An Analysis Of The Application Of Chinese Traditional Values In Intercultural Communication

With the advance of technology and society, the world is turning into a global village in which people from different cultural backgrounds can exchange information and opinions. Due to the cultural differences in the process of intercultural communication, misunderstandings or even conflicts come into being. Many western scholars have set up various theories and modes to address these intercultural misunderstandings.Chinese traditional values lay stress on the balance and harmony between human beings and the world. Thus, they develop into a habit of keeping a harmonious relation with others. The spirit of the unity of human and nature lays stress on the harmonious and balanced relationship between human beings and the natural world. It is the guide for the Chinese behaviors. The thesis will make an effort to find solutions to handling intercultural misunderstandings and conflicts in the light of Chinese traditional values.Keeping harmony and balance are the key spirits of Chinese traditional values. As for the domestic affairs, there are many proverbs such as a family that lives in harmony will prosper(家和万事兴),harmony brings wealth(和气生财),treasure harmonious relations(和为贵)and seek harmony without uniformity(和而不同).Under the guidance of these traditional values, Chinese people tend to keep a balanced relationship with others as well as the natural world. When it comes to conflicts and misunderstandings, Chinese people tend to put themselves in others' shoes and take efforts to solve all these misunderstandings in a proper way. A survey is designed to prove the hypothesis that Chinese traditional values may provide people across the world with a proper means to address misunderstandings and thus build a harmonious relationship with each other.After analyzing the essence and importance of Chinese traditional values, several suggestions on how to handle intercultural misunderstandings properly are advanced:(1) try to view the counterpart who has a different culture form yours as your equal; (2) try to seek harmony without uniformity; (3) try to put ourselves in others'shoes.