Professional Documents
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Received: January 13, 2017; Accepted: February 7, 2017; Published: March 1, 2017
Abstract: Food plays a crucial role in the growth of society and human civilization. It is an essential premise for human
existence. However, different states have different food and food habits. That is because they have different cultures, especially
food culture. This thesis expounds the differences in terms of food culture between China and western countries. By analyzing
these differences, we can improve our ability in cultural communication. Food culture is a special cultural phenomenon. This
thesis endeavors to analyze the cultural differences in terms of Chinese and Western food cultures from the perspectives of
concept, content, etiquette, and the eating ways of food, and points out that with the development of cross-cultural
communication, more communication and interaction will arise between Chinese and Western food cultures and they will
develop together.
Keywords: Concepts, Contents, Etiquette, Eating Ways of Food Culture, Chinese Food Culture, Western Food Culture
food, and the rest is the ornament. At ordinary banquets, the before dishes are ordered. When the dinner is over, guests as
food is simpler. In United States, once in a while, everyone usual want to pay the bill unless somebody has claimed early.
makes contributions to the dinner when they get together. It is The “sharing value” manifests almost everywhere from start
named “Potluck”, i.e. each one takes one dish, and let till the end of the dinner.
everyone share food. Another meeting is called “Party”. Host However, in western countries, for instance, Britain and
just provide drinks, wine and simple food, for example cheese, America, especially the people from the United States attach
French fries and sandwiches. Obviously they regard eating as more priority to the individualism. They pay emphasis on
a chance to exchange something, to renew old friendship and personal value and dignity, thus, a few people will ask other
to make new friends in party, of course, it is the place to get people's private affairs. The two different value orientations
information that they are interested in. So the food is vital, but also showed in the food. Chinese dinner usually takes a
it is not the most important, and it is no need to show off. sharing way. They share food on the table. When the
Western party do not focus on food excessively. But they pay westerners take a party, they emphasize their “own”, i.e.
more attention to forms of liberalization and diversification. everyone eat food in their own plate, so they don’t think about
So host usually create relaxed and harmonious atmosphere, so the taste of other people’s food. Getting to dinners, they just
that guests can enjoy feeling of freedom and joy. eat their own food, and go Dutch.
position of the official named “Kung Bao”. Some of the dishes people in China and western countries. Chinese use chopsticks
related to history, such as “Farewell My Concubine,'' it is the to clip food when they eat food, but westerners like using
history about Xiang Yu, the king of the West Chu and his lover knife and fork to cut food. Different ways of eating food is not
Yu Ji. And Fotiaoqiang refers to the smell of this dish that make a casual phenomenon. It mainly derives from different
monks spring out of the wall. cultures. Since old times, Chinese regard farming as their own
In contrast, the names of the Western food are much more living way. This is the so-called “he surfaces faces upwards
simple, and it is usually clear when people see them at first toward the loess back”, and it reflects the cultural
sight. For instance, the worldwide KFC (Kentucky Fried phenomenon. In this culture climate, people usually take the
Chicken) restaurant, from the name of KFC, we know it is a grain as staple food.
restaurant about chicken. And the food, such as Fried chicken However, the forefathers of many western countries lived
leg, spicy chicken wings, French fries, and burgers. Some by hunting owing to some factors of ecology and history. So
dishes appeared in other western restaurants such as Italian meat was their main source of food and gradually became the
noodles and pizza, and toasted steaks, fruit salad are the same staple food. In order to survive in the brutal environment, they
as that. To Chinese, it seems that it will reduce the application tried their best to be masterful at hunting, and used some
of culture, but it conforms to the taste of Westerners. And it weapons to kill animals. That leads to the sense of aggressive
corresponds to the fast-paced work and life of the Westerners, adventure. Compared with chopsticks, knife and fork
simplifying the process of eating and drinking. represent the violence and cruelty to food. The method of
eating in western countries actually shows human’s conquest
3.3. Diversity and Singleness over nature.
Food culture in China is probably much older than the food 4.2. Different Time Value
cultures in other countries in the world. Few cultures are the
same as culture in China. The most typical example is the China is a nation with P-time (Polychronic-time). People in
manner of greeting used among people in China. When they China are often a little later than the time that is scheduled
meet each other, they always say: “Have you eaten food”. This when people take part in some activities. As usually, they
greeting plays an important role in people’s daily life that it, would be about half an hour late. So the host will prepare some
inevitably, becomes a way to show off because of face (or games, for instance, playing cards or mahjong or chatting as
“mianzi” in China). So the extravagance and exquisiteness are well as tea and various desserts like candy, cakes, peanuts and
the major features in Chinese food. melon seeds and so on. All these are used for the guests who
“Face” in China concerns the dignity and respect from have arrived on time to kill time. Both the host and guest get
others. Losing one’s “face” may hurt and injure one’s accustomed to that and would view the kind of lateness as a
self-respect directly. The feast is also influenced by the system normal behavior.
of “face”. It is no longer occasion just for gathering or eating However, this conception changes along cross-cultural
in society, but to some extent, it’s a great chance to show off communication sometimes. Increasing Chinese people,
influence and earn dignity for the host. The more abundant or especially the young people, are slowly affected by the
rich food is, the more self-regard the host owns; the more M-time in western people.
dishes in a feast, the more heart-warmed hospitality can be Time perspective of the westerners is not the same as
shown, and the more “face” host can get. In this sense, official Chinese. Western countries are the nations with M-time
banquets in China have one thing in common: there should be (Monochronic-time). They believe that time is money. Once
enough food on the table. Otherwise the host will be viewed as they decide the party time, they will go to party punctually. If
a not generous person, and he will can’t gain his “face”. So, they are late for a short time as a result of special things, it
the system of “face” leads to, explicitly, the diverse food. doesn’t matter. But if they are late for a long time, host will
However, the quantity of feasts is much less important in think they give less importance to the party. This behavior not
western countries. Because the belief in food in western only offend host, but give offense to other guests. In this case,
countries, primarily focus on the role as necessity for human what they should do is make an apology.
survival or a means of communication. For instance, the host
usually does not prepare food and drinks except some simple 4.3. Different Seating Arrangements
food like cheese, sandwiches, fruits, etc. in a party. For most In China, the seat facing south in a feast is usually viewed as
Westerners, this is a good chance to communicate or strengthen the most essential, whereas the seat facing north is relatively
relationships or make new friends. What they primarily care less vital. It is because of traditional Chinese culture. As we all
about is the free, harmonious and happy atmosphere, the better know, China is a nation that it has a long history of more than
freedom and relaxation they can get at the party. five thousand years. Whatever the dynasty, the emperor as
usual sat facing south during all kinds of ceremonies or
4. The Etiquette of Food Culture discussed state affairs with ministers. At the same time, the
ministers were all facing north when they sat with the emperor.
4.1. Different Tableware Gradually, the word “south” has been upgraded into a position
The most apparently evident difference is tableware among relatively high in mind of Chinese, and it represents the top
Chinese Language, Literature & Culture 2017; 2(1): 6-9 9
authority, power and position. While the position of the understand the concepts of food culture, which include
“north” is much lower. Therefore, in a formal feast, the seats formalization and simplification, quiet-oriented eating
that face south, undoubtedly, will be kept for those who are environment and noisy-oriented eating environment, and
respectable or powerful. collectivism and individualism. Then it expresses the contents
However, in western countries, when in seating of food culture, which cover exquisiteness and nutrition,
arrangement, people firstly list the gender of guests, then the complicated and simple name of food, and diversity and
seat will be arranged. The rules of seating arrangement are as singleness. In addition, it expounds the etiquette of food
follows: host and hostess take a seat face to face, and lady of culture concerning different tableware, different time value,
honor have a seat on the right of host as well as the gentleman and different seating arrangements. Last but not least,
of honor seating on the right of hostess. There is something we mastering the eating ways of food culture is of importance,
should know are that a couple should seat in the same side but which contains the collective eating way and the individual
another people should seat between them, and man’s seat is eating way.
according to status not age. Besides, man should open door for
woman and let her go first. Before sitting down, man should
pull chair. In a short, lady is first. References
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