Chinese Dining and Table Etiquette

“In sitting at a Chinese table, neither one’s body, nor his dress, must touch the table, and great strictness in regard to one’s position is enforced. It is not according to Chinese etiquette to look around when one is eating, nor to stare at one another.” — Depiction of 19th C. Chinese Scholars 

Ting Lang Ho, an educated Chinese man, writes as follows: “According to the teaching of Confucius, no conversation must be carried on at the table. This precept of Confucius, disagreeable though it may seem to many, prevents many embarrassments at table, namely, one’s being interrupted when he tries to speak at table. Chinese etiquette requires all to begin to eat at the same time, but each one before be begins to eat generally says, “Let us begin,” which is accompanied by a gesture of the chopsticks. In finishing one’s meal, the same gesture is used, but not the same words. He says to those who are still eating, “Do not be in haste.”

It is customary for the elders to help the younger to those dishes which he cannot reach, but in receiving, etiquette requires him or her to rise. In sitting at a Chinese table, neither one’s body, nor his dress, must touch the table, and great strictness in regard to one’s position is enforced. It is not according to Chinese etiquette to look around when one is eating, nor to stare at one another. Remarks made on the food and the smacking of one’s lips are (I’m sorry to say) allowable in Chinese etiquette.

The chopsticks, when one is not using them, must be placed on the table close together, sitting perpendicular to the spoon. According to Chinese etiquette, it is rude for one to finish too soon; one must try to keep together with the rest, though it is becoming for inferiors to finish a little before their superiors, but not a little too late. Reading of periodicals is strictly forbidden, but letters are allowed if they are very important. One very seldom asks for an excuse from table in China, but every one goes at the same time. — Jennie June, 1881

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia