“Because China is the world's fastest growing economy and receives more direct foreign direct investment than any other, it is increasingly important to understand the Chinese context.” (Lo) “Cultural differences between east and west abound. First, Western societies tend to be multi-cultural. Within these societies, various ethnic groups are integrated and generally free to maintain their unique characteristics. China on the other hand is for the most part a homogonous society. Furthermore, Chinese domestic policies towards minorities are more assimilative than integrative.” (Ostrowski, Penner pg 3) Perhaps these are the main differences that spur on the many and vastly ranging differences between these two cultures, because there is no denying that these societies are very different, indeed. Some of the ways they are different include; values, thought, behavior patterns, relationships, and religiously. All of these issues fuel a chasm between the two ways of life represented in China and the west, they all point to the truth. Chinese and western cultures are conflicting. Their ideals, practices, and beliefs are conflicting. They are, without doubt, conflicting cultures and societies.
Most people understand that China has very different values than the west. “Chinese values have roots inConfucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.” (Lo) These differences are probably the most obvious as well as the back bone for other differences between the two societies. To best understand these differences it must be understood first, that only a small part of either of these cultures is visible. Instead most of it is unseen, like an iceberg. What people do and say in both the east and west are based on values that are invisible and they are very different. In a very basic form, Chinese society has had a hierarchical structure stemming from Confucian ideas about the proper order of life and society. The west lacks concern for order, hierarchy, and peaceful relationships, leaning instead toward informality, questioning authority, and valuing freedom. Westerners pursue this freedom in all areas and at all costs. This leads Chinese to view Americans as disrespectful, selfish, or tending toward disorder and Americans to see Chinese as conservative, controlling, and old fashioned. This conflict in societies makes interacting on any level very difficult. However, these values only serve as fuel for other social conflicts in other areas.
If values are where a society begins, then thought patterns are the obvious progression in building a culture. Chinese values impact the thoughts of the Chinese people in a very definite way. The Confucius values they hold lead Chinese society to see themselves and their surroundings differently. As collectivists, the Chinese have “higher value placed on group cooperation and individual modesty, view relationships with others to include obligations, and place relationships over accomplishing tasks, (where westerners have) higher value placed on self-reliance, (and) self promotion is more accepted, avoid interdependent relationships that lead to obligations, and view relationships as less important than getting work done” (Quing, Li) Chinese also view it as more important to keep harmony than confront an issue, they call this saving face. Meanwhile westerners are more willing to confront others directly, criticize, and discuss controversial topics with little concern with “face”. Another difference in thought is that Chinese believe status is dependant upon one’s age, gender, and family while in the west status is based upon a person’s achievements. These very different thought patterns are a cause of great conflict as both dictate how their societies will act and interact with each other. It could be a disaster, for example for a distinguished Chinese gentleman and a young, outspoken, critical businesswoman from the west to sit down and discuss an issue the Western branch of a company is having with a branch of the company in China. While she may feel she earned her position and has valuable constructive criticism to offer, the Chinese businessman may take offense that he is dealing with a woman, being criticized at all, and feel like he has lost face in this situation. “The Chinese and Americans tend to resolve conflicts in different ways.” (Zigang) While these differences can be quite conflicting in the workplace, they are so in most other areas as well. It is almost impossible to have any type of personal or professional relationship without these issues getting in the way.
Another conflicting area between these two societies is behavior patterns. Again, the behavior of both societies stems from their differing values. The westerner’s value of freedom and the pursuit of individual happiness leads them to be more self-centered in most aspects. Chinese culture dictates, on the contrary, that actions stem from relationships. These behaviors also serve as a fuel for conflict as either way can seem offensive to the differing society. Most Chinese restaurants are built on atmosphere. The people, concerned more about making a family-friendly, warm, inviting atmosphere, will talk loudly and cheerfully. This often grates on the nerves of westerners whom want their peace while eating and would prefer a quiet dinner. “So, in many cases, much of the "uncivilized" behavior is in fact caused by cultural differences. Normal behavior in one culture may be considered "uncivilized" in another.” (Wen) While it may seem like both the practice of being inter-concerned and outer-concerned could exist peacefully, little differences in the two practices can lead to huge misunderstandings and conflict.
Relationships, as described before, are also very different between these two societies. While the Chinese focus on maintaining close-knit relationships with family and friends Westerners prefer to keep most of their relations at arms length, and focus more on themselves and their immediate family. Where parents wrap themselves up in their children’s school and social activities in the west, Chinese children learn to serve and honor their elders. While social media is becoming a big deal globally, western society considers a vast sea of acquaintances to be friends while Chinese societies are built on having close, life-long friendships with a few people. Because of the very different ways these societies build and maintain relationships it is easy for one to see the fault in the other and to be critical of these differences. It also make building relationships between individuals of these two societies very difficult as they value and treat relationships so differently. It would be very likely if a relationship were to develop in such a case that the Chinese individual would carry most of the responsibility for the relationship. Such an obvious one-sided relationship is never healthy.
Another difference between Chinese and western societies that proves conflicting is religion. While the west is built on freedom and integration, China is built on assimilation. Westerners practice many different religions, for different purposes, and some not at all. Those in the Chinese culture, however, practice exactly what they have been taught as there is very little acceptance for anything else. They also do not want to dishonor their families by breaking tradition and they even run the risk of being persecuted should they change their religion. While not everyone follows tradition, it is definitely the society’s acceptable way of practicing religion. The truth is that Chinese individuals are not allowed to choose things for themselves in most senses, unlike westerners. “Many Chinese have become American but few Americans have become Chinese.” (Tatlow) China is not a center for immigration. While people will flock to the statue of liberty, the land of freedom, they do not run to the Forbidden City. People want freedom, Chinese follow traditional religion that is bequeathed to them by their ancestors. The two religious ideas are completely different and there is more than a little friction between them. While this may not be as much of a strain in the U.S.A., it most certainly is in other places. Examples such as the underground church prove this. There is no question that conflict exists between these societies’ religious practices.
Chinese and Western societies are very conflicting in many ways. The values of each society both cause conflict between the two as well as fuel other differences. Thought, behavior patterns, relationships, and religiously are all so very different between the two cultures and provide barriers to peaceful communication, relationships, and co-existence. Differences in thought can lead to misunderstanding or not being able to understand one another. Differences in behavior patterns cause misconception among opposite cultures as to appropriateness in various situations. Differences in relationships can cause hurt, confusion, or cause people to feel either smothered or rejected. Differences in religion can become dangerous due to the abundance or lack of freedom or dedication. It may take great effort on both parts to learn to accept, tolerate, and intermingle with members of the opposite community. Both communities are so vastly different that this too can prove difficult as the masses in both societies would have to be educated regarding the other. Because this is such a great feat, the fact remains that these differences cause great stress and conflict in places where members of both societies are found.
Works Cited
Li Qing, "Face, Guanxi, Houmen(r) & Elastic Rules: Insight into the Chinese Culture.” Presentation at conference of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. 1995
Lo, Kevin D., Waters, Richard D., New Technologies, New Cultural Traditions: The Impact of Facebook on Chinese Nongovernmental Organizations.China Media Research. 2012
Ostrowski, Pierre, Penner, Gwen, It’s All Chinese to Me: an Overview of Culture and Etiquette in China, Tuttle Publishing, 2009 (pg3)
Tatlow, Didi Kirsten, The Puzzle of Identifying as Chinese, The New York Times, 2013
Wen, Gong, Cultural Differences Cause Chinese 'Misbehavior' Abroad, china.org.cn. 2013
Zigang, Zhang, Cross-cultural Challenges When Doing Business in China. Singapore Management Review. 2004
