China, Japan and Korea are each other’s major trade and investment partners and their economies are highly interdependent. Furthermore, they share a common culture. All three are Confucianist societies (Confucianism, is a system of thought and behaviour originating in ancient China. Variously described as tradition, a philosophy, a religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, a way of governing, or simply a way of life) for which the most prized value is “harmony.”
Japan's culture is fascinating and complex, it is steeped in deep traditions dating back thousands of years. On the other hand, it is a society rapidly growing and evolving with a continuous shift in fads and fashions, with technological development constantly pushing the boundaries.
Multiple religions coexist, people are born Shinto, married Christian and die Buddhist. Japan is famous for its lack of diversity; however, its population is more diverse than you might think. Deeply rooted in the culture of Japan is sumo, which has a history of over 1,500 years. Legend is said that the survival of the Japanese people is from the outcome of a sumo match between gods, it originated as a form of Shinto ritual, however, it then developed into a professional sport.
Japanese street fashion is recognised through its boldness and diversity, Tokyo street fashion is about people expressing who they are through their clothing. Unlike the ‘who wore it better’ mentality of the western culture, Japanese street fashion embraces harmony and collaboration. It refers to several contemporary modern clothing styles in Japan, fashioned from a combination of both local and foreign fashion brands, which tend to have their own distinctive style. Some are considered to be extreme and experimental, with similarities to the haute couture styles seen on European catwalks.
Korean culture is the shared cultural and historical heritage of Korea and southern Manchuria. It is one of the most continuous cultures in the world with traditions passed down in a variety of ways. In 1945 the country became split between North Korea and South Korea, and since then has increased cultural differences.
Koreans share one language, with approximately seventy million people around the world speaking Korean. Due to the phonetic nature of their written language- which was invented in the mid-fifteenth century – Korea has one of the highest literacy rates in the world.
K-pop (short for Korean pop) is a genre of popular music originating in South Korea, influenced by styles and genres from around the world. This includes genres such as rock, jazz, gospel, hip hop, R&B, reggae, electronic dance, folk, country, and classical on top of its traditional Korean music roots.
South Korea supports religious freedom and throughout Korean history and culture, regardless of the separation, the traditional beliefs of Shamanism, Buddhism and Confucianism have remained a fundamental influence of the religion of the Korean people as well as a crucial aspect of their culture.
Equality of the sexes is constitutional however daily life is dominated by male guidance within a primarily patriarchal society (a male-dominated power structure, a system in which men have more power than women, men have some level of privilege to which women are not entitled)
Bowing is the traditional way to greet in South Korea, among men handshakes often accompany the bow, when shaking hands your left hand should support your right. Korean women do not always shake hands and may slightly nod instead of a full bow
The staple food of Korea is rice, until recently it had been a mostly agricultural country, the essential recipes in Korea are shaped by experience. Kimchi is one of the famous foods of Korea. Kimchi is pickled vegetables that contain a mixture of nutrients.
Korean fashion in recent years has evolved due to inspirations from western culture and social media practices as well as the countries developing economy. Street fashion is generally more popular among those in their early twenties. It is seen as a relaxed street look, a combination of the aesthetics of rock and hip hop. Often the top of the outfit is oversized or baggy, with men liking relaxed pants to fit or shorts. Incorporating over 100 carefully selected brands featuring oversized coats, adorable tees, lacy dresses, leggings, sweet jewellery, desirable bags and much more, Korean fashion caters to a woman's needs for versatile styles, from romantic and girly to urban and cute-tomboyish.
China, a country rich with heritage uses colours symbolically within every ritual, ceremony, festival and, lately, even in business. Compared to the west, China's symbolism of colour is surprisingly different and more powerful. Traditional Chinese art and culture have the standard colours representing the five elements of water, fire, wood, metal and earth.
China is becoming more tolerant of religions although the Chinese communist party that rules the nation is officially atheist and any religion other than Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism are illegal. The cuisine is heavily influenced by geography and ethnic diversity.
Chinese cuisines are an important part of Chinese culture, incorporating cuisines originating from the diverse regions of China as well as from Chinese people who have settled in other parts of the world.
Chinese art is greatly influenced by the country's rich spiritual and mystical history. Many sculptures and paintings depict spiritual figures of Buddhism, according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Several hundred fighting styles have developed over the centuries in China, often named under the term’s kung fu, kuoshu or wushu. Famous Chinese martial artists are known all over the world; Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan
From walkway to street fashion, in the last decade, Chinese fashion sense has grown and changed dramatically. Describing both the ancient and modern variation of native Chinese dress as recorded by the artifacts and traditional arts of Chinese culture, Chinese clothing has been shaped through its grand traditions as well as through foreign influences. Chinese clothing showcases the traditional fashion ideas of Chinese culture and forms one of the major cultural aspects of Chinese civilization. Following the change of style and clothing preferences red was a popular colour found on garments because of its belief that it brings good luck, therefore, red has been and is still a vital aspect of Chinese design.
