For outsiders to both cultures, Chinese and Japanese cultures can seem very similar at first glance. However, Chinese and Japanese cultures are extremely different for all of their surface similarities.

As far is similarities, both cultures are rice harvesting cultures. As rice is a finicky crop, they have both had to become dedicated to hard work and exact science in order to harvest the rice. Strong belief in diligence, perseverance and perfection permeates both societies and both societies uphold the virtues of sacrifice and dedication. A harvest of rice does not come by accident. Careful, exact planning is needed or the family could starve. Born out of these virtues comes two highly exacting societies. 

In religion, both have been influenced by Buddhism and Confucianism. Buddhism, an imported religion from India then was incorporated into both cultures. Confucius predates Buddhism and draws from Chinese Taoism. Both cultures participated in Emperor worship in their histories. 

Both cultures have an ingrained sense of duty, honor and respect for family. Both have had a preference for sons over daughters. Male dominance has pervaded both cultures for centuries. Ideals of feminine beauty are also similar - with light skin, thin bodies and silky long black hair the standard of beauty in both cultures.

Architecture in both countries has traditionally been very similar. Some of this, once again is due to the common background of rice culture. Both architectures make use of dragons and astrology.

Both countries have been ruled by the other at different points in history. Both countries have long histories of war that have had long-lasting implications in their political relations to each other in modern times. Both countries regard each other warily as centuries of distrust colors their modern-day views. Both countries people tend to have a low view of the other. Anti-Japanese protests are frequent in China and modern day Japanese journalists have tended to write unfavorable condemnations of modern China. Ask a modern-day Chinese or Japanese about the other and they will respond with equal distaste. Yet for all their vehemence at the other, they also have mutual admiration, each acknowledging the other as a formidable force.

Both societies have had long historical empires and domination of other countries in Asia - they remain to date, the superpowers of Asia, their long histories of war and domination ingrained into the fabric of each society. Honor, courage and stealth are venerated as virtues. Both have a love for fashion and luxury products that dates back to their Imperial days.

Both countries are economic super-powers with the 2nd (China) and 3rd (Japan) greatest economies in the world. Both have achieved this through fast industrialization and modernization. Both export their products, goods, foods and culture to the world. Both have highly developed systems of mass transit. Both make use of characters (Hanzi - Chinese and Kanji - Japanese ) and have similar words, their languages and writing systems sharing in their long history of interaction.

But for all their similarities, the two cultures are very different. Chinese tend to take an optimistic view on life, seeing even traffic jams as “progress.” Japanese tend to think of themselves as calculating realists. Japan is very orderly and polite, China is controlled chaos. Lines in China involve much pushing, shoving and invasion of “personal space.” Lines in Japan are well-organized and not to be interfered with. Japanese are very offended by being “cut” in front of and will often tell the authorities if someone cuts. Chinese see it more as a competition, a survival of the fittest.

Foreigners in Japan tend to be very lonely and find it difficult to make close friends with Japanese nationals. Foreigners in China often find themselves longing for solitude as the constant invitations from students, colleagues and neighbors constantly compete for their free time. Japanese are very guarded. They will say nothing in order to preserve the harmony of the whole. Chinese can be brutally honest. To give advice is to show love in China - for their idea of preserving harmony is to correct the mistakes of others in order to make life more harmonious for the whole. When a Chinese person tells you to lose weight, it means that they like you very much and are concerned for your health and well-being. They will advise their friends endlessly in matters of fashion, health, diet and education.

Japanese try to keep their emotions in check, and are more likely to suffer silently. Chinese will laugh, cry and throw fits of anger - and yet can turn their fiery emotions off and on at will. Japanese women tend to be quiet and shy, the stronger women have difficulty finding their place in society. Chinese women are known to be tigers, a fierce cutthroat woman can be an excellent business manager. It is rare to see open displays of emotions in Japan. In China it is common to see PDA, lovers spats and mother’s tirades open and public. Children in China will sing to themselves, laugh, fight and pester strangers with innocent curiosity. Children in Japan are more likely to watch with wide-eyed silent wonder as they piece together the world. 

Japan’s cities and public transportation are very quiet - not until evening will noise and conversation be common on the trains and public spaces. China’s cities and public transportation are loud, the noise of the whole is comforting to many Chinese - it means they are not alone. Chinese and Japanese are both community oriented societies, but their expression of it is in different ways. Japanese are honorable people, theft and crime is rare. They will follow the herd, obey the rules and respect tradition in order to preserve the harmony of society. Only recently has the younger generation begun to challenge the traditional mindset. Chinese see rules as guidelines. They are much more likely to bend the rules if they think it will benefit themselves and their family. Traffic in Japan is very orderly. Rarely will you hear a horn in Japan. Traffic in China is an intricate system of unspoken but mutually agreed upon rules that runs quite efficiently but to an outsider seems like complete and total chaos.

Japanese are more likely to box in their ideas. They read the rules and they follow them. If you bend or break the rules in Japan it is offensive, because it disturbs the harmony of society. A student’s paper in Japan will be exactly as is outlined. Chinese will bend and break the rules. Their papers will be nothing like what was outlined. Sometimes this is because they “didn’t like the way you outlined it” sometimes it is because they took somebody else’s paper and have turned it in as their own. Chinese are not above putting a 100 RMB bill in their test for “bonus points,” though this is slowly changing as they become a more modernized society. Japanese will follow the instructions exactly, but are sometimes flustered at the thought of trying new ideas, and may be resistant to try them. Chinese will have a meeting, all decide what they think of the new idea and tell you how they all will implicate it. Chinese and Japanese are both experts at “creative conformity” just in very different ways.

Religion is thought of very differently. The majority of Chinese are not religious. A huge number of Chinese however are “dabblers” they are very open to experimenting with different religions and may claim several at once. If they choose a religion, they may be very devout. But they often are fickle and “open” to new possibilities. Japanese are highly traditional and are leery of trying anything other than Shintoism and Buddhism, though they acknowledge that Buddhism is an “imported” religion as well.  Both Chinese and Japanese may curiously study other religions for their own self-education.

There are many other similarities and differences beyond this overview. Both China and Japan are highly developed, highly intricate, highly functional, deeply communal, ancient, mysterious cultures and the rest of the world could learn much from each. But it is a mistake to think that they are alike other than surface similarities. The deeply entrenched mindsets of each are very different from the other. Both are beautiful, creative, ingenious societies. We, who are outsiders should note and respect the accomplishments of each. They have much to offer the rest of the world.