In Asian countries like China and Japan, wearing masks is common. In 1910, Chinese doctor Wu Liande invented the modern medical mask during the pneumonie plague (肺鼠疫). Since then, masks have become a symbol of China's position as a modern, scientific nation. During the 2003
SARS epidemic, people in China and East Asia also used masks to protect themselves.
In Japan, wearing masks shows your politeness when you get a cold or flu. Some Japanese also turn masks into fashion accessories (时尚配饰). They have different colors and patterns to choose to match their clothes. Some young women wear masks when they don't have their makeup (化妆) on Many pop stars in Asia also use masks lo protect their privacy (隐私). This culture and historical background has made it easier for people in the East to wear masks when epidemics break out.
