On the Eastern and Western Cultures as Reflected in Differences in Food Culture

黃卓 張海南

【Abstract】When talking about differences between Eastern and Western culture，we should first think of the eating cultural differences.There are many differences in Eastern and Western food cultures，in this paper it will introduce the different food concepts，the different eating goals，the different eating habits，etc.A comparison study of Chinese and Western food culture still makes sense through the analysis of cultural differences between Chinese and Western food，we can understand their own cultural traditions in China and the West.At the same time it is able to carry out improvement and innovation of Chinese culture.Throughout the comparisons，coupled with the differences of the concept of Western food culture，objects，methods，ownership and nature，it studies these differences，identifies areas for mastery of the place，promotes cultural exchange.Thus it enables China to the world，and to make the world know China better.

【Key words】cuisine； food art； cross-cultural communication； diet differences

1.Introduction

Food is essential for the survival and human development conditions.There are two peoples desires in life： One is the assortment of food to enable them to survive，while the other is to satisfy the desire to help mankind to propagate the human race.Faced with two kinds of demand，China concentrates on the former，while the West tends to the latter.This phenomenon affects the culture and trends.

Chinas history of eating habits is also a part of Chinese civilization.However，in Western countries，they will not consider food as a culture.There are many differences in attitudes，objectives，mode，ownership and nature.They had reflected the different countries and different cultural characteristics of the diet，and these features had enriched the food culture of research value.Studying these different cultures，we can find that if we learn a comprehensive study of this issue，we can enhance communication between China and the Western countries.

2.1 Differences in concepts

2.1.1 Rational Diet.Chinese and Western food have differences between the concept that can not be ignored.Western diet is a rational concept，they only concern the intake of the calories，vitamins，protein，etc.They do not taste too much in pursuit of food，but more from a nutritional point of view to understand the diet，obviously，this is a sensible eating.

2.1.2 Delicious food awareness.Chinas diet is a diet conscious of persuading beautiful.When people taste dishes，they said that this dish is “delicious”，that dish is “not delicious”.It shows that the Chinese people are just the food “emotion”.Even people often say “color，smell，and shape” so that make “ambit” crystallize.In the pursuit of the beauty of Chinese cuisine is clearly overwhelming the rational pursuit.

2.1.3 The effect of western food culture.Throughout the Western philosophy，western diet is affected by the Western Metaphysics.This philosophy has brought vitality to Western culture.So natural sciences，psychology and methods achieve rapidly development.In other areas，the impact of this philosophy is a significant barrier，such as food culture，which is inevitably caused to fall behind and characteristics of metaphysical philosophy exist everywhere.

2.2 Differences in cooking methods

2.2.1 Chinese cooking methods.In China，there are many kinds of cooking ways，for example fried，deep-fried，simmered to burst，fried，braised sour and so on，it can make sorts of dishes.In the opinion of a master chef，cooking like making crafts also has profound knowledge.Even the same dishes，different cooks will make different flavor.

2.2.2 Western cooking methods.Western cuisine cooking method is mainly burned，fried，roasted，fried，simmered，and a variety of raw materials rarely mixed with each other.In dishes，fish is fish，chicken is chicken，even the condiments are added when they eat.The whole cooking process is relatively standardized，the amount of spices add precision to the grams，and cooking time accurate to the second.Cook like chemical laboratory experiments member.

2.2.3 Comparison of Chinese and Western cooking styles.As the standardization of production of Western dishes，cooking becomes a mechanical job.As long as enough nutrition standards，others are not important.In China，cooking is an art，which embodies the rigor and improvisation of reunification.Cooking in China has been very enjoyed and interesting，and even it is with a certain amount of game play attracting forward to the joy of eating for life in China.

2.3 Differences in Diet Attribution

2.3.1 The eating purpose of Chinese and western.When the food culture develops rapidly，the trends show in different purposes： the former is a nutritional development，and the latter is the stress on the taste.Western diet focusing on eating is only an extension of food availability.The taste of Chinese food is mainly focusing on art.

2.3.2 Chinese food art.Chinese cuisine tends to artistry，so-called artistic realm； in fact，it is an absolute leap from necessity to free.It is characterized by randomness.For example，a similar dish，because of in different regions，seasons，goals，functions and tastes，it has different treatments on operation.In the West，in different regions，different seasons，different customers eat food，which have the same taste，and no changes.

2.4 Differences in natural areas

Diet in China and the West relate to their respective differences in the nature of the lifestyle and the pace of life.In the West，people do the duplication of pipeline operations，and implement piece-wage system，so the paces of their lives are so fast.People intentionally or unintentionally think that “work is work，game is game.” But China is not，“This game is a work，and the work is also a game.” Such attitudes also emerge in diet.A baker selling bread in the street，he liked to use scroll bar beating rhythm when they are kneaded flour chopping block.Working in this atmosphere will be meaningful，but also there will be more creative and artistic Chinese cuisine.

Conclusion

This paper is an attempt to the analysis of cultural differences between Chinese and Western food.Throughout the comparisons，coupled with the differences of the concept of Western food culture，objects，methods，ownership and nature，it studies these differences，identifies areas for mastery of the place，promotes cultural exchange.Thus it enables China to the world，and to make the world know China better.

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