Human Nature of the Chinese: A Good Book Written by Foreigners

Author: Arthur Henderson (USA)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: The Problem of "Face"
"Face" is a problem shared by all humans. At first glance, it seems absurd to consider "face" as a characteristic of the Chinese people. However, the term "face" in China does not merely refer to a person's physical appearance; its meaning is complex and diverse, richer than what we describe or understand. Even if we do not fully grasp the significance of "face," we must acknowledge this fact: as a nation, the Chinese are inherently gifted with strong performative talents. Drama can almost be said to be the only nationwide form of entertainment for this people. The Chinese's passion for drama is no less than that of the British for sports or the Spanish for bullfighting. With just a little provocation, the Chinese compare themselves to characters in a play, immerse themselves in the plot, bow, kneel, and touch the ground in reverence. Westerners witnessing this may find it absurd or unnecessary. The Chinese way of thinking is dramatic. Once their dignity is aroused, even when facing only a few people, they feel as if they are speaking to a large audience. They might loudly declare, "I am speaking to you, and to you, and to you, and to everyone present." When their troubles are resolved, they "exit the stage" amidst applause; if not, they feel they cannot "exit the stage." If you understand this, you realize that it has nothing to do with reality and is never the truth—it is all about form. If a brilliant speech is delivered at the right time and in the right way, it is as if a fine play has been performed. We must not go behind the scenes, or we would disrupt all the fine plays in the world. Perhaps such dramatic actions related to the complexities of life are what "face" is all about. If you fail to do so, forget to do so, or interrupt their performance, it means losing "face." Once you truly understand this issue, you realize that "face" is the key to unlocking many important characteristics of the Chinese people. It should be noted that the operating rules of "face" and the skills of how to preserve it are completely misunderstood by Westerners, as they always forget the dramatic elements involved and mistakenly stray into a path of seeking facts, which is irrelevant. In the eyes of Westerners, the "face" of the Chinese is like the taboos of the South Seas—it is an undeniable latent force. The difference is that "face" is intangible, unrule-bound, and its abolition or replacement is determined by people's common sense. On this point, the Chinese and the Westerners must reach a consensus, acknowledging the differences between them, because they will never agree on the same thing under the same circumstances. If European politicians always consider the balance of power during mediation, then in China, when mediating endless disputes in the countryside, the mediator must also pay close attention to balancing the "face" of both sides. In such cases, the purpose of mediation is not to achieve justice—in theory, it is for justice—but for Easterners, this is almost impossible to achieve. Mediation is merely done to balance the corresponding "face" of all parties involved. This principle is often applied in legal judgments, and the result is largely a game with no winner. Giving someone a