Why do so many Chinese dislike Japanese?

Whenever I am in China, many many people tell me they hate the Japanese. They say all these bad things about Japanese.





Then I come to Japan and see that almost none of these comments are true.





The Chinese claim they hate the Japanese because of what happened in World War II. However, I am of the opinion that this is not the real reason. Most of the people who were around in World War II are now dead, I don't see how this is relevant to hating modern day Japanese. By analogy, most Jewish people do not hate modern day Germans.





I personally think that the hatred has a lot to do with the green eyed monster - yes jealousy. Japan is a world leader in so many fields.





China on the other hand is a neverending source of cheap labour for the world. And yes I realise that China's economy is growing very quickly, but this just means they are becoming richer, it does not mean they are rich. They are still a way poorer country than Japan.





What do others think the source of this hatred is?

Why do so many Chinese dislike Japanese?
I think that hatred of Japan/Japanese by the Chinese exists as you say due to the Chinese government's use of it as a political tool.





The Chinese' inferiority complex is tied to the hatred of Japan. The Chinese used to consider themselves to be the most cultured and advanced civilization in every way, going as far to name their country the Middle Kingdom. However the European powers along with the US and Japan came in and carved China up which humiliated the Chinese. Adding salt to the wound was the fact that Japan - who the Chinese used to consider as inferior people- was one of the victorious nations.





After WW2, China entered a period of chaos (Cultural Revolution, Great Leap Forward), while Japan steadily rebuilt their economy and nation. The end result was that China lagged far behind Japan in many industries- a further wound to Chinese pride.





In order to divert attention from their issues at home (income gap, AIDS, and many more) and in an attempt to assuage their pride, the Chinese leadership encourages the hatred of Japanese. Whenever needed the leadership can always use Japan as a diversion from it's own internal deficiencies and at the same time increase unity by whipping up nationalism, as seen in the anti-Japanese protests of 2005. Instead of solving their own pressing social/political issues they shout anti-Japanese slogans and scream for the immediate reunification of Taiwan.





Thus the Chinese education system continues anti-Japanese education. This combined with the government's encouragment of anti-Japanese protests results in that the average Chinese is heavily biased towards the Japanese people. It should be noted that the Japanese are not alone in this either- both Tibet and Taiwan are issues that have also been manipulated by the Chinese government to increase nationalism.





PS: To Jeff L: Taiwanese are not Chinese. Most Taiwanese like Japan due to the fact that the Japanese helped develop the island and were much better rulers than the KMT. However many of the Chinese in Taiwan- those that crossed over with the KMT- still harbor resentment towards Japan over WW2. However they only make up a small protion of the population today.
Reply:It's began in 1936. It's before the world war 2... Japanese was controlled by aggressive military... They invaded some city in China... One of them is Nanking... Maybe you ever heard about "Nanking rape"? It's when Japanese troop kills and rape thousand of Nanking citizen... In Nanking city also stationing the most elite Japanese troop... Japanese stationed in Nanking until the end of WW 2.
Reply:I really have wondered why china and japan hate eachother. I always hear when they are offended by eachother but i never know why.





I think people from other countrys do not know why they hate eachother.





I think they should say there story clear. Just so other people know.
Reply:Economic jealousy may be part of the equation, but the memory of what the Japanese did to the Chinese people in the 1930's and 1940's is still remembered.


There have been no repentance or reparations made for the atrocities done to the Chinese people. In fact, the Japanese have arrogantly tried to cover it up and rewrite history in their school textbooks.


Another source of discontent is the Japanese close ties to the USA, especially militarily. The Chinese have difficulty understanding why the US would protect Japan, especially after how aggressive Japan was in WW2.


And there is a philosophical/political divide, with the Japanese capitalism in conflict with Chinese communism, even though threads of capitalism have woven their way into the Chinese fabric in the past few decades.
Reply:I think it is because of their education.


And Japan have continued to fight their uncertain description with material evidences. They know they can't beat Japanese historians. Because they don't have enough evidences. That make them more irritated.





Here are some pictures of Chinese school text books. All the pictures were taken by a Japanese woman who lives in China now. She collected these from local graduated students.


http://img02.ohmynews.co.jp/news/3/3659/...





China is teaching Japanese amy's bad behavior with picures and illustrations (this is high school history text book).


http://img02.ohmynews.co.jp/news/3/3660/...


(This is something like that Iraq people depict American troops' bad behavior only in their book. I think young generation will hate America and Americans....)





This part is regarding Nanjing.


http://img02.ohmynews.co.jp/news/3/3660/...





"court statistic, Japanese army occupied Nanjing and killed more than 300,000 Chinese civilian and servicemen who don't hold weapons within 6 weeks."





But the fact is this. Japanese army issued advance notice to attack Nanjing city a head of time. And the civilian ran into the Nanking Safety Zone which John Rabe established. The population of the zone was 200,000. Chinese leader, Chiang Kai-shek ordered his military to battle with Japanese army but he got run away from the city sneakily.


Chinese soldiers became disorganized, changed their uniform to the civilian's cloth (便衣), and hide behind the civilian.





Japan couldn't tell who was the Chinese soldiers (this is like the Iraq city today), and ordered to bring the men out, exclude female and children, of the safety zone. (This was confirmed with letter missive.).


If Japan army killed 50% of the population (mens) of the zone, 100,000 can be possible number. But China don't show any evidence or logic why/how Japanese army could kill more than 300,000 people.


(Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal stated as 200,000).





Similar thing can be found on the article regarding Tibet. This is Jr. High school text book.


http://www.ohmynews.co.jp/img02/news/17/...





The paragraph says:


"Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama. These 2 persons are the supreme leaders of Lamaism (Tibetan Buddhism). In 1774, British people (colonialists) made an attempt on holding commercial pact solely with Tibet subnational government. But 6th Panchen Lama (he is aka Lobsang Palden Yeshe) refused it strongly and issued rigid statement that 'Tibet is Chinese territory(the land of China)' ".





Do you think this is true? I could trace only that there was a feud between Dalai Lama and 6th Panchen Lama and Panchen Lama was on the Qing dynasty side. I believe the world assume that the Dalai Lama was the head of the Tibetan government between the 17th century and 1959, and Panchen Lama was the 2nd highest ranking lamas.





Funny thing is these Chinese history books are also re-published in Japan today. If you can read both Chinese and Japanese, please check this.


http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN...





Don't you think Japan is open for world history and there are options for readers? (There are over 20 school text book publishers in Japan.)





--





one more thing for who don't know about Japanese apology and reparations.


Mao Zedong invited Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka to HIS house and talked and accepted the apology statement from Japan.


The date is Sep 27-28 1972.


http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k228/_...





From that moment, Japan started to pay lots of money to China as the form of ODA (Official development assistance). The amount paid to China is over US$40 billion until today (of them, 20 billion is pure donation). And this agreement with China end this year (2008).
Reply:俺たちのちんちんのほうがでかいからにきまってるだろ ;)


Im jk.
Reply:Yes, it is a combination of a number of things, some of which you listed. I also think that part of it is the differences between the two societies, China being communist and Japan a type of democracy.
Reply:I guess you mean Chinese from China, right!? Because of the war!!!





Taiwanese are Chinese too, if you go to Taiwan or meet Taiwanese you may have different feeling.


I think Taiwanese like Japanese much more than people from China.





It's a long story........


I suggest you read history about China and Taiwan.
Reply:a lot of chinese work in Japan. Some in lower paying jobs...That could cause frustration as well. I do not have all the answers, but I have heard prejustice statements from both Chinese and Japanese.


China is changing by the day...we will have to see how their new Super Economy will change the times.
Reply:Actually yes it is because of historical reasons.





However many Chinese i see in Japan like visiting around and think the people are nice.





Many older generations might not still be around, but there are still many around.





Japanese policy such as textbooks description of what happened during world war II have angered both China and Korea, which lead to many protests a few years ago. Sometimes the Japanese try to downplay what happened during World War II so that causes sources of anger sometimes.





A lot of the time as well it is overhype by Communist controlled media in China too. Remember China doesn't have as much freedom as they do in Japan which is a democratic country.





I suggest you read and watch this video:


http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/...





With that said, many Chinese like to visit Japan, and think the people are nice, there are many Chinese students that study in Japan as well. Many Chinese would like to go to Japan because pay is simply higher in Japan, then in many of the corrupt communist factories in Mainland China.





For the same reason many mainland Chinese want to jump out to Hong Kong.
Reply:Even though most the people that fought in the war are dead, that doesn't matter. It effected A LOT of lives. If the parents hate the Japanese, what's stopping that parent from teaching their child to hate Japan? The child grows up with that hate. It's not the child's fault, they were just brought up that way.


China hates Japan, and Japanese hate the Chinese. It's a vicious circle, but it's true none the less. People hold grudges and they do pass those grudges onto their offspring.





As for the war, it had a big influence... I have respect for both countries, but in WWII Japan tricked Chinese civilians, telling them to come out of their homes that the Japanese would give them shelter and give them food to feed their children. They dropped tons of these paper flyers showing a Japanese solider being friendly to a Chinese child.





But in reality it was a trick and the Japanese slaughtered them, tortured and raped their women.





The Japanese see China as being selfish. But that's probably in part because Japan would like a piece of their land, but why wouldn't they? Japan is extremely over crowded and needs to expand its boundaries.





Maybe one day they'll realize they could realllly benefit from one another.
Reply:"most Jewish people do not hate modern day Germans."





yeah, then why not you look back what the modern german gov do to say sorry to the modern jewish?





and see what the modern japanese gov have done to say sorry to the chinese and korean?
Reply:It's simple,because of the education.You know despotic states allways need enemies to control peole.For PRC It's Japan that's all.
Reply:I agree with you!





Japan have ethics, China could care less!





I, myself now really check,"MADE IN ........?'


If it is China, i will not buy!





Lead in Children's toys!


Dead Pets!


Fraud Toothpaste! etc





They do not care! They kill and eat their own pet rats!





Why should they care about "you?"


They would eat your dog %26amp; cat too!





They appall me! No doubt!





Ohhhdear! What Japan did to China?


What did U.S.A. do?





They are totally different!


Japan is not trying to poison you everyday!





They didn't ABORT Daughters to have sons!





Now there is not enough females to go around!





What Next FLU, will they bring to North America, SARS, was not enough?





You would think they would be on their toes after that!





Guess what? They DON"T CARE!





Let nothing "Made in China", anywhere near your babies!