Chinese table manners are the traditional styles that are used for eating in the region of China. In most dishes in Chinese cuisine, food is cooked in bite-sized pieces and easy to hold and eat. Therefore, chopsticks are used at the table instead of forks and knives.[1]
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There are many eating manners that one must pay attention to which date from the time of ancient China, such as how to sit in a banquet or the placing of the cutlery, and so on. Etiquette governs nearly every action at the table. Some rules were out of courtesy and identity, and were called by ancient Chinese "respect for manners"; some others were traditional; and some only concerned the behaviors of certain groups of people (especially women) and were actually not necessary. Whatever their origin, these rules show ancient China's dietary habits and food culture, and some of them are still followed in modern Chinese life. Compliance with these rules sometimes signals a person's status, culture, and family education to others. Because the custom of using banquets to solve problems in business, for friendship, and even in officialdom by the Chinese people, ones should pay great attention to the manners by the table and especially to the Chinese eating taboos.
Eating is a dominant aspect of Chinese culture, and in China, eating out is one of the most accepted ways to honor guests. Similar to Westerners drinking in a bar with friends, eating together in China is a way to socialize and deepen friendship.[2]
Table etiquette is very important to Chinese people. In Chinese culture, using correct table manners is believed to bring “luck” while incorrect use will bring shame. Similarly, table etiquette indicates children’s educational status: holding chopsticks incorrectly leaves a bad impression and shames the parents, who have the responsibility of teaching them.[2][3]
Honourable people would take the seats of honour, and humbler ones then sit according to status; elders sit facing the best direction; and teachers seat themselves in a place of honour relative to their students. When sitting at a rectangular table, elders sit at the shortest side of the table, against the back wall of the room and facing the door, then the others judged by their ages sit from inside to outside; in the case of a round table, the most inside seat is left for the elder to show his venerability.
There are many traditions that govern table manners in China such as the correct treatment of guests and how to use chopsticks correctly. Although each Chinese household has its own set of table manners and rules, the foundational traditions used to welcome guests are the same.[4][5]
There are common rules for inviting guests over.[3][6][5] When the guest of honor enters into the room, the hosts stand until the guest of honor is seated. The host then orders the dishes brought, and the guest should be silent. When the dishes arrive, the meal begins with a Toast from the host, and the guests then make a toast in turn in the honor of the host. The guest of honor should be the first one to start the meal. The best food in a dish should be left for the guest of honor. When the hostess says her food is not good enough, the guest must be courteous and tell her it is the best food he has ever tasted. Guests should never “split the bill” with the host. A guest who “split(s) the bill” is very ungracious and embarrassing to the host. However, it is expected for the guest to offer to pay for the meal multiple times, but ultimately allow the host to pay.
Since chopsticks are often used in many dishes in Chinese cuisine, knowing the correct chopsticks usage is essential. The most common chopsticks usages are the following:[6][5][7]
The chopsticks with different length shouldn't used on a table:
in the old times, the below part of Coffin was made with two short boards to the both heads and another three long ones to the bottom and both sides, this type was called “Three Long Two Short”, implied the disaster, so when it is not necessary, for all the things that may described by “long” and “short” it should avoid the saturation of “Three Long Two Short”.
“Immortal Guiding” means that one uses the thumb, middle finger, ring finger and little finger to hold the chopsticks, but points the index finger to the others. Because the index finger is actually is the finger for meal, using this finger to point to the others stands for censure.
The much worse case is to use the four fingers except middle finger to hold the chopsticks and to use the middle finger to point.