Since we can travel around the world and visit different countries, people noticed cultural differences that are here to this day. That is what makes traveling fun, to change your usual setting with something new and unexplored. 

Yang Liu a young artist from Beijing currently living in Germany illustrates the social and cultural differences between her Eastern and Western worlds in her project “Ost trifft West,” or “East Meets West,” which conveys a strong message on the differences she personally experienced.

"Ost trifft West" is a series of infographic posters that compare German and Chinese people in accurate and humorous ways. The infographics highlight important human elements such as self-perception, opinion expression, and mood.

So without further ado, we invite you to explore the differences captured by this incredibly observant artist.

More info: yangliudesign.com | amazon.com

#1

The Boss

The Boss

yangliudesign Report

Headless Roach
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Meanwhile in China: "Sorry, you're just not tall enough to get promoted "

Alex Freetime
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That doesn't take into account the obscene pay gap between CEOs and regular workers I guess

Jake VanWagoner
Community Member
2 years ago

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It's not obscene. There are a handful of outliers that get all the attention, but most CEOs et al are paid six figures or less.

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David Green
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is just seems wrong. Take for example Amazon, a western company, where the CEO to worker pay ratio is 58 to 1.

GoldfishCrackers
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’d say though that this graphic is showing direct boss relationships. For example, if you work for Amazon, your boss (likely) isn’t the owner. There are going to be multiple boss layers between you and the owner.

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Brian Leahy
Community Member
Premium
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I assumed this graphic refers to the degree of deference and power bosses command.

Georgio Stelmani
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Self-deception is apparently a western trait XD the boss in the west is not equal to his subordinates, neither in a normal company nor in corpo-life. On the other side, in the east the boss takes responsibility for his subordinates, is paid slightly more (2-5% more, here in EU your direct boss is earning at least 50% more!), So yeah, second comperison is also not accurate nor true.

John Cassidy
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Switch this around. In the "east" CEO' actually go to jail and face criminal charges for corruption. Unlike in the U.S. they just get bailed out with more money.

Jeremy Britton
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Measuring by wage gap, the boss in the west would be 300 times taller than his employees

Mikhail Andreevich
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What do they have in common? They both white xD

Yu Pan
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this is referring to the power and strict hierarchical order of bosses. I used to work at a non profit in US with a satellite office in China. Everyone in my us office is addressed by their first name, regardless of how senior, how educated, how experienced they are in the field, and we can have a regular friendly conversation about work or life or family or whatever. But when the director of the satellite office came here, all the junior staff would call him Dr. So and so and his peer could call him by his first name. When I visited the satellite office, while staff and bosses can talk cordially, the hierarchy is here. When the director gave his staff something, they would receive it with both hands, and if you are able, rise up and gently bowed your head, particularly if the item is something not exactly business related (like a gift, a glass of water). Deference is certainly given to your boss or anyone with seniority

ThatBlackNightingale
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So I watch a lot of crime podcasts on true crime and I see this so much as a place of crime (an office) in Eastern cultures, especially Korea (no hate!)

Domi
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a German boss and I have the opposite feeling about him

Tams21
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to live in Germany and just like everywhere else, it depends on the company and it depends on the person.

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sebastian nye
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Invert it for CEO pay And make the American ceo 400 times larger

Gypsy Lee
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sadly I think it's only the bosses that truly see it this way. Everyone else is just trying to live their life and get by while the rich people in charge just keep getting richer.

Greg Le Goire
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guess I‘m working in the East, then…🤔🙄

Alicia M
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure feels like bosses in the west want to be like bosses in the east.

David A Paterson
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Salaries are the opposite way around.

Super Beast
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

95% of all companies around the world are family businesses.

Jeremy Britton
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If we measure by the wage gap, the boss in the West should be 300 times taller than the employees

Claire Armstrong
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So, just to clarify is West the blue side and East the red side? I'm basing that purely on the fact that the blue side has words in English and what looks like German, while the red side is in Chinese or whatever it is.

CV
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I found it exactly other way around!

Verena Abt
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

His grave will be of the same size, though.

Mountainslady1
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

Jude Kay
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can RARELY compare two of ANYTHING! Especially people/countries/societies. So many dynamics going on. Differences in cultures, history, EVOLUTION, goals, location, types of government, length of BEING, traditions, natural resources, proximity to other countries ( and WHAT other countries) morals, ethnic make-up, unifying customs and languages...

sebastian nye
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

now do salary disparities. The chart would be inverse.

Ivona
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

Janet Graham
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have no idea which color represents which country. I am just going to comment on the pictures and disregard the country.

Janet Graham
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most places I have worked have been like in the blue. The boss gets his due respect, but he is not God.

Joe Smith
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let's look at corporate salaries and that figure on the left would be about to the moon. Bad comparison.

Frank Li
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In terms of attitude, sure. In terms of income though… basically both right image, maybe west more so than east…

Frank Li
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure, in terms of “attitude”. In terms of income though… that’s a reverse right there.

Marie Hossfeld
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not true. The C.E.O. is treated better than a king. 90% of us are basically serfs. U S.A.

Marie Hossfeld
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not true, Ceo in the U S is treated like a king. Money rules.

Hadi AlAli
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In eastern culture, the boss is untouchable dictator, while in western culture business decisions are negotiated

Davorin Jurišić
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

in which regard is this graphics valid. peeing in bottles, because your boss doesnt allow you to go to the toilet or the fact that in an average company ceo gets paid 300-400 times more than average employee

GamerChick5567
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nah pretty sure the boss is the red one everywhere. Slave wagery is universal lol

Cheri Mendez
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yea this isnt true for america bosses, maybe other western societies? Boss in America def are like east

Cheri Mendez
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guess this is every western boss except americans lol, american bosses are just like east bosses most the time

Cheri Mendez
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe every west society except america...

Matt Harrell
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone apparently grew up with their globe upside down. Not only do the bosses in the west have the power, they have all the money, too.

censorshipsucks
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Africa it is similar, depending on which boss. Due to apartheid, a white boss is treated like a kind of demi-god.

Lea Augusta
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes! I picked up her book in a waiting room when I was living in Germany and loved it!

Mike Sims
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's because boss in west will get his a** kicked if he gets too much out of line! Westerners are not slaves!

Eddie becerra
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol really,that’s how she thinks it is?it’s the same,rich powerful big is little

El Howard
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If by East you just mean India, that's pretty accurate. They seem afraid of disagreeing with higher ups.

$ergi0
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Chef js the same size as Chinese, but he's a multi millionaire and sending email about how crucial is for everybody to work unpaid overtime to meet company goals. Before being laid off via weekend email.

Jay Son
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even the blue one makes me want to quit my job lol

Verena
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

From a chinese point of view the german one might be correct, however hierarchy is big in Germany. So seen from Germany, the red is Germany and the blue is the Netherlands

der sebbl
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not really. My Boss is my Boss, yes, but he doesn't have much power over me. Saying as a German

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john s
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

Got hacked lol
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the boss in china is big? i dont get it

anon panda
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The boss is much bigger and more powerful. The workers aren't equal

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Danny Swartz
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here in the United States it's the red image

FlatEarf
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Partially, we have managers who have managers who have managers who have bosses most places, it is much more blue than you'd thing.

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VonBlade
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not only is this the wrong way round, but the white dude isn't REMOTELY big enough. The boss should be so big you'd need an electron microscope to see the workers.

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If you wonder how Yang Liu gathered information, such as whether she used interviews, research, or theories, her reply is this: “The fact is that every single illustration is my very personal experience in the past 13-17 years, and this work was made as a documentation of my own life,” she said. As an artist who was raised in multiple cultures, she doesn’t feel like she belongs to any of them: “I am feeling myself more as a person who belongs to all the places I have been,” says Liu.

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    #2

    Means Of Transportation

    Means Of Transportation

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    #3

    Expressing Opinion

    Expressing Opinion

    yangliudesign Report

    Alexander
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As a german I can deeply relate. Whats the thing about Smalltalk or talking around the bush in soooo many countries? If you have to say something then do it and not let me guess what you really mean.......why wasting time? *sight*

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    Sure, we are all aware of cultural differences around the world, such as social norms, family structure, religion, cuisine, and the more day-to-day ones that Liu has depicted in her illustrations. Historical, geographic, economic, and social factors are just some of the ones that form differences in the way we perceive and interact with the world around us.

    #4

    Standing In A Line

    Standing In A Line

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    Vaa10
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Chinese line look like the line in my former school cafeteria

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    #5

    Attitude Towards Punctuality

    Attitude Towards Punctuality

    yangliudesign Report

    When moving to a new country, no matter how close or far from your home, the beginning can be quite challenging and time-consuming. In order to adapt might require some adjusting to a new culture and adopting its values, beliefs, customs, and behaviors. Building new relationships and keeping an open mind is the right way to start.

    #6

    Dealing With Problems

    Dealing With Problems

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    #7

    Expressing Feelings

    Expressing Feelings

    yangliudesign Report

    In Liu’s illustrations’ on one side, we might recognize ourselves more than on the other one, and it might raise questions: what else is different? How does that affect our mental health? Could I maybe learn new things and include them in my life to make it easier? 

    What do you, Pandas, think when seeing Liu’s depiction? Share your thoughts in the comments.

    #8

    Traveling

    Traveling

    yangliudesign Report

    Phoenix the Frog
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I like the German one. Pictures aren't the same as seeing it

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    #9

    What’s Trending

    What’s Trending

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    #10

    Noise Level At The Restaurant

    Noise Level At The Restaurant

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    Headless Roach
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    *noise level everywhere in China. Chinese cities are full of sounds coming out of absolutely everywhere.

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    #11

    Everyday Life Of Elderly

    Everyday Life Of Elderly

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    #12

    Mood And Weather

    Mood And Weather

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    #13

    Self Perception

    Self Perception

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    Hannah M
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People, this isn't saying that Chinese have low self-esteem or don't value themselves. It's comparing the individualism of the West to the collective mindset of the East. To a westerner the self is the primary consideration; in the east the self is a small part of the wider community

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    See Also on Bored Panda
    #14

    Cultural Perceptions: Germans vs. Chinese

    Cultural Perceptions: Germans vs. Chinese

    yangliudesign Report

    Phoenix the Frog
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I mean the Chinese one is not wrong. Saying as someone who lived in Germany

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    #15

    At A Party

    At A Party

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    BlueEyesWhiteDragon
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm one of the little lonely dots on the German side. I would say I wish I lived on the circle side, but I would probably get overwhelmed by my nearest dots and try to leave early.

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    #16

    Children In The Family

    Children In The Family

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    LizzieBoredom
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So, Chinese children murder their family members?

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    #17

    Three Meals A Day

    Three Meals A Day

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    Lyone Fein
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    More variety in Germany? Oh no, I get it. Cold and hot meals. Ok.

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    #18

    Contacts And Connections

    Contacts And Connections

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    Lyone Fein
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wonder if the one on the left is really accurate?

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    #19

    Cure For Stomach Ache

    Cure For Stomach Ache

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    Dani M
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Beim Bauchschmerzen": actually it´s "Bei".... sorry

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    #21

    Lifestyle: Independent vs. Dependent

    Lifestyle: Independent vs. Dependent

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    Autistic McWolferson the Forth
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So basically "disappoint your family in any way and be disowned" in China. No real chance to develop your own genuine personality in a world like that

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    #22

    Ideal Of Beauty

    Ideal Of Beauty

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    Ian Reynolds
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is this to do with skin colour or tone? Germans prefer darker skin and Chinese prefer lighter skin tones? If it is not, I don’t get it.

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    #23

    Shower Time

    Shower Time

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    See Also on Bored Panda
    #24

    Novelties

    Novelties

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