The always fun ChinaSMACK blog has a recent translation between a clever student from PKU and a Japanese reporter interviewing students on the Bei Da campus. Readers interested in what passes for witty repartee in the eyes of Chinese netizens can check out the whole post here, but there was this little bit that caught my attention:
A: Please watch your wording! I don’t agree with how you’ve put the question. The question implicitly casts China in an unfavourable light. From ancient times to now, China has never had any “heavy burden”. The Chinese people are a open-minded, forward-looking exemplary race, who patiently deal with people, and remaining on friendly terms with their neighbours is China’s virtue. For this reason we acknowledge history without bias, but would never repay unkindness with unkindness. We tolerate reconciliation, including with Japan. Please tell me, what is China and the Chinese people’s “heavy burden”? Have the Chinese people ever done something unforgivable to Japan? The issue is precisely the invasion of China, the heinous crimes of the Japanese who don’t acknowledge history, burning, killing, and plundering in China, madly exterminating the Chinese people. The criminal Japanese don’t acknowledge their crimes or make reparations to China and the Chinese people, and are even trying to expand their overseas military capabilities, split China, seize China’s land, infuriating the Chinese people. There is too much of this kind of historical fact. Can you tell me, is this the historical burden China carries? (Applause from students)
Now, remaining on friendly terms with the neighbors depends a bit on whether you are Vietnam and also your position on what is considered “China” and what is considered a “neighbor”, as most readers of this space are aware, this is hardly an uncontested dichotomy.
But no matter where you stand on these hot topics in history*, does any part of what this kid is saying sound like he has ever in his life questioned the established narratives put forth by the Party and the Ministry of Education? It’s the absolutes that I find most alarming (a lot of racial essentialism and “nevers”). One thing that is absolute about history? It’s tough to speak about it in absolutes. And it is this attitude of absolutes toward history which I find very disturbing, especially when it is purported** to come from the mouth of a student in an elite university.***
Nuance. Complexity. Multiple perspectives. These are the things necessary to understanding complicated historical questions.
Besides, if Han nationalists are so bent on claiming Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire as “Chinese,” than shouldn’t China have to answer for the multiple attempts to invade the Japanese islands in the 13th century. Took a couple of “divine typhoons” to beat them back. (And yes, I write this with tongue firmly ensconced in cheek.)
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*For the record, past Japanese governments have been responsible for some truly horrific crimes in China, and nothing I’m saying here is arguing for any kind of moral equivalency. I don’t have any real problem with WHAT the kid was saying, rather it’s the glassy-eyed certainty with which he said it.
**Seems a lot of netizens feel that the answer was a little too neat and are suggesting the whole exchange is apocryphal. Doesn’t change my basic premise because the answer is — sadly — typical of many such attempts at ‘dialogue.’
***Full disclsoure, I was at PKU for one year and my wife is a graduate of PKU.
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