Coming from a family of Asian immigrants, I have seen both the similarities and differences between both Chinese and Japanese cultures. China and Japan are alike; yet, they are completely different from one another. Before there were the differences between the two nations, there were the similarities between the two nations. First off, the main reason that both cultures are similar is due to Chinese culture having an impact on Japanese culture.

One similarity would be the language. In the beginning, the Japanese did not have a written language. Japan would have its written language once the Japanese would interact with the Chinese. The Chinese and Japanese written languages are similar to each other. Japan’s Kanji originated from Chinese symbols.

Both China and Japan share the Buddhist faith. Though Buddhism had originated in India, it had spread to China. In turn, Buddhism was spread to Japan. Buddhism has been a very important part in both Chinese and Japanese culture. Confucianism has also played an important part of both Chinese and Japanese culture.

China and Japan have similar systems of government. The Japanese borrowed the idea for its government from the Chinese Imperial Court. China had an emperor and Japan had an emperor.

The two cultures both have polytheistic religious faiths before the spread of Buddhism. China had its traditional Chinese religions and Japan had Shinto. Both faiths have a variety of deities.

Historically, both China and Japan had to deal with Mongol invaders.

On the down side, China and Japan are notorious for two of the most known crime syndicates. China has the Triad, which is the Chinese mafia. Japan has the Yakuza, which is the Japanese mafia.

Most of the world’s martial arts styles have originated from China and Japan. However, China had an influenced on the martial arts of Japan. These are where the similarities between China and Japan end.

Before Sengoku, the age of warring states in Japan, the country was very isolated from the rest of the world. China was not isolated. There was the Silk Road that spans from China to Europe and vice-versa. In the case of Japan, it was isolated by a body of water from all sides.

In China, the emperor was the absolute figure of authority. The Chinese emperor was given the mandate from Heaven.

In Japan, it was not the case until the Meiji Restoration. The emperor was simply a figure head. The real power had belonged to the shogun, a military ruler. Japan was technically a junta.

Japan is a warrior state, China is not. What that means, all aspects of a warrior are celebrated in Japan. That is not the case with China. In Japan, various forms of fighting are respected. That is not the case with China. In Japan, professional fighters are regarded as celebrities. That is not the case with China.

Before the start of the twentieth century, Japan underwent a speedy modernization of the country. That was not the case with China. Despite being isolationist in the past, Japan had a strong Western presence and influence. That was not the case with China. This is one of the biggest differences between Chinese and Japanese cultures.

While China had a strong influence on Japan in regards to martial arts, the styles from both countries are different. In China, there is Kung-Fu. In Japan, there is Bushido. In China, you have Shaolin monks. In Japan, you have samurai. However, the techniques in the Chinese martial arts are fluid and circular. The techniques in the Japanese martial arts are solid and structured. This is the traditional rivalry between Kung Fu and Karate.

Chinese and Japanese dishes are different from each other. Many of the Chinese dishes require a lot of frying. At the same time, many of the dishes are spicy. It is not the case with Japanese dishes. Certain types of Japanese dishes tend to be raw. While China has the egg roll, Japan has sushi.

In modern day culture, the video gaming scene is big in Japan. It is not the case with China. Today, Japan is far more westernized. China is just starting to catch up with Japan.