Psychology and Behavior of the Chinese People: Localization Research: Localization Research

Author: Yang Guoshu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-02-01
Features: Those familiar with the history of modern China know that the focus on the cultural character and personality traits of the Chinese nation largely stems from a complex mix of self-esteem and inferiority in the face of the powerful modern Western civilization. The intellectual and emotional conflicts arising from imitating Western civilization (including material culture and institutions, culture) have constituted the main theme of the development of Chinese conceptual thought for over a century. Since the reform and opening-up and modernization efforts that began in 1978, we have once again been directly confronted with the impact of Western modernization. This impact has externalized the Chinese people's conceptual conflicts into social trends such as cultural nihilism, retrograde national essence conservatism, and nationalism, which have each dominated at different stages. These trends have directly influenced our understanding of the path of Chinese modernization. However, among all the discussions on Chinese modernization, there is a perspective worth attention: the views of overseas and Hong Kong/Taiwan Chinese scholars on the national character of the Chinese people, Chinese culture, and modernization issues. This perspective is worth noting primarily because of special political, social reasons, and differences in educational backgrounds, which have created a unique starting point for their analysis of the Chinese people and Chinese issues. Compared to purely Western scholars, they have an inseparable emotional bond with China, placing them both outside and inside, adding depth to their insights. Second, Taiwan and Hong Kong are also the creators of the East Asian modernization miracle. Their success enriches modernization models and holds greater significance in terms of culture and national psychology.