Chinese manners
China is known for its long states of tradition and etiquette. Many things have been passed down to each generation such as mannerisms, and proverbs. Chinese daily life holds traditions westerners may find unusual, but this is part of Chinese customs and culture
Chinese Daily Life:
Chinese Daily Life:
- Bowing: bowing has been a tradition for over 2000 years back to written history. Bowing is used to show respect to a higher level and is used by lower subordinates such as students, and attendants. Bowing in ancient times used to be a form of salute or greeting. A man or woman would cup one hand in the other and place it in front of their chest and bow slightly as a form of greeting. Children today tend to simply nod their head in acknowledgement of their elders. Bowing today is hardly used anymore except in instances of a celebration or a certain ceremony.
- Introductions/Gift Giving: It is a common practice to introduce a junior to a senior or the unfamiliar to a familiar person as a form of courtesy or politeness. The Chinese also consider gift giving as an important show of courtesy. As for westerners, it is important to give gifts on occasions like birthdays, weddings, visiting a friend, or someone in the hospital. There are many things to consider when giving a gift such as "odd numbers" which are considered unlucky and unfortunate. In addition, gifts should be given in pairs (from the proverb saying "good things come in pairs") or even numbers. The one exception to this is the number 4 which is considered bad luck and a bad omen to the Chinese. Also gift giving in public is unsuitable in public because it could seem like a bribe to others.
- Etiquette: Most important to Chinese etiquette is greeting your elders. This is not limited to the elderly, but for seniors older than you. Greeting properly is a sign of respect and acknowledgement of their presence. It is extremely disrespectful to greet an elder by their first name unless they have taken up the "Anglo-Chinese" custom where they attach their first name to their title, for example: "Uncle John." In some situations it is considered okay to ask your elder how to address them if you are not sure. This is not seen as a sign of disrespect or rudeness, but is seen as a compliment to yourself that you would ask how to address them properly since most Chinese manners only apply to the Chinese.
- Dining Etiquette: Most Chinese socialize around food and during meals. Meals are the highlight of the Chinese family. Most, if not all celebrations are centered around food. Chinese dishes are shared on communal plates set in the center of a big round table. In some cases, the center table setting where the dishes are set spins, providing an opportunity to not be rude by reaching over your neighbor for food. It is common to use chopsticks or serving spoons to pick at the food being eaten with a bowl of rice. Children, or the youngest of the table offer their elders to eat first as a sign of respect. Once the elder has began to eat, it is considered okay to take your share as well. Some important Chinese manners are "snatching" the tab, where one person snatches the tab and offers to pay the bill. Chinese dinners are usually eaten in large groups, and one person will pay. In cases, "fighting over the bill" occurs, where friendly bickering or arguing in a positive sense happens. This is considered VERY GOOD MANNERS because it will not define you as rude, but it is a showing of appreciation and gratitude if you tried to pay for your own meal and paid for them too. The host generally picks up the tab, but if you do pick up the tab, it is seen as good Chinese manners.
Chinese dress manners and dress code
Every country has a different dress code. When in China, it is important to dress suitably to Chinese views. Chinese people pay a lot of attention to dress codes and since China is a traditional nation, they value and emphasize the importance of etiquette. Chinese people think that to respect others, they must respect themselves in terms of clothing. For example, Chinese girls should wear decent dresses as a sign of respect to others, where they do not show too much skin. In certain views, it can be said that easterners are more conservative than westerners in clothing. An indecent dress can ruin one's dignity. Chinese people also like the color red because it is considered to be good luck and fortune. Bright colors also match the mood of the atmosphere if they do not choose to wear red.
Traditional festivals are when Chinese people like dressing up. Women like to wear Qipao's or Cheongsam's and men wear the male version of these traditional clothing called Changsang's.
Traditional festivals are when Chinese people like dressing up. Women like to wear Qipao's or Cheongsam's and men wear the male version of these traditional clothing called Changsang's.
Traditional clothing
To the left are traditional Chinese clothing called the Qipao or Cheongsam for women and Changshan for men. It is a one piece traditional Chinese dress worn since the Manchu rule. The original Qipao was wide and baggy. It was a one pieced, high neck and straight skirt dress. This traditional type of clothing covered the entire body except for the head, toes and hands and was made of silk and featured embroideries. In the 17th century, it was worn everyday. During the Manchu rule, the chieftain established the Banner system that organized all Manchu families into divisions. In the 1920s the Shanghai dress became more modernized and popular among celebrities and the upper class, but lost popularity during the communist rule. Today's Qipao's are modeled after Shanghai's fashion. The one piece, form fitting and floor length dress was made with high slits on one or both sides of the legs and may be sleeveless and made out of different fabrics. They are only worn during formal occasions such as weddings, parties, pictures, and other more formal Chinese events. They are also sometimes used as uniforms in restaurants, hotels and airplanes in Asia.