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Diet custom also influences idioms, while the diet custom mostly reflects itself in daily diet, yearly diet, religious activities and ceremonies about marriage, birth, death and communication.
Idioms are parts of culture, reflecting culture and influenced by culture. The studies above especially the origin and formation of idioms show the culture best. As China’s history is totally different from Britain’s, especially its social conditions, economy, policy, religion, social consciousness, Chinese culture is not much similar with western culture. For example, in Britain’s history, theocracy played a huge role in the country and people’s life, which was able to threaten and even suppress kingship, but in China, this never appeared, for imperial power firmly controlled the people, with the help of Confucianism. Those also affect idioms.
2 Literature Review
2.1 Relevant Studies about Idioms
2.1.1 Study about the Origin and Formation of Idioms
The origin of idioms is mostly consistent with the formation of idioms, in which the scholars almost share a common opinion. For example, Yi Ming et al. (2012: 1-20) the English idioms are originated from Bible, Greek and Roman mythology, fables, religion, literary works, social customs and sports games. Li Yuping(2008: 1-203) and Zhang Zhenhua(2007: 39-47,106-109) hold the same view, but they added historical events, natural conditions, daily life and flora and fauna to the origin. Besides, instead of Bible, Greek and Roman mythology, Chinese traditional mythology and others above also have originated Chinese idioms. (Zhang Xueying & Zhang Hui, 2005: 10-14)
Moreover, Zhang Zhenhua(2007: 67-86) insists that the differences between western and eastern intellection or ideology, eco-environment, geography, especial topography all influence the formation of idioms.
Obviously, it is those original and formative elements that reflect the similarities and differences between orient and occident culture.
2.1.2 Study about Idioms Related to Colours, Numbers, Animals and Names
As one of the best carriers of the similarities and differences between orient and occident culture, idioms related to colour, number, animal and name have been studied a lot. It is considered by Luo Shiping(2005: 54-60) that the concepts of the Idioms revolving red and white are quite various in English and Chinese. In English, white represents holy and pure, and is usually used in wedding; red sometimes shows that something is on alert. However in Chinese, red mostly represents joy, celebration, happiness, so compared to white in western countries, red is used in Chinese traditional wedding. On the contrary, white is preferred in funeral. These are part of differences. Similarities are best showed by the example black, mentioned by Luo Shiping(2005: 56-58), too. No matter in English or Chinese, black contains the meanings of evil, illegal and bad in relevant idioms. But, in fact, some meanings of colours both in Chinese and English coincide.
About the idioms related to numbers, Yin Li and Han Xiaoling(2007: 191-207) hold a view that “three”, “six”, “eight”, “nine” and “ten” are joyful and auspicious numbers, but idioms concerning “four”, “five” and “seven” belong to some taboos. The joyful and auspicious numbers in English include some of that in Chinese, such as “three”, “eight” and “nine”. Yet, “seven” is the joyful and auspicious numbers in English compared to that in Chinese. Meanwhile, “thirteen”, “six” and “Friday” are ominous in English.
About the idioms related to animals, Luo Shiping(2005: 62-63) argues that those idioms are derived from the descriptions of animals’ outlook, the appreciation to animals or the real features of animals. Some come from people’s bias to animals, and some is bound up with animals’ habits and activities, although no actual name is mentioned in those idioms. Nevertheless, idioms relevant to dog, dragon and so forth greatly reflect the differences between orient and occident culture, supported by Du Xinyu(2004).