Managing Across Borders: Gift and Bribery in Chinese Culture Essay

This essay, written for a business development course, examines the intricate relationship between gift-giving and bribery within the context of Chinese culture. It explores how cultural values influence the perception and practice of exchanging gifts or money in business settings, contrasting this with the concept of bribery. The essay delves into the ethical principles that should guide both givers and receivers of gifts, considering factors such as intent, value, and the potential impact on business relationships and organizational performance. It highlights the distinctions between acceptable gift-giving as a means of building relationships and bribery as a form of corruption, providing insights into the cultural nuances that shape these practices and their implications for international business.

Running Head: GIFT AND BRIBERY IN CHINESE CULTURE
Gift and Bribery in Chinese Culture
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1GIFT AND BRIBERY IN CHINESE CULTURE
Many people from the different countries all over the world visit china to understand the custom
of the Chinese nation. This can be based upon the function of giving more emphasis on the
system and culture that are followed by Chinese where the key area of importance is given in the
respecting culture of people that are associated with the particular nation. According to Chinese
culture the system of giving gifts to any business colleagues, friends, business partners are
different as compared to the culture and custom of the greeting behavior in the other nations. The
key focus of the essay is to give more emphasis on certain factors that are associated with the
Chinese nation in the system of giving gifts or gift money a positive factor or the particular
system is treated equal to the process of bribery in China.
The purpose of gift giving culture in China is meant to be the factor of maintaining better
relationship, respect and harmony among the people associated with the respective nation and
other countries in terms of business prospective (Chow 2016). This particular culture in China
gives more importance not only in the area of gaining and giving respect to their superiors in the
business but this also shows their system of demonstrating the factor of commitment and
responsibility in the nation. This function also deals with the process of ensuring proper
connection and maintaining a system of relationship with the business partners (Gong 2015).
According to the Chinese business systems the function of gift giving behavior in the
organization can be done or performed during the time of work, this also involves while
attending any meeting that can be on a formal basis with the government officials, meeting the
with the client of the respective organization and with other business partners. This particular
function as per the Chinese culture generally demonstrates the factor of enthusiasm on all aspects
along with the system of giving more commitment and importance that are followed in the
cultural aspects of the particular nation.

2GIFT AND BRIBERY IN CHINESE CULTURE
The process of gifting behavior apart from the prospective part of the business function
can be based under the area of gift giving during the time of any occasions which involves any
kind of holiday, special events and many others (Gong 2015). For the Chinese nation gifts are
not just a gift, the key part is the reason behind the purpose of receiving a gift which demonstrate
several qualitative factors such as the system of respect, the factor of enthusiasm and dedication
in all terms. The function of gift giving is considered to be a positive and motivational factor
which may help in creating a factor of understanding and creating trust by enhancing better
cultural values in the respective organization which can be considered as the most beneficial
factor for them to adopt better business relationship with other nations.
As compared to the Chinese behavior of gifting culture for the business terms, there is
huge difference between the factor of giving a gift and a bribe as it is understandable that as
per the Chinese culture gifts are considered to be the symbol of courtesy, respect and
commitment towards the people residing in the respective nation and between the other people
who can be the business partners from other countries. The function of gifting also has strong
connection with a person’s face and behavior (Seidemann, Atwal and Heine 2017). The best
example that can be considered under this can be related to the function of favoring someone can
demonstrate the system of creating an effective relationship and the process of maintaining and
strengthening the bond between them. It is considered to be an understanding factor that the
function of offering a gift may not create a negative impact on the deal, but the system of not
demonstrating or presenting the gift may create the factor of impoliteness, lack of culture and
character.
According to china, a bribe means the amount of currency kept in a red envelope,
while spending more money on traditional gifts during the time of Chinese lunar New Year are

3GIFT AND BRIBERY IN CHINESE CULTURE
treated to be equal to the system of bribe in the culture of Chinese business terms and political
stands. The other major factor that are considered to be equal to the system of bribe in china are
in the form of stocks that are associated with a company, the amount of profit earned after
the cut out from the company accounts and any other expensive gifts which includes any kind
of high quality electronic products and cars that are of high brand (Rosile and Carma, Claw
2016). Apart from this any kind of high quality products that are in the form of gifts can cause
the factor of humiliation in the Chinese people as per their cultural terms. As compared to the
Chinese system of gifting culture any expensive gift can create a state of mind of receiving a
bribe. In the business terms any gift money that are of higher value which are given to the
superiors for the purpose of earning a valuable outcome are meant to be equal to the function of
receiving a bribe keeping a view where this can create a negative impact in the organizations
performance in the long run and can also effect the cultural values of the nation. Thus, it is
understandable that there is a wide difference between the process of gifting system and bribery
system in the Chinese culture.
As compared to the above mentioned factors that are related to the system of gift giving
culture and bribery systems that are associated with the Chinese nation, it is an understandable
part that the gifts are something that is earned or gained by a person willingly without any
compensation on all terms. It is stated that a gift is received as a part of appreciation and also in
terms of favor that is being done to someone which is considered as a helpful factor. Apart from
all these terms there are several instances where a person can be gifted in terms of expecting an
outcome which can be higher value or wants which can be treated as corruptive part of gifting
culture in organizations. For an organization that is into the corporate business there are several

4GIFT AND BRIBERY IN CHINESE CULTURE
ethical principles that have to kept in mind during the function of receiving or giving gifts and
gift money.
The first factor can be based on understanding the key intention behind the gift, whether
it is given as a part of favor or for earning an outcome which is of high value can also be treated
as bribery. Secondly, as compared to the corporate laws and terms of the company or
organization it is stated that any gift given or received in the proper course of doing business
should have nominal value or should be promotional in nature (Seidemann, Atwal and Heine
2017). Thirdly, in an organization any kind of cash or currency should not be acceptable as the
part of gift where these are against the code of ethics of company’s norms and conditions. The
other major part can be based on those gifts that are exclusive only for the respective person and
are not available to any other individual must not be accepted under any terms.

5GIFT AND BRIBERY IN CHINESE CULTURE
References
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6GIFT AND BRIBERY IN CHINESE CULTURE
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