Chinese Culture
"The great law of culture is: Let each become all that he was created capable of
becoming."
--Thomas Carlyle
What is a culture? Is it characterized by art or literature? Does it include
actions, feelings, or thoughts? Is it ideas, objectives, or ways? What about
beliefs or values, or customs or tradition? Is it something as simple as a field
of activity or as complex as a neverending experiment?
Culture is all of these, but it is true that it cannot be truly defined by a
single stroke of words. In everyday conversation, the word culture might refer
to such fields as literature, art, or music; yet scientists who study culture
see it as something more complex, a way of life as well as acting, feelings, and
thinking. And even within these "definitions" of culture there are different
views on what exactly culture is.
For thousands of years, the Culture of China has attracted and moved many people
from all over the world, being so unique and one-of-a-kind as well as elegant
and inspiring. The Chinese Culture, a culture that has evolved for thousands and
thousands of years, contains rare beauty and enchantment with history. It has
drawn so much interest that it is integrating with other cultures.
Chinese People
Chinese people is peaceful, hardworking and easily contented. They respect
elders, love children and are patient with their fellows. Chinese in general are
reserve and humble. They believe in harmony and never look for confrontation.
History has told that Chinese is non-invasive. During the period of British and
the west expanding their powers to Asia, North America, Australia and New
Zealand, China became the target of the G8 invasion.
Chinese are very proud of their
civilized society since the early day. They are open and pragmatic towards
differences in religions and culture. Foreigners are welcome and being treated
more fairly. China have been very receptive to Jews in the early days in Kaifung
city and later in Shanghai when they were rejected by other countries during the
World War II. .
China has long history or even a painful past. The fact is that China today is
still very poor and most of the Chinese are still living in poverty. It is time
for Chinese to work together that China will progress with other nations and
their people can live happily and peacefully from hereafter.
Chinese etiquette:
Greeting:
1. When you first meet a Chinese person, they might seem unfriendly, but that is
because they are taught to not show emotions in public, because it is thought to
be unacceptable.
2. Chinese like being formally introduced to a person by another person. When
being introduced to a person, shake their hands. A smile, a wave, a nod, or a
bow are good. At the same time kissing and hugging are bad. You can only do this
I you know the person really well.
3. Now you know this person, so give them a compliment. Never, insult a person,
do anything to shame them, yell at a person, or try to prove them wrong in front
of other people. Instead just pull them over and talk to them privately.
4. Chinese never refuse or say no to anything, but that doesn’t mean they will
say yes. That is because they will lose “face” or get shamed, if someone
downright says “no”. If you disagree with someone, or have no as an answer say
“maybe” or “we’ll see”.
Eating and Dining:
1. First of all- Where to sit? No you cannot randomly go pick the best seat,
right next to a friend of your host. There is a specific order to where you can
sit.
2. The host sits nearest to the door.
3. The guest of honor sits opposite.
4. Other honorary guests sit to the left of the guest of honor.
5. Don’t eat a whole meal, just sample everything on your plate. There will be a
lot of courses.
6. Don’t eat everything on your plate, or your host will see to it that you get
more food to eat. Instead leave a little bit of food on your plate.
7. Never pour your own drink first. Instead make a toast, about business or
friendship. Pour everyone a drink, leave no one out, or it will seem as if you
forgot them. Even if the persons cup is filled, pour a few drop in, or give the
cup a long stare, before moving on.
8. Don’t take the last piece of food on the platter, as it will seem as your
greedy.
9. Don’t take your chopstick and turn them into forks by poking into the food.
You must use the chopstick to pick up the piece.
10. If you pick up a piece with a chopstick and drop it, don’t attempt to pick
up another piece instead, keep on trying.
11. Don’t start playing the drums with your chopsticks.
12. Don’t use the chopsticks as tooth picks, or suck on them.
13. Don’t vertically place your chopsticks on top of a bowl, it resembles death.
Gift Giving:
1. A gift should reflect the interests of the giver and receiver.
2. What should you get for a person? Well it should be based on these things:
3. The Gift should reflect the interests of the giver (that is you) and the
receiver.
4. If you are foreign, then consider getting them a gift from your area, or a
gift with a companies logo.
5. Think twice about giving food items to the host they might have the
impression that you think they are poor! It is okay to bring candy and fruit
baskets though. Alcoholic beverages are okay too, as well as cigarettes and
cigarette lighters.
6. Don’t wrap the gift in flashy paper, red pink and gold, are best, avoid blue,
white, and black!
7. You could give calculators, stamps, cigarette lighters, and kitchen supplies
to the recipient.
8. You could ask your gift-receiver what they would like as a gift, and commonly
people would ask for tea, or ink pads.
9. Present your gift to your recipient with two arms, and receive it with two
arms.
Don’t- :
10. Give your friend sharp objects, it says that you want to end the friendship.
It you really insist on that item, ask your friend for a penny when you give him
or her the present, so you would have sold the item to them.
11. Give anything in sets of four, because four in Chinese sounds similar to
death. Don’t give anyone anything with storks or cranes on it, anything white,
blue, or black, clocks, or straw sandals.
12. Write anything in red ink, even if red is good.
13. Accept gifts offered to you until you refuse it twice before. Chinese do not
want to give the appearance that they are greedy , therefore wont accept the
gift until you offer it to them thrice.
14. Give gifts to a person without a good reason to do so, and a person
watching.
Great Wall of China:
The Great Wall of China, one of the greatest wonders of the world, was listed as
a World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987. Just like a gigantic dragon, the Great Wall
winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus, stretching
approximately 8,851.8 kilometers (5,500 miles) from east to west of China. With
a history of more than 2000 years, some of the sections are now in ruins or have
disappeared. However, it is still one of the most appealing attractions all
around the world owing to its architectural grandeur and historical
significance.
Chinese Cinema:
The Chinese-language cinema has three distinct historical threads: Cinema of
Hong Kong, Cinema of China, and Cinema of Taiwan. After 1949 and until recent
times, the cinema of mainland China operated under restrictions imposed by the
Communist Party of China. Some films with political overtones are still censored
or banned in China itself. However, most of these films are allowed to be shown
abroad in commercially distributed theaters or in film festivals.
The vast majority of the Mainland-produced movies are Mandarin-based, unlike
those from contemporary Hong Kong, which are almost exclusively made in
Cantonese. Mainland films are often dubbed when exported to Hong Kong for
theatrical runs, though Taiwan, like the PRC is predominantly Mandarin-speaking,
and offers ready alternative commercial outlets for export.
Chinese action movies have been around far longer than most fans of the genre
would suspect.
Jackie Chan:
Jackie Chan, (born Chan Kong-sang, 陳港生; 7 April 1954) is a Hong Kong actor,
action choreographer, filmmaker, comedian, producer, martial artist,
screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer.
In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use
of improvised weapons and innovative stunts. Jackie Chan has been acting since
the 1970s and has appeared in over 100 films. Chan has received stars on the
Hong Kong Avenue of Stars and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
As a cultural icon, Chan has been referenced in various pop songs, cartoons and
video games. Chan is also a Cantopop and Mandopop star, having released a number
of albums and sung many of the theme songs for the films in which he has
starred.