ETIQUETTE GUIDE TO
CHINA
Know the rules that
make the difference!
BOYÉ LAFAYETTE DE MENTE
REVISED BY PATRICK WALLACE
TUTTLE Publishing
Tokyo | Rutland, Vermont | Singapore
Contents
Preface
Notes on Pronunciation
Part I The Middle Kingdom
Chapter 1 The Origins of Chinese Etiquette
The World According to Lao Tzu
Folk Tales and Proverbs
The Wonder That Was China!
The Eclipse of the Great Chinese Civilization
The Communist Regime of Mao Zedung
Opting for the Capitalist Road!
Chapter 2 The New China
China’s Little Emperors to the Fore!
China’s Female Etiquette Guru
Chinese Etiquette in the New Global Age
The China Web
Jail, Censorship, and the Great Firewall
Westerners in the Chinese Digital World
Chapter 3 Cultural Influences on Chinese Etiquette
The Yin-yang Principle
China’s Dragon Culture
The Power of Feng Shui
Lucky Numbers in China
How the Chinese View Foreigners
Women in Present-day China
The Role of Face in Chinese Etiquette
What/How vs. Why/Because
Law vs. Reality
Public Rights vs. Private Rights
Connections vs. Competence
Using the Back Door in China
Hong Kong: China’s Old Wild West
China’s New Wild West
Part II Minding Your Manners in China
Chapter 4 Personal Etiquette in China
Using Family Names
Using Given Names
Bow or Shake Hands?
Hand Gestures and Body Language
Watching Your Tongue in China!
The Importance of the Apology
Yes & No in China
Chinese Modesty
Home Visits
Dating & Marriage in China
Intimate Behavior in Public
Chapter 5 Chinese Meals and Celebrations
The World of Chopsticks
Alcohol in China
Tea–China’s National Drink
The Honorable Guest Factor
Tipping as a Symbol of the New China
The Chinese-style Banquet
Sitting in the Right Place
Chinese Wedding Banquets
Celebrating Birthdays in China
Gift Giving in China
Bamboo Gifts
China’s Jade Culture
Part III Doing Business in China
Chapter 6 Foreigners and the Chinese Way of Doing Business
The Changing Role of Foreigners in the Workplace
Dealing with 56 Chinas!
China’s Government as Big Brother
The Language Barrier
The Culture Barrier
Professional Education & China’s Political Culture
The Dossier Factor in Chinese Life
Women in the Business World
Social Etiquette in Chinese Business
To Succeed in Business You Must Have Face
The Role of Guanxi
The Value of Introductions
The Information Black Hole
Using the Back Door in Business Relationships
Don’t Rotate Managers
Chapter 7 Cultural Influences Vital in Chinese Business
Business as Guerilla Warfare
The Senior/Junior Factor
Chinese Business: The New Generation
The Secrecy
