Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-08-15
CHINESE ETIQUETTE.
Social Rules that Are Observed Ri gidIy
in the Celestial Empire.


in the Celestial Empire.
Turning to their social characteristics,
we find that the one thing after the pos
session of the thirteen classics on which
the Chinese specially pride themselves is
politeness. And truly, if national refine
ment is to be measured by the mien and
carriage Of its people, the Chinese are en-
titled to high place among the children
of men. A Chinese Official in full cos
tune is a most imposing figure and car
rles himself with great dignity and self
possession, albeit he is usually some four
or five inches shorter than the average
American. In this respect he owes much
to his long dress, but more to the patient
study of an art now almost monopolized
among Americans by aspirants to the
triumphs of the stage. There is not a
single awkward movement as the Chinese
gentleman bows his visitor into his house
or supplies him from his own hand with
a cup of tea which is indispensable to all
interview. Not until his guest is seated
will the Chinese host venture to take UP
his position on the right hand of the
former; and if, in the course of an ex-
cited conversation, either should raise
himself, however slightly, from a sitting
posture, it is the bOunden duty for the
other to do so too. No Chinese gentle
man will sit while his equal stands. DC
casiOnally, where it is not intended to be
ovGr-reSpectful to a visitor, q servant will
bring IN the tea-One cup III each hand.
Then, standing before his master and the
guest, he will cross his arms, serving the
guest, who is to his right, with the left
hand, his master with the right. The OBJ
ject Of this is to expose the paln.-in Chi
nese the heart-of either hand to each
recipient of tea. 1t is a token of fidelity
and respect.
The tea itself is called 'guest tea" and
! &c of mt 1o1 for 1riy1 hn,
more useful mission than that of allaying
thirst. Alas for the barbarian" who
drinks off his cupful before ten words
have been exchanged and confirms the
unfavorable opinion his Chinese host al
ready entertains of the manners and GUS
toms of the West! And yet a little trou-
bic spent in learning the quaint ceremo-
MES Of the Chinese would have gained
! him much esteem as an enlightened and
tolerant man. For while despising
Western men outwardly. the Chinese
grandees know well enough that inward
ly Western men feel themselves supe-
rior, and thus it comes to pass that q
voluntary concession on the part of
Americans or Englishmen or Frenchmen
on any of these points Of etiquette is al
ways most amiably acknowledged.
10 return to our mutton, guest tea IS
used as a signal by either party that the
interview is at an end. A guest no soon
er raises his cup to his lips than a dozen
voices shout to his coolies to bring his
chair; So too, when the master of the
house is prevented by other engagements
from playing any longer the part of host,
he makes a motion as if to drink his tea,
and forthwith the guests chair is called
for. Without previous warning-unusual
except among intimate acquaintance
this guest tea is never to be touched eX-
cept as signal of departure Strangers
| IN 0c,l- ,ah
other their names, their provinces and
their business prospects: 1t is always
considered a compliment to an old China
man, who is justly proud Of his years. to
inquire his age, and it takes the curious
form of Your venerable teeth" but mid
dle-aged Celestials do not as rule, care
about the question and their answers can
rarely be depended upon. 1t is also good
form in China TO ask the number and
sex of mans children; also if his ia
Their and mother are still ''in the half
/. e., alive. His wife, however, must
never be alluded to, even in the most in
direct manner. Friends meeting, either
or both In sedan chairs, stop their bear
ers at once and get out with all possible
expedition; the same rule applies to ac-
Quaintances meeting on horseback.
Chinese etiquette is a wide field for the
student, and when the ''open door" we
hear so much about has become a condi-
ton instead of theory it will have to
be studied more closely by all the West
ern nations. Just at present, however,
it is something of paradox to find that
in the capital city of 1.-The politest nation
of the earth the lives of the ministers
of foreign states are not safe. This
stamps the Chinese as essentially the
''barbarians'' which they consider all
other people, because one Of the first
principles established among nations
fully emerged from primeval savagery is
that the persons of ambassadors and
their suites are at all times even on the
outbreak of war, exempt from assault
and outrage.-Baltimore Sun.