BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Chinese Culture What is your favorite thing about Chinese culture?

What do you enjoy most about the Chinese culture? Is it the clothing, the movies, the books, the history, the cuisine? Tell me what makes Chinese culture your favorite.

I love the design. I have a beautiful table with dragon legs, I have vases and plates. I even have some embroidery hanging on the wall.

When I order Chinese take out the girls always come in and point out the things that are Chinese and tell me what the caligraphy on them says.

I'd love to see a picture of your table with the Dragon legs, Lisa. I imagine it's beautiful!

Your story about the Chinese girls pointing out the things you have that are Chinese reminds me of my trips to the local Chinese restaurant. I wear a lot of jewelry and the waitresses like to look at it and tell me what the characters mean. They seem amazed that Americans would be interested in Chinese culture.

Hmmm, is this forum actually for people of Chinese heritage??? I have mixed feelings about the above posts. I'm glad that people of all origins take an interest in the Chinese culture. However, I have to admit that I do feel a bit offended, as a 4th generation American born Chinese, that my culture was awed in design and jewelry. Also, the word "Americans" seems to have been used exclusively for Caucasians rather than for people of America, which includes Chinese Americans, African Americans, etc.

It's hard to properly convey feelings online and truly don't want to start a dispute here....but just thought I'd express my feelings. That's what forums are for, right?

No, this is not a forum exclusively for people of Chinese heritage. As a matter of fact, I am the editor of the site and moderator of this forum and I am not Chinese nor am I Asian.

This is a forum to discuss Chinese culture, languages, music, films, clothing, living, medicine, etc. This is a forum for people with an interest in Chinese culture, no matter their race. My apologizes if there has been a misunderstanding concerning the objective of this forum. Not trying to cause an inconvenience.

I apologize if this content offends you. Every aspect of Chinese culture is fascinating and this thread was created for the express reason of allowing people to point out why they love China and her culture.

Pardon me if I'm stepping out of boundries here but when I used the term "Americans", it had nothing to do with strictly caucasians. I used the term "Americans" to describe people from America of all races and colors. I suppose I was wrong in assuming that most people understood this.

The truth is that a large number of Americans of all races don't have knowledge of other cultures and that fact is apparent in the stereo typing displayed daily.

My Chinese friends from overseas and here in the US are amazed by the fact that I seem to know more about Chinese culture and history than they do. They think it is fantastic. If they think that any American knows even a little bit about Chinese culture, they seem quite excited. I feel truly honored that I can share your wonderful culture with the world.

Heather...thanks for explaining. Again, I have no problem with others sharing a love for culture, and in this particular case the Chinese culture. One of my majors in college was Asian American Studies so I do tend to read in between the lines and am quite sensitive to things that seem out of place to me.

I guess my issue was your post last month that stated "my trips to the local Chinese restaurant. I wear a lot of jewelry and the waitresses like to look at it and tell me what the characters mean. They seem amazed that Americans would be interested in Chinese culture."

The way I'm reading it is the waitresses at your local Chinese restaurants are separated from you as an American.

Again, I apologize for the misunderstanding.

Best of luck to you,
Heather

I didn't mean for this to turn into a debate...so last post in regards to this topic. Your bio lists your goals of completing your undergrad in Asian Studies and Journalism and your graduate studies in East Asian Studies. All 3 areas are extremely sensitive and do require people to be PC.

By the way, my favorite thing about Chinese culture is the food! I now live in Hawai'i where Chinese food has been strongly influenced by the rich cultures of Hawai'i and is significantly different from San Francisco where I was born and raised. Regardless, the tastes always brings be back to my childhood, hometown, and traditional holidays.

Ah, Hawai'i! Now I'm extremely jealous! hehe How long have you lived there? What part do you live in?

North Shore of Oahu....2 years. It's pretty funny because my husband's family just stopped by and were complaining about how cold it has been lately. It's low 70s during the day!!!

Hi Heather,
Being chinese myself, I can't refrain from presenting both sides of it...so please bear with me!

Firstly, your topic caught my eye because I am what we refer to as Overseas Chinese i.e. chinese people living outside of China.
Many years ago, when I went in search of some answers regarding my culture, I found a few amazing things. For example, did you know that chinese culture is the best preserved from all ancient civilisation? And the second amazing thing is that the preservation is done most diligently my overseas chinese?

To me, chinese culture, like most things, have a yin and yang side to it.

So going to the point..What I love and hate about chinese culture.

1. The Language- I speak 4 languages and chinese is still the most beautiful, intricate and oldest. None of the other languages can express something in 8th different degrees so accurately!

2. Love of competition. Many jokes have been made about every casino having mostly chinese customers. The mahjong is a part of chinese culture I readily promote! it is not really about gambling. In fact, it is proven to increase mathematical skills and reduce possibilities of alzheimer.
what I don't like about this love for competition is also manifested in why chinese people like "face" or to show off material wealth.

3. Adaptability. In most parts of Europe, immigration is a big problem. However, none of the countries ever see chinese immigrants as a problem. We work and do our business. We do not need our own swimming pools. If it means we learn a new language, then we do it. This is very much the chinese culture. Chinese people are adpatable to different countries, different religions and different times. In chinese, we have many sayings which reflect this. For example, "The best of people can bend and take hardship" or "when in other's village, we follow/respect their rules/tradition".

I think the culture itself is flexible hence it can be preserved for along time.

4. Family values
Chinese families are large and usually include extended families and family friends. There's always an uncle to fix your car, an aunt to help you cook or a cousin to babysit your kids. This affects every part of chinese culture including all the key events like weddings, funerals, naming kids etc.

The downside, which I despise, is that given the interdepency, privacy is not a common thing.


What I hate about chinese culture is that it predominantly discriminate against women and girls. This, to me, has no yang to it. It is the worst of the culture. Baby girls are killed and given up because in the chinese culture, only boys can carry on the family name. And why is it important to carry on the family name? Who knows?

Yes, the is exactly the reaction I have gotten. I cherish the items I have and they seem surprised and a little excited to see things they are so famililar with. I have had the same reaction to my jewelry. My daughters Father traveled to China couple times and he brought me back several items, they always get alot of attention when I am out.

I will take a picture of my table and put it on here. I am very proud of it. Its been in my family for like 60 years or so.

I have always been interested in Eastern religions, such as Zen Buddhism. My father did two tours of duty in Korea, where he organized, funded and helped to build an orphanage! In fact, after he and my mother married, had I not been born, they were prepared to adopt a Korean girl there.
Now that I am married into a Chinese culture,I see both things I like and dislike. This would be true of ANY culture and is, in fact, as true of my mom's German culture as well.
I like the big gatherings, the numerous Aunties and Uncles and Cousins who are not, in fact , Aunties, Uncles OR cousins lol..
I love the food, I love the way old traditions are maintained and preserved and passed on.
What I have had a bit more problem with is the family matriarch attitude I come up against a lot. A little bit of sexism towards the women. An emphasis on money that goes against my values of Voluntary Simplicity.
So much is generational though, and it depends on if the person is 1st, 2nd , 3rd generation - and if they are Chinese or Japanese or Korean etc. There are big differences between the different types of Asian culture. There is no " Asian culture" per se really..
I think the time frame during which people came to America also has a bearing. My mother-in-law has been here over 60 years now. Her reality is very different from people who have only arrived in the States in the last decade. Obviously, the difference in age is a factor as well.
I like the basic philosophy of Chinese culture and we try to teach our son about Chinese history, art, and music. Since we have relatives in both China and Taiwan, we hope he can see both places firsthand.
My husband lived in Taiwan for 4 years, and said he was an American to the Taiwanese, and is an Asian to the Americans. He said he often wonders where he exactly belongs!
It is interesting to be a white woman married within a Chinese family. I used to discuss this at length on the Gold Sea forums when they were more active.

I imagine it is interesting to be married into a Chinese family. My boyfriend is originally from China and, although I haven't met his family yet, I can just imagine the looks I am going to get. I have tattoos and he informs me that this is a big no-no in his family =P But I won't let that deter me. He is the sweetest, funniest guy I've ever met and I hope to marry him, not his family, though I'd love more than anything to get along with his family. Hopefully they are more tolerant that I'm expecting.

My mother is 3rd generation American born Chinese and my father is 1st generation. My father speaks Cantonese, Toisaan, and Mandarin fluently and my mother can only understand Cantonese. My father was raised Buddhist and my mother Catholic. Even though my mom is full Chinese, today after 30 years of marriage she still feels like an outsider...not being "Chinese" enough for my dad's family.

Heather....can totally relate regarding the tattoos. When my mom first married my dad she had 1 single rose tattoo and since then she has added 3 large pieces including an entire back piece. I, myself, have 3 tattoos. When my mom and I visit my PGM we cover up. LOL Also, when I first met my husband's family (strict devout Catholic family) I was afraid of what they would think of me and my tattoos. I think they're over the tattoos, but still dealing with me not being Catholic.

I really like the elegance of design and clothing. I like the food - but there are plenty of food varieties out there so while we eat Chinese a lot (or at least "American Chinese") we also eat Indian, Thai etc.

I adore Chinese clothing. One of my favorite dresses is a Chinese one that I wear whenever I can for formal occasions ....

I love that dress, Lisa! It's so beautiful. ^_^

Thanks! I found it on the web. There are a bunch of great websites out there with Chinese outfits

The Clothes, the Food and the beauty of the buildings.and Bonsai trees.

The food first, the cloths second