Insights into Chinese Culture

Every morning Ian Tovey gave us information about Chinese culture and rituals. He prepared six modules wich provide new insights into how Chinese people think and live. It is completely different from France or Western countries. We learned a lot of interessant things we didn't know. Here is an overview of these short conferences.

Who is Ian Tovey ?

Ian Tovey was born in Great Britain and studied for his MA degree in Modern Languages (German and French) at Oxford University. After this, he moved to Lyon, France, where he took up an assistant position in the English Department at the Université Lyon 2. During the initial years in France, he continued his language studies and also took a DESS / MBA degree in Management at Université Lyon 3.

After having also lived a total of three years in Germany, he started working for EMLYON in 1984, initially in the field of English Language and Civilisation but soon went on to contribute, in collaboration with German and Japanese colleagues at the School, to the development of various courses and modules in Cross-cultural Management and Communication, as well as Comparative Business Systems, for the MSc and MBA programmes.

Apart from his teaching activities, Ian Tovey has held a number of administrative posts in the the School, such as Assistant Dean for International Relations and Head of the Bachelor Year (Grande Ecole Programme). He was appointed Director of Programmes on the Shanghai Campus at the start of 2009.

Anchor 1

Anchor 2

Programme of modules

1) Some meeting rites and communication

2) Family and relations

3) Some fundamental social values/clichés ?

4) Guanxi = "networking"

5) Face

6) Final wrap-up

Some basics of Chinese philosophy :

Unlike the Western linear conception of time, the Chinese one is cyclical. The purpose is not the result at the end of the line but the journey itself inside the cycle, the way you are getting things and the interactions you have.

Roughly 60-70% of Chinese people consider themselves as « non religious » but it doesn't mean they can't have a kind of spirituality.

Harmony is a basis of Chinese way of thinking. Eg : shouting at someone destroys harmony.

Energy is also a important concept. You have to regulate it into your own body, by getting evething out (spitting...) and preserving it (drinking hot water...). Energy needs to circulate into the house (whence the feng shui) by opening windows to renew the air.

Chinese culture still rooted in Confucianism. This philosophy serves as a guideline for a moral life. Family is paramount as the most important social unit.

In the Confucianist conception, children have the moral duty of perpetuating the family and making sure that the society will develop. Chinese men have to get married at the latest when they come of age at 30.

Children's duty is also to make their parents happy and proud of them (studies, social position...)

Confucianism is also the basis if the Chinese conception of hierarchy.

Family is a used as a marketing argument (advertising...)

Young people are more open and receptive to older ones than in Westen countries, older people are very integrated in society. Mixed couples between a young Chinese and an old Western person are quite common.

Collectivity is a strong value of Chinese culture. You have to act for the good of the community, the family... Individualistic behaviours remain scarce, despite the modernization and opening of China.

Money is an ancient but growing value of Chinese society. Money gives face. While the previous generations saved it, the younger ones are more likely to spend it.

Nationalism and patriotism is strong in China. The Chinese government maintains the idea of China being the centre if the wolrd, with advertisements about China's greatness... The CCP, Chinese people and China are all one, united to defend and promote the country on the international stage.

Relations

- In a business diner, the CEO faces the door. The highest people in the hierarchy are beside the CEO. At the other side of the table, there are people with lower rank like secretary or assistant.

- Young child lives with their grand-parents.

- Some parents go to special park to try to marry their child. They go with a sign which there are some information about their child.

- 5 important relationship: the father and the son; husband and wife; elder and younger brother; sovereign and the citizen; teacher and pupil.

- Long term relationship is qualified as an ability to make those plan, to know how to prepare that. But in China they don’t anticipate.

- Chinese use Guanxi. Guanxi means a mutually beneficial relationships; a contact network.

Tips to be a perfect French Chinese

1) Hand objects to people with both hands, it is a sign of respect.

2) Always have your business card on you.

3) Give it with both hands, turned so that the other person can read it.

4) When you are given a business card always study it before you put it in your wallet.

5) Avoid direct refusal.

6) If you offer a gift avoid all spiky shapes.

7) Buy a very expensive watch to seem important.

8) Small talks are really important, never go straight to the point.

9) Never mention the three T (Taiwan/Tibet/Tiananmen).

10) Never ever express directly your opinion, rather try the indirect way.

11) Don't be surprise if there is a long silence after you've spoken. Let the other person think about what you've just said.

12) Don't shout, people will think you've lost control control, you will no longer be worthy of any respect.

13) Conform to the way Chinese people see relationships. They are always unequal, be submissive if you have to for instance never contradict your boss.

14) Never take a relationship for granted you have to mantain it.

15) Develop your guanxi (contact network) and mix public and private life.

16) If you have a problem use the spheres of influence in your guanxi rather than chosing direct confrontation.

17) Don't forget who you owe a favour to and who owes you a favour.