India + Korea Lovers: India + Korea : Society And Culture.

The influences of Hinduism and the tradition of the caste system have created a culture that emphasizes established hierarchical relationships.
Indians are always conscious of social order and their status relative to other people, be they family, friends, or strangers.
All relationships involve hierarchies. In schools, teachers are called gurus and are viewed as the source of all knowledge. The patriarch, usually the father, is considered the leader of the family. The boss is seen as the source of ultimate responsibility in business. Every relationship has a clear- cut hierarchy that must be observed for the social order to be maintained.

People typically define themselves by the groups to which they belong rather than by their status as individuals. Someone is deemed to be affiliated to a specific state, region, city, family, career path, religion, etc.
This group orientation stems from the close personal ties Indians maintain with their family, including the extended family.
The extended family creates a myriad of interrelationships, rules, and structures. Along with these mutual obligations comes a deep-rooted trust among relatives.

Indians do not like to express 'no,' be it verbally or non- verbally.
Rather than disappoint you, for example, by saying something isn't available, Indians will offer you the response that they think you want to hear.
This behaviour should not be considered dishonest. An Indian would be considered terribly rude if he did not attempt to give a person what had been asked.
Since they do not like to give negative answers, Indians may give an affirmative answer but be deliberately vague about any specific details. This will require you to look for non-verbal cues, such as a reluctance to commit to an actual time for a meeting or an enthusiastic response.

The family is the most important part of Korean life.
In Confucian tradition, the father is the head of the family and it is his responsibility to provide food, clothing and shelter, and to approve the marriages of family members.
The eldest son has special duties: first to his parents, then to his brothers from older to younger, then to his sons, then to his wife, and lastly to his daughters.
Family welfare is much more important than the needs of the individual.
Members of the family are tied to each other because the actions of one family member reflect on the rest of the family.
In many cases the family register can trace a family's history, through male ancestors, for over 500 years.

The teachings of Confucius describe the position of the individual in Korean society.
It is a system of behaviours and ethics that stress the obligations of people towards one another based upon their relationship.
The basic tenets are based upon five different relationships: 1) ruler and subject, 2) husband and wife, 3) parents and children, 4)brothers and sisters and 5) friend and friend
Confucianism stresses duty, loyalty, honour, filial piety, respect for age and seniority, and sincerity.

Ancestors are based on the male family line.
Children are raised to believe they can never repay their debt to their parents, hence the popularity of ancestor worship.
They hold ancestral ceremonies for the previous three generations (parents, grandparents, and great grandparents) several times a year, particularly on Chusok and New Year's Day.
On Chusok, people cook and set out food to celebrate their ancestors.

Kibun is a word with no literal English translation; the closest terms are pride, face, mood, feelings, or state of mind.
If you hurt someone's kibun you hurt their pride, cause them to lose dignity, and lose face. Korean interpersonal relationships operate on the principle of harmony.
It is important to maintain a peaceful, comfortable atmosphere at all times, even if it means telling a "white lie".
Kibun enters into every facet of Korean life.
It is important to know how to judge the state of someone else's kibun, how to avoid hurting it, and how to keep your own kibun at the same time.
In business, a manager's kibun is damaged if his subordinates do not show proper respect. A subordinate's kibun is damaged if his manager criticizes him in public.
Nunchi is the ability to determine another person's kibun by using the eye.
Since this is a culture where social harmony is crucial, being able to judge another person's state of mind is critical to maintain the person's kibun.
Nunchi is accomplished by watching body language and listening to the tone of voice as well as what is said.

Credits to : Kwintessential

India + Korea Lovers