INCLUDES SUM0 WRESTLING, KIMONO, YUKATA ETC,, A LESSON IN ENGLISH GRADE 8

1. BY CHRISTINE D. DAVID
Japanese and Chinese
Traditions

2.  The JapaneseTea Ceremony is a cultural
tradition that originated in China.The tea was
considered medicine that promoted physical
and spiritual health and was consumed for
enjoyment purposes primarily. The
spiritual aspect involves harmony between
the persons participating in the ceremony,
respect for those involved in the ceremony,
and purity. These three aspects bring
tranquility to those who participate in the
tradition.

3. Japanese Tea Ceremony

4. Japanese Theater : Noh &
Kabuki Drama
 Noh drama is rigidly traditional Japanese
drama which in its present form dates back to
the early 14th century. Noh plays are short
dramas combining music, dance, and lyrics,
with a highly stylized ritualistic
presentation.
 Kabuki drama combined elements of noh
drama and folk theater.

6. The Japanese New Year
Celebration (January 1-15)
 In Japan, the celebration of the NewYear is
the most significant and important holiday.
During this time they begin the NewYear
with a clean slate, spend time with family and
friends and prepare for the events of the New
Year. After the cleaning, houses are
decorated with straw ropes and pine
bough that is burned in a ceremonial
bonfire at the end of the NewYear’s
celebration.

7. The Kimono and Yukata
 Kimono andYukata are traditional Japanese
clothing. Kimono are made of silk and are
usually very expensive. Nowadays they are
worn at formal or traditional occasions such
as funerals, weddings or tea ceremonies.
Only rarely can kimono still be seen in
everyday life.
 TheYukata, on the other hand, is more of
informal leisure clothing.

9. The Sumo
 Sumo is a Japanese style of wrestling and
Japan's national sport. It originated in
ancient times as a performance to
entertain the Shinto gods. Many rituals with
religious background are still followed today.

11. Tatami mats
 Most houses in Japan have tatami mats.
 Tatami were originally a luxury item for the nobility.
During the Heian period, when the shinden-zukuri
architectural style of aristocratic residences was
consummated, the flooring of shinden-zukuri
palatial rooms were mainly wooden, and tatami
were only used as seating for the highest aristocrats.
It is said that prior to the mid-16th century, the
ruling nobility and samurai slept on tatami or woven
mats called goza, while commoners used straw mats
or loose straw for bedding


13. Haiku
 Japanese Haiku started as Hokku, an opening
stanza of an orthodox collaborative linked poem,
or renga, and of its laterderivative, renku (or
haikai no renga). By the time of Matsuo Bashō
(1644–1694), the
 hokku had begun to appear as an independent
poem, and was also incorporated in haibun(a
combination of prose and hokku), and haiga (a
combination of painting with hokku). In the
late 19th century, Masaoka Shiki (1867–1902)
renamed the standalone hokku or poem to
haiku.

14. The Tea
 Like the Japanese, Chinese considered tea as
one of their seven basic necessities.
Firewood, oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar
were some of the basic needs.Ways of tea
preparation, tasting it and the occasions on
which it is consumed make the Chinese tea
culture unique

15.  In the beginning, tea was cultivated and used
solely as herbal medicine mostly within
temples. Monks began to use tea to teach a
respect for nature, humility and an overall
sense of peace and calm.
 Today, there are six major aspects to consider
when performing a ChineseTea Ceremony:
attitude of the person performing the
ceremony, tea selection, water selection, tea
ware selection, ambiance and technique.

16. Children serve tea to
their elders as a token
of respect. People of lower
order are supposed to serve
tea to people of higher
ranks. This custom is still
practiced on
formal occasions.

18. Chinese Weddings
 Chinese weddings have certain traditional
customs. As a form of expressing gratitude,
the bride and groom kneel in front of their
parents and offer them tea.
 In olden times, drinking the tea offered
showed acceptance of marriage

20. Chopsticks
 Chopsticks are believed to symbolize
kindness and gentleness.
 Confucianism taught the Chinese to abandon
knives and forks from the dining table. So
they have their food cut to bite-size before it
comes on the table.

22. New Year
 NewYear is one of the most prominent
festivals of the Chinese calendar. It is about
getting together.
 Red is believed to abolish bad luck. So people
clothe in red for the NewYear celebration.

23.  A long dragon made of silk, bamboo, and
paper are carried along streets. Young men
hold the dragon and dance while carrying the
dragon along.The Dragon dance is an ancient
Chinese tradition.
 When you give your gift make sure to wrap it
in red and gold never with white, black or
gray as they symbolize death.