Toilet science originated in Japan. The first toilet association was the National Toilet Association of Japan, which was established in 1985+065438+ 10/0. The slogan of the association is "Make public toilets clean and attractive". In 200 1 year, more than 500 representatives from more than 30 countries held the first toilet summit in Singapore. The toilet problem that has been difficult to reach the top of the world has attracted worldwide attention. The meeting discussed a wide range of issues related to toilets, including toilet design, hygiene and comfort, as well as solving the problems of excreta pollution and toilet shortage in developing countries. The meeting decided that165438+1October 19 every year would be World Toilet Day. The World Toilet Hygiene Organization (WTO) was formally established at this conference. WTO is a non-governmental organization, co-founded by Singapore Toilet Association, Japanese Toilet Association, Korean Toilet Cleaning Association and China Taiwan Province Toilet Association. Its headquarters is in Singapore. Committed to the construction of global toilet culture, advocating the cleanliness, comfort and health of toilets. At present, it has dozens of members. This means that the toilet problem, like food, medical care and trade, has been put on the international agenda, and toilet civilization will be paid more and more attention by all countries in the world. For example, India is implementing a huge plan to make every household in rural areas have toilets by 20 10, so as to change its international image. Because only 30% of rural families in India have toilets, and "open defecation is the main cause of diarrhea. 1999 700,000 Indians died of diarrhea, with an average of 1600 people dying of diarrhea every day. Among children under 5 years old, diarrhea has the highest mortality rate. " For this reason, in fiscal year 2003-2004, the Indian government invested 65.438+65 billion rupees to help farmers repair toilets, and in fiscal year 2004-2005, it invested 3.6 billion rupees, increasing to 6.3 billion rupees this year. The 4th World Toilet Summit was held in Beijing from 7 to 9 October 2004/KLOC-0.
According to the figures provided by WTO, everyone goes to the toilet about 6 to 8 times a day, and 1 year is 2500 times. In this way, people spend about two years in the toilet in their lives. Therefore, going to the toilet is a major event in everyone's life. It is by no means a mountain out of a molehill that the WTO holds a summit every year to discuss the toilet problem of more than 6.5 billion people around the world.
2. Differences between Chinese and Western toilet cultures
The appearance of toilet is an important symbol to measure the civilization of a country. The history of toilet development reflects the progress of civilization. After the industrial revolution in Europe and America, people gradually called toilets "toilets", "bathrooms", "men's toilets" and "women's toilets". This is not the distinction between elegance and vulgarity of toilet names, but it marks the change and progress of people's life concept and environmental awareness. As a result of this change and progress, toilets, especially public toilets, are no longer simple and casual places for physiological metabolism, but have multiple functions such as physiological metabolism, hygiene, rest and even aesthetics, commerce and culture. Public toilets have become one of the windows of modern city civilization image, an important symbol of the level of urban economic development and the quality of life of urban residents, which embodies the development level of urban material civilization and spiritual civilization and shows the civilized quality of a nation.
For example, in Switzerland, street toilets have no taste at all. Moreover, toilets, external buildings and internal decoration are as exquisite as housing. The interior decoration is magnificent, the floor is bright and clean, the toilet is brand-new, and the toilet paper and ashtray are neatly placed. Some toilets have oil paintings and modern works of art hanging on their walls, which adds to the cultural atmosphere. There are two hot and cold faucets in the bathroom, beside which there are towels and hand dryers.
Turkey is a country that attaches great importance to toilet civilization. From a bustling metropolis to a remote rural town, the management and cleaning of toilets are excellent. The public toilets there, whether luxurious or simple, are clean, spacious and bright, with toilet paper, soap and sink. No matter where you go, you are rarely embarrassed by going to the toilet. What's more worth mentioning is that many toilets in Turkey are also very artistic. For example, some men's and women's signs on the door of the toilet show the pattern of "red mouth" or "high heels" in the female toilet and "two beards" or "big pipe" in the male toilet. This is more humorous and interesting than simply using body language of men and women.
A reporter from our country visited the United States and found different aspects of public toilet culture in the two countries. Now, some excerpts can deepen our thinking on the cultural connotation of public toilets.
One of the cases.
The reporter wrote: In public toilets in the United States, we can't compete with toilet paper, urinals, urinals, hand washing and drying equipment. Almost all toilets, from the White House to Capitol Hill, from hotels to public toilets, have prepared the same paper. That piece of paper, continuous, thin, white and rolled, is toilet paper. And napkins that are twice as thick as our household napkins are towels that can be used after washing hands. I am ignorant. I see that free toilet paper that can be used by everyone in all parts of America is better than that sold in our store. In addition, in all public toilets, there is an anti-AIDS pad paper. This shows that the U.S. government attaches importance to national health and health.
The question is, what if our public toilets in China also have this kind of free toilet paper? The answer is: stolen. Think about it, if there is such good toilet paper in the public toilet, even the toilet paper I have never used in my life, and no one is guarding it, who doesn't want to take it from home? Isn't this obviously a fool? Not to mention that in China, even in Japan, China students often steal toilet paper from public toilets, which has become a big scandal. In Australia, many public toilets specifically read: China people please be conscious, don't take public toilet paper! Some hotels and restaurants in our country originally prepared paper in the toilet, but later they were cancelled one after another because they were not prepared and could not be prevented. These are all things except "cleaner or dirtier" toilets.
Case 2
A scholar wrote down the comparison of Chinese and American toilet culture from another angle, starting from the kitchen:
Generally speaking, kitchens and toilets in China can only be identified by touch and smell. That visual convenience makes it universal, and it is unparalleled in all kinds of public and private occasions.
Generally speaking, people's toilets in China are very shady. In fact, China's smoked kitchen is an important symbol of China's food culture. As far as I can remember, the "steel pots" used for cooking at home are a little old, and they all have a thick layer of fire scale. This China kitchen culture, which originated from the "steel pot", has always been a lingering warmth in my heart.
China people's toilets are also very distinctive. In the early years, in addition to dim lighting, the facilities were even more rudimentary. In particular, the Beijing public toilets used by countless citizens are even more remarkable. In addition to broad vision, they also have a keen sense of smell and a wide range of characteristics.
American toilets are a healthy advantage in family life. In addition to the spotless characteristics of the kitchen, the bathroom is often decorated with precious flowers, dried flowers, ribbons, sachets and perfumes. There are many ornaments in the American market which are specially used by people to serve toilets. From the matching toilet to the all-gold faucet, the more exquisite the household goods store, the more complicated the gadgets and the more complete the variety. Moreover, as far as American toilets are concerned, in principle, everything is suitable for the decoration of the living room, except the big TV, stereo and bookshelf, and the rest can enter the toilet.
This situation has also brought about differences between China people and Americans in their views on others and themselves. For example, China people always give gifts to others, and most of them will give objects that they are reluctant to eat; When Americans give gifts, the recipient should not expect a big surprise. American gifts are often as simple as a book, a thin silk scarf or a box of candy for three to five dollars. Whenever I see Americans buying expensive things, I buy them for myself or my relatives. People in China often pay attention to "how can I explain to others", and they are all "people" when they are sensible and rational. American consciousness is just the opposite.
Similarly, the living room in China is often much cleaner, which is the result of paying attention to "people" in culture. Because every window is for others to see, I don't want to be sloppy. The kitchen and bathroom are more "home", even if it is messy, it will not hinder the specific use, so it is nothing. However, I have heard intermittently that China people have become more and more self-interested in recent years, and this change is quite good from the international perspective of China people in the future.
China is an ancient civilization with a long history, and civilization naturally includes health preservation civilization. In fact, China is the first country in the world to issue public health regulations. During the Warring States Period, Han Feizi recorded: "The Yin method, whoever abandons the ashes in the Tao, breaks his hand." This law is harsh enough! This method was praised by Confucius. During the Zhou and Qin Dynasties, people who dumped garbage on the road were still severely punished. According to the Qin law, "those who abandon their ashes and return to the Tao" mean to carve marks on their foreheads and cheeks with a knife and then paint them with ink.
So, what causes our current toilet civilization to fall behind?
China culture has always attached importance to "eating and drinking" and despised each other. In China, a country with an ancient cultural tradition, the "toilet culture" is like a desert without an oasis, which has been forgotten. In people's traditional concept, "toilet" can't be elegant, it is considered as the dirtiest and most unlucky place. For example, according to the traditional geomantic theory, the traditional houses in Beijing are arranged in a certain pattern, and the southeast corner is the most auspicious, so the doors and kitchens are generally set in this auspicious direction, while the northwest corner is regarded as the direction of disaster, and the toilet is placed in this corner, which is very simple. Traditionally, people call them "latrines" and "huts". As the name implies, they are thatched houses.
The comparison of toilet "civilization" in different countries can sometimes reflect the differences of national living habits. Countries with developed material civilization cannot ignore the construction of spiritual civilization, especially pay attention to cultivating people's spiritual realm of thinking for others. Otherwise, no amount of material wealth can hide its lack of civilization.
Three. Present Situation and Development of Toilets in China
After several years of development, China's toilet construction has continuously made new breakthroughs, and basically entered a benign development track of rationalization of layout, modernization of facilities, standardization of cleanliness and hygiene, and standardization of management services. The toilet, once the most difficult to be elegant, is becoming a new landscape of cities and scenic spots. In recent years, China's tourist attractions and cities have made remarkable achievements in toilet construction, which has been widely praised by overseas tourists. A Japanese travel agency said, "When I arrived in China ten years ago, the biggest headache was going to the toilet. Some ladies don't even eat breakfast in order not to go to the toilet. Now this situation has greatly changed, which is the progress of China. " .
The "toilet revolution" is a problem that China is now concerned about. However, instead of trying their best to solve the practical problem that people are concerned about the difficulty of entering public toilets, the relevant parties have made extraordinary efforts to build luxury toilets.
The first five-star toilet on Hainan East Expressway recently broke ground. In the next two years, 10 five-star tourist toilets will be built on the main tourist routes in Hainan province, and 150 five-star tourist toilets will be built throughout the province to solve the problem of "difficulty in entering the toilet".
In order to promote the transformation and upgrading of the tourism industry and improve the internationalization level of Hainan's tourism infrastructure, the Hainan provincial government plans to carry out the "toilet revolution" in major tourist cities, major tourist trunk lines and tourist attractions in the province within two years.
Up to now, 74 of the 89 toilets in 35 A-level tourist attractions (spots) in the province have been renovated, and new toilets have been built 1 1 seat, with a capital of * * *14.369 million yuan, all of which have been renovated and put into use according to standards.
The reporter saw in Nansan, Sanya that 13 tourist toilets with an investment of more than 6 million yuan were beautiful and elegant, including 1 five-star, 1 four-star and 1 three-star toilets. Each toilet was rebuilt and decorated in a style that was in harmony with the ecological landscape of the scenic spot, with Chinese, British and Russian toilets in front of it. ①
In Beijing, where public toilets are difficult, it is said that star-rated toilets will be built in major parks, reaching at least two-star and three-star standards; A famous designer who designed bars and coffee shops in Taiwan Province province boasted that he would build a "six-star toilet" on the Great Wall. Other cities are also trying to build luxury toilets. Who is this luxurious toilet for?
At the same time, we attach importance to the construction and management of toilets in developed countries and regions. Pay more attention to the construction and management of toilets in developing countries and backward areas in the world, and pay more attention to the construction of rural toilets while paying attention to the construction and management of urban toilets. Caring for the people starts with solving the problem of public toilets, not luxury toilets. Building more public toilets instead of luxury toilets is a convenient measure to truly meet the needs of most people.
abstract
Toilet is a culture, and the development of toilet culture also represents the development of human civilization. The differences between Chinese and western toilet culture are also reflected in the differences in culture, living habits and economic level between developing countries and developed countries. Toilets in China were oriented to the world when developing tourism in the early stage of reform and development, but it brought a very bad impression to the world at that time. "Dirty, messy and poor" is the only evaluation. In recent years, with the improvement of national health awareness and the development of tourism, the construction of toilets has been included in the important link of urban and rural construction and the construction of tourist facilities, and the toilets in China are different. But what is worrying is that this issue has entered another misunderstanding. Toilets in China are developing towards luxury, which seems to create a new tourist hotspot. Only by building sanitary and practical toilets can we truly meet people's needs, and people-oriented can we embody the true essence of toilet culture.