Russia on Chinese Etiquette

In Chinese etiquette there are eight varieties of the bow ~ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wei Wu Pu), the same in organization and function as it was in 1901 when it first came into existence as a result of the “Peking Protocol.” The Ministry of Rites (Li Pu) succeeded the Department of Rites, without much change, but it incorporated the Court of Sacrificial Worships, the Court of State Ceremonials and the Court of Banquets which formerly duplicated some of the functions of the Department of Rites.  From “Government of China 1644-Cb,” by Pao Chao Hsieh
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The Celestials Consider Europeans Barbarians

The Russians have been making something of a study of Chinese manners and etiquette, and their periodicals are reporting what has been learned. The latest number of Russkii Vestnik says it is not surprising that the Celestials consider Europeans barbarians when they see continually what they consider bad manners and breaches of etiquette on the part of white men. The proper thing, according to the Chinese notion, is diametrically opposed to the European idea.

Western depiction of a Chinese wedding ceremony in the mid-1800s. The bride is the one whose face is completely covered. ~ "The latest number of Russkii Vestnik says it is not surprising that the Celestials consider Europeans barbarians when they see continually what they consider bad manners and breaches of etiquette on the part of white men." (Russkii Vestnik or "Russian Herald," was the literary and political journal founded in Moscow in 1856 by M. N. Katkov with the assistance of P. M. Leont'ev)

For instance, when a Chinese welcomes a visitor to his house, be does not remove his hat, if he happens to have it on. He puts his hat on if he is caught without it. The seat of honor at the table is at the left of the host. It would be considered an offense if the guest inquired about the health of the hostess, or, still worse, expressed a desire to be presented to her.

A Chinese takes offense it told that he looks younger than he is. The older the man the more he is respected, independently of his qualities, and. therefore, a Chinese wishes to appear older than he really is. He willingly forgives many offenses, but should any one happen to tread on his foot he will refuse to accept the most humble apologies. When a son dies in a Chinese family the bereaved father considers it proper to show strangers a smiling countenance, no matter what his sufferings may be.  

“A Chinese, displeased with his situation, will not tell his employer the real reason for resigning, but will give poor health or the death of a relative as a pretext for leaving.”

The Russian newspaper asserts that there is a minister of etiquette in China known as Li-Pu. Ancient books on manners are accepted by him as authority. The books include 200 volumes. Some of the rules are Draconian in their severity. A Chinese cannot even build a house according to his taste. No matter how rich he is, it is not proper for him to build a finer or a higher house than that of his neighbor if the latter happens to be of superior rank socially.

In Chinese etiquette there are eight varieties of the bow. Ignorance of Chinese ideas of propriety with regard to the bow has often caused embarrassment. A Chinese, displeased with his situation, will not tell his employer the real reason for resigning, but will give poor health or the death of a relative as a pretext for leaving. Such things have led many portions to regard the Chinese insincere, but this does them injustice. They are also unjustly considered to be cold, unemotional and indifferent to the sufferings of others. As a matter of fact this appearance of stolidity is only a specimen “of the wondertul self-control and the iron force of character with which this race is endowed.”

– The Los Angeles Herald, 1899

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

China's Etiquette Guide for Chinese Tourists Abroad

The rules urge travellers to behave and “abide by the norms of civilised tourist behaviour.” No urinating in the pool, nose picking or stealing life jackets from the plane: China issues 'civilised' travel guidebook for tourists heading abroad.

Occupying public toilets for long periods of time and leaving footprints on the seat are discouraged.

Drinking soup straight from the bowl and slurping is not appreciated.

Refrain from limp handshakes. 

Don't pick your nose in public and keep your nasal hair trimmed at all times. 

All are of the above rules are outlined in a 64-page booklet, "Guidelines On Civilised Travel Abroad" from China's National Tourism Administration. Many are country specific. (Asking Britons whether they have eaten is deemed impolite.) China's list of dos and don'ts came in 2013, at the launch of ‘Golden Week’, a public holiday that began on October first.

Do not coerce locals into taking your photo.

Beijing's handy rule book, aimed at curbing the unruly behaviour of Chinese tourists abroad who have developed an ‘uncivilised’ stereotype, is all in an effort to smooth out international relations.  China's Vice Premier Wang Yang said in May 2013, that the tourism louts had 'damaged the image of the Chinese people'.

 China's new guidebook for tourists warns that peeing in the pool is not optional.

In the book, which also comes with helpful illustrations, tourists are urged not to occupy public toilets for long periods or leave footprints on the seat.

Life jackets should be left underneath the seat in aircraft, the rulebook states, because ‘if a dangerous situation arises then someone else will not have a life jacket’.

China's list of dos and don'ts came in 2013, at the launch of ‘Golden Week’, a public holiday that began on October first.

The handbook also dispensed country-specific advice: Chinese visitors to Germany should only snap their fingers to beckon dogs, not humans. Women in Spain should always wear earrings in public -- or they could be considered effectively naked. Diners in Japan should not play with their clothes or hair during a meal. Tourists are reminded that all air-conditioned places in Hong Kong and Macau are no-smoking areas, and mainlanders should not try to get refunds for food.

One tourist from Guizhou said the new rules provided tourists and locals with a better environment.

THE ETIQUETTE MANIFESTO

Don’t...

• Talk about people behind their backs in Chinese (because someone nearby might understand you).  
• Give a handkerchief in Italy as a gift because it is deemed inauspicious.
• Ask Britons whether they have eaten.
• Touch people's belongings in Nepal with a foot.
• Ask for pork in Islamic countries.
• Call Africans 'Negros' or 'black'.
• Use the left hand to touch other people in India.
• Eat a whole piece of bread in one mouthful or slurp noodles noisily inside an aircraft.

Do...

•  

• Use shower curtains in a hotel.
• Keep quiet when waiting to board a plane.
• Keep mobile phones turned off until the aircraft has come to a complete stop.
• Be punctual if taking part in a tour group.
• Arrive at a banquet hall 15 minutes early and adhere to a formal dress code.

Source: Guidelines on Civilised Travel Abroad, released by China National Tourism Administration

At the time, a 33-year-old tourist visiting Hong Kong from central Anhui province complained that the guidelines were too many and too specific.

'You cannot possibly look through all of the rules before you go travelling.

'Also the rules are different in different places,' he told the South China Morning Post. 'I think it's not very feasible.'

But one tourist from Guizhou said the new rules provided tourists and locals with a better environment.

While several countries have eased visa restrictions to attract affluent Chinese tourists, complaints about etiquette have made international headlines lately.

A Luxor, Egypt site, originally built by Amenhotep III in the 14th century BC and completed by Ramessess II, has been defaced by a Chinese teen.  By carving his name into it in May of 2013, the 15 year old vandalised a 3,500-year-old Egyptian temple relic.  The "Ding Jinhao visited here" in Mandarin, was carved into one of the sandstone carvings. It was then photographed by another Chinese tourist, who posted it on Weibo, accompanied by the comment: "My saddest moment in Egypt. Ashamed and unable to show my face." 

Luxury French fashion Zadig and Voltaire sparked a huge controversy last year by claiming its new 40-room boutique hotel, due to open in 2014, will not be open to Chinese tourists.

In February, a mainland Chinese man reportedly relieved himself in a bottle in a crowded Hong Kong restaurant, sparking anger online and prompting some locals to deride mainlanders as 'locusts'.

Chinese tourists in North Korea have been accused of insensitive behaviour, such as throwing sweets at children ‘like they’re feeding ducks’.

Despite the rulebook, some mainland tourists appear to have retained their own set of standards, however.

Outside Golden Bauhinia Square, one of Hong Kong’s main tour group hotspots, a mother could be seen helping her son urinate into a plastic bag, the Post reported today.

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