Why do we focus on tables? That is because tables know more things than the Internet. When you are googling “table definition“, Google dictionary would show you that a table is a piece of furniture with a flat top and one or more legs, providing a level surface on which objects may be placed, and that can be used for such purposes as eating, writing, working, or playing games.
（ Picture source from 木智工坊、吱音、梵几）
When we are having delicious dinners, writing papers, editing documents, drawing pictures, and making any fun stuff, we need tables. Moreover, when we are talking with someone, especially for some important topics, we need tables. So, tables know a lot of things about us. Actually, tables know more than we know.
（ Picture source from 淘图网 ）
In the other words, we feel comfortable when we are doing something on the tables. We are used to starting conversations with others around the tables, and we also would love to have dinners with others around the tables. There is an old saying in China, if you want to get to know someone better, just go have a dinner with her/him. We can know someone on a deep level from her/his behaviors during the dinner time, such as the ways of ordering the dishes from a menu, what dishes ordered, the ways of talking with you, the speed of having her/his dinner, the sounds of eating her/his dinner, even the types of wine ordered, and so forth. Thus, table talk is an effective and convenient way to know someone better. Nevertheless, language skills and food are two necessary elements composing a table talk.
Knowing a country’s culture is similar to knowing someone. Obtaining a country’s language skill and knowing a country’s food are two significant and efficient ways for people to know a country’s culture on a deep level. The Chinese language is a kind of subject for students in schools. For those who are not studying at schools already, they can know China and Chinese culture by starting to taste Chinese food.
It is known that there are thousands of Chinese restaurants in the U.S. Unfortunately, I have to tell you that most of them are not authentic, except some Chinese restaurants in the big cities in the U.S. The “China” that most of my American friends know is not the China where I had been living for 30 years. Thus, I decided to create a blog here for those who want to know and are interested in China and Chinese culture.
Not only does this blog focus on authentic Chinese food and the recipes, but also includes other fields such as Chinese movies, Chinese arts, Chinese festivals, and Chinese routine lives.
Hope you can find the answers that you are looking for.
Welcome to Chinese Table Culture!! 欢迎光临！