Zheng Wang's chosen-myth-trauma framework in modern Chinese identity

¶ … Forget National Humiliation by Zheng Wang

Chosen-Myth-Trauma (CMT)

This central chapter looks at how the CMT manifests in China's central consciousness and how this myth can have a massive impact on the national identity at large. Chapter two works hard to explore the nuances of the CMT and the moments in history which still wreak havoc on the consciousness of China today. The chapter deftly avoids regurgitating history, but has a strong focus on the specific manner in which the Chinese recount history. One of the strengths of this chapter is how it asserts that the very sense of chosenness is something that is such an entrenched belief in China, it even manifests in the collective language.

Another strength of the chapter is that it focuses on how strongly humiliation figures into the national psyche of China. "For example, William Callahan believes that humiliation is a key component of modern Chinese subjectivity. He also argues that the discourse of the century of humiliation is the 'master narrative' of modern Chinese history (Wang, 2013). The utmost illuminating pillars present in this chapter are when the author makes points that can be readily illustrated by looking at the present. The sense of chosenness and humiliation remain constants in Chinese culture, and it's clear to see how the fears and worries connected with these elements can continue to manifest.

Chapter Three: From "All under Heaven" to a Nation State

This chapter is not as strong as the one previous, simply by virtue of the fact that the author doesn't as succinctly outline his objectives. Instead Wang delves into a great deal of background regarding how simply embracing the idea of a nation state is a stretch for the Chinese at large and in their own entirety. This chapter is wise in that it explains the tendency of China to engage in a certain amount of isolationism as a result of the impact that history has played upon it, and in part because of its specific place in the world. Consider the following: "The Chinese believed that they lived in the central kingdom of tianxia. There are several major differences between the Chinese tianxia concept and the Western concept of world system. First, tianxia is a culturally defined community, which is different from the ethnically defined or politically defined world of nation-states" (Wang, 1994). This was so influential because it meant that the civilization was the basic unit of importance, rather than the nation state. Another major benefit that this chapter provides is the fact that it demonstrates some of the motivations behind the cultural mythologies that thrived in China and how they continue to exist today. Putting these pillars into a more historical context was another benefit of the chapter, as it shed new light upon how the arrival of foreigners helped to open hearts up to the notion of the nation-state.

Chapter Eight: Memory, Textbooks and Sino-Japanese Reconciliation

The overall strengths of this chapter looks at how memory and the past can shape the relationships between nations and can lead to the final manner in which nations deal with conflict. The chapter examines the rapport between China, Japan and South Korea, largely finding that "In many deep-rooted conflicts, past relationships and problems become the ghosts haunting current realities and frequently affect normal communication. Historically, a poor relationship and suspicion between two nations initially impede constructive discussion" (Wang, 2013). Wang uses countless examples of the lack of communication of identities, historic grievances and the sheer alienation experienced, making the conflict unable to withstand actual negotiation or conflict resolution (Wang, 2013). Wang shows how these dynamics continue to shape conflict in East Asia, making these relations a challenge even for the international community.