That's the simple explanation.

I see it as a much deeper thing, the cultural perspective that leads toward the way in which the fish are depicted, 'alive' or 'on the slab'.

The Eastern view that emcompasses the fish within, and interacting with it's environment.

The Western view of 'ooh-that's interesting', as they flip it over the shoulder into the bucket with the other specimens, to show the lads back home. . .

Have you seen the film, Master & Commander ? Quite a good depiction of the ships Botanist(?) going about, laden with cages, collecting all sorts of critters.

It's probably all different now, with modern communications blending the cultures, and what not.

But historically, I find it interesting that one culture would stop, and take the time to admire a creature doing what it does, in it's own habitat, while the other will pluck the creature out, then slice it up to see how ticks, from the inside.

yea i know what you mean but i think i prefere the living in natural drawing to the cut it up method to clinical for me i suppose, but then some people would say you learn more about the subject by cutting it up