Who's here

Sunday, December 8, 2024

生 shēng 성 Childbirth in China (212)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mDvz5Kn4xM&t=183s

齒 chi 齿 (213) Easy Chinese Writing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfRP3c-sbc0&t=5s

Thursday, December 5, 2024

Monday, December 2, 2024

Saturday, November 30, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 秦 qín 진 (173)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DuD4wRuglDk

Easy Chinese Writing 文 wén 문 Chinese Tattoos (174)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/APaltGXrAa8

Easy Chinese Writing 武 wŭ 무 Chinese Weapons (175

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fRI_R0eEhsk

Easy Chinese Writing 坐 zuò Not a Chinese squat (177)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jlSj7qe66oU

Easy Chinese Writing 言 yán 언 (178)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dPXMVjpT40o

音 yīn 음 (179)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TzQUW3KvdBA

Friday, November 29, 2024

友 you 우 (180)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ow-42oRAZWE

尾 wĕi 미 (181)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VTnabvTZZD4

Chinese Pissing 尿 niào 뇨/요 (182)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sjTb4dHtnNY

Easy Chinese Writing 屎 shi (183)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MWF68BbbXf0

Easy Chinese #Chinesemiddle 央 yáng (ziua 184)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/l1CRuC_n2UA

Easy Chinese Writing 取 qŭ (186)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/R3EnvMwsLgQ

Easy Chinese Writing #earinchinese 耳 er 이

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/V3VhvA6XDAE

Easy Chinese Writing卜 bŭ (187)

Easy Chinese Writing卜 bŭ (187) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eajfmy1-_P0

Easy Chinese Writing 占 zhān (188)

Easy Chinese Writing 占 zhān (188) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ExF2GC3KfnM

Easy.Chinese Writing 孕 yùn (189)

Easy.Chinese Writing 孕 yùn(189) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sRTsFHRtGXM

Easy Chinese Writing 身 shēn (190

Easy Chinese Writing #chinapregnantbody 身 shēn (190 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9LnVPaz27H8

Easy Chinese Writing 母 mŭ (191)

Easy Chinese Writing 母 mŭ (191) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DIxjejGJjgY

Easy Chinese Writing 姦 jiān (192)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pNa8-1fsD5I

Easy Chinese Writing 南 nán 남 (204)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BUlGkjHYw8s

Thursday, November 28, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 娶 qŭ (ziua 193)

Easy Chinese Writing 娶 qŭ (ziua 193) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cuNjf1vPH98

Easy Chinese Writing 每 mĕi 매 (ziua 194)

Easy Chinese Writing 每 mĕi 매 (ziua 194) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VRSc7JuL5YM

Easy Chinese Writing 妻 qi 처 (195)

Easy Chinese Writing 妻 qi 처 (195) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/J3XmVrqX--U

乳 rŭ (196)

乳 rŭ (196) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kBSWKT-SAVE

要 yào (197)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7J0ja7F356c

育 yù (198)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iEaMf2glIcs

美 měi 미 (199)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qs7Wvao5SnY

妾 qie (200)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ojPbuL7SYds

Easy Chinese Writing 西 xī (202)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jF50aH3G-jg

Easy Chinese Writing 東 dōng 동 (203)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qs7Wvao5SnY

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 文 wén 문 Chinese Tattoos (174)

Here are some examples with words having the character 文 in them. 文 문 writing, literature, composition, letters 文章 문장 writing, sentence, composition, style, article 文字 문자 letter, maxim, character, pedantic expression 注文 주문 order, request, commission, demand 文明 문명 civilization, culture 文苑 문원 literary world Follow me on youtube. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/APaltGXrAa8

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 秦 qín 진 (173)

Have you ever wondered where the name China comes from? This short video gives you the answer. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DuD4wRuglDk

Monday, October 28, 2024

Hands grabbing women in China 妥 tuo 타 (172)

The way Chinese characters related to women are used is very telling about the position of women in Chinese society. Here are some examples of words and expressions in which the character 妥 occurs 妥協 타협 trade, compromise 타력 compromise, settlement, agreement 妥協點 타협점 point of compromise 妥當 타당 valid, sound 非妥協的 비타협적 unyielding, uncompromising, intransigent https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IpOigFFo2cE

Sunday, October 27, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 凡 fán (171)

Do not forget to leave you comments. Feedback is much appreciated. Like, share and subscribe. Here are some examples with the character 凡 fán. 非凡 비범 extraordinary, uncommon, unique, unusual, remarkable 禮儀凡節 예의범철 etiquette, manners, decorum 凡節 범철 etiquette, decorum, manners 超凡 초범 extraordinariness, being out of the common 凡常 범상 ordinary, common, usual 凡夫 범부 unenlightened person 凡骨 범고 ordinary person https://www.youtube.com/shorts/V4bMA1Zj9z8

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 絲 sì 사 (170)

The character is also a common hanja. 螺絲 나사 screw 鐵絲 철사 wire, wiring https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QinjPceiboA

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 祭 jì 제 (168)

Follow me on youtube by subscribing to my channel. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YZwfVHiVwyM

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 畫 huà (ziua 167)

Do not forget to like, share and subscribe. Leave your comments below. Any feedback is welcome. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mx7_Beu_6Ws

Easy Chinese Writing 各 gè 각 (ziua 166)

If you got so far, at least do yourself a favour and like, share and subscribe if you haven't done it so far. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Am6j1_6QNgw

Monday, October 21, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 告 gào 고 (165)

Some examples with 告 고하다 to inform, to report 廣告 광고 ad 申告 신고 report, return, declaration 忠告 충고 advice 警告 경고 caution 報告 보고 report https://www.youtube.com/shorts/leFyaizHQNs

Easy Chinese Writing 福 fú 복 good luck (ziua 164)

Like, share and subscribe. 福 복 fortune, good luck, blessing, bliss, happiness 幸福 행복 happiness, wellfare, bliss 福卷 복권 lottery, raffle 福利 복리 welfare https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RbNKeMb2pXQ

Saturday, October 19, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 去 qù 거 (163)

Do not forget to like, share and subscribe. 去來 거래 deal 過去 과거 past, one's past, preterit 去就 거취 one's course of actions, attitude, manner, behaviour 撤去 철거 removal, demolition, dismantlement 除去 제거 removal, elimination, exclusion https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qe1qEFOhPdc

Friday, October 18, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 牧 mù 목 (161)

Like, share and subscribe. 牧師 목사 clergyman, clergy, rector, vicar 牧場 목장 ranch 牧畜 목축 stockfarming, cattle breeding, pasturage 牧童 목동 cow puncher 旅牧 유목 nomadism https://www.youtube.com/shorts/krPslIVmz-c

Easy Chinese Writing 名 míng 명 Chinese names (160)

Do not forget to like, share and subscribe. Your feedback and comments are welcome. 名譽 명예 honour 名聲 명성 renown, kudos, fame 名義 명의 person's name 名牌 명패 nameplate 名師 명사 celebrity https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8gfZtq-kWiw

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 示 시(159)

Do not forget to subscribe. Leave your comments. They are welcome. 指示 지시 indication, denotation, point out, instruction, directions 暗示 암시 hint, suggestion, demonstration, display 表示 표시 indication, token, expression, mark, manifestation 公示 공시 public announcement, official notice https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qMm5a47G3rU

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 祝 zhù 촉 (ziua 158)

@1969mmoldovan 5 perccel ezelőtt Subscribe to my channel and leave your comments. 祝祭 촉제 festival, fete, gala 祝賀 촉하 celebrations, congratulations, felicitations, rejoicings, festivities 祝福 촉복 blessing, benediction 祝辭 촉사 deliver a congratulatory address, offer one's congratulations https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AIFmV6FbA5U

Monday, October 14, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 折 zhé (157)

Help this channel by liking, sharing and subscribing. Your comments are welcome. 折半 절반 half 曲折 곡절 details, intricacies, particulars, complications, minute account 迂餘曲折우여곡절 turns and twists, vicissitudes, complication 挫折 좌절 breakdown, discouragement, ruin, collapse 骨折 골절 brone fracture, brokenbone 百折不撓 백절불열 indefatigable

Sunday, October 13, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 爪 zhăo, zhuă 조 (ziua 156)

Help this channel by liking, sharing and subscribing. Your comments are welcome. 美爪 미조 manicure 美爪師 미조사 manicurist 美爪院 미조원 manicure parlour 爪牙 조아 claws and teeth, right-hand man, trusted retainer, indispensable thin 爪毒 조독 inflammation caused by scratching https://www.youtube.com/shorts/abCF4u2CrEQ

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 丘 qiū 구 (ziua 156)

Like, share and subscribe to my channel for more videos like this. 丘陵 구른 hill, hillock 比丘尼 비구니 bhikkuni, Buddhist priestess 沙丘 사구 dune, sand hill, sand pile 比丘僧 비구승 Buddhist monk, bigu https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zPdvm6Zs4mE

Easy Chinese Writing 前 qián 전 (ziua 155)

Like, share and subscribe to my youtube chnannel. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3CmRkBvdqC0

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Traveling in China 旅 lü 여 (153)

Do not forget to like, share and subscribe. 旅行 여행 trip, travel, journey, tour, voyage 旅館 여관 inn, hotel 旅卷 여권 passport 旅費 여비 travel expenses, travel cost, mileage 新婚旅行 신혼여행 honeymoon, wedding trip https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gt9VnhWJUDg

Chinese Sweets 甘 감 (154) Easy Chinese Writing

Do not forget to like, share and subscribe. 甘美 감미 sweetness 甘草 감초 licorice 甘言 감언 flattery, honeyed words, coaxing 甘味 감미 sweetness, sweet taste 甘酒 감주 sweet drink made out of rice and malt https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JM5UYejqGgA

Monday, October 7, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 正 zhèng 정 (151)

Do not forget to like, share and subscribe. Feedback is also welcome. Today's Chinese character is 正 zhèng 정 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KdkhdD-SnZ4

Sunday, October 6, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 食 shí 식 (150)

Do not forget to like share and subscribe. Here are some examples with 食 食事 식사 meal, dinner, diet, board 食口 식구 mouths to feed, one's dependents, one's family 飲食 음식 food, diet, table, meal, food and drink 食量 식량 food rations, provisions 絕食 절식 fast 坐食 좌식 live in idleness https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0StUUn7jJpY

Saturday, October 5, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 回 huí 회 (149)

Do not forget to like, share and subscribe. Copy that, Mountainview? 回收 회수 withdrawal, collection, recovery, call back 回路 회로 return way 回答 회답 reply, answer, response 轉回 전회 inversion 回禮 반례 return a courtesy 回文 회문 palindrome https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fhSRbH8pGcg

Friday, October 4, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 角 jiăo 각 (ziua 148)

My enigmatic visitor from Mountainview, do not forget to like, share and subscribe. Here are some examples with the hanja 角 각 angle, horn, corner, middle note the Korean pentatonic scale 角一 각뿔 pyramid 角一 각테 horn rim 角一一 각가둥 prism 視角 시각 optic angle, viewpont, angle of vision, way of looking

Thursday, October 3, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 見 jiàn 견 (ziua 147)

Help my channel grow by subscribing to see more videos like this. Do not forget to like and leave your comments. Feedback is much apprrciated. 意見 의견 opinion, idea, view 見解 견해 slant, opinion 偏見 편견 biased view, prejudice, bias 會見 회견 interview, audience 發見 발견 discovery, revelation, detection 見識 견식 knowledge, information, judgement, insight youtube.com/shorts/3fkVZo7TAps

Dear Visitor

Dear Site Visitor, if you come here frequently, your feedback, opinions and comments are much appreciated. Do not hesitate to drop me a line or two.

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 高 gāo 고 (146)

To help me beat the algorithm and spread knowledge like, share and subscribe 最高 최고 maximum, supremacy 高度 고도 altitude, high degree, height, high power 高速道路 고속도로 superhighway, expressway, speedway, freeway 高失業 고실업 high unemployment youtube.com/shorts/WHmPN24gx1c

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 京 jīng 경 (145) Chinese capital

Like, share and subscribe 京 경 ten-million billion, capital, metropolis 上京 상경 come up to the capital, leave for Seoul 北京 북경 Beijing 京仁 경인 Seoul and Incheon, Kyeongin District 京造치 경조치 Seoul-made imitations 出京 출경 leave the capital, go to the country https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nd2U7rLacYI

Monday, September 30, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 采 căi 채 (144)

Like, share and, of course, subscribe. 喝采 갈채 applause, cheers, acclamation, plaudits, ovation 風采 풍채 appearance, air, mean, getup 拍手喝采 발수갈채 cheering and clapping, applause, plaudit 文采 문채 trope, rhetorical flourishing, literary embellishment 納采 남채 wedding presents sent from the bridegroom's house to the bride's house https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Q78tRo0km8E

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Types of Chinese strokes

Stroke order of Chinese Characters

1. Write from top to bottom, and left to right. As a general rule, strokes are written from top to bottom and left to right. For example, among the first characters usually learned is the number one, which is written with a single horizontal line: 一. This character has one stroke which is written from left to right. The character for "two" has two strokes: 二. In this case, both are written from left to right, but the top stroke is written first. The character for "three" has three strokes: 三. Each stroke is written from left to right, starting with the uppermost stroke. This rule also applies to the order of components. For example, 校 can be divided into two. The entire left side (木) is written before the right side (交). There are some exceptions to this rule, mainly occurring when the right side of a character has a lower enclosure (see below). When there are upper and lower components, the upper components are written first, then the lower components, as in 品 and 星. 2. Horizontal before vertical When horizontal and vertical strokes cross, horizontal strokes are usually written before vertical strokes: the character for "ten", 十, has two strokes. The horizontal stroke, 一, is written first, followed by the vertical stroke, to obtain 十. Similarly, when a horizontal stroke is crossed by a right-to-left diagonal (丿), the horizontal stroke is written first, e.g., the first stroke of 大 is 一, followed by 丿. In the Japanese standard, a vertical stroke may precede many intersecting horizontal strokes if the vertical stroke does not pass through the lowest horizontal stroke. 3. Character-spanning strokes last Vertical strokes that pass through many other strokes are written after the strokes through which they pass, as in 聿 and 弗. Horizontal strokes that pass through many other strokes are written last, as in 毋 and 舟. 4. Diagonals right-to-left before diagonals left-to-right Right-to-left diagonals (丿) are written before left-to-right diagonals (乀), as in 文. This is for symmetric diagonals; for asymmetric diagonals, as in 戈, the left-to-right may precede the right-to-left, based on other rules. 5. Center before outside in vertically symmetrical characters In vertically symmetrical characters, the center components are written before components on the left or right. Components on the left are written before components on the right, as in 兜 and 承. 6. Enclosures before contents Outside enclosing components are written before inside components; bottom strokes in the enclosure are written last if present, as in 日 and 口. (A common mnemonic is "Put people inside first, then close the door.") Enclosures may also have no bottom stroke, as in 同 and 月. 7. Left vertical before enclosing Left vertical strokes are written before enclosing strokes. In the following two examples, the leftmost vertical stroke (|) is written first, followed by the uppermost and rightmost lines (┐) (which are written as one stroke): 日 and 口. 8. Bottom enclosures last Bottom enclosing components are usually written last: 道, 建, 凶. 9. Dots and minor strokes last Minor strokes are usually written last, as the small "dot" in the following: 玉, 求, 朮. 10. Vertical before diagonal lower-left-to-right A vertical is written before a crossing diagonal lower-left-to-right stroke (㇀, ti), such as: 物, 软, 打.

Friday, September 27, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 步 bu 보 (141)

Like, share and subscribe. 進步 진보 progress, advance, improvement 初步 초보 first step, rudiments, the ABC, beginner's course 步調 보조 pace, step, cadence 步行 보행 walk, errand, ambulation https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ryBTdlwDK6E

Thursday, September 26, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 長 장 (140)

Do not forget to like, share and subscribe 長 장 grow, growth, leader, chief, boss 生長 생장 growth, grow, thrive 長調 장조 major key https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RooIjcvGeIA

Monday, September 23, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 牛 niu 우 (137)

Do not forget to like, share and subscribe. 牛乳 우유 milk 鬪牛 투우 bullfight, fighting bull 牽牛 견우 morning glory 牛痘 우두 cowpox, vaccinia 蝸牛 와우 snail https://www.youtube.com/shorts/y7mJXzvxays

Sunday, September 22, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 保 bao 보 (136)

Do not forget to like, share and subscribe to my channel. Your comments are welcome. Here are some words with the character 保 보 in them. 保險 보험 assurance, insurance 擔保 담보 security, mortgage, collateral 留保 유보 reservation https://www.youtube.com/shorts/r-4CFghue_M

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 典 dian 전 (135)

Remember to like, share and subscribe for more videos like this. 典型 전형 a type, a pattern, a specimen, a model 古典 고전 classics, classical, literature, an old book, the classics 辭典 사전 a dictionary, a lexicon, a glossary, nomenclature 特典 특전 special favour, benefit, privilege 上典상전 one's master, employer, one's higher officer https://www.youtube.com/shorts/A_KNaxg5-r4

Friday, September 20, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 虫 chóng 충 (134)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/M464MgPq3dU

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Easy Cinese Writing 此 차 (132)

Like, share and subscribe. 於此彼 어차피 anyhow, anyway, one way or the other, in any case 彼此 피차 that and this, each other, you and I, both sides 此際 차게 on this occasion, now, at this pont 此後 차후 after this, hence, hereafter, in future https://www.youtube.com/shorts/E9mbvSdjU48

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

A character and a picture: 虎 호 (131)

Do not forget to like and subscribe to my channel. The character 虎 also appears in the following words. 虎口 호구 tiger's mouth, the jaws of death, danger 虎狼一 호랑이 a cruel person 白虎 백호 the White Tiger constelation, mountains branching off the main high mountain 虎視眈眈 호시탐탐 with vigilant hostility, gloatingly 無虎洞中狸作虎 무호 동중 이작호 when the cat is away the mice will play, in the land of the blind the one-eyed is king https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nJmklAu8Pio

Monday, September 16, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 比 비 (130)

Do not forget to say thank you in the comments section or by pressing the like, share and subscribe buttons. The character appears in the following words: 比較 비교 comparison, parallel 比喻 비율 ratio, rate, percentage, proportion 比較的 비교적 comparative, relative 比丘僧 비구승 Buddhist monk 逆比例 역비례 inverse proportion https://www.youtube.com/shorts/I6ghQMgrn40

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 夫 부 (129)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IyXZnnn4Tb8 Do not forget to like, share and subscribe. Here are examples of word combinations with the character 夫 부: 夫婦 부부 husband and wife 工夫 공부 study, work 夫人 부인 wife, Mrs., married woman, madam 人夫 인부 laborer, coolie, navvy 農夫 농부 a granger

Saturday, September 14, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 傘 산 (128)

Subscribe to my channel. Here are some more words that contain 傘 산 in them: 落下傘 낙하산 parachute 雨傘 우산 umbrella 陽傘 양산 parasol https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IyXZnnn4Tb8

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 井 jing (125)

Today's character is related to ancient Chinese agriculture. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XZ9hcfnGALc

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 得 de 득 (124)

Do not forget to like, share and subscribe. The character 得 appears in the following words: 所得 소득 income, earning, profit 利得 이득 profit, gain, advantage, benefit 納得 납득 assent, consent, compliance, conviction 得點 득점 marks obtained, points made, score https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jnNu22-4P5g

Monday, September 9, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 貝 패 (123)

Here is today's character: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-P7ITcPSwWY Do not forget to like, share and subscribe. Leave your comments bellow and make sure to press the notifications button. Here are some examples of words with 貝 貝殼 패각 shell 貝母 패모 crown imperial

Sunday, September 8, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 引 yin (122)

Let us take a closer look at another easy character. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-cQepPpkxU8 Here are some examples with words that contain 引 인: 引上 인항 a rise 引渡 인도 delivery, transfer, surrender, extradite 割引 할인 discount, reduction 引受 인수 take over, acceptance, charge, shoulder 引下 인하 reduction, lowering, cut

Saturday, September 7, 2024

Easy chinese writing 弓 gong (121)

Today's character is 弓 gong, meaning "bow" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tbvYZ-TiM-E Before you move on, like share and subscribe. Here are some examples of words with 弓 in them: 洋弓 양공 Western-style archery 弓道 공도 archery 名弓 명공 skilled archer

Friday, September 6, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing (120)

Here is a new character that is so easy to write and has an obvious meaning. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tbvYZ-TiM-E

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 立 li (119)

 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/N2fSrEEBCHc

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 冊(118)

 

A new basic character explained:


  • J04545

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LXt16OUg3f8

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 旦 (117)

 In this video I teach the calligraphy for the character 旦 dan, meaning "dawn, morning"

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/T4qrkNDLPRc

Monday, September 2, 2024

Easy Chinese Writing 116

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4c89bnYrmM&list=PL1kGjW6Dy9pM7Q-0S15AJy5CkF6A5x2Xl&index=79

Friday, April 26, 2024

QING HISTORY ANOTHER FRONT AGAINST WESTERN INFLUENCE

 

QING HISTORY ANOTHER FRONT AGAINST WESTERN INFLUENCE

In the wake of a broad and sustained campaign against Western influence in education and beyond, China Media Project’s David Bandurski notes a new attack on Western historians of China. In an article published online and in print by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, auspiciously laden with 88 exclamation marks, Li Zhiting of the National Qing Dynasty History Compilation Committee blasts American scholars’ views on the relationships between the Manchu rulers of the Qing Dynasty, the various parts of their empire, and the modern Chinese state. “The essay, in fact, is not about historical scholarship at all,” Bandurski comments, “but about China’s current ideological climate.” From his partial translation:

In recent years, a certain saying about Qing history has emerged among academic historians called “new Qing history.” This was not invented by Chinese historians but in fact comes from overseas — created together by several American historians!

The American scholars who support “new Qing history” view the history of China from an imperialist standpoint, with imperialist points of view and imperialist eyes, regarding “traditional” China as an “empire,” regarding the Qing dynasty as “Qing dynasty imperialism.” Their theory and discourse are shot through with imperialist arrogance. Differentiating their work from 20th century studies of imperialism, they call it “new imperial history” (新帝国主义史学). “New Qing history” is one example.

[…] “New Qing History” is academically absurd, and politically does damage to the unity of China. It is necessary to stir all scholars with a sense of righteousness to fiercely oppose it. We entirely reject “New Qing History.” Moreover, we expose its mask of pseudo-academic scholarship, eliminating the deleterious effect it has had on scholarship in China! [Source]

Noting that he is “pretty firmly in the camp of New Qing History,” Jeremiah Jenne addresses the controversy at his Jottings from the Granite Studio blog, highlighting and translating other passages from Li’s article and elsewhere. From Jenne’s own comments:

The idea of Manchu Sinicization is a hobgoblin unlikely to die anytime soon in China. Historians affiliated with what has become known as the “New Qing History” have been attempting to complicate this narrative for nearly three decades, and while scholars overseas — and even a few within China — are starting to come around, the dominant narrative inside China remains that the Manchus succeeded in ruling because, unlike earlier non-Han dynasties, they assimilated and adopted Chinese styles of rule and other cultural values. Indeed, according to the most strident adherents of “Sinicization”, the Manchus couldn’t help but assimilate once they encountered the vastly superior civilization of China.

[…] The Manchus also conquered vast areas in what is today Western China, including Tibet and Xinjiang. They were also the first state on the mainland to consolidate their control over the island of Taiwan. This makes the issue of Manchu cultural identity politically problematic as well. Separating the Manchu-rued Qing Empire from the post-imperial governments of the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China not only complicates modern Chinese attempts at establishing the extent of the Qing Empire as “inherent territory,” it also recalls bad memories of Japanese and British attempts to use the “Manchu-ness” of the Qing Empire to wrest control over Manchuria and Tibet respectively. [Source]

Jenne cites Ge Jianxiong and Yao Dali as notable dissenters to Li’s view within China, and translates from the former’s essay “To exaggerate the size of China’s historical territory is not patriotic.” Another objector is Feng Xuerong, whose recent Weibo post “The Five Great Jokes of Chinese History” mocked “patriotic” historians. From a translation at That’s:

The overarching theme to modern Chinese history: oppose imperialism and save the nation, become independent and autonomous. Right? Absolutely. But whenever anyone touch upon the Mongolian people striving for independence, our “patriotic” youth immediately become hostile.

[…] I can oppose imperialism but you can’t be independent. The governor can set great fires but the common people can’t light their lanterns.

The Outer Mongolian people were Outer Mongolian people; then, they were Qing subjects. They were never Chinese. They have a right to decide not to be Chinese if they don’t want to. We’re all people and we should all be equal.

I can oppose imperialism but you can’t be independent – this is a double standard, the logic of the bandit. [Source]

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN CHINA & CENTRAL EUROPE

 

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN CHINA & CENTRAL EUROPE

In 2012, China and 16 Central and Eastern European countries together formed the “16+1” regional framework, a loosely aligned grouping that focuses on increasing trade and investment between the participating countries. While China’s increasing influence in AfricaAustralia, and other global regions has been the focus of much English-language media attention in recent years, much less has been written about China’s relationship with Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, and other CEE nations.

Over the past six years, as part of its nascent One Belt One Road Initiative, China has promised substantial investment in various infrastructure projects in the region, including a new airport in Warsaw and a high speed rail between Belgrade and BudapestAccording to Xinhua, China has promised over US$9 billion in investment in CEE countries, while the European partners have invested US$1.4 billion in China. However, so far few of the Chinese investment funds have been spent, and some citizens of those countries are questioning what they stand to gain from closer ties with China.

Project Sinopsis is a joint project between AcaMedia and the Institute of East Asian Studies at Charles University in Prague that seeks to inform the Czech public about China and its burgeoning role in the region. CDT English editors recently interviewed Martin Hála, founder and director of Project Sinopsis, and the project’s editor, Anna Zádrapová, about their work, the developing relationship between Beijing and CEE capitals, and the impact of that relationship on the local regions and the world. This interview will be followed in coming weeks by a series of columns for CDT by Project Sinopsis staff which will explore various aspects of the China-CEE relationship.

Interview with Project Sinopsis:

China Digital Times: What is the mission of Sinopsis? What has the response been to your reporting among the Czech public and the government?

Project Sinopsis: Project Sinopsis has been designed as a response to the heightened demand for reliable information on and analysis of contemporary China in the aftermath of the recent foreign policy reversals in the Czech Republic and elsewhere in CEE. The region registered steep growth in China’s influence in the last few years, yet the general understanding of the new “strategic partner” remains rudimentary, both among the public and the political elites steering this new political course.

At the same time, there are pockets of knowledge on China both within the region, and internationally; they just remain sequestered from the public discourse. Sinopsis aims to bridge this gap and bring information and analysis from academia, thinks tanks, and similar knowledge production hubs to the general public through a close collaboration with local vernacular media.

The government mostly tries to ignore us; they only spring to action when we release what they see as particularly damaging information, such as embarrassing quotes by Czech politicians printed in Chinese media, or information on meetings and gatherings the government would rather hush up. In such cases, they either try to deny or explain away. A prominent Chinese company, CEFC, occasionally threatens to sue our media partners through a local law firm. (Ironically, the company has now gotten itself into quite a bit of legal trouble with the arrest in New York of a high representative of their non-profit arm on corruption charges.)

CDT: Why hasn’t the 16+1 initiative attracted more attention from the Western press, as other plans related to Beijing’s global ambitions have (such as the Belt and Road initiative and related CPEC)?

PS: Why, that must be for lack of music videos on 16+1! If the Propaganda Department keeps slacking, we’ll step in with our own production…

The fact is that Belt and Road may be better known, but not much understood, either. 16+1 remains more obscure still, yet it may be the most remarkable development in Europe you have never heard of.

It is a feat of China’s diplomacy, simultaneously dividing the already fractured EU and reenacting the East European “bloc” — this time under Chinese, rather than Russian tutelage. The reason why it doesn’t get the attention it deserves appears two-fold: First, The EU is preoccupied with so many other pressing problems, from Brexit to migration; Secondly, while Europe obsesses, quite understandably, about Russian meddling, that preoccupation also diverts attention from what might ultimately prove a more consequential development.

CDT: In a recent report, Sharp Power: Rising Authoritarian Influence, NED compares the soft power approaches of China and Russia in four Latin American and Central European countries. They say, “Chinese foreign policy toward Central European countries has three main priorities. As elsewhere in the world, the first priority is securing adherence to the One China principle….Second, since initiating the 16+1 platform in 2012, China expects each state to be an active contributor to the forum, through which it seeks to foster cooperation with sixteen Central and Eastern European countries…The third priority for Chinese foreign policy in the region is less tangible than the previous two. In the CCP’s framing, China is working to achieve commitments from individual states to build a partnership with it based on mutual respect, shared interests, and win-win cooperation.” 

Would you agree with that assessment?

PS: We agree, but would like to add a more general perspective without which it is difficult to understand both Russian and Chinese priorities in this region. We see a new treaty system emerging in “Eurasia”, an often uneasy quasi-alliance between Russia and China in the post-Soviet space, first practiced and perfected in Central Asia in the last two decades since the establishment of the Group of Five in 1996 and the Shanghai Cooperative Organization (SCO) in 2001. This somewhat forced marriage of convenience really only got going after the Crimea crisis in 2014, as evidenced by the alignment treaty between the EEU and BRI of 2015. Now the whole arrangement moves further west to CEE in a modified version, with Russia as a tacit partner. Interestingly, people tend only to watch the mostly covert Russian activity in the region, while ignoring the very overt Chinese one.

CDT: Why is Russia not included in the 16+1? How are Chinese moves in CEE perceived by Russia?

PS: You would expect Russia as the old hegemon in Eastern Europe to be alarmed by China’s advances, but it clearly is not. Both powers reached an accommodation earlier in Central Asia which they now bring to this region. The difference in CEE is that Russia cannot be an open party to 16+1; unlike in Central Asia, where formal Russian participation is welcomed by local elites, in large parts of Eastern Europe, namely in the Baltic and Visegrad countries, strong anti-Russian resentment lingers. On the other hand, China, a big unknown, is seen neutrally, even positively. 16+1 with open Russian participation would inevitably collapse; it might not even come up, in the first place. Russia has to remain a silent partner in the endeavor.

CDT: Where does the neutral or positive image of China come from, and is that generally held by the people of the 16+1 CEE states, or the governments, or both?

PS: The sad fact is that people just don’t know much about contemporary China. Is it communist or capitalist? Rich or poor? Is it getting more democratic and free, or less? This confused image probably exists anywhere, but perhaps more so in Eastern Europe that had until recently relatively little exposure to the PRC. Given their own history, people in the region used to be instinctively put off by the fact that China is a communist dictatorship. Thirty years after the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, this seems to matter less, plus the Chinese communists appear unusual in that they carry a lot of cash; the comrades we used to know were always poor. At the same time, the ideal of democratic capitalism that East Europeans aspired to in 1989 suffered quite some shock in the 2008 financial and 2015 refugee crises. Many people now look at China and see less the “dictatorship” part, and more the “money” part.

CDT: Why are Chinese loans attractive to CEE states? Why don’t CEE states, especially those that are EU members or pending members, prefer grant funding from the EU?

PS: The mythical Chinese investment in Eastern Europe remains negligible – with a few exceptions, mostly in the Balkans – lagging far behind investment from Western Europe, and even from other Asian countries (including Taiwan). The EU has its own infrastructure development program called Structural Funds that has pumped many times more money into the region. The EU funds come as grants, i.e. free money, whereas the Chinese investment materializes, if at all, as acquisitions or loans. Yet, China’s money is preferable to certain quarters in CEE, because it comes “without strings attached”. In real life this means that while the EU funds come with strong transparency and accountability requirements – which also means a lot of paperwork – the Chinese money has no such “strings” and can more easily feed into various shady deals and patronage networks.

CDT: What similarities, if any, do you see in China’s approach to CEE and the recent debate in Australia over Chinese influence on political parties, academia and the media there?

PS: We see similarities, and differences. Australia is now the one country in the world undergoing a profound internal debate about the wisdom of their wide opening to China. We follow the debate with fascination. Nothing like that is likely to happen anytime soon in this region: that is because Australia, for better or worse, has a real relationship with China, so there are real issues and dilemmas involved. There is a very real balance between the growing economic dependence and the political influence that China brings to Australia. China has a real impact on Australian economy, and that’s the backdrop of the debate. In contrast, most of Eastern Europe only gets the Chinese political influence without much of an economic impact – that makes the little debate we have here even more unreal. We’re not discussing reality, but hype. In Australia, they say: yes, there’s economic importance to the relationship, but is it worth the political cost? Here in Eastern Europe, we say: Chinese investment? Where is it?

The other fascinating part for observers from Eastern Europe is that in Australia, despite all the failures that came out so graphically in the debate, the basic safeguards in the system seem to be working. The media do their part, as do the intelligence services, and the political establishment takes notice.  In the Czech Republic, the  declassified, redacted yearly reports by the local counterintelligence called BIS increasingly sound alarm about China’s influence operations, yet the political structures that should act on these reports simply choose to ignore them. When directly confronted with the latest BIS report during a radio debate, a former foreign minister and one of the main China lobbyists said something like, well, you know, these services always get alarmist in order to justify their budgets… And he got away with it.  We have our own Sam Dastyaris around here, they just do not get called out the way they do down under.

CDT: Looking at the Czech Republic in particular, can you briefly explain the evolution of the relationship between the two countries and how it has changed from Havel’s presidency to  the present day?

PS: The first attempt to turn the relationship around came already in 2005, driven by a few Czech post-Communist politicians. China wasn’t ready back then, and there was little interest from the Czech business community.

That changed five years later in 2010, when the richest Czech financial corporation PPF and its consumer loans division Home Credit started pushing hard for a nation-wide license in China. They were notified that the main obstacle lay in the cool relationship between the two countries. PPF started working on it, hiring former government officials up to the ministerial level as their lobbyists.

Their moment came in 2013 when the newly elected Czech president made use of a banal government crisis to name his own cabinet, where the PPF lobbyists enjoyed unfettered access. By that time, a more active foreign policy was being formulated in Beijing by the new Xi Jinping leadership. This time, the CCP was ready to seize the day. In 2014, the new Czech policy towards China was announced, and Home Credit was awarded a national license in China. A win-win, we might say.

CDT: How does the Czech public view this win-win relationship? Are there any overlooked issues that should be of concern to the Czech public—or to the world?

PS: The win-win relationship is between China and a Czech financial conglomerate (which is, by the way, incorporated in the Netherlands). The Czech public, as a third party to this win-win, an odd man out, came out empty-handed. The two winning parties reap the benefits; the third party is left with the political and security fallout. A win-win for some may be a double loss for others.

That is perhaps the lesson to be learnt – we have to carefully distinguish between national and particular interests. An elite capture is predicated on mobilizing particular interests that can overrule the national ones. Such elite capture is of course typical for less than democratic regimes – Cambodia comes to mind as the latest example. In Europe, we have seen that this could happen even in nominally democratic societies, especially those with strong oligarchic influences.

CDT: What is CEFC and what is their relationship with the Czech government?

PS: CEFC is somewhat mysterious Chinese company that responded to the PPF breakthrough in China by setting up shop in the Czech Republic. In the Fall of 2015, CEFC went on a week-long, “shock and awe” shopping spree in Prague, bagging some prime real estate, a football club and a media conglomerate. All in all a negligible amount from macro-economic perspective, but the sheer speed of these acquisitions did help to build up the hype of Chinese investment.

CEFC’s real impact, however, has been political, rather than economic. The company employs in their Prague HQ a number of retired politicians and government officials. Their people serve as advisors in top constitutional bodies, like the President’s and the Prime Minister’s offices. Already a few months before the legendary shopping spree in 2015, the Czech President named CEFC Chairman Ye Jianming his “special advisor”.

Interestingly, this happened the very same year when Mr Ye was also named a special advisor of the former Ugandan FM Sam Kutesa in his position of the President of UN General Assembly. According to an indictment recently unsealed in the U.S., Patrick Ho, Secretary General of the CEFC non-profit arm, then wired Mr Kutesa half a million dollars. Mr Ho is under arrest in the U.S. accused of bribing several African leaders on CEFC’s behalf. Mr Ye remains a special advisor to the Czech President.

CDT: What is the perception of China and the so-called China Model among citizens of the Czech Republic? How is China portrayed in the media there and how does that influence public opinion?

PS: The perception of Communist China keeps changing. After CEFC’s shopping spree in Prague, there was much expectation that a wave of substantial investment would follow, lifting up the Czech economy. This narrative was heavily supported by some Czech politicians, first of all the President. When it became clear that this was not going to happen, disillusionment followed, and a more skeptical attitude to the official “investment” hype.

The China Model is being promoted by various Czech actors with intensive support from China. There are conferences, delegations and exchanges taking place on a massive scale. Everybody and anybody is being sent to China, down to district officials, in what amounts to a giant national junket. These visitors are dined, wined and entertained for a few days in a five-star hotel; many come back impressed, some become believers.

Yet there is also a very critical attitude in some sections of the society towards the whole, occasionally bizarre spectacle. On this issue, like so many others, the society is polarized.

====
For further reading, see: