Drinking Etiquette in Chinese Banquets
Drinking takes an important place in Chinese banquets. Social dinners are usually a series of toasts with pauses to scarf down food in between. Toasting is mandatory, and the drinking of spirits commences as a toast is made at the beginning of the meal. After this initial toast, drinking and toasting are open to all. Subsequent toasts can be made from person to person or to the group as a whole. It is rude to refuse a toast, but not necessary to drain your glass, although to do so is more respectful. If you are thirsty, you can sip beer or a soft drink individually, but if you prefer to drink hard liquor, be sure to catch the eye of someone at your table, smile and raise your glass, and drink in unison. Beer or soft drinks can also be used for toasting. Also, it is impolite to fill your own glass without first filling glasses of all others. This applies to all drinks and not just to alcohol. When filling another‘s glass, it is polite to fill it as full as you can without having the liquid spill over the rim. This symbolizes full respect and friendship.
Yin - Yang Philosophy in Chinese Cooking
The philosophy of Yin and Yang lies at the heart of Chinese culture. Taken literally, Yin and Yang mean the dark side and sunny side of a hill. People commonly think of Yin and Yang as opposing forces. However, it is really more appropriate to view them as a complementary pair. The Chinese believe problems arise not when the two forces are battling, but when there is an imbalance between them in the environment.
The traditional symbol for the forces of Yin and Yang, sometimes is described as two fish swimming head to tail.
How does the concept of Yin and Yang relate to food? A basic adherence to this philosophy can be found in any Chinese dish, from stir-fried beef with broccoli to sweet and sour pork. There is always a balance in colors, flavors, and textures. However, belief in the importance of following the principles of Yin and Yang in the diet extends further. Certain foods are thought to have Yin or cooling properties, while others have Yang or warming properties. The challenge is to consume a diet that contains a healthy balance between the two. When treating illnesses, an oriental physician will frequently advise dietary changes in order to restore a healthy balance between Yin and Yang in the body. For example, let’s say you’re suffering from heartburn, caused by consuming too many spicy (yang) foods. Instead of antacids, you’re likely to take home a prescription for herbal teas to restore the Yin forces. Similarly, coughs or flu are more likely to be treated with dietary changes than antibiotics or cough medicines.
Almost no foodstuff is purely Yin or Yang—it’s more that one characteristic tends to dominate. This is why there is not complete agreement among experts as to which foods exhibit Yin or Yang forces. It also reinforces that it is not so much the individual ingredients, as the balance and contrast between ingredients in each dish, that is important. Interestingly, cooking methods also have more of a Yin or Yang property, as the list below demonstrates.
Cooking Methods:
Yin Qualities:
- Boiling
- Poaching
- Steaming
Yang Qualities:
- Deep-frying
- Roasting
- Stir-frying
General Table Manners Reflecting Respect
As a country that pays great attention to courtesy, our cuisine culture is deep rooted in China’s history. As a visitor or guest in either a Chinese home or a Chinese restaurant, you will find that table manners are essential and the distinctive courtesies displayed will invariably add to the enjoyment of your meals and keep you in high spirits.
It is really an admirable custom to respect others at the table, including the aged, the teachers and the guests while taking good care of the children. Chinese people stress filial piety all the time. The practice of presenting the best or fine food first to the senior members of the family has been observed for countless generations. In ancient times the common people led a needy life but they still tried their best to support the elder mother or father, who took it for granted.
Although the hosts in China are all friendly and hospitable, you should also show them respect. Before starting to eat dinner, the host may offer some words of greeting. Guests should not start to eat until the host says, “Please enjoy yourself” or something like that, otherwise it suggests disrespect and causes displeasure.
When hosts place dishes on the table, they will arrange the main courses at the center with the supporting dishes evenly placed around them. When the main dishes are prepared in a decorative form either by cut or other means they will be placed facing the major guests and elder people at the table. This also embodies virtue.
Specific Taboos in Chinese Table Manners
- Never stick your chopsticks upright in the rice bowl, lay them on your dish instead. Otherwise, it is deemed extremely impolite to the host and seniors present. The reason for this is that when somebody dies, the shrine to them contains a bowl of sand or rice with three sticks of incense stuck upright in it. So if you stick your chopsticks in the rice bowl, it looks like the shrine and is equivalent to wishing death upon a person at the table.
- Make sure the spout of the teapot is not facing anyone. It is impolite to set the teapot down where the spout is facing towards somebody. The spout should always be directed to where nobody is sitting, usually just outward from the table.
- Don’t tap on your bowl with your chopsticks, since that will be deemed insult to the host or the chef. Beggars tap on their bowls, and also, when the food is coming too slow in a restaurant, people will tap their bowls. If you are in someone’s home, it is like insulting the host or the cook.
- Never try to turn a fish over and debone it yourself, since the separation of the fish skeleton from the lower half of the flesh will usually be performed by the host or a waiter. Superstitious people deem bad luck will ensue and a fishing boat will capsize if you do so. This is especially true to southerners in China (to be specific, such as Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian provinces, etc.), since, traditionally, southerners are the fishing population.
