Cultural Symbols: A Way to Boost Cultural Dialogues Between China and Germany

Abstract

As cultural symbols play an important role in intercultural communication, Chinese cultural symbols favored by Germans can enhance cross-cultural exchange and understanding between China and Germany. Two online questionnaire surveys, one in 2012 and the other in 2017, were made in Germany to identify what Chinese cultural symbols were known by Germans and which were their favorites. The two-survey result reveals that Germans’ recognition of all the Chinese cultural symbols investigated has been improved, and such Chinese cultural symbols as “Chinese food,” “the Great Wall,” “traditional Chinese medicine,” and “silk” have gained increasing popularity among Germans over the years of our surveys, which means cross-cultural communication has improved by deepened understanding between the two nations. In conclusion, it is advisable to improve Sino-German intercultural understanding through Chinese cultural symbols favored by the Germans and organizing relevant cultural exchange events in Germany. Likewise, it is recommendable to investigate the popularity and the recognition of German cultural symbols favored in China to enhance Sino-German intercultural communication.