Encountering the Chinese: a Modern Country, an ancient Culture

With thought-provoking glimpses into history and tradition, “Encountering the Chinese” (178 text pages) provides basic background on Chinese cultural norms and values, giving a clear context for contemporary social standards. Readers gain a far better grasp of how to build satisfying personal and professional relationships with the Chinese, both in China and in Western nations.Chapters include (2) Greetings, Conversations, and Farewells, (4) Appointments, Visiting, and Time Use, (6) Making Friends with the Chinese, (7) Education and Training among the Chinese, and (8) Negotiating and Institutional Decision Making. Especially insightful for some readers is (9) The Concept of “Face” in Chinese-Western Interaction.A 50-page Part II provides Advice for Westerners Living and Working in the PRC, including matters such as accepting, refusing, & giving invitations; lending and borrowing; gift-giving; suggestions about queuing, and social aspects of traveling.When the Third Edition of “Encountering the Chinese” was being finalized, the former British Cultural Counselor in Beijing, Adrian Johnson, read the entire draft and made detailed suggestions. Readers can be confident of learning how Chinese norms have been changing. For example, compliments were once declined out of modesty, but now in coastal cities they're often appreciated.Hu Wenzhong is a professor of intercultural communication at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Cornelius Grove is founder of the global business and leadership coaching consultancy Grovewell LLC. Zhuang Enping is a cross-cultural trainer and a professor at Shanghai University.Don't miss Cornelius Grove's blog, "Pleasures & Perils of Writing Non-Fiction."