| China is a country rich with colorful history, strong | | | | found in many U.S. cities: Chinese buffet restaurants. |
| culture, and respect for traditions. There is such an | | | | Chinese food has long been a favorite of many |
| intertwining of true events, legends, folklore, and | | | | Westerners, though sometimes the emphasis on |
| customs that it can be difficult to establish fact from | | | | cooking with fresh ingredients is lost in an effort to |
| fiction. For many Chinese people, however, what | | | | quickly serve Americans vast quantities of food, such |
| Western culture sees as superstition, old wives' tales, | | | | as at a buffet. Another tradition that has taken on |
| and belief in the supernatural, is very real and | | | | variations in all parts of the world involves tea. As the |
| deserving of proper attention. If you've ever read a | | | | national drink of China, hot tea is becoming increasingly |
| book by Amy Tan, for example, you'll know just how | | | | popular with Americans. The four main types of tea |
| seriously Chinese mythology is taken by her family. | | | | include: black, white, green, and oolong. Oolong is said |
| Ms. Tan is an American writer of Chinese descent, | | | | to be the smoothest of the four types, with a slightly |
| who often infuses her own life experiences into her | | | | fruit-infused flavor that appeals to drinkers of all ages. |
| novels and other writings. In them, she has explored | | | | Preparing oolong or "black dragon" tea is a traditional |
| the differences between Western and Eastern | | | | process, involving fermenting the tea leaves to a |
| cultures; struggling to find her own sense of where she | | | | certain point before (semi-fermentation) before then |
| uniquely fits between her American upbringing and her | | | | drying the leaves, in preparation for them to be used in |
| immigrant parents. One particular passage from her | | | | a tea drink. Traditional brewing of oolong tea involves |
| novel "The Joy Luck Club" focused on her experience | | | | "waking" these black dragon leaves with nearly-boiling |
| with ghosts and the beliefs of Chinese people about | | | | water before pouring off the liquid and adding a |
| ghosts. Ghosts and spirits are very real to the Chinese | | | | second batch of hot water. Make sure you carefully |
| people, and must be paid due respect. | | | | follow brewing instructions when preparing high quality |
| Similarly, Chinese mythology includes tales of the Four | | | | tea. |
| Dragon Kings. These four Dragon Kings each rule a | | | | While Western civilization has sometimes used |
| different sea and direction. The Dragon King of the | | | | dragons to symbolize the nation of China, it is an image |
| South is Ao Qin, the Dragon King of the North is Ao | | | | that China itself rarely uses. Partly this is because of |
| Shun, the Dragon King of the East is Ao Guang, and | | | | the aforementioned connotation of dragons being evil |
| the Dragon King of the West is Ao Run. It is said that | | | | and battling. China, instead, has opted to use the panda |
| these Kings are in their truest form when they appear | | | | as a symbol for its nation, an animal with a far-friendlier |
| as dragons, but can transform into humans, as well. | | | | reputation. There is not necessarily, however, the |
| Their opulent crystal palaces are guarded by shrimp | | | | same lore attached to pandas as to dragons. |
| and crabs-an army of aquatic life. Parallel to controlling | | | | Dragons are used for decorative purposes all over |
| the seas, the Dragon Kings control rain and clouds. | | | | both Asian and American cultures. However, there are |
| When rain is needed, it is believed that calling upon the | | | | again times when the use of the dragon is |
| Dragon Kings can bring what the people and land | | | | misunderstood by Westerners, and used in a way that |
| need. Unfortunately, if a Dragon King is upset with you, | | | | is offensive to the Chinese. Manipulating or vandalizing |
| he can bring enough rain to flood the land and take | | | | dragons, for the purposes of a marketing campaign, |
| lives. | | | | such as Nike did in a 2004 television ad , is seen as |
| Chinese dragons tend to be seen with five claws, | | | | highly disrespectful. For a culture that sees dragons as |
| while dragons from other nations are represented by | | | | being powerful and even worthy of calling on when |
| different numbers of claws. The character of dragons, | | | | rain is needed, such disrespect of dragons caused |
| as highlighted with the four Dragon Kings, is one of | | | | uproar. The Nike ads were not meant to be offensive |
| ultimate power in Chinese mythology. Though the | | | | by the Western ad agency that developed them, but |
| dragons can be vengeful when they deem necessary, | | | | was a gross misunderstanding and lesson for |
| they are generally regarded as just. It is an interesting | | | | Westerners: know your audience. |
| mix of perspective when you note the influence | | | | In the era of the World Wide Web and global media, it |
| Eastern culture has on Western trends. For many | | | | is fascinating to see how the world is becoming a giant |
| years now, we have seen an increase in Asian | | | | melting-pot. The idea of a melting-pot culture is nothing |
| influences in interior décor ranging from rugs to | | | | new to Americans, but needs to be approached with |
| bedding to kitchen ware. The contrast of how dragons | | | | caution and respect. In our effort to get to know and |
| are interpreted-good by the Chinese, evil by | | | | understand different cultures and ethnicities, we must |
| Europeans-shows how easily misunderstandings | | | | first educate ourselves. Do not make assumptions, but |
| between nations can occur. | | | | do keep an open heart and mind, and a spirit of |
| Another example of American interpretation can be | | | | curiosity about your "neighbors" across the hemisphere. |