综论印度文化的特点

同中国文化一样,印度文化也是世界上最古老的文明体系之一。它起源于公元前2500年左右的印度河流域,至今已有4500多年的历史。印度文化历经风风雨雨,起伏跌宕,从未中断,一直延续至今。印度文化源远流长、历史悠久、博大精深,内容和形式丰富而多彩。由于印度地处特殊的自然地理环境,并且具有自己独特的社会人文发展背景,所以印度文化有着许多其他民族文化所没有的特点。印度文化有它的八大特点:一是一个多元文化的统一体。印度自古就是一个多宗教、多种族、多种语言并存的国度,有一种"印度精神"把他们凝聚在一起。二是具有强大的融合和同化能力。三是信仰人与自然和谐统一的世界观。四是重精神、轻物质的人生价值观。五是在思维方式上,追求永恒精神、崇尚内向直觉思维。六是由于宗教文化的影响,古代印度人不注重历史,历史观念淡薄。七是印度自古以来就形成了一种等级分离制度,后来发展为种姓制度,这种制度对印度社会和文化都产生了深远影响。八是印度古代就发明了瑜伽术,后被各种宗教所吸纳,作为它们实现精神解脱的手段。现在,瑜伽术已演化为成一种修心养性、强身健体的体育项目风靡于世界。

A Brief Introduction to the Characteristics of Indian Culture

Indian culture,like that of China,is one of the oldest cultural systems in the world.It originated,with a history of more than 4500 years,from the Indus Valley around 2500 BCE.Indian culture has eight distinct characteristics of its own:Firstly,it is a unity of plural cultures with various religions,races,ethnics and languages combined together by Indianness;Secondly,it has a strong ability of absorption and assimilation;Thirdly,it believes in the harmony between man and nature;Fourthly,it attaches importance to spiritual life rather than material one;fifthly,it pursues eternity and advocates inner and intuitive way of thinking;Sixthly,ancient Indians paid no attention to history and had a very weak sense of history;Seventhly,The caste system has exerted far-reaching influence upon Indian society and culture;Eighthly,Various religions have absorbed yoga as a way to realize spiritual deliverance,and yoga itself has evolved as a system of exercises benefitting one's mind and body popular in the world nowadays.