Decoding mixed messages
Understanding how foreigners think about China will help you communicate with them. 21st Century's Charlie Shifflett and David Green have chosen 21 SYMBOLS associated with China. Our brief introductions will help you explain the SYMBOLS to your overseas friends.
JOSE Cruz, a 14-year-old middle school student in Tallahassee, Florida, was stunned to learn that I worked with Chinese who speak English. "I never thought that people in China could speak English!" he said. Then: "Is it true that the Chinese alphabet has no end?"
But don't begrudge Cruz for his assumptions; he's certainly not alone. Some people in the US don't know much about China. As a result, key SYMBOLS of China are mostly viewed through a Western lens – and not always flatteringly.
Take the dragon, for instance. Although it represents luck and creativity in China, many in the West see the dragon as a threatening creature. Books with titles like Dragon Rising present China as something to be feared – for both political and economic reasons.
"Dragons are cute at a dance at a festival, but not as [a symbol of] a country that owns a lot of your debt," University of Notre Dame professor Lionel Jensen said.
Jensen, who has written and edited several books about China, said some even see the "zany, fun creature" as being evil. After all, the final book of the Bible depicts Satan as a red dragon: "And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world."
Even something as simple as the color red can send the wrong messages. When most people associate red with China, they almost always think of communism. Most do not understand that, in China, red is also associated with luck.
Other images and concepts, however, carry a more positive feeling. One such example is the concept of fengshui. "I think of an apartment building I saw in 1998 on a steep hillside in Hong Kong. It looked really amazing," said Jeff Entner, an American teaching at an international school in Beijing.
"It had a big open space through the middle of it that was recommended by fengshui experts. It was the first time I had heard of fengshui." Fortunately, young Americans seem to have a growing appetite to learn about all things Chinese.
"I think it would be fair to speculate that China is on students' minds more now than in the past," said Benjamin Read, a political science professor at the University of Iowa. Read teaches several classes on China and speaks Chinese. "They are aware that China is an important part of a globalized economy in which they will be seeking jobs soon."
SYMBOLS
Color red
Red in China makes me think of... passion? Passion for a cause. And the West taught me to associate it with communism.
– Tamara Mitchell, 24, US
China does use red in its flags. However, Chinese also wear red at weddings and put up red lanterns for festivals because red is traditionally a lucky color.
Yin-yang
I don't really have a definition of yin-yang. All I can think of is that it is the balance of good and evil; dark v.s. light.
– Kent Liu, 22, American-born Chinese at the University of Iowa
Yes, yin-yang represent balance. In Chinese philosophy, yin (moon) is the passive, cold female force. Yang (sun) is the masculine force, representing movement and heat.
Taoism
Taoism is the philosophy of "The Way". I guess that refers to something mysterious and unnamable. I don't understand precisely what it means, but I suppose that's the point!
– Paul Brennan, 42, UK
It's a traditional Chinese philosophy. Taoism, or "The Way," is the natural order, or the force that flows through all living things. The principal Taoist ethic is called Wu-wei, or no-action, meaning to seek equilibrium and balance.
Dragon
A dragon seems to be more of a neutral, but leaning more over to a positive idea. A dragon seems to be (for me at least) the national symbol for China.
– Ben Mitchell, 26, US
Exactly. The dragon is the symbol of China. Chinese often consider themselves 'the descendants of the dragon". To Chinese, the dragon is a sacred animal and worshipped everywhere. It represents power, strength and good fortune.
Fengshui
The first thing I think of about fengshui is moving things around in a room. However, when thinking further, I associate it with a belief that certain steps may be taken to improve luck.
– Kent Liu, 22, American-born Chinese at the University of Iowa
Yes, you are right. Fengshui is about locating and arranging your home so you can live in harmony with your environment. The harmony will allow good "qi", the energy of life, to float around your home. Everyone who lives there will benefit, bringing them good fortune and luck.
---------------------------------------
begrudge 埋怨
descendant 后裔
flatteringly 討人歡喜地
masculine 男性的
originate 起源
serpent 蛇
zany 滑稽的
Understanding how foreigners think about China will help you communicate with them. 21st Century's Charlie Shifflett and David Green have chosen 21 SYMBOLS associated with China. Our brief introductions will help you explain the SYMBOLS to your overseas friends.
JOSE Cruz, a 14-year-old middle school student in Tallahassee, Florida, was stunned to learn that I worked with Chinese who speak English. "I never thought that people in China could speak English!" he said. Then: "Is it true that the Chinese alphabet has no end?"
But don't begrudge Cruz for his assumptions; he's certainly not alone. Some people in the US don't know much about China. As a result, key SYMBOLS of China are mostly viewed through a Western lens – and not always flatteringly.
Take the dragon, for instance. Although it represents luck and creativity in China, many in the West see the dragon as a threatening creature. Books with titles like Dragon Rising present China as something to be feared – for both political and economic reasons.
"Dragons are cute at a dance at a festival, but not as [a symbol of] a country that owns a lot of your debt," University of Notre Dame professor Lionel Jensen said.
Jensen, who has written and edited several books about China, said some even see the "zany, fun creature" as being evil. After all, the final book of the Bible depicts Satan as a red dragon: "And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world."
Even something as simple as the color red can send the wrong messages. When most people associate red with China, they almost always think of communism. Most do not understand that, in China, red is also associated with luck.
Other images and concepts, however, carry a more positive feeling. One such example is the concept of fengshui. "I think of an apartment building I saw in 1998 on a steep hillside in Hong Kong. It looked really amazing," said Jeff Entner, an American teaching at an international school in Beijing.
"It had a big open space through the middle of it that was recommended by fengshui experts. It was the first time I had heard of fengshui." Fortunately, young Americans seem to have a growing appetite to learn about all things Chinese.
"I think it would be fair to speculate that China is on students' minds more now than in the past," said Benjamin Read, a political science professor at the University of Iowa. Read teaches several classes on China and speaks Chinese. "They are aware that China is an important part of a globalized economy in which they will be seeking jobs soon."
SYMBOLS
Color red
Red in China makes me think of... passion? Passion for a cause. And the West taught me to associate it with communism.
– Tamara Mitchell, 24, US
China does use red in its flags. However, Chinese also wear red at weddings and put up red lanterns for festivals because red is traditionally a lucky color.
Yin-yang
I don't really have a definition of yin-yang. All I can think of is that it is the balance of good and evil; dark v.s. light.
– Kent Liu, 22, American-born Chinese at the University of Iowa
Yes, yin-yang represent balance. In Chinese philosophy, yin (moon) is the passive, cold female force. Yang (sun) is the masculine force, representing movement and heat.
Taoism
Taoism is the philosophy of "The Way". I guess that refers to something mysterious and unnamable. I don't understand precisely what it means, but I suppose that's the point!
– Paul Brennan, 42, UK
It's a traditional Chinese philosophy. Taoism, or "The Way," is the natural order, or the force that flows through all living things. The principal Taoist ethic is called Wu-wei, or no-action, meaning to seek equilibrium and balance.
Dragon
A dragon seems to be more of a neutral, but leaning more over to a positive idea. A dragon seems to be (for me at least) the national symbol for China.
– Ben Mitchell, 26, US
Exactly. The dragon is the symbol of China. Chinese often consider themselves 'the descendants of the dragon". To Chinese, the dragon is a sacred animal and worshipped everywhere. It represents power, strength and good fortune.
Fengshui
The first thing I think of about fengshui is moving things around in a room. However, when thinking further, I associate it with a belief that certain steps may be taken to improve luck.
– Kent Liu, 22, American-born Chinese at the University of Iowa
Yes, you are right. Fengshui is about locating and arranging your home so you can live in harmony with your environment. The harmony will allow good "qi", the energy of life, to float around your home. Everyone who lives there will benefit, bringing them good fortune and luck.
---------------------------------------
begrudge 埋怨
descendant 后裔
flatteringly 討人歡喜地
masculine 男性的
originate 起源
serpent 蛇
zany 滑稽的