allonlinenovel Chapter 163 Cultural Differences
Chapter 163 Cultural Differences
On a quiet afternoon, the sun shines through the mottled leaves and sprinkles on the quaint courtyard, as if it has covered the courtyard with a golden gauze. Lin Xiao and Su Yang, a pair of good friends, are sitting on the stone bench in the courtyard, having an in-depth exchange on the cultural differences between the Tang Dynasty and modern times. Lin Xiao is wearing a simple white dress, like a fresh lily, with long hair casually tied behind her head, and her eyes reveal a desire for knowledge and a passion for exploration, like two twinkling stars. Su Yang is wearing a casual shirt and jeans, with short hair neat and tidy, and his every move shows confidence and wisdom, just like a shining pearl.
"Su Yang, how different do you think the culture of the Tang Dynasty is from our modern times?" Lin Xiao was the first to break the silence, looking at Su Yang expectantly.
Su Yang raised his head slightly, thought for a moment and said, "Lin Xiao, this difference is too big. Take poetry for example. The Tang Dynasty was the golden age of poetry. There were many poets at that time, and there were many excellent works. Like Li Bai's bold and elegant style and Du Fu's melancholy and frustration, their poems were not only widely circulated at the time, but are still praised by us today. In modern times, although there are also poems, the status and influence of poetry are no longer as good as before."
Lin Xiao nodded slightly and said thoughtfully: "Indeed, poetry in the Tang Dynasty was the cultural mainstream of the entire society. From emperors and generals to ordinary people, everyone could recite poems and write couplets. Moreover, the themes of poetry at that time were wide-ranging, including landscapes, countryside, border wars, homesickness, and so on. Unlike now, poetry seems to have become a niche."
"Let's talk about clothing culture." Su Yang continued, "The clothing of the Tang Dynasty was gorgeous and colorful, with various styles. Women's clothing was often long robes with wide sleeves and skirts that dragged on the ground, paired with exquisite hair buns and headdresses, which made them look noble and elegant. Men mostly wore robes with belts around their waists, showing a generous and free-spirited demeanor. In contrast, modern clothing pays more attention to practicality and personalization, and the styles are more simple and fashionable."
Lin Xiao imagined the women of the Tang Dynasty wearing gorgeous clothes and couldn't help but sigh: "The clothes of the Tang Dynasty are so beautiful, as if every piece is a work of art. Although our modern clothes are convenient and comfortable, sometimes I always feel that they lack some charm."
"There are also big differences in food culture." Su Yang said enthusiastically, "The food in the Tang Dynasty was rich and varied, with all kinds of exquisite cakes and delicious dishes. The cooking methods at that time were also very particular, with steaming, boiling, baking and frying. In addition, the people of the Tang Dynasty paid great attention to the etiquette and atmosphere of eating, and meals were often accompanied by singing and dancing. Although modern food has a wide variety of types, it is more about pursuing speed and convenience, and rarely has the mood to slow down and enjoy food."
Lin Xiao couldn't help laughing: "Yes, nowadays everyone is used to takeout and fast food, and few people can calm down and enjoy a carefully prepared meal."
"Not only these aspects, the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty is also unique." Su Yang pointed to the high-rise buildings outside the courtyard. "The buildings at that time were mainly wooden structures, with flying eaves and brackets, carved beams and painted buildings, full of artistic sense. Modern buildings are mostly reinforced concrete high-rise buildings. Although practical, they may be slightly inferior in aesthetics."
Lin Xiao stood up, narrowed his eyes slightly, looked around, and then said: "The architecture of the Tang Dynasty is like beautiful music that has been frozen. Every tiny corner and every delicate decoration carries extremely profound and long-standing cultural heritage. They are not just simple houses or palaces, but also the perfect embodiment of the unique artistic style and philosophical thoughts of that era. However, when we turn our attention to modern society, we find that the architecture here pays more attention to practicality and innovation."
"There is also social etiquette." Su Yang continued, "The people of the Tang Dynasty had strict norms for greeting each other. They would choose different etiquette according to their status, occasion and other factors. For example, when ordinary people met, they usually bowed or crossed their hands; officials mostly used bowing or bowing; and for the emperor, it was necessary to perform the ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows. In addition, the Tang Dynasty also paid attention to the words and expressions in etiquette, requiring people to be respectful in words and humble in attitude when performing etiquette. In contrast, the social etiquette of modern society is relatively simple and casual. People are more inclined to express friendliness and closeness through handshakes, hugs and other means. This change reflects the changes of the times and the transformation of people's concepts. With the development of science and technology and the convenience of information exchange, the connection between people has become closer, and social etiquette has also been simplified. However, despite this, modern society still attaches importance to basic courtesy and respect."
Lin Xiao said with emotion: "Although the social etiquette of the Tang Dynasty was cumbersome, it also reflected respect and reverence for others. The fast-paced life in modern society makes us sometimes ignore some traditional social etiquette. However, I don’t think this means that we can completely abandon these cultural heritages. On the contrary, we should draw the essence from them and integrate them into contemporary society. In this way, we can maintain the unique charm of traditional culture while adapting to the needs of modern life."
"However, we cannot simply think that the culture of the Tang Dynasty is better than that of the modern society." Su Yang changed the subject, "Modern society also has many cultural achievements to be proud of. For example, the rapid development of science and technology has made our lives more convenient and richer. The popularization of the Internet has made information dissemination faster, and people can obtain knowledge and communicate anytime and anywhere. There are also modern art forms, such as film, music, dance, etc., which have also brought us a new aesthetic experience."
Lin Xiao smiled and said, "Yes, we should look at the development and changes of culture with an open mind. The culture of the Tang Dynasty is our precious heritage, which we must inherit and carry forward; and modern culture is the result of our continuous innovation and progress, which we must cherish and utilize."
"Yes, by comparing the cultural differences between the Tang Dynasty and the present, we can better understand the development of history and the evolution of human civilization." Su Yang said with a firm look in his eyes, "It can also help us maintain our awe and love for culture in this diverse era."
The communication between Lin Xiao and Su Yang lasted for a long time. They discussed in depth various aspects of culture, learned from each other, and their thoughts continued to sublimate in the collision.
As the sun sets, the afterglow lengthens their shadows. This exchange on the cultural differences between the Tang Dynasty and modern times gave them a deeper understanding of culture and deepened their friendship.