Empress Unhappy as Queen’s Revered

Is it possible that this displeasure was the reason for Hongzhang’s response 4 years later after meeting Queen Victoria? — When the Viceroy was ushered into Victoria's presence chamber she remained seated, wrapped in the Imperial dignity that has awed mightier men than he. The intelligent celestial grasped his position at once. He groveled to the British Empress-Queen as he would have to his master, or the Dowager Empress, and when the interview was over and he had bowed himself out backward, he, deeply impressed, remarked to his entourage: “Her Majesty is the only real Monarch of them all.”

Li Hung Chang has come near to losing his yellow jacket again on account of a disregard of official etiquette while calling on the Empress. That's what comes of “Skylarking around the world and forgetting his manners.” —Pittsburg Times, 1897

 

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

Ping-Pong Diplomacy in 1971

American table tennis player, Glen Cowan (bottom left), who caught the ride on the Chinese team’s bus, along with the other U.S. table tennis players in China – on the cover of Time magazine, in April 1971

Ping-Pong Diplomacy

When an American competitor at the 1971 World Table Tennis Championships in Nagoya, Japan, missed his team bus back to the hotel, he set off one of the biggest tectonic shifts of diplomacy in world history — and triggered the end of the Cold War.

Jumping on to the Chinese team’s bus instead to catch a ride, one of the Chinese athletes broke strict protocol by handing him a gift of a silk cloth depicting the famous Huangshan Mountains.

When the bus arrived back at the hotel, journalists were astonished to see the two players chatting. Their photographs of this rare meeting of nations dominated news headlines around the world and Mao Zedong, spotting an opportunity, invited the U.S. team to spend a week sightseeing in China.

Capitalising on this new-found good will, President Nixon instigated a visit to Beijing — so began the defusing of the Cold War, and the term Ping-Pong Diplomacy was coined.– Christian Howgill for the Mail Online, June 17, 2022

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

A Chinese Etiquette Revolution

 The Marquis Tseng was one of China’s earliest government ministers to London, Paris and Saint Petersburg. His was an important diplomatic role which preceded and accompanied the Sino-French War (August 1884–April 1885). – Beijing was often referred to as “Peking” in English and “Pekin” in Japanese. Beijing has been known by other names throughout its history including Youzhou, Zhongdu, Dadu, Shuntian, Peiping, and Yanjing.

Social Revolution in China

A social revolution in Peking is, according to The Chinese Times, being effected by the Marquis and Marchioness Tseng, both of whom visit freely at all the foreign legations, and receive the visits of foreigners at their private house. Persons new to China see nothing remarkable in these social courtesies, but those who know the Pekin etiquette appreciate the boldness of the Marquis in thus challenging the very citadel of petrified conservatism. As he is too shrewd a man to run his head deliberately against a stone wall, it may be inferred from his actions, that he has the secret countenance of high personages.— Boston Transcript, 1887

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

Diplomat Broke Belgian Etiquette

Woodcut of Li Huang Chang (or Li Hongzhang) with Otto von Bismarck in 1896 ~
Li Hongzhang was a Chinese politician, general and diplomat of the late Qing dynasty. Quelling several major rebellions and serving in important positions in the Qing Imperial court, he was also the Viceroy of Zhili Province.

Li Hung Chang has earned the thanks of all inveterate smokers. He has broken down the rule of the Belgian Court etiquette, which strictly forbids smoking in the State apartments, by the simple process of taking out a long pipe, and, after it had been filled by his secretary, smoking it. 

King Leopold, though, we doubt not, a good deal astonished, rose to the occasion admirably. He at once caused cigarettes to be handed round, with the result that Li Hung Chang soon found his position no longer one of "splendid isolation." — San Francisco Call, 1896

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

The Chinese Emperor's Etiquette

The kowtow, comes from "kòu tóu" in Mandarin. To the Chinese, this deep, lowest bow possible, was viewed as an act of deep respect. In Imperial Chinese protocol, the kowtow was performed before the Emperor of China. Depending on the solemnity of the situation different grades of kowtow would be used. In the most solemn of ceremonies, for example at the coronation of a new Emperor, the Emperor's subjects would undertake the ceremony of the "3 kneelings and 9 kowtows", the so-called "grand kowtow," involving kneeling from a standing position 3 times, and each time, performing the kowtow 3 times while kneeling. The "full kowtow" has been described as "3 kneelings and 9 knockings of the head on the ground."

Groping in the Darkness:

In the Gilded Age, Travelers Found the Chinese Still Clung to Customs of Centuries Ago

Capt. Maddox, of the Marine Corps, has just returned from a three years' service in China, where he has been employed as an instructor for the Chinese military in the use of modern arms. The captain says that he found the Chinese very teachable. They will make very good soldiers, he believes. 

The men of the northern provinces of China are tall, and have fine figures. In these regions, six feet is not an uncommon height. The inhabitants of Southern China are small and inferior physical types. It is from them, that the immigrants to this country come. 

Capt. Maddox says that the Chinese prejudice against foreigners is not much less than when seaports were first opened. The Chinese Emperor has never given audience to the representatives of foreign nations. This audience was only secured after several years of diplomatic talks.

Consent was given to the reception of the foreigners if they would consent to follow the Chinese etiquette for such an audience. This compels the person received to crawl upon bis stomach as be enters the room, pausing on the road to bump his head on the floor at requisite intervals until reaching a sacred line in front of the emperor, where he must remain prostrate until told to retire by the "all-stomach route." Naturally the foreign representatives refused to accede to this etiquette. 

The matter was finally compromised by requiring the diplomatic people to make continuous bows upon entering and retiring from the Emperor's presence. When the ministers came to be presented, they were kept waiting for nearly two hours in a very cold ante-room. 

The British minister, who was a very old gentleman (nearly 80) became thoroughly chilled. His teeth were chattering with the cold when he entered for the first time, the sacred presence of the Emperor. His shivering was noted by the keen-eyed Chinese, and published in all the Peking papers as evidence of his terror upon entering the awful presence of Chinese Majesty. This audience of foreigners has never been repeated. It created great dissatisfaction in China. 

The present Emperor is a lad of 17, who is guided by the Empress Regent. He has never been seen by any of the foreigners and by none except the highest officials of his own race. The old question of an audience to the ministers can not be raised until the present Emperor is of age and has displaced the Empress Regent. —Marin Journal, 1885

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

Scottish Diplomacy and Chinese Etiquette

This article was first published in 2011

Scotland has been trading with China since the 18th century. Key opportunities exist in the areas where Scotland’s strengths match China’s strategic growth priorities  –  financial services, renewable energy, life sciences and education.

A SCHOOL is to run lessons on Chinese etiquette to help Scottish companies strike deals in the burgeoning Far East economic sector.

St George's School in Edinburgh will offer business- orientated courses in the Mandarin language, as well as teaching the dos and don'ts of dealing with Chinese business leaders.

The evening course, which begins in March, comes after the Chinese government agreed to lend two pandas to Edinburgh Zoo, which is near the school.

“Panda Diplomacy” has existed as far back as the Tang Dynasty, when Empress Wu Zetian (625–705) sent a pair of pandas to the Japanese emperor.  The term has come to refer to China’s use of giant pandas as diplomatic gifts to other countries. 

It has taken years of diplomacy to seal the deal, which could be worth millions to the Scottish economy.

The new nightclass aims to help firms in Scotland that are keen to capitalise on potential Far East markets to avoid cultural gaffes.

Helen Mackie, headteacher at the girls' independent school, said: "This is a huge opportunity for Scotland. The Scottish Government has really developed this relationship which could be crucial for the economy.

"We need our education system to get behind it and develop an understanding of the culture as well as the language. The opportunity is there and we have to grab it."

The course, which will be led by teachers at the school, will teach the youngsters key phrases for use in the business world. It will also provide invaluable hints and tips for the children on how to act and how to avoid offending potential Chinese business contacts.

Chinese symbol for “hospitality.”  Hospitality is key so it is important to return it to the same level they give to you.

Mrs Mackie said it was important to recognise hierarchies in China, observe seating plans and return hospitality.

She said: "The lowest member in the group will sit with their back to the door and the highest facing the door - so sitting in the wrong place could cause great offence.

“Also, hospitality is key so it is important to return it to the same level they give to you.”

Mrs Mackie said that these kind of points were crucial to making or breaking a deal.

David Lonsdale, the assistant director of CBI Scotland, welcomed the courses, which he described as a "positive" move for Scottish business.

He said: “I'm sure they will get a very favourable response from the local business community.

“Scotland does well in terms of its business relationships with China, but we need to see a real step-change and take it to a new level to capitalise on all the opportunities that the Far East offers Scottish business."

St George’s has led the way in the teaching of Mandarin in Scotland.

THE DOS AND DON’TS

DO spend time reading the business card of your Chinese colleague. It's seen as rude to simply slip it into your pocket straight away without reading it.

DO offer your business card in return, using both hands. Using one hand may offend.

DO be careful about where you sit in meetings. The lowest-ranking member of a group will sit with their back to the door and the highest facing it. Sitting in the wrong seat could cause great offence.

DON’T stick your chopsticks into your food and leave them sitting upright. This is a big no-no in Chinese culture.

DO return hospitality to the same level you have received it. This is very important and could be seen as a snub if you offer less in return.

DON’T tell your prospective colleague from China that you will meet them at the hotel. They could well expect to be met at the airport.

DO ensure your staff are of an equal level. For example, make sure a director speaks to a director and so on down the hierarchical chain.

Originally published 12 January 2011 in

🍽️Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia