Analysis of the differences between Chinese and Western table manners

Introduction: Learning and using correct table manners is not only the need of one's own image, but also the need of improving double benefits and competitiveness, so the author thinks it is necessary to learn its deep-seated reasons. The following is a brief analysis of the differences between Chinese and western table manners, hoping to help you.

First, table manners in China

Since ancient times, China has been? State of etiquette? 、? The land of food ceremony? . The history of understanding ceremony, practicing ceremony, observing ceremony and valuing ceremony has a long history. According to the Book of Rites, it is recorded that "at the beginning of a husband's ceremony, he began to eat and drink." The earliest food ceremony is directly related to the ancient ritual of offering sacrifices to the gods. In this regard, there is a general description in the Book of Rites, which is to the effect that the ancestors of primitive society roasted millet and pork pieces on a burning stone to offer food, dug holes in the ground as wine bottles to offer drinks with their hands, and beat the earth drum with a long mallet tied with thatch to show their reverence and sacrifice to ghosts and gods. Later, the food ceremony expanded the communication between people from the communication between people and ghosts, so as to adjust the increasingly complex social relations and gradually form auspicious gifts, fierce gifts, military gifts, guest gifts, and good gifts? Five pre-Qin rites? , laid the cornerstone of ancient food etiquette.

according to the literature, at least in the Zhou dynasty, a set of quite perfect system of food etiquette has been formed. As a traditional banquet etiquette of the Han nationality, it has its own set of procedures: the host will invite the guests outside the door at that time. When the guests arrive, they greet each other, introduce them into the living room and offer refreshments. After the guests are seated, the guests are guided to the table, with the left as the top, which is regarded as the chief. There are two seats relative to the first seat, three seats below the first seat and four seats below the second seat. The guests sit down, the host toasts the dishes, and the guests thank each other with gifts. There is also a certain emphasis on serving wine during the dinner: the elders and guests should be respected first, and the host should be the last. After the banquet, guide the guests to sit in the living room and serve tea until they say goodbye. This traditional banquet etiquette has been preserved in most parts of China, such as Shandong, Hongkong and Taiwan Province, and it is reflected in many film and television works. Influenced by the introduction of western food in Qing dynasty, some western food etiquette was introduced, and the exchange of Chinese and western food culture made the food etiquette more scientific and reasonable.

table manners have a special significance in China's cultural tradition. In China, the table is not only a place to meet basic physiological needs, but also an important place for social interaction and even to remind people of their experience. Table manners reflect a person's education and quality. Therefore, it is very important to observe good table manners in China.

ii. western table manners

western table manners originated from the French dynasty of Tam Jia, and at that time, inspired by Byzantine culture, a series of elaborate manners were formulated. By Charlemagne of the Roman Empire, etiquette was more complicated and even autocratic. The emperor must sit in the highest chair, and whenever the music rings, the princes and nobles must pass the dishes to the emperor. Before the 17th century, the traditional custom was to eat with a hat on. In the imperial era, table manners were complicated and strict, and different nationalities had different dining habits. Gauls sit and eat; The Romans ate while lying down; The French learn to put their hands on the table since childhood; British people should put their hands on their thighs when they are not eating. European table manners evolved from chivalry. In the 12th century, Italian culture flowed into France, table manners and menu terms became more elegant and refined, and books on teaching manners came out one after another.

Today, table manners continue to be passed down in European countries. Western families have a habit of taking the dining table as a classroom. From the first day when children go to the table, parents cultivate their table manners. In the west, children usually learn all the manners of eating at the age of four. Five-year-old children are willing to do things that they can do, such as setting all the tableware before meals and clearing the tableware after meals. In addition, they also attach great importance to environmental education to let children know which ones are renewable. Environmentally friendly tableware? Which ones are non-renewable? Permanent garbage? . Educate children to use ready-made food such as cans as little as possible, and pay attention to saving water and electricity. Because they know? Abuse of resources means infringement on environmental protection? .

Third, the differences of table manners between China and the West

There are great differences in table manners between China and the United States, and each has its own characteristics, which reflects different table manners.

(1) Differences in food culture

China has always been a country of etiquette and has its own unique views on food. Confucius said in the Book of Rites? Eat drink man woman, a man's great desire exists. ? Confucius' view on life: Every human life is inseparable from two major events: diet and men and women. Therefore, China people attach great importance to diet. When entertaining guests, China hosts usually attach great importance to them. The dishes on the table are generally very delicate and precious, and they pay attention to the collocation of meat and vegetables and colors. In families with high status or cultural level, even the names of dishes have special meanings. Western countries, on the other hand, cherish time more and work on the principle of efficiency, so fast food restaurants are popular. Even when entertaining guests, the host's preparation is quite different from that of China. The main course is probably just a few rare but precious vegetables.

(2) Differences in table language

There are also great differences in inviting guests to dinner. In China, even if there are a variety of dishes on the table, the host will say? There are few dishes and poor hospitality, so please bear with us? ; And the host of western countries will say casually? help yourself to some vegetables? It seems very natural and casual. At the same time, the host of China will add new dishes to the guest's bowl from time to time, and often the guest's bowl is full of dishes caught by the host, but this is very impolite in the west, and the host's cloth dishes will make the guest feel that his wishes are not respected. The atmosphere at the dinner table is completely different between China and the West. China people pay attention to liveliness, so they often talk loudly at the dinner table. Although the atmosphere is very harmonious, it seems to westerners that it is very uneducated. Western table manners pay attention to etiquette and accomplishment, and the whole dining process should be very quiet and elegant.

(3) Different seating arrangements

Both China and the West attach great importance to the seating arrangements during banquets. In the traditional thinking, China people love the square table very much. In the banquet, older elders or hosts, as well as respected people sit in the main position, and other guests will sit in order; In western countries, when entertaining guests, it is customary to use a long table. The host will sit at both ends of the table, while the guests will take their seats in order. This difference reflects the differences between Chinese and Western ideas. China people like the feeling of happiness, so they choose a round table. In the adoption of the table shape, we can see that westerners advocate self, individuality and publicity, which conforms to the characteristics of the West.

(4) Differences in the display and use of tableware

Chopsticks are the most important tableware in Chinese food. In use, chopsticks must be placed neatly on the right side of the rice bowl before eating, and placed neatly in the middle of the rice bowl after eating. No matter whether there is food left on the chopsticks, don't lick them

. When talking to people, put down chopsticks temporarily; Don't put chopsticks vertically on the

surface of food; Can't pick your teeth with chopsticks? Scratch or grab something other than food. Spoons are mainly used to drink soup, and sometimes they can also be used to take smaller dishes. When taking food with a spoon, don't overfill it, so as not to spill it and dirty the dining table or your clothes. After taking food with a spoon, you should eat it immediately or put it on your own plate. If the food you take is too hot, you can put it in your own bowl and wait for it to cool before eating. Never blow it with your mouth, or put the spoon in your mouth or suck it repeatedly.

when western tableware is placed, the tray is centered, with the left fork and the right knife, the knife tip is upward and the knife edge is inward, the main food is on the left, the tableware is on the right, and other utensils are placed as appropriate. The number of wine glasses is equal to the type of wine, and the arrangement is from left to right, followed by strong wine glasses, grape wine glasses, champagne wine glasses and beer glasses. In western food, the napkin is placed on the plate. If you need to put something on the plate before the guests sit down, the napkin is placed next to the plate. Tableware should be taken from the outside to the inside, and French style can be used when cutting, that is, the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right hand can be used while cutting; You can also use the Anglo-American style, that is, hold the knife in your right hand and the fork in your left hand, and then use the fork in your right hand after cutting &; Generally, take a spoon and a cup in your right hand and use tableware to send food to your mouth, instead of lifting the dishes. When eating with a knife and fork, the knife is used to cut the food and the fork is used to send the food into the mouth. When using a knife, the blade should not be outward, and one end of the knife and fork should not be placed on the plate and the other end on the table; When you need to put down your knife and fork temporarily during eating, you should put them in a figure of eight and place them on the edge of the plate respectively, with the blade facing yourself, indicating that you will continue to eat; After the meal, put the back of the fork upward, the blade inward and the fork together, and put it on the plate to indicate the end of the meal. When you talk with body language or pass food, you should put down your knife and fork, and don't wave it in the air with your hand. After using the knife and fork, it should be placed horizontally in the center of the plate, not on the edge of the plate or on the dining table.

third, the reasons for the differences in table manners between China and the West

(1) Different ways of thinking between China and the West

Influenced by different cultural connotations, China and the West have different ways of thinking, which in turn further affect the development of culture. China people's thinking is comprehensive, paying attention to collective interests in the process of thinking, while westerners prefer analytical thinking, focusing on individuals in the process of thinking, emphasizing individualism and ego, and paying attention to the publicity of individuality. For example, in China's class, the interpretation of the text is standardized as the understanding of paragraphs, the author's writing ideas, writing purposes, etc., and the conclusions drawn from the same article are similar, while westerners will look for the philosophy of being a man in the text, and different people will have different opinions on the same article. For example, when students in China interpret Cinderella, they always agree that the stepmother and sisters are bad people, and Cinderella is a kind girl, while western students will draw various conclusions: the stepmother is good to her children and a good mother, and it is dishonest for Cinderella to secretly go to the dance when her family is away.

(II) Differences between Chinese and Western values

Values are the core of communication, and values are the patterns formed by individuals or groups mainly through cultural communication. They are the deepest culture, so our values reflect our different behaviors and thinking. China people's values are collectivism, while individualism is dominant in western thoughts. China people advocate the doctrine of the mean, and advocate trying to reconcile various contradictions in order to achieve a win-win result. The west, on the other hand, focuses on personal interests and pays attention to the publicity of self and personality. The difference in values has a profound impact, not only on the mind, but also on the system of the whole country.

Influenced by the way of thinking and values, there are differences in table manners between China and the West, which have an important impact on cross-cultural communication. Therefore, it is necessary to know each other's table manners before communicating with the West. ;