The Concept of Culture Self-Awareness
Cultural awareness refers to the consciousness of culture on the part of a nation. It is an internal spiritual force, a strong orientation and untiring mission for the progress of human civilization, and the philosophical foundation and requirement for promoting flourishing cultural development. Both the past and the present reveals a nation`s awareness of its culture. The current world is experiencing significant developments, great changes, and enormous shifts, and contemporary China is not left behind. The crucial role of culture in propagating national strength is becoming more and more significant, and its role in economic and social progress is continually expanding. New events and duties urgently mandate us to strengthen cultural awareness. Today, culture is a fundamental source of national unity and creativity, and an essential factor in the international competition for national cohesion as well as crucial support for economic and social progress.
There are three primary rationales for promoting culture self-awareness in contemporary society. First, culture is an essential instrument for promoting social and cultural developments which are the primary objectives in the progress of civilizations. A robust society is characterized by well-developed material and cultural wealth and a thriving contemporary nation is characterized by harmonious political, social, cultural, and economic development. Second, culture acts as a spiritual pivot that unites the hearts of individuals since it is directly linked to people`s happiness and prosperity. Culture helps maintain social unity and harmony since individuals rely on culture to enlighten their minds, comprehend society, and learn ideologies. Finally, culture directly contributes to economic growth and plays a vital part in enhancing the quality of economic development. In China, consumer spending in the cultural aspects has been growing steadily over the past few years, leading to the speedy development of the culture sector. Additionally, cultural resources, such as history and customs are becoming vital resources for economic progress. Cultural innovations are becoming more crucial in value creation and enhancing brand image, which are key factors in market competition.
China`s National Culture
China is the most populous nation on the planet with 1.39 billion people. The country`s cultural influence is felt across Asia and has impacted the entire world via arts, sciences, and trade. In the last five decades, Chinese culture has experienced a fast and powerful transformation and continues to adapt to the contemporary world. Because of its huge size and long, sophisticated history, it is challenging to describe a society without running the risk of oversimplifying the culture. The enormous geographic and demographic size of the country host numerous different ethnic groups that have unique dialects, customs, and traditions.
The Chinese cultural values that influence contemporary China include harmony, benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, honesty, loyalty, and filial piety. The core value is harmony, which entails suitable and balanced coordination between things. The contemporary Chinese society strives to maintain harmony between human beings and the environment; between individuals and the community; and between mind and body. Benevolence is the primary value of Confucianism and emphasizes the importance of family ties and blood relations. This also extends to friendships and social relationships. Righteousness entails justice and correctness. The Chinese people seek for collective and social benefits. Courtesy emphasizes modesty and prudence since it entails respecting laws and averting misconduct. Confucianism stresses on wisdom, which entails the ability to understand others and differentiate between good and evil. Chinese people value honesty since they believe that one should acquire wealth through reasonable and proper ways. Filial piety is a primary value in Confucianism as it entails respecting and supporting senior family members and addressing funeral affairs.
The common language spoken in China is Mandarin, often referred to as the Han language. It is spoken in the People`s Republic of China and Taiwan and is often used by the state, education, and media. The other dominant language is Cantonese, which is commonly spoken in Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore. Although both languages are Sinitic, they are not mutually understandable. It means that China is a huge nation with numerous dialect differences that are not collectively intelligible.
The majority of Chinese people are of Han descent. They form the dominant national culture and have a sense of history and customs that dates back over a millennium. The minority groups like the Manchu, have assimilated almost completely. However, some minority groups, such as the Mongolians and Kazakhs, tend to identify more with individual cultures rather than the dominant national culture. China is an extremely homogenous society consisting of a population that shares a single language, culture, and history. China`s government identifies 55 minority groups with unique cultures. The majority of these groups live in Outer China because of being forced out of the mainland over the centuries by the Han.
The dominant religion is Taoism which is an ancient religion that concentrates on the need to live in harmony with the universe. Unlike Confucianism, Taoism does not emphasize on social order or ritualist actions. Other religions practiced in China include Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam. Buddhism came from India more than two millennia ago and has co-existed with Taoism since then. Although it is not a religion, Confucianism is widely followed in the country. However, most of the minority groups have their religions, such as the Zhuang who practice animism. Additionally, ancestor worship is an essential part of Chinese religion.
Family is important in Chinese culture. Family relationships are crucial in Chinese society since the values in Chinese society are founded on Confucianism, which emphasizes duty, sincerity, loyalty, and honor. The contemporary family structure in China tends to remain formal and strict in hierarchical dominance with the eldest given the greatest respect. When it comes to gender roles, historically, women have played a subordinate role to men. Chinese society is based on Confucianism, which played an influential role in the subjugation of women who were viewed as possessions of men. However, the role of women has changed drastically since the start of the 20th century, as gender equality is encouraged. Nonetheless, despite women taking more roles traditionally reserved for men, they still struggle to get higher positions in leadership.
Traditionally, male babies were valued much higher than female babies. However, this practice has diminished and girls are becoming more acceptable. Children are required to show obedience and respect their elders and to take various responsibilities at home and school. The Chinese are famous for their flavors, spices, and tastes. Their staple food is rice, tofu, and noodles. Moreover, China has a rich heritage of culture dating back to thousands of years. Chinese culture is heavily influenced by changing imperial rulers, philosophers, and Confucianism.
When it comes to social customs, Chinese are given names with one or two characters that come after the surname. Women do not change their names when they marry. Greetings are usually formal and the oldest individual is greeted first. When greeting with foreigners, Chinese prefer handshakes. Additionally, most Chinese tend to look down when greeting another individual and they have a terrifying sense of humor. For Chinese people, non-verbal communication is fundamental. Since the Chinese culture endeavors for harmony, communication relies on facial expressions, postures, and other non-verbal cues to convey meaning. It is regarded as disrespectful to stare into another person`s eyes. Furthermore, Chinese people value personal space and do not like over-familiarity. Touching is only allowed with family members and close friends. Most of Chinese people prefer to entertain in public places instead of in their homes, particularly when dealing with foreigners. Being invited to a Chinese home is regarded as a great honor. Arriving on time and displaying table manners are highly regarded in Chinese culture.
Stereotypes of Chinese Culture
Perception is heavily related to intercultural communication. Preexisting perception regarding a different culture sets expectations and guide our intercultural communication. In the last century, we have seen stereotypes regarding Chinese culture intensify due to globalization. One of the stereotypes against Chinese culture is the portrayal of Chinese people in Hollywood films. Hollywood portrays Chinese as unchanged for decades and shows Chinese women as either mysterious and sexy or desirable, independent dragon ladies. This is because Chinese society regards women as subordinate to men and exist to serve men`s needs and desires. On the other hand, Chinese men are seen as virtuous, industrious, and trustworthy. They are seen as action heroes since they are excellent in Kung Fu and adhere to Chinese traditional cultural values. This goes along with the perception that all Chinese people are martial artists. This is because martial arts are an essential aspect of Chinese cultural identity.
Moreover, the West is on the opinion that Chinese people are brainwashed. Many see the current communist government as authoritative and controlling every aspect of its citizens` life. Although most of the Chinese are proud of their nation`s accomplishments, not all residents are blind to the policies of the ruling party. Consequently, many Chinese have taken to social media to air their opinions. However, some foreigners have started attacking China`s politics and airing their opinions about human rights, saying that Chinese people have been brainwashed by the ruling party.
Stereotypes assert that Chinese people are math geniuses. Western media depict Chinese actors wearing glasses to represent nerds and mathematics wizards. This perception stems from the belief that the Chinese Communist Party has engineered a society that hinders creativity and the exposure of exceptional students who choose to study in top educational institutions in Western nations. Another assumption is that Chinese people do not speak English. Since most people do not know much about Chinese culture, they assume Chinese people do not know English. However, many Chinese start learning English from an early age and it is not uncommon to find a 5-year-old who can hold a simple conversation.
Cultural Paradoxes in Chinese Culture
The impact of China`s modernization in the past four decades on the changes in Chinese behaviors is significant. One of the significant cultural paradoxes is the Great Firewall of China, which refers to the technological restriction place in the country. The internet is heavily regulated and monitored by the state, and there are internal and external walls between people and companies. Sites such as Facebook and Twitter are banned. Consequently, this is contrary to China`s endeavor for a free economy lead by technological advancement. China regards itself as a tech hub for innovation in digital creations, but these efforts are undermined by the restrictions placed by the government on technology.
Another cultural paradox is the rise in living standards and a subsequent rise in economic inequality. As the country continues to prosper economically, the income inequality gap continues to rise. This is despite China having a communist government that strives to benefits the entire society as a whole. Furthermore, China`s demographics are experiencing various problems because of the one-child-per-family rule. This has resulted in an aging population, reducing the number of working people.
Chinese National Culture Ethnocentrism
For two thousand years, Chinese society was one of the most advanced and innovative civilizations on the planet. After centuries of trading and conquering other cultures, the Chinese culture exhibits aspects of ethnocentrism since most of their interactions with foreigners were restricted to confrontations. As a result, Chinese people regarded themselves as the epicenter of the world for ages, showing little interest in international politics. However, even after the collapse of the empire, the Chinese still have a sense of cultural superiority that caused the nation to isolate itself from global politics. Even as the Western and Eastern nations continue to influence the global culture, China continues to seclude itself.
However, numerous changes have taken place in China in the last four decades. Since the radical reforms in the 1980s, the Chinese people have enjoyed more and more freedom to travel. Although these behaviors are heavily controlled by the state and the culture still exhibits past feudal, the nation has become more globally oriented. The older generation strives to value and preserve traditional Chinese culture while Chinese youths are more accepting of progressive ideas. The current Chinese culture is a combination of modern aspirations and traditional customs. Hence, contemporary Chinese culture is defined by innovation, preservation, and cultural and economic progress.
Confucianism is the primary guiding philosophy in China. It stresses the significance of healthy human relations since it endorses the notion that interactions between individuals are unequal and every person must have defined hierarchical roles in society. The school of thought stipulates that when natural inequality is recognized and accepted, it becomes relatively easier to sustain harmonious, productive interaction between people. Hence, obedience, responsibility, and adherence impact Chinese behavior and values. Moreover, Chinese society exhibits social hierarchy, where an individual`s position, job, and level of education are fundamental to their social status. In most situations, age is the overriding aspect that determines the level of respect afforded to a person.
China has a collective culture. Nonetheless, economic development and increased financial autonomy are giving rise to individualist attitudes. Generally, China is a collective society with a need for group association, whether family, school or ethnic group. This means that people are normally willing to suppress their feelings for the benefit of the group. This is highlighted by the use of silence in structured meetings, where when an individual disagrees with another person, instead of arguing in public, the individual chooses to remain quiet. Additionally, social groups are characterized by interdependence since individuals are taught to respect the law and sustain societal harmony.
Another crucial concept in Chinese culture is `guanxi`, which is a general term utilized to define the relationship that may lead to the exchange of connections or favors that benefits both individuals. Guanxi mandates friends, family, and business partners to help each other, and violating guanxi can cause a significant loss of face or honor. It plays an essential role in business interactions since good guanxi is necessary to create opportunities that would be unreachable.
Influence of Chinese Culture on Managers
As a manager for an international company, culture self-awareness is a vital tool for success in the diverse global business environment. Currently, I work for a company based in China but has a diverse workforce comprising of employees from all over the world. As such, it is crucial to be conscious of my nation`s cultural values to educate workers on what is expected of them when dealing with Chinese clients and stakeholders. Having grown up in China, most of my business culture beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors are primarily influenced by the Chinese national culture.
In China, corporate people wear conservative and unpretentious attire. For men, dark-colored suits are preferred while women wear conservative suits or dresses and flat shoes. It means that a manager should avoid bright colors as they act as the role model. As a manager, there are several business etiquettes one must follow during meetings according to Chinese business culture. One must be punctual, and when late, be sure to provide an apology. Additionally, individuals enter a meeting according to their importance, with the highest-ranking individual arriving first. This goes for the introductions. When one enters the room, they are expected to greet everyone in the facility individually, regardless of the group size. It is common for the host to speak before introducing the topic of discussion. When one is speaking, it is important to stress the status, size, and reputation of their business entity. Moreover, written material should be made available in both English and Chinese, utilizing simplified characters.
Furthermore, negotiation is an essential skill for managers in contemporary business. Hence, managers must be aware that the Chinese prefer a relationship-oriented negotiation style. Negotiations provide room for building trust and harmony for the benefit of both parties. This is why the Chinese prefer interpersonal negotiating style over contract-based ones. They want to build long-term relationships as opposed to the timely and efficient contract. Hence, as a manager, I must strive to recognized and understand my business partners to create the trust and loyalty required to support the business in the future. It means that managing a cross-cultural workforce requires one to be patient and provide answers to build and sustain business relationships. Additionally, the Chinese business culture heavily operates on the reciprocity of favors. One a robust business relationship has been created, a majority of Chinese businesses will offer to do something in the assumption that the favor will be returned later. As a manager, I should be ready to receive and give favor in the name of enhancing business.