CULTURE THROUGH THE “ASIAS” Click to continue on your journey This power point is part of a project for EDU553 and is a reference for instructors Included in this power point are activities and websites By Mary Ramondetta

CULTURE What is culture? “The totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought.” American Heritage Dictionary 4 th edition Click to continue

Click on the country you are interested in learning about Japan U.S.A China

JAPAN Language Religion Education Customs and TraditionsCustoms and Traditions Arts and Literature Government

Education How does the education in Japan differ from that in the United States? Have the students research what school life is like in Japan. Have the students make a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting a Japanese school and their school Index

Food Index Introduction to Japanese Food The food in the United States can be the somewhat similar to that found in Japan. Do you know what Hanbagu means in Japanese? Click here to find out. What about wagashi? Do you think you might like this? Click here to find out Have students make a list of new foods that they have never heard of before. Then play a game with the class to see who can guess what the food is in the United States.

Language Spoken Japanese The Japanese language Has different dialects Called Hogen. Have the students list different words that are used in English like soda, tonic, pop Written Japanese Index Have the students write their names or a special word in Japanese. ClickClick here for the Japanese alphabet

Religion “Shinto is a purely native Japanese religion. It has been flatly stated that it is a racial religion, belonging to all Japanese by birth. In fact, Japanese people would be dumbfounded to hear of any foreigner 'converting' to Shinto. But then Shinto is really as much cultural as it is religious, having developed alongside the Japanese culture since the most ancient days. There are no Shinto texts, no scriptures, no organized teachings, no dogma, no regular worship services, no sermons, and no rules or commandments. As such, it has been suggested that Shinto is not really a religion at all, but more of a cultural tradition or a collection of folk beliefs. But a religion requires only faith, and dogma is just a tool of faith.” “ “Buddhism was imported to Japan from China, via Korea, around the 5th and 6th centuries AD, replete with almost a millennium of written teachings. Since it came along with some decidedly higher culture than was present in Japan at that time -- written language, literature, architecture, higher education, philosophy, and systems of government -- and because many of the new practitioners of this higher culture were also imported from Korea and (occassionally) China, Buddhism became the religion of the elite, and eventually of the ruling class. Over time, they passed this influence down to the common people, sometimes requiring them to pay homage to the new religion in favor. The Buddhism that came to Japan was of several Mahayana (northern Buddhist) sects.” Index Most Japanese people observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, Religion continued

Religion The majority of the Japanese people belong to either Shinto or the Buddhist Religions. Have the students create a graphic organizer listing the features of each religion. Click here for a website featuring both religions.Click Index

Customs and Traditions National Holiday Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December What is a national Holiday in the United States? OrigamiOrigami Kimonos Judo Have the students create a Power Point presentation on one of the customs or traditions found in Japan Index Tea Ceremony

Arts and Literature Noh oldest form of musical theatre Where can you go in the United States for musical theatre? Click here to get info on Japanese Arts and LiteratureClick Index

Government constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government There are three branches of the government Legislative – the diet executive the cabinet and judicial the courts. How are our governments alike how are they different? Index The National Diet Building

U.S.A The cultural slides for U.S.A are under construction

U.S.A. Language Religion Education Customs and TraditionsCustoms and Traditions Arts and Literature Government

China The cultural slides for China are under construction

China Customs and TraditionsCustoms and Traditions Arts and Literature Government Language Religion Education

Bibliography k/geos/ja.htmlhttp:// k/geos/ja.html htmlhttp://cp.settlement.org/english/japan/arts. html End of Show