Chinese Customs

Chinese Customs

It is a mission impossible to explain all Chinese customs and cultural practices in one chapter. As a big country with more than 5,000 years of civilization and 1.3 billion population, China has very diverse cultures and splendid history. There are 56 Ethnic Minorities in China, each contributing their customs and traditions to what is known as Chinese culture. Tremendous changes took place throughout history. Ethnic Minorities rose and declined, dynasties waxed and waned, beliefs were formed and broken, fads and trends came in and went out. However, some customs and traditions, mainly from Han Ethnic Minorities that consist of more than 91% of the Chinese population, are still maintained and continue to be practiced daily by the majority of Chinese people. We will discuss the complexity of these Chinese customs, traditions, and beliefs in this chapter.

On their first visit to China, many westerners may experience cultural shocks and wonder at how differently Chinese and Western people behave. Why do the Chinese fight for paying the bill? Why is an even number of dishes served to guests? Why are peaches called longevity fruit? You might have some answers to these questions when you learn Chinese customs and cultural practices.

Chinese people define the necessities of life as 衣食住行 (yi1-shi2-zhu4-xing2), a Chinese four-character idiom, referring to clothing, food, housing, and transportation. In modern China, this idiom embodies fashion, diet customs, family values, and daily transactions. I will discuss Chinese culture and Chinese customs from these four perspectives in this chapter. The topics and examples are chosen from what happened to me, stories of my acquaintances, and also from my reading. The interpretation of people’s behavior will offer some explanations to Chinese beliefs and philosophy.

From Tradition to Fashion: Tangzhuang and Qipao

Tangzhuang and Qipao are the synonyms for traditional Chinese clothing, formal attire. Most people would think of Tangzhuang as what people wore in the Tang Dynasty (618 -907). However, in reality, Tangzhuang refers to the formal dress that was originated in the Qing Dynasty (1616 -1911) and was modified in modern China. The Chinese suits are named after Tang, instead of Qing, only because the Chinese have been known as Tang people in the world since the Tang Dynasty was the most prosperous and glistening historic period of China. For the same reason, many people in different countries such as America, France, and Canada call China Town as Tang Ren Jie. At the 2001 Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in China, Tangzhuang was presented by the host to other world leaders as traditional Chinese costumes. Since then on, Tangzhuang has been known by more westerners.

Qipao is a women’s dress of the Manchu (an ethnic Minorities in China known as Qi People) who took the throne in the Qing Dynasty. Qipao has been modified through the years to meet people’s fashion needs and social functions. Today, Qipao symbolizes the elegant and noble image of modem Chinese women. In the movie entitled In the Mood for Love premiered at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival, Maggie Cheung vividly manifested the beauty and the uniqueness of a woman in Qipao.

Tangzhuang and Qipao enjoy wide popularity among Chinese people both at home and abroad. An increasing number of people, aged and young, wear Tangzhuang or Qipao on traditional holidays and special occasions.

Diet Customs: Food and Drink

Different from most western countries where people live mainly on meat, the staple food in China is rice or wheat. Steamed rice and porridge (rice cooked slowly with water and sometimes with beans) play an important role in rice farming areas. A typical Chinese meal there includes rice and some vegetable (cooked with or without meat). In other places, people enjoy a variety of Chinese pasta: noodles, steamed buns, dumplings and a lot of other flour-made food. In general, the Chinese prefer cooked food to raw vegetables. Dinners are usually served warm, if not hot.

At a Chinese table, people eat with chopsticks. Some Westerners will be embarrassed struggling with the two sticks. There is no need to worry since westerners are not expected to use chopsticks at a Chinese table. But if you can manage to use them, or even give them a try, you will certainly be very impressive. If you give up trying and ask for a knife and fork, it is also absolutely all right. There is no reason to be frustrated. Chinese kids learn to use chopsticks at an early age. It will take them about half a year to learn how to control them at will.

Chinese people share food. It,s customary to serve each other from the large serving dishes with serving chopsticks. The host will serve guests first and ask them to help themselves from time to time. In the west, it is polite to finish ones serving. However, in China, it is good to leave some food on your private plate to show that you are full.

Chinese cooking takes time. On special occasions or holidays, people dine out to spare the chores of preparing food for a large group of people. At restaurants, some Chinese customs and manners are entirely different from the western ones.

Most westerners would be surprised to see that in Chinese restaurants, customers are served with hot tea even on hot summer days. There are two reasons why Chinese always are offered hot tea when they go to a restaurant, or visit an office, or are the guests at somebody’s house. First, the Chinese believe that tea is the most valuable and most welcome drink in China. Therefore, it is accustomed to the Chinese to serve friends with tea. Second, most Chinese people prefer room temperature or warmer drinks, for they feel that cold water is a shock to their stomach while the body will more easily absorb warm liquids. Just as the Americans take the ice to explore comfortable on hot days, the Chinese would drink hot tea to sweat and to make themselves cooler.

At a formal dinner, cold appetizers are served first, followed by hot dishes. Diners usually began with liquor or soft drinks and cold dishes. It will always start with a toast. At a business dinner, it will be the leader who proposes the toast. At a family reunion, usually, a senior family member will toast first. If a group of friends has dinner together, this toast maker will be the organizer of the get-together. Then, everyone will begin eating. Only after finishing all the main entrees will various forms of carbohydrates (e. g. fried rice with vegetables) be served. Soup is served hot for the Chinese believe that taking soup at the end of a meal can help digest the food eaten. Fruits, usually watermelons or assorted fruits, will take the place of the dessert at a Chinese table.

Table manners vary in different places and cultures, but most westerners feel uncomfortable with the noise of slurping soup or noodles. As in Japan where slurping noodles are considered evidence of enjoying the meal, slurping noodles or soup is accepted in China. Ellis, a Chinese born American, explains that when the soup is served piping hot, it is impossible not to slurp it without getting burned since slurping allows fresh air to rush into your mouth at the same time you take in the soup. In my opinion, slurping is not a social norm that you need to follow, but if a diner around you does it, just see it as a sign of approval and appreciation for the cooking. In China, people do not overdo it on a public occasion because a deafening slurping noise is considered rude and impolite. However, it is okay to spit bones or shells onto the table when eating chicken, ribs, fish or other seafood in China.

Many foreign friends talk about how baffled they are when they see Chinese people fighting over the restaurant’s bill. It is left to the imagination as to how fierce the brawl is, and how much the witnesses are shocked. Chinese children will be puzzled too when they see a group of parents (who declare to be good friends) shoving each other, trying to elbow their way to the waiter with cash in hand. Only when they grow up, can they understand that paying the bill is just a way to show that they do not want to take advantage of others. Someday, later on, they themselves will join the fight for the privilege of teaching hospitality to their friends. Since there can be only one winner in this “battle,” the losers will make sure in every way that next time it will be their turn to give a treat.

Tipping is not necessary for China. The Chinese do not tip. At the end of the 20th Century when there were few foreign tourists in China, the Chinese had no knowledge of the western tipping practice. If a foreign diner left a tip on the table, the waiter/waitress would think the customer had forgotten the change there and would manage to return the money. Recently, the Chinese begin to understand tipping, but would not ask for it in most cases. Some staff will give the tipping money to the manager; others may directly take the money if it is allowed in the restaurant. Still, others will consider tipping as a kind of insult. Therefore, if you are satisfied with the service rendered, it is better to express your appreciation with words.

On Chinese birthday celebrations, noodles are indispensable since they symbolize long life. Everyone at the feast eats noodles to extend their warm wishes to the birthday star. Many people celebrate the birthdays of the elder with both noodles and “ peaches ” (steamed cake shaped like a peach). Peaches are presented to the elderly because they are not small fruits in China. Peaches have been depicted in many ancient legends and myths about the immortal gods and have long been accepted as the symbol of immortality. Moreover, ifs believed that peach wood could ward off evil spirits and peach flowers are the symbol of love and marriage. In China, love fortune is literally referred to as “peach blossom luck.”

We Are a Family: Chinese Family Values

When learning English, Chinese students are often confused by the two words “home” and “family.” They are not clear about the differences between these words and their connotations. In Chinese, they are combined into one word “家.”  In China, a we-are-a-family oath ensures mutual obligation and lasting responsibility.

Decades ago a traditional Chinese family consisted of at least two generations, parents, and children. Since a significant family was often held in high esteem, three or four generations and even five generations were often seen living under the same roof. Nowadays, however, the size and structure of families have undergone significant changes. Mrs. Xu, a resident in Tianjin, formerly lived in a family of 11 members, including her parents, grandparents,2 sisters and 4 brothers. Now she lives with her husband after her daughter, the only child, moved out to get married.

Since the late, 1980s, the size of the Chinese family has begun a downward tendency. Nuclear families, one-generation families, and single-person families have increased sharply since the beginning of the 21st century.

Confucius said, “While one’s parents are alive, one should not travel to distant places.” But in modern times, more and more young people pursue their studies or career in other cities while starting their own families there. This leaves the aged parents at home, which is now commonly known as an “empty nest.” The strong sense of kinship has not been changed and has enabled Chinese families to stay bonded despite the long physical separation.

Chinese people attach importance to the family. In cities, men and women all go out to work even after getting married or having children. Therefore, there is usually no particular caregiving spouse in a family. Both the couple share housework, although the wife often spends more time and energy at home. When young couples start their family, their parents on both sides will shoulder the responsibility (sometimes taking turns) to take care of the babies until their school-age (3 years old for kindergarten, 6 years old for school). In most cases, the young couple will choose to live nearby their parents (at least on one side), so that the elder can help with the children. Likewise, the young couple can take care of the aged when needed. While living in a nuclear family, most people will accept the responsibility for both their parents and children as well as for their distant relatives. This strong family bond manifests the Chinese belief in collectivism. 

In most Chinese families, both husband and wife put their income together with one of them taking charge of family finances. The interdependence of family members is emphasized. Grown-up children will live with their parents until they get married and will share household expenses after they have found a job. Even after they move out to live independently, the adult children are supposed to give their parents some money monthly or support them financially in other ways during their old age.

Daily Transaction: Chinese Customs and Beliefs Names

Westerners are sometimes confused by Chinese names in that the family names come first. In fact, the order illustrates the sharp difference between the two cultures.

Chinese names are usually composed of two or three characters. Guo Yingdong, for example, should be addressed as Mr. Guo, which is his family name, Yingdong being his given name. A Chinese name is a kind of identification code, from which you can obtain a lot of personal information. The family name, a symbol of blood relations, shows which clan or family one belongs to and is placed in front of one’s given name. In ancient times, a distinguished family name always counted for something. Therefore, specific family names alone would suggest impeccable pedigree and aristocratic background. Given names are also meaningful. They indicate the generation each member belongs to. Let’s look at Guo Yingdong’s family again. Three of his sons are named as Zhenqing, Zhenlin, and Zhenyu, and three grandchildren are Qigang, Qishan, and Qiming, respectively. We can quickly draw a family tree from those names in our minds.

It has been a custom for all the Chinese that boys (and sometimes gifts) in a family share one of the two characters in their given names. In the above case, Zhen is assigned to one generation, and Qi to the next generation. Understanding this, if a man named Guo Qizhong is introduced to you, you will immediately know from his name that he is one of the grandsons of Guo Yingdong.

The order of the name is another manifestation of the Chinese belief In collectivism. In China, one first identifies oneself in relation to the larger group, then the smaller group, and lastly as an individual. This system of respect can be shown in the way of addressing an envelope as well. The following is an example to illustrate the differences of addresses on envelopes between China and the United States. As is done in the USA, the stamp is stuck to the upper right corner of the envelope in China. But, the address of the receiver is written on top of the envelope, following the order of Country, Province, City, Street Name and House Number. The last and first name of the recipient is put in the center, and the return address is placed at the bottom of the envelope.

The above is the Chinese format of an envelope, which is addressed to Mrs. Liu Yang, a Chinese woman, from Adria L. Baker in Houston, USA. This address

is rewritten in the American way as follows :

Adria L. Baker

6100 Main Street

Houston, Texas 77005

USA

Mrs. Liu Yang

92 Weijin Road

Nankai District

Tianjin 300072

China

Recently, with the ever-increasing population and the changes of family structure, names don’t indicate as much information as before. But still, they present significant wishes and expectations of the parents.

Chinese people may have more than one given name throughout their life. Shortly after one’s birth, an infant is given a “milk name” (a little name) which is used by family members and close friends. At school time, a “school name,” or “big name,” is bestowed by parents with good wishes for one’s good health, expected talents, and character.

It is claimed that there are no “juniors” in Chinese names. (Long Maozhong, Jia Aibing, Yan Jinglan, 2009)84 Chinese parents never name their children after any relatives. In dynastic ages, it was a taboo to mention the name of the superior, let alone naming one’s children after others. In Ming Dynasty (1368 -1644) when the empire was ruled by the Zhu,s family (homophonous to a pig in Chinese), any phrases similar to the pronunciation of Zhu were seriously forbidden. For rather a long time, pork was called “taboo meat” in China. In modem times, parents try to create new names for their children to show that each child is a unique individual. In reality, living in a country of more than 13 billion people, a unique name is almost impossible. Having a common name means you have to share your name with hundreds, if not thousands, of other people. According to the statistics in 2007, “Zhang Wei,” a famous name, was being used by 290, 607 Chinese people.

Names are so famous that it is considered rude in China to mention the full name of one’s parents or ancestors. It will never happen in China that young people call their parents by their first name, nor will the Chinese name their children after their ancestors. When meeting someone for the first time, the Chinese will address each other by their family name. In a formal occasion, it is polite to call each other by professional or business titles: Manager Wang, Doctor Li, or Teacher Zhang. In a more personal situation, one can be named “Xiao Liu” (little Liu), if he or she is young in the group. Likewise, use "Lao Liu”(old Liu) if he or she is an older friend. It is impolite, especially for the young person, to address the elder by their full names. Children are taught to call the adult, “Auntie” or “Uncle.” The title of “elder sister/brother” or “grandma/grandpa” is also encouraged accordingly.

Misinterpretations are caused when westerners address the husband of an acquainted Chinese woman. It is taken for granted in western culture that Mr. Li is the husband of Mrs. Li, which is not the case in the Chinese mainland. Since 1949 when the People’s Republic of China was founded, it has been legal for a married Chinese woman to keep her maiden name after marriage. Ellis explained that keeping one’s maiden name is considered a sign of women’s independence from men. Nonetheless, most children will follow the family name of their father.

Greetings

In some European countries, people, especially women, greet each other with hugs and kisses. Many Chinese students, including me, wonder why in a formal meeting a kiss is given on one cheek in some countries while on both cheeks in other nations. In China, however, a standard greeting is merely a warm “hello” or formally a handshake. Male friends will sometimes pat on the shoulder to show their familiarity. But women will never kiss each other or be kissed by men. To search for the reason, we need to go back to the dynastic time when Chinese people were not accustomed to having intentional physical contact with strangers. In the past, Chinese men greeted each other by “zuoyi” (to bow with hands held in front) and women by “wanfu” (a woman,s bow). Neither involved physical contact between the two people. Before the 20th century, the physical connection between the male and the female was not allowed except for family members. A Chinese woman was not allowed even to see her betrothed until their wedding night. That is why, even today, few Chinese give a handshake as firm as their western counterparts, especially when they are meeting a female.

Gift-giving

Gifts are often given to express gratitude or friendship. It is customary for the Chinese to bring gifts when visiting the home of a friend, especially on the Chinese New Year. At birthday parties, wedding ceremonies or the celebration of new birth, it is proper to bring some gifts, too. On Chinese New Year, visitors usually bring fruits, cakes, cigarettes or alcohol as gifts. For newly-weds, friends can give flowers, vases, beddings, cosmetics or money. Books, toys, and candies make perfect gifts for children. Generally speaking, anything that can represent friendship or gratitude is accepted with pleasure, although the gift is seldom opened in front of the guests. However, some gifts are not allowed in China. These include knives, clocks, shoes, pears, or individual flowers. Knives or scissors may be associated with weapons that indicate a threat or the cutting of a relationship. This is similar to some old traditions in many other cultures. Clocks, shoes or pears are avoided for their Chinese pronunciations remind people of grief and farewell. “Song Zhong” (giving clocks) It sounds like to arrange the funeral. The pronunciation of shoes and pears makes for an unlucky omen. “Shoes” sounds like evil, and “pears” sounds like separation. As a gift to friends, apples are always a good choice, just because they sound close to peace. In some cities, it is a custom for taxi drivers to place our apples on the dash panel of the car. Daisies, chrysanthemums or any white- color flowers are not acceptable as gifts because they are usually used in a funeral. In a nutshell, people give gifts with good wishes and will avoid anything associated with bad luck or sadness.

There are still other gift-giving customs. For example, people will always present and accept a gift with two hands. Gifts are given in even numbers, for Chinese believe odd numbers are unlucky. It is not polite, in most cases, for a gift receiver to open the gift in front of the giver. A gift-receiver may reject a gift up to three times before finally accepting it. (Some refusals are rather customary than being a genuine attempt to refuse.) Westerners may find it hard to understand. To them, the moment of opening the presents is an indispensable part of the excitement. But in Chinese culture, to freely or eagerly accept what is offered is regarded as being greedy. As a Chinese idiom goes, the gift itself may be as light as a goose feather, but sent from afar; it conveys deep feelings. In the eyes of Chinese people, what counts is not the gift itself, but the sign of friendship or the relationship of the bond it represents. To sum up, all these customs are in line with the modest and understated Chinese culture, whereby they are not thrown into ecstasies over what they have obtained, nor feel depressed over what they have lost.

Modesty

Chinese people hold the idea that full pride hurts while modesty benefits. The Chinese manifest this belief in a way that westerners do not quite understand. Some westerners are curious about the so-called Chinese virtue of modesty. Why is the Chinese rather eager to give a compliment than hesitant to accept one? Why do the Chinese refuse gifts, drinks or other favors two or three times before allowing them? Why will the Chinese not open the gifts before the sender? Why do the Chinese hosts and hostesses, after serving a sumptuous banquet, apologize for the ill-preparation and the poor quality of the food? All these questions can be answered with a saying by Confucius, “The gentleman wishes to be slow in speech but quick in action.”

The Chinese tend to play themselves down. If you praise a Chinese woman on her new haircut, she may just answer, “Oh, don’t mention it. It,s not that good. ” The denial does not mean she loathes the new hairstyle. Just the opposite, she likes it very much and maybe eager to show it off to others, yet, she does not want to seem showy. Then, she may praise back on your coat, which serves as a protestation of modesty, “You are as good as I am. ’’ In general, the Chinese prefer friendliness to aggressiveness.

The same virtue of modesty teaches people to stay humble. That explains why people say they do not deserve the compliments, rewards or any favors. The apology for poor service and treatment also demonstrates the humility of the Chinese.

Chinese modesty is sometimes misunderstood as no ambition or competitive spirit. Bryan Ellis’ story vividly illustrated this claim. As an American businessman who first came to China, Bryan asked if his Chinese staff could achieve the targets on time. Their reply was, “I will do my best.“ He was confused by such an answer and wondered if it was a positive or negative reply. Many foreigners encounter similar stories in China. To western ears, this l-will-do-my-best answer sounds like they lack confidence in themselves or they are unwilling to meet their targets. However, to the Chinese, the answer is quite clear. It means, ”We will spare no efforts to fulfill it against all the odds. Leave it to us.” As a Chinese idiom goes, when the moon is at its full, it begins to wane. Chinese people will deliberate on making promises and will consider all possibilities before giving their words. Who knows what will happen. What we are sure of is that we will do our utmost. This is similar to the English saying, “Do one’s best and leave the rest to God.”

The virtue of modesty requires the Chinese not to challenge but to respect. In any situation (business meeting, academic seminar, or family reunion) to save face is always important. The worst thing for a Chinese is to lose face, which roughly means to be embarrassed or diminished. Therefore, Chinese people tend to avoid criticizing others or proving others wrong in public. If necessary, the Chinese would rather deliver their opposing ideas privately and carefully to avoid embarrassing other people.

An extensive vocabulary of the face has been developed in Chinese. Someone with a “thin face” is meant to be self-conscious and easily offended by criticism, while someone with a “thick face” is tough and callous to rebuke. If you “give” others a “face,” you make them feel that they are honored and that they keep their dignity well. Chinese people show their respect, act of obedience, or pay compliments sometimes just to give others a face. It has also suggested to foreigners that in China, it is critical to avoid losing face or causing the loss of face at all times.

Face Reading

Physiognomy, or face reading, has been and still is a part of Chinese culture for centuries. The ancient art of face reading has been used in a traditional medical way as an aid to diagnosis. Since the time of Confucius, close observation of their patients’ faces provided the doctors with a deep knowledge of their personality. On the other hand, face reading is almost synonymous with fortune-telling. “Fortune tellers who divine their subject’s future by analyzing the contours of their faces have also been famous throughout Chinese history.

In modem times, Chinese people still associate one’s appearance with one’s fortune by the principles of physiognomy. To make it simple, the five sense organs represent different aspects of one’s future respectively. “The eyebrows reflect one’s health and social position. The eyes reflect one’s willpower and character. The nose reveals one’s wealth and health. The mouth shows one’s happiness and respectability, and the ears indicate one’s longevity, It has been a regular sense for Chinese people that big earlobes, long and thick eyebrows, and fleshy nose are regarded as auspicious signs. In modern times,  people would still compliment others on their facial features to show friendliness, although few will take that seriously.

Colors

Colors have different meanings in different cultures. In China, the Theory of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements are closely related to the cultural significance of colors. Black and white are used to represent Yin and Yang respectively. Yin, as the color suggests, refers to the shady side of a slope, connoting everything negative: night, water, female, and so on. White displays the sunny bottom of a slope and indicates any opposing part of Yin: daytime, fire, and male.

Black and white used to be treated formally. Black, the king of all colors, signifies seriousness and a no-nonsense attitude. Blackface in Beijing opera indicates a neutral role and incorruptibility. White, meaning cleanliness and grief, is predominantly used in funerals. At a white funeral flower, white candles and white elegiac scrolls are used. Relatives and family members of the deceased are all in white, with even their hair and feet covered by a white cloth.

Westerners are dressed in black at funerals. This custom has been brought to China as well. People (especially in big cities) now wear black at funerals. It is a custom for the relatives of the deceased to wear a black armband as a sign of mourning for a couple of months even after the funerals. Because of this association with burials, black is rejected by some elderly people ignoring its symbolism as high fashion.

Interestingly, an increasing number of modern young people choose a white wedding dress for their wedding ceremony (as is the western custom) and then change into traditional red mandarin gowns (as is the Chinese custom) for the banquet that follows. Their wedding photos, in which both styles of costumes are displayed side by side, witness the fusion of Chinese and western cultures in modern times.

While people tend to accept white at celebrating occasions, black is reduced in it,s meaning to a derogatory sense. Phrases with the word “black” often indicate darkness, crime, and unlawful activities. Profiteers are criticized as being too black. Cheating soccer referees are called black whistles. Black hand, black heart, black market, and the black gang are all associated with evil deeds and sick people.

Life is not made up of white and black exclusively. We don’t always judge things as good or bad. The more complicated world brought about the further development of philosophy. The theory of the Five Elements asserts that substances on earth can be divided into five essential elements (water, fire, wood, metal, and earth), each containing specific properties in correspondence to one of the five colors -black, white, red, green, and yellow. Over the years, a complex set of beliefs on colors has been developed. An extensive, descriptive, color-based vocabulary came into existence.

Red, corresponding to fire, represents prosperity and good fortune. It is widely used when celebrating festivals, weddings, and project completion ceremonies. On Chinese New Year, red can be seen everywhere, from Spring Festival Couplets and paper-cuts for window decoration to Reversed Fu and Chinese knots, all of which represent auspiciousness and blessings. Red signifies intense love and is central to the wedding theme of China. The bride is dressed in red, as are the wedding invitations and envelopes for cash gifts. The wedding bedroom is decorated all in red. Significant red characters,” double happiness” (for the groom’s family) or “single happiness” (for the bride’s family) are decorated on the gate so that people can tell from afar that someone who lives there will get married. In this way, happiness is spread and shared by more people.

Green, the color of spring and nature, is correspondent with wood. Generally, green symbolizes flourish, life and hope. Recently, green denotes environmental protection. Green Food project has been initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture of the

The People's Republic of China since 1990, aiming at enhancing food quality and safety, and at protecting agricultural bio-environment. Green travel has become trendy in China. However, you should never associate green hats with a man, because in Chinese colloquial expressions, a man is called to be put on a green hat when he is cheated and betrayed by his wife.

Yellow, corresponding to earth, is regarded as the most beautiful color in China. It is often used to decorate royal palaces and temples. The use of yellow or attire was reserved exclusively for the emperor in the old days. Anyone who dares to use it was deemed a dangerous rebel, or trying to overthrow the emperor. Recently, the color carries the connotation of being pornographic as in yellow books and yellow movies. Campaigns against pornography are known as sweeping-yellow actions.

Numbers

Do you know the launching time of the Beijing Olympic Games? The opening ceremony was scheduled to start at 8 minutes past 8 pm on Aug. 8th, 2008. Thai is 08:08 PM 08/08/2008. The number 8 is trusted as a symbol of myth by the whole nation. Rather than a superstition, we can interpret it as an omen of good luck and confidence.

Some high-rise residential buildings in Hong Kong literally miss specific floor numbers with “4”. Mingzhu Building, one of the most expensive buildings in Hong Kong skips 34th, 44th, 54th, and 64th floors. As a result, this building whose highest floor is number 67 actually has only 63 physical floors. People try to avoid number 4 (si, similar to the Chinese pronunciation of death) because they do not want any possible lousy luck or potential disasters to happen to them.

From the above examples, we can see that people favor specific numbers and loathe others for some reason. This phenomenon is common to practically every culture. In China, this preference for 8 can be found in many aspects. Traditionally, there are 8 immortal spirits (Baxian) in Taoism stories, and steamed glutinous rice with eight treasures (Babaofan) features 8 ingredients. In modem times, people’s mania for this number is based on its pronunciation that is similar to wealth, fortune, and prosperity. Phone numbers, driving license plate numbers, and any other number with 8 (the more, the better) will be sold at maximum prices.

Chinese favoritism toward specific numbers outweighs their dislikes. All even numbers (except 4) are considered lucky, for the Chinese wish that all good things come in pairs. The preference for even numbers is manifested in all details of daily life. Even number of gifts are prepared for friends. Hosts will make sure that even the number of dishes is ordered for guests. Wedding ceremonies are usually scheduled on even number dates.

6 and 9 are also numbers of interest. Both of their pronunciations are homophonous to auspicious phrases,6 close to “smooth,” and 9 meaning “long-lasting.” Though 666 indicates devil in some culture, it is luck-bearing in Chinese, meaning u flowing without friction. The number 9 is the biggest of single numbers and was historically associated with the emperor of China, the top of the social hierarchy. It is documented that “the staircases in each palace are made up of either 9 steps or multiples of 9. The inner city of Beijing has 9 gates, and it is said that there are 9,999 rooms in the Palace Museum.”

Besides 4, some combinations of numbers have contrary indications and should be carefully handled. For example, 38 (san ba), is an insult to others, especially to women, which means “nosy, bitchy and shameless.” 250 (er bai wu) is used to mock at those who are incredibly foolish if read in a certain way. That is why you will never find it at any price tag. Recently, 250 is reduced to 2 when indicating silliness. This change was advocated by Guo Degang and other comedians in crosstalks (xiangsheng,  funny dialog, traditional performing art in China).

For decades, crosstalk had been in the doldrums. Thanks to those young performers, this traditional art has blossomed on the stage of modern art, serving with amusement and laughter. Like the ups and downs of crosstalk, everybody and everything in China has undergone significant changes.

Closing Remarks

For decades, crosstalk had been in the doldrums. Thanks to those young performers, this traditional art has blossomed on the stage of modern art, serving with amusement and laughter. Like the ups and downs of crosstalk, everybody and everything in China has undergone significant changes.

One of my high school classmates confessed that he was lost when he returned to his hometown after working in another city for 5 years. Streets were widened and landscaped. New residential areas substituted for old shabby buildings. What was more, a transportation network made up of subways, highways and cloverleaf junctions reduced his journey to half? What he said indeed represented the significant transformation in today’s China.

The changes in people’s ideas and daily transaction perhaps are more significant than the improvements in city constructions and people’s living standards. The Chinese have observed the traditional philosophical ideas and customs for thousands of years. However, since 1978 when the reforming and opening-up the policy was carried out, the flush of foreign cultures and ideology has been introduced to China and profoundly influenced Chinese people, especially the young generations. New language and vocabularies, fresh concepts and ideas, and modernized cultural practices have been dramatically developed due to social, cultural, and economic globalization. Therefore, if you find people responding to compliments with a loud “thank you” and a big smile, this is China. If you just experienced a confident handshake with a young lady at your first meeting, this is China. If you, after reading this book carefully, adopt behaviors that are the so-called Chinese manners in your social life only to find yourself out of date, Bingo! This, too, is China today!