論《喜宴》的中美面子文化差異

ChapterOneIntroductionTheconnectionbetweennationsisbecomingcloserintheageofhigh-speedinformationtransmission,andcross-culturalcontactalsohasasignificantimpactonpeople’sdailylives.Americans,however,finditchallengingtocomprehendfacecultureinaChinesesettingduringthecommunicationprocessbetweenChinaandtheUnitedStates.Asaresult,thereareseveralbarriersstandinginthewayofcordialinteractionsbetweenthetwonations.ThischapterthereforefocusesonthecontentofTheWeddingBanquetandtheconceptofChineseandAmericanfaceculture.1.1OverviewofChineseandAmericanFaceCulture“FaceisasimportanttomanastheBarkistothetree.”astheChineseproverbgoes.Theidiom“Deathtofaceandsuffer”andtheproverb“Moneyislikemudandafaceisworthathousanddollars”havepermeatedChineseculture.Faceculturedevelopsthroughmutualinfluence.AccordingtoChinesescholarsHuangGuangguoandHuXianjin,facerepresentsareputationthatiswidelyvaluedinChina,areputationgainedthroughsuccessandboasting,andareputationaccumulatedthroughpersonaleffortordeliberatemanagementasonemovesupinthelifecourse.Thatistosay,inChinesesociety,ifapersonwantstobecomeknownas“representingrepute”,itisnotenoughforhimtorelysolelyonhisownachievements;healsoneedstowintheapprovalofhissocialgroup.Inorderforinterpersonalcommunicationtobesuccessful,XuLishengbelievesthatthetwosidesofcommunicationshouldtakecareofeachother’sface,onlyinthisway,caninterpersonalcommunicationgoonsmoothly.Faceoccursinpeople’slivesasatypeofpsychologicalfeeling,andpeoplemaintaintheirownfacesaswellasthefacesofothersandoneanotherinordertomaintaincommunication.Peopleenjoyreceivingfaceasmuchastheyenjoygivingit.ThisreciprocalnatureencouragesgivingandcontributestoChina’sfaceculture.Inordertogainthefacethatisprized,peopleaspiretokeeptheirmoralintegrity.Theyobtainthereputationandthefacewhentheydeveloptheirskills,achieveinsociety,andmakecontributions.ThepsychologyoffacealsodevelopsintoaformofadhesivetosomelevelinChina,wherethehumannetworkiscreated.Thepsychologyoffacestrengthensinterpersonalcontactandcommunication,whichhelpstoconsolidatefeelings.Chinesepeople’sperceptionofthefaceisfoundedonthevalueofcollectivism,whichtakesintoaccountnotjustaperson’sreputationandsocialstandingbutalsohowothersperceivethemandtheirgroup(suchastheirfamily)aswellastheirsocialimpact.Onewilldevelopapositivesocialimageandprogressivelyestablishhissocialrankandreputationifsocietyrewardshisefforts.But,evenifsomeoneistalented,theywillnotbeentitledtothesocialpositioniftheydonotsucceedingainingface.Instead,theywillenduptooloftyandtoofew,orevenaloneandpowerless.AndtheconceptoffaceinWesterncultureisdividedintotwocategories:positivefaceandnegativeface.Positivefacereferstosocialinteractionsinwhichpeoplewanttheirpersonalperformancetoberecognizedandappreciatedbyotherssoastowinagoodsocialimagefortheindividual,establishahighersocialstatus,andexertgreatersocialinfluence.However,unliketheChinese,whenreceivingpositivefacesuchasaffirmationandpraise,Americanswillgladlyacceptratherthanresignthemselvestodepreciation,becausetheybelievethatacceptingothers’kindnessnotonlymakesthemwinface,butalsoisakindofaffirmationofothers’judgmentandmaintainseachother’sface.Negativeface,ontheotherhand,referstoanindividual’sbehaviorfreefromtheinterferenceandrestraintofothers,whichemphasizestheinviolabilityofindividualrightsandtherespectofothersforone’sfreedomofaction,reflectinganindividual-centeredsocialvalue.1.2IntroductiontoTheWeddingBanquetTheWeddingBanquetisdirectedbyAngLeein1993.GaoWeitongandSimonareshownlivingtogetherintheUnitedStatesinthisfilm,buthisTaiwaneseparentskeeppressuringhimtogetmarried.Todealwithhisparents,WeitonghadtohiremainlandfemalepainterWeiWeitoagreetoafakemarriage,butthislefthimunpreparedfortheparents’sudden,unannouncedvisittotheUnitedStatestoofficiatethewedding,whichiswherethefilm’sinconsistencyappears.WeitongandWeiWeiareonlymarriedunderfalsepretenses.Chinesepeopleplaceahighvalueontheirface;ifitisnotgiventothem,theywouldfeelextremelyhumiliated.However,theseareanincrediblethingforAmericans.BecauseforAmericans,theyjusttreatfaceaspartoftheirbody,theyalsothinkthateveryonehastheirownface,sowhyshouldothersgivefaceorgivefacetoothers.ChapterTwoManifestationoftheFaceCultureDifferencesbetweenChineseandAmericanintheWeddingBanquet2.1DifferencesonExchangingGiftsForChinesepeople,offeringgiftsisanessentialcomponentofinterpersonalcommunication.TheBookofRitessays:Ritesandcorrespondence,tocomebutnottocome,isnotarite;tocomebutnottogo,isalsonotarite.SincethemajorityofChinesepeoplestruggletoexpressthemselves,theyrelysolelyongiftstoshowtheirlove.Giftsarefrequentlyusedtoexpressgratitudeortodeliveraspecificmessage.UnliketheChinese,Americansusuallychoosegiftsthatarenottoovaluable,astheyconsiderthepracticalityofthegifttobemoreimportantthanitsvalue.2.1.1PursuitofValue—Gao’sMotherChinesepeoplegivegiftsnotjustasasignofpolitenessbutalsoasawaytoestablisharelationship.Thevalueofthegifthasalottodowiththefaceofthegiverandtherecipient.Weitong’smotherfliesallthewayfromTaipeitoofferherfuturedaughter-in-lawpriceygiftsinthemovieTheWeddingBanquet.Weitong’smotherprivatelygaveWeiweinotonlybigcashredenvelopes,expensivegoldandsilverjewelry,butalsoacheongsamboughtfrommainlandChinaasabridepricewhenWeitong’smothergotmarried.Giventhegreatvalueofthesegifts,itisclearthatWeitong’smother’sactionsprovideaclearexplanationoftheChinesecustomofgift-giving.TheexpensivebetrothalgiftfromWeitong’smother

notonlyshowshowmuchtheir

familyvaluesher,butalsohowmuchtheir

hopesher

futuredaughter-in-lawwillbeabletotakegoodcareofherson.WhensendinggiftsinChina,thereareavarietyofconsiderationstotakeintoaccount.Peopleshouldthinkaboutthegift’sworthaswellasifitreflectsthepositionandpersonalityofthegiver.Ingeneral,Chinesepeoplelookforvaluewhenpickingthebestgifts.Becauseexpensivegiftsshownotonlytheirownfacesbutalsothefacesoftheirfamilies.2.1.2ThePursuitofPracticality—SimonAmericansfrequentlyexchangegiftsasasignofcivility.Thesignificanceofthepresentismoresignificantthanitsmonetaryvalue.Givinggiftsisalsodoneinamorecasualmanner,withlittleregardfortherecipient’sorthegiver’sappearance.Eventhoughhehadtoinitiallyhidethisrelationshipfromhisparents,Simonchosethegiftspecificallyoutofrespectanddecencyforthetwoelderlypeoplewhotraveledfromadistance.SimonexemplifiedtheAmericanethicofpracticalityinhispresentselection.SimondecidedtogivehimabloodpressuremonitorasagiftbecauseofGao’sfather’spoorhealth.Givenherelderlyage,SimondecidedtogiveGao’smotheranourishinglotiontotreathercomplexion.Gao’sfather

approvesthepresentwhenhisbloodpressureistakenagainlateroninthemovieandacrucialsceneinvolvingthebloodpressuremonitoroccurs.However,SimoninformedeveryoneinChinesethatUncleGaohadaweakheartandhighbloodpressure.Abloodpressuremonitorallowedhimtobeproactiveanddeterminewhethertherewaseveranythreat.AuntieGao,thisisacreammadeforseniorwomentopreventskinageingbyrubbingalittleunderiteverydaybeforebed.Whenthetwoelderlypeopleheardthis,theywereembarrassedtolookfoolishratherthangratefulforthepresent.AlthoughSimoncouldspeakChinese,hehadnounderstandingofChinese

face

culture.Topicslikedisease,death,andagingareforbiddenfortheelderlyduetoface-savingandshouldbecommunicatedusingeuphemisms.However,Simonbroughtouttheelderly’svulnerabilityonthepsychologicalfrontinpublic.2.2DifferencesonToastsToastingisaformofsocialcommunicationthatnotonlystrengthensexistingrelationshipsbutalsoforgesnewones.ToastsinChinaandAmericaareverydissimilar.InChina,toastingandinterpersonalinteractionsgohandinhand.Chinesepeopleenjoymakingfrequenttoastsatbanquetstoexpresstheiradmirationandexcitementforoneanother,whichishowthetraditionofpersuadingpeopletodrinkbegan.PeopleintheUSappreciateeachother’sfreedomofchoiceanddon’tcoerceoneanotherintodrinking.2.2.1PursuitofInsistingDrinking—ChineseThetoastcultureinChinaisalsoquitesignificant.Theface

culturehasanimpactonthiscultureaswell.Itisconsideredcourteoustodeclineatoast.Somepeoplemightevenassumethatyourejectedeachotherbecauseyoulookdowntheotherperson,showanairofsuperiority,anddidn’twanttodrinkthebeveragetheyofferedyou.ThismoviecontainsasegmentthatlargelydepictsChinesetoastingcustoms.ThebrideandgroomcustomarilytoasteachtableattheweddingofWeiTongandWeiWei.Whentoastingeachtable,thegroomoftenjustneedstohaveoneglassofwine.WeiTongsometimeshadtoconsumeexcessiveamountsofwineinordertopreservebothhisownandothers’reputations,whichwasthesocialnormwiththelowestmoralstandards.Ifherefuses,firstofall,theguestwillfeelembarrassed,hewillbeconsideredrudeandfeminine,andhewilllosehispopularity,whicharethelastthingsChinesepeoplewanttohappen.Weitongisnottheonlyone,though,whodrinksasaresultoffacialissues.Innumerousscenesthroughoutthefilm,visitorswhohaveconsumedtoomuchalcoholhurrytotherestroomtothrowup.Theseinebriatedindividualsareforcedtoconsumethewinethatpracticallyeveryoneprovidesinordertocarrytheenormousburdenofface.2.2.2ThePursuitofSingle-TimeDrinkingPerspective—AmericansWeiTong’sAmericanfriendsalsoapproachtoastinginadifferentwayduringWeiTongandWeiWei’sChinesewedding.WeitongandWeiweifirstmadetheirwaytotheirAmericanfriends’tableduringthetoast.Weitongpouredatoastandthankedeveryoneforcoming.AftertheAmericanguestssatandrespondedverycasually,thecouplewenttothenexttable.Inthisscene,WeiTong’sAmericanfriendsdidn’tstandup,astheChinesedo,theyjustsatintheirseats,liftedtheirglassesandtookasip.Itisclearthattreatingguestswithrespectduringthetoasting,asopposedtomakingthemdrink,isanessentialcomponentofaformalmealintheUnitedStates.Thus,itisnotdifficulttocomprehendSimon’sandtheAmericanguestsperplexedlooksduringtheChinesetoastsceneinthemovie.2.3DifferencesonWeddingCeremonyThedebateabouttheweddingisoneofthemainsourcesofconflictinthemovie.WeiTong,forhispart,doesn’twanttoinvestanymoretimeoreffortinthisfictitiousunion.Butforhisparents,theweddingismorethanjustawedding;it’samilestoneintheirlives,andtheywanttocelebratebyinvitingeveryonetheyknow.BoththehugeandextravagantChineseweddingandthesimpleandfriendlyWesternweddingarevividlyshowninthemovie.ThesignificanceoffaceinChineseandWesternculturesisreflectedinthesetwoweddingceremonies.2.3.1PursuingOstentation—Gao’ParentsInChina,ifthehostdoesnotinvitesomebodytoaweddingorburial,familyandfriendswillassumeyoudisapproveofthem.Inaddition,themoreguestscometothewedding,themorethehostisrespected.Chineseweddingsplaceastrongemphasisontheceremony’ssolemnityandlinkthissolemnitytothestabilityoftheunionandthefaceofthefamily.GaoMu,whoshowssorrowanddisgustattheeaseofWestern-stylemarriagesmirroredhisfather’s,stated,marriageisaonce-in-a-lifetimething.Chinesepeoplebelievethataweddingisalargeritualmeanttohighlightthesolidityofamarriage.Additionally,theweddingwillhavemorefaceifmoreguestsattend,thedowryismoreexpensive,andtheceremonyismoreelaborate.Atthesametime,amarriageinthepresenceofmanyguestswillbecomeadisgraceifitisnotstable.Thus,alargeweddingaidsinmaintainingahappymarriage.Contrarily,accordingtotraditionalChinesevalues,thelargertheweddingpartyandthemoreguestswhoattend,themorerespecttheweddingfamilywouldreceive.AstorybyGaoFu’sformerassistantLaoChenisatruerepresentationoftheface-savingmentalityofChinesepeopleinChineserestaurants.LaoChen,asubordinateofGao’sfather,complainedthatGaoWeitongwasconfusedandcomplainedthathedidnotrespectGao’sfather’sfaceasadivisioncommander.LaoChenfeltthatasasubordinateforhisownson’sweddingbutalsosetupabanquetofmorethan20tables;andasadivisioncommander’sson’sweddingwithoutabanquetisnottogiveGaofatherface.AfterhearingthesewordsfromLaoChen,Gao’sfather’soriginallytautfaceimmediatelyrevealedasmileofrelief,becausethesewordswereexactlywhathewasreallythinkinginside.Thenumberoftablesattheweddingbanquetisproofofthehighsocialstatusofthehostofthefamilyandthenumberofrelativesandfriendswhohavefriendships.Fortheinvitedguest,itisalsoanhonortoattendthewedding,andthefamilyhostingtheweddingreceptionvaluesthemaintenanceofinterpersonalrelationshipsbetweenthetwopartiesbeforeinvitinghim.Fortheinvitedguest,itisalsoanhonortoattendthewedding,andthefamilyhostingtheweddingreceptionvaluesthemaintenanceofinterpersonalrelationshipsbetweenthetwopartiesbeforeinvitinghim.Guestsattendingtheweddingarealsogivingfacetothehost.Inthemovie,forinstance,itbecomesclearfromtheirchatthatWeitongandXiaoLuodonotsharethesameinterests,despitethefactthatXiaoLuoisinvitedtotheweddingcelebration.XiaoLuocomplainedattheweddingreceptionthatwehavebeenfriendsforsomanyyears,buthetoldmehewasgoingtogetmarriedonlyaweekago,whichindicatesthathebelievesthedelayintellinghimabouthisemotionalprivacyisunimportanttotheirrelationshipandalackofface.Themajorityoftheguestsattheweddingreceptionarefriends,justlikeXiaoLuo.Imaginehowhumiliatedthecouplewouldhavebeenatthisweddingifthesefriendshadnotbeenallowedtoattendtheweddingreception.ThehundredsofyearsofChineseweddingcustomsthatstillexisttodayandhaveevenspreadovertheglobearearesultoftherequirementforfaceforboththecouple’sfamilyandtheguests.TherehasalwaysbeenaneedforfaceandaneedforrelationshipsamongChinesepeople,andtherehavealwaysbeenexcitingweddingreceptions.2.3.2PursuingSimplicity—Gao’sViewsBecausemarriageintheUnitedStatesissolemnandsacred,theceremonyistypicallyperformedinachurchwiththepriestofficiating.TheAmericanvaluesofindividualismandsimplicityinmarriagearestronglyintertwined.Theydon’tunderstandthevalueofturningalavishweddingintoaface-savingoccasionbecausetheyviewmarriageasatwo-personaffairthatdoesn’tneedtobesharedwithanyonewhoisunrelatedtothenewfamilytheyarecreating.ThemajorityofAmericanweddingstakeplaceinstatecourts.Beforereligionandthelaw,thecoupleexchangedkisses,madewishes,andhadtheirpicturestaken.Afterthat,theirmarriagewasformallyrecognized.GaoWeitonghaslivedintheUnitedStatesforaverylongtime,andthishashadasignificantimpactonhisthinking.Becauseofthis,thesceneinthemovieisn’treallyportrayedasaChinesewedding.Thefilmdepictsanotaryatthecityhallwherethenotaryaskstheguestsiftheyhaveanyobjectionstothecouple’sunion,andaftertheyhavenoobjections,thecoupletakestheirvowsandafterthevowsareread,thecoupleputsthetwoweddingringsfromtheBibleoneachotherandthegroomkissesthebrideandtheweddingisover.TheceremonyconcludeswiththegroomkissingthebrideandthepairexchangingtwoweddingringsmadefromScripture.TheparentswerereallyupsettofindthattheirsonplannedtoconducthisweddinginaccordancewithWesterntraditions.Theythinkthatonlyalavishweddingcanhelpthemdealwiththings,sothistimetheyraisedmorethan$30,000forthecouple’swedding,whichtheyareunabletojustifytofriendsandrelatives.ButGaodisagrees.Anotherfactorcontributingtothisdisputeisalackofcomprehensionofthefaceculturesonbothsides.2.4DifferencesontheWayofFaceMaintenanceThewayoffaceismaintainedinthefilmismostlyreflectedintheeverydaydialogueofthecharacters,whichincludesaddressing,greetingandcomplimenting.AstherearemanydifferencesbetweenthefaceculturesofChinaandtheUnitedStates,thecharactersinthefilmcommunicateinmanydifferentwaysandmaintaintheirfacesinverydifferentways.2.4.1SalutationChinaisreferredtoasthecountryofceremoniesanditspeoplearerenownedfortheirmannersandmannerisms.Chinahasa5,000-yearhistoryofculture.Addressingsomeoneproperlycanindicateiftheywillbeappreciatedandtreatedwithrespect.Inthemovie,SimonsuggestsinvitingGao’sfamilytosupperattheChineseRestaurantinManhattanafterGao’smothercomplainsthattheweddingistoomodest.LaoChen,whohasbeendrivingaJeepforGao’sfatherformorethan20years,alsohappenstobetherestaurant’sowner.WhenGao’sfatherfindsoutthatLaoChenistheproprietorofthiseatery,hedecidestoadoptthename“BossChen.”However,ChenhimselfcontinuestocallGao’sfatherandmother,GaoWeitong,“Master,MadamandYoungMaster”inaveryhumblemanner.However,theAmericansaredeeplyinfluencedbytheChristiancultureandaresimpleanddirectintheiraddress,reflectingtheAmericanideaofindividualismandtheimportanceofsavingface.Inthefilm,whenSimonmeetsLaoChen,thesubordinateofhisfather,hefeelsthatLaoChenisnotcompetitivebecauseofthetaboooftheword“l(fā)ao”inAmerica.Therefore,insteadofaddressinghimasLaoChen,asGao’sfatherandmotherdo,SimonaddresseshimdirectlyasUncleChen.2.4.2GreetingsThebiggestdifferencebetweenChineseandAmericangreetingsisthetopicofconversation.ThemostcommongreetinginChinais“Haveyoueaten?”“Whatareyoudoingthesedays?”etc.togreetsomeone.Oftenthepersonbeinggreetedwillanswer“Haveyoueaten?”or“Whatareyoudoingthesedays?”dependingontheirsituation.Inthefilm,GaoWeitonggreetsMao’sparentswhenhegoestopickupMao’sparents,whomGao’sfatherandmotherhaveintroducedtohim.ThisChinesewayofgreetingshowsconcernandmakesthepersonbeinggreetedfeelwarminsideandsatisfiedwiththeirface.Incontrast,theAmericangreetingismorehomogeneousandnotasdiverseastheChinesegreeting.WhenSimonfirstmeetsGao’sparentsinthefilm,hesimplyexpresseshiswelcometothemanddoesnotexchangemanypleasantriesasGaoWeiTongdoeswhenhemeetsMao’ssister.ThisismainlybecauseintheUnitedStatestheyrevereindividualismandconsiderpersonalprivacy,suchas:age,income,familytiesandreligiousbeliefs,tobesacredandinviolable.ItfollowsthatgreetingChinesepeople,whoarecollectivists,shouldbemorecaring,astheycraveattentionandrecognitiontomakethemfeelrespectable.WhengreetingAmericanswhoemphasiseindividualism,youshouldtrytoavoidgettinginvolvedineachother’sprivacytoavoidunnecessarytrouble.2.4.3ComplimentScholarsfromChinaandtheUnitedStateshavefoundthatpraisestypicallyrefertosomeone’sappearance,possessions,accomplishments,andabilities.TheprimaryfocusofChinesecomplimentsonsomeone’sappearanceistypicallytheirlooking,age,andweight;incontrast,complimentsonsuccesstendtofocusmoreonposition,income,skill,etc.Inthefilm,Gao’smotherandLaoChenareexchangingpleasantrieswhentheysaythathehasfinallymadeitout.Healwaysbentoverwhenhespoke,thusshowinghisrespectforhisparents.HiswordsandactionsperfectlyillustratetheChinesecultureofetiquette.Inaddition,theexchangeofpleasantriesbetweenGao’smotherandLaoCheninthefilmalsodemonstratestherespectandpreservationofeachother’sface.ContrarytoChina,wherethereisanunderlyingeuphemism,Americanssimplycomplimenteachotheronthebasisofthefactstodemonstraterespectforothers.Theyalsocomplimenteachothersodirectly.TheadulationwilllikewisebeacceptedandlavishlyreciprocatedbyAmericans.ChapterThreeReasonsfortheDifferencesbetweenChineseandAmericanFaceCulturesFacecultureisubiquitousandconstrainedbyavarietyofcharacteristics,amongwhichculturalinfluencesplayasignificantroleandrequirein-depthcomprehension.Consequently,inordertocomprehendthedistinctionsacrossfacecultures,athoroughunderstandingoftheparticularcultureisrequired.3.1DifferencesinGeographicalFeaturesTheformationofanycultureisinextricablylinkedtosuchobjectivereasonsasgeography,andwhatmakesChina’scultureuniqueisdirectlyrelatedtoitsgeographicalenvironment.Thecountry’sgeographyiscomplexandinancienttimesonlysimplemeansoftransportsuchashorse-drawncarriageswereavailabletocommunicatewiththeoutsideworld,whichcreatedstabilityinthewaypeoplelivedinancienttimesandformedamorestablegrouprelationshipbetweenpeople.Thevalueofcollectivismisalsodeeplyimprintedinpeople’sminds,thusinfluencingtheChinesecultureofface,wherepeoplevaluehowothersperceivethemandalsovaluethefaceofthegroupasimportant.Asaresult,wheninteractingwithChinesepeople,oneneedstotakeintoaccounttheotherperson’sface.Undersuchenvironmentalconditions,itisnotpossibletoformstablecollectiverelationships,andthecollectiveconsciousnessisnaturallylighterthanthatoftheChinese,Americandonotvaluethefaceofthecollectiveorothersandareself-centeredineverything.Insuchanenvironment,theAmericancultureisdominatedbyindividualism.However,thevaluesofindividualismincludeindividualroles,independence,personalchoice,self-reliance,andthepursuitofindividualdifferences.AndthevaluesofindividualismarealsodeeplyimprintedintheAmericanmind,thusinfluencingtheAmericancultureofface-saving.Asaresult,Americanshavemorerespectfortheirownviewsandalsovaluepersonalfacemorethanothers.3.2DifferencesinWayofThinkingChinesepeopleliketoanalyzeandconsidertheproblemfromtheperspectiveofthewholefirst,andthengotothepart,pursuetheharmonyanddialecticalunitybetweenthings,liketoseetheoppositesofthingsasaninseparablewhole,tendtoemotionallogic,soChinesepeopleliketoexpresstheirideasinanindirectway,andmaintainfacealsousetheindirectway.Westerners’wayofthinking,ontheotherhand,isquitedifferentfromtheChinesewayofthinking.Theyliketoconsiderproblemsfromthepartsfirst,andthenconsiderthewholeofthings,formingawayofthinkingfromtheparticulartotheuniversalthatisdifferentfromtheChinese.Westernersbelievethatitiscrucialtomaintainpersonalindependenceandautonomywhensolvingproblems.Sotheywanttheirpersonalfreedomtoberespected,andtheyreflectthischaracteristicwhencommunicatingwithothers,focusingonthemaintenanceofnegativeface.3.3DifferencesinReligiousAccordingtoMr.LuXun,Chinesefaceculturearisesandoriginatesfromtheconceptofmoralsupremacy.Chinesepeoplerelyonthefamily,attachimportancetothefamily’sinheritance,stabilizethefamily’sstructure,maintainthefamily’sface,andundertakethemissionofrevitalizingthefamily.AllthishasbecomethebasisofChinesesociety’sritualsandrites,andhasformedthefaceculturethatcontinuestothisday.Therefore,Chinesefaceisnotonlythefaceoftheindividual,butalsothegloryofthefamily,thecollectiveandthenation.Confucianismhaselevatedthissocialrelationshiptoaritual,whichhasbecomethestandardofmoralityforChinesepeopleforthousandsofyears.Peoplerespectfamilyties,thinkabouthumanfeelings,valuehierarchy,andcherishreputation,soChinesepeoplewanttoberecognizedbysocietyandrespectedbyothers.TheAmericanfacecultureoriginatedfromancientGreekcivilizationandisdeeplyinfluencedbyChristianculture,whichadvocateshumanisticthinking,pursuesfreedom,democracyandequality,anddarestoexpresstheimportanceoftheprotectionofindividualrights.Therefore,Americanspaymoreattentiontopersonaldignityandimageinsocialinteractions,andaremorelikelytoformequalcontractualrelationshipswithothers,andtheirfacecultureismoreindependent.ChapterFourCopingStrategiesinCross-culturalCommunicationDuetothedifferencesingeography,lifestyle,behaviour,interaction,historicalbackground,politicalsystemandeconomicsystem,thewayofthinkingbetweenAmericansandChineseisverydifferent.Thesearecrucialmethodsandskillsforinterculturalcommunication.Ifpeopledonotaccuratelyunderstandandassessthevaluesofothers,itcaneasilyhindercommunicationandproducenegativeresults.BothChinaandtheUnitedStatesmustacknowledgethesignificanceoffaceintheirrespectiveculturesfortheculturalexchangetobesuccessful.4.1ChoosingAppropriateCommunicationTopicsThereisasignificantdifferenceinhowAmericansandChinesethinkduetothegeographicalenvironment,lifestyle,behavior,communication,historicalbackground,politicalsystem,economicsystem,etc.WhereasAmericansconcentrateonnature,science,andtechnology,Easternersconcentrateonhumanities,ethics,andmorality.Americansaremorerational,logical,andextrovertedthanEasterners,whotendtobemoreconservativeandintroverted.WhereasAmericanslookforchange,rivalry,anddistinction,Easternersexpectharmony.Inordertoavoidmisunderstandingsandunpleasantnessandcreateapleasantenv