PAPER
CROSS
CULTURE UNDERSTANDING (CCU)
“Cultural
Differences in Gifts Giving”
Lecturer:
SUPARMAN,
S.Pd., M.Pd. B.I
By:
HARIANTI
Advance School of Teacher Training and Education
(STKIP) Paracendekia NW Sumbawa
Academic years
2015 /2016
PREFACE
Praise
and Gratitude we prayed to the Presence of
The Almighty God, for his mercy
and grace so that we can sort this paper well and on time. In this paper we
discuss about “ cultural
differences in gifts giving”
This
paper is made with a variety of observations and some assistance from various
parties to help resolve the challenges and obstacles during work on this paper.
Therefore, we would like to thank profusely to all those who have helped in
preparing this paper. We realize that there are still many fundamental flaws in
this paper. Therefore we invite readers to give suggestions and criticisms
which we can build. Constructive criticism from readers so we expect to enhance
the next paper. Final word I hope this paper can provide benefit for us all.
Sumbawa, 17 Mei 2016
composer
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE........................................................................................ i
TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................... ii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
A. Background of study............................................................... 1
B. Formulation of problem........................................................... 1
CHAPTER II DISCUSSION
A. Definition of culture............................................................... 2
C. Cultural differences in various
countries in the event of
Giving gifts............................................................................ 3
1. Japan................................................................................ 3
2. China ............................................................................... 8
CHAPTER III CLOSING
A. Conclusion............................................................................ 11
B. Suggestions........................................................................... 11
REFERENCES
CHAPTER
I
INTRODUCTION
A.
BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Giving gifts is an
important tradition. However, as with any culture that is equipped with unique
ancient beliefs, the ethics in the delivery of prizes also have the same
confidence and different in every culture.
An activity of
gift-giving is a central aspect in social and cultural in human behavior. Gifts’
giving has been part of human life, the views of sustainability for human life.
Gift-giving behavior can be said to be a common behavior in everyday life.
The habit of giving
gifts is also an important form in the case of non-verbal communication. We
give gifts to express emotions that sometimes can not be expressed in words. By
giving the right gift then we can express various emotions such as gratitude to
regret, excitement until condolences.
In the business world,
people give gifts to strengthen formal relations, stating their value and also
to build a reputation. Although giving a gift is something that is done
globally, but the process is not as easy as imagined. In Asia give a gift is
something that is closely linked with the traditions and values of the culture
that has existed for many years.
B.
FORMULATION OF PROBLEM
The formulation of the problem
based on the background above, namely:
1.
What
is the definition of culture?
2.
What is the definition of gift?
3.
What
are the cultural differences in various countries in the event of giving gifts?
CHAPTER II
DISCUSSION
A. DEFINITION
OF CULTURE
The culture in Entimologi comes
from the Sanskrit is buddhayah, which is the plural of buddhi (the mind or
intellect) which is interpreted as matters related to the mind and human
reason. In the English language, culture called culture, which is derived from the
Latin word Colere, that processing or working, or they can be interpreted as
tilling the soil or farming. The word culture is also sometimes translated as
"kultur" in Indonesian.
Culture is a way of life that
developed and shared by a group of people and passed down from generation to generation.
The culture made up of many complex elements, including religious and political
system, customs, languages, tools, clothing, buildings, and literary work.
Language, as well as culture, an integral part of human beings that many people
tend to think of it is inherited genetically. When someone tried to communicate
with people of different cultures and adjust their differences, proving that culture
is learned. Culture is a holistic lifestyle. Culture is complex, abstract, and spacious.
Many aspects of culture help determine communicative behavior. The elements of
the socio-cultural spread and include many social activities of man.
B. DEFINITION OF GIFTS
Gift
is a given from one person to another that has an influence on people's
relationships and also could affect other people. Giving these gifts are
manifold and very often occurs in social relationships in both the events of
family, community, national, or religious, such as birthday gifts, race gifts,
gifts feast and lots more. All gifts it is a form of attention from the giver to
the recipient.
Giving
gifts is a symbol of closeness and kinship. Giving gifts is a media anyway to
establish a good relationship.
Giving
gifts such as to express love or friendship Statement, Statement of thanks for
gifts received before, Statement of togetherness, in the form of mutual aid,
Dividing property owned, Helping overwritten misfortune, souvenir Give trip,
Habit, on the state like follows:
1. Birthdays (person celebrating his
birthday by giving and receiving gift, etc).
2. Marriage (married couple receives gifts
and gives food and / or drinks at the wedding reception.
3. Funeral (visitors bring flowers,
relatives of the deceased to give the food and / or drinks during the ceremony)
4. Births (infants born to receive a prize)
5. Passing the exam (students who pass
receive a gift)
6. Father's Day (Father received a gift)
7. Mother's Day (Mother received a gift)
8. The exchange of gifts between the guest
and host, often as part of traditional culture.
C.
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES IN THE
EVENT OF GIVING GIFTS
1.
JAPAN
In the social life of the Japanese
people, giving and receiving gifts is an important part. Giving a gift in Japan
often done. But Japanese society has its own ethics in awarding the prize. In
Japan there are certain situations or events where a person gives a gift to a
relative or friend.
The Japanese call gifts from other people as
"okurimono". This Okurimono turns are manifold, not only given when
someone we know is close to the birthday. On special celebrations such as
Memorial Day invented for lovers, anniversaries, job promotions, graduations,
Mother's Day, Valentine's, New Year and others were also celebrated with the tradition
of giving gifts to the Japanese.
For those people give a gifts only to those who are
really close to us. That was the view of people in Japan, if the regular
friends where we did not feel close to him, we do not need to give the gifts in
special events. Generally, about people who are considered special and need to
be given the gift is usually a parent, boyfriend, friends, teachers /
professors who guide us, the boss in the office and working relationships.Anyway,
those who have done service for us.
For young people in Japan, Valentine and Christmas is
the time when the special event can give a gift, especially for those you love.
It is no secret, that on Valentine's Day, young girls will give a chocolate
gift for a lover or a boy she liked (if still not dating).
In giving a gift, the common factors are considered:
price, quality, appearance, brand, security of goods and the packaging as
beautiful as possible. Japanese people are very concerned with the appearance
of the packaging. That is why, everything in Japan is always packed as unique
and beautiful as possible, and therefore, we can not just give a gift box
shaped unremarkable when rewarding our acquaintances who were Japanese.
In addition, we must attention to the objects that are
taboo given as a gift in certain condition. Here are:
a.
For
colleagues who are sick, it is forbidden to give the objects in the nominal
amount of 4,9,13 because the number of digits that are thought to bring bad
luck.
b.
For colleagues
who are engaged, are prohibited from giving flowers in a basket (parcel
interest) and interest of Tsubaki.
c.
For colleagues
who are married, it is forbidden to give a mirror or glassware.
d.
When
someone died, it is forbidden to give red flower and new banknotes. The new
banknotes are considered "Giving life to participate is invited by the
deceased".
e.
Comb "please
take over my bad luck".
f.
Knives and
scissors "to end of the relationship".
1) The tradition of gift-giving in Japanese
culture:
a) Ochugen
Ochugen is the exchange of gifts, Ochugen
interpreted as mid-year gift. Giving this prize falls in mid-year, usually on
the 15th of July. Gift-giving is addressed to collagues in gratitude for the
help and attention as well as services that they provided. Ochugen usually be
in the form of food or goods. But it is usually taken from the place of
manufacture of the goods originate and sent it directly to collagues or friends
on the addressed. This is referred to as Sanchokuhin.
After
the goods are packed in a box, then taped Noshi on the box. Noshi is a paper
inscribed with the sender's name at the bottom and in writing
"Ochugen" at the top.
b) Oseibo
Oseibo actually similar to Ochugen, but
the timing of the prize at the end of the year. Usually on December 5 and
December 20. The prize is awarded to collagues or friends as a token of
gratitude for helping in the aspects of work, such as friends of work together.
The contents of the prize may be a food or beverage or product that can be
consumed daily.
c) Otoshidama
Otoshidama is a gift given at the
beginning of the year. This prize is usually awarded on March 1 to January 3.
The prize is given to children in the form of banknotes whith minimum of 1000
yen banknotes should not be pennies or coins. The banknotes folded into three
parts and put in a colorful envelope.
d) Omiyage
Omiyage
is a souvenir or gift which brough to home from a trip and gifts brough when
visiting someone. This gift is an expression of gratitude. The gift usually is
a local product from the place of origin of the giver. Such as goods can be a
souvenir.
2) There are some ethics to give a gift in
Japan:
a) Cash
It is not unusual for the Japanese to
give cash as a gift, but it might look too directly or bizarre, depending on
the country or your culture, giving cash as gifts is a common thing for New
Year gift to a child, marriage, funerals, and so on.
b) Give each other or exchanged
Japanese people are usually given
anything in return for gifts received, and the rules vary depending on each
situation. Even if someone says "do not worry about reversing /
reply", you still need to think about it.
c) Souvenir
Most
Japanese people buy souvenirs to colleagues who are very close, it becomes like
an obligation and sometimes very unpleasant (at least for some people) but they
still continue to buy souvenirs, and however, that was Japanese people.
d) Packaging gift
In Japan, they are usually (although
of course it depents on the person) tried to open presents with very carefully,
so as not to spoil the wrapping.
e) The
Japanese are more concerned about how the prize was awarded of the prize.
f) When
receiving a gift from someone else, the Japanese people will be politely
refused one or two before accepting the gift.
2. CHINA
China
is known as a country with a variety of ethical, cultural, manners and
ceremonies. In the China, a lot of the proverb delivered by generations as
"courtesy does not require any cost" or "manners need to be
reciprocal."
In
Chinese culture, angpau is a gift in
a red envelope that usually contains a certain amount of money as a gift to
welcome the Chinese New Year or other celebrations.
Angpau
symbolizes the excitement and enthusiasm that will bring good fortune. Angpau
red color symbolizes good luck and drive expression of negative energy.
Therefore, angpau not given as an expression of condolences because it would be
considered giver rejoice over calamity that occurred in the family.
The
giver angpau usually are a married couple, while the recipient is an unmarried
person or a small child. Some people have a habit of giving money in the form
of coins or a sheet in large quantities so that the recipient can not estimate
the amount of money he has received. People usually also prohibits children to
open angpau when they gathered together so that no awkwardness between the
angpau giver (eg, because the amount of money given is different).
a. Some traditions in giving gifts in
china:
1) If you are invited to a family party,
small gifts such as wine, tea, cigarettes, or candy will be accepted with
pleasure. Besides fruits, pastries and flowers can be a good choise.
2) Giving a gift is not very suitable in public
except for a token. Your good intentions or with gratitude by giving gifts
properly, but not at the price of the gift. If you counted the cost, then the
gift recipient is likely to misunderstand and think of it as a bribe or payoff.
3) The figure of eight (8) is a lucky
number in Chinese culture means grabbing a blessing / hockey. No wonder, for
example, a figure of eight of the most sought after in choosing a house number,
vehicle number, either day or in other forms such as a mobile phone number. Some
of the most sought lucky numbers are 168, 138, 688, 1688 and 6688.
4) Prizes are awarded usually not directly
opened in front of the gift giver.
1) Sharp object
Gifts in the form of a variety of sharp
objects such as scissors have a meaning, the gift givers want to cut the ties
of friendship with the gift recipient.
2) Umbrella
Umbrella gives as a gift is a bad idea,
because the Chinese word for 'umbrella' (sǎn / san) sounds like the word for
'break' (SAN). Giving someone the sumbrella it same as you feel your
relationship with them has been separated.
3) Shoe
Giving shoes as a gift is a bad idea at
the Lunar New Year because the word 'shoes' (syeah) sounds exactly like the
word for bad luck or 'bad'. Shoes is something you stepped on, thus not a good
gift.
4) Handycrafts
Crafts gift signifies the giver as if
delivering a farewell words. Considering giving various handicrafts that common
done in Chinese citizens when they come to the funeral of their family.
5) Watch/clock
Rounded shapes considered as a farewell.
So the gift of watch sounds like attending a funeral ceremony. Watch is one of the objects is strictly
prohibited to be used as a good gift when New Year celebrations and other
festivities. Clock indicates time, precisely marks the end of time. The word
clock is the same pronunciation with the word to visit the cemetery. Then give
a clock as a gift, same like misfortune, and death.
6) Odd numbers are considered unlucky.
So wedding gift or birthday gifts for those
who are elderly are always delivered in pairs. This corresponds to the old man
always said that his blessing would be a pair of later. Although four (4) are
even numbers, but is defined as a death in Chinese culture. So also with the
number thirteen (13). Some buildings styled luxury building with the concept of
Chinese culture eliminate the number thirteen on the thirteenth floor or level
thirteen and replace it into the fourteenth floor and fourteen-A-B.
CHAPTER III
CLOSING
A.
CONCLUSION
From
the various explanations above can be concluded about the cultural differences
in some countries, especially in the gift giving . where culture is whole of
knowledge, attitudes and behavior patterns that is a habit that is owned and
inherited by members of a particular community. In terms of giving gifts
culture, giving gifts each State has different with other countries.
An
activity of gift-giving is a central aspect in social cultural in human
behavior, giving gifts has been part of human life, the views of sustainability
for human life. Gift-giving behavior can be said to be a common behavior in
everyday human life motivated to provide gifts with the purpose of social
exchange, economic exchange, and share love.
One
of the most important to note is how we face the change and cultural
development. Culture will continue in change during human life on the earth,
because culture is dynamic. And most important of it all is how we respond and
sort incoming foreign cultures and intervene native our own culture.
B.
SUGGESTIONS
In my opinion, there are still many
things we need to understand about cultural differences of this study, we as a
successor to the culture of our ancestors. We need to understand our own
culture, and then learn the culture of many countries.
Many
ways to learn or understand the culture of other countries, we do not have to visit
the country that has different cultures to ours, we can search through the
video, or learn the article '' which has been provided on the internet.
REFERENCES
Dordrecht
& Steidlmeier P. (1999, Jun). Gift giving, bribery and corruption:
Ethical management of business relationships in China–Journal of
Business Ethics. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers Group. Accesed
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accesed on 10 Mei 2016,07:00 pm.
Mauss,
M. (2002). The Gift. Trans. W.D. Halls, UK: Routledge.
Nakane,
C. (2003). Tateshakai no Ningenkakei. 107 th Ed. Japan : Kodansha
Gendaishinsho.
https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budaya
10 Mei 2016, Accesed on 08:25 pm.
http://www.duniapelajar.com/2014/07/10/pengertian-budaya-menurut-para-ahli/
Accesed on 10 Mei 2016, 09:00 am.
https://sacunslc.wordpress.com/2015/05/06/tradisi-memberikan-hadiah-di-jepang/
Accesed on 10 Mei 2016, 10:30 am.
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