07001673 Hui Kwan Shan06018653 Wong Hoi Yu

unwritten codes of conducts and norms while eating◦ appropriate use of utensils◦ table-setting◦ roles of hosts and guests

meanings of sociality◦ civilized and educated ◦ respect and self-discipline

1. Shape of Table

Once a Chinese go to a western restaurant…

Wah!!! I have not died

yet!!!

the Westerners the Chinese

long (and high) table preferred round table◦ roundness means

completeness: all people are together

long table is for the religious ritual to Gods

2. Showing of Food3. Utensils

7:30p.m.-- Start to eat, cheers!

7:45 p.m.-- Why are there so many

different kinds of knives, forks and glasses on the table?

--I do not know how to use them!!!

8:10p.m.-- where is my main dish…

9:00p.m.-- Waiter, why don’t you

serve all the food at the same time…….

-- So hungry!!!!

the Westerners the Chinese

food introduced while eating in different courses ◦ appreciating such

procedure food ordered merely

enough

all dishes of food put at once ◦ revolving banquet table◦ perhaps, impatient and

not used to the Western style

food ordered more than enough◦ meaning of abundance

the Westerners the Chinese

plenty of utensils with different purposes for different courses

environment as part of the enjoyment of eating◦ silvery utensils,

atmosphere

chopsticks, spoon and bowl◦ simplicity and

practicality value the taste of food

itself higher

• doubts over the existence of universal and only standards

◦ concept of “table manners” often understood in the sense of the Western

◦ presumed values, like being civilized and self-discipline

Chinese table manners food placed at the centre of the table for everyone to share

◦ collectivism and common property exchange of “saliva”

◦ intimacy

Chinese perspective on practice of the Western Chinese practice

food served merely enough

everyone orders for oneself

an expression of being stingy of the host

food served far more than enough

host in charge of the menu and order for everyone

everyone often giving way to others and guests◦ politeness

picking food into guests’ bowls/dishes◦ passionate

Chinese perspective on practice of the Western eating quietly with self-

discipline constraint on one to enjoy

the pleasure of eating

Chinese practice slurping, allowed in some

occasions◦ an expression of enjoyment

and appreciation naturalness and

spontaneity

• less formal, but not unnecessary• being cultivated, as well as comfort,

naturalness and passion

in Chinese culture in the Western culture

collectivism public realm and

common property

individualism and personality

private realm and private property

• more than one norms/standards exist• well-accepted in one culture, can became

offences in other• ideational, social, conventional• interactions diversified, as well as,

incorporated