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The Ugly Chinaman and the Crisis of Chinese Culture
This critique of the Chinese was banned in mainland China by Communist Party officials. This edition includes a selection of Bo Yang's speeches, writings and media interviews, as well as a sample of the reactions his comments have provoked.
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First published January 1, 1981
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June 18, 2015Well,Mr. Bo Yang wrote this book some 40 or 30 years ago in Taiwan, but what he had said about Chinese and the ugly side of Chinese culture still rings true after so many years.
Is there any improvement for the Chinese as a whole? So far as a Chinese I can't see any. Sad, isn't it?
Today, when I heard someone said citizens and students who dared to stand up to protest and fight for their right 'have it coming' when they end up being crushed down and killed off by the Chinese government, I especially remember this book and what Mr. Bo Yang had said about the ugly nature of some (if not the majority of) Chinese people.
Edited@18/06/2015: Today I came across this short article which is also titled 'The Ugly Chinaman' and the author of this article is as pissed off and angry as I am toward the ugliness of Chinese mentality: http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1035244
Is there any improvement for the Chinese as a whole? So far as a Chinese I can't see any. Sad, isn't it?
Today, when I heard someone said citizens and students who dared to stand up to protest and fight for their right 'have it coming' when they end up being crushed down and killed off by the Chinese government, I especially remember this book and what Mr. Bo Yang had said about the ugly nature of some (if not the majority of) Chinese people.
Edited@18/06/2015: Today I came across this short article which is also titled 'The Ugly Chinaman' and the author of this article is as pissed off and angry as I am toward the ugliness of Chinese mentality: http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1035244
July 19, 2012
I read this book after seven or eight years of living in Taiwan. I had known about it for a while, but Taiwanese bookstores, usually well-stocked with English language books about China and Taiwan, did not carry it. No wonder. I finally found someone with a copy and then took it to a printer to get my own copy – the Taiwanese way. The Taiwanese believe, not in copyright, but copyleft. Get it? I underlined so many passages in the thin volume it looked like it had been in the custody of a chop-wielding Chinese bank teller. Nearly every assertion and anecdote resonated. Bo Yang said what I had been thinking, but was too afraid to say it, except to other Westerners.
If a Westerner had penned this book, they would have been branded a racist, or been accused of not understanding “the real China,” a common Sinophile charge. But because Bo Yang was Chinese – born in China and later a resident of Taiwan – and because he was a well-known historian, writer, journalist, etc. (he headed the Taiwan chapter of Amnesty International and was an advisor to the Taiwanese government after he did a spell in prison as a dissident) nobody can say boo about this book, not least of all because every sentence is lethally accurate.
Because of the title, I had thought The Ugly Chinaman was a sort of angry tirade, but it is not. It is a well argued denunciation of the ills of Chinese culture. But a neophyte likely would not understand; it helps to live in Chinese society for a while before reading.
TUC begins with a dialogue between a doctor and TB patient. The patient accuses the doctor of fabricating the diagnosis and says it is doctors like him who harm the motherland. The patient barks, “It’s people like you who are to blame for China’s problems. You make foreigners look down on Chinese people because you give them the idea that we’re all suffering from TB. Traitors like you suck the blood of the Chinese people and kiss the arses of the barbarian devils. God will strike you dead! Imperial court guards! (coughs) Take him away!”
It’s a reference to the lack of introspection and the proclivity to deny and ignore serious problems. We see examples of this all the time in the news. Villagers say their water has been contaminated by a nearby factory, and local officials accuse them of treason. Recrimination is commonplace. Problems snowball. No one wants to see them; others are afraid to speak up.
The book ends with a series of refutations, too. Bo Yang published a series of angry responses written by other “academics” in opposition to his thesis that Chinese culture is, and I quote, primitive, and that Chinese people need to Westernize for the benefit of all. The book’s format, then, is very clever: an angry denial, a series of propositions and examples that outline a damning thesis, and more angry denials. Bo Yang knew that no matter how well-reasoned or well-supported his argument, Chinese culture is, to many, beyond reproach. By criticizing Chinese culture, you are only shaming your ancestors, who created it.
The Ugly Chinaman is a very bold and interesting book. It is a brave man who can look at his own culture in the eye and say, “You’re sick. You need help.” Apparently, when this book was published, it sold hundreds of thousands of copies in East Asia. Anyone who has spent time in Chinese society ought to read it.
Troy Parfitt is the author of Why China Will Never Rule the World
If a Westerner had penned this book, they would have been branded a racist, or been accused of not understanding “the real China,” a common Sinophile charge. But because Bo Yang was Chinese – born in China and later a resident of Taiwan – and because he was a well-known historian, writer, journalist, etc. (he headed the Taiwan chapter of Amnesty International and was an advisor to the Taiwanese government after he did a spell in prison as a dissident) nobody can say boo about this book, not least of all because every sentence is lethally accurate.
Because of the title, I had thought The Ugly Chinaman was a sort of angry tirade, but it is not. It is a well argued denunciation of the ills of Chinese culture. But a neophyte likely would not understand; it helps to live in Chinese society for a while before reading.
TUC begins with a dialogue between a doctor and TB patient. The patient accuses the doctor of fabricating the diagnosis and says it is doctors like him who harm the motherland. The patient barks, “It’s people like you who are to blame for China’s problems. You make foreigners look down on Chinese people because you give them the idea that we’re all suffering from TB. Traitors like you suck the blood of the Chinese people and kiss the arses of the barbarian devils. God will strike you dead! Imperial court guards! (coughs) Take him away!”
It’s a reference to the lack of introspection and the proclivity to deny and ignore serious problems. We see examples of this all the time in the news. Villagers say their water has been contaminated by a nearby factory, and local officials accuse them of treason. Recrimination is commonplace. Problems snowball. No one wants to see them; others are afraid to speak up.
The book ends with a series of refutations, too. Bo Yang published a series of angry responses written by other “academics” in opposition to his thesis that Chinese culture is, and I quote, primitive, and that Chinese people need to Westernize for the benefit of all. The book’s format, then, is very clever: an angry denial, a series of propositions and examples that outline a damning thesis, and more angry denials. Bo Yang knew that no matter how well-reasoned or well-supported his argument, Chinese culture is, to many, beyond reproach. By criticizing Chinese culture, you are only shaming your ancestors, who created it.
The Ugly Chinaman is a very bold and interesting book. It is a brave man who can look at his own culture in the eye and say, “You’re sick. You need help.” Apparently, when this book was published, it sold hundreds of thousands of copies in East Asia. Anyone who has spent time in Chinese society ought to read it.
Troy Parfitt is the author of Why China Will Never Rule the World
August 6, 2017
Mình vẫn không hiểu tại sao khi dịch sang tiếng Việt lại để tựa đề là "Khoe bàn chân nhỏ" mà không phải là "người TQ xấu xí" như tựa đề tiếng Anh "the ugly Chinaman"? Mà thôi bỏ qua đi.
Đây là một cuốn sách lột trần những tính nết xấu của người Trung Quốc. Dù viết từ hơn 3 chục năm về trước nhưng những thói hư tật xấu được nêu lên trong này vẫn là điều nhức nhối của người dân Trung Hoa. Không chỉ lên án, tác giả còn phân tích, chỉ ra nguyên nhân lịch sử đã gây ra những thói này. Từ trước đến nay mình vốn không thích đạo Khổng vì nó coi phụ nữ chẳng ra gì, nhưng sau khi đọc cuốn sách này mới biết hậu quả kinh khủng của nó là nền văn minh tụt hậu của phương Đông.
Dù đây là cuốn sách nói về tật xấu của người TQ, nhưng khi đọc cũng phải giật mình thon thót vì Việt Nam cũng có tật không khác gì. Anh em láng giềng giao hảo có khác :) Người Việt cũng nên đọc để nhận ra những tật xấu của dân tộc mình.
Điều mình khá thích là cuốn sách gồm nhiều bài viết, cuộc thảo luận không chỉ của tác giả mà còn từ nhiều người khác, cả đồng ý lẫn bất đồng. Độc giả có thể tự đánh giá 2 luồng ý kiến để chọn những ý kiến mà mình thấy hợp lí nhất. (dù đương nhiên phần lớn vẫn là bài viết ủng hộ)
Đây là một cuốn sách lột trần những tính nết xấu của người Trung Quốc. Dù viết từ hơn 3 chục năm về trước nhưng những thói hư tật xấu được nêu lên trong này vẫn là điều nhức nhối của người dân Trung Hoa. Không chỉ lên án, tác giả còn phân tích, chỉ ra nguyên nhân lịch sử đã gây ra những thói này. Từ trước đến nay mình vốn không thích đạo Khổng vì nó coi phụ nữ chẳng ra gì, nhưng sau khi đọc cuốn sách này mới biết hậu quả kinh khủng của nó là nền văn minh tụt hậu của phương Đông.
Dù đây là cuốn sách nói về tật xấu của người TQ, nhưng khi đọc cũng phải giật mình thon thót vì Việt Nam cũng có tật không khác gì. Anh em láng giềng giao hảo có khác :) Người Việt cũng nên đọc để nhận ra những tật xấu của dân tộc mình.
Điều mình khá thích là cuốn sách gồm nhiều bài viết, cuộc thảo luận không chỉ của tác giả mà còn từ nhiều người khác, cả đồng ý lẫn bất đồng. Độc giả có thể tự đánh giá 2 luồng ý kiến để chọn những ý kiến mà mình thấy hợp lí nhất. (dù đương nhiên phần lớn vẫn là bài viết ủng hộ)
April 14, 2008
an interesting and hilarious exposure of the dark side of the Chinese civilization from an insider. comparing with the works by Lu Tun, nothing much seems to have changed in the Chinese way of thinking. Bo Yang blames the current situation on the very long history of Confucianism and its incompatibility with competition, commerce, innovation, and change of the status quo. consequently, the Chinese are:
1, intolerant of criticism (Bo Yang was imprisoned 9 years for writing these things)
2, constantly jealous of others' success
3, curious but not inquisitive
4, intuitive but irrational
5, subjugated, fearful, suspicious and antagonistic
6, selfish, devoid of real or deep emotions, hypocritical
etc.
the most interesting part is when other apologists dismiss Bo Yang's criticism and denounce him as a traitor, a Western xenophile, and unpatriotic. i guess it's true to a certain extent, considering Vietnam is very Chinese in many ways.
1, intolerant of criticism (Bo Yang was imprisoned 9 years for writing these things)
2, constantly jealous of others' success
3, curious but not inquisitive
4, intuitive but irrational
5, subjugated, fearful, suspicious and antagonistic
6, selfish, devoid of real or deep emotions, hypocritical
etc.
the most interesting part is when other apologists dismiss Bo Yang's criticism and denounce him as a traitor, a Western xenophile, and unpatriotic. i guess it's true to a certain extent, considering Vietnam is very Chinese in many ways.
August 9, 2012
If you are a Westerner and spend most of your time with people who are not Asian then this book is not for you. You have been warned. Most interesting parts of it cannot be translated into English.
I don't want to say more about the view of the author on Chinese culture and Confucius teachings. People have already did that. Apart from the harsh, relentless aspect of this book, Bo Yang is a hilarious person and his writing never fails to put a big grin on my face.
By the way, I think the way Bo Yang depicts the vice and foibles of the average Chinese man (and Vietnamese also LOL) people in the 20th century in this boook very much similar to the way Moliere did with characters like Tartuffe, Harpagon, Argan.. in his comedies in the 17th century. Read both and you'll know what I mean.
I don't want to say more about the view of the author on Chinese culture and Confucius teachings. People have already did that. Apart from the harsh, relentless aspect of this book, Bo Yang is a hilarious person and his writing never fails to put a big grin on my face.
By the way, I think the way Bo Yang depicts the vice and foibles of the average Chinese man (and Vietnamese also LOL) people in the 20th century in this boook very much similar to the way Moliere did with characters like Tartuffe, Harpagon, Argan.. in his comedies in the 17th century. Read both and you'll know what I mean.
August 19, 2015
柏楊《醜陋的中國人》吸睛，一旦吸上，便目不轉睛。書中言詞犀利，直搗中國人內心最自卑、最不願面對的文化劣根性。以柏楊自己的話來說，正是有如一把匕首一樣地插入罪惡的心臟。當真是轟轟烈烈如暮鼓晨鐘，嚇醒所有裝睡的中國人。但柏楊縱然有許多中肯建言，且學識淵博，見解獨到，他許多言之鑿鑿的論調邏輯紊亂、含血噴人，令人不敢苟同。在我看來，柏楊以一種他自己最痛恨的「醬缸文化」醜態，抨擊弱勢，顛倒是非，尤以第69頁《人生文學與歷史》中所提到的案例為最。柏楊批評北美原住民「對現代文明，拒絕接受」，並直指原住民保留地「出自美國白人的恩典」。我看了簡直不敢相信！白人在這件事上，是醜陋的，他們利用了原住民的善良好客，掠奪了他們祖輩流傳的土地，搗毀他們的文化，將之貶為次等、不入流，更把白人從歐洲帶來的各種傳染病「回饋」給原住民。而���楊居然認為原住民該感恩白人還給他們一小塊白人搶來的土地？根本是骨子裡的奴性作祟！我可以理解柏楊在逐漸式微的北美原住民文化中看到了咱們中華民族可能走向的歷史途徑，因而為其抱憾，投射性地恨他們不爭氣。但是，柏楊一而再，再而三地責備被害者 (victim blame)，正入了他所抨擊的中國人缺乏寬容的胸懷，柏楊自己不也成了中華文化的遺毒，醜陋的中國人？總之，我雖與柏楊立場不全然一致，但我強烈覺得《醜陋的中國人》促使讀者反思，奠定反省、改進的基石，是所有中國人都該讀的書！
January 26, 2016
Khoe bàn chân nhỏ (tựa gốc là Thô lậu đích Trung Quốc nhân), do tác gia Bách Dương viết để vạch ra hàng loạt căn bệnh của người TQ. Cuốn sách là tập hợp các bài nói chuyện của ông Bách Dương ở các trường đại học Mỹ cùng những ý kiến ủng hộ cũng như phản biện của nhiều người khác nhau về chủ đề "Người TQ xấu xí".
Người Việt Nam, với tư cách là một dân tộc hầu như đồng văn đồng chủng, khi đọc cuốn sách chắc chắn cũng sẽ có chút đồng cảm
Người Việt Nam, với tư cách là một dân tộc hầu như đồng văn đồng chủng, khi đọc cuốn sách chắc chắn cũng sẽ có chút đồng cảm
October 5, 2020
Đọc quyển này mình có cảm giác như đang bị mắng vào mặt ấy :') Thói xấu của người Tàu cũng giống như thói xấu của người Việt vậy, đặc biệt ở tính nhỏ nhen và hay đố kị với những người thành công hơn mình. Lại còn thêm cả tự ti và hay chỉ trích nữa, hichic phải sửa thôi :(((
April 6, 2019
Đọc thế thôi. Như một bản cáo trạng với nhiều thứ tật xấu bị phơi bày như: thói đả kích, tính vụ lợi, sự hèn nhát, thói vô duyên, nói chung là tất tần tật mọi thứ. Thế nhưng, những bài nói của Bách Dương sẽ không gây thuyết phục vì: 1. Nếu những ai không thực sự tiếp xúc với người Trung Quốc thì sẽ khó tin lời Bách Dương, cơ bản vì những dẫn chứng thường mang tính hư cấu; 2. Bách Dương đề cao cộng đồng phương Tây và chê bai TQ ở mức độ quá khái quát, như thể dắt mũi người đọc và làm cho người ta càng có định kiến.
Tất nhiên việc đọc những lời của Bách Dương chắc chắn sẽ làm một bộ phận phải chột dạ.
Tất nhiên việc đọc những lời của Bách Dương chắc chắn sẽ làm một bộ phận phải chột dạ.
June 29, 2015
I am a Chinese and I found the reading painful but irresistible. Many "ugly" characters can be reflected in my own thinking and behaviors. This is a book that I will revisit many times and hope to reshape myself by carefully re-thinking.
June 14, 2016
When I read the first one fifth of the book I can't be agree more with the author. I have a long time interacting and living with Chinese people myself and they really have many different and unique thinking/habits. However the more I read, the more I feel his argument isn't different from those teenagers who constantly blaming and complaining. He looked down Chinese social, culture and knowledge. I'm not Chinese, I don't have any special emotion or feeling toward them compare with other countries but that is ignorance if you don't recognize any good thing the Chinese society has. And every culture/nation has its' own problem. He blindly admires the west (or exactly where he has chance to visit, in this case mostly the United States). The author gave a bunch of problems and can not find a proper solution. His only way is "copy-cat how the west think/act" without even considering each country has its' unique background and history.
Overall, this is a disappointing book to read. You can find some similar "idea/argument" about blaming his/her own culture/country/government on many social networks nowadays, especially from teenagers.
Overall, this is a disappointing book to read. You can find some similar "idea/argument" about blaming his/her own culture/country/government on many social networks nowadays, especially from teenagers.
December 25, 2018
Trước khi đọc cuốn này thì mình có đọc một số bài viết của học giả Vương Trí Nhàn. Những bài viết của bác Nhàn mình cảm thấy những nhận xét đánh giá hơi chủ quan, từ một tình huống mà suy ra cho cả một đất nước, dân tộc. Dẫn chứng thì lại chủ yếu rút ra từ các nhân vật hư cấu trong văn học. Khi chuyển sang đọc cuốn này của Bách Dương thì mình kỳ vọng sẽ tốt hơn nhiều nhưng cách lập luận đánh giá lại na ná nhau. Nếu như ai đã đọc những tác phẩm của Malcomn Glad well sẽ thấy được tư duy tìm tòi, đánh giá sự vật hiện tượng khách quan hơn. Một con người, một dân tộc có rất nhiều mối liên hệ với những thứ xung quanh bao gồm cả hữu hình lẫn vô hình. Để đánh giá, chỉ trích nó đúng đắn thực sự là rất khó khăn.
Điểm cộng ở cuốn này là nó cung cấp các bài viết phản biện, tranh luận với tác giả Bách Dương về chủ đề Người TQ xấu xí. Nó cho thấy suy nghĩ của con người rất đa dạng, xuôi của người này lại là ngược với người kia.
Điểm cộng ở cuốn này là nó cung cấp các bài viết phản biện, tranh luận với tác giả Bách Dương về chủ đề Người TQ xấu xí. Nó cho thấy suy nghĩ của con người rất đa dạng, xuôi của người này lại là ngược với người kia.
June 4, 2020
相隔十載重讀，舊時讀不懂的，今天似乎多讀通了一點，既因為身處的環境氛圍改變了，亦是自我思想學問修煉長足的一個側映。上世紀八十年代出版的書，四十年後，仍能把今天的中國的狀況解通。回首昔日初讀此書，忽然接觸大量貶損中華民族的文字，總是令自己感到戚戚然不甚舒暢，今天重拾書本才明白柏老篇章中流露著「恨鐵不成鋼」的情緒。
此書值得長存於書櫃中，久不久拿出來溫故知新一番。每當耳聞目睹任何人對中國人在經歷五千年文化後，為何仍承襲一系列惡習而感到大惑不解的時候，揭開這本書總能找到一個令人難人駁斥的答案。
此書值得長存於書櫃中，久不久拿出來溫故知新一番。每當耳聞目睹任何人對中國人在經歷五千年文化後，為何仍承襲一系列惡習而感到大惑不解的時候，揭開這本書總能找到一個令人難人駁斥的答案。
March 9, 2020
This book is not for everyone. Since I have seen so many criticisms of my own country and history I am more or less used to such brutal statements, but I do wonder how those not used to and learned to deal with it would react to a book like this.
"His statement about Chinese in China of the 1980s being worse off than in the 19th century and that in the 100 years up to then all the hopes Chinese had went up in smoke and ended up making everything worse and this happening in cycles made me wonder whether this is also a factor in the current struggle of Hong Kongers and Taiwanese against being assimilated into China. They might want to escape this cycle, to not end up in misery again.
This speech shown here was given in 1984 and the author died in 2008 so I wonder what he would have said to the current situations in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore.
What he describes here of the extreme up and down between intense slave-like inferiority complex and tyrannical superiority complex does not just remind me of Chinese nationalist but also several "Asian progressives" in the USA and in my country. I would doubt whether China has really produced only one great thinker, but to be honest, the only popular ones are Confucius and the guy who wrote the Art of War. So maybe that is why he wrote that.
I disagree with him on several points, but he also has several where I think he is on to something. You see, if so, many Chinese are so insanely proud of their history and culture, why do they not dress in "traditional" Chinese attire? Also, I wonder whether these ghost-writers for self-criticism existed back then. It is certainly possible as there can be a market for almost anything.
Then again, I have no idea how reliable he is. So, he said for years that Chinese people in Taiwan are uncivilized bores and said he became very depressed when he found out mainlanders are worse. Apart from the fact that I ask myself how he says that in regard to economic development in both places as well as Taiwanese democracy, it is confusing to me when he says "China". Does he mean the mainland or Taiwan as well? He is an entertaining author, but I have no idea how reliable his statements are.
But either way, no wonder he is polarizing. He says that the Opium Wars were a good thing because they had woken China from its stupor and so the Qing dynasty was the greatest time in Chinese history. Try to tell that to any Chinese, especially mainlanders and the worst of the SJWs (you know, those that participate in the oppression Olympics) and see what happens.
Personally, I would not agree on the 5000 years of Chinese history. After all, how much culture etc. do modern Chinese really share with the people living e.g. during the Song dynasty? And speaking of them, it is interesting how he states that respect for the individual sank during the Song and to a new low during the Ming. And what he says about detachment and abuse of power reminds me of the CCP and Chinese oligarchs.
And according to him Chinese are master assimilators (not based on modern China if you ask me) and the Qing were totally assimilated unlike the Yuan. While I do not know much about the latter, as far as I know Manchu assimilation was basically a ruse. They were Manchus, stayed Manchus and were perceived as foreigners by the Han. Not to mention, they did force new customs on the Han, so how does that fit with his assimilation statements?
However, in his mind during the 5000 years, there were only 3 Chinese golden ages:
- Spring and Autumn and Warring States period
- a 100-year period during the Tang dynasty from the reign of Li Shimin to that of Li Lungji
- the first 100 years of the Qing dynasty
Oh man, I would love to see some snowflake react to this.
Taking into account his lack of historical knowledge and often glorification of the United States, he can be a bit annoying, but several of the things he stated do not sound new to me but I heard from people in China as well, especially when they compare China to Hong Kong and Taiwan.
And according to him being Chinese among Chinese is the worst ever. And not even that is new to me. Why did I come across the same things he talks about so often?
This book does not just include what the author himself wrote and said but also some of his supporters and critics. And those were interesting to read as well.
One critic of Bo Yang comes across as pretty much everything he accuses Bo Yang off. His biggest blunders are his statements about the Book of Songs and the alleged uniqueness of Chinese written history for 2800 years. The Iliad and Odyssey reach back just as long and the Bhagavad Gita is only slightly younger. And with that and Iran you already have several examples of unbroken historical records.
Not sure whether most of the wealth in South East Asia was really produced by the Overseas Chinese, but saying academic achievement somehow is an indicator of Chinese superiority like another commentator seems to imply is a rather false claim. A culture cannot achieve anything with academics alone. In fact, Bo Yang already addressed this issue before.
And if Eunuchs and bound feet were never a flaw in Chinese culture and just manifestations of sadistic sexual behavior practiced by decadent, self-indulgent dictators, why did they exist for so long and were so widespread for a time?
But who knows what counts as decadence by some of them, you see if the Qipao that one talks about is the dress that I think it is, the commentator doesn't seem to realize that its cut at the sides to reveal leg and allow more movement was a sign of emancipation.
And of course, he has a critic that rants about the Nationalists but has no bad thing to say about Mao. In another case however I am sure some commentator meant Mao when he talked about an emperor and I wondered why he didn't just say so.
One comment was especially puzzling to me:
Ancient China was cut off from the West because of deserts? How can this commentator say this when not only is it known that silk was exported to the West since roman times, but how can he possibly say this if not only has China been conquered by several non-Chinese people from the North and West, but the most popular tale in Chinese history deals with a journey to Indian, aka a "Journey to the West?"
Luckily one commentator here counteracts some of the BS in the prior chapter, e.g. by pointing out that if Chinese language needs hand signs for effective communication, how could they use telephones or if being landlocked prevents progress why did e.g. Switzerland manage it? He points to Neo-Confucianism in the Song dynasty as the actual cause of stagnation.
I am going to assume that this last article is pure satire because if the commentator really thinks that Chinese history is constant misery and Chinese people basically scumbags (albeit he calls e.g. onlookers to calamity that hinder first aiders as Chinese relieving themselves and worrying) that you cannot trust, he probably would have killed himself by now.
So, I would definitely recommend this book, but if you have thin skin, stay away.
"His statement about Chinese in China of the 1980s being worse off than in the 19th century and that in the 100 years up to then all the hopes Chinese had went up in smoke and ended up making everything worse and this happening in cycles made me wonder whether this is also a factor in the current struggle of Hong Kongers and Taiwanese against being assimilated into China. They might want to escape this cycle, to not end up in misery again.
This speech shown here was given in 1984 and the author died in 2008 so I wonder what he would have said to the current situations in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore.
What he describes here of the extreme up and down between intense slave-like inferiority complex and tyrannical superiority complex does not just remind me of Chinese nationalist but also several "Asian progressives" in the USA and in my country. I would doubt whether China has really produced only one great thinker, but to be honest, the only popular ones are Confucius and the guy who wrote the Art of War. So maybe that is why he wrote that.
I disagree with him on several points, but he also has several where I think he is on to something. You see, if so, many Chinese are so insanely proud of their history and culture, why do they not dress in "traditional" Chinese attire? Also, I wonder whether these ghost-writers for self-criticism existed back then. It is certainly possible as there can be a market for almost anything.
Then again, I have no idea how reliable he is. So, he said for years that Chinese people in Taiwan are uncivilized bores and said he became very depressed when he found out mainlanders are worse. Apart from the fact that I ask myself how he says that in regard to economic development in both places as well as Taiwanese democracy, it is confusing to me when he says "China". Does he mean the mainland or Taiwan as well? He is an entertaining author, but I have no idea how reliable his statements are.
But either way, no wonder he is polarizing. He says that the Opium Wars were a good thing because they had woken China from its stupor and so the Qing dynasty was the greatest time in Chinese history. Try to tell that to any Chinese, especially mainlanders and the worst of the SJWs (you know, those that participate in the oppression Olympics) and see what happens.
Personally, I would not agree on the 5000 years of Chinese history. After all, how much culture etc. do modern Chinese really share with the people living e.g. during the Song dynasty? And speaking of them, it is interesting how he states that respect for the individual sank during the Song and to a new low during the Ming. And what he says about detachment and abuse of power reminds me of the CCP and Chinese oligarchs.
And according to him Chinese are master assimilators (not based on modern China if you ask me) and the Qing were totally assimilated unlike the Yuan. While I do not know much about the latter, as far as I know Manchu assimilation was basically a ruse. They were Manchus, stayed Manchus and were perceived as foreigners by the Han. Not to mention, they did force new customs on the Han, so how does that fit with his assimilation statements?
However, in his mind during the 5000 years, there were only 3 Chinese golden ages:
- Spring and Autumn and Warring States period
- a 100-year period during the Tang dynasty from the reign of Li Shimin to that of Li Lungji
- the first 100 years of the Qing dynasty
Oh man, I would love to see some snowflake react to this.
Taking into account his lack of historical knowledge and often glorification of the United States, he can be a bit annoying, but several of the things he stated do not sound new to me but I heard from people in China as well, especially when they compare China to Hong Kong and Taiwan.
And according to him being Chinese among Chinese is the worst ever. And not even that is new to me. Why did I come across the same things he talks about so often?
This book does not just include what the author himself wrote and said but also some of his supporters and critics. And those were interesting to read as well.
One critic of Bo Yang comes across as pretty much everything he accuses Bo Yang off. His biggest blunders are his statements about the Book of Songs and the alleged uniqueness of Chinese written history for 2800 years. The Iliad and Odyssey reach back just as long and the Bhagavad Gita is only slightly younger. And with that and Iran you already have several examples of unbroken historical records.
Not sure whether most of the wealth in South East Asia was really produced by the Overseas Chinese, but saying academic achievement somehow is an indicator of Chinese superiority like another commentator seems to imply is a rather false claim. A culture cannot achieve anything with academics alone. In fact, Bo Yang already addressed this issue before.
And if Eunuchs and bound feet were never a flaw in Chinese culture and just manifestations of sadistic sexual behavior practiced by decadent, self-indulgent dictators, why did they exist for so long and were so widespread for a time?
But who knows what counts as decadence by some of them, you see if the Qipao that one talks about is the dress that I think it is, the commentator doesn't seem to realize that its cut at the sides to reveal leg and allow more movement was a sign of emancipation.
And of course, he has a critic that rants about the Nationalists but has no bad thing to say about Mao. In another case however I am sure some commentator meant Mao when he talked about an emperor and I wondered why he didn't just say so.
One comment was especially puzzling to me:
Ancient China was cut off from the West because of deserts? How can this commentator say this when not only is it known that silk was exported to the West since roman times, but how can he possibly say this if not only has China been conquered by several non-Chinese people from the North and West, but the most popular tale in Chinese history deals with a journey to Indian, aka a "Journey to the West?"
Luckily one commentator here counteracts some of the BS in the prior chapter, e.g. by pointing out that if Chinese language needs hand signs for effective communication, how could they use telephones or if being landlocked prevents progress why did e.g. Switzerland manage it? He points to Neo-Confucianism in the Song dynasty as the actual cause of stagnation.
I am going to assume that this last article is pure satire because if the commentator really thinks that Chinese history is constant misery and Chinese people basically scumbags (albeit he calls e.g. onlookers to calamity that hinder first aiders as Chinese relieving themselves and worrying) that you cannot trust, he probably would have killed himself by now.
So, I would definitely recommend this book, but if you have thin skin, stay away.
April 29, 2023
慕名拜读柏杨先生的《丑陋的中国人》，但是读完还是有一点失望。书里面的很多观点还是很直击要害的，但是大部分是演讲稿，内容重复，缺乏内在连贯性，可读性比较差，而且我也很不喜欢柏杨“外国的月亮比较圆”的这种态度。说实话我个人最喜欢的几篇根本不是柏杨先生写的，而是书里面收录的其他作者的文章。另外，读书对我来说是增长知识、启发思维，我对这些知识分子之间的笔墨之争毫无兴趣，更何况大部分争论在我看来都过于偏激，为了反对而反对。另：本书部分内容非常露骨直白，难以想象当年是人民文学出版社出版的。
May 22, 2022
Only the first two or three essays are great. The rest read like fillers.
March 31, 2011
Sad reality of the Chinese people revealed by the very hands of one of the most notable Chinese writers of the last century - Bo Yang
April 24, 2012
An absolute must read for any westerner BEFORE going to Asia, especially China.
August 29, 2012
It was just fine, not as good as I heard about. The author bragged way too much about Western cultures/what he encountered in America.
May 4, 2013
A commentary of Bo yang... All his opinion but worth a read. An honest hard look at our selves as Chinese... Many truths... Many ironies.. Many of our fallacies.
December 17, 2017
Một cuốn sách hay để nghĩ về dân tộc Trung Quốc nhưng đồng thời cũng là để tự suy nghĩ về người Việt Nam.
June 23, 2022
Монголчууд бол агуу үндэстэн. Тэд хятад нутагт яаж анх хөл тавьсан тэр замаараа 90 жилийн дараа буцаж гарсан гэнэ. Тэд хятад төрийн системийг өөртөө суулгаагүй, хятад уламжлалийг өөртөө нааж авалгүй анх ирсэн чигээрээ буцан одсон. Харин зүрчидүүд хятадын хамгийн муу төрийн системүүдийн нэг болох Мин улсын системийг үргэлжлүүлэн өвлөн авсан нь хожмын нуран унах шалтгаануудынх нэг нь болсон гэж номын зохиолч үзжээ.
Хөдөлмөрч, боловсролыг дээдэлдэг, оюуны өндөр чадамжтай гэх мэт хятадуудын нийтлэг төрхийг олон зохиол нийтлэлээс бид хангалттай мэдэх билээ. Иймд зохиолч төдийлөн дурдагдаад байдаггүй хятад хүний “муухай” төрхийг илчлэн бичжээ. Ганцаар ажиллавал амжилт сайтай ч хоёроос олон болвол хамтран ажиллахдаа асуудалтай, хүний нутагт хөнжилдөө хөлөө жийлцдэг мэтчилэн бидэнтэй ч адилхан зүйлс байх юм. Чанга орилж хашгичиж ярьдаг, өөрийнхөө соёлыг бүхнээс дээгүүр тавьж дөвийлгөх, үзэл зэргийг шүүмжлэн бичсэн нь түүний эх оронч, улс орныхоо ирээдүйд туйлын нухацтай ханддагынх нь илрэл гэлтэй. Хятадын соёлын болон хувь хүний хөгжлийн гол тушаа болж байсан зүйлсийн нэг нь Күнзийн сургааль номлол байжээ. Монарх тогтолцоог хүлцэн тэвчиж, хүлцэнгүй явдлыг дээдлэн, өөрчлөлт шинэчлэлийг үл дэмжсэн хандлагатай байдаг юмуу даа. Юань гүрний үед хүн амыг угсаа гарлаар нь 4, ажил хөдөлмөр эрхлэлтээр нь 10 дэсд хувааж байснаас сүүлийг мушгиж 8. Биеэ үнэлэгч 9. Күнзийн суртхаалтан 10. Гуйлгачин гэсэн нийгмийн доод ангийнханд күнзийн сургаалийг ухуулагчид орж байжээ.
Хөдөлмөрч, боловсролыг дээдэлдэг, оюуны өндөр чадамжтай гэх мэт хятадуудын нийтлэг төрхийг олон зохиол нийтлэлээс бид хангалттай мэдэх билээ. Иймд зохиолч төдийлөн дурдагдаад байдаггүй хятад хүний “муухай” төрхийг илчлэн бичжээ. Ганцаар ажиллавал амжилт сайтай ч хоёроос олон болвол хамтран ажиллахдаа асуудалтай, хүний нутагт хөнжилдөө хөлөө жийлцдэг мэтчилэн бидэнтэй ч адилхан зүйлс байх юм. Чанга орилж хашгичиж ярьдаг, өөрийнхөө соёлыг бүхнээс дээгүүр тавьж дөвийлгөх, үзэл зэргийг шүүмжлэн бичсэн нь түүний эх оронч, улс орныхоо ирээдүйд туйлын нухацтай ханддагынх нь илрэл гэлтэй. Хятадын соёлын болон хувь хүний хөгжлийн гол тушаа болж байсан зүйлсийн нэг нь Күнзийн сургааль номлол байжээ. Монарх тогтолцоог хүлцэн тэвчиж, хүлцэнгүй явдлыг дээдлэн, өөрчлөлт шинэчлэлийг үл дэмжсэн хандлагатай байдаг юмуу даа. Юань гүрний үед хүн амыг угсаа гарлаар нь 4, ажил хөдөлмөр эрхлэлтээр нь 10 дэсд хувааж байснаас сүүлийг мушгиж 8. Биеэ үнэлэгч 9. Күнзийн суртхаалтан 10. Гуйлгачин гэсэн нийгмийн доод ангийнханд күнзийн сургаалийг ухуулагчид орж байжээ.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2023
As a Vietnamese, I think this is a good book to look at Chinese behaviour and culture specifically, and East Asian generally. The book depicts a vivid picture of daily Chinaman life and is able to describe all the ugliness of Chinese people at that time.
Speaking of this book, it was written nearly 40 years ago. Time passed, and Chinese people have improved their behaviour a lot and are more capable of popularising the impact of their culture. Meanwhile, the Western people that Bo Yang applauded have become "uglier". While Bo Yang's predictions were not correct, he made an impact and helped Chinese people all over the world to understand and realize the weakness of their culture, and to improve themselves.
Speaking of this book, it was written nearly 40 years ago. Time passed, and Chinese people have improved their behaviour a lot and are more capable of popularising the impact of their culture. Meanwhile, the Western people that Bo Yang applauded have become "uglier". While Bo Yang's predictions were not correct, he made an impact and helped Chinese people all over the world to understand and realize the weakness of their culture, and to improve themselves.
May 2, 2024
I read this book time >30 years ago, it was a blow. But now when I re-read this, it loses the shocking power. On one hand there is no slight improvement, sadly.
I do not totally agree what the book says, I agree that this is open for self-reflection. Like another book I am currently reading about Netflix culture, we want to create a candor for honest and constructive feedback, but it is up to the recipient to choose accept or not.
Perhaps certain deep-root flaw (劣根性) in the DNA indeed stops the improvement.
I do not totally agree what the book says, I agree that this is open for self-reflection. Like another book I am currently reading about Netflix culture, we want to create a candor for honest and constructive feedback, but it is up to the recipient to choose accept or not.
Perhaps certain deep-root flaw (劣根性) in the DNA indeed stops the improvement.
August 23, 2022
“吴刚伐树我洗缸”，
酱缸文化：
不承认自己的错误
面对比自己高的人，自卑。面对比自己低的人，自负
中国人尊严一点一点失去
随着朝代的更替，反而更封闭。即使外来统治民族北魏和满清都被同化，采用汉人的制度。
一个人如果贫穷太久，苦难受得太多，他对任何事情都会发生一种不信任的心理反应。
“以不变应万变”，我不敢有意见。“报喜不报忧”，我想这是官场特征。
面子是神经衰弱和牢不可破的自私
儒家那种口不言利，口不言钱，但心里却塞满了钱和利的畸形观念，必须纠正过来，社会民生，才能蒸蒸日上。
虚骄之气使我们产生一种错觉，认为我们绝不会亡，理由是汉民族最富于同化力，证据是我们已亡过两次啦，
酱缸文化：
不承认自己的错误
面对比自己高的人，自卑。面对比自己低的人，自负
中国人尊严一点一点失去
随着朝代的更替，反而更封闭。即使外来统治民族北魏和满清都被同化，采用汉人的制度。
一个人如果贫穷太久，苦难受得太多，他对任何事情都会发生一种不信任的心理反应。
“以不变应万变”，我不敢有意见。“报喜不报忧”，我想这是官场特征。
面子是神经衰弱和牢不可破的自私
儒家那种口不言利，口不言钱，但心里却塞满了钱和利的畸形观念，必须纠正过来，社会民生，才能蒸蒸日上。
虚骄之气使我们产生一种错觉，认为我们绝不会亡，理由是汉民族最富于同化力，证据是我们已亡过两次啦，
Read
September 8, 2022Excellent insights from a native of China. Of course, this view will be regarded as denigrating to Chinese race by the current nationalistic communist China. A must read for those Chinese who want to integrate with the global village especially in an era of global commerce.
April 19, 2023
He was a vocal critic of his country that stems from his love towards it. He held some interesting perspective but it became a little tiring to read. As it's a compilation of his writings over the years, it seems whiny. Individually, they were strong pieces.
September 11, 2020
很多小短篇拼湊而成，一直懷疑自己是不是看錯書了。看完懂了很多以前沒想通的問題根源，中國人的確很多缺點，讀完這本書也讓我反思自己。
February 20, 2022
读罢前几章还可以，后来的章节基本上是在阐述和扩充前面的概览。所以我觉得读前面的“综述”即可。后面很多的语言过于激进，有种纯吐槽的感觉，索然无味了。
关于内容，总结的几点劣根性还是很明显的，挺好。
关于内容，总结的几点劣根性还是很明显的，挺好。
May 7, 2022
看來中國文化的最大問題就是缺乏一種求真精神。
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