11-21-2015, 09:29 AM
My final overlong verbiage for the day, about the position of China (thus the influence of language) in Asia. My well-educated Japanese friend explained China this way.
Imagine four concentric circles. The middle, prominent circle represents China (the word in Chinese characters means middle kingdom), the center of the world. In the next circle outside of China sit nations that are considered friendly to China (Korea, Vietnam, etc.). These generally have good relations with the Middle Kingdom. In the third circle sit nations that are not and never will be on good terms with China (Japan, Mongolia, etc.). In the fourth circle are the barbarian outsiders (Europe, Americas, etc.). Interestingly, since Japan and Mongolia (remember Ghengis Khan?) are mutually disliked by China they have a historically good relationship with each other.
China has been at the center of the world (at least in Asian thinking) since the beginning of time, and most things of culture and thought flow from them. The recent century of poverty as a result of communism and other events is actually quite short in the grand scheme of things.
That is a rather broadbrush look at it, but revealing nonetheless.
A quick internet search found this article which says similar things.
http://www.businessinsider.com/understan...ves-2014-7
Imagine four concentric circles. The middle, prominent circle represents China (the word in Chinese characters means middle kingdom), the center of the world. In the next circle outside of China sit nations that are considered friendly to China (Korea, Vietnam, etc.). These generally have good relations with the Middle Kingdom. In the third circle sit nations that are not and never will be on good terms with China (Japan, Mongolia, etc.). In the fourth circle are the barbarian outsiders (Europe, Americas, etc.). Interestingly, since Japan and Mongolia (remember Ghengis Khan?) are mutually disliked by China they have a historically good relationship with each other.
China has been at the center of the world (at least in Asian thinking) since the beginning of time, and most things of culture and thought flow from them. The recent century of poverty as a result of communism and other events is actually quite short in the grand scheme of things.
That is a rather broadbrush look at it, but revealing nonetheless.
A quick internet search found this article which says similar things.
http://www.businessinsider.com/understan...ves-2014-7