Comments for Ethnic ChinaLit http://www.bruce-humes.com Writing by & about non-Han Peoples of China Tue, 07 May 2013 22:30:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 Comment on China’s Richest Authors, the “Tibet Craze” and Silenced Immolations by High Peaks Pure Earth – “What is the Secret Behind ‘Secret Tibet’?” By Woeser http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=7536&cpage=1#comment-23913 High Peaks Pure Earth – “What is the Secret Behind ‘Secret Tibet’?” By Woeser Tue, 07 May 2013 22:30:42 +0000 http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=7536#comment-23913 [...] investors of a joint project, an adventure film of “The Tibet Code” based on the hugely successful Chinese-language book series by He Ma. The LA Times news report comments that Han Sanping, chairman of China Film Group, says “the [...] [...] investors of a joint project, an adventure film of “The Tibet Code” based on the hugely successful Chinese-language book series by He Ma. The LA Times news report comments that Han Sanping, chairman of China Film Group, says “the [...]

]]> Comment on Korea: Yet Another “Subordinate State” of Ancient Chinese Empire? by Bathrobe http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=8488&cpage=1#comment-23541 Bathrobe Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:39:16 +0000 http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=8488#comment-23541 Yes, they're at it everywhere. Much Chinese distortion of history is related to what they call 'sovereignty', that is, to support Chinese territorial claims. 'Sovereignty' has a different meaning from its normal meaning in English. It basically means that China feels it has the right to take back any territories that were 'wrongfully' taken away from it, that is, any territories taken away from the Qing. How the Qing got those territories in the first place is never questioned (of course it was in all ways 'righteous'). History basically has to be harnessed to prove the righteousness of Chinese claims to 'what was lost'. It's what the trouble is all about and I can't see it getting any better. Yes, they’re at it everywhere. Much Chinese distortion of history is related to what they call ‘sovereignty’, that is, to support Chinese territorial claims. ‘Sovereignty’ has a different meaning from its normal meaning in English. It basically means that China feels it has the right to take back any territories that were ‘wrongfully’ taken away from it, that is, any territories taken away from the Qing. How the Qing got those territories in the first place is never questioned (of course it was in all ways ‘righteous’). History basically has to be harnessed to prove the righteousness of Chinese claims to ‘what was lost’. It’s what the trouble is all about and I can’t see it getting any better.

]]> Comment on Ethnic ChinaLit Excerpt of the Week (Apr 2): China’s Amnesia Is a State-sponsored Sport by Bathrobe http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=8447&cpage=1#comment-23491 Bathrobe Fri, 12 Apr 2013 03:09:50 +0000 http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=8447#comment-23491 One ugly end result of State-sponsored distortion is the fenqing -- young hotheads who are determined to defend China's historical lies to the death (although it will probably be someone else's death, not their own). One ugly end result of State-sponsored distortion is the fenqing — young hotheads who are determined to defend China’s historical lies to the death (although it will probably be someone else’s death, not their own).

]]> Comment on 2013 China Publication Fund: Approved Projects Put Accent on China’s Far West & Things Tibetan by Chinese government funds books that support claims of Chinese government | Ebooks on Crack http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=8396&cpage=1#comment-23195 Chinese government funds books that support claims of Chinese government | Ebooks on Crack Wed, 03 Apr 2013 05:41:07 +0000 http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=8396#comment-23195 [...] those kinds of numbers, the work being funded is extensive in range. As Bruce Humes notes, for the first time all of China’s westernmost provinces have funded projects on the list (and [...] [...] those kinds of numbers, the work being funded is extensive in range. As Bruce Humes notes, for the first time all of China’s westernmost provinces have funded projects on the list (and [...]

]]> Comment on Ethnic ChinaLit Quote of the Day (Mar 31): Ethnic Literature Nightmare by brucehumes http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=8436&cpage=1#comment-23141 brucehumes Tue, 02 Apr 2013 05:59:07 +0000 http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=8436#comment-23141 Reminds me of that horrific Brave-New-World-like slogan for the Beijing Olympics: "One World, One Dream" . . . Reminds me of that horrific Brave-New-World-like slogan for the Beijing Olympics:

“One World, One Dream” . . .

]]> Comment on China’s Bilingual Writers: Narrative with a Difference by Bathrobe http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=8407&cpage=1#comment-23140 Bathrobe Tue, 02 Apr 2013 05:52:07 +0000 http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=8407#comment-23140 In the West we have the example of the Irish -- the vast majority only able to speak and write in a foreign language. The Irish identity is a charming and attractive one, to be sure, but in many ways their language and culture is just an alternative flavour of a broader English-speaking culture. When Uyghur is just another flavour of Chinese, the Han Chinese will be able to proudly claim that Zhonghua Minzu is indeed a reality, not just a State-sponsored fiction, and a once independent and totally separate culture will be just a charming alternative to the mainstream. Uyghur, Tibetan, or Mongolian authors who are unable to write in their own language are just a step on the road to the downgrading and ultimate obliteration of their own language and culture in any meaningful sense of the term. In the West we have the example of the Irish — the vast majority only able to speak and write in a foreign language. The Irish identity is a charming and attractive one, to be sure, but in many ways their language and culture is just an alternative flavour of a broader English-speaking culture.

When Uyghur is just another flavour of Chinese, the Han Chinese will be able to proudly claim that Zhonghua Minzu is indeed a reality, not just a State-sponsored fiction, and a once independent and totally separate culture will be just a charming alternative to the mainstream. Uyghur, Tibetan, or Mongolian authors who are unable to write in their own language are just a step on the road to the downgrading and ultimate obliteration of their own language and culture in any meaningful sense of the term.

]]> Comment on Ethnic ChinaLit Quote of the Day (Mar 31): Ethnic Literature Nightmare by Bathrobe http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=8436&cpage=1#comment-23139 Bathrobe Tue, 02 Apr 2013 05:39:46 +0000 http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=8436#comment-23139 That is an amazing quote. It's come to the point where the proud statements of the official line sound just like the nightmare that they really are. Why not just do away with the ethnic minorities altogether? That is an amazing quote. It’s come to the point where the proud statements of the official line sound just like the nightmare that they really are.

Why not just do away with the ethnic minorities altogether?

]]> Comment on China’s Bilingual Writers: Narrative with a Difference by Nicky Harman http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=8407&cpage=1#comment-23045 Nicky Harman Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:41:53 +0000 http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=8407#comment-23045 fascinating, Bruce, keep up the good work! fascinating, Bruce, keep up the good work!

]]> Comment on China’s Bilingual Writers: Narrative with a Difference by Chris Waugh http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=8407&cpage=1#comment-23022 Chris Waugh Mon, 01 Apr 2013 00:44:48 +0000 http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=8407#comment-23022 Good work Bruce. I find the criticism of Alati Asimu particularly interesting - it must've really stung at the time, but it also raises important questions about identity and a writer's "place" (for want of a better word). As for Pema Tseden, guess I'm going to have to find an excuse to go to Hong Kong and check out that French bookstore. I wonder how the two different languages affect his expression? Good work Bruce. I find the criticism of Alati Asimu particularly interesting – it must’ve really stung at the time, but it also raises important questions about identity and a writer’s “place” (for want of a better word).

As for Pema Tseden, guess I’m going to have to find an excuse to go to Hong Kong and check out that French bookstore. I wonder how the two different languages affect his expression?

]]> Comment on China’s Bilingual Writers: Narrative with a Difference by Anna GC http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=8407&cpage=1#comment-23008 Anna GC Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:26:00 +0000 http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=8407#comment-23008 I'm really looking forward to reading Alati Asimu. Sounds like a very interesting author. Thanks! I’m really looking forward to reading Alati Asimu. Sounds like a very interesting author. Thanks!

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