What does the Chinese ceremony phraseology mean? Tea ceremony in China. The art of the tea ceremony. Business communication tactics
In the lives of Chinese people, tea has a special place, and drinking tea has completely turned into a separate art of the tea ceremony.
The Chinese prefer tea to other drinks even in the summer: it not only quenches thirst, but also helps improve immunity.
Tea ceremony in China - a little history
The appearance of tea is attributed to one of the main figures, the divine progenitor of the entire Chinese people, Shen Nun, whose name translated from Chinese means “Divine Tiller”. It was this hero who taught the people to plow the land, grow cereals, as well as medicinal and other useful plants.
Tradition says that Shen Nong had the head of a bull and a human body, while his belly was made of transparent jade. Shen Nong helped people treat ailments, and to do this he wandered around the country in search of medicinal plants, separating them from the often found poisonous ones. The healer tested the effect of the found herbs on himself. At the same time, he observed the effect of the eaten plant or its fruit on the body through his transparent belly. They say that one day he tried a new plant that was unfamiliar to him and as a result received severe poisoning. When he felt really bad, he lay down under an unfamiliar bush. Suddenly, dewdrops rolled from the leaves of the bush. Having swallowed this drop, the doctor felt a surge of strength and pleasant cheerfulness throughout his body.
From that time on, Shen Nong carried the leaves of this plant with him everywhere, using them as an antidote. And so it happened that he taught the entire Chinese people to drink tea as medicine.
In ancient times, tea was a drink for rich people. No one knows exactly when it became an everyday drink. At the same time, in the 1st century BC, tea was widespread and could already be purchased on the market. And from 618 to 907, the Chinese tea ceremony began to develop, and tea rooms were described for the first time
Over time, tea penetrated into Russia along the Great Silk Road. The literature reports that the Cossacks presented tea as a gift to the Russian Tsar in 1567. Russians were truly able to appreciate the fragrant drink already in the 19th century. It was then that the Russian tea ceremony was formed. We learned how to brew in the world famous Russian samovars.
In China, the tea ceremony is a whole ritual, where a certain order is followed when brewing a drink. The main goal of this action is to reveal the taste and aroma of tea, and haste is inappropriate here. The Chinese tea ceremony implies calm and tranquility. A special atmosphere is created by fancy items of tea utensils, elegant small-sized dishes, as well as pleasant quiet music - thanks to all these factors, it becomes possible to enjoy the unforgettable fragrant aroma of a tea drink and a long aftertaste, known throughout the world.
Features of the Chinese tea ritual
The tea ceremony in China is called gong fu cha: gong is the highest art, and cha is, of course, tea. The Chinese themselves attach special significance to the ritual. They have a skill that not everyone can master.
The Chinese ritual of tea drinking is considered one of the most mysterious and enigmatic in the whole world. This may be explained by the fact that the Chinese consider tea to be more than just a drink. For them, tea is a wise plant, which is given the ability to transmit the energy of life. To receive this energy, there are certain conditions that are summarized in the rules for the tea ceremony.
Special water requirements
The choice of water with which tea will be brewed is of decisive importance. It must be from a clean source. The most suitable is the one that has a sweetish taste and soft structure.
When preparing tea, boiling water is important. It does not need to be brought to a strong boil, because because of this, its own energy is lost. They say that water is considered to have boiled to the desired state for tea as soon as bubbles appear in it - it is not allowed to boil rapidly.
Sounds of music
Traditionally, before the ceremony begins, a person must cleanse himself and achieve a state of inner harmony and peace. That is why it takes place in a beautiful room and to the sounds of pleasant music, often bewitching and mystical. For the best effect, the tea ceremony master prefers to use the sounds of nature. This helps a person immerse himself in the depths of his soul and helps him better merge with nature.
What is customary to talk about at a tea ceremony?
During the tea ritual, people traditionally talk about the tea itself. In addition, an important element of the ceremony is showing respect for the tea deity and talking about him. Often, craftsmen place his figurine or image next to the tea utensils.
The internal state of those gathered
According to all canons, the ritual takes place in an atmosphere of goodness and harmony. While drinking tea, it is not customary to talk loudly, wave your arms or make noise. Full concentration helps you feel true pleasure from the drink and true happiness.
By the way, the tea ceremony in China requires the participation of 2 to 6 people. It is in this case that you can achieve an amazing atmosphere, called in tradition the contact of souls.
Interior for a tea ceremony
All those present are seated on straw mats laid on the floor. Soft pillows of a pleasant warm color are laid out around the guests. In the middle there is a table for tea, called a shepherd, about 10 cm high. It looks like a kind of wooden box. There are special holes in it where the remaining tea is poured, because in China, excess water speaks of abundance.
When all the basic principles of tea drinking are observed, the solemn moment of tea drinking itself begins.
So, Chinese tea party
The tea ceremony set is laid out in front of the guests. The utensils include: a teapot for brewing, a vessel called cha-hai, a tea box called cha-he, and a tea pair. All utensils for the tea ceremony should be made in the same style and not distract from the wonderful drink with their appearance.
First of all, the master pours the dry tea leaves into a cha-he - a special porcelain box, which is intended for studying the structure of tea and inhaling its aroma. All participants slowly pass it into each other’s hands and inhale the aroma. This ritual has another meaning - during the transfer of cha-he, those present become closer to each other.
After this, the gongfu cha master brews tea. The first boiling water poured is drained - this way the dust is washed off from the tea. But from the next pouring, every guest of the ceremony enjoys a miraculous drink.
It is placed on a tray in front of each participant. These are two cups, one of which is high and narrow (wenxiabei), designed to perceive the smell, and wide and low (chabei) - for enjoying the color and taste of tea. The second water is poured into tall cups after it has been in the teapot for about 30 seconds. Wensyabei is filled only ¾ full and immediately covered with a wide cup. After a while, remove the upper cup and, bringing the lower one to your nose, inhale the wonderful aroma of the resulting tea. It is important to concentrate and merge with the energy of the tea. They drink tea slowly, focusing on the sensations.
Tea is poured until the drink retains its color and aroma. With each new pour, the tea acquires different shades of smell and taste.
As a result, the tea ceremony gives peace, peace of mind and helps us forget about the bustle of our lives.
Tea ceremony in England
The UK is one of the world leaders in tea consumption per person. For the British, drinking tea is not just a habit, it is a ritual with its own established traditions. It emerged from the Five-o-clock Tea, characteristic of the British.
The traditional set for the tea ceremony among the British is a white or blue tablecloth without patterns, a vase with fresh white flowers. Tea pairs, with tea, a milk jug, a jug of milk, a strainer and a stand for it. In addition, you will need a sugar bowl (preferably with white and brown sugar), teaspoons, a fork and knife, and napkins to match the tablecloth.
Snacks are always served with tea - these are various versions of English pastries. Traditionally, guests can choose from 5-10 varieties of tea, with Lapsang Souchong, Earl Grey, Darjeeling, Assam, and various tea blends being a must.
By the way, another important serving element is a quilted or woolen tea-cosy cover.
The tea ceremony in England has its own secret. When brewing tea, it is taken into account that it will no longer be diluted with boiling water in cups. This means that when brewing, tea leaves are put into the teapot based on the fact that there is 1 teaspoon of tea per person. If you use a large teapot, it is recommended to add 1 more spoon for everyone.
Then the tea is infused for 3-5 minutes and poured out to the guests. Immediately after this, you need to pour boiling water from a jug into the teapot (a feature of the tea ceremony is refilling the tea leaves) and cover it with tea-cozy to maintain the temperature. By the time you finish drinking the first cup, the second pour has time to brew. The kettle can be filled again, but each time the quality of the drink will deteriorate.
Traditionally, tea is drunk with milk, and tea is added to hot milk, and not vice versa.
Russian tea traditions
The tea ceremony in Moscow is a completely different tradition, very different from the rituals that have developed in the homeland of this drink. They say that when drinking tea, the Japanese enjoy tea utensils, the details of the ceremony, and their inner world. The tea ceremony in China - the enjoyment of taste and aroma - is valuable for the very fact of observing traditions, surroundings, and baked goods. And for Russians, the most important thing is the company gathered near the Russian samovar. Communication between all those present is valuable.
In Moscow they originally drank black tea. Boiling water is heated in a samovar, and a teapot is placed on top. The brew is made stronger than the tea that is ultimately drunk. The tea leaves are poured into the cups, and then boiling water from the samovar.
There are always baked goods on the table for tea,
lemon, sugar, jam and honey. The latter are most often eaten as a snack with tea or spread on bread. Often the cup is served with a “tea pair” - a saucer. Hot tea is poured into it from a cup and drunk.
Whatever the tea traditions of different nations, this drink is appreciated everywhere for its pleasant taste, delicate aroma and unusual properties.
Orphan Kazan- a very interesting expression. Orphan - understandable, but why Kazan? Are there any special orphans in Kazan?
Word orphan means a person, a child without one or both parents. Such children, deprived of parental care and support, as a rule, eked out a poor existence. Therefore, the word orphan in Russian also has the connotation of “poor, destitute, left without means of subsistence.”
But why Kazan orphan, and not Moscow or Tver? This expression has a very precise historical origin.
The Kazan Khanate, as a state entity, arose as a result of the collapse of the Golden Horde. The location for the Tatar capital was chosen very well - the middle course of the Volga just above the confluence of the Kama, which allowed the Kazan people to control the most important trade routes and huge rich regions. It is not surprising that the Kazan Khanate quickly grew and posed a real threat to the economic and political interests of the Moscow principality. The confrontation between Moscow and Kazan lasted 135 years, and, as a rule, the advantage was on the side of the Kazan people. And if the Tatars did not set the goal of destroying Moscow, but only wanted to control it and receive tribute, then Moscow was determined to destroy the Kazan Khanate, which blocked its trade transport arteries and the possibility of expansion to the east.
After three unsuccessful campaigns against Kazan, caused mainly by the chaos and poor control of the Russian army, Tsar Ivan the 4th and his military leaders eventually developed a plan, the main principle of which was strict adherence to all elements of the preparation of this plan. The Russians gradually cut off Kazan from its sources of supply, besieged it on its distant approaches, and blocked all access routes for help. And the most interesting thing is that they succeeded. Even the troops of the Crimean Khan, who suddenly arrived to the aid of Kazan, were completely defeated by the Russians at the distant approaches. From a military point of view, the capture of Kazan is an impeccably designed and executed military operation. Moscow also succeeded in the political arena; it supported pro-Moscow Murzas in Kazan, bribed and supported them, so the Moscow government was fully aware of Kazan affairs. In a word, with approximately equal forces, the organization of the entire event, rare for Russians, yielded its result - Kazan was taken, and the Kazan Khanate was destroyed.
Moreover, an interesting fact is that on the eve of the assault on the city, the walls of Kazan were blown up and nothing prevented the Russians from immediately starting an invasion of the fortress. But according to the plan, the assault was scheduled for the next day, and Tsar Ivan, continuing to insist on systematic action, ordered the army to rest and the next morning, with fresh forces, Russian forces burst into the city and systematically destroyed everything and everyone.
But some of the Kazan influential people loyal to Moscow were not touched, but on the contrary, they gave them gifts in every possible way, accepted them into the royal service, received estates, in a word, they were treated kindly (which, by the way, the Moscow authorities had done before, spending large amounts of money on the maintenance of their Kazan " friends"). But, despite the generous rewards, the remnants of the Kazan elite constantly complained to the tsar about their plight and begged for more and more favors. It was these people who received the ironic nickname “orphans of Kazan” in the circles of the Moscow nobility. That's why Kazan orphan they talk about those people who are not really in dire need, but are speculating on their supposedly plight.
Other interesting expressions from Russian speech:
Incense is the general name for incense that smoked not only in front of altars
Interesting expression - scapegoat. The phrase is unsaid, but everything is fine
An interesting expression is to buy a pig in a poke. It can be classified as intuitive
The nightingale is the most pleasant songbird living in the vastness of Russia. Why of all
Kuzka's mother(or show Kuzkin's mother) - a stable phrase of indirect
Expression mutual responsibility- this is an expression of direct meaning, that is, it means that
Since ancient times, many peoples have believed that a crocodile cries when
Toughie- this expression is usually associated with the capture of Sweden by Peter the Great
the expression with a red thread has nothing to do with ideology. And it has a relation
Leavened patriotism- a short, to-the-point ironic definition for
The great Wall of China- the largest architectural and construction work
Expression to Caesar-Caesarean biblical origin, like many others
Do not be confused by this idiotic formulation, compiled specifically for
Chinese ceremonies- we often use this phraseology in conversation. How
By expression cast bells it is absolutely impossible to guess what other meaning
Verst- Russian measure of length that existed in Russia before the introduction of metric
Colossus with feet of clay- this is a kind of characteristic or assessment of something
About the origin of the expression Columbus egg different sources report approximately
If this expression let the red rooster fly read by a foreigner studying
Expression no bones to collect quite familiar to our Russian ears. His
Since ancient times, even before the advent of geometry, people tied measures of length to parts of their
It seemed like a well-known expression, you can't get there on a crooked goat. It means that
It turns out that the emergence of this phraseological unit is directly related to religion, more precisely to
Got it like chickens in cabbage soup they say when they unexpectedly find themselves in extremely unpleasant situations
Like a goat's milk(get) - they talk about a person from whom there is no benefit,
King for a day they talk about leaders or bosses who find themselves in power
Gimp a word of foreign origin, it means thin metal
Expression sink into oblivion familiar and understandable to everyone. It means to disappear from memory,
The name of the city-state of Carthage is known to us from history textbooks.
Pulling chestnuts from the fire- this expression will gain complete clarity if we add to
This expression - squaring the circle, you've probably come across it somewhere. And that's what it is
Like looking into the water- an expression that is clear in meaning, but not immediately clear in meaning
The expression at the top of Ivanovo, or rather, to yell at the top of Ivanovo, is very well known
The expression or phrase and there are spots on the sun emphasizes that in the world
The expression even when an old woman suffers a hole speaks for itself. According to the dictionary
And you Brute! - an expression familiar to almost every educated person, even
Ivan, who does not remember his kinship, is a purely Russian expression rooted in our
The word candles in Russian has several meanings: first of all, they are candles for
The expression making a molehill out of a molehill is completely understandable; it does not contain any
The expression “hut on chicken legs” is probably known to everyone from childhood.
The expression his name is legion (or his name is legion) means indefinitely large
What does the expression "baby beating" mean? Who beats which babies?
Prescribing Izhitsa is an expression that has become a thing of the past from our everyday life. But
The Italian strike is a rather original type of wage protest
More interesting expressions
For the letters A, B, C
Starting with the letter G
Starting with the letter D
For the letters E and F
Starting with the letter "Z"
A ceremony is the official part of a public event. For example, the opening of a new monument, the ceremonial launching of a ship, the presentation of awards to outstanding personalities - all these are ceremonies. However, this word can be heard in various variations without reference to high-profile events. It often sounds in private conversations and business conversations, acquiring unusual nuances.
Semantic meaning
In various dictionaries this term is interpreted approximately the same way. A ceremony is a ritual, that is, a rite performed in compliance with established rules. The word comes from the Latin caeremonia, which literally means “solemnity, reverence, reverence.”
In all likelihood, the first ceremonies were pagan or church rites. Today, this word also refers to the ceremonial part of social receptions, government meetings, international meetings and other events where protocol requires compliance with the rules of etiquette.
What are the ceremonies?
Marriage registration, church wedding, baptism, burial, wreath-laying, diploma presentation - all of these are, of course, ceremonies. When carrying out these rituals and acts, according to traditions and regulations, a number of actions are performed in a certain order. Ceremonies can also include, for example, the inauguration of the president, the inauguration of the governor, the reception of a foreign ambassador, the taking of the oath by military personnel, and even the changing of the guard at the Eternal Flame.
But sometimes this word sounds with an ironic overtone, which implies tension in relationships, exaggerated politeness, pompous speeches in everyday settings. "Let's go without ceremony!" This is a call to throw away conventions, be simpler in communication, get to the point without lengthy introductions. The meaning of the previous statement is benevolent, setting up a friendly wave. But in the phrase: “No one is going to stand on ceremony with you,” you can already hear a threat. It becomes clear that a person can be treated rudely, incorrectly, harshly.
The figurative meaning of the word “ceremony”
Any lengthy process during which objective or imaginary obstacles arise is jokingly called a ceremony. For example, paying for goods in a store, checking into a hotel room, obtaining a certificate from a housing office, and similar boring actions that are delayed due to compliance with unnecessary conventions or bureaucratic delays.
Sometimes the noun “ceremony” becomes synonymous with the word “shyness.” This is clearly felt in the following phrase: “Having abandoned all sorts of ceremonies, he decided to meet the girl he liked.” Or from I. A. Goncharov in the novel “An Ordinary Story”: “Well, I will continue to shave without ceremony, and you sit here.”
Chinese ceremonies
In the countries of the East, where tea is a traditional and almost sacred drink, serving it is elevated to the rank of a special art. The most popular ones are Japanese and Chinese tea ceremonies. In terms of time, this sacrament, reminiscent of a theatrical performance, can take more than an hour.
Each guest will be given the opportunity to smell the aroma of dry tea leaves, which will then be poured with water heated to a certain temperature. This will be followed by the process of infusion, brewing, mixing, pouring, and tasting. The person performing the ritual performs actions slowly, in a certain order, to the beat of monotonous music. Everything looks incredibly beautiful and fascinating.
In some European languages there is a stable expression “Chinese ceremonies”. The meaning of a phraseological unit implies the fulfillment of unnecessary formalities in interpersonal or business relationships. The young man, when asked about the reason for divorcing his wife, replied that he was tired of the Chinese ceremonies established in her family. Every morning he had to call his mother-in-law and father-in-law to wish them a good day. The same procedure was repeated in the evening.
Interestingly, the phrase “Chinese ceremonies” has nothing to do with traditional oriental tea drinking. The origin of the phraseological unit is associated with the complex palace etiquette that existed in Ancient China. To gain an audience with the emperor, European ambassadors had to perform a number of intricate rituals. Not everyone managed to completely overcome these obstacles, which became the reason for the emergence of phraseological units.
Etymology of the word "ceremony"
The Brockhaus and Efron encyclopedia indicates that the term caeremonia (ceremonia) in Roman religion denoted any ritual that implied human communication with higher, divine powers. Philologists do not have a clear opinion regarding the origin of the word. Perhaps it was formed from the name of the Etruscan city of Caere. There is a version that it is based on the verb caedere (to kill, sacrifice). In the common Italian language there was also the word cerus, used in the same meaning as the Latin genius (demon). Nevertheless, the mysterious cult term of antiquity in modern speech has acquired a completely secular sound.
“Yes,” Kawabata said thoughtfully, “but, in essence, this drawing is scary.” We are distinguished from animals only by those rules and rituals that we have agreed upon with each other. Violating them is worse than dying, because only they separate us from the abyss of chaos that begins right at our feet - if, of course, we remove the blindfold.
Victor Pelevin. "Chapaev and Emptiness"
Long ago, stable phrases such as “Chinese literacy”, “Chinese policeman”, “Chinese ceremonies” and other expressions related in one way or another to China entered the Russian language and have remained in it forever. You could learn in general terms what a “Chinese letter” is from one of the previous chapters, what a “Chinese policeman” is, I myself don’t really know, but we’ll deal with the “ceremonies” now. Or rather, with the stereotypical idea of our people that the Chinese are people with refined manners, whose relationships are built on the basis of long and complex ceremonies, bows to the ground and polite smiles.
By the way, why do we think of them this way? Someone probably built his idea only on the very meaning of the Russian expression “Chinese ceremonies,” transferring this very meaning from allegory to real life. Someone simply confused China with some other country (there was once a popular song on the radio with the completely meaningless phrase “Chinese woman in a kimono”; Chinese women don’t wear kimonos, but the authors of stupid pop music don’t give a damn about that). Those who have read a couple of abstruse works on Chinese philosophy will definitely remember Confucius with his ritual and the five-thousand-year, that is, very respectable age of Chinese civilization (it is probably assumed that elaborate ceremonies and refined politeness should have developed over these thousands of years by themselves...) . In short, no one has yet gone into much detail. Well, first things first.
The phrase “Chinese ceremonies” is interesting not only because it is an integral part of the great and powerful Russian language, but also because upon closer examination one can find in it some interesting signs of bygone days. In fact, the era in which lively contacts between foreigners (including Russians) with China began occurred in the late years of the reign of the imperial Qing dynasty there. Naturally, the overseas barbarians (that is, uh... guests) had to communicate primarily not with the common people, but with the bureaucratic elite of the Chinese state; in turn, the life of large and small officials was indeed meticulously organized in accordance with the archaic Chinese concepts of what Confucian ritual should look like. The same can be said about the then Chinese office work. Thus, one of the first things that a foreigner noticed in China was these extremely complicated ceremonies, endless bows and an unimaginably branched hierarchy of the bureaucratic machine. Is it any wonder that many have come to believe that all this is an integral characteristic of all of China?
There is no doubt that the rantings of Confucius, his students and followers about ritual, indeed, as already mentioned, had a strong impact on the formation of official etiquette, palace and bureaucratic rituals. But we should not forget that the bureaucracy, despite its large number, was still only a tiny part of Chinese society, and the common people always lived, guided not by palace rituals, but by their own, very simple concepts. In addition, the Qing Empire ceased to exist a hundred years ago, and after it the famous “Chinese ceremonies” gradually went to the trash heap. Therefore, if you want to be bowed and smiled at very, very carefully, you need to go not to China, but, say, to Japan.
Let's not forget that the 1949 revolution and the subsequent rule of the CCP in China greatly accelerated the extinction of all the above-mentioned ritual procedures. If under the Kuomintang Republic officials sometimes tried to appeal to Confucian concepts, then under the Communists “centralized democracy” and the opinion of the party cell began to play the main role. The words “comrade”, “proletarian revolution” and “working class” replaced numerous bows and elaborate rituals...
Of course, if we talk about festive rituals like the Chinese New Year, or about such a specific event as a Chinese wedding, you can find a considerable number of ancient, traditional features there. In the case of weddings, it is sometimes impossible not to notice the revival of ceremonies that disappeared under socialism. But here I would like to briefly tell you not about holidays (many interesting books have been written on this subject for a long time), but about some features of the current everyday culture and everyday life of our eastern neighbors.
Or rather, about the almost complete absence of such a culture. I foresee the indignant cries of those “lovers of everything Chinese”, whose ideas about their object of adoration were formed, at best, as a result of reading the novel “The Dream of the Red Chamber”, watching historical Chinese films and television reports about blooming spring gardens in Hangzhou: how, they say, yes How dare you, but Chinese culture is five thousand years old! But she is the most ancient and wisest! Why, Confucius, Sun Tzu and Sun Yat-sen, painting in the “go-hua” genre and chow-chow dogs! Why, the Chinese invented paper, gunpowder, wushu and acupuncture!..
Yes, yes, we have heard all these songs a long time ago. Just like commands like “don’t dare go with your charter to someone else’s monastery” or something similar. Regarding “monasteries” and “statutes”, I will repeat once again that I am not going to impose on any Chinese my opinion about his country and assessment of the level of culture of its population, so here my conscience is completely clear. As for the ancient and never-interrupted Chinese history, I will even add that some scientists in the PRC are now seriously arguing that it (history) is not five, but ten thousand years old. Are you satisfied with this fact, gentlemen, lovers of “cultures and cartoons”?..
Great, just don’t, as always, confuse the concepts of “culture” and “civilization.” And if a Chinese continues to persistently and stupidly stare at you on the street just because you are a foreigner, or slurp, burp and fart while eating, then what does his distant ancestor, who once invented gunpowder, have to do with it? What does the philosophy of Confucius have to do with a person who can only read the editorial in the newspaper and the sign on the neighboring store? How does the fact that 0.001% of the Chinese population master the high art of calligraphy affect the culture of behavior of the remaining 99.999%? No way.
Warning: do not forget (I strongly adhere to this opinion) that any person who does not shine with good manners can have excellent spiritual qualities. What I say here about the Chinese does not at all mean that I disdain them. Just facts are facts.
If a Chinese person is polite to you, then it is most likely that he needs something from you. Indeed, in such cases our neighbors can be incredibly polite and sweet to the point of cloying. See how the behavior of your interlocutor changes when he achieves his goal or for some other reason his interest in you cools down... This is interesting.
Given the enormous size of the Chinese population and its terrible density, one would assume that people there should be extremely attentive and considerate to each other, so as not to accidentally elbow their neighbor or step on his foot. Right? But that was not the case.
You will not find such a number of people completely indifferent to everyone around them in any other country in the world. An ordinary Chinese is capable (and diligently does this) of yelling, screaming, squealing, hammering nails and drilling concrete walls with an electric drill even at midnight, even at five o’clock in the morning, and he doesn’t give a damn about his neighbors trying to sleep behind the wall. By the way, as a result of many years of observations, I was convinced that most Chinese get up early not at all in order, as is commonly believed, to do some healthy exercise in the morning, but because annoying neighbors simply do not allow them to sleep any more. If you create the appropriate conditions for them, they will sleep peacefully until lunch, forgetting both their favorite morning Tai Chi and, of course, a shitty breakfast.
The Chinese are noisy and completely unceremonious not only at home, but also in public places.
The father of the family, being on the third floor of a department store, can talk in loud screams with his household members who remain on the first floor. Your dinner table companion may burp in your face and loudly foul the air right under your nose. If you are sitting alone in a restaurant, some person may well sit up to you and impudently ask what country you came from, and always at the very moment when you are chewing another piece of food.
Coming to Russia and living with us for a while, many Chinese, unless they are completely hopeless, realize the inferiority of their habits and try to learn to behave as they should (and by the way, from some of them I heard self-criticism much harsher than the things that you are reading now). They are especially struck by the style of communication between members of Russian families (I do not mean alcoholics and the lumpen proletariat), which is completely different from the Chinese.
“Please pass me the salt,” “please come back early,” “would it be difficult for you to take out the trash?” - these expressions literally kill the Chinese on the spot, because such politeness in family communication is completely unusual for them.
Some, however, begin, as if making excuses (another feature of the Chinese character is always to somehow justify their actions and behavior if they differ from the actions and behavior of representatives of other nations), saying that, “we believe that in For families, such ceremonies look too formal and therefore inappropriate.” Well, to each his own.
Queuing for something is also a good opportunity to see what the notorious “Chinese ceremonies” really look like. Firstly, as soon as you move away from the person in front at least at a distance of thirty centimeters, some “leftist” person will definitely try to get between you. Many simply ignore the existence of the queue altogether, trying to simply push aside competitors, move someone else’s hand with money away from the cash register window and stick their own there.
The Chinese queue, as a very unique phenomenon, often requires non-standard management. I will never forget the queue for tickets at the bus station in the glorious city of Nanjing, fenced off from other parallel queues by steel barriers that could probably stop even the advance of a heavy tank. But such fences are a common thing in China, and the main impression on me was not them, but the administrators, sitting on perches like those towers on which volleyball referees are usually located, and through megaphones exhorting people not to jump in line. When another overly zealous violator broke through to the cash register, the kind guy with the bandage treated him from the height of his steel perch with several blows to the head... all with the same megaphone. “What a wonderful multi-tool!” - I thought then...
Of course, the manners and habits of the Chinese vary greatly depending on where they were born and where they live. The northerners and residents of the provinces have the most rude manners and indecent habits, but, for example, Shanghainese - for the most part, they are quite well-mannered people, and will not fart at the table or jump somewhere without waiting in line. Moreover, they will even admonish and educate the one who does this. Again, for the sake of accuracy, I note that in recent years I have observed significant progress in the style of behavior of the Chinese almost throughout this vast country (with the exception, perhaps, of the Tibetan plateaus: everything is still the same there)... In most places, although they continue to climb without queues , but not so tough that the presence of a man on the roost is necessary.
True, our neighbors have not yet stopped burping and slurping when eating, so, as they say, there is still some work to be done.
Chomping, as an immanent characteristic of the Chinese people, did not appear by chance, and, as I suspect, its history goes back at least five thousand years. That is, this phenomenon is a much more ancient thing than, say, the teachings of the same Confucius. Historically, the Chinese, who did not always eat well and plentifully (what can you do - there is little land, there are many people), when gathering at a common table (now imagine a large family!), were forced to consume hot food as quickly as possible: if you hesitate, you will remain hungry. And it won’t take long to earn a burn to the mucous membrane of the mouth or esophagus... So it was diligent slurping for five thousand years that helped the Chinese ventilate their mouths while eating, quickly getting full and at the same time avoiding getting burned.
Foreigners who come to the territory of the Celestial Empire for the first time and do not have super-strong nerves, at first usually suffer greatly from too much attention to themselves. Of course, the more educated a Chinese person is, the less he allows himself to unceremoniously stare at a stranger on the street, in a restaurant, in transport: you will hardly encounter this problem either in the capital city of Beijing, or in Shanghai, which has long been accustomed to foreign faces. But the further into the province one goes, the tighter the crowds surround the surprised overseas traveler on all sides...
In such cases, the Chinese usually do not look; they stare at the object that aroused their interest. Due to the fact that there is significant unemployment in China, there will always be dozens and sometimes even hundreds of curious loitering citizens for whom meeting a foreigner on the street is real entertainment. What always surprised me when the Chinese looked at a foreigner was the complete lack of emotion on the faces of the observers, who looked at you with dull glassy eyes. Many of them can follow a foreigner for hours, sometimes approaching him closely and even feeling his clothes, hair, bag, etc. with their dirty hands. Any object in the hands of a foreigner will be subjected to close examination and discussion, even if it (the object) was recently Bought at the nearest Chinese store.
As mentioned in the first chapter, one of my friends very aptly called these staring crowds “banderlogs.” If you remember Kipling's tales about Mowgli and his friends, you will immediately understand what exactly awaits a foreign traveler on Chinese streets and squares. By the way, not all observers remain silent - the most “advanced”, as they now say, often shake the air with loud cries: “Laowai, laowai!”, attracting the attention of even more idlers, as well as screams: “Hallow, hallow! » Don’t think that in this way they are trying to greet a foreigner; the distorted English greeting in their mouth is rather something like “kitty-kitty” addressed by a child to a completely unfamiliar cat.
If their screams attracted the attention of a foreigner, the Chinese rejoice, like that same child, and continue to scream with tenfold force and rather mockingly mocking intonations. Therefore, the only advice that can be given to an unfortunate person who finds himself in such a situation is not to pay attention to what is happening around him and mind his own business. In the end, seeing the victim's passivity, hecklers and unceremonious spectators lose interest in her. True, new idiots soon appear nearby, and everything returns to normal.
It should be noted that, fortunately, as time goes on, the Chinese show less and less of this tactless, stupid curiosity towards foreigners; Over the past years, I have personally observed very noticeable progress. Now, in general, not only the residents of Beijing and Shanghai, but also many large provincial centers such as Chengdu, Zhengzhou, etc. are extremely neutral towards the appearance of foreigners nearby. And in other places, the persecution of overseas guests by curious loafers is gradually becoming increasingly less active. Although the cries of “Hallow!”, it seems, will be heard throughout the vastness of the Celestial Empire for a very long time.
If a Chinese burps particularly loudly in your face, farts under his nose, spits on your leg, or points his finger at you and loudly shouts his indispensable “Hallow!” again right in your face. and you expressed doubt about the correctness of his actions, he may well suddenly say: “All the Chinese do this, why shouldn’t I?” I have heard a similar phrase, in different versions, quite often. In general, there is nothing to cover here, except, of course, what you just thought about. And in general, the average resident of the Celestial Empire is very prone to broad generalizations and loves to speak on behalf of the entire people (“But here in China everyone, everyone thinks that...”), categorically expressing the opinion of one and a half billion compatriots.
The Chinese are extremely sociable people. Their sweet sociability is so relaxed that it often turns into nasty importunity. An ordinary housefly exhibits approximately the same quality, trying to warm its paws on your nose early in the morning, when you are still snoring peacefully, and there are about fifteen minutes left before the alarm clock rings. In short, in China it absolutely does not matter where exactly you are and what exactly you are doing at the moment - you can sleep, eat, read, write (with emphasis on any syllable), shave, change the gasket in a tap or other place, take a shower, talk on the phone - all this does not at all guarantee that some guy will not try to “communicate” with you. “Communication” usually consists of a series of the same questions, repeated in the same sequence, that you will be asked. In general, these issues can be divided into two categories - personal and general political.
If in Russia and the West there is a certain range of personal issues that can only be addressed to close friends and relatives, or even to no one at all, do not expect that your Chinese counterpart will observe the same ethical standards. Very often, the first contact with a Chinese becomes not very pleasant and even shocking precisely for this reason. So, you may well be asked about your age (whether you are a man or a woman), how much you earn per month (year, etc.), whether you have children and why you don’t have them (if you don’t)… if If you have, for example, a mole on your face, you may be asked what it is. If you are a woman, then a Chinese woman you barely know may decide to check your bra size...
And there may be many, many more questions in the same spirit. In addition to them, get ready to immediately receive comments about your personality that you are unlikely to receive anywhere except China. Having heard them, a foreigner very often does not know whether to laugh or cry...
- “You look like one movie actress, uh, Sharon Stone. Of course, you are far from her in beauty, but..."
- (once met once) “I haven’t seen yours for a long time. Yours has become so fat! You need a diet!
- “You speak Chinese so well! But Dima speaks Chinese much worse than you!..” (Dima stands nearby and quietly flows around from what he heard.)
It is believed that one should not be offended by all this blizzard, because the Chinese do not carry it with the aim of offending the interlocutor or anyone in general, but “trying to establish verbal-psychological contact with the aim of further positive interaction” (quote from one smart book). On my own behalf, I can advise in the event of such “establishing contact” not to rat (it will only get worse), but to treat this theater of the absurd with humor: there is nowhere to escape anyway, so follow the Chinese proverb: “When you enter a village, behave like a peasant.” If you really feel like it, come up with a couple of the most idiotic, stupid and tactless questions and ask them to your Chinese interlocutor. And try to enjoy life...
Issues of a general political and general educational nature are rarely tactless, but they are monotonous and quite predictable. Your interlocutor is interested in how you like Medvedev, Putin (previously it was Yeltsin, Gorbachev, etc.), how the economy is in Russia (for some reason, no one is interested in culture, art and sports), whether it (the economy) is really developing well , how do you feel about Lenin and so on. By the way, there is an option that if you conscientiously answer exactly what the interrogator expects from you (that is, what newspapers and news programs have long hammered into his head), then the conversation on general topics will dry up. This is because your counterpart's ultimate goal is to convince himself that he is right, and not anything else. Having received a different answer than was expected, the Chinese person asking the question may well fall into a stupor and take a long time to come to his senses.
The favorite question of any Chinese asked to a Russian is: “What is your main food in Russia? Bread, right?” If you answer that it’s not bread, the phrase will follow: “Ah-ah, I know! Potatoes with fried meat!”, accompanied by an explosion of laughter that seems stupid at first glance... An inexperienced person from this cultural interaction either comes into a state of shock or tries to be offended, although in general there is no need to do either of these. Everything has its own logical explanation. “Potatoes with fried meat” was used by Nikita Khrushchev back in the distant, distant old regime times as a symbol of the well-being of the Soviet people, which (well-being, that is) had to be strived for; The Chinese remember this quote very well and are still passed down from generation to generation, and its original meaning has long been forgotten...
As for “inappropriate” laughter, the story is even funnier with it. The fact is that in the countries of the Far East (for example, in Korea and Japan, and China goes without saying, of course) laughter is by no means only a person’s reaction to something funny or to tickling; There are many more reasons for laughter here. Here is the notorious desire to establish psychological contact and express one’s goodwill or sympathy, and an attempt to smooth out one’s own awkwardness and embarrassment, and simply a lack of understanding of what should be done next, say, in a sensitive situation... A classic example: a foreigner falls off a bicycle, and the crowd immediately around, a crowd of Chinese suddenly, for no apparent reason, begins to giggle, quite naturally causing the fallen man to have an attack of rage and a desire to finish off a couple of the most wildly amusing idiots on the spot. Meanwhile, people didn’t find it funny at all; they simply didn’t know how to help the injured cyclist who found himself in an awkward and awkward position (he’s already ridiculous, unfinished, big-nosed and hairy, and doesn’t even know how to ride a bike), and they themselves felt internal discomfort from this.
Thus, full communication is not always possible; however, don't be upset. A little more attention to local specifics, a little patience, effort and a sense of humor - and everything will work out. Besides, any communication is still much better than when you are simply stupidly and persistently looked at like an animal in a zoo. It is the unceremoniously staring crowds, which I already mentioned above, that drive some especially faint-hearted foreigners in China to white heat...
By the way, about birds and animals. They say that a person is largely characterized by his attitude towards children and animals, right? As I already said, the Chinese usually treat children (their own and others) with unspeakable tenderness and care. This is largely due to the ancient and persistent idea of longevity, wealth and abundance of offspring as the three essential components of human happiness, and in many respects to the fact that in the traditionally large, but nowadays mercilessly curtailed Chinese family, the only the child generally acquires the status of a priceless treasure...
However, despite all this, our neighbors are merciless towards animals. A Chinese friend of mine living in Russia got a spaniel and raised him for several months. After which he threw it from the fifth floor onto the asphalt, then picked it up, cooked it and ate it. No comments.
Residents of the Celestial Empire, who love to feast on fresh food, retain their customs even when they go abroad. It is not without reason that the administration of those hostels and hotels where many Chinese appear is forced to fight hard to ensure that respected guests do not slaughter pets in bathrooms and kitchens, including those same unfortunate dogs (oh, did you think that only Koreans love dog meat? You were sorely mistaken!). This struggle is unsuccessful, that is, it always ends in the victory of the ancient, five-thousand-year-old civilization.
Woe to the cat who ended up in a Chinese family. Most likely, she will be put in a cage, where she will spend the rest of her life; during the “walk” it can also be tied by the neck to such a short piece of rope that the poor animal cannot sit or lie down without the risk of being strangled. They can be put in a cramped cage and exposed to the scorching sun all day, without water or food. The dog also risks living his entire life behind bars. I also remembered the little white rabbits that are sold in abundance on the streets of Chinese cities for the amusement of spoiled overweight children - “little emperors”. These living toys are usually packed in cages of such a size that they cannot stand up or turn around there, and the poor creatures can only move their ears, noses and tails slightly... When they suffocate from the cramped space, they are buried in this small lattice sarcophagus, or rather, simply are thrown into the trash.
Russia for the Chinese is an amazing country, if only because there is: a) a lot of land “that no one is looking after” (any park is perceived by the Chinese this way and nothing else), and b) there are many animals and birds that walk and fly on their own by oneself. What is noteworthy is that the reaction of the average Chinese to an animal or bird he meets is the same and therefore always predictable: he almost always tries to rush at the creature he meets (be it a cat, duck, pigeon, crow, squirrel, etc.), scare it, hit it, throw it into it with any object; Having completed this action, he goes his way with a satisfied look. And let the defenders of Confucian culture and thousand-year-old traditions sing their stupid songs, but I personally am inclined to see in such behavior a clear evidence of some kind of inferiority of the soul, and nothing else.
For the sake of fairness, I note that along with the disgusting majority, there is also a certain kind-hearted minority, which, in contrast to the stupid flayers, welcomes, feeds and takes care of their younger brothers in every possible way, acting in a hostile environment in the spirit of the famous film “Schindler’s List”. Some of the most advanced foreigners who love animals and wanted to spit on the notorious incantations about charters and monasteries from the top of Everest do not stand aside either... For example, one of my wonderful friends, who had lived in Beijing for many years, once discovered that his neighbors they brutally abuse their cat, starving and tormenting it with thirst and not letting it out of its cramped cage; the poor kitty, already on the very verge of exhaustion, could only moan quietly and pitifully. The next night, the cat was stolen along with its cage, underwent a month-long rehabilitation course and was given into trusted, good hands (fortunately, my friend already has enough of his own animals)…
I am sorry if the fragments of reality described above did not coincide with someone’s ideas about the great and beautiful Celestial Empire. As they say, a bitter truth is better than a sweet lie. And, I would add on my own behalf, better than the wonderful fantasies of many of our home-grown experts who have never been to China, but are talking about it left and right and candy-leaf rubbish.
In conclusion, I’ll tell you one short story.
…Once upon a time there was a young and talented sinologist who not only read many smart books about China, but also began to write them himself (very good ones at that). But there was no way he could get to the coveted country to which he had devoted half his life, the time was like this - without direction from above, no one will let you go anywhere, and they simply won’t give you a foreign passport. But then perestroika came, and my friend finally went to the East to practice Chinese and collect scientific material... And during the six months that he stayed in China, he was so disappointed in this country and its citizens that he never set foot there again. nor do his friends, colleagues and Chinese universities beg him. "I will not go!" - he says, and that’s it!..
I wish you never experienced such disappointments. And for this you need to imagine reality in advance. And stock up on a good dose of positivity, so that this very reality seems to you a cheerful, motley circus, and not a gloomy madhouse.
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