PIAD, Golda Meir M.

BOM21

CHINA: A Summary of Culture and Tradition

FOOD In China, food is an important part of life. Sharing a meal is the common way to socialize in the same way that Westerners may go to a bar or pub for a drink. Furthermore, there is a strong 'waste not, want not' ideal that makes for a range of interesting dishes. Rice and noodles are the two staples in the Chinese cuisine and are comparable to the use of bread in Western culture. Both of the dishes have a long history. China was one of the first centers of rice cultivation and noodles have been eaten since the East Han Dynasty (25 AD to 220 AD). In Chinese tradition, five grains of rice are seen as more important than pearls or jade, and noodles are seen as a symbol of longevity. LANGUAGE Mandarin is the official language of China and has been recognized as one of the seven United Nations languages. It is based on the dialects spoken in Northern China, particularly around Beijing. There are over 80,000 Chinese words although only 30,000 of them are in daily use. Mandarin is written in characters, originating from the Shang Dynasty (16th century BC to 11th century BC). There are two versions of characters, traditional Chinese, used in Taiwan Province and Hong Kong and simplified Chinese, used in Mainland China. There are also a range of official and unofficial dialects Mandarin Chinese is the main language spoken in mainland China and Cantonese Chinese is the primary language of Hong Kong. Mandarin closely resembles the dialects spoken in Northern China, particularly around the capital, Beijing. Since the Shang Dynasty (16th century BC to 11th century BC) mandarin has been written using characters although, since this dynasty, simplified characters have been introduced for ease of use. In addition to Mandarin and Cantonese, there are a range of unofficial and official dialects including Wu, which is spoken in Zhejiang Province and Hakka, the language of Guangdong Province.

MORALS AND VALUES Chinese culture has a range of morals and values. Humility and respect are very important in Chinese culture. Individuals are expected to treat each other well and to show modesty when discussing successes or not discuss them at all. In China, people think about ideas in a collective sense, often considering how their actions will affect their friends, neighbors and colleagues before making a decision. Decisions are more commonly made for the greater good as opposed to personal gain. The Chinese are strictly bound by protocol and so it is better to 'save face' by respecting and honoring the opinion of others, even if you believe what they are saying is incorrect, than to demand that others agree with your way of thinking. RELIGION There are two main religions in Chinese culture. Taoism, also known as Daoism, is based on the teachings of the Tao Te Ching, which was written in China in the 6th century BC. The emphasis is on finding spiritual harmony within the individual. As it is in many far eastern countries, Buddhism is the dominant religion in China. This began in India 2, 500 years ago and follows the teachings of the Buddha, "The Enlightened One." In China, Mahayana Buddhism is particularly common. In this form of Buddhism the path to liberation involves religious ritual, meditation and devotion.

SOCIAL STRUCTURE China has a hierarchical and formal social structure. For example, in the family, children are expected to respect their elders with the eldest family member commanding the greatest respect.