论文总字数：28534字

摘 要

电影《刮痧》描述一个中国家庭由于中美文化差异造成的的困难生活。几千年的中医疗法刮痧，但在美国却被认为是虐待儿童的证据。本文以文化价值观差异为基础，从家庭，朋友观，中国人的“面子”问题三方面探讨中西文化价值观差异，着重研究造成中美文化价值观差异的主要原因，即历史，宗教，教育方面的差异。笔者认为,要想与来自不同文化的人们顺利地进行交流，就必须熟悉和了解其文化价值观差异，提高跨文化交际的意识和能力。

关键词：《刮痧》；中美文化价值观；差异

Contents

1. Introduction １

2. Literature Review １

3. Cultural Values Differences in Guasha Treatment ２

3.1 Different Ideals about Friendship ２

3.2 Different Views on Families ４

3.3 Different Face Problems ５

4. Reasons for Values Difference in Chinese and American Culture ５

4.1 Influence from History ５

4.2 Influence from Religions ６

4.3 Influence from Education ７

5. Approach to Bridging Cultural Values Differences ９

6. Conclusion １０

Works Cited １２

1. Introduction

As one of the most popular films released in 2001, Guasha Treatment made the cultural differences between China and America a hot topic because of the sharp conflicts reflected in the film. The film tells the story about a young couple— Xu Datong and Jian Ning— who immigrated to Middle America, and they have a lovely son. They are wrong accused of child abuse owing to American miscomprehension of Guasha Treatment—an ancient oriental practice that releases toxins from the body by scraping the skin at relevant acupuncture points. Later, Datong suffered a lot. He was abandoned by his best friend and lost his job. He was forced to separate from his wife and his son. And he had to send his old father back to China who had come to America and intended to enjoy a good life with him. All of those clashes were attributed to this different cultural value.

And this paper discusses the cultural value differences between China and America based on the film Guasha Treatment.

Guasha Treatment is a Chinese folklore for thousands of Chinese traditional therapies. With a small and hard plate dipped in water or oil scraping the patient’s chest, back, etc, local skin congests and it reduces internal inflammation. Other diseases, like heat stroke, acute enteritis, food poisoning can be treated by it. But in the United States, especially in the conservative and the stubborn residents, it is not accepted by Americans. United States do not have time and interest to understand the cultural roots of the other side of the planet: they only act according to their own judgment. For example, when Dennis hit the supervisor’s children in the game, Datong asked his son to apologize, but the son was unwilling to do that, to educate his son and show respect to the boss and his family, so he slapped his son. He believed this was to give face to the boss. However, Americans categorically insisted: playing the children is the devil, for the respect of others, abusing the children is unreasonable. Many Americans accept this life credo: Every man is for himself and God is for all of us. Every man is the architect of his own fortune.

2. Literature Review

Belonging to history and social factors, value is one of important factors that influence the effects in cross-culture communication. There is no double that China and America are playing an important role in the world, so it is important to understand the cultural values differences between both countries.

In the past few years, many studies have done on the cultural values differences between China and America. According to Mr. Hofstede, people’s behavior is closely related to the cultural value. Knowing the difference is benefit to understand the behavior of different culture level. Studying these differences is good to improving cross-culture communication. Zhao Fang talked about the China and western countries differences from Chinese and Western thinking patterns, social customs and religions. And Li Huiyuan has made a great contribution to the study of cultural value in values orientations. Although, they have made a number of explorations, there is not a specific study on the cultural values differences in China and America. Guasha Treatment is a traditional therapy in China, but it is seen as child abuse, so we can obviously find cultural values differences in Chinese and American culture communication.

3. Cultural Values Differences in Guasha Treatment

Values are acquired: it is a kind of belief and an intangible thing. In every culture, there always exists one’s own culture on universal values culture, which is called “cultural values.” Cultural values determine people’s social behavior norms (Yu Jie, 2003: 67). Values are useful, correct, valuable creed or characteristics, which are deemed by a group of people. A nation’s culture generally has its systematic and integrated values, although there are numerous exceptions in any culture, we can still accurately state or generalized nature against a specific culture. For example, we can say that Chinese focus on etiquette, ritual and status. By contrast, Americans put the emphasis on straightforwardness and equality. One can understand a country’s culture background, but they may not understand their values in a certain part. Datong is a living example.

3.1 Different Ideals about Friendship

In the film, Datong said, “I love the United States: here is my home!” Eight years of American life has made him confident that he is an American, but his bones are rooted in traditional Chinese culture, and that’s difficult to change. After Dennis and a friend’s son fight, Datong beat Denis, his own son. The American friend cannot understand this; for he thinks it is an abuse of children. And it is more difficult for him to know that Datong’s beating aims to maintain his face. As we all know, Chinese people are very sensitive to friendship, they would like to make friends with a lot of people. Sometimes, they chat with each other, and they talk about work, life and children. In Datong’s opinion, he educated his son, on one hand, he has this obligation, and on the other hand, it is good to improve friendship. And Datong insisted, “Beating is love” and so on.

Friendships have different meanings in America culture. Edward Steward amp; Milton Bennet said America People’s friendships, “While many Americans remain friendly and non-positive relationship, they rarely have the deep one. (Edward, 1991: 32) America friendship is built on the mutual attraction. On one hand, people choose their friends, and on the other hand, they separate it with social or work obligations.” In China, as to friendship, the longer the better, and the more obligations the better, so they put relationship in the first plate. They are very willing to do everything for friends.

Chinese people hold the view that a good friend should go “through fire and water without any hesitation.” In the film this concept also affects the behavior of Datong. However, in American society, people are unwilling to assume more obligations for friends. In their mind, friendship is nothing compared with laws, so they deal with problems according to laws. Because Quinlan was his friend, Datong thought that Quinlan should be loyal to him regardless of any circumstances. So at the first hearing, Datong naturally believed that he can trust Quinlan as his own lawyer even though he was not majoring in that sector. However, after seeing the bruise on Dennis’ back, Quinlan believed that Datong had “long-term punishment and neglect to his son.” Later in the court, when Datong blamed him, “You are not my friend: you betrayed me,” Quinlan muttered, “I cannot lie.” He thought it is incorrect to defend for Datong. For friends and families, they also have to act according to laws, which are the manifestation of Americans cultural unconsciousness. Compared with American, Chinese people have some intimate friends; they have deep feelings between each other. When one friend is in trouble, the other would like to give hand at anytime. However, that is rarely seen in America. They may have some friends at work, but they seldom talk about personal topics between each other. American people always put something clearly, and their emotions and intellect are separate.

3.2 Different Views on Families

The value is an order that cannot be ignored in social and cultural life. People’s behavior rules ways of thinking, cognitive criterion, social philosophy, and ability of evaluation (Mitchell, 2000: 13), which are so deeply restricted by their own different values. With social progress, a traditional Chinese family size and family structures are changing. Smaller family size, family structure and family patterns simplified diversification become a major feature of modern Chinese families. Since the reform and opening up, to meet the social mode of production and lifestyle changes, the traditional structure of complex and large-scale family has gradually transformed to a simple structure and small scale family model.

It is well known Chinese family structure emphasizes the group as a whole, and all the activities serve the common interests and goals of the family. In traditional Chinese culture, the family occupies a very important position. Everyone has the obligation to operate it. As we all know, Confucianism believes that the “filial piety” is “charity parents,” and one should redound upon parents. As an immigrant who had lived in the United States for eight years, Datong was essentially ruled by the Chinese traditional values, such as thinking highly of filial piety. In the court, Datong lied that it was himself who used Guasha treatment to his son, in order to protect his father. However, in America, if telling lies in court, people will be charged with perjury. When Mr. Quinlan knows that it was not Datong but his father did Guasha to Dennis, he was very shocked. According to American opinion, each person should not make perjury, even if it is to protect his father, However as an American, Quinlan cannot understand Chinese cultural value system. In Chinese culture, people will consciously or unconsciously deal with the problem according to traditional Chinese values. Chinese people see family as a whole and they have a strong responsibility to protect everyone. (Li Yang, 2000: 82) Chinese people have a strong collectivism sense; while the Americans, individualism. So Mr. Quinlan cannot understand the behavior of Datong.

3.3 Different Face Problems

Datong had made a great achievement and social reputation in America. In most social communication, Americans like to express directly: when they do not understand, they say, “I do not know,” and when they do not permit, they may say, “I cannot do that.” In China, people seldom express their emotions openly. They try to be mild and reserved so that their words will not touch the others’ hearts. Chinese people always attach great attention in emotion. American people would say or do what they think are right or wrong, and they do not consider whether it is accepted by others. In some case, Chinese people do not pay more attention to property or position, but they care for face. Once people feel they lose face, it means they lose the esteem. Face problem almost rules the Chinese people’s mind, as a saying said, “People must have face and trees have to have bark.” Unlike Chinese, Americans do not regard face in such an important position. They think it is a matter of principle. Generally, they deal with problems by their state law rather than their emotion.

4. Reasons for Values Difference in Chinese and American Culture

Our minds are ruled by our values, which are a part of culture, and they are inseparable. Each value system is appropriate in a certain culture. It is unique and neither of them is superior to the others. In some cases, lots of values are in the first place in a country but perhaps they are negligible in another country. The different cultural values have their specific formation reasons. China and America have great differences in cultural values.

4.1 Influence from History

As an old saying goes, “Consider the past and you will know the future.” It clearly explains how significant history is to the study of Chinese culture. China has a long and ancient history. A lot of aspects of China’s history contribute to the shaping of their values. For a long time, China was isolated by its immense natural barriers. To its north, (Zhong Weixuan, 2010: 106) they are the barren Siberian and Mongolian plateaus. To the west, high mountains and deep valleys separate the country from its southern neighbors. It is no double that this situation hinds the development of China. It is difficult for them to communicate with outer side, not to mention its economic development. This type of geographical separation leads to the formation of a lot of familiar Chinese characteristics. Chinese are conservative and feudal, although in recent time it has changed a lot. The history of United States is distinctive because its cultural domination is relatively young. First, those who originally arrived in the Atlantic coast brought many Western values, the English system of 1aw, and the basic organization of commerce that was prevalent during the sixteenth century. It proves the development of west rapidly, but it also leads to Chinese and American people’s cultural values differences. Second, most of immigrants are from Europe, in addition to the Native American Indians. People from different countries got together and they shared their valuable skills and knowledge. In deed, (Zang Chengjie, 2000: 20) settling a new and an undeveloped land required a lot of attention from the daily activities to final completion.

China is under profound influence of confusion in moral concepts. Although people’s ideology and belief system have undergone thousands of years of development and changes, the Confusion thinking still takes an important position in Chinese value patterns. Chinese people are collective and power-hierarchical and they emphasize harmony in social structure and relationship. Compared to the Chinese culture, American cultural value is characterized by its strong sense of individualistic and democratic social doctrines. So we can get a conclusion that Americans represent a different or even contrastive value system in terms of social relationship and structure. They do not approve some ways of Chinese in dealing with human relationships, for example, the cases in which Datong beat his son and Datong blamed his friend. (Zhong Weixuan, 2010: 106) European cultural patterns including religion, politics and ways of life and value system predominated and shaped American value and culture. Historically, American culture emerged from the short and rapid European conquest of the North America land. In a word, America is strongly committed to liberty, democracy and equality of all human beings.

4.2 Influence from Religions

Religion, as a unique ideology and cultural phenomenon, has different but neglectful influence on the cultural systems. In China, Buddhism and Taoism, have deep and broad effect on Chinese culture, especially, the Buddhism, it left a brilliant Buddhist heritage. The most preservation of ancient building is Buddhist Temple. Buddhism has broad effects on Chinese philosophy, language, architecture, etc. In the film, Datong beat his son in public area, which is confused for his boss. He thought every one is equal, and no one had the right to control the other. But in China, this situation can be seen everywhere. Whether how old you are, parents always think you are young. If we make a mistake, they can punish and educate us. Chinese are greatly influenced by the religion thoughts. For Buddhism, it originated from India and then it came into China in Han dynasty. In China’s five thousand years of history, Confusion is its traditional culture. With gradual development, Buddhism, it not only absorbs the Confucian theory of kind human nature, but also develops the theory of human nature. Yet (Zhang Kuiwu, 1994: 67) America is a highly developed country with modern science, but it has hundreds of years of history of Western culture. In all developed countries, America is a country with most intense religious atmosphere. According to a study by Zhang Kuiwu, among 250 million people, there are over 3000 religious denominations or groups, and sixty out of a hundred have religious beliefs. Religious activities are an important part in America. There are countless people who pour into the church to pray in Sunday. America church is far more prosperous than others; the most prominent feature is the coexistence of a variety of sects. Among the American people, there are 39％are Protestants, 23％Roman Catholics, 5％Jews and 3％Orthodox Christians. Generally, American religious thinking has been changed a lot. Americans pay far more attention to the present world, and to material prosperity and spiritual pursuit.

4.3 Influence from Education

China’s education was greatly influenced by Confucianism, which advocated kindliness, peace, and human nature. People are encouraged to be good by the people around them. Sometimes, they are likely to feel ashamed if they do not perform virtuously according to them and fail live up to their expectations. Chinese parents have a strong desire that they hope their children would be a useful man, so they arrange a number of remedial classes for kids. They think children must read more books. While American parents focus on training child’s interest. In Chinese traditional culture, educators inculcate hardiness, frugality, diligence, discipline, responsibility and frown on self-indulgence and greed as well. Collectivism is a characteristic of Chinese culture. They think unity is strength, and people can do things in together. In the Chinese family education, parents always use substances to stimulate child. If child get all 85 scores points or more in a test, they buy toys for them. If child can enter the top three in the class ranking, they award 100 Yuan. It is difficult to make an independent sense of competition and sound personality. In contrast, American people are from many countries of the world and they are accustomed to depend on themselves to be do things. They have a strong sense of independence. People are encouraged to self-help when they are very young. They are an individual in family and social practice.

Both countries parents have different roles in children education. Most Chinese parents play the role of arranging children’s fate. It seems that this kind of relationship is obviously unfair. Chinese parents regard their children as their own property. They think the children are affiliated to them. The children can only grow up under their control. However, American parents consider their children as free and independent individuals since their children are born. They put their children in an equal position. They pay much more attention to the equal communication and respect children’s ideas and needs. In the process of their children’s growth, they give them a number of guidance and assistant. Western people attach great importance to the independence; they encourage children to do everything by themselves. They never interferes kids’ liberty and primate matter. Chinese stress mutual help and dependence. Especially in parents raise children. Chinese parents have rights to scold and beat their children when they do something wrong. Chinese family education is known as strictness. There are some Chinese old sayings show the strictness, for example, “to feed without teaching is the father’s fault,” just as the words Datong’s father said, “打是亲,骂是爱”(to scold and to beat a naughty boy is due to love him). It is also prevalent for parents, especially parents in the rural areas, to leave their children alone at home, for these parents are always busy with their jobs or farming, and there is not enough time for them to accompany and take good care of their children, so they must leave their children at home. It is not surprising at all in the rural areas to find children lying on the floor with flying around them. Recently, with the popularization of the internet, it is much safer and more convenient for parents to leave children at home. However, it is illegal to do such things in America.

5. Approach to Bridging Cultural Values Differences

With the fast development of information, people come from different country may have different ideas on another country when communication, especially when talking about cultures differences. So it is an urgent to reduce differences between countries. The following measures could be useful. First, we should acknowledge the gap between two countries, and it is necessary to keep a positive attitude in daily life, although we may not be better than he or she. In the rapid development of modern technology, shifting has brought people of diverse backgrounds into contact between each other regularly. In China, we find that our next-door neighbor speaks a fluent Chinese language, our boss is from another culture, and our Internet friend is thousands of miles away. Intercultural contact, which is the essence and the character of communication in today’s world, it becomes increasingly common for us. So it promotes all of us to learn how to become more effective communicators when we are confronted with the different people.

Second, we should learn more knowledge not only from books, but also in practice. Communicating with varies people, knowing our attitudes toward others. Learning to control our own behavior and mirroring our reaction to others’ behavior. Although unconsciously, (Li Shuyi, 1988: 82) our unfair, intolerant attitude toward another people, it may produce negative feelings that against the virtue of human being. So examining our bias, prejudice enables us to avoid ethnocentric attitudes and to modify our behavior. Third, we should know our communication style and keep a reasonable attitude. If we tend to show ourselves as patient and calm but not appear anxious, then we will have an easy time understanding why people respond to us as they do. Culture is often at the root of communication challenges. It is a key approach to opening channels for cross-culture communication by exploring historical experiences and the ways that various cultural groups often used. Becoming more aware of cultural differences, as well as understanding cultural similarities, can help we communicate with others more effectively. Next time we find ourselves in a confusing situation, asking ourselves how we may react to it, and try to see the world from the other"s point of view.

Last but not least, from our own reality, we need to expand the basis of language learning, understanding of different cultures background. If we can learn from little things, more communicate with ones, it is not tough to overcome the differences. We also have to continuously improve our adaptability and tolerance for other culture. People in different countries develop and maintain their unique cultures. Thus, cultural clashes are bound to exist among people from different countries in cross-cultural communication. However, people can gradually bridge the cultural gap through interaction, observation and imitation, which is also presented by the happy ending of this movie. In order to communicate fluently with others, we need to make a sense of cultural values differences.

6. Conclusion

Guasha Treatment is the performance of the conflict, and this conflict will continue to exist. It is important of habitation and adaption to each other, because you cannot change two peoples for thousands of years of form and cognitive thinking. At the end of the film, Datong hugged a man with passion, with so many Americans who say it is a mutual adaptation and fusion. Zheng Xiaolong director said, “Different countries, different cultures, there is no good or bad. Did not even level of the other, but a nation’s cultural awareness, cultural tolerance is a very important thing.”

This paper explores the cultural values differences between China and American. From the families and friendship and face three dimension discusses the differences. And it lists three reasons that causing cultural values differences. Every culture has its advantages and disadvantages. We cannot ask one to change, but we can adapt and accept that different cultural values bring some differences and clashes. Only by learning, can we gradually improve it. Chaplin has consistently held that tragedy and comedy are actually inseparable. And the movie Guasha Treatment has a happy ending. However, the play has been a tear filled with laughter. American culture focuses on human elements, so it is easy for us to understand.

The significant differences in cultural value between China and America are obvious, and these differences hinder communication and become a main reason for the two countries’ failure to achieve mutual understanding. The successful intercultural communication is based on recognizing its differences. A comparison of Chinese and American cultural value difference does not mean to show which culture is better, but provides a basis for better understanding of a person from the other background. Only to clarify the aspects of American cultural differences and to make sound of reaction to those differences, people from both countries are more competent and confident in successful communication and cultural mutual understanding.

Works Cited

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