An Analysis of Differences on Food Culture between China and the United States from the Stand of Spiritual Culture 从精神文化角度分析中美饮食文化差异.doc

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1、从精神文化角度分析中美饮食文化差异An Analysis of Differences on Food Culture between China and the United States from the Stand of Spiritual Culture内容摘要饮食文化在现代文化研究中是一项非常重要的课题，并在人类物质文化的历史发展进程中占有至关重要的地位。由于自然环境，历史背景以及民族文化的不同，中美两国形成各具特色的饮食文化。因此，中美饮食文化差异分析对于中美文化的研究来说必不可少。这篇论文将通过对比分析的方式研究中美饮食文化差异以及探究导致这些差异的精神文化因素。最后，作者阐述研

2、究中美饮食文化的差异对于跨文化交际和举办设美事务宴请的意义。本篇论文将从精神文化角度对中美饮食文化差异进行对比分析，其主体部分包括导论，正文和结论三个部分。主要内容如下：第一部分是导论部分，饮食是人类赖以生存的必要条件。因此，饮食文化是物质文化的重要组成部分。但由于中美不同的精神文化影响，使得饮食文化具有民族性和多样性。随着中美各方面交流日益频繁，饮食文化的交流也愈加受到人们关注。从精神文化角度分析饮食文化差异产生的根源，对于研究中美两国文化有十分重要的理论意义和现实意义。第二部分是正文部分，该部分包括以下三章：第一章介绍精神文化和物质文化的概念，并从精神文化角度分析中美饮食文化宏观差异饮食理

3、念的差异。第二章首先从中美两个民族信仰角度对比分析中美饮食礼节文化，包括宴请时的座位安排和就餐顺序的差异。其次分析民族信仰对于中美人民餐具文化发展和继承的影响。第三章分析研究中美饮食文化差异对于跨文化交际的理论意义及对于举办涉美事务宴请的指导意义。第三部分是结论部分，对全文进行了概括和总结。本文通过从精神文化角度分析中美饮食文化差异，探究饮食文化在其继承和发展进程中差异产生的根源。关键词：饮食文化；精神文化；交流AbstractFood culture is a very important subject of study in modern culture. It plays a cruc

4、ial position in the process of history development of material culture. Because of different natural environment, historical background and national cultures, China and the United States formed unique food cultures. So, the analysis of the differences on food culture between China and the United Sta

5、tes is necessary for the study of Chinese and American cultures. This thesis focuses on the contrastive study of differences on food culture between China and America and the spiritual factors of culture which cause the differences. Finally, the author elaborates the significance of studying differe

6、nces on food culture between China and America in aspect of cross-cultural communication and holding banquets concerning American affairs.The thesis analyzes the differences on food culture between China and America from the stand of spiritual culture. The article includes three parts: an introducti

7、on, a body and a conclusion. In the introduction, eating is an essential prerequisite for existence. Therefore, food culture is an important aspect of material culture. However, by the influence of Chinese and American different spiritual cultures, food cultures have strong national character and di

8、versity. With China and America increasingly frequent communication in all aspects, exchange in food culture is paid more attention. Analyzing the reasons for discrepancies on food culture from the stand of spiritual culture has very important theoretical significance and practical significance to s

9、tudying Chinese and American cultures. The second part includes three aspects. In the first chapter, the author introduces the concepts of spiritual culture and material culture, and analyzes the macro differences on food culture between China and America from the stand of spiritual culture, which a

10、re the discrepancies on eating concepts. In the second chapter, firstly, it analyzes differences on Chinese and American etiquette culture which includes seats arranging and dinning orders in banquets from the stand of their national faith. Secondly, it compares the influence of national faith on th

11、e inheritance and development of Chinese and American dinnerware cultures. At last, it analyzes the theoretical significance to cross-cultural communication and the guiding significance to holding a banquet concerning American affairs through studying the differences on food culture between China an

12、d the United States. In the conclusion the whole thesis is generalized, through analyzing the differences on food culture between China and America from the stand of spiritual culture, the thesis studies the deep reasons for the discrepancies occurrence in the process of the development and inherita

13、nce of food culture. Key words: food culture; spiritual culture; communicationContents内容摘要IAbstractIIIntroduction1Chapter1 Differences on Concepts in Chinese and American Food Culture from the Stand of Spiritual Culture21.1. Spiritual Culture in National Culture21.2. Differences on Concepts in Chine

14、se and American Food Cultures3Chapter2 Eating Conventions under Different National Spiritual Culture Background92.1. The Etiquette of Chinese and American Food Culture92.2. Dinnerware: Chinese Chopsticks vs. American Knife and Folk12Chapter3 Significance of Studying Differences on Chinese and Americ

15、an Food Culture153.1. Theoretical Significance to Cross-cultural Communication153.2. Guiding Significance to Holding Banquets Concerning American Affairs16Conclusion19Bibliography20Acknowledgements22使用授权说明23IntroductionFood, as an essential prerequisite for existence, is any substance that provides

16、the necessary nutrient to maintain life and growth when ingested. It plays an irreplaceable role in the development of society and in the progress of human beings. As human developed, peoples needs to food is not only limited to nutrition; the content of eating abounded gradually and eating food bec

17、ame a kind of culture. However, people living in different countries are influenced by respective natural environment, historical background and national culture. Then in the field of food culture, national discrepancies came into being. Although the discrepancies on food culture originated from cer

18、tain historical factors, their inheritance and development was dominated by spiritual culture which has the subjective tendentiousness. (Hall, 1989)With the pace of economic globalization constantly marching, China and the United States come into contact increasingly frequently. The exchange of cult

19、ure between China who is a booming developing country and United States who is a powerful country in the world is undoubtedly essential for both sides. Therefore, this study endeavors to analyze the cultural differences and their root causes in Chinese and American food cultures from the stand of sp

20、iritual culture. It helps people understand Chinese and American food cultures better. In the meanwhile, people can deeply learn each others faith, philosophical ideology and mode of thinking. It has quite important theoretical significance to the two nations cross-cultural communication and also ha

21、s practical guiding significance to banquets concerning American affairs.Chapter1 Differences on Concepts in Chinese and American Food Culture from the Stand of Spiritual CultureDiet concept represents peoples subjective view to their eating styles. The discrepancies on macro elements of food cultur

22、e between China and the United States are dominated by the two nations spiritual cultures. So studying diet concepts from the stand of spiritual culture is fundamentally analyzing cultural discrepancies 1.1. Spiritual Culture in National CultureNational culture is the culture with the national chara

23、cteristics, which was created by nations and progressed in process of historical development. It includes spiritual culture and material culture.Spiritual culture (science, art, philosophy, religion, morality, customs and convention etc.) is a human specific ideology produced on the basis of product

24、ion of human material culture. It is a collection of various human ideologies. Spiritual cultural superiority is the inheritance of genes of human culture, as well as it can continue to be perfect and abundant in practice. This is also the inherent motive power, which makes the spirit of human cultu

25、re push the material culture forward. Material culture includes food, clothing, housing, production tools etc. In the culture system, material culture demonstrates spiritual culture and it is also restrained by spiritual culture. In brief, material culture is a reflection of a certain spiritual cult

26、ure.Zeng Liya, a famous social science researcher, states in her dissertation On Constructing Contemporary Chinese Spiritual Culture, “Spiritual culture is a culture belonging to spirit, concept and ideology. It is a sum of spiritual achievement including mode of thinking, value orientation, ethic,

27、mental state and aesthetic standard, all of which reflect the level of a national theoretical thinking and represent a certain national characteristics”. (Zeng, 2006) Therefore, food culture as an aspect of material culture forms and develops under the effect of different nations spiritual culture h

28、olding respective national distinguished feature. As time passed, every factor in food culture was labeled with national characteristics. 1.2. Differences on Concepts in Chinese and American Food CulturesConcepts on food culture are formed in the process of cooking and eating. China and the United S

29、tates have many differences in faith, philosophical ideology, mode of thinking and any other spiritual cultures. These differences affect Chinese and American eating habits more or less. With the advancement of history, people belonging to the two nations have formed quite different concepts on food

30、 cultures. It makes people have different understanding and eating styles in either family daily diets or large-scale dinner. 1.2.1. Ostentation vs. SimplicityAn ostentatious feast is a common phenomenon in Chinese banquets. What should be considered first when Chinese hold a family banquet, celebra

31、tion banquet or business banquet is ostentation. At a Chinese feast, the categories of food should be ample and various. Generally speaking, there should be seven or eight dishes, excluding cold-dishes, light refreshment before the dinner, dessert and staple food. The more various and luxurious the

32、dish are, the more hospitable affection of the host can be shown to the gusts. In addition, in order to express the generosity, the host always prepares dishes much more than the amount that gusts can eat up.Chinese thoughts are influenced by a traditional conception that is being thrift at home, bu

33、t being generous outside. In the final analysis, the traditional conception originated from Chinese “mianzi” culture. If we are trying to find an English word that is similar to Chinese “mianzi”, it is like face a little bit. But it is quite difficult to define the Chinese face culture. Chinese face

34、 culture plays a significant role in Chinese traditional spiritual culture. The origination of Chinese face culture is closely related to Rite advocated by Chinese Confucian culture. Rite is an ideal feudal social order preached by Confucianism, which requires civilians to comply with the principle

35、that the poor and the wealth, the noble and the humble, the young and the old must live and behave strictly as their family status, social and political position. (李明英, 1997 ) It has obvious class character and distinctiveness. Because rite is the most important principles which restrict Chinese beh

36、avior, Chinese tend to do things as their identity and to show their so-called face. Analyzed from social psychology, face represents peoples social position and prestige. Chinese attach much importance to their face. Under this situation, holding an ostentatious banquet undoubtedly provides a platf

37、orm or an opportunity to show off their success and maintain self-esteem for the sake of hosts face. Moreover, under the education of thought of Rite advocated by Confucian culture, a host show himself, and meanwhile, should express their sufficient respect to guests. Therefore, the grade of a banqu

38、et can reveal the degree of attention paid by the host. A simple feast always conveys such information that the host merely pays little attention to the friendship with the guests and looks down on the guests.Compared with Chinese food culture that is ostentatious and full of implication, American f

39、ood culture is simpler and more casual. An American-style banquet has three steps. The first step is drinking soup, which help diners to stimulate appetite. The second step, also the most important and delicious step, is enjoying the main courses, including steak, pork chops, toasted beef, vegetable

40、s, ham and even grilled lobster. The third step is eating some dessert. An American banquet will serve various desserts, such as cakes, pies, ice-cream and some fresh fruit. Compared with Chinese ostentation, the American-style banquet is much simpler. Furthermore, American daily food is also monoto

41、nous, especially American fast-food. American party is typical representative of American food culture. In a party, the host just provides guests with beverage and some simple food. The main course will not be served. Actually, in American concept, the party is a meeting for communication rather tha

42、n a get-together for eating. Americans take the party as an opportunity to communicate with each other, cement relationship and make new friends with people of different classes and circumstance. Under this atmosphere, eating is inevitable, but it becomes a kind of medium but not the main point. So

43、what should be attached importance is to how to construct a free, comfortable, harmonious environment for the guests, and make sure that everyone will enjoy pleasant time and leave with a happy mood. United States is a typical immigration country. The U.S. developed from original 13 British colonies

44、. Apart from the minority of landed aristocracies and privileged businessmen, the majority of people were born of lower classes. The reasons for the Europeans coming are multifarious. Among them, some escaped from persecution or natural disaster, some pursued religious freedom and better lives, ther

45、e were also many people holing a gold rush dream of making fortune. In pursuit of ideal life in every pathfinders heart, Christian culture became their food of the spirit and also a criterion to instruct peoples ideology and action. As opposed to Chinese Rite which characterized by social estate sys

46、tem, that everyone is equal is one of the main spirits of Christianity. Americans do not take a luxurious feast as a demonstration of the hosts hospitableness and showing off. They prefer to treat guests with simple but exquisite dishes in a relaxed and equal atmosphere without restraining of discre

47、pancy between the hosts and the gusts status. In America, aiming at making guests feel unconstraint, people always serve simply and say: “be my guest.”1.2.2. Emotionalism vs. RationalismChina is a country attaching great importance to food culture. It makes Chinese understanding to eating has gone b

48、eyond the basic concept that eating food is in order to provide necessary energy for the survival of living things. For Chinese who own cultural heritage for 5 thousand years have sufficient time to give eating more abundant connotation. Chinese put the taste of food in an important position very ea

49、rly. They eat mainly for tastes but not nutrition. Chinese think that a course with high quality must meets 5 essential elements, including color, smell, taste, appearance and mouth feel.（蒋艳, 2007） First, color is color matching of ingredients. Next, smell can stimulate peoples olfactory feeling, thereby affecting eating behavior. Following is the beauty of flavor that is t