论文总字数：31157字

摘 要

不可否认，酒在人们的生活中无处不在，从简单的家庭宴会，到大型的聚会聚餐，与此同时，也没有任何一种饮料，能够像酒一样深受不同人种、不同肤色、不同国籍、不同习俗的人们的普遍喜爱。中西方虽然同样都很喜欢酒，但由于中西方的地理环境、思维方式和价值观的不同，造成了中西方酒文化的种种不同。本论文从跨文化交际的角度分析酒的起源、酒的种类和饮酒礼仪，旨在帮助人们理解中西方酒文化差异，促进跨文化交流。

关键词：中西方；酒文化；饮酒礼仪

Contents

1. Introduction 4

2. Literature Review 2

2.1 The Background of the Study 2

2.2 The Current Study of the Difference of Wine Culture between China and the West 2

3. Difference of Wine Culture between China and the West 3

3.1 Origin of Wine in China and the West 3

3. 2 Kinds of Wine 4

3.3 Drinking Etiquette 7

4. Reasons for the Difference of Wine Culture between China and the West 9

4.1 Difference of Geographical Environment 9

4.2 Difference in People’s Way of Thinking in China and the West 10

4.3 Difference of Chinese Values and Western Values 11

5. Conclusion 12

Works Cited 13

1. Introduction

With the development of history, wine has become an integral part of human lives. Wine’s connotation is fire but exists in the form of water. Since ancient times, water and fire are incompatible, except in the wine. Not only the Wine can dampen the hearts of sorrow, but also ignite the inner fire. Wine, like blood, flow in every ethnic culture. In Chinese culture, the wine is as cultural consumer goods. In the family and friends gathering, drinking the wine can create promote feelings. In the eyes of Westerners, the wine is a special art, which has charm and life. Westerners will naturally love it, drink it, and appreciate it in heart when they face this fascinating art, which is full of the sanctity and life. It can be said, wine has penetrated into all aspects of social life, including politics, economics, literature, art, food, health, etc.

Because of the long history of wine, wine culture along with the formation of it has a long history. Whether in ancient and today, China or the West, wine culture plays an important role in understanding of human culture. Overall, the Chinese wine culture is with the Brew master temperament, while Western culture is rich in one kind of wine Dionysus spirit. Chinese wine culture is like a detached Brew master, in pursuit of a desire to forget the wine realm, while Western wine culture is like a mad drunken Bacchus, in pursuit of a realm of indulgence using alcohol.

This study talks about the difference of wine culture between China and the West through several aspects of the comparison of the origin of the wine, the types of wine and drinking etiquette. It can help people get to know more about Chinese and Western culture, and also help people make transcultural communication successfully.

2. Literature Review

2.1 The Background of the Study

Most of the former scholars have studied on the difference of wine culture between China and the West, but lots of research on the natural properties of wine and social properties of wine, such as dinking vessel and drinking manner. In the west, cultural studies are almost around these two aspects, such as the study of wine tasting and table manners. As we all know, when wine appears, the wine culture also produces at the same time. Wine culture is an important role in people"s social life and there are a lot of studies of wine culture. So the study of the difference of wine culture between China and the West is common and important.

2.2 The Current Study of the Difference of Wine Culture between China and the West

There are many reasons for the study of the difference of wine culture. Firstly, the wine exists everywhere in people’s lives. Besides, it is more and more important to understand wine culture between China and the West with the development of international communication. The achievement of the study the difference of wine culture between China and the West is impressive.

In recent years, there are lots of study on the difference of wine culture between China and the West.Chu Peng points out that wine roots deeply in material and spiritual life of human being and becomes a social cultural phenomenon. He analyses the difference of wine culture between China and the West from three aspects, the kinds of wine, the meaning of drinking wine and the functions of wine. Besides, the author also elaborates the causes of the difference of wine culture, which includes the natural environment, the different beliefs and different values.

This article, based on previous studies, will analyze the differences of wine culture between China and the West through the origin of wine, the kinds of wine and drinking etiquette. As we all know, it is often controversial in the origin of the wine. For example, in China, it was considered Yi Di, but others agreed Du Kang. In the West, there are different versions, such as the Greek legends and the Bible. When we study the cultural differences of wine, we would also explore the deep-seated cultural reasons to get to know and understand the differences and to better promote transcultural communication.

3. Difference of Wine Culture between China and the West

3.1 Origin of Wine in China and the West

In China, wine has more than 5,000 years of history, and appeared in the Long Shan Culture period (about 5000 years ago) .Yi Di and Du Kang are consider the originators of wine-making in China. Some people thought that Du Kang introduced new winemaking techniques, which is to occupy the 4,000 years of history. And in the nongovernment, more people were inclined to the point that Du Kang was the first person who made the wine. According to legend, Du Kang, a grazer, who accidentally lost a small bamboo with millet congee when he was grazing. After half of month, he regained and unexpectedly discovered that small rice was changed to a mellow scent of nectar. Therefore, Du Kang stopped grazing to open wine shop and brew wine. That was a legend. Since then, Du Kang had become synonymous with wine.

Of course, some people believed that Yi Di is the first person of brewers. Legend has it that Yi Di created the wine in the Xia Yu period. “Lv Shi Chun Qiu”, the history books of second century BC considered that Yi Di made the wine. Liu Xiang, a Han dynasty person made the further explanation. “To the effect that Xia Yu’ wife ordered Yi Di to supervise people brew wine. After some effort, Yi Di made ​​out of wine tasted well, and dedicating to Xia Yu. After drinking, Xia Yu felt really good”(Kang Minggong 2003:142)To people’ surprise Xia Yu, praised “prince of the Holy Spirit ", did not reward Yi Di of brewing, but alienating from him with no trust and reusing. Besides, he was from the wine and said that there would be a king who could not govern the country well because of excessive alcohol consumption in the future generations.

In fact, wine with food‘s program and process was very complicated and it was difficult to complete through personal power. Even though Yi Di had the capability, it seems unlikely that he firstly invented wine of making. He could be a good brewer, craftsmen, masters, or supervising officer of wine and he spawn the fine texture of the wine mash with summing up the experience of their predecessors and improving production methods, which is possible. Anyway, for the history of wine, we are with a very clear and detailed record.

In the West, even though they do not have much detailed records about wine history, a beautiful legend about the origin of the wine still handed down. Ancient Egypt that wine is invented by the deceased"s patron saint Orinoco Sith, but the Greeks considered that Dionysus brought wine into the world. “Bacchus brewing" is the most widely circulated in these legends. “Dionysus is the god in Greek mythology, who is said to be son of the father of the gods Zeus and the Theban princess Sammy Li. Hera burned Sammy Li because of jealousy. Zeus rescued Dionysus and sewn on his thigh, and feed him for a second birth” (Bernard Evslin 1984:16) Eno and the goddess fairies of Hill wood brought him up. He was wandering in Asia Minor Thrace and Greece, and spreading growing grape and winemaking techniques.

There is another viewpoint that is based on the Bibble.In the eighth and nine chapters of Genesis in the Bible, it had talked about that God decided to send in a big flood on the earth to remove all evil creatures when he revealed the emergence of the world of evil and greed. Noah was in Noah’s Ark and survived in the flood. In the mountain Ararat, Noah began farming the land and planted the first strains of grapes .After that, Noah started brewing.

3. 2 Kinds of Wine

3.2.1 Chinese Wine

Chinese wine culture is colorful, like the formation and development of Chinese wine varieties. In accordance with the operational habits, Chinese wine can be divided into six categories: Huang wine, liquor, Fruit wine, beer and wine Liqueur. Each category can be divided into more categories by origin, raw materials, process characteristics, flavor and more. For example, according to the level of flavor, liquor can be divided the five categories: Mao-tai flavor liquor, Fen flavor liquor, Luzhou flavor liquor, rice flavor, and other flavor. Moreover, the same flavor of the wine’s aroma and flavor will have their own characteristics because of differences in natural conditions origin and the details of the different process operations. China’s wine culture has a long history. Though Huang wine is undoubtedly the oldest wine, the most representative of Chinese wine is white spirit. In some ways, it can be said that China’s wine culture is white spirit culture. Because in many kinds of wine in China, it has a long history, mature technology, and so far remains the world"s largest production of distilled liquor. Chinese civilization originated in the Yellow River, where it became a big agricultural country early with the fertile soil and mild climate. Chinese food grains and cereals have big production with various kinds. It is enough to meet people’s need of eating food .After that, there is a surplus, which laid the foundation for grain brewing.

3.2.2 Famous Brands in China

Guizhou Mao-tai, the jewel in our famous wines, is the country liquor of the People"s Republic of China and foreign liquor, which is brewed by the magical wisdom to improve the precision of the beam and take the soul of wheat with capturing irreplaceable microbial fermentation in special environment. It is arched wine culture monument. Mao-tai is made of high quality sorghum as raw material and uses our traditional unique brewing process carefully with the seven times distillation and nine times fermentation. The last but not least is after a long cellaring made. The entire production cycle takes nine months, and it becomes the finished product of factory generally after 5 years’ cellaring. Mao-tai alcohol, white body, is sparkling prominent, elegant and dedicated, which is all perfect and a long aftertaste. The air is fragrant and refreshing after opening Mao-tai bottle. When you pay more attention on Mao-tai alcohol, you will find that it is like slightly sweet flavor .The most feast is to drink it, you will feel like a thin breeze into heart and trickling stream into mind.

You"ll feel cool with three cups and fragrant in all mouth with a drop in lip. This is the people"s praise for Yi Bin Wuliangye, the famous wine in country. Wuliangye, originally called “grains wine ", is brewed carefully with five grain including rice, glutinous rice, maize, sorghum and wheat. In 1916, wines the Panama International Exposition gold medal. In 1929, Yanghuiquan, the Qing lifts, changed its name because of inelegancy. So it was renamed “Wuliangye”. According to experts, Yibin Wuliangye wine cellar is a relic of Ming Dynasty, which is a history of more than 500 years. Wuliangye is a liquor bar, which is characterized by: fragrance, softness and sweet entrance. I would like to quote a coffee ad word to describe it, of course, which can not be compared. It is “Good to the last drop”. Yibin brewery uses unique technology and a long tradition of fine crafts to make wine, which is well -known not only in domestic but also exported abroad.

3.2.3 Western Wine

And known as the cradle of Western civilization, Greece is located in the Balkan Peninsula, surrounded by the sea and the mountains and islands throughout the territory. (Hugh Johnson 1992:58)The soil is relatively barren, and is typical Mediterranean climate. It is not conducive to the growth of food crops and cereal crop yields low, which is only to meet consumption and difficult to have surplus used to make wine. But grape liking gravel soil with its drought tolerance and adaptability to the Mediterranean -type climate was widely grown in Greece .Wine liquor meet the needs of Westerners.

3.2.4 Famous Wine in the West

Foreign distilled spirits (referred to wine) can be divided into brandy, whiskey and rum, according to the manufacturer of raw materials .There are also high- alcohol wine like vodka. The most famous Brandy is produced in France. There are two famous French brandy areas: one for the Cognac region, another for the Armagnac region. Name brand includes Hennessy, Remy martin, Martell, Courvoisier, Bisquit privilege, Louis Classic, Angler, Otard and Camus.

French brandy (BRANDY), a spirits, is distilled from wine or fruit fermented and it should be kept in barrels after a considerable time. Countries all over the world produce brandy, but the best wine is made ​​in France. So the French brandy is the best and COGNAC BRANDY is particularly well-known in the world. The quality of cognac brandy higher than others is not only because of the special distillation techniques in the region, but also the soil in the area and good weather, which contributes to the particularly good grapes. There is a strong smell of brandy, therefore, you can make desserts, puddings, cakes and ice cream more delicious with a little when you make them. All brandy can be adjusted to a variety of mixed drinks.

“Ancient Irish called whiskey Visge-Bestha and ancient Irish was called Visgebaugh, which both contain the means,” water of life” After a long period of evolution, it is called Whisky”(Philip Murphy 2000:86)Whiskey’s main raw materials are barley, rye and corn, and are carried into old barrels with fermentation of years after fermentation and distillation. Whisky is mainly made from English-speaking countries. The most famous and representative categories are Scotch whiskey, Irish whiskey, American whiskey and Canadian whiskey. Scotch whiskey has a unique style and the liquid is clear and bright with red in brown wine. Its taste is strong, fresh, round and soft.

3.3 Drinking Etiquette

Schopenhauer once said: "Wine is a person"s intelligence test.”. We can see how important the drinking etiquette is. During the drinking, not only the masters ‘optional wine tastes and guests’ capacity for liquor , but also the personal accomplishment is considered. Every step in the drinking has stress. There is a big difference in every aspect, like different occasions, different countries and different wines. There may be a farce if the viewer is not aware that.

3.3.1The Etiquette of Pouring

Pouring liquor’s action is "one take, a ramp and a place” in reality, but it contains a major problem in this simple “take, oblique and put”.

"Shallow tea and full of wine” is a unique phenomenon of China"s food culture, which reflects the owner"s hospitality and enthusiasm. “We usually like that goblet are full of wine when pouring, but if you are drinking with the literati, do not fill the cup when pouring and you should fall to 1/2 full for the best, which is half a cup” (Jiang Yanfeng 2006:108) Pouring half a cup is very different from “full of tea, deceptive; full of wine, respect for others”. In fact, the latter is most suitable for drinking among the civilian population. In some important occasions, it is a good choice to comply with 1/2 full but not cupful.

In the West, the cup is usually 1 / 3 when pouring red wine but the white wine is 2/ 3. Cognac pouring into the cup is about an amount (1 /2). Champagne should be in 1 / 3 firstly and then further continued to 70% full cup until the wine foam subsides. It is appropriate to places 3/ 4 when it is beer. In this case, the contact area to air is larger when we shaking glass of wine, which allows the wine to release more flavor. In a full cup, on the contrary, it made ​​no blessings to enjoy this magnificent smell feast.

3.3.2 The Etiquette of Toasting

Toasting is usually divided into formal and informal toasting. Chinese official toast is after the host and the guest seated and before beginning to eat. In the western banquet, the owners usually toast to guests after entrees and not on the beets. Ordinary official should be followed to formal toasting. It is important to choose a convenient time to toast the object, like the mouth without chewing food. In this case, the other side may be willing to accept your toasting. If the opportunity is not appropriate, it is likely to cause embarrassment. When you are toasting, you need to watch each other and at least drink a little to show respect.

In the Eastern banquet, the guests should stand up and drink off to indicate acceptance of respect, when the owner toast to them. If you are not a good drinker, people can order tea or juice instead of wine.

Business banquets in the West , when the owners toast separately to the guests, the guests do not have to stand to drink, but should toast another guest to show that he can not master’s respect exclusively and is willing to share and transfer the master’s respect. It should be noted that it usually only uses in champagne to toast and does not clink in the Western banquets .Besides, it is extremely impolite to toast to people who are far away from you and ignore someone who is near you.

3.3.3 The Etiquette of Cheering

Cheering means that you persuade someone to drink or suggest people to drink together while we are drinking. When people are cheering, people tend to drink a toast. Sometimes the both sides should touch the glass, which is also known as the clink glasses.

In China, it is suitable that someone propose the toast needs who can be the masters, the guest or any other person in the presence of alcohol. Proposing a toast should stand up with right hand to reach for the glass and the left to prop the bottom of cup. Needless to say, you should face the others with sweet smiles. After the owners or others propose a toast, the guests should stand up and hold glasses. When Cheering, people need to say “Cheers " and drink a toast or drink an appropriate amount .The last step is to hold wine glasses and look at each other. Poor drinker can drink tea instead of wine or touch the glass with lips to show respect for others. When people are toasting with each other, they can touch the opposite side’s glasses to express your respect, but do not overexert .In addition, people should make their own wine glasses is slightly lower than the other. If people are far away from the object, you can make it flexible. That is to make the bottom of the cup be touched lightly with the desktop. In doing so, it is also equivalent to clink with each other.

In the West, clinking and inducing toasting are undesirable behaviors, so toasting etiquette applies only to Chinese banquets.

“Knowledge in wine", a small glass of wine contains very much knowledge and you can look at a person"s cultivation of knowledge. Really good drinkers, they do not only to drink, but drink in a skill. In the growing development of international exchanges, wine culture sweeps the world in today"s society. If you want the perfect performance in social occasions, you should learn how to make good use of wine and truly meet the drinking etiquette

4. Reasons for the Difference of Wine Culture between China and the West

4.1 Difference of Geographical Environment

Geographical environment is different between China and the West and planting crops is also different. In China, the most unique and notably grain is using rice as raw materials for brewing, Huang wine and liquor, which can be called food wine. The features of western wine are wine, brandy, which is using grapes as raw materials for brewing.

China has a lot of fertile land and mild climate. It is very suitable for cultivation of crops and agricultural development is very fast. China is very early to become a major agricultural country. There is a large variety of grains and cereals with bigger food production. A lot of people will use grain brewing Chinese characteristics liquor and Huang wine.

In most Western countries, their main points are in animal husbandry or commercial and agricultural is supplemented. Places and climate in many parts are not suitable for the most crops, but then growing grapes is very beneficial there, which also makes the grape yield and quality be second to none. Therefore people can make wine in large quantities. Take ancient Greece for example, known as the cradle of Western civilization, where is located in the southern Balkans and surrounded by the sea. There are lots of mountains and islands of territory in Greece and most areas are barren slopes .It is a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and rainy summers and the river is normally dry in the summer. Such natural condition is extremely unfavorable of general crop growth and many crops are difficult to survive. But the grapes have the strong drought tolerance and a lot of Greeks plant grapes.

4.2 Difference in People’s Way of Thinking in China and the West

The different culture has different influence on the people’s points of viewing world, so the mode of thinking must be different. To the same thing, drinking wine, people may have different purposes. (Liu Yaofeng 2007:12) Carefully pondering, you can find such a rule that Chinese people’s drinking attention is who drink alcohol to and the drinking atmosphere; Westerners pay more attention on wine and depend on what kinds of wine to drink, so they intend to enjoy fully the delicious wine itself.

In China, the wine is often used as a tool. It is called that a wine lover"s mind is not dipped in the wine, but dwells in nature. People rely more on the pursuit of something other than alcohol. People often want to discuss official business or talk to a private matter when they are drinking. In short, the behavior of drinking is just an auxiliary of expressing the mood (Du Li 2004:21) .It is not to drink alcohol, but to complete something else with the effects of alcohol they want to use. Therefore, you can always find the wine on the Chinese people’s table, whether it is the holidays or people tend to discuss business .The wine is the intermediate hub of all, which links with subtle emotions among people, and people rely on drinking more the pursuit of stuff than wine. Qingmeizhujiu is to demonstrate who the hero is, but Jiangjingjiu is to eliminate sorrow with somebody. In the eyes of the Chinese people, wine is more as a communication tool. Chinese people drinking alcohol is to express the mood, so long as there is appropriate justification, everyone can let each other drink to show friendship and sincerity. Urging people to drink is a typical manifestation of Chinese people’s hospitality, but which is often not understood by Westerners. Chinese people’s hospitality is expressed perfectly in the banquet and people’s emotional exchanges will be sublimated in the toast. China is the ceremonies, and its communicative advocate is subtle. People can say a lot of words that can not be said at ordinary times or even curse after drinking. Drinking can help the Chinese people to achieve communicative purposes. So the wine culture in China for the wine itself is the lack of scientific and systematic theoretical analysis and evaluation with more concerning about whether bringing a wonderful effect after drinking.

In the West, the purpose of drinking is often very simple. There is a very fine requirement that the occasion is corresponding to what kinds of wine to drink. Finger Guessing is not fashion and out of banquet. Western aesthetic is direct and formal, without the aid to achieve communicative effects by alcohol .In other words, Westerners to drink wine to enjoy it. Of course, wines in the West have communicative function, but more people are seeking how to enjoy the taste of wine .Comparing China and Western wine culture, you can find the difference between wine cultures is actually a different way of thinking between China and the West. Chinese intend to the style of divergent thinking; Westerners are the style of straight thinking with meticulous drawing.

4.3 Difference of Chinese Values and Western Values

Individualism and collectivism concern is the degree of social recognition for personal achievement and interpersonal relationships. Individualism promoted individual rights and freedoms, but the relationship between people is very loose; while collectivism emphasizes close contact between organizations and individuals. China’s drinking culture is clearly collectivism. The so-called "one person does not drink ", which is the general rule of Chinese people drinking (except alcohol addiction) Western culture emphasizes individualism and personal development. In their minds, their ability and personality is more important than organizations, and they are more concerned with themselves.

It is very common that many Chinese people are drinking excitedly together. Of course, it must have rules when so many people are drinking. Chinese’s drinking can reflect the respect for people who drinks. Who is the master and who is the guest. People will have a fixed seat and have a fixed order of toast. Toasting is starting from master, and when the owner didn’t finish it, others are not qualified to star. You will be punished if you are out of order. The toasting must start from the most distinguished guests with full wine glasses, which also expressed respect for the human toasted. Someone needs to take the initiative to toast, like juniors to the elders, lower to higher level; besides, the emphasis is that the master must drink it firstly. The Xing Jiuling and Finger Guessing Game drinking etiquette are made to allow people to enjoy themselves to the full. “Clearly, the Chinese wine culture is deeply affected by Chinese traditional ethics and cultural seniority hierarchy, and it puts the respect for human beings in the most important position during drinking alcohol”(Zhu Xixiang 2003:58)

However, the Westerners’ drinking can reflect the respect for the wine. In other words, they are tended to personal freedom and enjoyment. For example, when tasting wine throughout viewing its color, smelling its fragrance and its taste, people should mobilize all the senses to enjoy wine. In order of tasting, the westerners always gradually deepening to enjoy wine flavor changes in accordance with the law of change of taste, which is like drinking red wine after drinking white wine, drinking lighter bodied wine firstly and drinking the wine to drink young wine then drinking wine of the long year. The choice of wine is also centered on how to spell the wine drinker’s requirement of full enjoyment of. Tulip goblet --making the aroma convergence cup, decanter wine --the full stretch of wine and mastering wine tasting temperature are specially designed thermometers, which all reflect that Westerners concern more about personal feeling.

5. Conclusion

Wine is an objective existence of the material, and is a kind of culture. Wine culture, as a special form of culture, penetrated into all areas of social life. In the gathering, wine is a necessity. For such necessities, China and in the West have different interpretations. The major difference of this study is that the past tends to explore the physical level of wine culture as well as ancient poetry, ancient politics and drinking etiquette for different discussion. The analysis of Chinese and Western cultural differences wine from the transcultural perspective helps us to understand what lies behind the wine culture styles, a variety of cultural and national significance. It also helps people to successfully do transcultural communication and cultural exchange and plays a positive role in promoting cultural exchanges for China and other countries, which is more conducive to harmony and development of the entire world.

Works Cited

[1] Bernard Evslin. Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths. Laurel Leaf：Reissue edition，1984

[2] Hugh Johnson, the Story of Wine. Fireside Books, 1992

[3] Philip Murphy, What Is Wine. Allenamp; Unwin, 2000

[4] 朱希祥，2003，《酒趣》.上海：上海学林出版社

[5] 康明宫，2003，《酒文化问答》. 北京：化学工业出版社

[6] 杜莉.《中西酒文化比较》.扬州大学烹饪学报，2004(1)：23-25

[7] 蒋雁峰，2006，《中国酒文化研究》.湖南：湖南师范大学出版社

[8] 刘耀锋，《简论中西思维方式的差异》. 新学术，2007(2)：12-14

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