China Doesn't Exist (I'm Serious)

Summary

This video delves into misconceptions about Chinese culture, history, and food. The hosts debunk popular myths, such as the origins of chili peppers, tomatoes, and wheat noodles, revealing their true histories outside China. They also expose the myth of ancient Chinese continuity, highlighting how China as a unified state only emerged in 1912. The discussion explores the influence of neighboring cultures, the impact of the Cultural Revolution, and the exportation of certain Chinese-American dishes. With humor and insight, the hosts encourage viewers to think critically about common beliefs and dive deeper into the reality behind China's rich and complex history.

Takeaways

• 😀 The claim is made that China doesn't exist as a nation and that its existence is largely a modern invention, starting in 1912.
• 😀 The idea that China has 5,000 years of continuous history as a nation is debunked, with a comparison to the U.S., which began its existence much more recently.
• 😀 Historically, China was ruled by foreign dynasties such as the Mongols and Manchurians, which challenges the idea of an unbroken Chinese identity.
• 😀 The Yuan Dynasty (Mongolian rule) and the Qing Dynasty (Manchu rule) are used as examples to show that many of China's greatest historical periods were not Chinese in origin.
• 😀 Mandarin is not a true native language of China but rather a political construct made from various northern dialects, not universally understood by all Chinese speakers.
• 😀 The concept of 'Chinese' language is problematic, as there are numerous unintelligible dialects spoken across China, like Cantonese, which is completely different from Mandarin.
• 😀 The claim that 91% of the population in China is Han Chinese is a political fabrication, as many regional ethnic groups, such as the Cantonese, are very different from the Han majority.
• 😀 Several commonly believed Chinese proverbs, such as 'May you live in interesting times,' are not Chinese at all but are rather from British and American sources.
• 😀 Foods considered iconic to China, like chili peppers, wheat noodles, and tomatoes, were not originally from China but rather from the Americas or Central Asia.
• 😀 Takeout boxes and chop suey, often associated with Chinese cuisine, are actually American inventions and not part of traditional Chinese food culture.

Q & A

What is the central claim being made in this video?

The central claim is that China doesn't exist as a unified nation with a continuous 5,000-year history. The speaker argues that modern-day China as a political entity only began in 1912 and that much of what is commonly associated with China, including certain traditions and food, is not genuinely Chinese.

How does the speaker challenge the idea of China's 5,000-year history?

The speaker argues that the modern concept of China as a unified nation did not exist until 1912. Prior to that, China was divided into many different territories and ruled by various foreign powers, including the Mongols and the Manchurians, challenging the narrative of an unbroken 5,000-year history.

What is the significance of the Mongol and Manchu dynasties in the video?

The speaker uses the Mongol and Manchu dynasties to illustrate that much of China's historical rule was actually by foreign powers. The Mongol Yuan Dynasty, for example, was established by the Mongols, and the Qing Dynasty was ruled by the Manchu people, not the Han Chinese, which the speaker argues is often misrepresented as a 'Chinese' dynasty.

What does the speaker say about the language Mandarin?

The speaker explains that Mandarin is not a natural language but a politically constructed lingua franca, created by combining various northern Chinese dialects. The claim that Mandarin represents the Chinese language is misleading, as there are numerous other languages and dialects in China that are mutually unintelligible.

How does the speaker describe the diversity of languages within China?

The speaker emphasizes that China has a vast linguistic diversity, with many languages and dialects that are completely unintelligible to one another, even among the Chinese people themselves. For example, Cantonese speakers in the south cannot understand Mandarin, and vice versa, underscoring the idea that 'Chinese' is a blanket term rather than a single, unified language.

What does the speaker mean by 'China doesn't exist'?

The phrase 'China doesn't exist' is meant to challenge the common belief that China is a monolithic, historically unified nation. Instead, the speaker argues that China is a recent construct, a conglomeration of many different regions, cultures, and peoples that were historically ruled by foreign powers.

What role does political propaganda play in shaping the identity of China?

The speaker argues that the Chinese government uses the narrative of an ancient, unified China to bolster its power and legitimacy. By presenting China as a 5,000-year-old civilization, it conveys a sense of continuity and invincibility, which serves as political propaganda to disarm opposition and legitimize the current regime.

What are some examples of foods that the speaker claims are not Chinese?

The speaker claims that several foods commonly associated with China are not actually Chinese. For instance, wheat noodles, chili peppers, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes all originate from outside of China, with chili peppers being introduced from the Americas in the 1500s.

What is the significance of the 'Chinese curse' phrase, 'May you live in interesting times'?

The speaker debunks the common belief that the phrase 'May you live in interesting times' is an ancient Chinese curse. In reality, it originated from a British speech and was misattributed to China. The speaker highlights how such misattributions contribute to the mystification of China.

How does the speaker use the example of 'chop suey' to challenge perceptions of Chinese culture?

The speaker points out that 'chop suey,' a dish often considered Chinese in Western cultures, is actually an American invention. It was created in the United States and does not reflect traditional Chinese cuisine, illustrating how Western interpretations of Chinese culture often diverge from the reality.