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Cultural Differences Chinese culture is all about etiquette. The importance of ceremonies and manners are an integral part of the Chinese culture. Many famous proverbs from various poets, scholars and authors have been passed down from many generations as an aim to educate the next generation of with their wisdom, such as 'civility costs nothing' and 'courtesy demands reciprocity'. Chinese culture also considers giving gifts on occasions such as festivals, new years', weddings, birthdays and visiting of people's homes as a gesture to show respect and courtesy. Common gifts of wine, tea leaves or sweets are welcomed by most home visits, with fruit, savouries and lilies being a safe choice. Chrysanthemums or white coloured flowers are not considered to be a good choice for bearing as a gift to the Chinese, as they are usually used for funerals and are considered as an insult if given otherwise. The gift of a clock is definitely not considered as a good gesture, as it sounds like "going to a funeral" when spoken, therefore it is a taboo to give a clock as a gift. However, a watch is different and does not contain so much taboo in it, as the spoken pronunciation is totally different. Odd numbers to the Chinese are thought to be unlucky, as they believe that good things come in pairs. Therefore, it may be wiser to send a pair of something as a gift if they can come in pairs, especially for a wedding. Although, four is an even number, it sounds like "death" when spoken in Chinese, therefore gifts are not to be given in fours if possible. The Chinese will also avoid buying houses that are numbered with any fours or flats on a level that contain the number. Eight, however is a very favoured number as it sounds like "rich" when spoken, therefore many things such as car registration plates, lottery numbers, calendar dates to hold occasions or the number of dishes to order at dinner can be linked in to be a good sign if the number eight appears. Chopsticks play an important role in Chinese food culture and there are a few things to avoid when using chopsticks. Chinese people find beating their bowls with chopsticks, or anything for that matter, whilst eating as extremely rude to others and oneself because the behavior is practiced by beggars trying to get your attention into giving them money by beating their empty bowls. In regards to ladies being a well sought after target for marriage, they should be skilled in music, gaming, books and art. With "music" skills typically being the ability to play a stringed instrument such as a lute, peipa or guzhang, "gaming" to be the knowledge to play an intellectual game such as chess or chequers, "books" as in being literate and well educated & "art" skills in being able to draw, sew, paint and master tapestry. Not too hard for the modern woman is it? As it is not uncommon for a girl to play the piano as a hobby, play chess with your siblings at home, go to school and attend art lessons! Chinese Moon Festival The Chinese Moon Festival or Mid Autumn Festival is on the 15th day of the 8th lunar calendar month, which means it will be on a different day each year on the western calendar. The Chinese consider traditional festivals as an important part of their culture because it is a time of gathering together and sharing laughters. The legend behind the festival is that Chang Er, a beautiful girl that worked in the Jade Emperor's palace in Heaven, accidentally broke a vase one day and the angry Emperor of Heaven banished her to live on earth with the mortals, where she could only return to the realms of Heaven if she contributed to a valuable or beneficial deed on earth to the mortals. Chang Er was then born as a mortal into a poor family and the year she turned 18 she met a young hunter called Hou Yi and became friends. One day, the strange incident of 10 suns arose at dawn instead of one, blazing and burning the earth. Hou Yi, being an expert archer, he saved the earth by shooting down 9 of the suns and became a hero. After which, he became King and married the beautiful Chang Er. However, Hou Yi became a tyrant and wanted immortality by summoning the creations of an eternal elixir to be created to prolong his life. Chang Er found the elixir in the form of a pill and she either accidentally or delibrately took the pill and angered the King. Therefore in her path of fleeing, she threw herself out of a window in her palace chamber and instead of falling downwards, she floated towards the moon, where she has lived ever since! The King tried to shoot her down from the sky with his arrows, but failed. After she had became the moon goddess for many years, the remaining beautiful Chang Er looked down to the Earth and saw a cruel Emperor in reign and to help the mortals, she chose to become a mortal again by birth into another mortal family to revisit Earth. The members of her new mortal family were killed or made to be slaves by the Emperor, but she managed to escape to the countryside. Whilst the terrible Emperor was aging and continuing to be obsessed with creating the elixir of prolonged life and making people from all over the empire bring him the method of finding the elixir of eternity, which obviously no one would have the answer to and then executing them as he would not take ignorance as an answer, Chang Er met the goddess of compassion, Guan Yin, who gave her a small elixir, which she then brought to the Emperor. The Emperor after going through all the trouble of finding this elixir was now worried that it was poison and asked that Chang Er took a part of the elixir first. After doing so, Chang Er was fine and well, so the Emperor took the remaining elixir and promptly died of poisoning. Chang Er also left the mortal world not long afterwards, as the effects of the killing elixir was only delayed for her. Instead of dying, she returned to the moon to continue being the moon goddess. Mortals are therefore are grateful to the moon goddess and celebrate the festival on the 15th of the 8th lunar calendar month because the moon is at it's fullest on that night and if you are lucky you might see her dancing on the moon. When the full moon rises, families gather together to watch the full moon and eat moon cakes. The Chinese Moon Festival is also considered as a romantic festival, as a calm and perfect night will allow lovers to spend a quiet romantic night together savouring the tasty moon cakes with wine while watching the clear full moon. For couples who cannot be together physically, they can enjoy the moment by watching the moon at the same time, as if they are together at that hour. Why not set off some Flying Lanterns for an extra special Chinese Moon Festival this year? Other Links: Chinese Culture Facts on China Languages of China Lonely Planet Guide to China Chinese Weddings Chinese Vampires Chinese Poets Chinese Paintings Chinese Instruments Chinese Architecture Chinese Zodiac & Calendar Chinese Medicine Feng Shui Chinese Clothing |
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