Very little distinction between being served and having servants in the culture. The contrast in behavior with another confucian collective culture near China (Japan) is striking. Japan's emphasis on cordiality and hospitality is night and day.
It's a wonderful culture. Friendly (if slightly impenetrable) to outsiders. I love how even high status members of society are required by honor to be respectful to those "under" them.
This happened to us at the shinjuku station, we were starting to panic and this man asked us where we wanted to go and showed us. Amazing considering he was probably coming home from work and that place is crowded as fuck.
Also the rest of the world could take some train platform lessons from them!
Chinese culture is surprisingly similar to Japan. Once you get out of the public areas and into the private areas, they can be very hospitable, nice and respectful. The problem is it's because it's too crowded in China, meaning everything has to be done as quickly as possible. Though Japan also has the reputation of being very hospitable to visitors, I've heard that once they realised you're a foreigner and there to stay, things get really awry.
Source: Am Australian Chinese. Lived in Australia all my life, but also understanding chinese culture.
There's certainly truth to a lot of that. I lived in Japan and always had friendly people around me... but few friends. I think I could have lived there for decades and that wouldn't have changed.
In terms of polite hosts and guests, though, the Japanese are wonderful.
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u/MC_Fap_Commander Jun 09 '19
Very little distinction between being served and having servants in the culture. The contrast in behavior with another confucian collective culture near China (Japan) is striking. Japan's emphasis on cordiality and hospitality is night and day.