4 ms·

Is it odd that I have never heard of any of these misconceptions? Are these common for any "westerners" to have even considered?

jpatokal 8y ago
If you have even a casual interest in China (say, read the international section of any major newspaper), you'll almost certainly run into them. Random samples from the New York Times: "China is home to the longest continuous civilization in world history" https://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/06/25/q-and-a-william-c-kirby-on-can-china-lead/ https://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/06/25/q-and-a-will... "For three millennia, since 1000 B.C., the Chinese had been supremely confident that they were the center of civilization, the Middle Kingdom..." https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/opinion/13iht-edgardner.1.13693509.html https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/opinion/13iht-edgardner.1... "China insists it has no fights to pick. Its evolving foreign policy maxims -- principles of peaceful co-existence, peaceful orientation, peaceful rise, peaceful development -- have the same emphasis." https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/weekinreview/the-two-faces-of-rising-china.html https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/weekinreview/the-two-face...
- stephengillie 8y ago
  Referring to a group of 1.4 billion people, the economy, the government, the economic pressures driving each of them, et cetera as a single entity can reveal a level of ignorance about these components of a society.
  - RobertRoberts 8y ago
    Doesn't that apply to every single modern country right now? Why do you think it's ignorant to view China the same as every other country?
    - stephengillie 8y ago
      The ignorant probably do view all countries through this same lens.
nwhatt 8y ago
The Chinese government has something to do with it too. The 5,000 years of history narrative helps prop up the idea of “One China” as well as claims to Tibet and XinJiang.
- tiatia123 8y ago
  It is doubtful that China has 5000 years of history that gives them so much of their cultural arrogance. Some carved bones 5000 years ago do not make a high civilization. 1. 5000 years ago Egyptians had a high civilization. China did not. 2. During the empire of Rome, China was on the same level. 3. During middle ages, China did indeed have a much higher standard of civilization compared to Europe. 4. This changed with the industrial revolution (the the precursors like the Renaissance) in Europe. Part 4 and the problems that economic, cultural and military weakness of China brought with it, are a major trauma for China. Now they are on the rise again and start feeling the world is theirs. A random guy that worked in industry described it as: "When I met Chinese in the 80ies they had their believe of cultural superiority mixed with an inferiority complex because they were so far beyond. Now they have their believe of cultural superiority mixed with arrogance." This will not end well. China is in a much weaker position that they want to make you believe and I don't see their culture (that has its strength!) well suited for the future. You should not be afraid of the strengths of China. It comes with too many problems. If you are from Europe (like me), you should be more worried about your own weakness.
westiseast 8y ago
It's more like he's refuting the claims you usually hear from the CCP as part of their external (and internal) propaganda and national narrative.

jpatokal 8y ago

If you have even a casual interest in China (say, read the international section of any major newspaper), you'll almost certainly run into them. Random samples from the New York Times: "China is home to the longest continuous civilization in world history" https://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/06/25/q-and-a-william-c-kirby-on-can-china-lead/ https://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/06/25/q-and-a-will... "For three millennia, since 1000 B.C., the Chinese had been supremely confident that they were the center of civilization, the Middle Kingdom..." https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/opinion/13iht-edgardner.1.13693509.html https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/opinion/13iht-edgardner.1... "China insists it has no fights to pick. Its evolving foreign policy maxims -- principles of peaceful co-existence, peaceful orientation, peaceful rise, peaceful development -- have the same emphasis." https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/weekinreview/the-two-faces-of-rising-china.html https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/weekinreview/the-two-face...

stephengillie 8y ago
Referring to a group of 1.4 billion people, the economy, the government, the economic pressures driving each of them, et cetera as a single entity can reveal a level of ignorance about these components of a society.
- RobertRoberts 8y ago
  Doesn't that apply to every single modern country right now? Why do you think it's ignorant to view China the same as every other country?
  - stephengillie 8y ago
    The ignorant probably do view all countries through this same lens.

nwhatt 8y ago

The Chinese government has something to do with it too. The 5,000 years of history narrative helps prop up the idea of “One China” as well as claims to Tibet and XinJiang.

tiatia123 8y ago
It is doubtful that China has 5000 years of history that gives them so much of their cultural arrogance. Some carved bones 5000 years ago do not make a high civilization. 1. 5000 years ago Egyptians had a high civilization. China did not. 2. During the empire of Rome, China was on the same level. 3. During middle ages, China did indeed have a much higher standard of civilization compared to Europe. 4. This changed with the industrial revolution (the the precursors like the Renaissance) in Europe. Part 4 and the problems that economic, cultural and military weakness of China brought with it, are a major trauma for China. Now they are on the rise again and start feeling the world is theirs. A random guy that worked in industry described it as: "When I met Chinese in the 80ies they had their believe of cultural superiority mixed with an inferiority complex because they were so far beyond. Now they have their believe of cultural superiority mixed with arrogance." This will not end well. China is in a much weaker position that they want to make you believe and I don't see their culture (that has its strength!) well suited for the future. You should not be afraid of the strengths of China. It comes with too many problems. If you are from Europe (like me), you should be more worried about your own weakness.

westiseast 8y ago

It's more like he's refuting the claims you usually hear from the CCP as part of their external (and internal) propaganda and national narrative.