introduction to chinese culture

7/28/2019 Introduction to Chinese Culture

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Presented by:

Omair Arif Vaseer

Chinese Name: Wa Fu


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Chinese culture embodies the philosophy of holism. Ancient

Chinese philosophers believed that all things are interrelated,

and that Heaven, Earth, and Humanity form a unified whole.

Chinese Culture


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A vast territory of about 9,600,000 sq.Km.

Ranked number 4 in the world!


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Beijing

9,596,960 square km/3,705,392 square miles, Density:350/square mile3,718,797s uare miles USA Densit : 80 /s uare mile USA

Xian

Guangzhou

Lhasa

Urumqi

Shanghai


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China is divided into 23 provinces, 5 autonomous

regions, 4 municipalities directly under the


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Chinese People

A huge population of more than 1300


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Collectivism & Individualism

Collectivist group loyalty, decision-making oriented to group welfare

Individualistic importance placed on goals and autonomy of individual

Time Orientation (developed by Chinese scholars from Confucian principles)

Long termvalue thrift and persistence

Short term value tradition, upholding social obligations and quick results

Power Distance

Low social equality, reduction of hierarchy (tend to be individualistic)

High recognized authorities should not be challenged (tend to be collectivist)

Cultural Orientation

Source: http://www.geert-hostede.com/index.shtml


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The Origins of Chinese

Civilization


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Mandarin is the most widely spoken form of

Chinese.

Chinese language has more native speakers

than any other languages.

Chinese language is mostly spoken in China,

Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Chinese language (Mandarin Chinese) is one

of the six official languages used by the United

Nations.

Chinese language is written with symbols.

Writing and Language


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Chinese characters are written within a square framework, so they are

sometimes referred to in Chinese as "square writing."

Evolution of the character "" (ri, sun)

Evolution of the characters (yu, fish) and (ma, horse)

Chinese Characters

Writing and Language


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Fragments of oracle bone script,

Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BC)

Bronze tallies of Lord Qi of E,

Warring States Period (475-221 BC)

The evolution of Chinese characters and calligraphy provides

insight into the development of human society.


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Terracotta warriors of Qin Shihuang, Pit 2, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC)


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Buddhist Statue,

Longmen Grottoes

(post-5th century AD)


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Forbidden City, Beijing


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Jichang Garden, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province


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Confucianism emerged between the 6th through 5th century BC.

Its founder, Confucius, expanded upon ancient Chinese concepts

of humanism. He emphasized the value of the individual, the

cultivation of personal ethics, and the importance of moral

character. The concepts of benevolence (ren

) and propriety ( li) were the central tenants of Confucianism, and became the

foundation of mainstream Chinese culture.

Chinese Philosophy

Confucianism


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Portrait of Confucius (551-479 BC)

rny lzh

Benevolence, to

be humanity,

mercy andkindness;Justness, to be

righteousness ;

Rituals, custom

and law, to be

polite;Wisdom, to be

knowledgeable

and welleducated;royalty, faithfulreliableaccountable,

responsible,

creditable.


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Gift giving

Dont give a clock as a gift

Dont give a green hat to a man as a gift

Some unlucky number should be avoided

such as 4. Chinese lucky numbers are 6, 8or 9

Red represents prosperity and luck

Golden represents harvest and wealth

Generally white and black are not right color

for wrapping gifts


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Gestures in Chinese Culture

Nodding is used to greet somebody.

Keep gestures and unusual facial expressions to a minimum.

Chinese do not use their hands when speaking, and are

annoyed by people who do.

Avoid touching, as Chinese people dislike being touched by

strangers.

Always acknowledge the most senior member in a group first.

There is not an emphasis on emotions in China, so be careful

on how often you use them.


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Business Attire - MEN

In Chinese business culture, suits and tiesare typically worn.

It is important to wear conservative colors.

For formal events, wear suits and ties, but not

tuxedos.

Jeans are typically worn for casual activities.

Shorts are only acceptable when exercising.


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Business Attire - WOMEN

Woman should wear conservative suits. Donot wear anything too revealing and keep to

the conservative colors

Wear flat shoes or low heels for everyday

business.

Jeans are typically worn for casual activities.

Shorts are only acceptable when exercising.


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Conversations and Networking

Chinese should be addressed with a title and their last name.

Many Chinese adopt an English name to make it easier for

North Americans to address them.

Study China. Learn about their language, culture, history, and

geography. Chinese people appreciate this effort.

Avoid negative replies. Negative replies are impolite.

If Chinese people say things like this is not a serious problem,

or this is not a big deal, it usually means there is a problem.

Expect to answer intrusive questions about your age, income,title, family status and other personal topics.


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Meetings, Presentations & Negotiation

Tactics

Always be on time for a meeting or appointment. Being late isan insult.

If you are handed a business card, make sure to look at it before

you put it away.

When designing presentations, keep material in black and white.

Remember that China is a Communist country, so negotiations

and presentations must be set up to support the Communistparty.

Do not mention deadlines. Remain patient, as Chinese like to

extend negotiations beyond official deadlines.


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Dinner Etiquette

Always arrive on time.

Do not discuss business during the meal.

Always leave some food on your plate. A clean plate

indicates that you were not given enough food, and

this is a huge insult.

Leave some tea in your cup if you do not want a refill.

Slurping and belching at the table can be perfectly

acceptable.


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Other

Surprisingly, gift giving in Chinese business culture isforbidden, because this gesture is considered bribery.

Some businesses still practice gift giving, but the

safest thing to do is avoid it.

Keep in mind that Chinese businesses are very

family-oriented.

Remember that Chinese business culture is very

hierarchical. It is very important to respect seniority.


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Like music, dance, painting and drama.

China regards eating as an art.

Chinese people generally do not use knives or forks.

Cooking, frying is completely absent from authentic Chinese

Cuisine.

Chinese cuisine is very much about the harmonization of the

food.

Most common ingredients are vegetables, boiled rice, seafood and chicken.


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BeijingdishDumpling

Sping Roll


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H

means

peace

and

harmony

Chinese culture emphasizes harmony. It

respects the differences between cultures

and civilizations, in accordance with the

traditional Chinese philosophy of "seeking

unity in diversity." Chinese culture provides

a unique foundation from which to learn

from other cultures, maximize creativity,

and pursue self-improvement.


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Xie xie ni men

Thank you very much.

introduction to chinese culture

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