The study of human beings and their ways of living has been an ongoing activity for many scholars for as long as the human race has been in existence. Different populations of human beings exhibit different social, economic and political ideals and the degree of variations depends on the regional distance one population is from another. Variations are notable in human elements such as culture orientations and cultural beliefs, the social activities embraced by these population groups, the major economic activities and occupations of members of these populations and the political ideologies subscribed upon by these population groups. One of the longest cultural dynamics that defines a people’s culture is that of nutrition . From time immemorial, different groups of people have obtained their foods differently and have been consuming different kinds of food from plants and animals of species. In the ancient communities, the obtaining of food was either through hunting or through gathering. Their modes of fulfilling nutritional needs and requirements differed extensively especially if compared between the culture of the people of the west and those of the eastern regions of the world. For example, there are a number of great variations known when one compares the nutritional cultures of the Chinese people and the American people. This study outlines the nutritional cultural beliefs that surround the Chinese people of the oriental region of the globe. In general, the Chinese people area known globally to possess a rich culture and appreciation for food and nutrition. Specifically, the study discusses the food types eaten by this population, the species of animals and plants consumed by this population and the mode of obtaining these varieties of animals and plants used for food whether through hunting or gathering.
As part of the Chinese culture, food is a very significant component of relationships. In fact, food is one of the social instruments used to cultivate and maintain relationships between members of a community or a population when shared . There are several Chinese festivals where certain foods provided have a direct significant meaning. For example in the Chinese Spring Festival, the organizers serve dumplings as a sign of expressing human interpersonal relationships and their relationship with God . Apart from using food to obtain new friends, food in the Chinese culture also finds a role in expressing the type of relationship an individual has with a fellow community member. For example, if the relationship between two or more different members of the community is very respectable, very expensive and rare dishes will be served or else if it is just a work relationship the most kind of servings notable are lunch box meals . Lovers will always find fun in sharing dinner lit with candles . Generally, a meal for a special or respectable friendship or relationship within the Chinese community will consist of not less than four cold dishes and not less than eight hot dishes served together with soups and accompanied with fruits .
Apart from forming and defining relationships, food is also an object of defining the social status of the consumer . In this case, the most wealthy and affluent members of the community will readily afford very expensive food types such as animal proteins from animals such as the fins of a shark, lobsters and even bears’ paws . Comparing regional food demographics defined by the staple food of choice between the northern and the southern Chinese regions, it is obvious to say that the staple food of choice for the northern people of china is wheat and wheat products while for the people of the Southern part of China, rice is the preferred staple food .
As earlier mentioned, food is an important component of social functions and events. Food accompanies most social functions whether it is a wedding, a rite of passage ceremony such as circumcision, whether it is a ceremony welcoming the birth of a child or congratulating success . For example, the Americans would prefer to eat turkey as a sign of thanksgiving or during a thanksgiving ceremony . On the other hand, the Chinese would prefer to eat turkey garnished with Chinese herbs . The turkey can even be sliced and rolled in Chinese steamed buns or pancakes after garnishing it with Chinese herbs such as Sichuan peppercorns or with the Chine five-spice powder . However, the Turkey is not really the most preferred bird for a thanksgiving celebration. The most preferred bird for the Chinese associated with their thanksgiving celebrations are ducks and chicken . For desserts to accompany the turkey during the thanksgiving ceremony, the Americans would prefer to eat pumpkin pie while the choice dessert foods for the Chinese are cassava and sweet kabocha squash soup made with coconut milk . Apart from thanksgiving ceremonies, the Chinese population is also global map for annual cultural festivals that appreciate revered elements in their traditions. For example as a way of showing reverence for the mythical creature, the dragon, the Chine people routinely celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival for which rice dumplings are always served . Other festivals include the Mid-autumn festival in which people eat moon cakes and the spring festivals in which people eat dumplings . Children celebrate their birthdays by being served with noodles, which signify the longevity of life though with time the Chinese are also borrowing the serving of cakes from their western counterparts .
Similarly, food to the Chinese people is very symbolic . The usage of food to interpret different life meanings is an age-old tradition amongst the Chinese population. For example, luck is associated with such foods like oranges and even chestnuts . Chinese dates are associated with fertility in the sense that they signify early conception between couples . On the other hand, peanuts and noodles are associated with the longevity of life while seaweed is a food of the wealthy . Similarly, rice cakes signify a year of promotion while pear could signify separation between relationships . Sending wine to the bride’s home is part of the custom requirements that accompanies a Chinese wedding . Finally, food in the Chinese culture finds application as a tool to reward good deeds or achievements or to punish vice or failure . For instance, parents reward their children with the food types they desire which are mostly candies as a sign of appreciating their good deeds or achievements while children who misbehave or do not succeed are deprived of these foods .
In the Chinese culture like many other cultures around the world, women play a significant role in food selection and preparation . Majorly men would be the leaders in the process of food acquisition through faming practices, hunting or other forms of breadwinning ventures but the women take it up from there in determining what food is prepared on what occasion to whom and the type. Following the Chinese culture, most Chinese families would have up to three meals a day that comprises of breakfast, lunch, and dinner though greatly determined by the social class a family belongs . The most affluent would have the most meals while the poorest would occasionally afford less than three meals a day .
In summary, food and nutrition helps to determine the cultural orientation of a given group of people. Different groups of persons in the global population separated by regions and distance have different nutrition and food preferences determined by their socioeconomic and political orientations and . Food types mark significant times and occasions in the lives of different groups around the world with specific foods signifying varying interpretations. For instance, in the Chine culture, food works a tool for creating and strengthening relationships and friendships . The function of food amongst the Chinese population finds diverse use in applications such as celebrating life of a newborn, showing appreciation for good deed and achievements, exhibit respect, and express love . In other words, the place of food in the cultural lifestyles of different peoples of the world including the Chinese in itself is irreplaceable and as such, food will continue to define a people and distinguish one group of people from another. This is best expressed in the words of the Brillat-Savarin saying that goes like ‘Tell me what you eat and I'll tell you who you are’ .
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