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Serving Students at Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College CHINA Culture

Cultural Orientation

The concept of being Chinese is a cultural concept and is not based on race.  Speaking and behaving like a Chinese, accepting the Chinese system of cultural values is to be Chinese.  The Chinese refer to themselves as Han or sons of Han (as in Han Dynasty, a period of great historical significance).  Throughout history, small ethnic groups that came into contact with the Han Chinese have adopted Chinese culture and have been absorbed into the mainstream.  This process continues, though there are today legal guarantees designed to protect the rights and culture of minority nationalities in China.

China is a truly collectivistic culture dominated by the Communist party.  Favoritism is shown to Communist party members.  Faith in the Communist party line is the dominant source of truth in all negotiations.  In a centrally controlled economy, responsibility rests with the government planners and the Communist party, but individuals are held responsible for their decisions within the system.  Local decisions are made by the head of the collective, and members must behave accordingly.  Collectives are insular, closed entities in which individual goals are subordinated to those of the collective.  In the pockets of free enterprise, businesses are experimenting with freedom from party rule but not from the collectivist way of thinking.

Decisions are based subjectively on experience and how one feels about the information presented unless the individual has been educated abroad.  The Communist party line policies are strictly followed.

Family

The family unit and extended family members are sources of strength.  Obedience to parents and the Communist party are required.  Harmony is important in relationships and maintaining honor and status is essential.  Other social units that provide structure in life are the workplace and the local community.

The percentage of people who are powerful members of the Communist party is small in comparison to the one billion population.  Party membership is a requirement for a leadership role.  Seniors are given respect equitably.  Though men and women are given equal status by law inequitites exist.

Gifts

All business negotiations should be concluded before gifts are exchanged.  Gift giving is against the law, but the acceptance of gift giving is increasing.  Avoid giving anything of value in front of others.  A gift from your company to the Chinese organization or factory and presented to the leader of the Chinese group is acceptable. 

When giving or receiving a gift, both hands are used.  The Chinese traditionally decline a gift three times before accepting; be persistant and express gratitude when the gift is accepted.  The gift is not opened in the presence of the giver.  Gifts of food are appreciated but not as a hostess gift when invited to a party; sending food as a thank-you gift afterwards, such as, candy and fruit baskets is appropriate. 

Appropriate gifts include items from your region of the country.  A banquet is considered an acceptable gift; Chinese hosts will give you one, and you should reciprocate.  Avoid the following gifts and colors as they are associated with funerals:  straw sandals, clocks, a stork or crane, handkerchiefs, and gifts and wrapping paper in which the predominant color is white, black, or blue.  Red, yellow or pink are appropriate colors.

At Chinese New Year, it is customary to give a gift of money in a red envelope to children and to the service personnel you deal with on a regular basis; give only new bills in even numbers and even amounts.  This gift is called a hong bao. 

Feng Shui and Yin and Yang

Feng Shui, Yin and Yang and traditional Chinese beliefs and superstitions influences Chinese interior design.  Feng Shui is the traditional Chinese art of  placement.  Central to the belief is that there is an energy force at play in the world called "Qi" ('chee', rhymes with 'tea') which can be both positive and negative, and it is imperative to arrange one's life in such a way as to maximize the beneficial influences and to minimize the harmful.  Yin and yang represent the idea of harmony and balance.  Often described as positive and negative, Yin and Yang is a little more subtle than this, with the idea being that the world is in a state of balance. 

Colors

Colors have a vast range of meaning in Chinese culture; interpretations have either traditional roots or come from Feng Shui.  The Chinese believe the color of a particular room, for example, can influence the activity within that room. 
 

Chinese New Year
The oldest and most important festival in China is the Spring Festival, more commonly known as the Chinese New Year.  The Spring festival celebrates the earth coming back to life, and the start of plowing and sowing.  In the past, feudal rulers of dynasties placed great importance on this occasion, and ceremonies to usher in the season were performed.  The date of the new year is determined by the lunar/solar calendar so the date of the holiday varies from late January to mid February.