taboos of festivals and customs in major Asian countries
(1) Japan
Japan and China are separated only by a strip of water. The Japanese are introverted, competitive, self-respecting, hardworking, and pay attention to punctuality and etiquette.
1. Living customs
Because it is surrounded by the sea on all sides, the special geographical environment determines the eating habits of Japanese people, and they are particularly fond of all kinds of seafood, especially raw oyster meat and sashimi. Japanese people like to eat kimchi and "miso soup" made of seafood such as soy sauce, vegetables, tofu, mushrooms and laver. This kind of miso soup is called "mother's handicraft". Japanese people pay attention to tea ceremony and ceremony. Tea ceremony is very complicated. Being good at tea ceremony in Japan is considered as an excellent performance of identity and self-cultivation.
Japanese people especially love cherry blossoms and regard them as national flowers.
2. Religious belief
The Japanese mainly believe in Buddhism and Shinto, and advocate the spirit of Bushido.
3. Taboos:
Japanese people are very particular about table manners. When using chopsticks alone, there are eight taboos: first, avoid licking chopsticks, second, avoid losing chopsticks, third, avoid moving chopsticks, fourth, avoid twisting chopsticks, fifth, avoid inserting chopsticks, sixth, avoid pulling chopsticks, seventh, and eighth, avoid picking chopsticks. In addition, it is forbidden to use the same pair of chopsticks to pick up food for all the people at the table.
The Japanese don't like the lotus pattern, and think it is an unlucky flower, which is used to pay homage to the dead. As for chrysanthemum, it is considered as a noble flower, and the 16-petal chrysanthemum is a special flower decoration for the royal family. Although it is deeply loved by ordinary people, it cannot be given away as a gift at will. When visiting patients, it is not welcome to send camellia, cyclamen, white flowers and light yellow flowers.
In Japan, people are also afraid to give people combs as gifts, because the Japanese pronunciation of combs is similar to "bitter death". Besides, ballpoint pens, T-shirts, matches and advertising cap are not considered as gifts.
For numbers, Japanese people generally prefer odd numbers to even numbers. The taboo numbers are 4 and 9, and the reason is that 4 is pronounced the same as "death", 9 and "bitterness" in Japanese.
if you want to take photos with Japanese friends, avoid three people in a row, because they think it will be bad luck to be caught in the middle.
when you are entertaining the Japanese, even if he smokes, you should never offer him a cigarette. Because Japanese people don't like others to offer cigarettes to themselves, and they will never offer cigarettes to others.
please remember, when you send a letter to a Japanese friend, don't put the stamp on the envelope upside down, because it is a sign of breaking up in Japan.
(II) South Korea
1. Living customs
Koreans are proud of their long culture. They are polite and hospitable. Ordinary people have good manners, respect the old and love the young, treat guests warmly and pay attention to reciprocity. Koreans attach great importance to the first impression of their contacts. Before establishing a close working relationship with others, they think it is very important to behave in accordance with etiquette. If you can follow their way of life when you are engaged in business negotiations, they will have a good impression on you. Koreans like spicy food, especially Sichuan food in Chinese food. They mainly eat rice and cold noodles, and they like kimchi, roast beef, roast dog meat and ginseng chicken. Use spoons and chopsticks for tableware.
Hibiscus is the national flower of Korea.
2. Religious belief
Koreans believe in Buddhism, Christianity and Catholicism.
3. Taboo
When visiting a Korean home, it is the most common etiquette to take off your shoes and leave them at the door. When you get along with Korean Japanese, you should talk less about local politics and more about Korean culture and art. Don't laugh loudly on any occasion. When having a working meal with Koreans, you should not talk while eating, because they think you can't make any noise while eating.
as for numbers, Koreans don't like "4" because it is pronounced as "death" in Korean and is considered unlucky. Therefore, there is no building No.4, hotels don't call it the 4th floor, restaurants don't have a 4th table, the military never numbers it with "4", and hospitals don't have floors and wards with "4". Influenced by western culture, many young Koreans don't like the number "13". Koreans prefer odd numbers to even numbers. When they toast, offer tea and serve dishes, they try to avoid the number units of 2, 4, 6 and 8.
In Korea, there are many people with the surname "Li", but people don't like others to interpret the surname "Li" as "eighteen sons Li". This is quite different from our customary appellation in China.
(3) Singapore
1. Living customs
Singapore is a civilized country, a garden country, and more than three quarters of its population are Chinese. Chinese in Singapore have a strong sense of local culture and have always had the virtues of diligence, modesty and reliability. Singaporeans have a strong sense of time and pay attention to hygiene. Singaporeans live on rice buns, prefer China Cantonese food, and people who believe in Islam like to eat curry beef.
Zhuo Jin Wan Dai Lan (a kind of orchid), also known as Hu Jihua, is the national flower of Singapore.
2. Religious belief
Although Singapore is a small country, it is a multi-ethnic country, so Singaporeans of different ethnic groups believe in different religions, mainly Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity.
3. Taboos
People who visit Singapore for sightseeing or business should pay special attention to observing various rules and regulations, paying attention to cleanliness and protecting the environment, such as littering or scribbling everywhere in the country, running a red light, chewing gum, smoking and spitting in public places are not illegal in China, but in Singapore, you will be severely punished by local laws, not only paying high fines, but also paying high fines. In Singapore, men who are rude, unkempt, disheveled, unshaven or have long hair will make people look askance.
When talking with Singaporeans, avoid talking about politics and religion, and talk about Singapore's economic achievements. When congratulating Singaporeans, avoid saying things like "Congratulations on getting rich". Because they think that the word "getting rich" is suspected of "windfall", and "windfall" is ill-gotten wealth. Therefore, wishing each other "get rich" is tantamount to teasing and inciting others to harm others' interests and public interests. Singaporeans despise and resist all these behaviors that are harmful to society.
Red, green and blue are popular among Singaporeans, while black, white and yellow are taboo colors for Singaporeans. Taboo numbers are 4, 7, 13, 37 and 69.
Islam is the main religion in Singapore. People who enter mosques must take off their shoes. Muslims forbid pork. Indians and Malays in Singapore avoid handing things with their left hands. If you are a businessman, if you want to export your goods to Singapore, remember: religious words and symbolic signs are prohibited on trademarks.
Although China people like turtles and regard them as the representatives of longevity and self-protection, Singaporeans don't like turtles and regard them as people who are not aboveboard enough and dare not take responsibility when things go wrong.
(4) India
1. Living customs
India is one of the four ancient civilizations in the world, and people pay attention to hierarchy and identity differences in social occasions. There are also many manners in daily life, and there are three kinds of common meeting gifts: one is the face-covering ceremony, the other is the foot-touching ceremony, and the third is the folding ceremony. Among them, namaste is the most commonly used. When they greet the distinguished guests, they put their hands together on their chests, and then the host presents a wreath to the guests and personally puts the wreath around their necks. Indians live on rice, love curry and fried, roasted and fried food, and are especially interested in China Sichuan cuisine. Indians pay special attention to hygiene, taking a bath every day and only taking a shower, because they think the water in the bath tray is stagnant and unclean. In middle-class families in India, housewives have to bathe and change clothes before cooking, because the kitchen is regarded as a sacred place by them, and no outsiders and unwashed family members can go in. Indians should wash their hands before meals and don't eat leftover food.
the national flower of India is the lotus.
2. Religious belief
Most Indians believe in Hinduism, and a small number believe in Islam, Christianity, Sikhism and Buddhism.
3. Taboo
India is a multi-ethnic country with many religions and different customs. Most Hindu Indians regard cows as sacred things, especially fasting foods made of beef and cowhide. Hindu elites abstain from eating vegetarian food, and even meat-like foods made from vegetarian food are not allowed to eat. Hate drinking, they think drinking is against religious habits. Hindus are most afraid that everyone eats in the same dish and does not eat food that others have touched. It is forbidden to pass things and food with the left hand, and it is considered unclean. Don't touch a child's head, and don't bathe a child in a bathtub.
The colors that most Indians don't like are white, black and gray. They think that white means sadness, while black and gray mean negativity. "1", "3" and "7" are numbers that they don't like; They humanize and deify many animals (such as cows, peacocks and snakes), but contrary to China people, they don't like turtles, cranes and their patterns, and they are also afraid of the crescent moon patterns.
It must NOt be taken for granted that nodding your head means "YES" and shaking your head means "no". In India, there is a custom of shaking your head to show your agreement.
(5) Thailand
1. Living customs
Thailand is known as the "country of thousands of Buddhists", and Buddhism has an important influence on Thailand's political life, culture, art and life. Generally, a man is about 2 years old, and he must go to a temple to be a monk for three months and learn Buddhist scriptures, even if he is a prince or a nobleman, he can only be secular. Thai people, deeply influenced by Buddhism, are very cultured. They pay attention to smiles and comity when dealing with people, and enjoy the reputation of "country with smiles" in the world. Ordinary Thais usually give a "folded ceremony" when they meet, and the higher their hands are raised, the more they respect each other. Thai officials, scholars and intellectuals meet and shake hands, but men and women do not shake hands. When the common people visit the king, they bow down. When the king visits the monk, he must kneel down. When his son becomes a monk, his parents also bow down. Thai people like to eat ethnic "curry rice", like to eat Chili and fish sauce, and like Cantonese food and Sichuan food in Chinese food. Thais like cold drinks, and they like to add salt powder when drinking orange juice or orange juice. Eat fruit not only with ice, but also with minced salt and pepper. Monks have two meals a day (morning and afternoon), and they can only drink water and drinks after noon, but monks can eat meat.
the national flower of Thailand is water lily.
2. Religious belief
Most Thais believe in Buddhism, and there are more than 3, Buddhist temples in China.
3. Taboo
When Thai people enter the temple to burn incense and worship Buddha or visit, they are not allowed to show their bare chests and backs, and their clothes and hats are untidy. This will be considered to have defiled the holy land and disrespected the Buddha. When entering the temple, everyone must take off their shoes and not step on the threshold of the temple. They think there are gods living under the threshold. There are many temples in Thailand, but people who visit temples are forbidden to take pictures or touch Buddha statues at will.
Thais believe that the head is sacred and inviolable. If you touch the Thai head with your hand, it is considered a great insult. If you hit a child on the head with your hand, you think that the child will definitely get sick; When the elders are present, the younger generation must sit underground, or kneel down, so as not to be higher than the elders' heads and avoid others carrying things over their heads. Thai people are used to sleeping without their heads facing west, because the sunset is in the west, which symbolizes death. Thai people use both hands when accepting gifts or delivering things, and avoid using one hand, especially the left hand. When you are in contact with Thai people, never slap each other. It is also not allowed to touch each other with your left hand or point at each other with your fingers when you speak. In Thailand, people are "top-heavy" and think that feet are useless except walking. It is very impolite to indicate the direction with your feet, step on the threshold with your feet, sit with your feet crossed or point your feet at people.
In Thailand, people are afraid of the designs of dogs, cranes and turtles, so we should avoid these three animals when giving gifts to Thai people.
when you negotiate a business with a Thai and need the signature of the other party, please don't prepare a red pen. Because there is a custom in Thailand, that is, the name of the deceased is written on the coffin with a red pen after death. If you don't understand this, you will not only ruin your business, but also lose your friendship and attract resentment.