Culture of China

Chinese Society & Culture

Confucianism is a system of behaviours and ethics that stress the obligations of people towards one another based upon their relationship. The basic tenets are based upon five different relationships:
Ruler and subject

Husband and wife

Parents and children

Brothers and sisters

Friend and friend

Confucianism stresses duty, sincerity, loyalty, honour, filial piety, respect for age and seniority. Through maintaing harmonious relations as individuals, society itself becomes stable. 

The Chinese Language
Chinese is a family of closely-related but mutually unintelligible languages. These languages are known regional languages, dialects of Chinese or varieties of Chinese. In all over 1.2 billion people speak one or more varieties of Chinese. All varieties of Chinese belong to the Sino-Tibetan family of languages and each one has its own dialects and sub-dialects, which are more or less mutually intelligible. 

Chinese Etiquette and Customs

Meeting Etiquette

• Greetings are formal and the oldest person is always greeted first.
• Handshakes are the most common form of greeting with foreigners.
• Many Chinese will look towards the ground when greeting someone
• Address the person by an honorific title and their surname. If they want to move to a first-name basis, they will advise you which name to use.

Giving Etiquette

In general, gifts are given at Chinese New Year, weddings, births and more recently (because of marketing), birthdays.

• The Chinese like food and a nice food basket will make a great gift.
• Do not give scissors, knives or other cutting utensils as they indicate the severing of the relationship.
• Do not give clocks, handkerchiefs or straw sandals as they are associated with funerals and death.
• Do not give flowers, as many Chinese associate these with funerals.
• Do not wrap gifts in white, blue or black paper.
• Always present gifts with two hands.
• Gifts are not opened when received.
• Gifts may be refused three times before they are accepted.

Dining Etiquette

• Learn to use chopsticks.
• Wait to be told where to sit. The guest of honour will be given a seat facing the door.
• The host begins eating first.
• You should try everything that is offered to you.
• Never eat the last piece from the serving tray.
• Chopsticks should be returned to the chopstick rest after every few bites and when you drink or stop to speak.
• Do not put bones in your bowl. Place them on the table or in a special bowl for that purpose.
• Hold the rice bowl close to your mouth while eating.
• Do not be offended if a Chinese person makes slurping or belching sounds; it merely indicates that they are enjoying their food.
• There are no strict rules about finishing all the food in your bowl.

Dress Etiquette

• Business attire is conservative and unpretentious.
•   Men should wear dark coloured, conservative business suits.
•   Women should wear conservative business suits or dresses with a high neckline. 
•   Women should wear flat shoes or shoes with very low heels.
•   Bright colours should be avoided.