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Q: Why do Chinese misplace their pride in their history?
I've been studying Classical Chinese for a few years, and I understand why pretty much any western scholar who has touched it - better men than me - has heaped it with nothing but praise. It rivals Greek in eloquence and beauty, Sanskrit in unique descriptive power, and Latin and Classical Arabic in longnetivity and influence.
But you talk to modern Chinese, and most can't be bothered to learn it beyond the manditory little bit they have to study in grade school. Most of them have such little knowledge of Chinese history before 1850 it shocks me. It's usually something like: First Yellow Emperor, then Shihuangdi built the terracotta statues, then in Sanguo kong fu guys could fly!
So, anyway, my question is what the heck guys?
Well, they can be proud of their history, but...how many people in the world really know history? Ask a normal American in their early 20's, they probably can't tell you much about American history. I'm bad with dates and names, so I can only tell you general information about what happened, not necessarily when or by who. Is it required to pass any tests? Because if that information isn't on any tests, I guarantee it wasn't important enough for them to remember. They probably only remember the popular points of history.
kchur:
They know about the revolutionary war, and Franklin and Jefferson and Washington. That was the late 1700s so that beats out the Chinese.
kchur:
Also yanks don't walk up to me on the street and say "You so stupid I have longest history." When I taught yanks back in the day, I didn't have to go, "Don't pick your nose" and the answer wouldn't have been "pick nose, five thousand year history!!"
Kchur...glad you appricate Chinese history...there shall have more to be praised and proud in Chinese history...since we really have a long history...Jnusb416 got a good point to answer the question...I'd add one point is that for me I learn history to understand current world...
Ppl take history learning as a hobby is great.....>>>>>
Probably because about 60 years ago, a dude and his army wandered around China destroying so much knowledge and tradition, and seriously harrassed, intimidated and persecuted anyone with a good education, that now people have no idea about the truth of their history.TBH, I'm actually surprised anything older 100 years was allowed to remain standing!
Remember, for all the BS about China's 6000 year history, many will still say it's only 60 years old...
Also remember, it's only been recently that Confucius was once again spoken of with some sort of respect.
