OnDifferencesBetweenChineseandWesternDietaryCultures论中西饮食文化差异

OnDifferencesBetweenChineseandWesternDietaryCulturesAbstractDietisabsolutelynecessaryinthelifeofmankind,andevenintheexistenceordevelopment.BecauseofthedifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternculturaltraditions,theChineseandwesterndietaryculturesaredifferentinconcept,target,pattern,attributionandnature.Westudythesedifferencesandthenfindoutthepointsthatcanbedigested,inordertofacilitatethecommunicationaboutculturesbetweenChinaandthewest.TaiwanProfessorZhangQijunsaid,“Theoldsaying,'Eat,drink,man,womanwhowishesgreatly'.Forsuchastandardfair,westernculture(inparticular,modernAmericanculture)canbesaidtobemaleandfemaleculture.ButtheChineseculturecanbesaidtobeadietaryculture."Asthereasonoftheculturaltraditions,thewesternlivestendtomenandwomen,butbecauseofthenarrowgenderrelations,Chinesepeoplearedumpingguidanceonlifeintherestaurants.Thusthedietisrichinculture.Foodcultureinthewestisnotdevelopedenough,butthisunderdevelopmentitselfistheresultofthedevelopmentofaculture,soitisstillsignificanttostudythedietaryculturesofChineseandWesterndiet.BytheanalysisofthedifferencesbetweenChineseandwesterndietarycultures,wecancomprehendtherespectiveculturaltraditionsofChinaandthewest.AndwecanalsoimproveandcreatethecultureofChina.KeyWordsdietaryculture;culturaltradition;differences摘要饮食是人类生活、生存与发展的必需，可是由于中西方文化传统的差异，导致了中西方饮食文化在观念、对象、方式、归属与性质方面产生了差异，研究这些差异，找出可以融会贯通的地方，促进中西文化交流。台湾张起钧教授说过“古语说‘饮食男女人之大欲存焉’。就这样的标准而论，西方文化（特别是近代美国式的文化）可说是男女文化，而中国可说是一种饮食文化。”由于文化传统的缘故，西方人的人生倾向男女关系，而中国人由于对男女关系的褊狭，把人生精力倾泄导向于饮食。由此赋予饮食以丰富的文化内涵，虽然饮食文化在西方不够发达，但这种不发达本身也是一种文化发展的结果，所以对中西饮食文化的比较仍有意义。通过对中西饮食文化差异的分析，我们可以了解中西方各自的文化传统；同时能对中国文化进行改善与创新。关键词饮食文化;文化传统;差异IntroductionOncethereisasayingthat"Foodiseatingwell-deservedforhumanlife”so,foodisanindispensableconditionforthesurvivalanddevelopmentofhumanbeings.Therearetwodesiresinlife:oneisfeastingthemtosurvive;andanotheristhelustofmenandwomen,whichcanhelpthemankindtocarryonthefamilyline.Facingthetwodesires,Chinapaysmoreattentiontotheformer,whilethewesttendstothelatter.Suchphenomenonaffectstheculturaltrend.Dietisactuallythecontentsofourdailylives,butwhywecallitculture?ThatisbecausethediethasspecialstatusintheChineseculture,anditalsohasagreatdistinctionbetweenChinaandthewest.Asoneoftheworldancientnations,China’sdiethasahistoryalmostaslongasthatofChinesecivilization.Butinwesterncountries,ancientthinkersdevotedlessattentiontothefoodproblemthantheChinesephilosophersdid,andthereisevennotawareofittothe"heaven"degree.Withtheopposite,theyrecognizedandinterpretedtheworldintheperspectiveofthelustorloveofmenandwomenmore.WhethertheawarenessoforiginalsinofChristianity,AdamandEvelegend,orancientGreekphilosophy(suchasPlato'sdialogue)whoconsideredthepersonalrelationships“loveas”theloveofontologyofbeauty,andregardeditasarealitythinkingofphilosophy,alltheseideasbecomethebasisofwesternphilosophers’culturalthoughts.Allthesehadpotentialeffectsonthedevelopmentofwesterncultureandwesterners’characters.Receivingtheinfluenceofrespectiveculturaltradition,theChineseandwesterndietaryculturehashaddifferentcharacteristic.Thedifferencesinconcepts,targets,patterns,attributionandnaturehadreflectedthedifferentdietarycultureinthedifferentstatecharacteristic;suchcharacteristichasenrichedtheresearchvalueofdietaryculture.Studyingtheseculturaldifferences,wecanfindoutajointenhancingthecommunicationbetweenChinaandthewestthroughacomprehensivestudyofthesubject.ItmaybeagreathelptothecommunicationoftheChineseandwesterncultures.I.DifferencesinConceptsFirst,theChineseandwesterndiethavethedifferencesthatcannotbeignoredinconcepts.NobodywilldenythattheWesterndietisarationalconcept,regardlessofthecoloroffood,incense,flavorandshape,butnutritionmustbeassured.Itcaresabouttheintakeofcalories,vitamins,proteinandsoonduringaday.ComparingwiththeChinesediet,westerndiettastesstereotyped,assimpleaschewingthecandle,butthesensetellsthem:Wemusteatthemallbecauseofthenutrition.Andthentheyputitbluntly,justlikerefuelingmachine.Theconceptofwesterndietiscompatiblewiththewholewesternphilosophy.Metaphysicsisthemainfeatureofwesternphilosophy.Suchkindofphilosophybringsvitalitytowesternculture,sothenaturalsciences,psychologyandmethodologyachievearapiddevelopment.Insomeotheraspects,suchphilosophypropositionisasignificantlyobstacle,suchasthedietaryculture,whichistheinevitablethingtodropbehind,andjustthemetaphysicsofmethodologymarkseverywhere.Incelebration,itstressestableware,stressesthestaple,stressestheservings,andstressesthecolorandshapemixofrawmaterials.Butnomatterhowluxuriousthegradeis;fromLosAngelestoNewYork,onlyonetasteofsteak,itisnoarttospeakof.Andasdishes,thechickenischicken;steakissteak,eveningroups,whicharealsoconductedinashallowdish.Inadishof"FrenchMuttonchops",onesideispotatomud,andmuttonchopssitsnexttoit,anothersideisallocationofcookingbeans,andplusafewtabletsoftomato.Colorisonclear,butthetastesofthevariousmaterialsareseparated,nottoreconcile,andtheentireflavorisalsosimpleandclear.Chinesedietisasenseofbeautydiet.Whenpeoplesampledishes,theyoftensaythisdishis"delicious",andthatdishis"notdelicious".Butifyouaskwhatismeantby"delicious",why"tasty"andwhataretheaspectsof"delicious",Iamafraidthatitwillbedifficulttoanswer.ThisshowsthatwhichChinesepeoplehankeronadietisjustthe“mood”thatisdifficultforonetosayanything.Evenusingthe"color,flavor,shapeandimplement"whichpeopleoftensaidtomakethe"realm"reification,Iamafraiditisstilldifficulttocrownall.ThebeautypursuitofChinesecuisineisclearlyoverridingtherationalpursuit.ThisconceptofdietisalsocoincidingwiththetraditionalChinesephilosophy.Chinesephilosophyasarepresentativeoforientalphilosophy,itsdistinguishingfeaturesisthemacro,visual,vagueandevasive.Chinesecookingmethodistoreconcile,andtheultimategoalistoreconcileoutofabeautifultaste.Themainstressismeasureandtheoverallco-ordination.ItcontainsawealthofdialecticsofChinesephilosophy,andallthesedependonthedegreeofthewonderfulflavorandharmonyofdish.Theever-changingwithindegreesdecidesthechangeableofChinesefood,anditalsodecidesthecharacteristicsofChinesefoodaswellasthecharacteristicsoneachofthechefs.II.DifferencesintargetsAlldietcannotbedonewithoutvegetables.Theword"dish"isforthesoundinChina,anditalwayshassomethingtodowiththeplants.Accordingtoasurveyofwesternplantsscholar,thereare600varietiesofvegetables,sixtimesmorethaninthewest.Infact,theChinesedishes,vegetabledishisusualfood.Meatdishenteredthenormaldietonlyonholidaysorhigherlivingstandards,sosinceancienttimes,andtherewasasayingof"freshvegetables".Chu?Mandarinlanguage:"Commonpeopleeatfreshvegetables,fishonlyofferedintheworship."Itissaidthatfreshvegetablesaremainlytothecivilianingeneral,onlybeingabletoeatmeatonlyinworship.Vegetariandiettakesthedominantpositioninthenormalstructure.Chinesepeopleconsiderthevegetablesasthemaindish;ithasinextricablylinkedwiththeadvocacyofBuddhists.Theydeemanimalsas"people"andplantshave"nosoul."So,theyadvocatevegetarianism.Westernersdonotseemtohavesuchagoodhabit.Theyupholdaculturaloriginofnomadic,seafaringnation.Livingmainlybyfishingandhunting,collectionandplantingarejustthecomplement.Therearemoremeatdishesintheirlives.Feeding,clothing,andusingaretakenfromtheanimals,andevenWesternmedicineisderivedfromanimals.Whenthewesternersintroducethedietcharacteristicsoftheircountries,theyalwaysfeelthattheirdietismorereasonableonthemixofnutritionthanChina.Thefoodindustryismoredeveloped,suchascans,fastfood,althoughthetasteismonotonous,butitsavestime,anditalsohasgoodnutrition.Therefore,intheircountries:peoplearegenerallyhealthierandtallerthanChinese,andthepeoplehavestrongshouldersanddevelopedmuscles;butChinesepeoplelookshort,theirshouldersnarrowandlegsthin,theirskinyellowandtheirbodyweak.ThedifferencesbetweenChineseandwesternfoodforWesternerstojudgethemeritsofthetwodietisnotjustified.Mr.SunYat-senhadprofoundstudyofthecultureoffoodandincisiveexposition.InhiscomposingTheSchemeforNationalReconstruction,detailingthedifferencesbetweenChineseandWesterndietphenomenon,heconcludes:"Chineseordinarypeopledrinkgreentea,andeatsimplefoodsuchasvegetablesandtofuformeal.Suchkindsoffoodarethemosthealthyandbeneficialaccordingtotheresearchofhygienist.Therefore,theremotepeopleinchina,whosedietarefarfrommeatandwine,alwayslivealonglife.AlsoChinahasabigpopulation,andChinesepeoplehaveenormouspowertoresistdisease,buttheynevertrythenon-diet.“Headded:"TheChinesevegetariansalleattofu.Tofuisexpectedastherealmeatinplants,asithasthenutritionthatmeathas.Itisthemeatwithouttoxicmaterials.SotheChinesearevegetarianusedtobeacustomwithoutthepromotionofscholars.ItisalsoacustomthattheEuropeanandAmericandrinkthickWine,eatmeatandfish.Sotherewassciencepromotionbeforeandaseverelawlater,suchastheUnitedStatesProhibition.Andthetransferwillnotcarryoutinashorttime."Mr.Sun’swordsscientificbenefitsofChinesedietanddisadvantagesofWesterndiet.AccordingtothecharacteristicsofthesignificantdifferencesbetweenChineseandWesterndiettargets,theChinesecharacteriscalledtheplantcharacter,whiletheWesternersis’animalcharacter.Inresponsetotheculturalbehaviors,Westernersloveadventure,exploration,conflict;buttheChinesepeopleonlyliketolivebanally.AccordingtoAmericanexpertonfolkloreRuth’sopinionsonthe"culturalpattern"theory,ChinesecultureisquitesimilartotheclassicalworldApollo-typecharacterandWesternersis’similartothemodernworldFaust-type.Indeed,theWesternerssuchasAmericansinthedevelopmentofthewest,theyputthewholefamilyonthetruck,andgooutofthecityinamidrumblingwiththesupplies.TheChinesepeoplearealwaysthinkingabout"home"and"roots",despitethepromotionthatyoungpeopleshouldtaketheworldashome.Butafterafewdecades,theoverseasChinesewillcomebacktothemainlandwithcrutchtoseektheirroots.Thisconceptofreturnandsuchhumanspiritthatcanonlybesaidtocooperatewiththeaccumulationinthediet.ThenitbringscohesivenesstotheChinesenationandthenmakesthehumanfolkfullofenergy.III.DifferencesinDietaryPatternsTheChineseandWesterndietarypatternscanbeverydifferent,andthesedifferencesaffectthenationalcharacter.InChina,acelebration,nomatterwhat,therewillbeonlyoneform,assittingtogether,sharingonefeast.Banquetusesroundtable,whichhascreatedaunityofform,whichiscourtesy,comityatmosphere.Cateareinthecenterofthetable.Itistheobjectsforpeopletoappreciateandtaste,anditisalsoanintermediateofcommunication.Peopletoasteachotherandsharethevegetables,whichreflectthemutualrespectbetweenpeopleinthefaceofthegoodthings,alsoshowthevirtuesofcomity.Althoughfromthehealthpointofview,thisapproachhasobviousdeficiencies,butitisinournational"happy"mentality,itreflectstheclassicalChinesephilosophyareaof"and"impactforfuturegenerations.Itishelpfultofacilitatethecollectiveemotionalexchangesandconsequentlydifficulttoreform.Thewestern-stylebanquets,althoughthefoodandwineareveryimportant,butinfacttheyarejustfoil.ThecoreofBanquetisfriendship,bytheconversationwiththeguestswhosittingnexttoachievethepurposeofrecreation.Ifmakingananalogouscomparebetweentherecreationofthebanquetsanddancing,itmaybesaidthattheChinesebanquetislikegroupdance,andthewesternbanquetislikemenandwomendancing.ThisshowsthatcommunicationpurposeofChinesebanquetandwesternbanquetareveryobvious.OnlytheChinesebanquetismorepopularinthecommunion,butwesternbanquetshowsguestsreflectedinthefriendshipbetweenneighbors.ThemoreobviousdifferencesbetweenChineseandwesterndietarypatternsisbuffetdinnerwhichispopularintheWest.Thismethodistodisplayallfood,andeverybodyispickingnotfixedinhisorherplacestoeat.Theywalkfreely.Thisapproachwouldprovidetheemotionalinteractionbetweenindividuals;theyneverneedtoputeverywordonthetable.Thisalsoshowsawesternpersonalityandself-respect.However,alltheeatingwithoutjamminglackstherealaffectivetoneliketheChinesepeople.SomepeoplewanttoputthebuffetintheChinesefood,butIthinkitisnotfeasible.ZhangQijuninthePrinciplesofCookingtellsusthemainreason:"First,buffetisnotlikedrinkingtea.Drinkingteaisjustthethingtoyoubeforeyouchoose,anddisplayedinthecafeteriathereisalargenumberoffoodtoeat,sowhenyouwanttohaveit,itiscoldyet.Chinesecuisinewillservehot,ifcold,nothingtoeat.Secondly,buffetdishesonlycandoharddishesandbeneficialdishes.Thenyoucanaccessforlargeplots.AndthosemostrepresentativeoftheChineseculinaryarts,suchasthetenderandlighterdishes,arenotinthisshow.Third,thebuffetcandostewingpot;itmeansabigpotintermsoffood.Anysophisticatedcookingofadishcanonlybecookedinapotattwomost,anditisnotabletocookthedishfordozensofpeople.Soitwillnotbedelicious,nevertalkingofthetaste.Undersuchcircumstances,itisclearthattheuseofbuffetdinnerwilldenyChineseculinaryarts."TheChinesepeoplearedrinkingaroundthetabletoshowharmonyandunity,butthebuffethasbrokensuchpattern.Itraisesthepersonalindependenceandself-mentionedatthefirstplace.ThisistheoppositeofthescaleofthegreatunityofallChinesetraditionalculture.IV.DifferencesinDietAttributionTherearedifferencesbetweenChineseandwesterndietattribution.Westerndiettendstobescientificandrational,buttheChinesediettendstobeartandsentimental.Duringtheunderdevelopmenteraofdiet,thesetwotrendshaveonlyoneaim–toliveandneverbehungry.Andwhenthedietarycultureisfulldeveloped,thetendencyisshowninthisdifferentpurpose:theformerisinthedevelopmentofnutrition,thelatterisexpressedasthestressontheflavor.Cookingisfromdiet;theoriginoffoodisalife-sustainingnutrition.Therefore,thefocusofwesterndietisonlytheextensionoftheoriginaldietpracticality.TheemphasisontheflavorofChinesecuisinecatersthediettotheartsfield.Menciussaid:"Flavorinthemouthhasthesameinterests"."Interests"pointsoutthekeyfromnutritiontoarts.Suchinterestsarefromthemeaningofflavor.InChina,eatingisnotmeanttohaveenough.Itisaboutnutrition.Sometimesweeatthoughwearefull.Weareoverloadedwithfood.Why?Sayingbluntly,itistoappreciatetheartofcooking;andnotsayingitnicely,itisthetemptationof"delicious"fortheenjoymentoftaste.Watchingtherationaldietinthewest,itisnotonlywaste,butalsoharmfultothemenbody.Infact,theherbalistdoctorsarealsoopposedtoovereat,claiming"dietaryrestraint".ButthedialecticstellusChinesepeople,occasionallythe"overload"andoncewearecomfortable,wecanabsorbandstore.Qigongmastersatthesituationofnon-eatandnon-drinkathomeisstillingoodspirits,althoughtheirweightloses,butitisintactonthehumanbody;anditistheconsumptionofsuchstorage.Herbalistdoctoralsoadvocateswinternutrition.Itisalsoinordertostoreforkeepingenergyinthecomingyear.Chinesepeople'sviewsaremoredialecticalthanthewesterndietpropositionsopposingoverloadedstubbornly.Itisclosertothesciencetruth,andhasbeencheckedupforthousandsofChinesemedicinepractice.PsychologistsSpinozasaid:"Thedesireishumannaturethanother.”Thehumandesirefordeliciousisthenatureofhumanbeingswhichisfullyreflected.Inprocessofthetasteenjoyment,itisimbuedwiththesharesoflanvital.Lifeéshouldnotbeayoke,butalsonotbearepresseddesire.Wecannotusetheabsolutereasontoregulatethebehaviorofallpeople.Onthediet,itisnotthepurposeof"science"and"nutrition"andsomedeliciousareexcludedfromthetableoutside.Onlydeliciousthingscansatisfypeople'sappetiteandthengivethearrivalofphysicalandmentalpleasure.Chinesedietshowsthetransformationaboutsentimentalformtorationalformfromtheolddaystillnow,andcausetheChinesedietaryculturebrimmingwithimaginationandcreativity.ThesensibilityofChineseculinarycultureisasublimesensibility,infiltratingrationalsense,alsotherealizationofthenatureoflife.Inaddition,gustatoryenjoymentisoneofthemainobjectivespursuedofthehumanstruggle.TheartofChinesecuisineiscompatiblewiththedevelopmentofhumanhistoryintheprocess,morescientificthantheprogressofthewesterndiet.AsZhangQijuninhisworkCookingPrinciplessaid:“TheUnitedStatesisunprecedentedleastaffluentsociety,tilltoday,butinessenceitisstill'foodtoeat'stage.Therearestillsomedistancesfromenteringtherealmofart.Theroleofdietgoesbeyondthesubsistenceofexistence,whichisdesignednotonlytohavethephysicalpresence,butalsotomeetpeople'sspiritualneedsforpleasure.Itispositivetoenrichpeople'slifeperformance,andfinearts,music,literature,etc.whichhavethesamelevelofsignificancetotheimprovementoflife.Chinesediettendstoartistry,theso-calledartrealm,infact,thatisacompleteleapfromthenecessitytofreedom.Itischaracterizedbyrandomness.Forexample,similardishes,becauseofthedifferencesinarea,season,target,functionandgrade,ithasdifferenttreatmentsonoperation.Setbraisedfishforexample,inwinterdeepcolorsareadvisedandtastesareadvisedstrongly,butinsummeritshouldbelightcolorandflavor.AndforthepeopleinZhejiangprovince,theirdishescanbeputupmoresugarinthebraisedfish,andiffacingChuanxiangcustomersitshouldallocatespicy.Iteasytoseethatifoutofthearbitrary,therewouldbenocookingvariety;wewilllosetheuniquecharmofChinesecuisine.Whereasinthewest,dishesindifferentareasanddifferentseasonsandfacingdifferentcustomers,isthesameflavor,nochanges.Althoughitisthemostvaluablebanquet,whichisjusttablewareknown,conductedlayout,andthevegetablesremainthesameasbefore.Moreover,asformaterials,westernersthinkthefoodistoeat,eatingspecial"hardvegetables"suchaslargepieceofmeat,chickenblock.China'scuisineis"taste".TheChinesecookinginmaterialshasshowntremendousarbitrariness:Thethingswhichmany,manywesternersconsiderasdisposablethingsinChinaareexcellentrawmaterials.Foreigncooksarenotabletodealwiththings,butinthehandsofaChinesechef,itcangetamagicresult.Chinesecuisineisevidentinthewideuseofmaterials.Besidesskills,anexcellentcook,ofcourse,candomorecomplicateddishes.Butfacingtherealsimplematerialsandcondiments,thecooksareoftenabletoproducedeliciousflavors.Itisthearbitrarinessofskills.Inthesurface,themenuseemstobescientific.Westernersalwaysusemenutobuyingredientstoproducedishes,butincomparison,itisthemachinery,andoftenpowerlessfacingthecomplexspecificsituation.Ofcourse,thismechanicalscienceisstillcanbesaidasscience,butitisprimitivescience,anditisnotthecompletescience.Chinesecookingtalksaboutartistry,butitstillfittherequirementsamongtheever-changing,itcanbesaidsuchscienceisarealscience.ThecharactersofwesternfoodwhichlacksnutritionandartisticatmospherehavegreatdistinctionfromtheartisticrealmofChinesecuisine.V.DifferencesintheNatureDifferencesinthenatureoftheChineseandwesterndietareinosculatedwiththerespectivelifestyleandthepaceoflife.Inthewest,peopledotheduplicationofpipelineoperations,andimplementpiece-wagesystem,sothepacesoftheirlivesaresofast.Peoplefallunderthemechanicalmethodeitherintentionallyorunintentionally,andbelievethat"Workiswork,andgameisgame."Mechanicallivesledtoonenessofdietorasingleblindaboutdiet,andeatbeefsteakandpotatoeseveryday.Monotonousdietisthesameaswork,forwhichthepurposesistofulfillthe"incident",naturallywithnointerests,andallthesehavenowordintermsoftaste.ButChinaisnot,"Thegameiswork,andtheworkisofagame”.Suchlifemannerisalsoemergedindiet.Abakersellsbreadinthestreet,helikesusingtherollingpoletobeatthechoppingboardrhythmicallywhentheykneadflour.Whenthecooksfryadish,evenbeatingscoop,theyalsocarethesenseofrhythmduringcooking.Thesewouldnotworkforanyconveniences,butitincreasestheinterestsofworkers.Onlyinsuchanatmosphereworkwillbemeaningful,anditwillhavemorecreativityandartistryofChinesecuisine.TherestillexistvariousdifferencesbetweenChineseandwesterndietarycultures.ButwiththedevelopmentofculturalcommunicationbetweenChinaandthewest,alongwiththestrengtheningofcommunicationbetweenChinaandthewest,Chinahasimportedvariouskindsofwesternfood,knownasthe"KFC""DICOS","McDonald".Thismarksanewwesterndietarycultureexchangesandinfiltration.Webelievethatwiththedevelopmentofsociety,theculturaldifferencesbetweenChineseandwesterndietarywillnolongerbethedifference.ConclusionBythetextfromthisthesis,wecaneasilyfindthattherestillexistvariousdifferencesbetweenChineseandwesterndietarycultures.ButwiththedevelopmentofculturalcommunicationbetweenChinaandthewest,alongwiththestrengtheningofcommunicationbetweenChinaandthewest,Chinahasimportedvariouskindsofwesternfood,knownasthe"KFC""DICOS","McDonald".Thesemarkanewwesternfoodcultureexchangesandinfiltration.Theimpactbroughtaboutbyeconomicglobalizationisstrongeranddeeperthantheinternationalization.Economicglobalizationisadouble-edgedsword,ononehand,itbringsthevitalityofeconomicg