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Analysis on the Cultural Differences between Chinese and Western Table EtiquetteContentsI INTRODUCTION11.1 Purpose of the Thesis11.2 Significance of the Thesis11.3 Overview of Table Etiquette in China and Western Countries21.3.1 Overview of Table Etiquette in China21.3.2 Overview of Table Etiquette in Western Countries3II LITERATURE REVIEW42.1 Chinese Cooking Culture42.2 Western Cooking Culture52.3 Relevant Studies at Home and Abroad5III DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHINESE AND WESTERN TABLE ETIQUETTE73.1 Difference on Tableware73.2 Difference on Order of Serving73.3 Difference on Atmosphere83.4 Difference on Sense of Time83.5 Difference on Seating Arrangement93.6 Difference on Eating Rules10IV REASONS FOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHINESE AND WESTERN TABLE ETIQUETTE114.1 Different Cultural Value114.1.1 The Collectivism in Chinese114.1.2 The Individualism in Western Countries124.2 Different Cultural Connotation124.3 Different Modes of Thinking134.4 Different Concept of Face144.5 Different Religions15V CONCLUSION16REFERENCES17I IntroductionWith the development of global economy, cross-culture communication has become more and more frequent, and the differences between Chinese and western culture have become more obvious, especially the differences of table etiquette. Different cultures have different norms of table etiquette which is an important way to run a good communication with other countries with different cultural background. No matter in China or Western countries, people thinks food as an essential prerequisite for human being existence. But people from different cultural background may have distinct food culture which can be showed obviously on table. So searching their different table etiquette is a direct and effective way to know cultures communicate with other people. Thus, this thesis will analyze some obvious differences on table etiquette in China and Western countries. It is necessary to analyze the cultural differences and their rooted causes in Chinese and Western from the perspective of table etiquette and the reasons for them. 1.1 Purpose of the ThesisA difference between china and western countries on table etiquette is a very important subject of study in modern culture. It plays a crucial position in the process of history development of material culture. Because of different natural environment, historical background and national cultures in China and western countries formed unique food cultures. So the analysis of the cultural differences on table etiquettes between China and western countries is necessary for the study of Chinese and Western cultures. 1.2 Significance of the ThesisIn todays world, especially when the market economy is blooming; cultural communication is becoming more and closer. Mutual cooperation between different cultures is under its way silently. Various table etiquettes will also mix together because of culture collision. Thus，they will be understood and accepted by more and more people，which is beneficial to their development and our life as well. Along with the development of the open policy, it is common to communicate with foreigners，but the communication between different countries is not so easy. As more and more joint ventures have been established in china, competitions between these companies become more and more intensively, so step up the serve become very important. People must ensure the correct manner when they affiliate with foreigners. We all know table manner is unavoidable during the communication, more and more companies focus on the etiquette training. This Thesis can lead people to know the difference between Chinese and Western table etiquette deeply, and it directs them take graceful table manners to have dinner with foreigners. 1.3 Overview of Table Etiquette in China and Western Countries 1.3.1 Overview of Table Etiquette in China There are many eating manners that one must pay attention to which date from the time of ancient China, such as how to sit in a banquet or the placing of the cutlery, and so on. Etiquette governs nearly every action at the table. Some rules were out of courtesy and identity, and were called by ancient Chinese “respect for manners”; some others were traditional; and some only concerned the behaviors of certain groups of people (especially women) and were actually not necessary. Whatever their origin, these rules show ancient Chinas dietary habits and food culture, and some of them are still followed in modern Chinese life. Compliance with these rules sometimes signals a persons status, culture, and family education to others. Because the custom of using banquets to solve problems in business, for friendship, and even in officialdom by the Chinese people, ones should pay great attention to the manners by the table and especially to the Chinese eating taboos.Eating is a dominant aspect of Chinese culture, and in China, eating out is one of the most accepted ways to honor guests. Similar to Westerners drinking in a bar with friends, eating together in China is a way to socialize and deepen friendship. There are many eating etiquette that one must pay attention to which date from the time of ancient China, such as how to sit in a banquet or the placing of the cutlery, and so on. Etiquette governs nearly every action at the table. Some rules were out of courtesy and identity, and were called by ancient Chinese “respect for manners”; some others were traditional; and some only concerned the behaviors of certain groups of people (especially women) and were actually not necessary. Whatever their origin, these rules show ancient Chinas dietary habits and food culture, and some of them are still followed in modern Chinese life. Compliance with these rules sometimes signals a persons status, culture, and family education to others. Because the custom of using banquets to solve problems in business, for friendship, and even in officialdom by the Chinese people, ones should pay great attention to the manners by the table and especially to the Chinese eating taboos.Table etiquette is very important to Chinese people. In Chinese culture, using correct table manners is believed to bring “luck” while incorrect use will bring shame. Similarly, table etiquette indicates childrens educational status: holding chopsticks incorrectly leaves a bad impression and shames the parents, who have the responsibility of teaching them. 1.3.2 Overview of Table Etiquette in Western CountriesInthe West, the notion ofetiquette, being of French origin and arising from practices at the court of Louis XIV, is occasionally disparaged as old-fashioned or elite, a code concerned only with “which fork to use”. Some people consider etiquette to be an unnecessary restriction of freedom of personal expression. Others consider such people to be unmannerly and rude. For instance, wearing pajamas to a wedding in a cathedral may be an expression of the guests freedom, and may also cause the bride and groom to suspect that the guest in pajamas is expressing amusement or disparagement towards them and their wedding. Etiquette may be enforced in pragmatic ways: “No shoes, no shirt, and no service.” Others feel that a single, basic code shared by all makes life simpler and more pleasant by removing many chances for misunderstandings.The western family knew “take the table as a class” as tradition. From the first day of the children at the table, parents began the “dine education” to help their children build good table etiquette. Generally speaking, children in Western began to study meal etiquette system when they were 2 or 3 years old, and they can use these etiquette when 4 years old. About five years old children are ready to does something in themselves power. Such as pre-dinner set tableware，postprandial clean up the table, etc.II literature Review 2.1 Chinese Cooking Culture Chinese cooking has certain common features, which are proved in its stress on the four major characteristics of Chinese cuisine that are color, aroma, taste and appearance. According to Chinese tradition and the Chinese culture, cooking is a special kind of art, reflecting the sense of harmony in aesthetics and beauty. The Chinese cuisine requires three essential factors, or key elements, by which Chinese cooking is known as the complete presence of aroma, color and taste. The three essential elements are achieved by the careful coordination of a train of exquisitely fine activities: selecting materials, mixing flavors, and timing the cooking, controlling the heat and finally, laying out the food on the plate on the table. Chinese cuisine reflects Chinese culture. In many of the dishes, the Chinese often contain much historical and cultural information. The features of Chinese cooking pay more attention to fine details. Chinese people like to use many cooking methods to cook food which makes dishes delicate. 2.2 Western Cooking Culture Different with Chinese cooking culture, Western countries have a relatively simple history of cooking. There are many differences on many aspects. The western cooking put emphasis on nutrition, freshness and easiness to prepare. These factors have a close link with national characters and dispositions of Western nations. Western people pay attention to the nutrition of food, and they strive to keep every nutritional elements balance. Not as Chinese who like to eat elegant breakfast in the morning, Westerners often eat a simple sausage or a cup of coffee. The Westerns are fond of cold food, cold dishes or drink on winter or summer. Different with Chinese people, they hold that cold food is healthy. Westerners thought that cooking is also a kind of science and it still needs rules. Western people like taking an order to buy vegetables and meats. They hold that the order can lead them to cook nutritional meal. However, this way make Western food is short of characteristics. And Chinese people tend to cook a meal optionally. The major reasons for this difference are that they have distinct national characteristics. 2.3 Relevant Studies at Home and Abroad The Chinese table etiquette has a long history, and enjoys a high reputation in the world. Chinese people stress to eat, and they do not only pay attention to cooking methods but also put emphasis on table etiquette. Many Chinese intellectuals did some researches on table etiquettes. In 1990s, a serious of books has published by Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, there including An Introduction to Intercultural Communication which was wrote by Hu Wenzhong (1999). He made reference to the different etiquettes of banquets between Western countries and China. Professor Zhu (2006) used one chapter to devote to the social functions, the various customs of banquets and the forms in both China and other western countries. Bi Ji wan (1999) discussed some related aspects of food culture in nonverbal communication. Hu etal (2013) did a research on banquet etiquette of China and America which used a new perspective to research these differences between China and America. Some contributions to the table etiquette are made by lots of Chinese scholars. It is also developed in China. Some Chinese scholars also give expression to their points of views on this issue. Foreign scholars made contributions to table etiquette research. During 1960s to 1970s, with the fast development of intercultural studies, many books in this field of table etiquettes were published. American and Chinese: Passage to differences (1981) wrote about food habits and table etiquette in Americans as same as those immigrants coming from all over the world, including China. It covered various western cooking culture, table etiquette and role of the food in each society. Cooper (1986) stated that Chinese table manner is a complex system which relates to Chinese traditional cultures. Buttery and Leung (1998) discussed the difference between Chinese and Western etiquette in business negotiations. They pointed that if Western people want to make a successful business negotiation with Chinese people, it is necessary to know their table etiquettes such as wine culture, table arrangement and so on. Gallegos etal ( 2006) used ordinary words to provide the tips to people who want to attend Western dinner or learn to Western table etiquette. It is easy for ordinary people, especially foreign people to know about Western table etiquettes deeply with this book. In 2004, Whitman provided his point of view that because of two cultures existing in Western society, people like paying attention to food culture and table etiquette. Some Western scholars wanted to research Chinese culture through table etiquettes. For example, Verstappen (2008) pointed that if Western people can deal with etiquette well in business dinner or meeting, they may success in the end. He thought that Chinese people like hosts show their positive attitude to guests when they were invited to hosts family. These research papers provide many effective data and inspiration for me to complete this thesis. By analyzing these papers, it is easy to see that not only Chinese but Western people pay attention to table etiquettes on dinner or banquet. When people show their table etiquette, they also express their cultural background, education, and self-quality and so on. III Differences between Chinese and Western Table Etiquette 3.1 Difference on Tableware Chinese table wares involve chopsticks, small dish, bowl and glass. Chopsticks and spoon are always put together on the right hand of the plate. Toothpick and ashtray are also necessary. In western meals, they use so much table wares with different kinds and sizes. The use of table wares also shows different food culture in different countries, the main table wares in western are knives, forks, spoons, glass and napkin.Chopsticks are the main table wares in Chinese food culture. It is impolite to use chopsticks to clean tooth, or pick other things that are not food. It is also bad manner to talk with chopsticks in hand. The right way to use spoon is: scoop the food, and wait for seconds to make sure that the soup will not splash out, and then move the spoon back. It is impolite to put the spoon in to mouth, or lick the spoon over and over again. Knife is used to cut food and fork is used to carry food into mouth. During the dinner, you should put them on both sides of the plate, and knife and fork should be put in the way that looks like the Chinese word eight. People can also use them in a way that handle knife in your right hand and fork in the left hand. Soup spoon is always put on the outermost right side, together with the knife. Dessert spoon is put together with dessert knife and fork. 3.2 Difference on Order of ServingIn China, the first dishes are cold dishes, beverage and wine; then the hot dishes; next staple food; at last the sweets and fruit. When the banquet has many tables, each table should be on every dish at the same time. Besides, hot dishes should be served from the left side opposite the seat of the guest of honor, single copies of vegetables or side dishes and snacks should be given to the guest first then the host. Plastic dishes like whole chicken, whole duck, and whole fish can not put their heads and tails toward the host seat. In general, there are several ways of serving: First, the big dish is putted side, self-served by the people. Second, a waiter holds a dish one by one to each guest. Third, it is in full bloom with small dishes, and then each one enjoys those dishes. In the banquet, each dish like slide show, each time a dish is served. Western serving steps are usually that: bread and butter, cold dishes, soup, seafood, main course, dessert, coffee and fruit. Westerners like eating the cold dishes, soup and bread at the same time. Cold dishes, also known as appetizer dish, served as the first course, usually with an aperitif. And soup includes stains soup and cream soup. The main course has fish, pork, beef, and chicken and so on. Dissert usually has ice-cream, pudding etc. 3.3 Difference on Atmosphere Noisy and quiet is the main different of table atmosphere between Chinese and western. Chinese table atmosphere always noisy and always the noisier the better. While on western table atmosphere is quiet. Chinese People begin to talk at the time they sit down, and they would keep talking during the whole dinner. Everybody who sit at the table likes talking, drinking, eating, and enjoying the pulsating atmosphere. Noisy atmosphere can reflect the guests happiness from their hearts. Westerners also talk at table, but they talk quietly and keep the voice at the stage that can only be heard. People can not make noises when drinking soup. Chewing with mouth closed and does not making noises when eating. 3.4 Difference on Sense of Time When it comes to time concepts, the westerners and Chinese have different views on table etiquette. In personal interaction, Chinese people usually do not make advance appointments before a dinner and even if they do, they do not perceive appointments as iron-clad commitments; instead, personal interaction and relationship development are far more important than having dinner. Chinese people are inclined to be a little later than what is scheduled when participating in. Some activities like banquets. Normally, they would be half all hour later or even longer. In order to fill in this “blank” period of time, some entertainment, such as playing cards or chatting with others, etc., is arranged, and tea and some snacks like watermelon seeds or a variety of sweets are served for those who have arrived “earlier” to “kill” the time. Both host and guests get used to that and would not interpret this kind of lateness, whether consciously or unconsciously, as the disrespect to the invitation or all impolite behavior. Sometimes, a host even deliberately set the time earlier, providing more “space” for guests lateness. Unlike Chinese people, English people tend to follow precise scheduling. Once the time is set, it is rarely changed, and people should take it seriously. Usually everyone is supposed to arrive on time when attending a dinner party. Sometimes, it is also acceptable that people can be a little later, but no more than 10 minutes; otherwise his behavior will be regarded as inappropriate or insulting to both the host and other guests. In America, 5 minutes lateness is acceptable,10 minutes lateness requires adequate reasons and if someone is late for 20 minutes，he has to mumble some apologies. And if he is late for more than 30 minutes he is thought to be impolite or to have run into some emergencies. In short, in their cultures one who violates the rule o punctuality shall be punished seriously. 3.5 Difference on Seating Arrangement In China, people used to use the number of the tables to define the size of banquet. In small banquets which have two tables, the table on the left or farther to the portals the top table. At bigger banquets that have three or more tables, the rules are much more complicated. Generally, seats that closer to the top table take precedence. For example, on the wedding party, family members of the bride or the leaderships are arranged to the table that closest to the top table. Hosts show their reverences to the guests by arranging seats by this way. Seats at one table also have different meanings. In Chinese table manner, the seat opposite to the door is the honor seat, which is for chief guests or elders; the seats beside are the second honor seat which are for other guests; the seats that opposite to the honor seat are the inferior seat. Inferior seat
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