History of the emergence of Japan. Formation of the Japanese ethnic group

Introduction

1. General information about Japan

2. Characteristics of the peoples of Japan

3. Features of Japanese culture

Conclusion

List of references

Introduction

Japan is an amazing country. Everything here is unique – the cities, the language, the culture. Everyone who has ever visited Japan claims that they have never seen anything like it in any other country in the world.

Why for us in the Country rising sun so much inexplicable charm? The main reason is probably that the Japanese have always been able to find harmony in everything.

In this work, we will be able to plunge into the history of ancient Japan, learn a lot of interesting things about life in this country, try to understand modern Japanese culture, learn the secrets of cooking, understand that Japanese “anime” is not just cartoons, but a genre of art, and learn the secrets of oriental medicine , origins ancient philosophy, according to which the Japanese people live to this day.

At present, in the era of fundamental changes in the culture of Russia, the most significant is the study of stable developing culture those peoples with which modern times could be compared Russian culture and stick to certain aspects cultural development. One of these cultural standards is Japan, which amazes with its morals, customs, and incredible fantasies of Japanese artists who gave the whole world amazing images Anime characters inspired us to create this unique portal.

Thus, Japan is a country with a centuries-old cultural heritage and technologies that go far into the future. Each of these resources is unique and remarkable in its content and colorful materials, which are collected and posted for detailed review Japanese culture and expanding the horizons of its visitors.

Consequently, the purpose of this work is to determine the main aspects of the cultural development of the peoples of Japan, which can subsequently be compared with the Russian development of culture.

The subject for study will be, respectively, the people of Japan and their culture.

1. General information about Japan

The territory of Japan consists of many islands. There are about 7,000 of them and most of them are not large in size. Only four main islands can be considered relatively large: Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. They account for 98% of the country's entire territory.

The total area of ​​Japan is 372.2 thousand square meters. km, which is 1/45 of the territory of Russia. In terms of territory size, Japan is comparable to Finland (338 thousand sq. km) or Paraguay (406 thousand sq. km). The distance from the northern to the southern point of the Japanese Islands is about 3 thousand km.

The waters of Japan are diverse: the Pacific Ocean in the east, the Sea of ​​Japan in the west, the East China Sea in the south, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk in the north and the Inland Sea of ​​Japan between the islands of Honshu and Shikoku.

The climate of this country is varied. There are places in the north where the temperature can drop to , and on the southern islands, such as Okinawa, it is much warmer: there the maximum temperature in summer is , and in winter it rarely drops to .

Of course, the climate of Japan is significantly different from the climate of Russia. A rough idea of ​​this is given by comparing the climate of Moscow and Tokyo (Table 1).

Table 1. Comparison of the climate of Moscow and Tokyo

Spring begins early - from the end of February and the beginning of March. The days are becoming noticeably warmer, and most importantly, at this time there is a variety of color scheme trees and bushes are colorful.

Summer lasts from May to September. The beginning of summer there is relatively short. But this beautiful time year: warm sunny days mixed with the remaining freshness of spring make Japan a paradise.

Autumn begins in September and lasts until the end of November. And although sometimes there are cold rains, in general the weather becomes drier and cooler. And most importantly, nature changes its clothes at this time, and all of Japan seems to put on a kimono, painted with multi-colored designs.

In winter, from late November to February, cold and unpleasant winds blow throughout Japan. Although the average temperature is relatively high (in Tokyo most of the time it is slightly above zero), the Japanese still do not like winter.

The population of Japan as of October 1, 2000 was 126,919 thousand people, and according to this indicator it ranks eighth in the world. This is one of the most densely populated countries: per 1 sq. 338 people live there, while in Russia there are 9 people. In terms of population density, Japan ranks first in the world.

In Japan, as in many countries of the world, the demographic problem is also acute. Experts have made forecasts for population growth dynamics until 2100. According to forecasts, the population of Japan by 2100 will decrease compared to 2000 by 59.5 million people, or almost 50%.

In terms of average life expectancy, Japan ranks first in the world: this figure is 77.1 years for men and 83.99 years for women (1999).

When communicating with foreigners, you may notice an interesting feature: Koreans, for example, often invite foreign guests to dinner at their home. The Japanese, in a similar situation, also invite guests to dinner, but not at home, but to a restaurant. Why don't the Japanese like to invite foreign guests home? There are two versions on this matter. The first one? With a fairly developed network of restaurants and a high level of service, the Japanese believe that there is no need to organize dinner for guests at home. Second version: as a rule, the Japanese home has a relatively small area, so they invite guests to their place, especially foreign ones, reluctantly.

In modern Japan, most houses are made of aluminum, wood and concrete. Traditional Japanese rooms are heated using a kotatsu (a low table with an electric heater built inside, and the entire table is covered with a quilt).

As is known, the basis of traditional cooking in Asian countries is rice. Japan is no exception. But at the same time, we can highlight some characteristic features of the national cuisine of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Firstly, the Japanese prefer to eat primarily dishes made from raw ingredients.

Secondly, the majority of Japanese do not eat pepper and garlic.

Thirdly, it is given great importance external design of dishes that are so beautifully and artistically decorated that sometimes it’s just a pity to touch them, much less eat them. It’s not for nothing that they say: Japanese dishes should be eaten with the eyes.

Fourthly, dishes are served in a wide assortment on beautiful dishes, in small portions. Popular Japanese dishes include sashimi (thinly sliced ​​pieces of fresh raw fish), tempura (battered fried seafood and vegetables), sushi (thinly sliced ​​pieces of raw fish or seafood with rice), udon (flat or round noodles made from wheat flour), soba (thin pale brown noodles made from buckwheat flour), ramen (noodles once imported from China, served in deep soup bowls, seasoned with vegetables along with meat).

The Emperor in Japan, according to the Constitution, is a symbol of the state and the unity of the nation. He has no power to influence government actions.

Japan has a democratic system of government.

The national flag of Japan is the Hinomaru, which features a large red circle on a white background. The sun in the form of a red circle is used as a state symbol at least from the 17th century. The national anthem of Japan, Kimigae, was set to music approximately 100 years ago.

Japan has no state religion. However, two branches of religion played a significant role in historical development and the formation of many national traditions. These are Shintoism and Buddhism.

Japan does not produce a large number of energy using hydraulic, nuclear, solar and thermal stations. However, in general, it depends on the rest of the world, that is, on the consumption of raw materials and fuel.

Only 11% of Japan's territory is suitable for Agriculture. Farms are usually small, their area on average does not exceed 1.6 hectares. The mountains are mainly of volcanic origin. They cover 75% of the land. Most of the most high mountains located on the island of Honshu.

The flora of Japan is very rich. According to Japanese scientists, the country's flora has approximately 5-6 thousand species. The most famous plant is sakura, which is closely connected with the history, culture and religion of the Land of the Rising Sun.

2. Characteristics of the peoples of Japan

For centuries, Japanese society has been characterized by clearly defined class stratification. Before World War II, there were noble families with hereditary titles and a few very wealthy families who controlled large industrial syndicates. In the cities, shopkeepers and other independent entrepreneurs were influential figures, and in rural areas Landowners occupied a dominant position. After World War II, all titles, with the exception of those belonging to the imperial family, were abolished. As a result of the collapse of industrial syndicates, their former owners lost the sources of their well-being, and the agrarian reform deprived the landowners of most of their landholdings, which were transferred to tenants and other peasants in the form of small plots.

A middle-income family, as a rule, spends 23% of its income on food, 10% each on transport and recreation, 6% each on clothing and household appliances and 7% for housing. The family budget is in the hands of the wife, who makes most shopping and is responsible for the education of children.

Today, young people are increasingly marrying for love. Nevertheless, parents still ask friends or co-workers to find a match for their children. In this case, photographs are exchanged and a meeting is arranged between the parties. When the conspiracy has taken place, specific dates are agreed upon, and if everything goes well, the marriage takes place on the appointed date. Up to half of all marriages are concluded this way.

The main religions in Japan are Shintoism and Buddhism; Christianity came to the country in the mid-16th century, but its adherents account for less than 1% of the population. Shintoism, a Japanese religion proper, and Buddhism, borrowed from China, can coexist because they concern different sides human life: Shintoism is “responsible” for the present life, and Buddhism for the other world. Marriages are performed mainly by Shinto priests; The funeral ceremony takes place in a Buddhist temple. On New Year's Eve, the Japanese traditionally visit holy places. On December 31, after 11 pm, thousands of people flock to them so that the gods will not forget them in the coming year and give them health and prosperity.

The interests of the business community in Japan are defended by four “umbrella” organizations: the largest of them is the Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren), the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nissho), the Federation of Business Organizations (Nikkeiren), and the Association of Like-minded Economic People (Keizai Doyukai). In addition, there are hundreds of industry associations representing firms in manufacturing, services, finance and trade. Their leaders maintain close personal ties with officials and functionaries from the LDP.

Cooperatives, which exist in every village, protect the interests of the peasantry. Their national organization is the wealthy and influential Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, which has some 340,000 employees and provides strong electoral support for the LDP. In turn, this party aims to ensure that rice producers can sell their crops to the state at guaranteed high prices and benefit from foreign trade policies that limit rice purchases in the United States and other countries where its cost is much lower. As a result, consumers in Japanese cities are buying domestic staple food products at prices four times higher than world prices.

After graduation high school At the second level or college, most girls turn to the labor market. Some work in factories, others become secretaries, clerks or salesmen. Employers know that they will all work for several years until they get married. Many women, including teachers and nurses, may hope to continue working after marriage. Typically, women's wages are 57% of what men earn for similar duties.

Some women acquire a profession, become managers in corporations, and occupy high positions in public service and politics. In 1986, the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, based on the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, came into force. The larger the firm, the higher the percentage of women promoted to the positions of heads of departments and other divisions; This picture is especially typical for companies specializing in retail trade and financial activities.

Most women leave work after marriage. Some of them, when their children get older, go back to work. About half of married women currently work full-time or part-time.

For young Japanese, studying often turns out to be a harsh and difficult test, since failure to be accepted into a prestigious school can have a very negative impact on their future career. After graduating from secondary school, young people seek to continue their education at colleges and universities to obtain a profession.

For students who have overcome all obstacles and entered higher education, life immediately becomes easier, since Japanese universities have minimum requirements for students whose professional development should occur already during work in various industries or in the civil service. University students devote a lot of time to surfing, skiing, and club activities. Clubs in Japan are given great importance, as they form long-term friendships and business cooperation. System higher education in Japan is extremely effective in terms of training competent engineers and officials.

Every Japanese is caught up in the system health insurance, operating under one of three programs implemented by either the government or health organizations. Working people pay regular insurance premiums until they reach the age of 70. Patients pay only a small part of the cost of medical services; the main costs fall on the insurance company.

The retirement age for many is 55 years. At age 60, pensioners can receive social benefits. Companies have their own pension programs that provide severance pay and an annual pension of less than half of previous annual earnings. The Japanese love to work and, having received a pension, do not always go on vacation. Typically, firms transfer employees of retirement age to work in branches in lower positions or as advisors. Elderly women serve tea in offices and clean the premises. This practice saves money for entrepreneurs and provides pensioners with an increase in their pension.

The Japanese are entitled to short-term unemployment payments and long-term disability payments of about 60% wages. By law they are entitled annual leave lasting five days plus one day for each year of service.

By law, every child must receive six years of education in primary school and three years in secondary school. The school year in Japan begins on April 1 and ends in March. It consists of three semesters, separated by 40-day holidays in July-August and winter holidays at the end of December. Students attend classes on average 240 days a year, including Saturdays. In 1996 in Japan, out of more than 1.5 million first-level high school graduates, 99% continued their studies at second-level high school. Since a student's future at the end of high school depends on the assessment of his abilities when entering prestigious secondary schools and universities, most students in all grades attend special preparatory schools called juku several evenings a week. It is believed that future well-being and social significance a person is largely determined by his success in entrance exams for secondary schools, colleges and universities, and first the teenager must overcome the “hell of entrance exams” (“juken jigoku”). There are private secondary schools where tuition is paid and there is no competitive selection of students. Some private universities, such as Nihon Daigaku, have their own elementary and middle schools.

School programs at all levels are approved by the Ministry of Education. Textbook authors are recognized authorities in their fields, but the ministry retains and regularly uses the right to censor textbooks.

3. Features of Japanese culture

On the Japanese archipelago there are finds of Mesolithic (Dojomon, 10–6 thousand years BC) and Neolithic (protojomon and Jomon, 7 thousand, 6–1 thousand years BC) cultures. Written sources date back to the beginning of the 8th century. AD From this time on, one can quite accurately trace the history of the succession of rulers (emperors) of Japan. The adoption of Chinese writing in the mid-1st millennium gave the Japanese access to Chinese culture.

In the mid-19th century, following the fall of the shogunate, efforts were made to borrow the achievements of European civilization. The Japanese's ability to absorb the best has helped them become one of the most developed nations in the world.

There are currently more than 400 universities in Japan. The oldest of them is Tokyo (founded in 1877), formerly the First Imperial University, and is the most authoritative institution of higher education in Japan. It is followed by universities in Kyoto (opened in 1895), Sendai (1907), and Sapporo (1918).

In 1996, of the 1.555 million secondary school graduates, 460 thousand entered college (95% of them private) and 579 thousand entered four-year universities. Of these, 20% were accepted into state universities, the rest are private. More than 90% of students at two-year junior colleges and five-year technical colleges are girls, and at universities, 75% of students are boys. Applicants who are not accepted to a university usually prepare (either independently or with a tutor) for repeated entrance exams to the same educational institution.

Japan preserves many traditional forms of literature and art. Particularly popular are the genres of poetry: tanka (unrhymed five-line of 31 syllables) and haiku, or haiku (unrhymed three-line of 17 syllables). The Sunday editions of most national and local newspapers include columns with haiku or tanka poetry and evaluations of the best submitted works. There are also national clubs for haiku and tanka lovers, whose members meet in local branches and write poetry for publication in club publications. There are also special government organizations that teach young people Japanese dancing, Noh singing, flower arranging, the tea ceremony, ink painting, calligraphy, and playing instruments such as the 13-string koto, the three-stringed vertical shamisen flute, or shakuhachi.

The roots of modern Japanese literature lie in ancient culture; themes characteristic of Genji Monogatari, classic work 11th century Japanese writer Murasaki Shikibu, remain a leitmotif in such novels as The Personal File of Oe Kenzaburo, Nobel laureate in literature 1994. Widely known in the country and abroad as a master of the moral, philosophical and grotesque fantasy novel Abe Kobo(“Woman in the Sands”, “Burnt Map”, “Box Man”, etc.). The development trends of modern Japanese prose cannot be understood without taking into account the influence of the Western realistic novel on it. Many writers of the past, such as Natsume Soseki and Mori Ogai, came to literature after in-depth study of the works of European authors; this is also typical for modern authors, including Oe Kenzaburo and Nakamura Shinichiro, who studied French literature at the University of Tokyo.

IN theatrical life Japan traditional theatrical genres– noo (no, nogaku), kabuki, puppet show bunraku, or joruri, coexist with modern theater. The noo genre was formed in the 14th century. This musical performance with songs, dances and a dramatic plot based on works of classical Japanese literature. Kabuki theater, popular in Japan, originated in the early 17th century. His repertoire consists mainly of classical plays. However, such famous people also wrote for the noo and kabuki theaters modern prose writers, like Mishima Yukio and Osaragi Jiro. Among kabuki actors - exclusively men - Bando Tomasaburo became widely famous. In the 1990s, stars Japanese theater performed in sold-out kabuki performances in London, Paris, New York, Seoul, Sydney, Mexico City and Cairo.

Among the major contemporary playwrights are Inoue Hisashi, Terayama Shuji, and Kara Juro. Terayama and Kara are known for their social satire, and Inoue's plays, including Nihonjin no Heso (The Japanese Navel), have won audiences for their subtle humor and variety of themes. However, most popular in last years musical performances. The Gekidan Shiki Troupe broke attendance records with musicals such as Cats and Evita. Fujita Toshio's play Before the Flood is considered one of the best Japanese musicals.

Japan has a powerful film industry, much of which is exported to the United States and Europe. The most famous are such talented Japanese film directors as Kurosawa Akira (“The Idiot”, 1951, “Seven Samurai”, 1954, “Dersu Uzala”, a Soviet-Japanese film 1976, “Rhapsody in August”, 1991, etc.), “Shindo Kaneto” (Naked Island, 1960, “Today to Live and Die”, 1970, “Horizon”, 1984, etc.). The annual repertoire in Japanese cinemas for a number of years consisted of approximately equal numbers of Japanese and foreign (mainly American) films.

Japan is famous for porcelain products. The heirs of Kakiemon Sakaida, a 14th-century master whose name was continuously passed down in the family from father to son, created in the 17th century. Arita style, a unique direction in porcelain production.

Japan's largest National Diet Library in Tokyo has more than 5 million volumes. Tokyo University ranks first among others educational institutions by the wealth of its book collections (over 4 million). University libraries restrict access to their holdings to faculty and graduate students only. Special rooms are allocated for students, where libraries provide literature on each academic discipline for permanent use. One of the main repositories of manuscripts and rare books is located in Central Library Tenri city (in Nara prefecture). Its holdings total some 1.6 million items and include a collection of early editions and draft manuscripts by the collector Lafcadio Hearne, an English-language journalist and one of the first Europeans to be fascinated by Japan. The Government Library stores approximately 575 thousand rare and old books. In each of the country's 47 prefectures and major cities work public libraries. In rural areas there are mobile libraries, and even in villages there are small library collections in meeting halls (komikan).

In Mino, a suburb of Osaka, the State Museum of Ethnology is located, which has a large ethnographic and archaeological collection. The Tokyo National Museum, located in the capital's Ueno Park, boasts a rich collection of masterpieces of Japanese art and archaeological finds. The museum, which receives strong government support, concentrates works of art Indian, Chinese and Korean masters. Treasures from the 6th and 7th centuries are kept in a specially designated building. from Hiryuji Temple (Nara Prefecture). There are also state museums in Kyoto and Nara. The basis of their collections are paintings and sculptures that belonged to nearby temples. Three interesting private collections of Japanese and Chinese art are on display in Tokyo Prefecture: the Idemitsu Gallery, which displays many paintings and calligraphy by a Zen monk and artist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Sengaya, and art museums Nezu and Goto. Tokyo's Ueno Park also houses National Museum contemporary art(founded in 1952), which houses more than 900 representative works of Japanese artists created after the Meiji Restoration, and the National Museum of Western Art (opened in 1959), which displays the works of European and American masters.

In almost every busy place in cities you can find book Shop. A network of used bookstores has been developed. Near most schools there are shops where books and comics are rented for a very reasonable fee.

Japanese families spend approximately 25% of their leisure expenses on books, newspapers, magazines and other printed publications. 420 newspapers are published in the country total circulation OK. 72 million copies (Japan is the second country in the world after Norway in terms of the supply of newspapers per capita), of which five are national. With the exception of one local news page, the contents of each morning edition are the same for residents of both the northern island of Hokkaido and the southern island of Kyushu. The most popular newspaper is Yomiuri (approx. 14 million copies). It is followed by the slightly less conservative Asahi (12.7 million), Mainichi (10 million) and Sankei Shimbun (3 million). The Nihon Keizai daily newspaper, with a circulation of 2.9 million, specializes in covering domestic and international financial news.

The Japanese are passionate sports fans. Sumo wrestling is recognized as the oldest national sport, which is mentioned in a chronicle of the 7th century. Nihon Shoki. The country hosts six sumo competitions each year, with approximately 50 athletes competing for the Emperor's Cup in the top league (maku no uchi). The wrestler who shows the best results in 15 matches becomes the winner. Other national sports are kendo (a type of fencing using bamboo swords), judo, and karate. Baseball was the first to come to Japan from the West, and since 1950 there have been two professional baseball leagues, the Pacific and Central, each with six teams. In 1996, approximately 20 million people attended baseball games. Every spring and summer, national baseball tournaments are held among high school teams. Summer competitions were organized for the first time in 1915 and spring competitions in 1924. Professional Look American football also became a sport in Japan. The sports calendar includes annual competitions in football, rugby, field and ice hockey, volleyball, basketball and handball. The teams are funded either by universities or by companies that make a significant contribution to the training of Olympic athletes. The National Sports Festival was established in 1946. Representatives from each prefecture meet in competitions in summer (swimming, yachting), autumn (27 sports, including athletics, baseball, rugby and gymnastics) and winter (skating, skiing). The Emperor's Cup goes to the prefecture whose men score greatest number points, similarly, women are awarded the Empress Cup. The competition is held every year in rotation in one of Japan's 47 prefectures. One of the sponsors of these competitions is the Ministry of Education.

One of the main celebrated holidays in Japan is New Year. As it approaches, people gather for parties to "remember" the previous year (bonenkai). Christmas is accompanied by the purchase of Christmas cake and toys for children. On December 29, most businesses close and resume operations on January 4. December 31st is traditionally considered a day of purification (oharae), and people in most homes eat a bowl of long noodles, which are associated with longevity. At midnight, the large bells in the temples strike 108 strokes, each of which reflects one or another mental pain experienced by people. On the first day of the year, people fill shrines where they throw coins and notes into large begging baskets, receiving blessings from Buddhist or Shinto priests in return. The end of the year is an occasion for exchanging gifts (oseibo).

The next holiday is January 15, Coming of Age Day, when young people over 20, usually dressed in kimonos, attend public events held in their honor. Setsubun, although not a formal holiday, is celebrated in most families on February 3 or 4; Roasted beans are scattered to drive away evil spirits. February 11 is the Day of the Founding of the State. April 29, the birthday of the late Emperor Hirohito, has been renamed Green Day and celebrates the spring rebirth of nature. May 3 is Constitution Day and May 5 is Children's Day. The Bon Festival, which is not considered an official holiday, is held over three days in July or, in some areas, in August. It is believed that the spirits of the dead return to the houses where they lived during life. This is again a case of exchanging gifts (otyugen). September 15 – Day of Honoring the Elderly. September 23 – Autumn Day – is timed to coincide with the autumnal equinox and is a day of honoring ancestors. October 10 is Sports Day and November 3 is Culture Day. November 23 is Thanksgiving Day for Labor, when gratitude is expressed for everything they have done; Formerly known as the First Fruits Festival, this day is celebrated with a ceremony conducted by the emperor himself in which the rice harvest is offered to Shinto deities. Emperor Akihito's birthday, December 23, is also a national holiday.

Conclusion

As a result of the study of the peoples and culture of Japan, Interesting Facts, namely, the territory of Japan consists of many islands (there are about 7,000 of them and most of them are not large in size).

The climate of this country is varied. There are places in the north where the temperature can drop to , while the southern islands, such as Okinawa, are much warmer.

The population of Japan as of October 1, 2000 was 126,919 thousand people, and according to this indicator it ranks eighth in the world. This is one of the most densely populated countries: per 1 sq. 338 people live there, while in Russia there are 9 people. In terms of population density, Japan ranks first in the world.

The Japanese are a single ethnic family that speaks the same language. Japanese grammar is relatively simple, but writing is complex because it uses three types of characters: two alphabets (katakana and hiragana) and characters (kanji). There are now about 2 thousand hieroglyphs in everyday use.

Most Japanese people perceive themselves as middle class. They are not rich, but they are not poor either. On average, Japanese families save 13% of their income to educate their children and provide for their old age. In 1996, a family with average income had an annual income of 30 thousand dollars. The Japanese prefer to live in a separate single-family house with a garden, but in Tokyo it is unrealistic for an average family to buy such a house. The average size of a home in the country is 92 square meters. m, but its area varies significantly in cities and rural areas.

The main religions in Japan are Shintoism and Buddhism; Christianity came to the country in the mid-16th century, but its adherents account for less than 1% of the population.

In the mid-19th century (following the fall of the shogunate), efforts were made to borrow the achievements of European civilization. The Japanese's ability to absorb the best has helped them become one of the most developed nations in the world.

List of references

1. Arutyunov S.A. “Japan: people and culture” / Arutyunov S.A. – M.: Publishing house. "Knowledge", 1991

2. Bok Zi Kou “The Economy of Japan. What is she like? / Bok Zi Kou – M.: ZAO Publishing House “Economy”, 2002

3. V.M. Khachaturian “History of World Civilizations” - M. 1996

4. Kuznetsov Yu.D. Novitskaya G.B., Siritsyn I.M. History of Japan: Textbook for university students majoring in History - M.: graduate School, 1998

5. Leshchenko N. “Tokugawa Shoguns: Ieyasu” // Japan today - 2002 - February

6. Lewis R.D. “Business cultures in international business” - M., 2001.

7. Layhiff J.M., Penrose J.M., “Business. Communication strategies and skills" - St. Petersburg, 2001.

8. “Symbol of the unity of the people” // Japan today. – 2001 – December

9. Soviet encyclopedic Dictionary, M., 1987

10. Directory “Countries of the World”, article “Japan”, 1996

11. Land of the rising sun. History and culture of Japan. Ed. "Phoenix" Rostov-on-Don, 2006

Number and settlement

The population is 130 million people, in Japan itself - 127 million. The Japanese also live in the USA (1.2 million people), mainly in the state of California and the Hawaiian Islands, in Brazil (1.5 million people), in Canada (99 thousand people) and other countries of America, in Europe , Asia

Presumably, the Japanese language belongs to the languages ​​of the Buyeo group of the Altai family, along with modern Korean and Buyeo (Ancient Korean) languages, as evidenced by the characteristic grammatical structure of the language. However, due to the heterogeneity ancient population islands in their composition and the noticeable cultural influence of China, Japanese contains a large number of borrowings (mainly lexical) from languages ​​not belonging to this group (mainly Austronesian and Chinese adstrate), as a result of which a mixed language has been formed, which at first glance is difficult to fully attribute to any certain group or family.

Japanese writing is complex, partly borrowed (kanji), partly created by the Japanese themselves (two complementary syllabary alphabet - kana: hiragana and katakana). The romanization of writing - Romaji - and the widespread use of Arabic numerals are also gradually gaining popularity. But today, romaji has only a purely auxiliary meaning.

State

Most Japanese people live in their own national state of Japan (Nippon, Nihon), located on the Japanese Islands.

The old name of the Japanese Empire "Dai Nippon" (大日本) literally means "Great Japan" or "Great Land of the Rising Sun".

The original name of the first ancient Japanese state was Yamato.

Origin

History of Japan

Oldest name Japanese people, recorded in ancient written Chinese monuments, is Wa.

For a long time it was believed that the supposed ancestors of the Japanese, the so-called proto-Japanese (“Puyo”) tribes, in the 1st millennium BC. e. (and according to some information earlier) individual tribes moved to the Japanese archipelago from the Korean Peninsula. At the same time, the ancient indigenous population of Japan, the Ainu-Emisi (tribes of Caucasian appearance and unknown origin) and the Austronesian tribes in the south of the Kumaso and Hayato, were gradually displaced and assimilated by proto-Japanese tribes, whose language (belonging to the Altai language family) prevailed, taking on elements of the Austronesian substrate. Presumably in the 4th century (exactly unknown), the first all-Japanese state appeared - Yamato.

Life, customs, culture

Japanese culture

The villages have a linear layout. A traditional house is a post-frame house, usually with 1-2 floors. Sliding walls made of frames covered with wax paper or cardboard are typical. The floor is raised on small stilts. It is almost completely covered with mats. Tables, chairs, armchairs are placed only in living rooms. The tables are low, the Japanese usually sit on their knees, on cushions. There are no beds, they sleep on a mat, and they put a board under their heads rather than a pillow. The house is necessarily decorated with original paintings, which may contain an image, a drawing, or an inscription (aphorism, quote). They are called kakemono.

Popular crafts include making dolls from wood or paper, weaving baskets, vases, and fans. Characterized by unique types of art: making paper figures (origami), arranging flower bouquets (ikebana).

IN fine arts The Japanese achieved great skill in engraving (classical Japanese engraving).

The national clothing of the Japanese is called kimono （着物） - this is a general type of outerwear for men and women. The main nagagi kimono (長着) is put on the undershirt - juban （襦袢）, adjusted according to height and secured with a narrow belt, on top of which a wide decorative belt　obi is tied. White socks are put on the feet - tabi with separate thumb. A summer casual kimono without lining is called a yukata. There are two types of shoes: zori (草履) (sandals made from straw, leather, rubber, etc.) and geta - shoes made of wood on two stands. Currently, the Japanese wear European clothes in everyday life. Kimono can be seen on New Year, coming of age day and at Japanese weddings.

Women's kimonos differ from men's in the cut of their sleeves. For women, the sleeves serve as pockets of sorts.

It is known that from ancient times the Japanese practiced a two-stage funeral ritual, and the first stage was the “Air Burial Rite.” This ritual was supplanted by the rituals of Buddhism
HouseholdEdit

Traditional sectors of the economy are arable and irrigated rice sowing. Tea, vegetables, and citrus fruits are also grown, and sericulture and fishing are developed. Currently, Japan is a highly developed industrial country. Without their own resources, only imported raw materials, the Japanese were able to develop complex and sophisticated industries: mechanical engineering, electronics, etc., and very quickly reached the global level, creating one of the leading manufacturing, technological economies in the world.

Japan - "The Land of the Rising Sun", the birthplace of samurai, geishas, ​​martial arts and cherry blossoms; an island state that, having no natural resources and regularly suffering from earthquakes, occupies a leading position in the rankings of economically developed countries. Products made in Japan can be seen anywhere in the world, and technologies and developments invented or improved by Japanese scientists are happily adopted by both scientists and production workers in all countries of the world. What is the secret of the Japanese? Thanks to what features of the Japanese mentality have the citizens of the Land of the Rising Sun achieved technological primacy in the world and earned the reputation of the smartest nation?

National character traits of the Japanese

Of course, no two nations are absolutely identical, and mentalities different nations differ from each other. However, the psychology of the Japanese differs from the psychology of other nations much more than that of the Russians, Chinese and any other people. Among the most significant indicators that distinguish the Japanese nation from other nations are the high life expectancy of the Japanese, the very low number of violent crimes committed in this country, and the fact that more than 98% of Japanese citizens are ethnic Japanese. On this moment Japan is the only state in the world that formally has the title of Empire, and one of the few countries whose nations have managed to preserve many centuries-old traditions, while reaching unprecedented heights in technological and economic development.

All the reasons for both the high standard of living and the scientific achievements of the citizens of the Land of the Rising Sun become clear if you take a closer look at the national characteristics of the character of the Japanese. The most striking national characteristics of the Japanese are:

Japanese values ​​and psychology

The main difference between the Japanese mentality and the European one is in the attitude towards European culture is characterized by individualism, and Japanese - collectivism . The Japanese are strongly attached to different social groups- family, work collective, party, etc., and each member of the group knows his place in the hierarchy and is ready to obey his superiors. Submission and humility before elders are inherent to a significant extent in every Japanese, therefore, for representatives of this nation, the authority of the father, boss and any other “power holder” (policeman, teacher, politician, etc.) is unshakable by default.

It was the collectivism of the Japanese and the resulting need to make life in a team as comfortable as possible for all its members that served as the reasons for the formation strict Japanese etiquette and Japanese politeness . There are 3 "politeness styles" in Japanese: colloquial, neutral polite and very polite (keigo): colloquial style is used when talking with younger family members, neutral polite - with equals in society and with strangers, keigo - with seniors in social status and the elderly. Politeness and adherence to etiquette mean much more to the Japanese than to Europeans - for example, for residents of the Land of the Rising Sun it is unacceptable to communicate in a familiar manner with their boss even outside of work, to emotionally sort things out with someone in front of other people, and also to say “no” , directly refusing someone's request.

On becoming national characteristics The Japanese had a great influence. The values ​​and prescriptions of these religious teachings are so closely woven into culture and everyday life that they have become an integral part of the Japanese worldview. Therefore, every Japanese strives to develop such character traits as like restraint, patience and self-control - virtues of Buddhism. Also, the influence of Buddhist philosophy can be traced in life rules, which all Japanese adhere to:

• One must always strive to comply with the laws of the country and the rules prescribed in a particular society
• It is always necessary to reconcile with the situation and accept unpleasant circumstances, and not rebel
• It is necessary to limit yourself in entertainment and strive to work more for the good of the nation
• You should only blame yourself for all your personal troubles.

The Japanese follow the rules of etiquette and traditions not only in society, but also at home, among those closest to them. Cleanliness and order always reign in Japanese homes, and the furnishings in the homes of most residents of this country are made in the style of minimalism - the Japanese love beauty and aesthetics, but do not like excesses and ostentation. When communicating even with their closest relatives, citizens of the Land of the Rising Sun are polite, and only small children are forgiven for deviating from the rules of etiquette.

In most Japanese families, the main financial earner is the husband, but women manage the family budget. Married couples in Japan they rarely spend evenings together, since men prefer to relax after work with friends in entertainment venues, while women at this time take care of the house and. Only in recent decades have family outings on weekends become the norm, and earlier, even on weekends, men sought to spend time separately from their wives, since in Japanese patriarchal society it was believed that for a man communication with his wife was burdensome and uninteresting.

Modern Japan is a single-national country. About 99% of its population is Japanese. Among them there are several ethnographic groups that once had their own cultural characteristics. They were largely preserved by one such group in the Ryukyu Islands. Koreans - 0.5%, Chinese and Ainu - 0.5%. The ethnographic group of the Japanese are Ryukyusans(over 1 million people), who previously differed in language and culture, but have now basically adopted the common Japanese culture, way of life and literary language. Descendants the oldest inhabitants Japan - Ainu settled in Hokkaido, the Kuril Islands and the southern tip of Sakhalin and Kamchatka. After the Kuril Islands and Southern Sakhalin temporarily came under Japanese control (in 1875 and 1905, respectively), the Ainu were forcibly Japaneseized and then evicted to Hokkaido, where they currently live in Hidaka County. As a result of assimilation, the Ainu have largely lost their original culture and language, but are distinguished by their anthropological type. Japanese Koreans live mainly in large cities - Osaka, Tokyo, Yamaguchi.

Despite the fact that only a quarter of all Korean children living in Japan are educated in Korean schools (the rest are in Japanese), Koreans are difficult to assimilate and firmly maintain their identity.

Language writing

The linguistic situation in Japan is very complex: there are three large groups of dialects and many dialects in the country. The writing of the Japanese language itself is based on Chinese characters. Reading Japanese texts is a very difficult matter. Created in the 10th century. The syllabary alphabet (of 50 characters) is used mainly for recording case endings, postpositions and other grammatical indicators.

The Japanese are the ninth largest people in the world (130 million people). The majority of Japanese people live in their own nation-state of Japan (Nippon) (127 million), located on the Japanese Islands, off the coast of Southeast Asia. Japan is an island state consisting of the islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu and numerous small islands adjacent to them. Territory - 372.2 thousand km 2. Capital - Tokyo (10.9 million).

The rulers of Japan at all historical times have been emperors (mikado), who have continuously led their lineage for 124 generations, starting from the 7th century BC. They were deified, considered the descendants of the sun goddess Amaterasu. The Japanese hieroglyphic combination tenno means Heavenly Master. The dynasty of Japanese emperors is the oldest surviving on Earth today. royal dynasties. According to tradition, a woman cannot be the Emperor of Japan; this rule has never been violated.

In Japan average duration life is one of the highest in the world and is more than 82 years. Now in Japan more than people have crossed the century mark.

Traditional home Japanese has sliding walls made of frames covered with cardboard. The roof is thatched or tiled. The floor is covered with rice straw mats. Tables, chairs, armchairs are placed only in living rooms. The tables are low, the Japanese usually sit on their knees, on cushions. There are no beds, they sleep on a mat, and they put a board under their heads rather than a pillow.

The national clothing of the Japanese is called kimono. Currently, the Japanese wear European clothes in everyday life. Kimonos can be seen on New Year's Day, coming of age, and at Japanese weddings. Women's kimonos differ from men's in the cut of their sleeves. For women, the sleeves serve as pockets of sorts. For women, it is belted with a wide belt, which is tied with a large bow on the back.

WITH cultural traditions The most famous are the tea ceremony, the art of ornamental gardens, and ikebana. Japan is an extraordinary country. And in what other country are the main National holidays- floral? Sakura blooms in spring - the Japanese admire it. In autumn there is a holiday of chrysanthemums, in February - a holiday of plum blossoms, in May - wisteria and irises. And Japanese women’s clothes are floral, the design on the kimono should be seasonal.

Currently, Japan is a highly developed industrial country. Without their own resources, only imported raw materials, the Japanese were able to develop complex and sophisticated industries: mechanical engineering, electronics, etc., and very quickly reached the global level, creating one of the leading economies in the world.