sake of adding your explanation about what happened during the war and the Japanese ruling period.
Mr. William Mok, I'm glad to read your comment.
I believe that basis of mutual understanding between nations depends on individually mutual understanding among citizens of the nations. Your story is very good example of them.
I also respect Chinese history (many world's first innovations were born in China). More than that, a Chinese man I know in person makes me never hate China. I respect his character.
Actually, one of the purpose I write this blog has relationships to this theory. Such individual communications among nations (like these comments of this post) will contribute to international mutual understanding. They may have very small affection, but I think that even though "small" is better than "nothing".
Ms. Tiffany Cheng, I appreciate your explanation and your tenderness. I feel no offensive impression from your comments. Thank you.
Thanks, although I knew a lot facts of the Japanese occupation of Korea, China, and other Asian countries I have to admit that I am quite a big admirer of Japan. Japan is one of my favorite countries alongside with China, South Korea, UK, Indonesia, and Singapore. And I also have ever been to Japan three years ago during summertime.
I myself a Chinese ethnic from Indonesia, meaning that I am an Indonesian with Chinese blood. Here in Indonesia, the Japanese contribution is quite a lot. There are also quite a number of Indonesians who like to go to Japan for studying or working, one of my school friend now currently studies robotic at Japan. A lot Indonesians I know have a very good impression about the Japanese.
I always have quite a admiration for the Japanese and Japan since I was a 10 year old girl. I admire the Japanese because I always see the Japanese made a lot good games (Play Station, Nintendo, and Japanese computer games), good quality cars (Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Lexus, etc.), good quality motorcycles (Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki), refreshing anime/manga series (Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura, Doraemon, Crayon Shinchan, Gakuen Alice, Naruto), good house appliances, hi-tech machineries, stationeries (Pentel, Sakura Color Corporation, Pilot, Nakamura, Uni-Ball), good quality laptops (Sony Vaio, Toshiba, and Fujitsu), well-built submarine (Soryu Class submarine), tools (Makita and Hitachi), heavy equipments (Komatsu, Kawasaki, Mitsubishi, Hitachi), high speed trains, and robotics. And I also admire the Japanese because the many of the Japanese people I have noticed are very polite, soft spoken, well-behaved, clean, honest, hardworking, neat, have good ethics, and modest.
When I was Japan, I was really impressed by how the Japanese treated me, the Japanese treated me so well. I still remember when I wanted to find the hotel during late night, I asked a Japanese businessman about the way to the hotel. Then, the businessman showed the way to the hotel and I walked with him a roughly a minute. We both walked together until we were arrived at the hotel, he also bought me a drinking water (he bought me a drinking water at the mini-market because he thought that I was tired). After we both arrived at the hotel, he said to me: "this is the hotel you are looking for, am I right?" I shyly nod my head and said "arigatou" to that businessman.
I also have a Japanese aunt who now lives at Fukuoka with my uncle, they have two children currently and they sometimes like to come to my house for celebrating Chinese New Year together. I have ever talked to my Japanese aunt, she was quite pleasant and knowledgable person although she can be too uptight, stoic, and overly emotional. And I also have a cousin from my paternal side who is married to a Japanese lady, they currently live in Tokyo together. I have never met her before but my father sometimes like to tell me a story about my cousin's wife. My father told me that my cousin's wife works as a stewardess at the Singapore Airlines, while my cousin is a pilot of Singapore Airlines. My cousin and his wife fell in love for the first time when they are working at the same aircraft, then the two of them gradually got closer and eventually they're married (they married a year ago).
If I remember correctly, only a part of China was occupied by the Japanese. It would be odd if all of China was controlled.
Ms. Tiffany Cheng, congratulations for your cousin! Such a marriage means not only a happy wedding but also one of the best way to mutual understanding between people from two different countries.
I'm happy to read your new comment because I'm Japanese. Thank you! Meanwhile, I have to remember that such eagerness of Japanese people to work well has the other side. Lee Kuan Yew, the first Prime Minister of Singapore, wrote for a Japanese newspaper as follows: "Before the Pacific War, Japanese people who lived in Singapore were polite and good workers. During the War,Singapore under the Japanese rule, they were so scary and cruel soldiers. After the Japanese surrender, they became exemplary prisoners, made many roads of Singapore clean and went back to Japan."
Mr./Ms. Anonymous, thank you for leaving your comment. Yes, you are right. The Japanese occupied only a part of China. I think that the Japanese government was reckless to attempt to occupy such the big country, which had the biggest population in the world and a huge land. In addition, the occupation lacked for the consideration for Chinese people. Under these conditions, the Japanese would never make a success to occupy all China. It was a big mistake of Japan and it made many Chinese people harm.
Well, my father also ever told me the same quote that Lee Kwan Yew wrote for the Japanese newspaper you're referring to. My father thought it was quite well written and it did tell the truth of the Japanese in Singapore. My father also ever told me the story of how Lee Kwan Yew tried to survive by himself during the Japanese occupation of Singapore.
My cousin and his wife also sometimes like to visit my father's house at Singapore during Chinese New Year. My father told me that my cousin's wife was very courteous and soft spoken although she is rather shy and quiet. I have ever seen my cousin's wife photo and I thought she looked rather attractive, although her face looks somewhat similar to my best friend's older sister.
I am Chinese from Mainland China of Sichuan province and I personally find your writing to be rather well written, thank you for writing all of your thoughts about the Chinese.
As a Chinese, I do aware that the Japanese did a lot of atrocities during of WW2 and we also had a history of fighting with each other during the end of Qing dynasty. Not to mention the current political relationship between China and Japan along with the disputes that make our relationship with the Japanese getting worse. I personally feel kind of anxious and worry every time I read the news about China and Japan's current relationship.
Despite of the bad relationship between Chinese and Japanese along with the hate feeling for Chinese towards the Japanese, actually many Chinese do agree that Japanese are generally very hard working, disciplined, and industrious people with a strong sense of collectivism (collectivism means like sense of teamwork and unity). Chinese also subconsciously think that Japanese are intelligent and serious.
Many Chinese also positively think that Japanese products are usually very good quality and reliable (unlike many of the Chinese products which tend to either break down easily or unsafe). Many Chinese I notice even have to go to Japan only to buy Japanese things like rice cooker, toilet seats, electronic goods, clothings, and household appliances. Even there are many Chinese admitted that Japanese rice cookers are the best. And there are even Chinese who like to go Japan for shopping or spending their vacation.
I have a teacher who is from Hebei whose son is currently studying at Tokyo. My teacher ever told me everything about Japan and Tokyo based on her son's experience there. She told me that her son had a relatively good impression about the place he is currently studying at. My teacher's son is currently studying technics in Japan, she told me the reason of why her son is studying technics in Japan is because her son has an interest on Japanese technology.
Then when I asked my teacher about what she thinks about the Japanese, she told me that Japanese students are generally very quiet, always study very seriously (my teacher also ever taught Mandarin to several Japanese students), and obidient. My teacher even told me that she likes Japanese students a bit more than Korean students because she told me that Korean students are sometimes "naughty" or "dishonest." And my teacher ever told everyone in front of my class that we should be as disciplined and serious as the Japanese to be a good student.
My teacher also ever told me that I shouldn't blame the Japanese for the war, instead the blame should be attributed to the Japanese government during that time who had the desire to put the whole Asia into the Japanese rule. Then my teacher also told me the reason of why the Japanese government had the desire to put Asia into the Japanese rule was because Japan back then suffered from the 1920s economical crisis and the lack of resources. Japan back then didn't have much resources to sustain their economy, so the Japanese government decided to put Asia into Japan's rule in order to grab as much resources as they could.
Then, when there was a news about the recent flood happening in Japan, a lot Chinese were really surprised by how clean the Japanese flood water was. Even there were Chinese who commented that Japanese flood water looked much cleaner than a swimming pool. When I read their comments, I laughed a bit although I kind of agree about what they said about Japanese flood water being clean. Chinese attributed the cleanness of the Japanese flood water was due to the Japanese high attention for hygiene and cleaness.
To add to my previous comment, I also want to admit the whole ultra-nationalism between Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans can be really annoying after a while. I mean the ultra-nationalism between Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans brings no benefit because ultra-nationalism only creates bigotry, prejudice, and hatred among each other. It is fine if we are proud of being Chinese, Japanese, and Korean but it is annoying if we over-exaggerate our nationalism until we have to bad-mouth each other like a bunch of immature kids. Bad-mouthing each other will only make us look stupid or ridiculous to the other people.
I also annoyed with the fact that some Chinese claim that Japanese and Koreans copied Chinese culture. Just because Japanese and Koreans have certain cultural similarities with the Chinese, doesn't mean that Japanese and Koreans copied the Chinese. The correct term should be Japanese and Koreans have certain Chinese cultural aspects because Japanese and Korean had a history of cultural relationship with China, China also had a history of cultural relationship with Korea and Japan. Due to the series cultural relationship between China, Japan, and Korea there are certain cultural similarities between Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans.
The similar certain cultural similarities between Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans can be also seen on the other nations. Take Scandinavia for example, three Scandinavian nations like Danish, Swedish, and Norwegians all have certain similarities in their culture. Swedish, Danish, and Norwegians all have certain similarities in their culture with each other culture just like Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans who have certain cultural similarities with each other. The three of them (Swedish, Danish, and Norwegians) had a history of cultural relationship with each other like the Chinese, Japanes, and Koreans also had a history of cultural relationship with each other.
Ms. Blogger Tiffany Cheng, is the quote from Lee Kwan Yew popular among Singapore? Or your father must be knowledgeable person. Anyway, your father's comment (the quote tells the truth of the Japanese in Singapore) is a precious opportunity for me to learn Singaporean's real voice about Japanese people in Singapore. Thank you.
I wish your cousin, his wife and your family the best in Chinese New Year.
Mr./Ms. Anonymus from Mainland China, I agree with almost all your comment, in particular, with one about serious problems of ultra-nationalism. Yes, it's natural to feel proud of people's own countries, however, ultra-nationalism (for instance, swearing and abusing other countries) bears no fruits but increases hostile feelings each other, which means serious problems for both their own countries and other countries.
Thank you for your comment about Japanese people. This is my turn. A friend of mine who works in Shanghai said to me, "Chinese people have strong energy and will to live their lives better. We Japanese lack and forget such attitudes. I won't be surprise that Chinese economy surpasses Japanese one."
China has great history - many important, historic inventions and culture have been created in China, before any regions else in the world. In particular, Japan, Korea and other Asian countries were affected very much from China. Those achievements depend on Chinese people's effort and creativity. (In addition, they also depends on its geographical features. Europe and Fertile Crescent regions are the same. I learned this theory from Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs and Steel")
I have been to Sichuan province in 2002, enjoyed very much Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong splendid scene, some historical spots in Chengdu. Tour guide (Sichuan lady) was very kind and good capable. This trip is still my good memory.
The quote itself was ever published in one of the Singaporean magazine that my father ever read before. I don't know whether it is popular in Singapore or not, but the only thing I know it was ever published in one of the Singaporean magazine.
As for the Singaporean view about Japanese, oh well I noticed that a lot Japanese products are popular at Singapore (especially clothings like Uniqlo, Muji, etc.). And I also saw that Singapore also got many restaurants that sold Japanese food and a Takashimaya department store. My father told me that in Singapore, Japanese products are often seen by many of the Singaporeans as being superior in quality (although some of them are kind of expensive). There many Japanese people at Singapore, they are often seen as being well-dressed and clean. There is even a Japanese international school at Singapore. I have ever seen the building when I was at Singapore.
Thank you for your greeting to my family members, and I also wish all the best for you and your family members as well.
Thank you for your feedback, I like it very much. And when I read your feedback it makes me more relieved.
You know what although I am really proud to be Chinese, but I am not really proud of communism within China and China's today situation.
Do you know what? Ever since China fell into communism in the year of 1949, a lot of the Chinese cultural aspects were being banned by Mao because he thought that Chinese cultural aspects were all contradictory to the communist values. Things got worse ever since the cultural revolution, that was the time when China was totally in the worst condition. During the cultural revolution, a lot people dog-eat-dog among each other, oppression and brutality were common place, a lot people died and killed, and China was really a horrible place.
As the result of cultural revolution that happened years ago, many people in China forgotten of their cultural values and their moral principles. Because the Chinese have forgotten their cultural values and morals aspects many Chinese of today I see become so inconsiderate, selfish, uncultured, ill-mannered, inhuman, and immoral. Cultural revolution still has impact within China of today, which is pretty sad. Cultural revolution pretty much ruined the nation's mentality, humanity, and morality up until today.
I see the Japanese still keep their cultural values and their moral principle which can explain why many of the Japanese today are so well-behaved, considerate, cultured, well-mannered, and have high moral ethics. That is why when I see the Japanese, I was so astounded to see how cultured and humane they are.
Although China has a really rich culture and history, but too bad many of them were banned during the cultural revolution. And the current government also doesn't show much appreciation for China's rich heritage, which is even more disappointing.
I see the Japanese tend to do a better job than the Chinese to preserve their culture and heritage. Although the Japanese are so modernized today, yet I still can see the Japanese traditional culture and heritage are still well-existed in Japan of today.
(To add to my previous comment above)
Then, ever since the economical open door policy, many people in China become increasingly greedy, materialistic, shallow, hedonistic, and selfish. The economical open door policy of China make people increasingly greedy, materialistic, shallow, hedonistic, and selfish because many people in China become more obsessed with obtaining wealth and money. There are even many people in China have to abandon their core human values only for the sake of money and wealth. In China, you would see many people become would deliberately become crooks due to this circumstance.
Because of the obsession towards money and wealth among many people in China, that's why you ever heard news about toxic food scandal, organ transplant, toxic milk scandal, corporate scandals, etc. which are harmful for China. Chinese suffered way too much from materialism, hedonism, and greed.
I am writing this not for the sake of bad mouthing my own country and my own nation. But I am writing this only for the sake to highlighting all the negative things that happened inside China of today, in order to make you understand why China of today is so badly reputed globally. I also write this in order to criticize my country and my nation, so they could be reduced and fixed in the near future.
Oh well, I am glad that you had a good time at Sichuan. I also really like my hometown here at Sichuan, the lifestyle here is more laid-back than other Chinese regions (especially compared to Shanghai and Beijing, where the lifestyle is more fast-paced). Sichuan province is one of the oldest region of China, which can explain why Sichuan's history and culture is pretty rich. Jiuzhaigou is beautiful I agree, but you also have to keep in mind that Jiuzhaigou also have problems with tree logging and garbage disposal.
Another thing that I love about my hometown here at Sichuan province is that the weather is pretty mild compared to some other parts of China, although Sichuan is frequently raining due to its location near the basin.
Ms.Tiffany Cheng, Thank you very much for your message to my family. We are enjoying now holidays around new year's day - they are precious consecutive holidays for Japanese workers.
When I read comments of you and others about Japanese products, I remember a scene of the movie "Back to the Future 2". Doc in 1955 was surprised to hear that Marty from 1985 praised Japanese products because "Japanese products" in 1955 meant "low quality things". Images of words change so much in such a few decade. After next decades, other country's products may have "good quality things".
Mr./Ms. Anonymus from Sinchuan, thank you for your reply.
I think that the Cultural Revolution was one of the worst man-made disasters in human history. When I read books about the Cultural Revolution (and the Great Leap Forward), I was really scared of them. I know that the Cultural Revolution ruined many precious Chinese historical things, but didn't know the impact to modern Chinese people. Therefore your comment is so informative.
A few years ago, I would have some Chinese style massages from a excellent massager from Jilin Province. The massager was kind frank, but sometimes said "Chinese people never believe anything" I wondered why such good person said such a thing. Now that I read your comment, I've understood the reason the massager said that.
Your style to criticize your country is really good and proper for your country. I feel your real love for China. Such a style is quite opposite of ultra-nationalism - a way to decline fatherland.
Sichuan is a good place, I agree. I have good impression for the climate and atmosphere of the region. In Japan, Sichuan is also famous for its spicy and good-taste food.
Well, I agree with your comments about Cultural Revolution.
I love my own country, that's why I don't want China to be badly reputed globally.
As for Sichuan food being spicy, that's true. Sichuan food is spicy because there are a lot chilies and Sichuan peppercorn ingridients inside the food. The ingridients like chili and Sichuan peppercorn could produce the tongue-numbing spicy taste which is called as 麻辣（má là）taste in Chinese. The reason of why Sichuan food is spicy is because Sichuan is a humid place with lots of raining, so the people of Sichuan need to eat spicy food to sweat. They need to eat spicy food to sweat in order to expel the toxin inside the body.
And btw, do you want to know how is Japanese food perceived in China? In China Japanese food is often perceived as being very mild in taste, but very fresh and healthy. Japanese people like to use all the freshest ingredients to make their food, that's why Japanese food always tastes so refreshing and healthy. I think the Japanese food itself could explain why the Japanese have the longest life expectancy in the world (Japan's life expectancy is 85 years, which is ranked #1 in the world). My teacher also told me that the Japanese are also particularly cautious about what they eat, they know how to eat well and when they are eating they always how a very good table manners. Even my teacher admitted that Japanese people have the best table manners.
(To add to my previous comment above)
Another thing that make me want to put my salute for the Japanese is the porcelain
I would like to say Japanese porcelains (particularly Satsuma and Imari porcelains) are also as stunning and as beautiful as Chinese porcelains. It is true that Chinese started the porcelain making culture, but I tend to notice that the Japanese also could make really good looking porcelains too. I find the design on Japanese porcelains often look complicated but very intricate and refined on the same time, while Chinese porcelains often look elaborate and intricate but more simplistic/less complicated.
The Japanese porcelain piece called the "Tenmoku" is also really beautiful, I really love the vivid blue color of the "Tenmoku" porcelain piece. I can even see the similarities between the Chinese "Jun Yao" porcelain piece with the Japanese "Tenmoku" porcelain piece because the both of them are really beautiful porcelain pieces.
I personally like Chinese and Japanese porcelains because I find both Chinese and Japanese porcelains are really beautiful and intricate looking. I think Japanese porcelains would prevent to me to have negative perceptions about Japan because the beauty of the Japanese porcelains just blew out my mind. I mean from the Japanese porcelains, I could tell that the Japanese have a really high taste on aesthetic. Chinese porcelains are also beautiful looking, which is a reason of why I should be happy for being a Chinese because the porcelain would represent the Chinese high taste on aesthetic. When I see Chinese and Japanese porcelains stand-up side by side inside my house (I have both Chinese and Japanese porcelains at home) I just cannot help but smile.
(Another addition from my previous comments)
I also would like to admit that although I am proud of my Chinese cultural heritage and achievements, but on the same time I am not really proud of Chinese imperialistic heritage and communist regime.
Do you know that when China during the ancient time used to imperialistic? I mean Chinese used to conquer a lot lands and they enforced their culture onto other countries until made other countries like Vietnam, Korea, etc. felt threaten by China. I am not really proud on this imperialistic heritage because it could highlight all the bad things that the Chinese did in the past.
Then you also have to know that Chinese also have a long history of being prejudiced/racist during the ancient times. Chinese during the ancient times often perceived Japanese and Koreans to be barbarians, Vietnamese and Southeast Asians were often perceived by the Chinese as being savages and low class people. Then, the Chinese also have a long history of looking down their nose and having a superiority-complex attitude towards their neighbors (especially the Koreans and Vietnamese).
I personally find the anti-Japanese sentiment in China to be ridiculous, because a lot Chinese themselves didn't realize that they used to be just as imperialistic as the Japanese duiring the ancient times.
I am not trying to bad mouth China and Chinese, but I am just trying to explain you of all the bad things that the Chinese did in the past in order to explain to you that Chiense hisotry and heritage is not all "sun shines and rainbows." But, what to do? Other countries also have their own history of doing bad things, just like what the saying goes "every countries have other people's skeletons on their own soil."
Thank you for your comments, Mr./Ms. Anonymous from Sinchuan.
Japanese food is healthy, I also think so. On the other hand, a lot of Japanese people like health-damaging behaviors - smoking. Japanese society is more tolerant of smokers than other countries. For example, in 1990s, more than half of co-workers smoked at their own desk in my office, including a pregnant lady. Even today, my English teacher from the US side, "Japanese food and lifestyle are healthy, but smoke-tolerant-environment in Japan destroys such healthy ones."
As for porcelain, Japanese porcelain technique is based on Chinese and Korean techniques. We Japanese had learned much from them. I also love Tenmoku, especially Yohen Tenmoku, and Celadon of Northern Song Dynasty. I don't have knowledge about porcelain, however, I was really shocked at seeing real Song Celadon at a museum.
When I took Chinese history in high school, (The curriculum of the world history class of Japan take much time in the history of China and western Europe.) I learned that ancient China set bad-meaning letters for other ethnic groups like 鮮卑 and 匈奴 and Japan did the same like 南蛮 for westerners.
I respect your attitude that you face the history of your mother country and appreciate your country objectively. If all people of the world learn their own history like you do, world peace will prevail on the earth.
Well, smoking is also a problem in China. Do you know that China is the country with the #6 most male smokers (Russia is the country with the #1 most smokers). A lot Chinese men like to smoke more than the previous years, and I also have ever seen few Chinese women who smoke as well. A lot Chinese like to smoke at everywhere they go, even at the non-smoking places. And the worst thing is that many Chinese smokers have very poor self-control compared to the smokers from the other countries. Once the Chinese smoke, they have a harder time to stop or control their smoking habits.
Tenmoku is indeed a beautiful porcelain piece, I fell in love with the vivid blue color of the Tenmoku porcelain piece so much. And I am also happy that you like the Song Dyansty Celadon, but I want to know about where did see the Song Dynasty Celadon piece? In what museum did you see the Song Dynasty Celadon? I have so many Song Dynasty Celadon pieces at home, they are really beautiful like Jades.
It is true that Japanese based their porcelain making techniques from Korea and China, but I am also really impressed with the Japanese porcelain making technique because the Japanese porcelain technique is also really good. I could see on how the Japanese worked so hard to make those beautiful porcelain pieces that I adore, which is a good thing for the Japanese and the porcelain lovers from all over the world. The craftsmanship of the Japanese porcelain is really impressive, especially the Satsuma porcelain pieces.
To me, the best Japanese porcelain pieces are Satsuma because I really like the painting design and the craftsmanship. The painting design on each Satsuma porcelains looks more realistic like almost real, which I love the most and the craftsmanship is also very well made. I actually like the Satsuma porcelain pieces a bit more than Imari porcelain pieces, although I both Satsuma and Imari porcelain pieces.
This is my most favorite Satsuma porcelain piece, take a look at the picture link bellow:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/f3/94/54/f39454a60b2c4ddf27eb793f3b4b4d9c.jpg
While tis is my favorite Imari porcelain piece:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/96/78/6b/96786bb3c59b55f06691aba1c9503913.jpg
Aren't they beautiful?
I also really like Ming and Qing dynasty porcelain pieces very much especially Wucai, Falangcai, Oxblood, Fencai, and Cobalt Blue. Ming Dynasty pieces from Yongle, Xuande, and Chenghua periods are my most favorite among all. While my most favorite Qing Dynasty porcelain pieces are from Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong periods. Song Dynasty and Tang Dynasty porcelains are also beautiful, they are my another favorites.
These are my favorite Ming Dynasty porcelains:
http://p7.storage.canalblog.com/70/91/119589/47424101.jpg
http://www.chinaonlinemuseum.com/resources/Ceramics/chicken-cup_3.jpg
While these are my favorite Qing Dynasty porcelains:
http://www.chineseantiques.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/oriental-qianlong-vase.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/da/6a/d0/da6ad0ab5c8e1434ee8d32fa9dad014e.jpg
Another thing that surprised me the most about Japan is that the Japanese keep a lot of the Song Dynasty historical record books. I saw the Song Dynasty records when I visited a Japanese library when I spent my vacation at Japan. I personally feel kind of grateful to the Japanese for keeping some of my country's historical records, if it wasn't for them I don't think I could ever know my country's history today.
Thank you so much for writing this! I'm a Chinese-American and am going to university in a few years. I'm debating whether I should study in Japan, but after researching, a poll said 87% of Japanese people thought unfavorably of the Chinese, which frightens me. I would love to study and live in Japan, as I am very fond of the culture, but I feel like because I am Chinese, I would be looked down upon. Do you think I would be able to find a job in Japan, or marry a Japanese woman? I really hope the Asian nations would forgive each other and respect each other, so that their peoples don't resent each other as well.
Hi Mr./Ms. Anonymous from Sinchuan, I have appreciated all porcelain pictures that you introduced. Amazing. My most favorite is the first one of Ming Dynasty's. I love the simple design, even though I also admit the beauty and craftsmanship of rich ornament like Satsuma, Imari and Qing Dynasty's.
As for Imari, the origin of that is based on the Japanese invasion of Korea. Hideyoshi Toyotomi, the ruler of Japan in the late 16th century, after the completion of the Japan unification, invaded Korea, even though Korea didn't attack Japan at all. Some Korean porcelain crafts were taken to Imari town of Japan with their technique of making porcelains.
The museum that I appreciated beautiful Song Dynasty porcelians is the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka. http://www.moco.or.jp/en/
The porcelian I love is; http://jmapps.ne.jp/mocoor_e/det.html?data_id=11
Thank you for your comment, Mr./Ms. Will.
I totally agree with your opinion; "the Asian nations would forgive each other and respect each other, so that their peoples don't resent each other as well." I hope that such relationships among Asian nations will come. For that, learning both bright and dark side of the history of their own countries is needed.
As for your question, my answer is as follows; If you have proper and enough ability to get a job in the US, you can get a job also in Japan.
As you wrote, many Japanese people don't like China very much now, unfortunately. However, in my opinion, such unfavorable impressions are against the Chinese government or the whole image of Chinese people (for instance, the Chinese people's voices are louder than the Japanese people's one, so Japanese people sometimes surprise at Chinese people, in particular at tour groups, and feel them as impolite. I think that is the so-called culture gap.), not for a personal Chinese. If a Japanese person voted for "unfavorably of the Chinese", he / she welcome a Chinese who are a person of integrity.
Unfortunately, like in other countries, some people in Japan look down on foreigners. I hope that you never encounter such evil few people.
I am so glad that you like them, and I also kind of agree with most of your comments about the porcelain pictures that I showed you.
And btw, I also have read the history of Japanese porcelain and what you said is pretty correct. That's why I sometimes noticed that there are some Koreans who said that Korean porcelains look a bit similar to Japanese porcelains. Despite of the slightly noticeable similarity between Korean and Japanese porcelains, I personally appreciate both because I could see on how the Koreans and Japanese worked so hard to make those porcelain pieces. Japanese porcelains looked refined and intricate while Korean porcelains often looked more simplistic and subtle but still fine. I don't have any Korean porcelains, but I have ever seen Korean porcelain through online. And I also would like to visit Arita someday to see the porcelain making industry in Japan.
Although I am proud of Chinese porcelains and artworks, but I also have appreciation for Japanese porcelains and artworks as well because Japanese also got very good talent on making artworks and porcelains. I must admit that Japanese people are very artistic people with a very high taste on aesthetic, I really love their artworks. Both Chinese and Japanese artworks are very nice looking which is the reason of why western people (especially Europeans) like to adore Chinese and Japanese artworks.
As for your previous comment about Chinese people being loud, well I kind of agree with you. But there is a reason of why Chinese people are often loud, the reason of why the Chinese are loud is because China used to live under long-time poverty and many Chinese back then couldn't afford to buy telephones and other communication devices. In order to communicate with each other the Chinese need to raise their voice so other people could understand what they are saying.
I also heard a lot complaints from other people about Chinese people have poor manners, well I would like to say sorry about that. I also personally dislike some Chinese people's poor mannerism as well, which is the reason of why when I am going out I have to watch my manners carefully or otherwise other people might dislike me and I have to tell my family members to behave well. The reason of why some Chinese people have poor manners is due to the side effect of the Cultural Revolution that happened years ago (see my previous comments about Cultural Revolution, then you would understand what I am saying). Another reason of why the Chinese have poor manners is because Mao Zedong ever taught the Chinese the wrong ideas about manners, Mao ever told the Chinese that good manners is the sign of being a "bloodthirsty" capitalist (which is totally wrong) which is why I really hate Mao up until today. If Mao Zedong didn't teach the Chinese the wrong ideas of manners, I think the Chinese today would so much better behaved than they are today.
Thank you for your appreciation towards the porcelains that I have showed you, I am so happy about it. I agree with your remarks about the Ming dynasty porcelains, they often look more simplistic but elegant on the same time because simplicity was highly regarded by the Chinese during the Ming period. In fact if you look at any single Chinese porcelains, artworks, and handicrafts of the Ming dynasty style,you will notice that a lot of the design look more simple but elegant.
I also have read the same story about Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the Japanese porcelain making history, nonetheless I still like Japanese porcelains because of the aesthetic quality and the workmanship. That is why I sometimes notice that some Koreans claim that Japanese porcelains look a rather similar to Korean porcelains.
And btw, do you think that Arita is the proper place to see the Japanese porcelain manufacturing? Because I heard that Arita is the porcelain factory in Japan and I would like to go there someday to see the Japanese porcelains. I have to been to Jingdezhen previously and I have seen the Chinese porcelains there, Jingdezhen is Chinese porcelain factory located at Jiangxi province.
But you also have to know that the Chinese also ever did so many cruelty/oppression towards the people in order to make those porcelain pieces that you see today. Do you know that Chinese emperors used to behead anyone who make poor quality porcelains? Many Chinese porcelain artists even have to sacrifice their own lives on the hands of the Emperor to make those porcelain pieces. Many of the Chinese porcelains artists were killed/imprisoned by the Emperor if they failed to make top quality porcelains. I will tell you one story about it:
"Long ago, during Emperor Xuande's reign of Ming dynasty, the Emperor Xuande wanted to have a blood red colored porcelains. The Emperor asked any single porcelain artists from all over China at the Jingdezhen to make the blood red colored porcelains for him. The porcelain artists at Jingdezhen worked so hard day and night to make those blood red colored porcelains, yet none of the artists could make any single porcelains that make the Emperor pleased. As the result, Emperor Xuande was so angry and he killed/imprisoned all those porcelain artists who failed to make top quality blood red colored porcelains.
One day, there was a daughter of one of porcelain artist at Jingdezhen, her name was Cuilian. Cuilian's father was imprisoned by the Emperor because her father failed to make top quality blood red colored porcelain. Due to this, Cuilian worked day and night to make those blood red colored red porcelains in order to save her father. The next day, the porcelain artists at Jingdezhen were so surprised that she could make such a high quality blood red colored porcelains."
Thank you for your comment about Japanese works of art. I also admire Chinese and Korean people's sense of art and techniques of making porcelain. As I wrote above, ancient Japanese potters learned much from them.
I have also learned from your previous comment about the reason why Chinese people are sometimes loud. To avoid misunderstandings, I never argue that Chinese people's loud speaking is always bad. It is merely a characteristic. Many Japanese people are surprised that, and nothing else. (Of course, in temples or museums, talking loudly is unwanted behavior. And loud speakers exist all over the world.
When I was a teenager (in the 80s), Japanese travelers were sometimes criticized especially in Europe and the US for their rudeness. For instance, their ridiculous actions in places such as churches and museums, their purchase of many luxury things with no polite greetings and their ignorance to western customs (table manners or something). In my opinion, all developing countries like Japan in the 70s or 80s need certain period to learn international customs.
Your explanation about the Cultural Revolution is informative. I think that such a tremendous man-made disaster must affect massively Chinese people's mindset.
Japanese artworks are all really beautiful to me, I really love them all. Not just porcelains, but also another things like gardening, embroidery art, painting, and calligraphy. Japanese artworks are my personal favorites alongside with Italian, French, and Persian artworks.
I love Japanese artworks because they all look simplistic but refined and beautiful on the same time. I know that some of their artworks have significant Chinese influences, but they all still look beautiful to me.
Italian artworks to me look elaborate, fancy, and beautiful which is one of the best I have seen among all the western artworks. Some of the Chinese artworks of the Qing dynasty period have significant Italian influences. Italian artworks are also highly appreciated by the well-educated Chinese people (particularly those who ever study at the overseas).
French artworks to me look refined, meticulously done, and elegant which is another western art which I consider to be the best. Well-educated Chinese (particularly who ever study at the overseas) also like appreciate French artworks. Modern Chinese artworks also have significant amount of French influences.
Persian artworks look exotic and beautiful, I love their carpet and tapestry designs. In fact, some of the Chinese artworks (especially porcelain and tapestry artworks) have significant Persian influences.
Japanese gardening art to me look simple but beautiful and elegantly done, especially the Zen style garden. I love the way the Japanese could manage the stones and pebbles on their garden, they know how to make stones and pebbles look like a piece of art. Japanese garden to me also look very neatly done and the design often took my breath away. Look at this garden: http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000gQma0tlEbAU/s/650/Kyoto-A-traditional-Japanese-Zen-garden-in-Kyoto-MANN-042.jpg
Beautiful isn't it?
Chinese gardening art to me look rustic but beautiful and meticulously done on the same time. I love the Fengshui gardening concept which is pretty unique for the Chinese. The harmonization of stones, plants, and water are also very well done which often give the breathtaking look. I really love Suzhou style Chinese gardening art which was started during the Song Dynasty period. Look at this garden: http://nano.suda.edu.cn/csrr/images/ly.jpg
Beautiful right?
Japanese embroidery artworks are really beautiful, they are my favorites. I really adore the Japanese embroidery designs on their kimonos and their traditional clothes. To me, Japanese embroidery looks simplistic but very refined and beautiful on the same time. The craftsmanship is also really well done, every stitches are really nicely done and the colors blend very well. Look at this embroidery, do you think it's beautiful? http://margaretlee.com.au/gallery/japanese-embroidery/good-wishes-in-white-backgr.jpg
Chinese embroidery artworks are also really beautiful looking, I really love them. I always love the Chinese embroidery on the traditional Chinese dresses and the Chinese emperor's robe. Chinese embroidery artworks always look beautiful and elaborate, which represent my culture's passion for making something mundane become so refined.
I love each of the embroidery designs and the craftsmanship is also very nicely done, every stitches are lovely and the colors and adorable. Actually there are four different Chinese embroidery styles (Suzhou style embroidery, Sichuan style embroidery, Hunan style embroidery, and Cantonese style embroidery).
This is Suzhou style embroidery: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e4/13/43/e41343caa7b13c26e14b53c6c5cf8f28.jpg
This is Sichuan style embroidery: http://www.suembroidery.com/embroidery_blog/upload/panda_embroidery.jpg
This is Hunan style embroidery: http://www.suembroidery.com/embroidery_blog/upload/xiang_embroidery_tiger_1.jpg
This is Cantonese style embroidery: http://www.guangzhoutravelguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Guangdong-Embroidery2.jpg
thanks for your post, i enjoyed it about your opinion about koreans.
i'm mixed blood of s.korean & japanese (my mum's side).
in korea, mixed blood kids are being discriminated in society because of the homogeneous beliefs. but thanks god, my mum can speak fluent korean and i didn't get any bullying. maybe it's because korean & japanese look similiar in appearance.
i'm currently learning japanese language to communicate with my mum's japanese relatives, plus i'm planning to study in japan for my university education, so knowing japanese is kinda essential to me.
since i have korean nationality and more exposed to the koreans, i've always been wondering how the japaneses will think of me as i'm half japanese with korean blood.
Another thing that keeps bothering me until now is the amount of anti-Chinese prejudice that occurred today. Ever since China became a communist country from the year of 1949 until today, anti-Chinese prejudice became so prevalent at almost everywhere. And because of this anti-Chinese prejudice everywhere, I sometimes feel like being a Chinese person is really a bad thing and wish that I were born as a Japanese or an American to cover-up my insecure feeling about my own ethnicity. Then, when I hear people bad-mouthing about anything Chinese, I always feel sad and irritated on the inside, it's like someone is trying to hurt own feelings and pride.
I also could imagine how sad and irritated other people would feel if I bad-mouthing their culture and heritage, because if I bad-mouthing their culture and heritage it means I also hurt their feelings and pride. I am sure you as a Japanese yourself might also feel sad and irritated if you hear someone bad-mouthing everything Japanese. I mean, every culture has their own good points and bad points, just like human beings.
Lastly, I also would like to say of how grateful I am to the Japanese, Koreans, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Hong Kongers, and the overseas Chinese communities for keeping the fossils of the my cultural aspects. If it weren't for them, I don't think I could see my cultural aspects today.
Japanese and Koreans keep their culture very well, which makes me feel happy for the Japanese and Koreans. I think Japanese and Korean cultures could give me the chance to find all the missing pieces of my cultural aspects. Japanese and Koreans also could give a lesson to practice my cultural aspects.
Vietnamese keep their culture pretty well and I am also feel happy for them because Vietnamese culture could also give me the chance to find another missing pieces of my cultural aspects.
I am also feel happy for the Taiwanese, Hong Kongers, and overseas Chinese for keeping the Chinese cultural aspects very well. When I went to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the overseas Chinese enclavements I could see how the people there practice the Chinese cultural aspects quite well. Taiwanese, Hong Kongers, and overseas Chinese are the ones who protect the Chinese culture from the extinction which gives me a chance for searching the soul of my own culture.
I also feel pretty grateful to Indians, Persians, Arabs, and the Westerners (Europeans and Americans) for giving some of the influences into China from the last time up until present time. Because of them, China could develop and gain her affluence today.
I am grateful to the Indians for introducing Buddishm to China, because of them the Chinese could have their religion. Indian spices also help the Chinese know how to use spices for cooking, Indian spices made Chinese dishes becomes so tasty. Indian philosophies also have significant influences on Chinese philosophies, Chinese philosophies became so meaningful because of the significant Indian influences. Indian arts also have significant influence on Chinese arts (especially tapestry art), because of Indians the Chinese finally could make their own tapestry.
I am grateful to the Persians and Arabs for introducing science and arts to China, because of them the Chinese could discover different types of sciences and new kinds of art. Persian and Arabic science gave the Chinese the inspiration to develop their own science, while Persian and Arabic arts gave the Chinese the inspiration to develop new kinds of arts.
I am grateful to the Westerners (Europeans and Americans) for introducing modern arts and science to China, because of them the Chinese could finally modernize themselves and develop China even further. Western modern arts gave the Chinese the chance to make a different kinds of arts, while Western modern science could give the Chinese the chance to study all the scientific things even further and intellectually develop.
I am proud of my own culture and country but on the same time I also feel grateful to anyone who gives significant contributions to China and the Chinese.
I am so impressed about your way to respect both your own country's culture and other ones, Mr./Ms. Anonymous. As you wrote, "every culture has their own good points and bad points, just like human beings.", I agree with your opinion indeed.
Appreciating the arts and cultures of the world helps our mutual understanding. I'm convinced the more you know the arts and cultures of a country, the more you understand the good points of the country's people.
Your comment also teach me that all cultures influence each other. No cultures were born and survive alone, like human beings.
Thank you for introducing many arts on your comment. I have appreciated them. I like all of them, in particular, Suzhou style embroidery. Enjoying the pictures that you introduced, I respect human beings.
Hyeri-san, thank you for your comment.
I admire your attitude to study about your mother's country. I think that mixed-blood person's activity like you become the bridge over the countries. Your study contributes mutual understanding between Japan and Korea.
I hope that you enjoy communicating with your Japanese relatives and other Japanese people.
Thank you for you feedback, I like it. I agree with you that appreciating different cultures would help everyone to fully understand each other in order to reduce prejudice and conflict among each other. That is why I hate to look down on other cultures and I also hate other people who look down on my culture. If I look down on other people's culture, I would feel sad, guilty, and regretful. If other people look down on my culture, I would feel sad and irritated. I always feel like I am a bad person if I am bad-mouthing other people's culture because I could imagine how sad and irritated people would feel if I bad-mouthing their cultures. I don't want to be a bad person, that's why I learn to appreciate other people's culture.
And btw, I agree with your comment about Suzhou style embroidery. Suzhou style embroidery is the most refined and meticulous among the other Chinese embroidery styles. The reason of why Suzhou style embroidery is highly prized for the refinement and meticulous design is because in the old days of China, most of the top quality clothings and cloths for the Chinese royalty members were manufactured at Suzhou. And the people from Suzhou are also very skillful at making handicrafts, which is the reason why many of the top quality embroideries are made in Suzhou. Even many of the traditional Chinese clothings embroideries are made in Suzhou style.
My father also ever told me that he ever saw there were several embroidery artists from Suzhou who ever came to Singapore to display their embroidery making skills. That time, my father was at Singapore attenting a Chinese art exhibition there, when he was at the art exhibition, he saw several Suzhou embroidery artists making the Suzhou embroidery. And then, he also bought few Suzhou embroidery pieces from the artists, although they were quite expensive. My mother also ever bought a piece of Suzhou embroidery from Tianjin, the design was very smooth and colorful.
Do you know that making Suzhou embroidery is more complicated than the other styles of embroidery? It could take for about a year minimally to finish the embroidery work, while it could take for about 4/5 years maximally to finish the embroidery work. There are about 40 needlework a and 1000 different types of the threads to make the Suzhou style embroidery.
Japanese embroidery is also beautiful, I really love the design and craftsmanship, they are beautiful to me. But the only thing that I noticed about Japanese embroidery is that I find the embroidery designs often look slightly more restrained and organized. Japanese embroidery history is also pretty long like Chinese embroidery history, which the reason why I notice the Japanese also could make nice looking embroidery as well.
I have another Japanese embroidery picture for you: http://www.newenglandregionega.org/sea_pansies408ws.jpg
Beautiful isn't it?
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Hello. I am a Korean person who used to live in the States. I have to say, if you really know how the Japanese treated us in the 1900s, you will be aghast. For real. It's 2:30am here and I really do want people to know the truth. I appreciate 보미나 for sharing our historical truth. Do you know that the Nazi experimented on the Jews? Well, the Japanese did so to us, too, in such horrible ways. And when they didn't get what they wanted from people they arrested (many for protesting against their harsh rein), oh I don't know, they ripped nails out of fingers, performed electricity torture, water torture, popped organs out of the person... Really, much more. The Japanese made soldiers come in as teachers in schools, wearing full uniforms and swords. SWORDS! In front of little kids. Hm? And there was the HITTING PUNISHMENT especially for Joseon(Korean) people only. The ironic thing is that the Japanese had outlawed this in their own country. This really damaged a person's being. My history teacher showed us a video of the HITTING PUNISHMENT being performed in Taiwan just to give us an idea of what it was really like. The man who was getting hit, his buttocks were practically rotting! It was so gross I couldn't bare to watch. I WANTED TO MENTION that the ANONYMOUS person who posted that a long time ago, he probably didn't know much about history between us and Japan. Thousands and thousands of innocent people suffered and died under their rule. The Japanese government killed kids in school, students in college, and many men and women crying out for freedom. Our 1919 March 1st Movement was peaceful. The Japanese MP(military police..MP!!), violently killed people young and old, boys and girls, men and women of diverse backgrounds in order to get rid of the resistance. THERE IS THIS JEAMLI CHURCH INCIDENT in which they locked up a whole village of people in a church. There were grandmothers and grandfathers, young mothers and little children. A few young men as well. Babies, too. They were afraid. And the shooting started. None of them had even committed a crime. It was just for revenge against the Korean nation. Mothers cried out, pleaded for mercy, BEGGED, to let just the children out. No answers came. Well, this event ended with the church going up in flames and many, many corpses. This is why we are still have hostile feelings toward Japan. Look at Germany. They continue to apologize for what they did during the Holocaust. What about Japan? Some of what they did was EVEN WORSE than what the Nazi did. But do they apologize? No. Abe claims that they don't need to make future generations apologize for what the Japanese Nation did to the world. For one, they made sex slaves(comfort women was what the Japanese called them) for war. The Japanesee Government lied to young girls, saying that they were recruiting young girls, aged young as probably 10 to 16? 18? as workers for factories. The poor girls had to receive up to 60 to 70 people a day! For almost next to nothing. The girls got easily sick, with sexual disease, got pregnant against their will(RAPED, remember?) and was totally disgraced and traumatized. Few women came back home when the war and rein finally ended, for Korea was long known as the country that values many virtues. There are known to be hundreds of thousands of these girls all across Southern East Asia...
I will come back and write more soon as it is almost 3 in the morning.. I DO WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW ABOUT WHY KOREAN PEOPLE STILL HOLD A GRUDGE AGAINST JAPAN
Well. More coming soon. Thank you for reading. Adieu.
Thank you for your opinion and introducing to our cultures and embroidery, Mr. / Ms. Anonymous.
Yes, I also feel sad when someone looks down on my country's culture or another countries' culture. However, I cannot change their appreciations and opinions. So I only feel sad. I only respect all cultures in the world.
I've learned the cultural background of Suzhou from you. As for Suzhou, it reminds me of a famous old Japanese pop song "Soshu Yakyoku (Suzhou Night Song)" released in 1940. It's a beautiful song that describes a romance and beautiful scenery of Suzhou.
I appreciate the picture of my country's embroidery. Thank you.
Hello, Korean Mr. / Ms. Anonymous who used to live in the US.
As you wrote, most of the way that Japan ruled Korea was very oppressive. I've learned it from reading some books, visiting the Independence Hall in Korea and listening to a friend of mine's talk, who visited Seodaemun Prison in Seoul. I feel so sorry for Japan's such activities that ignored Korean people's lives, dignity and culture.
Unfortunately, this oppressive rule was not only in Korea, but also in other Asian countries. For example, in China, the Unit 731 of Japan experimented on many living humans for research and development of bacterial weapons.
As for comfort woman, I feel sad for some Japanese people's comments about comfort women - they say that comfort woman's system was OK because the Japanese government didn't take them without their will but recruited them with some lies. In my opinion, both of them are clearly against their human rights.
Therefore, as I wrote on the above main entry, I understand that Asian people feel angry about the Japanese occupation. On that basis, I personally hope to develop cooperation and mutual understanding between Japan and other countries because hate bears no fruits. I appreciate your comment because you indicate Korean people's strong thought on this place and it is good for learning our history with multiple perspectives. In addition, your comment may be useful to understand Japan-Korea relationship for visitors to this blog (especially non-Japanese nor Korean people).
Thank you for your feedback, I like it just as usual.
I agree with you about Suzhou, I also think that Suzhou is a beautiful city. The beauty of Suzhou is really popular within the Chinese, which the reason why there is a Chinese saying like this 吃在廣州，玩在蘇州，住在杭州、死在柳州 which means "eat in Guangzhou, play in Suzhou, live in Hangzhou, die at Liuzhou. Suzhou is also sometimes referred as the "Venice of the East" or "Venice of China." I really love the traditional Song Dynasty buildings there and the Chinese style gardens at Suzhou are just very refreshing to enjoy. During the Song Dynasty period, there are many scholars and poets like to live in Suzhou because the beautiful scenery there and the climate of Suzhou is also really good. Even Marco Polo on his record admitted that Suzhou was one of the most beautiful place on China that he ever been to. Suzhou is also famous for the canals, there are many canals could be found along the city, and you can even tour along Suzhou's canals on boats. Then, at Suzhou there are also many handicrafts could be found such as embroidery, silk craftmanship, fans, folded screens, wood cravings, jade carvings, and tapestry.
I also love Kyoto and Nara, those two cities are my favorite Japanese cities because I really love the traditional Japanese buildings and the culture there. Kyoto and Nara also have that typical soothing Japanese feel which make me feel eager to visit them. And I also noticed that many of the Japanese traditional cultural aspects found at Kyoto and Nara are rather similar to the Chinese cultural aspects during Han and Tang Dynasty, which the reason why I am pretty grateful to the Japanese for preserving some of the cultural aspects of the Han and Tang dynasties which the Chinese lost years ago. I have never been there but I have seen Kyoto and Nara at the TV and internet, so I could only tell about Kyoto and Nara based on what I have seen on the TV and internet. As a Japanese, what do you think about Kyoto and Nara? Could you tell me more about those two cities (Kyoto and Nara)?
And btw I also love Japanese paintings, especially the Japanese wooden block paintings (Ukiyo-e). I think Japanese paintings are mostly very simple but very unique looking. And I personally find the Japanese wooden block paintings (Ukiyo-e) to be one of the most unique paintings that I have ever seen. Look at these Japanese wooden block paintings (Ukiyo-e), aren't they beautiful?
http://www.gallery-sakura.com/picture/KATSUSHIKA%20HOKUSAI.jpg
https://mrgntmthy.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/hokusai-umegawa_in_sagami_province.jpg
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukiyo-e#/media/File%3AShibai_Ukie_by_Masanobu_Okumura.jpg
Even the Japanese wooden block paintings also ever gained popularity and admiration in the west. If you look at Vincent Van Gogh's painting, you could see there was a Japanese woodblock displayed by him. In fact, the Japanese wooden block painting (Ukiyo-e) was the one that made the Vincent Van Gogh became world wide famous. I could see on how the Japanese did a good job to promote their artworks. Here is the evidence:
https://www.awesomestories.com/images/user/46757eef7c225e97189c923be6feb859.jpg
As for contemporary Japanese paintings, I personally love Takashi Murakami's paintings the most because his paintings are mostly very cute but eccentric looking on the same time. I have to admit that he has a very unique taste, he even invented a new kind of art style which is known as the "Superflat" style. He was also ever being recruited by Louis Vuitton as the product designer.
Here are my most favorite paintings of Takahashi Murakami:
https://mookinoodles.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/takashi1.jpg
https://steelberryclones.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/img_3737-copy.jpg
And then, you should look at Takashi Murakami's bag designs for the Louis Vuitton:
https://gotbms.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/louis-vuitton-murakami-multicolore.jpg
http://blog.theluxurycloset.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Louis-Vuitton-Limited-Edition-Cherry-Blossom-Papillon-Satchel-Handbag-LC1110-56466-1.jpg
What do you think about them?
I have learned much about Suzhou, thank you. Your comment has tempted me to travel to Suzhou!
Kyoto and Nara are actually special for me because my life has a strong relationship with them. I was born in a town of Nara, which is located near Horyuji Temple, which is known as the world's oldest wooden structure. And the university I went to was in Kyoto. As you know, both cities were based on the ancient China capital city Changan. When you visit to Nara or Kyoto, I would be a tour guide for you.
As for Takashi Murakami, to tell you the truth, I don't like his works very much. The reason why is; I feel that his works are not from his heart, but from his "play". He mastered Japanese traditional painting skills, however, he makes a lot of "pop arts", never like traditional arts. Just so there's no confusion, I never deny pop arts. I love them very much. But Murakami's pop arts, for me, "The Japanese pop arts for non-Japanese" - not real Japanese pop arts. In my impression, his arts are like parodies of Japanese pop arts - translated and justified for non-Japanese. Sorry, it is difficult to explain. What I meant to say, Takashi Murakami's pop arts are not genuine Japanese pop arts, but imitations, I feel.
Oh well, thank you for explanation about Kyoto and Nara, you also tempted me to go there. My uncle has been to Kyoto and Nara he told me that he love those two cities the most. My uncle told me that Kyoto and Nara are very serene and peaceful, not only that but also very clean and soothing (very typically Japanese in character). I always feel so happy when I see the pictures of Kyoto and Nara on the TV and the Internet, I really love the traditional Japanese style buildings there.
Visiting Suzhou is nice, I really love that city myself, although the city is rather small. Go and see the silk embroidery at Suzhou Silk Embroidery Research Institute, you would see the skill of the Suzhou artists to make the Chinese tyke embroidery. There is a blog from the visitor who reported about the place, here is the blog: https://waiyukkennedy.wordpress.com/tag/silk-embroidery/
As for Takashi Murakami, oh well I am very sorry if you don't like his work but that's because my understanding about Japanese painting aside from the Ukiyo-e isn't so good. The only Japanese painting that I know is the Ukiyo-e style painting, I don't have much knowledge about Japanese painting, I am very sorry about that. As a Japanese, I would like you to explain more to me about which Japanese painters that you like the most and why you like them. My knowledge about Japanese painting is not that good, so I would like to hear your explanation so I would gain better knowledge about Japanese painting. Thank you very much for your time, I would love to hear more from you about Japanese painting.
And btw, do you know Chinese painting also have some Japanese influence? Some of the Chinese landscape paintings have Japanese influence. Take the mountain painting for example, the Chinese didn't have a good skill on painting mountains, while the Japanese were very good at painting mountains. So, the Chinese copied the Japanese mountain painting to improve the landscape painting. Not just mountain paintings, the Chinese also didn't have a good skill on paintings waves and ocean, while the Japanese were very good on painting waves and ocean, so the Chinese copied the Japanese wave and ocean paints to improve the painting.
And I notice that Japanese are also very good at painting skies and clouds, I really love on how the way the Japsnese paint the skies on their paintings. The Chinese were poor on painting skies, that's why they copied the Japanese painting to improve their skill to paint the skies and clouds.
(Addition from my previous comment)
I also would like to say thank you to the Japanese for allowing my most favorite chef, Chen Kenmin (陳建民) to be alive and successful. Do you know Chen Kenmin? He is a Chinese chef from Sichuan province who migrated to Japan shortly after the communist took over in China. I also like his son and his grandson, Chen Kenichi and Chen Kentaro, they are just as good.
As a native Sichuan Chinese I admire Chen Kenmin very much, he is a very humble and skillful chef and I think he would make every Sichuan Chinese proud of him. Chen Kenmin did a very good job on promoting Sichuan cuisine to Japan and possibly to the world, if it wasn't for him I don't think anyone could know how Sichuan cuisine is truly like and I don't think anyone could enjoy Sichuan cuisine. I know that the type Sichuan cuisine that he cooked is somewhat altered for the Japanese taste, but he still keeps the authenticity intact which I think a pretty smart move. And the best thing about Chen Kenmin is that he had the ability to make Sichuan cuisine could be so refined and high-class, I am very happy for him.
Chen Kenichi and Chen Kentaro are also good, I also admire their devotion to continue their father and grandfather's path to promote Sichuan cuisine to everyone else. I think Chen Kenichi's performance and record as the Iron chef is pretty amazing, I could tell that he is just as skillful as his father, Chen Kenmin. Chen Kentaro is also good, he is also pretty skillful I must say.
I also would like to admit that the Chinese food that I have ever tried in Japan is pretty good, I really love all every Chinese dishes that I have tried in Japan, several of them are higher quality than most Chinese dishes that I eat back home at my hometown. I know that several of the dishes are altered for the Japanese taste but the authentic character of every Chinese dishes that I have tried in Japan is still intact which is pretty good. I could see how the Japanese show respect for the Chinese culinary heritage pretty well, I hope the Chinese could do the same for the Japanese food in China in order to show respect for the Japanese culinary heritage.
And btw I also notice that the Japanese also did a good job on introducing Chinese culture to everyone through their anime and manga, Chuuka Ichiban/Cooking Master Boy is the prime example of it. Chuuka Ichiban/Cooking Master Boy is my most favorite anime and manga series about Chinese culinary culture, I really love that series since I was a ten year old kid. The main character of the Chuuka Ichiban/Cooking Master Boy, Liu Maoxing is one of my most favorite anime/manga protagonist because he could teach me so many good things about Chinese culture and I think the author did a good job on portraying his character. If you don't know the Chuuka Ichiban/Cooking Master Boy you could browse that series using google or any other browsing sites.
I am happy to read that you and your uncle like my home town Nara and Kyoto.
As for some Japanese influence to Chinese paintings, I didn't know. I thought that many Japanese paintings were affected by Chinese paintings, but the opposite was not true. Having good effects each other, it is the ideal relationship.
I see all the pictures you introduced. Great. I agree that Song Dynasty paintings have the top quality. Delicate describing, gentle colors... so beautiful.
In my high school history class, I learned about Giuseppe Castiglione. I never forget the portrait of Qianlong Emperor of my history textbook. It was so real. In addition, another Chinese picture on my textbook was unforgettable - Pigeon on a Peach Branch, by Emperor Huizong. I think it is the perfect picture.
As for my favorite Japanese paintings, I'm sorry, I have enough knowledge about Japanese art.
My most favorite Japanese arts (sorry not paintings) is Bodhisattva Chuguji https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bodhisattva_Chuguji.JPG
I'm checking his works out now; The most popular Japanese paitings exhibition in Tokyo now; Jakuchu Ito http://meiga.jp/author/53
陳建民 is great. Obviously, his effort, passion and originality made Sichuan cuisine popular for Japanese.
I hadn't read Chuuka Ichiban even though I'm a big fan of many mangas and Chuuka Ichiban was popular manga. So last week, I read it. I really enjoyed the works. When I read Chuuka Ichiban, I was dying for Chinese cuisine! Ha-ha. In addition, I learned much about Chinese cuisine and Chinese culture from the work. I appreciate that you introduced Chuuka Ichiban!
Thank you for your nice feedback, I love it as usual. You know what, when I talk to you I always feel so happy like I almost want to cry. And after I read your latest feedback, I cried of happiness and my tears are so real like someone is touching my heart. I am so happy that we could meet and talk to each other as individuals.
I personally think this whole Japan vs China things get really annoying after a while, I always feel really angry when I see Japanese and Chinese keep bickering all day non-stop like immature kids. And I also hate to see Japan-China relationship gets worse each day, I often feel so heartbroken when I read/see the news about Japan-China are on clash again. Politics, historical, and ideological clashes pretty much keeping us apart and that's really sad, as a Chinese person I always feel so happy if I could talk yo any Japsnese person heart to heart as individuals.
And btw, the next time if you meet any of your countrymen who talk bad about China and the Chinese, please tell him/her about these following words:
1. If he/she talks about Chinese people being irritating, poor-mannered, inhuman, dishonest, untrustworthy, and selfish please explain to him/her calmly that the Chinese are irritating, poor-mannered, inhuman, dishonest, untrustworthy, and selfish because the communism in China totally ruined the Chinese morally and socially. And tell him/her that ever since Mao established communism in China, the Chinese were morally and socially ruined by the communist teachings even up until today.
2. If he/she talks about the Chinese are uncultured compared to the Japanese, please explain to him/her calmly that the Chinese are not uncultured people but they suffered from cultural crisis. The cultural crisis in China is the result of the Cultural Revolution that happened in the 1960s because that time Mao wanted to cultivate the communist culture within China.
3. All of the bad things about the Chinese and China of today are all related to Mao and the communism within China. If you read the biography about Mao Zedong, you will find out that all of the bad things about the Chinese and China are all related to him.
And you also have to notice that Chinese also received Japanese influence.
Do you know that the Chinese high speed train technology is actually influenced by the Japanese high speed train technology? The Chinese copied Japanese Shinkansen to make China's high speed train.
Chinese modern fashion also influenced by the Japanese fashion, several Chinese youngsters like to copy Japanese fashion. Japanese fashion is very influential in Asia, including China, that's is why Japanese fashion brands like Uniqlo and Kenzo gained popularity in China. Uniqlo is the one of the most famous clothing brand in China, there are many Uniqlo stores could be found at China especially at big cities. Chinese fashion designers also like to copy Japanese fashion styles.
Chinese online games have significant Japanese influence, many of the Chinese online games are inspired from the Japanese online and computer games. The Japanese are very good at making games, while the Chinese don't know how to make good games.
Chinese embroidery (Suzhou style Chinese embroidery specifically) also received Japanese influence. I ever read that the near end Qing dynasty period and early Republican China period (or what you could call pre-communist China period), the Suzhou embroidery artist also copied Japanese paintings for the embroidery design innovation. I will recite you this thing from this website:
https://waiyukkennedy.wordpress.com/tag/silk-embroidery/
Quote:
"Shen Shou was a famous embroiderer and educator who transformed her subject by bringing in aspects learned from painting (including western painting), Japanese embroidery and photography. When she was sent on a study tour to Japan organised by the government, she became the first Chinese woman ever to undertake such a role. The influence of Shen Shou is still strong today and can be seen in the way the embroiderers treat light. This is very impressionistic and clearly relates to photography in a way that takes it far from traditional approaches."
Do you want to know how was China before the communist period? These videos show you how was China before the communist period:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JWm2w5TaTI8
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zKij45MIuZE
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vIJYEaBH1Yk
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WGhfakG0_CU
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dWEcCgRq_pw
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=20baNeSfyMs
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GDMy27QlFRs
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vqjrwQTg33g
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LY3V5CyOtww
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z1Ivp5bM9NA
Tell me, what do you see from these videos above.
Another thing, do you know that Chinese of the Song Dynasty used to enjoy Japanese seafoods? The Chinese of the Song Dynasty period really loved to eat Japanese seafoods, the Chinese that time often came to Japan to buy seafoods. Japanese seafoods in Song Dynasty China were seen as just as fancy as Fillet Mignon in the west, Japanese seafoods were often high quality especially the crabs and lobsters. Even up until today, many Chinese still think that Japanese seafoods are the best and Chinese also still love Japanese seafoods up until today. I sometimes even think that Japan is the seafood paradise.
Chinese during the Song Dynasty also loved Japanese made fans, Japanese made handicrafts, Japanese made jewel daggers (寶刀), and Japanese luxury items. These items I mentioned were seen as the upper class Chinese of the Song Dynasty period as the "must have" items. Even Japanese made jewel daggers (寶刀) and Japanese made handicrafts to the Song Dynasty period Chinese were like Ferrari cars and MacBook to the modern day people.
Even Koreans during the Song Dynasty period were also praised for their celadons and porcelains. The Chinese of the Song Dynasty period also loved Korean celadons and porcelains, Korean celadons and porcelains to the Song Dynasty period Chinese were like Samsung smartphones and Hyundai cars to the modern day people. Song Dynasty Chinese also bought a lot natural resources from Korea. If it weren't for the Koreans, the Song Dynasty Chinese would not be able to use the natural resources for their daily life.
The Song Dynasty Chinese also sold lots of beautiful porcelains, silk, handicrafts, and luxury items to Japan as the exchange for the Japanese export items that I have mentioned previously. Do you know that Chinese porcelain (especially the Tenmoku and Chinese Celadons) during the Song Dynasty period were seen by the Japanese as "must have" items? The upper class Japanese really loved Tenmoku and Chinese Celadons, just as much as the upper class Chinese loved Japanese handicrafts and Japanese jewel daggers (寶刀).
U(Additional comments)
And btw I also would like to admit that China is totally ruined by communism. Although I think China is a country with many potentials that made Chian a good country, but I just feel that communism within China really ruined everything about China.
Do you know how could China became a communist country? After the WW2 ended, China was in political struggle (Chinese civil war) between the communist and the KMT. During the Chinese civil war, the communist got a lot supporters because Mao fooled many Chinese by using Mao's communist propaganda. Many Chinese during that time were fooled by Mao's communist propaganda and the Chinese back then were ignorant abut communism. The Chinese back then thought that the communist was better than KMT because the Chinese during that time disliked KMT's incompetency and corruption problem so they supported the communist in order to show their displease toward the KMT. I would say that the Chinese back then did a really fatal mistake and the KMT also did a fatal mistake.
But if I compare KMT to the communist, I personally find the KMT to be better than the communist because for the following reasons:
1. Although the KMT was corrupted and incompetent but at least the Chinese didn't have to suffer a lot of human rights abuses like they are under the communist from Mao's period up until today.
2. When KMT ruled China before the defeat of KMT by the communist, the Chinese also still could retain their culture and tradition. The KMT never did anything harmful to Chinese culture and traditions, unlike the communist who did anything harmful to Chinese culture and tradition through Cultural Revolution. The Chinese even still had religion during the pre-communist period under the KMT, but when the communist took over China, religion in China was completely banned/forbidden by the Communist Party of China.
3. There wasn't a big problem with brain drain during the pre-communist period of China, but China finally suffered from brain drain after communist took over even up until today under the Communist Party of China rule. You have to know that during the pre-communist China there were still intellectuals and talented people exist within China that could help China to be developed. But then after the communist took over in China up until today, many of the intellectuals and talented people escaped from China to other places like Taiwan, Hong Kong, America, Europe, and any other countries outside China. My favorite Chinese chef, Chen Kenmin was one of the talented Chinese who escaped from China when the communist took over China. Even there are still talented people and intellectuals who escaped from China today.
Communist Party of China is the main cause of why China is still a thrid world country with a lot of problems. That is why I really want China to be a democratic and free country with efficient and ethically good country system. I really want China to be a democratic country because I want China to be a successful and advanced country like Japan.
Sorry, I am writing these words not for the sake of defaming/bad mouthing China and the Chinese. I am writing these words as a wake up call to the Chinese, so they could improve China for the better, I also want the Chinese could learn from their mistakes and not repeating the same mistakes. I write these words in order to show how big my love is for China.
I am proud of being Chinese and happy for being a Chinese person, but to show my pride as a Chinese person I write these words for the sake of better China.
(Additional comments)
Then, I also would like to tell you how much I really hate today's China condition. China of today is almost like hell, other countries (especially Japan, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and European countries) are almost look like heaven compared to China. As a Chinese person here, I would tell you why today's China is almost like hell:
1. People are uncivilized, inhuman, greedy, dishonest, untrustworthy, inhuman, selfish, inconsiderate, hateful, materialistic, shallow, hedonistic, and uncaring. I really hate to see many people in China are morally ruined until almost to the lowest point, this is not a moral problem anymore it is a moral disaster. China of today is showcase of moral disaster to the world. Communism is the main cause of China's moral disaster and open door policy is the other cause for China's moral disaster.
2. Too many toxic food scandals, toxic environment scandals, toxic drinks scandals, and toxic products scandals happening inside China. The Chinese are way too scared to consume everything made in China because many of the made in China things are completely toxic and dangerous to be consumed. As the result, there are numerous Chinese who are died and get sick because of made in China things (especially foodstuffs and drinks).
3. Environmental damages in China are way too severe. As the result, China has way too much environmental disasters. Three Gorges Dam is the prime example of it and there are too many examples about China's environmental disasters I could mention here. Browse for Three Gorges Dam and China's environmental damages, you would see the example of China's environmental disaster.
4. China is hated by every single country in the world because of Chinese government's horrible policies towards the other countries and the Chinese government's unhealthy obsession with being "the most powerful in the world." The Chinese government likes to create way too much disputes with other countries and causing problems to other countries. Even places with many Chinese ethnic population like Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore all hate China so badly.
5. China has too many social problems like high divorce rate, gender imbalance problem (there are more men than women in China), "little emperor" disease, and high smoking rate. There are so many other social problems in China that you could browse in order to show you how China of today is almost like hell.
6. China has too many human rights abuses, browse "human rights in China," you will know how horrible the human rights in China. There are also many Chinese human rights activists like Chen Guangcheng and Ai Weiwei who are being abused by the Chinese government. Browse the biography about Ai Weiwei and Chen Guangcheng, you will find out that both Ai Weiwei and Chen Guangcheng are abused by Chinese government.
7. Corruption, power abuse, nepotism, collusion, political scandals are often happening within the Chinese government and Chinese politicians. There are too many corrupted and morally rotten politicians inside China, Wen Jiabao and Bo Xilai are the few examples of them. Chinese government and politicians are so corrupted and morally sick, until I really dare to say how much I disgusted with any single Chinese politicians and leaders, especially Chinese politicians like Wen Jiabao or Bo Xilai. Xi Jinping is also horrible, I really hate Xi Jinping with a burning passion. But most of all, I hate Mao Zedong the most among all the Chinese politicians, Mao Zedong is the main cause of why China of today is complete hell.
8. China's problems is way too deep and serious until many Chinese have to escape China to the overseas countries. Nowadays, you would see they're are so many Chinese immigrants at other countries who escape from China in order to avoid the deep problems of China.
(Addition from my previous comment above)
Mr_Alex above said that Hong Kong has serious problem, but actually China's problem is 100 trillion or 1000 zillion times worse than
Hong Kong.
At least Hong Kong people have the freedom to speak out about their problems and their critics, but most people in China have no such freedom to speak out their problems and their critics. In Hong Kong, if you speak out about the problems inside Hong Kong or criticizing everything about Hong Kong, nothing will happen to you and you are still alive. But if you speak out about the problems inside China or criticizing everything about China, you would be either tortured until you are completely handicapped or arrested or you would die during the next hour/next day by the Chinese civil police.
The same thing could be said for Japan, if I speak about everything or criticizing about everything online at Japan, nothing happened to me and I am still alive. But of I speak about everything or criticizing about everything online at China, I would be either killed or totured until I am completely handicapped. I would say that the Japanese enjoy much better human rights and having much more freedom than the Chinese in China. The Japanese don't have to spied or tortured or killed or arrested because they have freedom and human rights, while the Chinese are often being spied or arrested or tortured or killed by the Chinese civil police because China has no freedom and human rights.
In China, if I speak out the problems inside China and criticizing everything about China I would be arrested or killed or kidnapped for the very next day/very next hour. And there are also many websites are banned by Chinese government (see Great Firewall of China), not to mention that everytime that people in China are often being spied by the Chinese civil police when they are online or opening websites.
I am writing here with my VPN, I am currently using my VPN (I won't tell you which VPN I am using currently) to open the websites (including this website) in order to avoid of being spied or arrested or killed for the next day/next hour by the Chinese civil police. I have to use VPN very often when I am online or otherwise I would be either killed or tortured by the Chinese civil police.
China has so many civil police nowadays, the Chinese civil police were hired by the Chinese government to kill, to arrest, to torture, and to spy every single Chinese who are dare to criticize the Chinese government, the communist regime of China, and almost everything about China. The Chinese civil polices are always online to spy the Chinese and to make sure that the Chinese would not dare to criticize everything about China.
I am sorry for writing such words here, but I just cannot help but tell you about how bad the situation of China nowadays. Although I still could enjoy my life inside China, but on the same time I also feel very anxious about the deep problems inside China of today. I am not insane and I am not angry, but I am just speaking all the harsh truths about China in order to explain to you that China of today is a authoritarian state with communist system and horrible human rights.
That is why I really wish that China would be a democratic and free country with ethically good government system, freedom, ethically good human rights practices, ethically good laws, ethically good policies, and high living standard.
You are a so sad, only see the negative side of live...
Thank you for your comments.
I watched all videos and webpages you introduced. They were beautiful and lively, in particular color films of Beijing and Shanghai. Old good days.
I understand your heart crying out for modern China's problems. Especially as for the Cultural Revolution, I think it was the massive man-made disaster and the affection of it must be tremendous.
However, as Mr. Pan Hu wrote (Thank you for your comment), I think that you should see the bright side of modern China. China has big power and big potential to grow and success. I also wish China resolve its problems because China's condition has very strong influence not only over Asia (of course including Japan) but also all over the world.
Japan also has many social problems. Continuing economy decline, high suicide rate, low gender-conscious, Fukushima nuclear plant, declining birth rate and a growing proportion of elderly people, and as I wrote above, bad nationalism rising... I would like to look and think about these dark side of Japan, with looking the bright side and loving my country.
Thank you for your kind comment as usual, I could see that you are a very understanding and gentle person. Your words are always genuine and sincere, with no trace of pretension, that is the thing I like the most about you. I am telling you the truth here.
The reason of why I am telling all the ills of my country here is because I want to give a wake up call to any Chinese out there to improve China each day and telling the Chinese to stop being delusional because there are still some Chinese who are delusional about China. Sorry, if I sound like a pessimistic and sad person here but I have no intention for being like that. Despite if the ills that China has, I still love China no matter what because China is my motherland.
I agree with what you said about see the bright side of my own country, but still I also could not deny the negative side of it. Mr. Pan Hu was right, I should not complaining too much about my own country.
Thank you for being objective about your country as well, I could understand your country's problem now. I also admire your attitude about your own country, I could see that you are very pround of your country but on the same time you don't deny your own country's ills. I don't like pessimistic person who have no pride for his/her country, but on the same time I also don't like ultra-nationalitic person who doesn't want to be honest about his/her country.
There are things about China that I admire such her rich culture, her beautiful arts, her good cuisine, her rich heritage, her people's diligence, her people's strength to face hardship, and her beautiful scenery. But then again, there are also things that I don't like about China as well.
What a beautifully written post. As a Korean who had never been swayed by parents and propaganda, I just want to congratulate you for bringing such sensitive topics with mature manners. I have no hatred nor disrespectful feelings towards Japanese people. In fact, many younger Japanese people feel sorry for what their ancestors have done in the past. However, unlike other Koreans who accuse them for their ancestors' wrong doings, I tell them not to feel sorry about it, but just keep it in mind. If both nations practiced this sort of win-win agreement, there wouldn't be fights at all. I agree with you that Japanese people did modernize Korea (or the Chosun dynasty) up to a certain extent, but I hope that Japanese people realize that this act was not charity, but rather an investment. I'm not saying that the act was wrong, but the way Japanese media tells the Japanese people, it makes it sound like Japanese people were like Jesus Christ feeding the hungry Korean people due to love, which wasn't really the case.
Anyway, I hope to see more Japanese people with more acceptance and tolerance like yourself. It brings me hope to see Japanese people who are more relied on rationalism rather than nationalism.
Once again, great post.
Japanese lacquerware is my another favorite Japanese artwork, I really love the design. The design is maybe not as elaborate as the Vietnamese style lacquerware but I still adore the refined and simple design of the Japanese lacquerware. Do you know that lacquerware is called as "Japan" in English language? Lacquerware making process is also called as "Japanning" in English language.
Look at the pictures of the Japanese lacquerware, you would appreciate the beauty:
http://denverartmuseum.org/sites/default/files/slides/Media%20browser/Full-AllGlistens.jpg
https://cdn-img-2.wanelo.com/p/29c/ffc/c16/60c2eed5720710b969687cf/x354-q80.jpg
Korean style celadon is also very adorable, it is my most favorite Korean artwork. Chinese people of the Song Dynasty period adored Kirean style celadon. The design is maybe not as elaborate as the Chinese style celadon but I still adore the simple beauty of the Kirean celadon.
Look at the pictures of the Korean celadon, they are beautiful:
http://www.korean-arts.com/images/CJ015_d-ware_lotus_5x5.jpg
http://www.antiquealive.com/upfile/46_1.jpg
French crystal chandelier is one of my most favorite French artwork, I always admire the French for their crystal artworks. I have many French crystalwares at home, even my favorite vase is a French crystal vase made by Baccarat. They alongside with the British and the Austrians make the best crystal artworks in Europe.
Look at the pictures of the French crystal chandelier, they are lovely:
https://www.parisianist.com/assets/img/articles/baccarat-the-legend-of-crystal/en/baccarat-la-legende-du-cristal-1.jpg
https://baccaratcrystalblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/zenith48long.jpg
British silverware is my favorite British artwork, the British are very good at making beautiful silver wares. My father told me when he went to UK he saw there were so many beautiful silverwares. The British are also very proud of their silverware, they cherish their silverwares very much. I have a British incense burner and a British tray which are made of silver at home.
Look at the pictures of the British silverwares, they are exquisite:
http://en.izhsh.com.cn/sfile/images/exhibition/2012/2012.8/2012.8.31/14.jpg
http://www.bryandouglas.co.uk/silverware/teapots/4752/4752a.jpg
Persian carpets are my favorite Persian artwork, they are very well made and beautiful to look at. Chinese people used to copy Persian carpet design for the porcelain drawing design during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties period. Iran is famous for the carpets in China, Chinese people always associate Iran with beautiful carpets. I have three Persian carpets at home one is at my studyroom, one is at my living room, and the other one is at my bedroom.
Look at the pictures of the Persian carpets, they are very intricate:
http://sarugh.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/persian_carpet_-_nikon_d5100_-_pattern_and_texture_-_great_-_thanks_-_and_carpet_d5100_great_london.saa-hdr_1920x1080.a235387898.jpg
http://www.persiancarpetgallery.com.au/typo3temp/pics/bc84894491.jpg
Chinese jade carving is my another favorite Chinese artwork, jade is highly favored by the Chinese because the Chinese considered jade to be a auspicious symbol. The Chinese are always very proud of their jade carving artwork, jade in China is considered to be more valuable than gold and silver. When I see Chinese Jade carvings being displayed on the books or in the art galleries, I always feel so proud to be Chinese.
Look at the pictures of the Chinese Jade carvings, they are very ornate:
https://41.media.tumblr.com/4c610277eab1478c9621115f3883796b/tumblr_inline_o4ex37FyES1qgp297_540.jpg
http://midwestwanderer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Jade-dragon-boat-carving.jpg
Thank you for approaching these sensitive topics with such a mature manner. It gives hope that some day Korean-Japan relations could get better. I feel the reason why many Korean people have a bitter taste in their mouth when they think about Japan-Korea relation is because of the actions that politicians in Japan take. Many people in Korea feel that Japan is no better than Germany when in comes to WW2. Many feel the atrocious acts that Japan carried out to Koreans during the war is similar to what what Germany did to the Jews and other European countries. Germany has however faced its wrong doings and gained many countries forgiveness by showing how truellly sorry they are. I'm afraid this is not the case with Korea and Japan. Yes, Japan has admitted to many of its wrong doings and asked for forgiveness. Yet, the Japanese government still uses the rising sun flag and worships war criminals in the Yasukuni Shrine. In comparison, the German government has out lawed the use of Nazi symbols and worshipping of war criminals. Eventhough both countries are leaders of the world, the contrasting actions that Japan has taken in comparison to Germany's is hard to ignore. Korean people does not dislike the Japanese people, and Im sure it goes both ways. Yet, the actions that the Japanese government takes continues to offend neighboring countries and its people. (P.S: while reading some of the post above I came across some sentences that need enlightment. Yes, Japan did develop infrastructures in Korea diring colonization. However, some of the post failed to mention that most of the infrastructure was built north, where today North Korea is. The reason be, they were meant to aid the envasion of China.)
Finally, if my words came across opinionated or even offensive I apologize and if some of the informations I posted are incorrected please do not hesitate to mention, as I am not a scholar in history nor a grade A student in World history.
Mr. / Ms. Anonymous who commented on 7/3,4,7,23/2016, thank you for your comment, as usual. My English is not good enough, but I want to communicate sincerely to you and all other people who visit to my blog. If your comment about me means that you feel and understand my will, nothing would give me more pleasure.
I admire your attitude to wake up your mother country with criticisms. Your comments about modern China are severe, however, I always feel your pride about China (country and citizens) from your comments. Therefore, I would like to read your positive comments about modern China. I know that modern China has many problems (like Japan) , in parallel with that, it also has a bright side, I believe.
Anyway, as I said, I admire your attitude. Whenever I hear negative comments about modern China (for instance, "China is arrogant, offensive and impolite to other Asian countries...") from my friends or acquaintances, I always tell them about your attitude - a Chinese person who writes comments on my blog is very objective, modest and polite.
As usual, I appreciate your introduction of pictures of Chinese culture. All the furniture is awesome, sometimes I feel a modern atmosphere for its simple design. Thank you. I enjoyed the story you wrote about a British man who purchased Chinese furniture. When it comes to no nails in furniture, it reminds me of Horyuji temple (I wrote above). The temple also has no nails, but has stand in its original form for over 1300 years. The techniques of the temple were imported from ancient China to Japan.
Yes, I know that lacquerware is called as "Japan" in English. Of course I also know porcelain is called "China". It is a proper name, I think.
Thank you for your insight about worldwide fine crafts. When I saw the pictures that you introduced, I think that such crafts and arts show us the beautiful mind of human beings on earth.
Mr. Daniel Lee, thank you very much for your sincere comment. I appreciate your open-minded attitude. It is difficult action, however you have done it well.
As you wrote, some Japanese media and people talk about the Japanese occupation of Korea as "charity" or "benefaction". I am clearly against that and ashamed of them. The occupation was merely strategy of the Japanese Empire, never "charity". It was intended to benefit Japan. Sometimes it contained modernization of Korea, but it frequently lacked compassion for Korean people's feelings. Most of all, such self-admiration is disgraceful.
I also hope Japan and Korea can make a win-win relationship together not only in their trading but also in people's minds.
Thank you for your post as usual, the reason why I keep commenting on your posting is because I just want to tell you all the other sides of China, so you and the other people could judge China objectively with no trace of prejudices or biases. Another reason why I keep posting my comments here is because I also want to ease up my complicated feelings for Japan and the Japanese.
I often show you the pictures of Chinese culture is because I want you and the others to understand the "real" Chinese culture, not the communist fabricated Chinese culture. I also want to show you and the others about the other sides of China.
Well, I also have the same attitude with you when I face anyone in China who talks ill about Japan and the Japanese. When I meet any of my countrymen who talk ill about the Japanese, I always tell him/her calmly that the Japanese are not as bad as you thought, I told him/her like this: "The Japanese person that I talked to online is a very understanding, polite, and soft-hearted person. He actually shows a lot respect for China and Chinese people, he has the most objective view about China and the Chinese."
As what the saying goes, if you want to gain respect, you must treat other people with respect.
(Continuation from my previous)
Lin Fengmian
Lin Fengmian a Chinese painter from Guangdong, he is famous for his Chinese style oil paintings. Lin Fengmian ever studied about art at France and he also ever spent his time at Berlin, Germany. But his life story is rather tragic too, his paintings got destroyed for three time. His paintings got destroyed by the Japanese soldiers during the WW2, then his paintings got destroyed by the red guards during the cultural revolution period, and finally he destroyed his paintings by himself because of the emotional breakdown that he had after the cultural revolution. Afterwards, he migrated to Hong Kong and he continued his paintings until the day he died. To me, his paintings look very unique with the cartoon-like characteristics and fluid brushstrokes.
Here are my most favorite paintings of Lin Fengmian:
http://www.chinaonlinemuseum.com/resources/Painting/LinFengmian/bird-1.jpg
http://www.artlinkart.com/upload/photo_db/2009/08/16/200908161735008494/400_400/200908161735008494.jpg
Zhang Daqian
Zhang Daqian is a Chinese painter from Sichuan (where I am from), he is famous for his abstract paintings. He is also famous in Taiwan because he moved to Taiwan after the communist took over of China. His paintings often look very colorful and fluid, love the abstract beauty of his paintings.
Here are my most favorite paintings of Zhang Daqian:
https://2and2makesfive.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/lotus2.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-euu78GiWydg/VFrShKNvLmI/AAAAAAAB9Ew/GReoUlparnQ/s1600/Zhang%2BDaqian%2BMt.%2BFuchun%2B001.JPG
Xu Beihong
Xu Beihong is a Chinese painter from Yixing, Jiangsu. He is famous for his paintings about horses. He ever studied about oil painting techniques in France. When he was studying at France, he ever met Pablo Picasso and he became an admirer of Pablo Picasso ever since then. I find his relationship with Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi to be very interesting. He ever held exhibition for his paintings at Singapore, Malaysia, and India in order to gain funds for the war in China to defeat the Japanese. Sadly, after the communist took over, he suffered persecution under Mao Zedong. Despite that, the Chinese admired Xu Beihong more than Mao Zedong during the early days of communist rule in China which made Mao Zedong became insanely jealous of Xu Beihong.
Here are my most favorite paintings of Xu Beihong:
http://wubhawaii.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/xinsimple_321202221643141591663.jpg
http://www.cafa.edu.cn/library/images/guid/9/4/3-x-1.jpg
I personally think that there are things that the Chinese need to learn from the Japanese for the sake of better China such as:
1. Social responsibility
Most Chinese have very low social responsibility, especially the older generation of Chinese and the Chinese from remote areas of China. The low social responsibility among the Chinese could be seen on their bad social habits i.e pushing people roughly, cutting queue lines, speaking loudly in the public, causing commotions, causing fights, yelling in the public, interrupting other people when they are busy, bad customer service, rude treatment towards tourists and other people, rushing for everything, and disregard for rules/regulations.
If the Chinese could speak softly in the public, don't push people roughly, queue orderly in the public, behave politely in the public, don't cause fight, don't interrupt other people when they are busy, treat customers nicely, treat tourists and other people nicely, never rush for everything, be patient for everything, and obey any rules/regulations like the Japanese do I am sure China would be so much better country and the Chinese would be so much better people.
2. Social awareness
Most Chinese aren't very aware of anything surrounds them, even the young Chinese generation. The low social awareness among the Chinese could be seen on their bad habits i.e spitting on the ground, littering on the ground, spoiling public facilities, p** and p** on the public, stealing in the public, touching everything in the public (unless if they want to buy something), and smoke too much on the public.
If the Chinese could stop spitting on the ground (spit in the restroom/lavatory instead), stop littering on the ground (use trash can/recycle bin to litter), don't spoil public facilities, p** and p** inside restrooms/lavatories instead on the public, don't steal in the public, don't touch everything in the public (unless if they want to buy something), and don't smoke in the public (smoke inside the room which is specified for smokers) China would be a much better country and the Chinese would be much better people.
3. Hygiene practices
Most Chinese, especially the Chinese from remote areas and rural areas have poor hygiene practices i.e not cleaning the house, not cleaning public places, spitting on the ground, p** and p** on the public instead of restrooms/lavatories, not cleaning the streets, don't take shower/bathe regularly, don't brush teeth regularly, don't wash everything cleanly, don't wash hands, don't tidy up everything, and don't wash their feet when they are going inside the house.
If the Chinese could clean their house regularly, clean the public places regularly, don't spit on the ground, p** and p** inside the restrooms/lavatories, clean the streets regularly, bathe/take shower more regularly, brush teeth regularly, wash everything cleanly, wash hands regularly, tidy up everything, and wash their feets when they are going inside the house China would be much better country and the Chinese would be much better people.
4. Moral codes
Most Chinese, especially the older generation of Chinese have poor moral codes i.e dishonest, untrustworthy, irresponsible, cunning, greedy, selfish, inhuman, hedonistic, materialistic, inconsiderate, close-minded, racist, and shallow.
If the Chinese could be honest, responsible, straightforward, generous, selfless, humane, humble, considerate, open-minded, tolerant, and wise China would be a much better country and the Chinese would be much better people.
Sorry if my post sounds offensive, I write this post for the sake of telling Chinese people to fix themselves and their country.
Currently, I am watching a video about a Japanese lady who is playing the Koto (Japanese zither) for the audience. I was quite impressed with her play, very elegant sounding and traditionally Japanese. I am writing this post while I am watching her Koto performance, I feel very relaxed and happy when I am watching her Koto play. I think Koto is a very elegant musical instrument, I love the sound of it. Guzheng and Koto are two of my most favorite traditional musical instruments, both are very elegant musical instruments. I have never seen a real life Koto before, but I would like to see it next time if I have the chance to go to Japan again.
This is the Japanese lady's koto performance that I am watching now:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L24Nb4CJzV4
Guzheng is also very lovely, it is my most favorite traditional Chinese musical instruments. I love the elegant and traditional Chinese sound of Guzheng, it always makes me feel happy and relaxed, I sometimes like to listening on a Guzheng play if I feel bored or stressful. I have a friend who is a very talented Guzheng player, she likes to play Guzheng for me if I come to her house during vacation/holiday. I also feel so proud to be Chinese when I see anyone who could play Guzheng beautifully.
This is my favorite video about a Guzheng performance:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ujzMHLac404
And then, I want to admit to you about the reason why I always follow your blog. The reason why I always follow your blog is because I find you to be a very kind-hearted and polite person, your words are always genuine and sincere. I always feel so comfortable and happy when I meet you here, your presence always pleasant to me. You are the Japanese person that I like the most because you represent your country, Japan with love and respect instead of hate and prejudice. You are the person who could aid my complicated feelings for Japan and the Japanese, you are the person that makes me love Japan even more. I wish there are more and more Japanese people who are just as kind and sincere as you. If there are more Japanese people who are just as kind as and since as you, then the barrier between Japan and China could be reduced.
I also there are more and more Chinese people who could represent China with love and respect instead of hate and prejudice, so people would respect the Chinese. And that is why I always tell my friends and my family members about your postings, in order to reduce their anti-Japan feelings. When I tell them all of your postings to me, they all feel so happy and relieved.
Long live for Japan and China, I wish all the best for both countries. And also long live for the other countries, I wish all the best for them as well.
Thank you so much for Mr. / Ms. Anonymous who mentioned on the 29th of July about the difference of how to take the war responsibility between Japan and Germany. I praise your polite and well-mannered attitude.
As you wrote, It seems that many people in the world think that Japan's apology for the war is less than Germany's. I think almost the same.
Many of conservatives in Japan (would-be patriots) have such an opinion; "Germany apologizes for the crime of Nazi, but doesn't apologize for the invasion to other countries. Japan apologized for the invasions to neighboring countries, why are Japan accused of for a long time?"
My thought about the above opinion is as follows; "If it's true, it shows that the ways Japan apologized were improper and not enough. If you are real patriots, you have to seek the proper way to be understood by neighboring countries and other countries in the world.
Lately, I've learned that most German people didn't know of what Nazi did in the Concentration Camps before the Frankfurt Auschwitz trials (by the German Government) began in 1963 and German students in 1968 accused of people in their parents’ generation. Such actions by the government and people seemed to change the acknowledge of the war (and Nazi) responsibility among German people.
I don't know why Japan could not (and can't) do the same as Germany. I think it is very important that I have to understand this is the problem not only of the Japanese Government but also of Japanese people.
Unfortunately, in this decade, in Japan, I've seen an increase of opinions like "The Pacific War wasn't the invasion, but the emancipation for Asian countries." I never agree with such opinions. Maybe such increase is the bad fruits of the Japan's actions (including Japanese people) for the war responsibility in the past.
Good evening, Mr, Yoshiteru. I am back again to your posting. Thank you for tenderness to address this issue.
I would like to tell you the reason of why there are still denials from the Japanese politicians about what happened during the war and the Japanese ruling period. Sorry if there are any sensitive or offensive words, the reason why I am telling you the reason of the denial is because I want to understand the real reason behind such thing. I have no intention for spreading anti-Japanese prejudice or anti-everyone else prejudice, my intention is only to add your explanation of why there are still denials from the Japanese politicians about what happened back then. For once again, I am very sorry if you feel offended, I have no intention for making anyone offended.
The main reason of why Japanese politicians still deny the war crimes is because (as what I have been told by my father) after the WW2, Japan surrender to the US. Although Japan surrended to the US after the war, but there were still Japanese (especially the ultra-nationalistic Japanese) who didn't want to surrender to the US. After the war, the US occupied Japan and the Americans decided to keep the Emperor alive in order to avoid rebellion from the Japanese. Then, after the Emperor was spared by the American military, Mac Arthur told the Japanese to stop rebelling against the US or otherwise the Emperor would be killed and punished as a war criminal by the US military. After that, the Japanese politicians chosen to deny the war crimes or otherwise the Emperor would get killed. If the Emperor got killed at that time, the Japanese would rebelled against the US and another tension would happened between the US and Japan.
At the end, the Japanese politicians keep deny the war crimes and spread the denial onto the citizens to make the citizens forget of what happened during the war and what happened after the war, so the Japanese won't blame the Emperor.
If there are misinformations, please forgive me because I am not a history expert.
And as a Chinese, I would like to you tell honestly about which things that I like about Japan and which things that I don't like about Japan.
Here are the things that I like about Japan:
I like Japan for her artworks because Japanese artworks are very nicely done and beautiful to look at. I particularly like Japanese textile artworks, Japanese gardening artwork, Japanese woodblock painting, Japanese silk embroidery, Japanese porcelain, Japanese lacquerware, Japanese sword making art (Katana), and Japanese paper folding art (origami). However, I don't like few Japanese artworks such as Japanese ivory carving , Japanese wood carving, and Japanese stone carving.
I like Japan for her food because Japanese food is very fresh, tasty, and healthy. Japanese food is my most favorite food alongside with Chinese food (especially my own native Sichuan style, Teochew style, and Cantonese style), Italian food, French food, Thai food, Vietnamese food, Spanish food, Greek food, and Indian food. And I also find the Japanese version of Chinese food to be very tasty. Although there are few Japanese dishes that I don't like such as Japanese curry, Japanese cream bread, Japanese melon bread (Meron-pan), Natto, and Japanese cheesecake.
I like Japan for her people's strong work ethic, good morale values, good manners, hospitality, polite public behavior, strong discipline, strong sense of teamwork (collectivism), and her people's gentle character.
I like Japan for her clean and safe environment, I would be even more happy if China could be just as safe and as clean as Japan.
I like Japan for her high quality products especially electronic products, cars, household appliances, and machinery products. And I also like Japanese shoes, they are very comfortable to wear. I have a pair of Japanese shoes at home and I wear them everyday if I am going to work.
I like Japan for her advanced technology. I am very impressed with Japanese technology especially car parking technology, elevator technology, escalator technology, sanitary technology, and the toilet technology that I saw at Japan.
I like Japan for her traditional culture and traditional architecture. I find Japanese culture to be just as interesting as my own Chinese culture and I find Japanese architecture to be just as beautiful as Chinese traditional architecture.
I like Japan for her refreshing anime and manga series, Cooking Master Boy/Chuuka Ichiban and Yu Yu Hakusho are my most favorite anime and manga series. Sailor Moon is also pretty nice, although it is a rather girly anime and manga series to me.
I like Japan for her fashion, I find Japanese fashion to be very attarctive and suitable for my personality. I am particularly fond of Uniqlo because Uniqlo has many clothing models that I like, Kenzo is also nice although a bit too expensive for me.
But then there are also things that I don't like about Japan, such as:
I don't like Japanese politicians who still like to deny the war crimes that happening in China, Korea, and the other Asian countries. Although I also particularly dislike Chinese politicians and their crooked behaviors towards China and the other countries. I hope Japanese politicians could stop deny the war crimes that happening in China, Korea, and the other Asian countries so Japan could have better relationship with the other Asian countries especially Korea and China. On the same time, I also hope Chinese politicians could show more respect for China and the other countries.
I don't like Japanese modern architecture as I find Japanese modern architecture looks rather bland and boring. Chinese modern architecture also doesn't impress me much either. I much prefer the modern architecture of New York, Hong Kong and Dubai.
I don't like Japanese pop songs because I find Japanese pop songs to be rather boring and monotonous, although there are some Japanese pop songs that I like. I much prefer Japanese traditional songs which are played with traditional Japanese musical instruments.
And then Mr. Yoshiteru, I would like to explain to you the other reason why the Japanese politicians still have the problem with the war crime denials. The reason is because (as I have been told by my father) is because the Japanese don't want the Emperor to be considered as a war criminal. The Japanese don't want the Emperor to be considered as a war criminal because the Japanese still view the Emperor as the personification of the Sun God. So, in short, Japanese politicians still have problem with the war crime denials is because they want to save the face of the Emperor from being considered as a war criminal and to protect the Emperor's image as being the personification of the Sun God.
I am sorry if there are any wrong information, but that's what I know so far. Thank you for the time and patience, I hope you could understand what I am writing here.
As a bonus, I would like to sing a Chinese song for you, this Chinese song is my most favorite song since I was a child. If everytime I feel sad, my mother always sing this song to me to make me feel better. Perhaps you could sing this song to your sons if they feel sad or lonely (I know that you already have 2 sons when I checked your profile). The song is like this:
世上只有媽媽好
有媽的孩是像個寶
投進媽媽的懷抱
幸福享不了
沒有媽媽最苦惱
沒媽的孩是像根草
離開媽媽的懐抱
幸福哪裡找?
English translation of the song:
In this world, mother is the best
Having a mother is like having the most precious treasure
Run into mother's embrace
Happiness could be enjoyed endlessly
Without a mother is lonely
Without a mother is like a lonely grass
Leaving from mother's embrace
Where could you find happiness?
Chinese pinyin for the song:
Shi shang zhi you mama hao
You ma de hai shi xiang ge bao
Tou jin mama de huai bao
Xing fu xiang bu liao
Mei you mama zui ku nao
Mei ma de hai shi xiang gen cao
Li kai mama de huai bao
Xing fu na li zhao?
This song is about how does it feel to embrace mother's love, this song also express a child's love towards his/her mother by expressing how does it feel to have a mother.
You could also sing this song to entertain yourself or sing this song to your friends for entertainment. I sometimes like to sing this song if I feel lonely.
Thank you for your comment as always, Mr./Ms. Anonymous from Sichuan. (If you don't mind, tell me your nickname to distinguish from other users.)
I am honored to read your comment about me. I think that many people in China, Japan and other areas in the world are the same; they are kind-hearted and polite, and their words are genuine and sincere. However, people in different countries have less opportunities to communicate with people other countries in person. Instead of them, they recognize people in other countries with big incidents like wars, tragic histories, politicians' indiscreet and offensive statements, bad images of different points of their culture (not common points or fascination of other cultures) from sensational information through mass media (not in-person). Such environments make misunderstanding among people in different countries.
I am grateful to you to communicate with you in person, not via mass media or biased information and to tell your friends and family your appreciation to my blog and I. These are the most delightful and encouraging comment of my blog.
I also thank you for your introduction of modern Chinese pictures as the answer of my request. All were fascinating. I think that they (pictures and painters) are charming points of modern China.
Wu Guanzhong
As you said, his pictures are like a neat mixture of Chinese sense of beauty and western impressionism. I love them.
Qi Baishi
Maybe I saw his picture on a book. I didn't know of his mane, but his works are my typical image of modern Chinese art.
Pan Tiansho's keen brushwork is cool. I think that his style of art is still good for the newest art scene.
I maybe have seen Huang Zhou's works. His style, livable people, impressed me.
Lin Fengmian's tragic carrier makes me sad and sorry, however, the boldness and livable power of his works gives me power.
Zhang Daqian, what a beautiful blue his works have.
After seeing Xu Beihong's works that you introduced, I googled his other works. Most of them are horse pictures, but I am never bored. I'm impressed by his activities during the WWII period.
About comments of comparing Chinese and Japanese people (social responsibility and others), I remember that twenty or more years ago some people said the same about Japanese people and Westerners. Some of them were true, but some of them were exaggerate or misunderstanding.
I'm interested in your comment about Japanese culture. I agree with many of them and I feel happy for your praise of Japanese culture.
I would like to tell you about Japanese pop songs. Like you wrote, also for me, many pop songs (not only Japanese but also other areas) are boring. However, some modern pop songs are innovative and reflecting the modern sense. Let me introduce you to them;
- Sheena Ringo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVCCe2tuL20
- Perfume https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhfYis6VuXY
Thank you for your introducing the Chinese song. I have two sons, so I hope to pass down the spirit of the song to them.
Thank you for your response as usual, I like it very much. I always feel nothing but utmost pleasure when I talk to you here, you always make me feel happy. And I also feel relived and satisfied when I meet you here, your presence always make me feel contented.
I am using 顺丽 characters as my username because 顺 and 丽 are two of my favorite Chinese characters. 顺 means "smooth" in Chinese while 丽 means "beautiful" in Chinese. Sorry for revealing my username recently but I have my own reason why I don't reveal my username that often. The reason why I don't reveal my username that often is because I am scared of being spied by the Internet police when I am online and the other reason is because the Internet safety in China isn't so good lately. I have to extremely cautious online, or otherwise o would be spied and arrested. Sorry if you might feel frightened with my reasons, I just feel scared of being arrested and spied sometimes. I hope you could understand, thank you.
Yes, I agree with you that individual communication is needed in order to reduce the tensions and sentiments towards the other nations out there. If anyone could communicate with each other as individuals regardless of nationalities, then the relationship between the other countries also would be improving gradually. Which is reason why I communicate with you here is because I want to be a good representative for my own country, so you and the other could also judge my country objectively with no trace of prejudice and hatred. I always dislike hatred and prejudice, that is why I often being objective about the other nations. I hope you could understand my judgement about my own country.
As usual, I also agree with your impression about my post about Chinese cultural things, thank you very much. Those painters that I introduced to you are the symbols of my nation pride, they are the ones who give a lot contribution to Chinese cultural heritage and art. If it weren't for those painters, the Chinese would have nothing to pride of and Chinese culture would not be as interesting as it is. They are national treasures to many Chinese people out there, even to the overseas Chinese population. They are the good representative to China and the Chinese, I hope there are more and more people who appreciate Chinese arts and culture because they are valuable treasures to Chinese people.
As for your posting about Japanese pop songs, I think those pop songs that you introduced me are very cute, they look lively and eccentric to me. But actually, I have two Japanese pop songs that I like the most, you could see them on these two videos bellow:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q6T0wOMsNrI
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1nZLLzFNAD0
I think those pop songs that I posted here are very quirky and refreshing to hear, they never bored me. Those pop songs always soothes my feelings, especially when I feel down and sad. I grew more and more appreciation towards Japanese pop songs after you have introduced me those Japanese pop songs on your posting, thank you very much.
The Chinese song that I introduced you is actually my favourite song as a child, I always feel happy if everytime I hear that song because the song is not only meaningful but also soothing and entertaining. Try to sing that song, you would understand the meaning of it and feel the calming feeling of it.
I agree with your view about Japanese culture, you are the person that makes grow a lot more interest in Japanese culture. I find Japanese culture to be just as interesting as my own Chinese culture and you did a good job on introducing Japanese culture to me. I hope there are more and more Chinese people who could show more appreciation for Japanese culture, so Japan-China relationship would be better and anti-Japanese sentiment in China would be died out eventually.
I wish all the best for Japan and China, may the two great countries get better each day.
And btw, for the next post I would like to tell the story about Chinese celadon. Celadon is the green colored ceramic which is made by using iron oxide as the coloring agent and burned in the high temperature (exceeding 1.300 degrees) under the reduction condition (reduction means that the amount of air that goes inside the ceramic when the ceramic is burned is only in the smaller amounts). The term celadon is actually originated by the French Prince who named the green-colored Chinese ceramic ware based from the green tie that he wore, another origin for the celadon term was originated from the Persian Sultan interpretation of the Chinese green ceramic ware. If you still confused with the etymology of Celadon, try to browse the etymology of celadon. In Chinese, celadon is called 青瓷 which means the green-colored ceramic.
Celadon was actually started during the Shang dynasty period in Zhejiang province, according to the Chinese archeologist celadon was used by the people of Zhejiang as the offerings for native ritual.
Then, during the Eastern Han dynasty period the development of celadon was increased because celadon replaced lacquerware as the main offering for rituals.
Celadon started its high level of production during the Tang Dynasty, celadon was highly favoured during the Tang Dynasty for its color resemblance to Jade. The technique of making celadon eventually spread to the other parts of China, Korea, and Japan during the Tang Dynasty period. There were several copies of celadon wares from Korea and Japan started to be produced during the Tang Dynasty period which later part developed into their own distinctive styles compared to the Chinese originals. According to Lu Yu's "The Book of Tea" (茶經 in Chinese) there were six places in China that produced the best celadon so during the Tang Dynasty such as Yuezhou (Zhejiang), Dingzhou (Hunan), Wuzhou (Zhejiang), Yuezhou (Hunan), Shouzhou (Anhui), and Hongzhou (Jiangxi). Lu Yu described Yuezhou celadon from Zhejiang to be the best because Yuezhou's celadon has the purest green color which has the closest resemblance to jade in color.
Finally, the production of celadon reached its zenith during the Song Dynasty period. There are five most famous ceramic wares from Song Dynasty period such as Ding ware, Ru ware, Guan ware, Ge ware, and Jun ware. Among those five celebrated ceramic wares of the Song Dynasty period, four of wares are celadons (Ru ware, Guan ware, Ge ware, and Jun ware are celadons) with the exception Ding ware (Ding ware is not classified as celadon). Then, there are other two celadons wares from the Song Dynasty period such as Yaozhou ware from Shaanxi and Longquan ware from Zhejiang. During the Song Dynasty period, the celadon making technique also spread to the Southeast Asian countries and Middle Eastern countries.
Celadon production was still continuing during the Yuan Dynasty, especially the Longquan celadon. Celadon was the other Chinese export commodity to the other countries.
Eventually, the production of celadon declined during the Ming Dynasty period. Jingdezhen dominated the porcelain productions in China ever since the Ming Dynasty period which caused the decline of celadon production.
And btw, if you want to know how despicable Mao Zedong is, I suggest you to read the book titled "The Private Life of Chairman Mao" which is written by Mao Zedong's personal doctor so you would know the real character of him. I am not trying to defame Mao Zedong but I just want you to know the truth about Mao Zedong.
I want you to know the truth about Mao Zedong, so you would know how much sufferings that Chinese people had to undergone under his rule and you would know how much bad legacies that he left for China. If you could understand Mao Zedong even further, I believe that you could gain sympathy for Chinese people and their sufferings.
Thank you for your patience, sorry if there are any offensive words from my comment. I am here for the sake of telling the truth and help Chinese people to be free from the communist propagandas.
And then, I would like to tell you about my favorite Japanese products that I am using currently, here are my favorite Japanese products and the reasons why I like them.
Japanese electronics: No need to be asked, Japanese electronic products are the best for me because the quality is just very memorable. Korean and American electronic products are also very good quality. I have Japanese air conditioner and household appliances that still work until now.
Japanese chocolates: Very tasty and not very cloyingly sweet, the sweetness is just right and very enjoyable as snacks. The almond chocolate that I like to bought at the supermarket is just so tempting, I sometimes like to eat Japanese chocolates for snacks.
Japanese shoes: Very comfortable to wear, I often wear them if I want to go to work. British and Italian shoes are also very good quality.
Japanese snack food: Very tasty and the taste is neither too sweet nor too salty. I consider Japanese potato chips (Jagabee) to be the best, next to the American potato chips (Pringles).
Japanese stationery: Very durable, long lasting, and comfortable to wear. Pentel and Pilot are my favorite stationery brand. Not just very durable but also very innovative (love the Pentel Mechanic pencils variation).
Japanese clothing: Uniqlo is my personal favorite brand, very well made and comfortable to wear. The style also suits my character quite well. Thanks to Japan, I could buy nice clothing without paying much money.
Japanese mayonnaise: Very tasty and addictive, not to mention very creamy. I sometimes like to buy Japanese mayonnaise at the supermarket and I like to use Japanese mayonnaise as the ingredient for making mayonnaise shrimp.
Japanese car: My eleven years old Honda car still works well and my Toyota car is also very durable. Lexus also looks very fancy and durable.
Japanese camera: My Nikon camera works very well and I sometimes like to bring my Nikon camera if I going for vacation. Canon is also very good quality, Sony is also good although the picture quality is not as good as Nikon and Canon.
And then I also have several western (European and American) products that I like such as:
American leather bags: Very lasting, durable, the design looks very casual and edgy although rather bulky sometimes, solid, the stitching quality is very good, and superbly made. I have two American leather bags at home and I like to wear them for either work or traveling.
British leather bags: Very lasting, durable, the design looks very old fashioned and simplistic but very classic (timeles) and stylish (just like any typical British designs), the stitching quality is very good, and superbly made. I have two British leather bags at home and I like to wear them for either work or traveling.
German knives: German and Japanese knives are my favorites. Both German and Japanese knives are very durable, sharp, and superbly made. But compared to Japanese knives, German knives are a bit heavier to use.
Swiss watches: Very beautifully made, stylish looking, lasting, accurate, and reliable. But Swiss watches are typically expensive, so I could only buy one. Rolex is my personal favorite watch brand and I have a Rolex watch that I like to wear sometimes for going to the parties. Japanese watches are also very good quality and precise like Swiss watches but cheaper compared to Swiss watches, Seiko is my most favorite watch brand. I have a Seiko watch at home as well and I like to wear it for going to work.
British sofa: Very comfortable, very well made, the workmanship is superb, the design looks rather old fashioned but very refined and stylish. I have three British sofas at home, one is at my bedroom and the other two sofas at at my living room.
Italian sofa: Very comfortable, very well made, the workmanship is superb, the design looks very stylish and edgy. I have a big Italian sofa at home that I put at the living room.
British shoes: Very comfortable to wear, very good quality, the design looks very simplistic but very stylish, durable, and easy to maintain. I have a British shoes at home and I like to wear them for going to the parties.
Italian shoes: Very comfortable, very good quality, the design looks very stylish and fancy, durable, and easy to maintain. I have an Italian shoes and I like to wear them for going to the parties.
French crystalwares: Very beautifully made, the workmanship is superb, the design looks very decorative and refined, clear, shinning, and the crystal cuts are nicely done. I have several French crystalwares at home.
American electronics: American electronics are very good quality, lasting, durable, and innovative. My smartphone, my ipad, and some of my household appliances that I have at home are American.
French bread: Very tasty and very well made, I sometimes like to eat French bread for breakfast during weekends. Baguette is my most favorite French bread, Croissant is also very tasty especially if it's eaten for breakfast.
Next would be products from other Asian countries that I like the most, here are my favorite products from the other Asian countries:
Indonesian batik: Very exotic looking, comfortable to wear, the workmanship is beautifully done, colourful, refined, and varied. I have 5 pieces of batik clothings that I like to wear for either work or hanging out with friends.
Thai cooking wares: If I want cheap but very good quality cooking wares, I would go for Thai cooking wares. Thai cooking wares are very durable, lasting, and easy to maintain. German and Japanese cooking wares are also very good quality, but they are quite expensive.
Vietnamese coffee: Very tasty and enjoyable to drink, I sometimes like to drink Vietnamese coffee during weekends.
Filipino dried mango: Very tasty and enjoyable, I have ever eaten Filipino dried mango for snack and I like it.
Korean electronics: Korean electronics are just as very good quality as Japanese electronics (although I find Japanese electronics' quality to be slightly ahead of Korean electronics), durable, easy to maintain, and cheap. My refrigerator, my air conditioner, and my smartphone are Korean and I love them all.
Taiwanese fruits: Very tasty and fresh, I love Taiwanese melon and Taiwanese pineapple the most. Thai fruits are also very tasty and good quality.
Taiwanese oolong tea: Vert tasty and refreshing to drink, I sometimes like to drink Taiwanese oolong tea in the afternoon. Taiwanese oolong tea is another favorite tea next to Cantonese iron goddess tea and Japanese matcha green tea. Hokkien oolong tea is also pretty good.
Taiwanese cakes: Very tasty, Taiwanese pineapple cake and Taiwanese honey cake are my most favourite Taiwanese cakes. I sometimes like to eat Taiwanese cake for snacks and I also could make Taiwanese cakes by myself.
Taiwanese snack food: Very tasty and tempting, I love Taiwanese style crispy chicken steak and Taiwanese oyster omelette the most. And I also could make them at home by myself. If I am going to Taiwan, the first thing that I like to do is eating Taiwanese style crispy chicken steak and Taiwanese oyster omelette.
Taiwanese electronics: Not as high quality as Korean or Japanese electronics, but the quality still good nonetheless. My computer (Acer) is Taiwanese and I still like it very much. And I also have a Japanese laptop (Fujitsu) which I like very much as well.
Thai snack food: I also love Thai snack food, especially Thai style fish floss. Thai style crispy seaweed (notion tempura) is also very tasty and I like it.
Korean snack food: Althogh I am not a big fan of Korean food, but Korean snack food is another of my favorite. I really love Korean style shrimp frackers and instant noodles the most, they are very tasty.
Korean cars: Korean cars are just as reliable and as affordable as Japanese cars. One of my friend has a Hyundai car and the car is surprisingly very good quality and reliable.
Lastly, I would like to tell you which Chinese products that I like the most:
Chinese furnitures: No doubt, the quality is the best and the workmanship is superbly done. Chinese Ming style furnitures are my most favorite among all, very beautiful to look at, very durable, sturdy, and very comfortable as well. I am very proud of Chinese furnitures, they represent my nation pride.
Chinese tea: I love Cantonese Iron goddess tea and eight treasure tea (八寶茶) the most, they are very tasty and enjoyable. A cup of Chinese tea would always make my body feel better.
Chinese clothings: Very well done workmanship, comfortable, and durable. Not to mention cheap and affordable, I always buy Chinese clothings if I want to save money.
Chinese comb: Very good quality, I like the workmanship and the design the most because they are very beautiful and practical to use.
But then again, there are also some Japanese products that I don't like much such as:
Japanese bags: Although I like Japanese shoes very much but I don't like Japanese bags all that much because I find Japanese bags to be too fragile and not durable. Japanese bags may look cute and adorable, but Japanese bags usually couldn't last for long time and break down easily. The stitching quality is also not that impressive enough to make the bags become durable. I also don't like Chinese bags all that much, especially the cheap Chinese counterfeit bags. I much prefer British, Italian, French, and American bags.
Japanese breads: I don't like Japanese breads because they are too sweet and soft for me, the only Japanese bread that I like is Anpan bread. I much prefer French and Italian breads, some German breads are also quite tasty. Despite of my dislike for Japanese breads, I like Japanese cheddar cheese very much because it tastes good and not too salty, MEG cheddar cheese is my favorite (unlike American cheddar cheese which tends to be too salty, tastes weird, and the color looks a bit too orange).
Japanese furnitures: Sorry to say this, I am not a big fan of Japanese furnitures because they are too fragile and the workmanship isn't skilful enough. Japanese furnitures design also often looks too bland and unimpressive, especially the tables and cabinets. I much prefer Chinese, French, British, and Italian furnitures.
Japanese cheesecake: Too sweet, I like cheesecake but Japanese cheesecake is just too sweet for me.
There are also western (European and American) products that I don't like much such as:
American furnitures: American furnitures often look too bulky and the workmanship is also rather rough. Some American furnitures are also a big too big for me. Chinese furnitures are still the best followed by French, British, and Italian.
American crystalwares: American crystalwares often look bland and the workmanship is also pretty rough. The crystal quality is also pretty mediocre, especially compared to European crystalwares. I much prefer British, French, and Austrian crystalwares.
British coffee: Too bland and not tasty, British make good tea but not coffee. I much prefer Vietnamese, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, and South American coffees.
Australian chocolate: Tastes too bitter like medicine and the smell is rather unpleasant. I much prefer Swiss, Japanese, Belgian, British, and Italian chocolates. And I also don't like Dutch chocolates, they taste too bitter and smell funny as well.
Swedish clothings: I find Swedish clothings like those H&M clothings to be mediocre in quality and design sometimes doesn't make any sense at all. I much prefer Japanese, Korean, British, French, Italian, and American clothings. Chinese clothings are also pretty good quality for cheaper range.
French cars: French cars are unreliable and the engines are a bit too rough. I much prefer Japanese, Korean, and American cars. German and Swedish cars are also very good quality. Despite that, I do find French cars' design often look very unique and interesting.
Danish watches: Danish watches are mediocre in quality and the workmanship is also mediocre. I much prefer Swiss and Japanese watches. French and Italian watches are also pretty good in quality.
Danish pastries: A bit too soggy and not crispy enough, the taste is also a bit too sweet for me. I much prefer French pastries, they are tastier.
British potato chips: Taste weird and not crispy enough, I much prefer American and Japanese potato chips.
American cheddar cheese: Smells weird, a bit too salty, and the Color is a bit too orange. Japanese cheddar cheese is still my most favorite.
Swiss shoes: I have a bad experience with Swiss shoes, according to my experience is that Swiss shoes break down easily and rather uncomfortable to wear. I much prefer British, Italian, Spanish, and Danish shoes.
Lastly there are also Chinese products and other products from other Asian countries that I don't like such as:
Chinese stationeries: Chinese stationeries are unreliable and the quality is subpar, my Chinese pencil isn't black enough and breaks down easily. I much prefer Japanese and German stationeries because they are reliable and last for long time.
Korean bags: Korean bags, just like Japanese bags, may look adorable but unreliable and too fragile. The stitching quality is also mediocre, just like Japanese bags. Chinese bags are also not very good, especially the cheap Chinese counterfeit bags.
Malaysian electronics: Unreliable and break down easily, I even like Indonesian electronics better than Malaysian electronics. Indonesian electronics usually last for longer time than any Malaysian electronics to me.
Indonesian tea: Too sweet and the smell also not very pleasant. I much prefer Chinese, Japanese, and Taiwanese teas.
Singaporean shoes: I don't like Singaporean shoes, they are uncomfortable and break down easily. Singaporean shoes are just like Chinese shoes, unreliable and could only last for short period. I even like Thai, Filipino, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Indonesian shoes better than any Singaporean shoes.
Chinese shoes: Horrible, I don't like any single Chinese shoes, the design looks awkward and quality is poor. My Chinese shoes could only last for a year, after a year they broke down.
Chinese bags: I don't like them as well, the design looks awkward and the stitching quality is mediocre. Chinese counterfeit bags are even worse, the quality is poor and the design looks awkward.
Malaysian chocolates: Taste horrible and too heaty, I got a sore throat problem after I ate the Malaysian chocolate that my friend gave me
last year.
Thai silk: Overrated, I personally don't see the appeal of Thai silk. Thai silk is too rough and the workmanship is also pretty rough. Chinese and Japanese silks are still the best for me.
Vietnamese furnitures: I don't like them at all because the workmanship is mediocre and I also don't like the design. Chinese furnitures are still the best in Asia.
Indian silk: Just like Thai silk, too rough and not smooth enough. I personally don't see the appeal of Indian silk. I however have a much better impression about Indian laces.
Korean tea: Smells awkward and taste like medicine. Chinese, Japanese, and Taiwanese teas are still my personal favorites.
For the comment of 8/7/2016
Ms. Tiffany Cheng, I appreciate your comment. You asked me, without an offensive and negative attitude, the reason why some Japanese politicians deny the responsibility of the war. I recognized that your question came from your will to learn, not to quarrel.
My opinion is as follows;
First of all, I would like that you understand the Japanese Government officially admits the responsibility of the war and apologizes for it;
The Statement by the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the 70th anniversary of the end of the war, in 2015.
http://japan.kantei.go.jp/97_abe/statement/201508/0814statement.html
On the other hand, I understand that you have a question about Japanese politicians' denial of the war crimes because some Japanese politicians say such messages (for example, in 1994, the chief of the Environment Agency Sakurai, said "Japan did not intend to wage a war of aggression. *snip* Thanks to the war, most countries in Asia became independent of European colonial rule.") and do such things (for example, in 2013, the Prime Minister Abe went and prayed at Yasukuni Shrine).
Why do some Japanese politicians never admit the responsibility for the war? I think that your father's answer is interesting and that sounds possible. (However, it is unfamiliar to many Japanese people. In Japan, people believe that the US and McArthur only thought to use the popularity of the Emperor among Japanese people, not to threaten the Japanese Government with an execution of the Emperor.)
My answer is that the US allowed the Japanese politicians who have responsibilities of the war after the Cold War occurred.
Just after the end of the war, the US purged almost all Japanese politicians, made the new Constitution of Japan including the article " land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.". At that time, the US had a strong will to disarm Japan.
However, around 1948, policy of the occupied forces changed. They began to made Japan not as a disarmed nation, but as a strong counterpart against communist countries and as the frontline base against China and the Soviet Union. In 1950, the US admitted (commanded, precisely) that Japan established the National Police Reserve, the former of the Self Defense Force of Japan. From 1950 to 1952, the US released all purged politicians (many of them were strongly anti-communism) including Nobusuke Kishi, one of the members of the war declaration to the US in 1941. (He became the Prime Minister in 1957. One of his grandsons is the current Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. )
Because of the changing US policy, the US never swept conservative politicians who proceeded or supported the war. Many of them established the Liberal Democratic Party, the administration party of Japan (from 1955 to 2016, except only four years). The citizens of Japan hate the war, but they keep voting for the LDP for their achievement of the high economic growth from the 60s to the 80s, for their ability to control the government (other parties in Japan has less ability because of their lack of government control experience) from the 90s to now.
Through these years, the LDP members who directly experienced the war era almost all retired or passed away, but some followers of them exist and lately got more powers on the current Japanese condition as I wrote in the main entry.
As a art lover as well, I would like to tell you (based on my objective and subjective views) about which Japanese artworks that I like the most and I don't like that much. Then I explain to you why I like them.
My favorite Japanese artworks:
Japanese embroideries: Japanese embroideries are often very beautifully stitched and very refined looking. I just love to see the Japanese style embroideries on the Kimono and the Japanese traditional clothes.
Japanese woodblock paintings: They are very colourful and exotic looking, I have my admiration for Japanese woodblock paintings because I have ever seen Vincent Van Gogh's painting about Japanese woodblock painting and I also have ever seen Japanese woodblock paintings often displayed on the antique catalogues.
Japanese porcelains: They are very beautifully made and refined, I could appreciate the Japanese sense of refinement from the Japanese porcelains that I have at home. The Japanese porcelains that I have at home always make me admire Japan even more. Tenmoku is just absolutely gorgeous looking.
Japanese paper folding art (origami): Very beautiful and unique, I could appreciate how talented the Japanese are with papers just by looking and doing the Japanese paper folding art (origami).
Japanese gardening art: Serene and elegant, very enjoyable as well. I am very impressed with Japanese talent of gardening. The Japanese style gardens that I have seen on the internet pictures about Kyoto very much made me feel so eager to visit Kyoto.
Japanese flower arranging art (ikebana): I could say how talented the Japanese are on arranging the flowers and plants just by looking at or doing the ikebana art.
Japanese fans: Very beautiful and I am sincerely impressed by the Japanese fans that I saw when I was at Japan. I bought two Japanese fans and I keep them very well inside my bedroom as decorations.
Then, there are also Japanese artworks that I am not very fond of such as:
Japanese wood carvings: Is this just me who thinks that Japanese are not very skilful with carvings? Sorry to say this, I personally find Japanese wood carvings to be lacking of details and not intricate enough. The Japanese wood carvings often give me the impressions of being monotonous, boring, and flat. I much prefer Chinese and Thai wood carvings, as they are more intricate, refined and detailed.
Japanese ivory carvings: Just like what I said previously, I just think that the Japanese are not very skilful on carvings. I find Japanese ivory carvings to be boring and monotonous looking, even the Netsuke ivory carvings don't impress me much. I much prefer Chinese and Indian ivory carvings.
Japanese celadons: According to my point of view as someone who is studying Asian porcelains (especially Chinese porcelains), I am not very impressed with Japanese celadon because the color is bland and the celadon shapes often look boring. I much prefer Korean and Chinese celadons because they are more interesting to look at or to enjoy.
Japanese ink paintings: Sorry to say this, the reason why I am not impressed with Japanese ink paintings is because I find the brushstrokes so of the Japanese ink paintings to be either too stiff looking or too forcely done. I much prefer Chinese ink paintings because the brushstrokes are more fluid looking and more naturally done.
Next, I would like to tell you which Western artworks that I like and I don't that much alongside with the reasons.
My favorite Western artworks:
French crystalwares: Very beautiful and intricate looking, the crystal quality is also very good because the crystal often looks shiny and clear. Baccarat has the best crystalwares that I have ever seen. British and Austrian silverwares are also very beautiful to look at.
Italian marble carving: I just think Italians are just very good with carvings, the Italian marble carvings are the most impressive things that I have ever seen.
British silverwares: I just think that British people are very gifted with silverware making skill, British style silverwares are not just elegant looking but also very beautifully done. I have two British silverwares at home, I displayed them at my living room.
Italian glass art: Beautiful and colourful, I think every Italians should be proud of their glass art.
Dutch paintings: Vincent Van Gogh and Rembrandt are the people who made Netherlands become the land of beautiful paintings. Spanish paintings are very beautiful to look at, thanks to Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. French and Italian paintings are also splendid, Monet and Da Vinci are another favorites.
French ormolu: Beautifully made and very intricate, I always admire the French for their beautiful ormolu.
Greek statues: Splendidly done and very refined looking. I have a flash news for you, do you know that the Chinese adopted the Terracotta warrior statue making technique from the Greeks? The Chinese learned from the Greeks about statue making technique, just browse the news about the Terracotta warrior and the ancient Greek statues, you would find out that the Chinese learned how to make those famous Terracotta statues from the Greeks.
German classical musics: Thanks to Beethoven and J.S Bach, Germany wins over my impression of being the land beautiful classical musics. Austria is also the land beautiful classical musics to me.
Austrian umbrellas: Austrian umbrellas are the best, I have never seen Austrian umbrellas but I have been told by my father that Austria makes the best umbrella because he has an Austrian umbrella. When my father showed me his Austrian made umbrella, I was very impressed with the workmanship, very well done.
My least favorite Western artworks:
Dutch wood carvings: I just think Dutch wood carving looks pretty unimpressive, I much prefer Italian and French wood carvings.
German paintings: Boring, I never associate Germany with beautiful paintings. The title for the land of beautiful paintings should belong to Netherlands, France, Italy, and Spain.
British tapestry: Rather roughly done, the French make better tapestry than the British as I find the French tapestry to be the most refined looking among all the western style tapestries that I have ever seen.
I wouldn't forget to tell you my favorite and least favorite artworks from the other Asian countries, here are the following artworks:
Most favorite other Asian artworks:
Vietnamese lacquerware: Very colourful and beautiful, not to mention very exotic as well. I think that Vietnamese and Japanese lacquerwares are the most beautiful that I have ever seen. Chinese lacquerwares are also very beautifully done, although the design looks a bit too complicated for me.
Thai woodcarvings: Very intricate and superbly done, I could appreciate the Thais fastidious workmanship to make those woodcarvings that I love.
Korean celadons: Very beautifully coloured and interesting, Chinese people of the Song Dynasty period used to adore Korean celadons as well. The shapes are also pretty unique, they are the only non-Chinese celadons that I love.
Vietnamese ink paintings: I could appreciate the modest and natural characteristics of the Vietnamese ink paintings. Vietnamese ink paintings to me look beautiful without the flashy brushstrokes. Vietnamese ink paintings are the non-Chinese ink paintings that I really love the most.
Indian ivory carvings: Very beautifully made and splendid looking, Chinese Ivory carvings are also just as beautifully made and splendid looking.
Indonesian batik art: Very exotic and refined, I think every Indonesians should be proud of their batik art. Batik art is the type of art that I think should get more exposure it deserves.
Indonesian paintings: Very exotic and colourful, I think Indonesia and Thailand are the land of beautiful paintings. I am very impressed with Indonesian and Thai paintings, they should get more attention.
Indian lace art: Indians are just very talented with lace, the Indian laces are often very beautiful to me. The workmanship is also very beautifully made, so I think every Indians should be proud of their lace art.
Vietnamese bamboo weaving art: Very beautifully done and exotic, I think every Vietnamese should be proud of their bamboo weaving art.
Persian carpets: Very beautiful and diversified, I always associate Iran with beautiful carpets.
Least favourite other Asian artworks:
Korean embroidery: Not refined enough and the workmanship is pretty mediocre, I just think the Koreans are not skilful enough with needle works.
Vietnamese porcelains: Sorry to say this, I just find Vietnamese porcelains to be rather rough looking and the workmanship isn't refined enough.
Indonesian wood carving: Not impressive and rough looking, I would look up for Thai and Chinese wood carvings instead. However, the Javanese and Balinese style wood carvings are very nicely done.
Malaysian paintings: Boring, I would just look at Indonesian paintings instead of Malaysian paintings. Malaysian paintings are the most boring paintings that I have ever seen.
Afghan carpets: Too rough and uninteresting, Persian carpets are still the best.
Last, I would tell you my favorite and least favorite Chinese artworks. I would explain to you the reasons based on my objective view.
My favorite Chinese artworks:
Chinese porcelains: No need to explain much, Chinese porcelains are the best that I have ever seen because Chinese porcelains represent my pride as a Chinese. There are just so many styles and types of Chinese porcelains that I adore very much. I am also very enthusiastic on learning about Chinese porcelains. That's why if everytime I see Chinese porcelain on the auction markets or antique catalogues, I always feel so proud.
Chinese ink paintings: No doubt, the best that I have ever seen. I am very much proud of being Chinese just by looking at all of those traditional Chinese ink paintings. I am also very much grateful to my favorite ink painting artists such as Wu Guanzhong, Xu Beihong, Pan Tianshou, Qi Baishi, etc. for further enriching the Chinese ink painting culture.
Chinese embroidery: No doubt, very beautifully made and colourful. I especially adore the Suzhou style Chinese embroidery, as Suzhou embroidery is the most refined and meticulously done among all the other styles of Chinese style embroidery that I have ever seen.
Chinese wood carvings: Beautiful, detailed, and very meticulously done. I don't need further explanations.
Chinese ivory carvings: The explanation is just the same as above, I especially adore the Chinese style ivory dolls. Just looking at the Chinese style ivory carvings, I already feel so proud to be Chinese.
Chinese jade carvings: Superbly done and beautiful to look at, Chinese jade carvings would boost my pride as a Chinese.
My least favourite Chinese artworks:
Chinese carpets: Too rough and the workmanship is pretty mediocre, I should give the title to the Persians for being the best carpet makers.
Chinese paper folding art: Boring, I think the Japanese should hold the title as being the best paper folding makers.
Chinese oil paintings: Chinese are good at ink paintings, but not oil paintings. I think Western people make better oil paintings than Chinese people.
Chinese mask making art: I just think that Chinese mask design looks a bit too gaudy for my liking, I much prefer Korean mask making art.
顺丽-san, thank you very much for your comment as usual, and setting your nickname on your comment. It is easier for me to distinguish your comments from other anonymous comments.
You enjoyed Perfume music and video, so it made me glad. I also like their videos which you introduced to me. One of them, the dance of "Flash", must be strongly inspired by the Kung-fu of your country.
I enjoyed and learned very much from your explanation about the history of celadon. It was concise and intriguing. Thank you.
As for "The Private Life of Chairman Mao", I actually have read the book in Japanese. I learned about Mao's personality from the book. My impression was written on my blog in Japanese with comments from friends of mine; http://yositeru.hateblo.jp/entry/20060221/p1
From your comments about products (electronics, bag, and snacks, etc.) and arts of several countries, I recognized that products and arts are easy to understand among people of different nations and languages. (you like Jagabee the snack! "Jaga" is from "Jagaimo" which means potato in Japanese) Products and arts sometimes become representatives or diplomats of their birthplace. In addition, you are the representative and diplomat of modern China for me. You certainly make my image of China better.
Sometimes the popularity of products in a certain country shows citizens' consciousness to another country. For example, (these are unfortunate cases), it is very difficult to find Korean cars in Japan, and vice versa. During the WWII, people in Japan were banned from enjoying American movies and even to use any English words. You and I are able to enjoy many excellent products and arts from all over the world and this means we live in the country which is at war.
You're welcome, glad to see you again as usual.
Yes, I also enjoy all the other products and arts from the other countries because I think each countries have their own special talents in making something. I also enjoy my own countries' products and arts so I could see what kind of special talents that the Chinese have.
As for the product banning/boycotting, yes China also has similar problem with product banning/boycotting. China often has products banning/boycotting problem when there is a political clash between China and the other countries e.g: Japanese products are boycotted/banned in China when China has political clash with Japan, French products are banned/boycotted when China has political clash with France, etc. I personally still enjoy all kinds of products from other countries despite of the constant product banning/boycotting problems within China because I judge every single products based on the quality and the value of money.
As for the today's posting, I would like to tell you which Japanese dishes that I like the most and I don't like that much.
My favorite Japanese dishes:
Tempura udon: Very tasty and fulling, not really the healthiest dish but very enjoyable, so I could only enjoy it for once a while. The tempura udon that I tried at Tokyo was really tasty and cheap, I would like to eat it again if I visit Japan.
Sashimi: Love the beautiful craftsmanship, the Japanese are very talented on slicing fish and any kinds of seafood. And the food presentation is just simply gorgeous to look at, especially the fish and seafood slices. Very fresh as well, but I could only eat Sashimi for once a while because they are often expensive and not very affordable.
Sushi: That is the dish that I have in my mind first about Japanese dish, tasty and varied, fresh and beautifully made. My favorite is tuna sushi and eggroll sushi.
Miso soup: Very tasty and savory, healthy and fulling as well. I like miso soup with tofu and wakame the best.
Ramen: Tasty and fulling, the heartiest Japanese dish in my mind next to Unagidon.
Unagidon: Another hearty Japanese dish, very fulling and tasty but healthier than Ramen.
Tonkatsu: Not that healthy, but it is my guilty pleasure dish, so I could only eat it for once a while.
Tempuradon: Another of my guilty pleasure dish, so I could only eat it for once a while.
Sukiyaki: Healthy and fun, sukiyaki is my most ideal dish for partying.
Gyoza: Just like Jiaozi nut the skin is thinner that Jiaozi which I like like because I could taste the juiciness of the meat.
Yakiniku: Japanese style barbecue that I enjoy, love the yakiniku that I have tried at Osaka, so tasty.
My least favorite Japanese dishes:
Japanese curry: Too bland and the smell is rather funny, Indian curry is the best for me.
Japanese omelette fried rice: I don't like the fried rice, too sweet and rather glutinous. I much prefer Yangzhou fried rice that I could make at home or Hong Kong style fried rice.
Oyakodon: I have a bad experience with oyakodon, I don't know why, maybe the taste is a bit too weird for me. Katsudon is better for me.
Hayashi rice: I just don't like it, tastes weird and I don't understand the appeal of it.
Now I would like to tell you my most favourite western dishes and my least favourite western dishes, so I could tell you which western dishes that I think good and not good.
Favorite western dishes:
Spaghetti: Very tasty, the food that I have on my mind first about Italian food, I never get bored with it. I love Spaghetti Bolognese the most.
Pizza: Very tasty and enjoyable, I always love pizza no matter what. Pizza is the food that I like as a child until now.
Cheese fondue: Very tasty and enjoyable, I love the melted cheese, so tempting.
Paella: So tasty and exotic, love the seafood variety within the paella, my Father also likes Paella.
French Onion Soup: Tasty and warm, love the melted cheese on the top and the onion slices. I like to eat it with French bread (Baguette).
Greek salad: Exotic and healthy, love the Feta cheese and the dressing the most.
Spanish ham: Very tasty and savory, I like to eat it with bread and butter. I especially adore Iberian ham, the best among the other European hams that I tried so far. I like it a bit better than Italian ham (Parma ham).
Spanish tomato soup: Very tasty and healthy, best when eaten warm.
Italian roasted pork: Very tasty, the best western style roasted pork that I tried so far.
British sandwich: Simple but tasty and filing, the sandwich that my Father brought from London was the tastiest, can't forget the taste.
Escargot: This dish is maybe a bit too bizarre for you, but I like it very much, love the butter and the garlic taste combination on the snail. My Father ever made this dish and I love it.
Greek style grilled chili with cheese: So tasty and tempting, want to eat it again.
My least favorite western dishes:
Fish and chips: Boring and too greasy, I know that many British like it but I just cannot see the appeal of it. My own version of fish and chips that I made at home is better than the original British version.
Bratwurst: Too salty and boring, I cannot see the appeal of it. German dishes bore a lot, except for the German bread.
Swedish meatballs: Unispiring, the Swedish meatball that I ate at IKEA isn't that anything special, just so-so. Swedish dishes are just so-so for me, just like any other Scandinavian dishes.
Dutch pea soup: Smelly and boring, sorry to say this.
Next, I would tell you my favorite non-Chinese and non-Japanese other Asian dishes:
Thai salad: Very tasty and exotic, I really miss the salad that I have ever eaten at Bangkok.
Vietnamese spring roll: Light and tasty, would love to try that again.
Indonesian satay: Very tasty, but I could only that thing for once a while.
Singaporean chili crab: Tasty, but I like it if its not too spicy.
Tandoori chicken: Very tasty and I love the smell.
Samosas: Not very heathy, but I love it nonetheless. So I could eat it for once a while.
Thosai: Very tasty Indian style crepe, I really miss the Thosai that I had agreed Singapore.
Nasi Uduk: I fell in love with that food when I went to Jakarta.
Indonesian tamarind soup: Very tasty and healthy, good for chilling my body.
Least favorite other Asian dishes:
Kimchi: I don't like the smell and the taste, Korean food is one of my least favorite foods.
Bibimbap: Again, the smell is awkward and I don't like the taste. I got a stomachache problem after I ate that thing once. Korean food for some reasons just doesn't appeal me.
Taiwanese stinky tofu: To smelly, I cannot stand it at all.
Nasi Lemak: I ate once at Malaysia and I didn't quite like it.
Laksa: Too thick for me, I don't like it at all.
Thank you for your posts. When I read them, I thought that the globalization of food is spreading because there is no difference between what you eat and what I eat.
As for me, I like almost all the dishes you mentioned. In particular, I love ramen and soba. See my noodle album including over 100 different pics of ramen;
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipMlvDMDWIGgQjpBJC3EJ3siSCwY8d9JMIbj5AFE
My favorite Chinese dishes are many, especially gyoza (from your comment, I've learned that Japanese gyoza isn't the same of jiaozi of China), sauteed shrimp with chili sauce, and simple fried rice.
Hullo, Korean here!
I've noted that being said about the ICJ, so I'll add my small tidbit. The ICJ is mostly distrusted over here, and most Koreans fear the ruling would go over to Japan especially of certain right wing parties choose to...invest, in a matter of speaking, to Japanese nationalism and raise their own popularity. Furthermore, at the moment the island is seen as Korean internationally, requiring Korean visas and policing. The idea is that why should we have to use funds and undergo risk when the island is technically ours?
Honestly, I think the biggest issue both countries should concentrate on is on history revisionism. I've noticed Korean textbooks seem to concentrate on Korean Nationalism movements and Japanese cruelty (which existed, mind you,) than some of the development we underwent or public middle/upper class attitudes during the occupation. It's due to the fact said middle/upper class have still been in power, and would prefer to take the attention off themselves.
On the other hand, the Japanese textbooks seem to disregard anything concerning the atrocities during WW2; I was astounded when I heard most Japanese youth don't know about the comfort women, Nanking, or Unit 731, things that plague Japan's foreign policy with fellow East Asian nations to this day. It's shocking really, and I think that's what contributes to dislike against Koreans/Chinese these days: Japanese youth don't realise why their country is being hated on, thus, said dislike is unfair.
Honestly, while I find arguing for reparations idiotic at this point in time, I agree that history shouldn't be revisioned in this manner; Japanese history revisionists seem content to cover up their wrongs, which past victim nations would certainly not agree with.
There's also the issue of both governments manipulating public sentiment against Japan/Korea in order to aim for a certain policy, or more commonly, cover up their own incompetence. I've found Korea's right wing administration particularly annoying in that matter, and Abe administration not that much different. It's like both governments want us two countries to hate each other. Trust me, president Lee's incompetence over the Emperor Akihito incident was groaned over in both countries. Quite a feat, really.
Either way, interesting article. It's great to see someone (on both sides) on the web not stupidly nationalistic or trolling. If it helps, most Koreans quite like Japanese people and culture despite their lack of fondness for the current Japanese government.
As for me? Well, I have a sushi buffet to head off to in 10 minutes ;) Itadakimasu!
Ms. Jenny Sohn, thank you for your comment.
As for the ICJ, I've learned that the judgment of the ICJ may provoke the rise of more nationalism among the two countries. I think now that the better plan to deal with the Takeshima / Dokdo problem is put it on the back burner, even though this is very difficult and unrealistic. Through from checking old documents (before the 19th century) about this island, my conclusion is that arguing about this problem based on old documents is nonsense because none of the people in the past signed an official agreement between Japan and Korea.
You are right, many Japanese youth don't know 20th century history well. In history classes of junior high school and high school, the study of 20th century history usually begins the last month of the 3rd year of junior high school (and high school). So, students can learn very little the 20th Century history. Why? I have no idea and I think that it is a serious problem. I also experienced the same when I was a high school student in the late 1980s. Some classmates and I asked our history teacher why. The teacher said, "I think so too.", but the chapter about 20th century history wasn't so detailed compared to other periods in the history textbook.
As you wrote, it creates a barrier of mutual misunderstanding between foreign people, especially east Asians. What's more, my opinion, the situation creates people who lack unprejudiced views of history (ultra right and left wing). When people who never learn modern history in school come across a prejudiced or extreme views of history, some may believe the view to be true.
The Japanese government is planning a new history curriculum which will make modern history a compulsory course. However, it will start in 2022, five years from now. I'm worried if the curriculum will be balanced or not. I totally agree with your opinion about history revisionists, they are some of the main origins of mutual hate and are blasphemous against history and all people in the past.
Did you enjoy your sushi buffet? Tonight, I enjoy drinking some makgoli.
Actually, I have one thing that I admire the most about the Chinese.
In spite of the moral problem and the communism problem in China, the Chinese still maintain two very good habits such as:
1. Close family relationships
Do you the reason why China during the traditional celebrations like Chinese New Year, Qingming day, and Mid-autumn always like to go back to their hometowns? It is because the Chinese still care about their family members, they like to gather with their family members celebrating those traditional celebrations together while having fun.
2. Hardworking ethic
The Chinese still maintained the culture of hardworking because Confucianism always encouraged hardworking ethic and preservarence.
I know China as a country has many demons that it struggles to fight, but I still love China dearly because China is my motherland.
In Taiwan actually only about 15-20% of the Chinese came from the mainland in 1949 after the revolution. The remainder have been there for centuries. My mother's side of the family, for example, has been in the same spot in Taiwan for 16 generations. Their family was educated in Japanese (because they were rich) but privately had Chinese tutors, and my grandfather ran away from the Japanese Merchant Marine when drafted during WW2 because he did not want to fight against the fellow Chinese. Still, he liked how the Japanese ran Taiwan before the war because it was very orderly and clean. Most regular people, who had less access to education, liked the Japanese for these reasons as well and were perhaps less inclined towards Chinese Nationalism. Also that side of the family is Hakka, who consider themselves the most pure-blooded of the Han Chinese race because they escaped from Northern China before the Mongols took over in the Middle Ages and are not racially mixed with them, like many modern Northern Chinese are. My family specifically is originally from the Yellow River Delta area.
I believe the difference is primarily racial. Japanese are Chinese who emigrated to the island nation of Japan. Taiwanese are Chinese who emigrated to the island of Taiwan. Koreans are Siberians who were Sinicized during the Tang dynasty and are considered racially different compared to the Han Chinese and the Han-descended Japanese. Because of this, there was a real possibility of the Taiwanese becoming Japanese one day which would be unthinkable in the case of Korea. Like Japan, Taiwan also has only a very small population of Aborigines, and everyone else originally came from China.
In Taiwan, I have even seen old men walking around in their Imperial Japanese military uniforms. I cannot imagine such a thing in Korea. It's similar, I think, to how the Nazis treated Scandinavians vs. the way they treated Eastern Europeans, except the Japanese Empire lasted 50 years in Taiwan whereas the 3rd Reich lasted less than a decade everywhere outside of Germany proper. Also, since Korea is on the mainland, it was run by the military whereas in Taiwan the civil administration had more power. The similarities to American imperialism today are striking.
So, I think the roots of these opinions go much deeper than the early 20th century. Taiwan maintained Fascist government longer than any other country on Earth, since Imperial Japan was succeeded by the Chinese Nationalists. Martial Law was not lifted until 1986.
Korea and Taiwan historically have been too small to stay on their own in Northeast Asia. It's like Taiwan always gets taken out on a date to art museums while Korea gets gang-raped by soldiers.
Hi Yoshiteru, your original post was made in 2012. Today is 2017. Still, you are receiving comments to your post. This shows that the subject you touched back in 2012 is still close to many individual peace-seeking Japan-friendly East Asian's hearts today as it was then! Keep it up.
顺丽-san, I agree with your opinion. In all the countries and cities I've ever traveled to, Chinese restaurants which are ran by Chinese were open. I think that this is the typical symbol of Chinese strength, close family relationships and hardworking ethic.
Mr. / Ms. JCH, your comment is very intriguing. Before reading it, I believed that in Taiwan people from the mainland after the 1949 revolution and people from the mainland earlier were the racially same. If these people are the same race, I accept the opinion the two are different because they have different history of several centuries. Experiences change a man, accumulating people's experience becomes history, history changes the people, I think.
On the other hand, I have firstly heard the opinion that the Japanese are racially the same of the Chinese. It is interesting, but I think that the Chinese and the Japanese are different because we have different histories. I know that some people, including Jared Diamond (the author of the great book "Guns, Germs and Steel") says that Korean are the ancestors of the majority of the Japanese. (Diamond admits that both the Japanese and the Koreans don't like this opinion, haha) I think that the Koreans and the Japanese are different because the same reason.
Anyway, I thank you again for your comment. I've learned much about the Taiwanese people's real background.
Mr. / Ms. Anonymous, thank you very much! When I wrote this entry in 2012 I felt nervous because this topic is touchy. Now I feel that it was a good thing. Communicating with many overseas guests, I am grateful to the guests. They show me the potential for peaceful communication among east Asia people.
I enjoyed your post even though it's controversial. I personally love modern Japan for many reasons like hospitality, enthusiasm, eye for detail and the peace and safety so I keep on returning but I am a bit miffed that the government shelters their people from their horrific past and have not formally apologized, unlike Germany. I am also angry that China's government was left so weak and corrupt that they would let a small island country bully them so badly. We joke that with if all the people in China took a piss they could drown Japan.
Just a couple of stories you may be interested in; of my maternal grandmother's perspective, she did get bits of food and candy for helping out a soldier do menial tasks so she wasn't as affected. My other grandmother from my father's is still very angry. To this day she tells me she can never forget the heavy stomping of their boots as they marched into her small hometown of Toishan of no political significance. She thinks the sound was used as a way to strike fear in the local people. She told me that they families would hide young daughters away from the rape happy Japanese soldiers.
She vividly remembers that as a young girl she was digging around with some older grannies and other little girls for root vegetables when she felt the whoosh of bullets by her side and saw a couple of Japanese soldiers using them for target practice from a hilltop. Everyone crouched under the grass until they went away, luckily nobody was killed that day. She is still furious that they would just shoot at women and children for fun and holds onto her anger to this day and I really can't blame her. They held on to her village for a couple of years. She laughs and was surprised how quickly the Japanese got their information when they lost to the Americans. They left in the dead of night before the villagers could seek retribution.
If I told her I was dating a Japanese man at that time I really think she would vomit blood haha.
I'm not sure why Korean's are so much angrier but many Koreans like to say that they are fiery people and just anger easily. I admit in their dramas compared to Chinese dramas I noticed a lot more hitting and yelling. I think their fieriness has helped to carry on when they are stuck between two powerful countries, China and Japan. I haven't heard about much violence from China's end except for demands of tribute.
Thank you for reading my post and writing a comment. When I read both your grandmothers' stories, I felt deeply sympathy for them and the village people who suffered from the Japanese soldiers' savage actions. Unfortunately, I've heard and read many cases like them, therefore I'm not surprised by them. However, I always feel so sad whenever I hear or read such cases in all wars regardless of place and age.
As for the Japanese soldiers, I never would like to protect or admit their evil doings but I think of their education and environment. I heard that many of them were hit or scolded by their commanders with no reason almost everyday. Of the 2,300,000 Japanese soldiers who died during WWII, 60% of them died by disease or starvation. 4,000 soldiers died by suicide-bombing attacks. This data shows how the Japanese army treated their soldiers. Such an environment made Japanese soldiers evil in the war place, I think. Again, I don't mean to say that Japanese soldiers weren't guilty. I strongly blame the Japanese Army, in particular the leaders. The same goes for some politicians who never admitted the war responsibility of the Empire of Japan.
I respect your objective viewpoint. You told me valuable historical evidence of Japanese people's barbarous acts, the good points of Japanese and your country's unwanted actions. Such an attitude has made me more convinced than other attitude - only criticizing somebody or something.
Oh, I forgot something, I would tell you which Chinese dishes are my favorites.
Chinese food is the type that I am familiar and growing up with, so I have so many favorite Chinese dishes. But I could only mention to you some here because there are just so many of them.
Chaozhou steamboat: Steamboat with clear broth, yam pieces, fish, and vegetables. Very tasty yet clean, healthy, and light on the same time.
Dim sum: Tasty and enjoyable classical Cantonese dish, but I could only eat this dish for once a while because Dim sum is rather fattening and hard to make.
Chicken with chili: Classical Sichuanese dish, not really that healthy but very enjoyable nonetheless. I could only eat this dish for once a while.
Jiaozi: Classical northern Chinese dish, tasty and easy to make.
Chaozhou spring rolls: Very healthy and tasty on the same time, this is the unfried version of Chinese spring rolls with vegetables and prawn fillings.
Dan dan noodles: Classical Sichuan comfort dish, I like to eat this dish during weekend sometimes.
Sweet and sour pork: Classical Cantonese dish, very tasty and suitable for party dish.
Scallion pancakes: Tasty Shandong style pancakes with scallions, perfect for breakfast or snack.
Cantonese style steamed fish: Healthy and tasty Cantonese dish, perfect for home style dish.
Chaozhou style steamed pomfret: Another healthy and tasty dish, but pomfret is rather expensive so I could only eat/cook this dish for once a while.
Chaozhou braised meats: Tasty without being greasy and heavy, I like Chaozhou braised duck and pork the most.
Xiaolongbao: Classic Shanghainese street food dish, I like to buy this dish if I come to visit Shanghai.
Shanghainese fried noodle: Tasty and filling, another of my favorite Shanghainese street food dish aside from Xiaolongbao.
Buddha jumps over the wall: Classic Fujianese dish, tasty and healthy on the same time.
Double boiled soup: Classic Cantonese style soup, great as a everyday meal.
Cantonese roasted meats: I like Cantonese roasted pork, roasted goose, and roasted duck the most.
Chaozhou suckling pig: Great party dish, I love this dish because the skin is crispy and the meat is succulent without being heavy.
Tea smoked duck: I love the smell and the crispy skin the most, great as a party dish.
Wonton noodles: Classical Cantonese comfort dish, I like to eat this dish during weekend sometimes if I get bored with Dan Dan noodles.
Twice cooked pork: Not really a healthy dish, so I could only eat this dish for once a while.
Drunken chicken: Great classical Shanghainese dish, best served chilled.
Longjing shrimp: Shrimp cooked with longjing tea, I love the smell the most.
Beggar's chicken: Rather oily dish but tasty nonetheless, there is an interesting back story about how this dish was invented.
Thank you. When reading your list, my appetite increased very much! I love Chinese food. Not only in Japan, but also in western countries, I enjoy Chinese food. In your list, especially I would like to eat " Buddha jumps over the wall". A famous Japanese gourmet manga (features over 100 volumes) said that it was one of the greatest dish in the world.
Right now I am watching 大長今 (Da Chang Jin in Mandarin Chinese pronunciation, Dae Jang Geum in Korean pronounciation), a Korean drama series that I like since I was a teenager and I still like it until now.
Although I am not really keen on Korean drama series but I really like 大長今 because I find the series to be very well-made. 大長今 used to be very popular in China when I was a teenager, many Chinese people like that series and that series even becomes a personal favorite of former chairman 胡錦濤.
大長今 is a Korean drama series that talks about Korean culture, Korean history, and the perseverance of a woman named 長今 (Chang Jin in Mandarin Chinese pronunciation, Jang Geum in Korean pronunciation). When I watched 大長今, I gained knowledge about Korean history and Korean culture, knowing about Korean history and culture would give me the chance to find the missing pieces of my own culture. Personally, I feel grateful to the Koreans because without them, the Chinese would never have the chance to find the missing pieces of their own culture. Korean and China have certain cultural similarities because Korea and China had extensive relationship with each other in the past.
As well, when I watched 大長今, I was quite impressed with 長今 because 長今, just like Oshin, her perseverance and overall good character could be inspirational for girls and women.
Although I am not really big fan of Korean food but 大長今 could give me a chance to see how is Korean food truly like. I could learn a couple of things about Korean food just by watching 大長今.
Have you ever watched 大長今 series? Do you know 大長今 series?
And the I also would like to admit about my own mistake in the past. Sorry if you feel offended with me but I am just being honest to you, other people, and myself.
In the past, I used to have bigoted and prejudiced view about the Koreans. I used to underestimate the Koreans and their culture, not just that I also used to mock them secretly in the past.
But now, I realized that my bigoted about the Koreans is really stupid, I also realized on how immature and stupid I am on being prejudiced towards the Koreans and their culture. I now realized that being prejudiced and bigoted towards other nationalities would make me a bad person, now I realize that I am such a bad person by being bigoted and prejudiced towards the Koreans. I regret myself on taking pleasure on mocking on other nationalities and cultures just for the sake of fun, now I realize that mocking of other nationalities and cultures for the sake of fun is really stupid and immature. I believe that anyone would feel insulted and disappointed if other people mock of their nationalities and culture just for the sake of fun. I also would feel insulted and disappointed if anyone would make fun of my nationality and culture just for the sake of fun. Now I have learned my lesson, I won't mocking other nationalities for the sake of fun anymore.
I used to somewhat underestimate Korean products, but now I realize that Koreans could make good quality products as well. I grew to appreciate Korean products as well.
Here are the Korean products that I appreciate.
Korean cars: Korean cars are reliable, affordable, and easy to maintain. Although I think that Japanese cars are slightly higher in quality but I think Korean cars are pretty good in quality as well. I don't have a Korean car but a friend of mine who has a Korean car told me that Korean cars are pretty good in quality, cheap, and reliable. And what my friend told me about Korean cars was true, I noticed that a lot people have very good impression about Korean cars. I congratulate the Koreans for being able to produce good quality cars recently.
Korean cosmetics and skin care products: Although I don't wear any Korean cosmetics and skin care products but I still appreciate them because I can see why many people like them. My cousin who likes to wear many Korean cosmetic products told me that Korean cosmetics are cheap but good in quality. And what my cousin said was true, that's why I noticed that many Korean cosmetics and skin care products are really popular in China nowadays.
Korean electronics: Korean electronics are cheap but good in quality, reliable, and easy to maintain. Although I think Japanese and American electronics are slightly better in quality, but I still think that Korean electronics are really good. I have Korean smartphone, air conditioner, and refrigerator at home and I love them all. I just love Korean electronics as much as I love Japanese and American electronics.
Korean pears: Korean pears are really tasty and fresh, Australian pears are also pretty good.
Korean snacks: Although I am not really a big fan of Korean food, but I like Korean snacks because many of them are tasty. I like Korean shrimp crackers and instant noodles the best.
Plus, I also would like to say congratulation to the Koreans for developing their country in a such a short period. By seeing how the Koreans developing their country in such a short period, I could see how hard working and determined the Koreans are. I think China should also learn from South Korea for the sake of China's development.
As for North Korea, I feel so sorry about North Korea. When I see the North Koreans have to suffer under the harsh rule of Kim regime, I feel so sorry for them, they don't deserve to suffer under such a harsh regime. I don't know whether Korea reunification will happen or not but I hope good things will come to Korea someday.
Then again I also would like to tell you something that makes me irritated. So please don't be offended because I have no intention to offend you or anyone else here.
I always feel so irritated if anyone dares to say like this, "xxxxx people are ugly, xxxxx people are the best looking." To me, saying that only certain ethnicity is good looking or not good looking is simply unfair. Good looking and not good looking people could be found in any ethnicities, so that's why I dislike people who have bigoted view about people's physical attractiveness.
I admit that I used to be guilty of saying that certain ethnicities are good looking while dissing the other ethnicities as being not good looking. But now, I no longer hold that type of bigoted view, now I realize that good looking and not good looking people could be found in any ethnicities.
Everyone is beautiful to me, as long as they have beautiful personalities as well.
"Oshin" and 大長今 (titled "Changumu's Oath" in Japan) are both popular among Japanese people, especially women. "Oshin" was broadcast on TV in 1983, so many people watched the drama. At that time I was a junior high school student, I remember clearly that many TV programs (including rival broadcast stations) and magazines picked up the drama and many people talked about it. I haven't ever seen people so fanatic about a TV drama in my lifetime.
大長今 is also popular. As noted above, Korean dramas have many fans in Japan (in particular, women over 40). One of the most famous one is大長今, I think. Actually, my wife loves that drama.
As for me, I know that the dramas are about women of perseverance, strong effort and kindness, but I haven't seen either drama.
My favorite Korean culture is cinema. "JSA", "My Sassy Girl" and "Red Family" are the best for me. Some Korean foods are good for me, like samugetan.
I appreciate your attitude of never mocking other nationalities for the sake of fun anymore.
In my opinion, if people look down on people of other nationalities, there are some similarities between them, especially something worse.
For instance, some Japanese people criticize of Korea and Korean people. I think one of the reasons why is that the two countries have many similar problems.
Some examples are here;
- higher suicide rate;
https://yositeru.blogspot.jp/2012/12/why-is-suicide-rate-so-high-in-japan.html
- wider gender wage gap;
https://data.oecd.org/earnwage/gender-wage-gap.htm#indicator-chart
- worse work-life balance;
http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/topics/work-life-balance/
Therefore, whenever I feel to be offensive with other countries or people, It makes me think "what is the same problem between him/her and me?"
Thank you for the response, I am very pleased to read it, as always.
Yes, you are right, both "Oshin" and 大長今 are well-made shows with well-written stories and both shows are certified as classic here in China for good reasons. Both shows taught a lot things about perseverance and being good human beings. Oshin and 長今 both are my favorite characters because they represent the good sides of their respective cultures, as well both characters are good role models for women and girls.
As for your comments about the problems of Korea and Japan, China also has similar problems with both Korea and Japan although China's problems are heavier than both countries because China is significantly less developed and bigger than both countries. Despite that, I hope all of them could solve their respective problems swiftly soon.
Btw, as for today's posting, I would like to show you different techniques of making lacquerwares from different countries.
This is Korean lacquerware making technique:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43K0CZd1Z08
When I see the video of Korean style lacquerware technique, I could appreciate the artist's talent on making lacquerware and I adore the mother of pearl design on the lacquerware. Even though I find Korean lacquerwares to be not as refined as Japanese lacquerware or not as colorful as Vietnamese lacquerware, but I still appreciate Korean lacquerware especially Korean lacquerware with mother of pearl design.
This is Japanese lacquerware:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnCTEtx4F9A
When I see the video of Japanese style lacquerware technique, I was impressed with the Japanese technique of making lacquerware and I totally adore the refined design of Japanese lacquerware. Japanese lacquerware is one of my most favorite Japanese art.
This is Vietnamese lacquerware:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiuR6h5v4Mc
When I watch the video of Vietnamese lacquerware, I could appreciate the fastidious work of the Vietnamese to make those lacquerwares that I adore. Vietnamese lacquerware, just like Japanese lacquerware, is the most beautiful that I have ever seen. And I was quite impressed by how the way the Vietnamese make those gorgeous lacquer paintings.
This is Chinese lacquerware:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNnNVGEEV8I
When I watch the video of Chinese lacquerware, I could appreciate my own heritage and I also could learn my own culture just by looking at it. I personally think that Han dynasty period Chinese lacquerwares are the best looking so far.
Addition, I would like to tell you the brief story of lacquerware in China.
Lacquerware was started in China in the 5th century from Shaanxi area of China. Lacquer is made from the tree sap mixed with resin. Prior to the dynasty period of China, lacquer was used as a polishing for ritual tools because lacquer is very durable and water-resistant. Then, during the Ming dynasty period, lacquer was applied widely in furnitures especially furnitures for the imperial use. Lacquer in China only comes in two colors, black and red, black is the most commonly used color for lacquer while red is used for imperial lacquer. However, the only areas where red colored lacquer is used outside of imperial use are Shaanxi and Fujian where both areas are more liberal for lacquer coloring. Then there is a special technique originated from Shaanxi area of China called "mianjin," "mianjin" technique is the technique of tracing figures from gold and then lacquer is applied on the gold figures as coloring.
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