中西方商务餐桌礼仪文化分析英语

The Analysis of China and Western Table Manners

Foreword

With the rapid development of economic globalization, the culture between China and Western has also been a very good development and integration.

According to the literature, the manners of Zhou Dynasty, has formed a well-established system. The table manners played a very important role in the life of modern Chinese people. Dining not only meets the physical needs, but also an important social etiquette, and it also embodies a person’s upbringing and quality.

The banquet in western countries, from the formal to the informal, is far more than China. The table manners of western countries have a lot of forms, expect this, the degree of formality also has a big difference. Generally, there are seated dinners, buffet dinners, luncheons, receptions, cocktail parties, BYOB and BYOF (Bring your own bottles and bring your own food), picnics, tea parties, and so on.

1.The summarize of china and western countries table manners

The Chinese dining etiquette has a long history. According to the literature show that, at least in Zhou Dynasty, the eating etiquette has formed a well-established system. Especially that, the Confucius, as the libation of State of Lu, has praised and respected the eating etiquette, so, it become an important aspect of dynasties performance of major powers of landscape, ceremonies and civilization.

As Han traditional ancient feast etiquette, it has own program: the host invites guest with writing a letter and he/she will go to meet the guests at the door personally. When the guests arrived, they will greet each other. Than, the host brings the people into the living room to sit and entertains the guests with refreshments. After the guests in attendance, we can take a seat. Generally, where a guest is seated depend on his age, social status and so on. “Taking the left for upper”, it is the traditional custom in China. It means the left seat is higher than the right one. The guest of honor should be arranged on the left of host. Chinese entertained guest using the Eight-Immortal table in tradition. The seat faced to the door is the seat of honor, while the others are seated aside. The older, the guest of honor, the high-level is

seated in the upper seat, and the hosts sit at the lower seat. When there is more than one table, the host and hostess seat together in the main table. The distance from one table determined the position of these people.

Western table manners originated in the French Merovingian. Inspired by Byzantine Culture, so, the manners develop a series of subtlety etiquette. To the Roman Empire of Charlemagne, the etiquette is more complex and tyranny. The emperor must sit the highest chair. Whenever the music sounded, the nobility must spread the dishes to the emperor’s hands. Before the 17th century, it is a traditional habit for people to wear a hat when dining. In the Imperial era, table manners seem tedious and demanding, different ethnic groups have different eating habits, for example, Gauls sit to dinner, Romans lying to eat, the French are taught from childhood that meal with both hands on the table, but Englishman was taught that put you hands on your tights when you don not eat. The European table manners developed from the chivalry. In 12th century, when the culture of Italian has influenced the France, table manners and menu terms become more elegant and refined and etiquette book with teaching have come out. Until now, the table manners have been retained in European countries within a certain range.When you go to a friend's house, it will always be necessary to wear decent clothes, carry the appropriate gift, show elegance and conservation.

2.Chinese and Western business table manners Culture

2.1Chinese and Western dining table taboo

Chinese food culture has thousands of years of history. In the land of China, a strong food culture has been bred out and the eating habits and taboos also have been formed. When they are formed, we need consider courtesy and culture and some of them origin from the folk superstition and historical allusions. After thousands of years of accumulated and refined, it has spread and formed a unique culture of Chinese eating etiquette. First, there is the problem of seating in the feast. Secondly, there is the question of the use of the chopsticks. Eventually, people also need pay more attention to the detail on the table.

When eating western food, people should pay attention to the western etiquette. It is very different from Chinese food equivalent, we must understand Western etiquette and basic knowledge of Western etiquette, so that we can avoid