Jinlin and the smiley

Everybody knows this classic smiley "giggle" or "laughter character. Eyes almost closed as upward crescents and mouth covered with the hand. In the animated version of these, the head is also usually bobbing up and down a little to indicate laughter. This smiley is along the standard collection in most instant messaging programs and I have been definitely using it a lot even before meeting Jinlin.

But what's with the hand in front of the mouth? I never much understood that since that is almost never seen in Finland or rest of the western world. Perhaps in the 1930's but not in the present century. But in China (and elsewhere in Asia as well) it can still be considered rude to laugh with your mouth wide open, exposing your teeth. It's getting more rare but at least Jinlin, with her traditional upbringing outside of the large metropolises, has the habit of rising her hand in front of her mouth within one second of laughter setting in. 

In the traditional Chinese way of thought, the girl should be graceful and elegant and people don't like young girl mouth open "so big like shark" showing their teeth. The true lady is not supposed to grin, but smile without show their teeth. In Chinese slang the term " 笑不露齿" (Xiào bù lù chǐ) is used, meaning literally "Laugh not revealing teeth". In the old days ladies had fans and could smile behind them. This habit comes down all the way from Confucianism, which teaches that public displays of emotion should be repressed. Especially for women, laughter was not considered feminine.

You can see Jinlins cute reaction to smiling in this short video from our metro trip to the Bund on tuesday:

Jinlin does this even when she is just in my company although I do not mind seeing her smiling mouth. In fact I like it - it is one of the great joys of relationship to make other one feel happy. And I think that emancipation of Asian women requires their liberation from requirements of what has been traditionally considered "feminine" and "unfeminine".  

Luckily I have a quick finger for my cameras shutter-button and sometimes I can catch the rare moment of beautiful big smile just before it's being covered ;-)  But I must say I consider her "giggle-character" kind of laugh very cute also. So whether she will move more towards the open western culture or stay within the Chinese tradition, good both ways. And the best point of course is that we can make each other smile and laugh often, an important aspect in a good relationship especially when common language is still not perfect.