《中西餐桌禮儀研究（英語(yǔ)）【論文】》

IntroductionCateringetiquettereferstocateringetiquette,whichreflectsthemoralconceptofthefamily.Itisformedbycustomsandpersonalpolitenessrequirements.Asasocialcustom,eatingetiquetteisdeterminedbynationalculture.Businessetiquetteisanecessarymeansofcommunicationwithinthescopeofbusinessactivities,whichcanbringbothsidesclosertotrade.Atthesametime,tableetiquetteinbusinessactivitiescanshowcorporateculture,corporatecivilizationlevelandmorallevel,andplayaveryimportantroleinshapingtheformationofcorporateimage.PurposeoftheThesisThecoreofbusinessetiquetteisacodeofconduct,whichisalsousedtorestrictallaspectsofourdailybusinessactivities.Withthedevelopmentoftheglobaleconomy,cross-culturalexchangesarebecomingmoreandmorefrequent,andthedifferencesbetweenChineseandWesternculturesarebecomingmoreandmoreobvious,especiallythedifferencesintableetiquette.Differentcultureshavedifferenttableetiquette,whichisanimportantwaytocommunicatewellwithcountriesfromdifferentculturalbackgrounds.WhetherinChinaorwesterncountries,peoplebelievethatfoodisanecessaryprerequisiteforhumansurvival.However,peoplefromdifferentculturalbackgroundsmayhavedifferentfoodcultures,whichcanbeclearlyshownonthetable.ThedifferencesbetweenChineseandWesterncountriesontableetiquettehavebeenanimportantsubjectofstudyinmodernculture.Itplaysacrucialpositionintheprocessofhistorydevelopmentofmaterialculture.Becauseofdifferentnaturalenvironment,historicalbackgroundandnationalculturesinChineseandWesterncountriesformeduniquefoodcultures.SotheanalysisoftheculturaldifferencesontableetiquettebetweenChineseandWesterncountriesisnecessaryforthestudyofChineseandWesterncultures.Therefore,studyingthedifferenttableetiquettebetweenChinaandthewestisadirectandeffectivewaytounderstandthecultureofothercountries.Therefore,thispaperwillanalyzesomeobviousdifferencesbetweenChineseandWesterncountriesintableetiquette,andfocusonthereasonsfortheculturaldifferencesbetweenChineseandWesterncultures.Adifferencebetweenchinaandwesterncountriesontableetiquetteisaveryimportantsubjectofstudyinmodernculture.Itplaysacrucialpositionintheprocessofhistorydevelopmentofmaterialculture.Becauseofdifferentnaturalenvironment,historicalbackgroundandnationalculturesinChinaandwesterncountriesformeduniquefoodcultures.SotheanalysisoftheculturaldifferencesontableetiquettesbetweenChinaandwesterncountriesisnecessaryforthestudyofChineseandWesterncultures.2.2SignificanceoftheThesisNowadays,especiallywhenthemarketeconomyisblooming,culturalcommunicationisbecomingmoreintenseandcloser.Mutualcooperationbetweendifferentculturesisunderitswaysilently.Variousdiningetiquettemixtogetherbecauseofculturecollisionsotheycanbeunderstoodandacceptedbymoreandmorepeople,whichisbeneficialtotheirdevelopmentandourlifeaswell.Alongwiththedeepeningoftheopen-upstrategy,itiscommontoustointeractwithforeigners,buttheinteractionbetweendifferentculturesisnevereasy.Peoplemustknowthecorrectetiquettewhentheycommunicatewithforeigners.Tableetiquetteisunavoidableduringculturalcommunication,andmoreandmorepeoplehavedevelopedinterestsonforeigndiningetiquette.ThisthesiscanleadpeopletoknowthedifferencebetweenChineseandWesterntableetiquettedeeply,anditdirectsthemtakegracefultablemannerstohavedinnerwithforeigners.Anditcanprovidepeoplewithusefulinsightsinthisfieldandletthenotionofappreciatingdifferentculturesentrenchedinourmind.

2OverviewofDiningEtiquetteinChineseandWesternCountries2.1ChinesetableetiquetteAsearlyastheZhouDynasty,tableetiquettehadformedafairlycompletesystem.AfterbeingpraisedandadmiredbyConfucius,whoservedawineintheStateofLu,tableetiquettehavebecomeanimportanttestimonyofthecapital,thestateofetiquette,andtheancientcivilizationofthedynasties.InthetraditionalbanquetetiquetteoftheHannationality,asetofcorrespondingproceduresisformed:thehostwritesaninvitationanddeliversittotheguestsbeforethebanquet.Whentheguestsarecoming,thehostshouldgetuptothedoortogreetandwelcome.Whentheguestsarriveatthebanquetsiteatthespecifiedtimeandplace,thehostandguestwillgreeteachothercordially.Beforethebanquetbegins,leadthegueststotherestauranttositandservedelicioussnacksandtea.Whentheguestsarrive,leadthemtotherestaurantandsittogether.Taketheleftasthetop,andtakethedistinguishedgueststothetoptositdown.Thisistheplacefortheguests.Pouringwineandservingdishesduringthebanquetalsohasacertaindegreeofparticularity:theeldersandguestsofhonorshouldberespectedfirst,andthehostlast.Afterthebanquetisover,leadthegueststositinthelivingroomandserveteauntiltheguestssaygoodbye.InmostpartsofChina,thistraditionalmodeofbanquetetiquettehasbeenkeptintact.ThereisanoldChinesesaying:“Foodisthefirstnecessityofthepeople.”GuanZhongintheSpringandAutumnPeriodstatedmoreclearly:“whenthecountryisbountiful,itscitizensarecivil;whenapersonhasmethiswants,heisscrupulous.”Eatingisamajorlifeevent,andpeopleenjoythelifeofmaterialcarefreeoffoodandclothing.Youcanseetheetiquettetraditionofanationbyeating,andtheetiquettetraditionisjustoneaspectofculture.Therefore,eatinggraduallytransformsaphysiologicalneedofhumanbeingsintoasocialmethodandanexquisiteculturalphenomenon.Itispreciselybecauseofthisneedthattableetiquetteisparticularlyimportantandprominentincross-culturalcommunication.Theriseoftableetiquetteisactuallyaproductofsocialprogress.Whenpeopleenjoytogether,iftheyjustbrutallypullwiththeirhandsandfightforfoodoneafteranother,foodwilleventuallybedestroyed.Theverbalrulesbecomeextremelynecessary,whichnaturallyformswhatwecalltableetiquette.Nothingcanbeaccomplishedwithoutnormsorstandards.Fromtheearlyoralrestrainttothepresenttableetiquette,althoughthereisnomandatoryandlegality,tableetiquettegraduallyentersourlivesasalifeskillandpenetratesintoourdailymeals.2.2WesterntableetiquetteThetableetiquetteinWesterncountries,whichoriginatedfromtheMerovingiandynastyinFrance,wasinspiredbytheByzantinecultureatthattimeanddevelopedaseriesofetiquette.BythetimeofCharlemagne,theRomanemperor,theetiquettewasmorevarious,complicated,andauthoritarian.Theemperorsatonthehighestchairtodemonstratehisprominentstatus.Whenthemusicsounds,thenobleministersmustpersonallypassthedishestotheemperortoshowtherespecttoemperor.IntheearlyWesterncountries,theemperor'sexistencewasasholyandinviolableasagod.Differentethnicgroupshavedifferentdininghabits:Gaulssittingandeating,Frenchpeopleeatingwiththeirhandsonthetable,andRomanseatingbylying.TheBritisharerequiredtoputtheirhandsontheirthighswhennoteating.Nomattereitherway,itistheinheritanceofthetraditionalcustomsofvariousnations.ThestricttableetiquettecreatedthesenseofmissionandnobilityoftheWesternaristocracy.Europeantableetiquetteevolvedfromchivalry.Inthe12thcentury,whenItaliancultureinfluencedFrance,tableetiquetteandmenulanguagebecamemoreelegantandsophisticated,andbooksteachingetiquettewerealsopublished.Today,tableetiquettehavebeenretainedinEuropeancountriestoacertainextentandwithinacertainrange.Whenyougotoafriend'shousetobeaguest,itisalwaysnecessarytoputondecentclothes,bringappropriategifts,andshoweleganceandrestraintinyourspeechandetiquette.2.3ResearchstatusathomeandabroadTableetiquette,asitsnameimplies,istheetiquetteobservedduringmeals.Tablemannersoftenreflectaperson'saccomplishment.Tableetiquettehasalonghistory,andeverycountryhasdifferenttableetiquette.Therefore,itisnecessarytocarefullyconsiderthetableetiquetteofthecorrespondingcountrywhenentertainingguestsfromdifferentcountriesorcultures.TheChinesediningetiquettehasalonghistory,andenjoysahighreputationintheworld.IntheZhoudynasty,tablemannershasformedasetofquiteperfectsystem.ChiMingyu(2014)thoughtthattablemannersasanimportantwitnesstotheperformanceofculture,theancientcivilization,andastateofceremonieswholivedinagespast.Ithasformedasetofcorrespondingprogramintraditionalhistoryofcivilization.Hostwritesinvitationsandsendstotheguestsbeforeinvitinginorderthattheycometothefeast.Thehostshouldgotothedoortomeetthemiftheguestswillarrive.Iftheguestsgettothefeastaccordingtothespecifiedtime,bothsidesofthehostshouldgreeteachother.Thehostshouldtakegueststohaveasitandsendthedeliciousdessertandteabeforethefeastbegins.Whentheguestsarrive,theyshouldleadthemtosittogether,basedontheleft,leadthedistinguishedgueststothehead,thisisthepositionofthedistinguishedguest.PengChenyan(2016)saidthattherearealsosomeexquisiteswhenpouringandserving,theyshouldrespecttheeldersandthemainguestfirst,thelastisthehost.Afterthefeast,theyshouldleadgueststohaveasituntiltheguestsfarewell.Itiskeptverycompleteinthetraditionaldrinkingetiquettepatterns,especiallyinBeijing,Henan,HongKong,Taiwanandsoon.Chinesepeoplestresstoeat,andtheynotonlypayattentiontocookingmethodsbutalsoputemphasisondiningetiquette.ManyChineseintellectualsdidsomeresearchesondiningetiquette.In1990s,aseriesofbookshaspublishedbyForeignLanguageTeachingandResearchPress,includingthebookwhichwaswrotebyWangYipei(2011).HemadereferencetothedifferentetiquetteofbanquetsbetweenWesterncountriesandChina.ProfessorSunGenmeiandYao,Kun(2015)usedonechaptertodevotetothesocialfunctions,thevariouscustomsofbanquetsandtheformsinbothChineseandWesterncountries.FengX(2013)didaresearchonbanquetetiquetteofChinaandAmericawhichusedanewperspectivetoresearchthesedifferencesbetweenChinaandAmerica.SomecontributionstothediningetiquettearemadebylotsofChinesescholars.ItisalsodevelopedinChina.SomeChinesescholarsalsogiveexpressiontotheirpointsofviewsonthisissue.InChinesetradition,theindividualissubordinatetothecollective.Thevalueofhumanisultimatelyembodiedinthesocialvalue,andthemostemphasisisondedication.Therefore,thepursuitofhumilityandgroupharmonyinChinaisreflectedinvariousaspects.ShuChang(2012)statedthatwhenChinesedinewithforeignguests,theyusuallyeatWesternfood.Ofcourse,theycanalsoinviteforeigngueststoenjoyChinesefood.IfWesternfoodisserved,theWesterntableetiquetteshouldbefullyobserved,andthefollowingetiquettesshouldbeobservedwhenfeastingWesternfood.IfyouhaveChinesefoodfordinner,youneedtointroducethecharacteristicsofChinesefoodtoforeignguests,andfindabalancepointbetweenChineseandWesterneatinghabits.Forexample,weshouldkeepquietevenwhenwehavedinnerwithforeignguests.YangSSandZhangYX(2010)saidthatmanyancestorsofwesterncountrieshavebeengivenpreferentialtreatment,andtheyhavetousetoolstoseparatetheselargeanimals.Thesetwoculturaltrendsarealmosttheopposite,whichcanbenaturallyreflectedinthechoiceoftablewareandtheuseofdiet.Theythoughtthatinbusinessactivities,Britishpeoplearemorerationalindiet.Theypaymoreattentiontonutritionandsurvival.Theyrejecttheuseofchickenessenceandmonosodiumglutamate,believingthattheyarebothlackofnutritionandhaveadverseeffects.Theyliketoeatrawvegetables,tomatoes,lettuceandevencabbage.Theybelievethatcookingstandardsandsciencearethemostimportantatthetableinbusinessactivities.ChengHuihui&ZhengMan(2015)thoughtthatwesternfoodOriginatedinwesterntablemannersofFranceMerovingian.AstheywereinspiredbytheByzantineculture,sotheyformulatedaseriesofetiquette.ToCharlie,emperoroftheRomanemperorperiod,etiquettebecomesmorevarious,complexandstrongauthoritarian.Suchassitinthehighestchairtoshowtheemperor’seminentstatus.TheservingofindividualdishesisaWesternfoodsystem.Itisconsideredarespectforindividualityandself,whileprivacyispartofindividualrights.Whendining,youshouldnotaskaboutpersonalissues,suchasage,maritalstatus,income,religiousbelief,etc.Foreignscholarsalsomadesomecontributionstodiningetiquetteresearch.During1960sto1970s,withthefastdevelopmentofinterculturalstudies,manybooksinthisfieldofdiningetiquettewerepublished.AmericanandChinese:PassagetodifferenceswroteaboutfoodhabitsanddiningetiquetteinAmericansassameasthoseimmigrantscomingfromallovertheworld,includingChina(XiangMK&UniversityND,2016).ItcoversvariousWesterncookingculture,diningetiquetteandroleofthefoodineachsociety.Cooper(1986)statedthatChinesetablemannerisacomplexsystemwhichrelatestoChinesetraditionalculture(LiuTiefeng,2017).MasahikoA(2014)discussedthedifferencebetweenChineseandWesternetiquetteinbusinessnegotiations.HepointedthatifWesternpeoplewanttomakeasuccessfulbusinessnegotiationwithChinesepeople,itisnecessarytoknowtheirdiningetiquettesuchaswineculture,tablearrangementandsoon.VonDrachenfels,SusedordinarywordstoprovidethetipstopeoplewhowanttoattendWesterndinnerorlearntoWesterndiningetiquette(ZhuYunxia,2014).Itiseasyforordinarypeople,especiallyforeignpeopletoknowaboutWesterndiningetiquettedeeplywiththisbook.In2004,BianHprovidedhispointofviewthatbecauseoftwoculturesexistinginWesternsociety,peoplelikepayingattentiontofoodcultureanddiningetiquette(SunYue,2016).SomeWesternscholarswanttoresearchChineseculturethroughdiningetiquette.Theseresearchpapersprovidemanyeffectivedataandinspirationformetocompletethisthesis.Byanalyzingthesepapers,itiseasytoseethatnotonlyChinesebutalsoWesternpeoplepayattentiontodiningetiquette.Whenpeopleshowtheirdiningetiquette,theyalsoexpresstheirculturalbackground,education,orself-qualityandsoon.

3.DifferencesbetweenChineseandWesternDiningEtiquette3.1DifferencesonTablewareChopstickswereinventedanddevelopedinChinaabout3,000to5,000yearsago,althoughtheexactdateisunknown.Sometimeinthepast,peoplebegancookingtheirfoodinlargepots.Thefoodwaschoppedupintobitssothatitwouldbecookedfaster.Ratherthanreachingtheirfingersintothepots(andthusburningthem),folksbegantofishfortheirfoodwithsticksortwigs.Itbecameeasiertogetthefoodusingapairofsticks,hencethechopstickwasborn!AnotherinfluenceinchopstickhistorywasConfucius(551to479B.C.).Hewasavegetarianhethoughtthatknivesdidnotbelongatthedinnertable,astheywereforuseataslaughterhouse.Confuciustaughtthatifamoralpersonheardthescreamingofanimalsattheslaughterhouse,thatpersonwouldprefertokeeptheanimalaliveandunharmed.Confuciuspromotedpeaceandnonviolence,includingthehumanetreatmentofanimals.Peoplebelieveitistheformationofchopsticks.Chopsticks,thequintessenceofChineseculture,whoselightnessandflexibilitydevelopaschoolofitsownamongvarioustablewareallovertheworld,arepraisedas"EasternCivilization"bythewesterners.Allthosepeoplewhohaveeverusedchopsticks,nomatterChineseorforeignersmarvelattheircontinence,excellentqualityandreasonableprice．Aroundthe15thcentury,Europeantalentsbegantouseknivesandforksatthesametime.KnivesandforksarethemostimportanttablewareinWesternfood,whichisrelatedtothefactthatmeatisthemainfoodintheWest.TheWestisdominatedbyanimalhusbandry.Thestaplefoodisgenerallybeef,mutton,fish,etc..Itismostconvenienttocutthemeatwithaknifeandsendittomouth.Asfortheappearanceofthefork,itisalsoinevitableaftertheknife.Itisnotenoughtocutthemeatwithaknife,andhandhelpisneeded,whichwillinevitablygetdirty.Aftersocietyprogressed,thehandswererequiredtobeliberated,andtheforkworked.Moreover,theforkisnotadiscovery,butanimprovement.Beforethefork,therewasapitchfork.Pitchforksareusedtoforkhay,andhayeventuallybecomesanimalfood.Sothedifferenceofcivilizationisalsoreflected.Knifealsohasuniqueuses,anditisnotonlyusedbyEuropeans,butalsoinChineseclassics.HistoricalRecordsofXiangYu,XiangYugaveFanKuaialeg,FanKuai“cutwithaswordandeatit”,herethe“sword”andtheknifecanbeconsideredequivalent,sowecanconcludethattheknifeisusedforcuttingmeat.Theappearanceanduseofchopsticksistheresultofagriculturalcivilizationbasedonplanting,whiletheuseofknivesandforksistheresultofnomadiccivilizationandanimalhusbandry.Thedifferencebetweenchopsticksandknivesandforksisthedifferencebetweenagriculturalcivilizationandnomadiccivilization.3.2DifferencesonOrderofServingFromtheorderofservingChineseandWesterndishes,therearealsogreatdifferencesbetweenthetwo.3.2.1TheOrderofServingChineseFood:Thefirstcourse:colddish.Colddishes,alsoknownasappetizers,arethefirstdishesafterthegueststakethetable,andhaveagreaterimpactontheguests'moodandappetite.Thecontentofthecolddishcanbecomplicatedorsimpleaccordingtotheconditions.Generally,alargeplatteror4-8smallplatescanbeused.Formid-rangeandabovebanquets,alargeplattercanbeusedfor4-8singleplates.Thecolddishesaregenerallydifferentintaste,shape,color,andcookingmethods,andtheycanbebothmeatandvegetarianfood,andtheyarereasonablymatched.Thesecondcourse:hotdishes.Hotdishesaregenerallymadebycookingmethodssuchasstir-frying,deep-frying,distillation,simmering,andbraising.Hotdisheshavetheirowncharacteristicsintaste,colorandshape,andtheselectionofmaterialsshouldbebasedonfreshandtenderrawmaterials,highlightingitscrisp,smoothandfreshcharacteristics,andmainlyusedforwine.Thethirdcourse:bigdishes.Bigdishesarecookedwithwhole,wholepieces,wholepiecesofchicken,duck,fishormoreexpensiveingredients.Itisgenerallypreparedbycookingmethodssuchasroasting,roasting,steaming,stewing,braising,blasting,andgrilling.Themaincharacteristicsofthedishesarecrispy,freshandtender,crispandthick.Themaindishisthemainpartofthebanquettohighlightthecharacteristicsandflavors.Thebigdishesonthetablehaveagreaterimpactontheappetiteandmoodoftheguests,whichcanbringthebanquettoaclimax.Thefourthcourse:sweets.Sweets,alsoknownassweets,occupiesaverysmallproportioninthebanquet,andlow-endbanquetscanbeomitted,usuallyoneortwodishes.Inthebanquet,sweetsplayaroleinremovingodorinthemouthandregulatingthetasteofguests.Whenthisdishisonthetable,itmeansthatthewineanddishesarereadyanditistimetostopfordinner.Sweetisgenerallycookedwithhoneyjuice,steaming,etc.,andservedonthetablewhileitishot.Thefifthcourse:soup.Soupisamust-havedishinthebanquet.Becausethesoupisrichinnutrients,delicious,andcansupplementthelossofdigestivejuicesduringmeals.Insomebanquets,twosoupsareservedinthebanquet,oneistoservethesoupafterthecolddishesandbeforethehotdishes;theotheristoservethesoupafterthedessertsareserved.Thesoupispreparedflexiblyaccordingtotheseasonandregion,generallythickinwinterandlightinsummer.Thesixthcourse:snacks.Generally,thebanquetisservedwithsoupandsnacks,whilethehigh-endbanquetisservedwiththemaindishes.Dimsumplaystheroleofsupplement,embellishment,andsetoffthemaindishes,andcanalsomakeupforthelackofcarbohydratesinthedishes,andmakefastingdrinkerslesslikelytogetdrunk.Theseventhcourse:fruit.Generally,fruitsareservedattheend,andseasonalfruitsarebetter,suchaswatermelon,apple,banana,orange,pineapple,andlychee.3.2.2WesternFoodServingOrder:Thefirstcourse:appetizer.Thecontentofappetizersisgenerallydividedintocoldappetizersorhotappetizers.Commonvarietiesincludecaviar,smokedsalmon,cocktailcupsandsnails.Becauseitisanappetizer,theappetizersgenerallyhaveadistinctiveflavor.Thetasteismainlysaltyandsour,andthequantityissmallandthequalityishigh.Thesecondcourse:soupdishes.WhatisverydifferentfromChinesefoodisthatthesecondcourseofWesternfoodissoup.Westernsoupcanberoughlydividedintofourcategories:clearsoup,creamsoup,vegetablesoupandcoldsoup.Varietiesincludeoxtailclearsoup,variouscreamsoups,seafoodsoup,Americanclamsoup,Italianvegetablesoup,Russianborscht,Frenchonionsoup,etc.Therearefewervarietiesofcoldsoup,suchasGermancoldsoupandRussiancoldsoup.Thethirdcourse:sidedishes.Fishdishesaregenerallyregardedasthethirdcourseofwesternfood,alsocalledsidedishes.Speciesincludevariousfreshwaterormarinefish,shellfishandmollusks.Usuallyaquaticdishes,eggandbreadarecalledsidedishes.Becausethemeatoffishandotherdishesistenderandeasiertodigest,itisplacedinfrontofthemeatdishes,andthenameisalsodifferentfromthemaindishofmeatdishes.Westernfoodisparticularaboutfishdishes,usingspecialsauces.Thevarietiesincludetartarsauce,Dutchsauce,hotelsauce,whitecreamsauce,archbishopsauce,Americansauceandsailorfishsauce.Thefourthcourse:maincourse.MeatandpoultrydishesarethefourthcourseofWesternfood,alsocalledmaindishes.Therawmaterialsofmeatdishesaretakenfromvariouspartsofmeatsuchascows,sheep,pigs,chickensandducks.Themostrepresentativeoneisbeeforsteak.Accordingtotheirpositions,steakscanbedividedintoSirloinsteaks,Filletsteaks,“T”bonesteaks,etc.Thecookingmethodsareusuallyroasted,fried,grilledandsoon.ThesaucesusedinmeatdishesmainlyincludeSpanishsauce,thicksauceextract,mushroomsauce,andwhitesauce.Therawmaterialsofpoultrydishesaretakenfromchicken,ducks,geese,anddishessuchasrabbitandvenisonareusuallyincludedinhumanpoultrydishes.Thefifthcourse:sidedishes.Vegetabledishescanbearrangedafterthemeatdishes,ortheycanbeservedatthesametimeasthemeatdishes,sotheycanbecountedasadishorasidedish.VegetabledishesarecalledsaladsinWesternfood.Thesaladservedatthesametimeasthemaincourseiscalledrawvegetablesalad,whichisgenerallymadewithlettuce,tomatoes,cucumbers,asparagusandothers.Themainsaucesforsaladsarevinegarsauce,Frenchsauce,dryislandsauce,cheesesaladsauceandsoon.Inadditiontovegetables,thereisanothertypeofsaladthatismadewithfish,meat,andeggs.Thistypeofsaladgenerallydoesnotaddflavoredjuiceandcanbeeatenasastarterintheorderofmeals.Somevegetablesarecooked,suchascauliflower,boiledspinach,andpotatochips.Cookedvegetablesareusuallyservedontheplatetogetherwiththemeatdishesofthemaincourse.Thesixthcourse:desserts.Westerndessertsareeatenafterthemaincourse,whichcanbecountedasthesixthcourse.Inatruesense,itincludesallthefoodafterthemaincourse,suchaspudding,pancakes,icecream,cheese,fruitsandsoon.Theseventhcourse:drinks.ThelastcourseofWesternfoodiscoffeeortea.Coffeeusuallyaddedsugarandlightcream.Teaisusuallyflavoredwithpeachslicesandsugar.3.3DifferencesonAtmosphereGroupeddiningsystemisthemainforminChina.Onthissubject.ThetypicalChinesediningtableisroundorsquare,thedishesarelaidinthecenter,andeachparticipantinthemealisequippedwithabowlforrice,apairofchop-sticks,asaucer,andaspoon.Allatthetabletakefromthedishesastheyproceedwiththemeal”.Thedishesaretypicallysharedbyall,andmustbetreatedmuchascommonproperty,whereasone’sbowlisaprivateplacewhichcomesdirectlyintouchwiththemouth.Chopsticksarethin,andwhenemployedappropriatelyonlytouchtheonepieceorsmallquantityapersontouchesfirst.ManyWesternersfindthehabitofsharingfromacommonplatepotentiallyunhygienic,andonemightbetemptedtodismissthisasabitofegocentricity.AtthebeginningoftheSongDynasty,thecurfewsystemwasabolished,commercedevelopedrapidly,theirlivingstandardandconsumerdemand,whichmadetheeconomydevelopedatnightandthepaceoflifeaccelerated,whichdeterminedthegradualtransitionfromseparatemealsystemtosharedmealsystem.Peopletendtogatheratsocialeventsbecauseofincreasedbusinessactivityandincreasedpopulationactivities.Comparativelyspeaking,sittingaroundatableisconvenientforcommunicationandalsoclose.Forbusinesses,diningtogethernotonlysavesspace,butalsoreducescostsandmakesgreaterprofits.ThecultureoftheSongDynastyattachedmoreimportancetotheconceptofstate,whichmeantunityandpeaceforthecountryandunityandharmonyforthefamily.Sotheprevalenceofmealsharingalsohasitssocialbackground.Uptonow,theformofgroupeddinningsystemhascontinuedforthousandsofyears.Thefoodisservedvialargecommunaldishes,andinnearlyeverycase,youwillbesuppliedwithservingchopsticksfortransferringfoodfromthemaindishestoyourown.Youshouldusetheservingchopsticksiftheyaresupplied.Iftheyarenotoryouareunsure,waitforsomeonetoservefoodtotheirownplate,andthencopywhattheydo.Onoccasion,aneagerChinesehostmayplacefoodintoyourbowloronyourplate.Thisis