Due to the great distinction between different cultures, it is very hard to avoid the misunderstandings and conflicts. How can we deal with them?
Here is the true story I was told by my history teacher in secondary school. It is her own experience. She also taught some international exchange students during the time she taught me. When she told them about Yuan dynasty to those foreign students and introduced Chinggis Khan, she did not expect that this would lead to a disagreement. She taught her students that Chinggis Khan is the greatest emperor in that period, but then a Mongolian student stood up and said, ”Madam, the teachers in my country said that Chinggis Khan is an Mongolian.” My teacher became wordless the moment when she heard that, she wanted to argue against it, but she could not. Chinese think that Chinggis Khan is a Chinese and Mongolian consider Chinggis Khan as a Mongolian, we cannot say which is right or which is wrong because both are reasonable, but either does not agree with the other.
This kind of culture shock is differ from those on food or habits, it is more serious and unlike you could the food problem by adapting it, this kind of cultural difference cannot be solved easily. You could be very open-minded and accept that Chinggis Khan is a Mongolian too (I am on the point of a Chinese), but the conflict is still there. So that can we do about it?
It's true that historical topics may cause trouble. I can't just imagine talking about Chinese-Vietnamese War with a Vietnamese. However, we can't make a difference to these historical arguments. Maybe we should avoid to talk about these sensitive topics at the first meeting and be more tolerant.
ReplyDeleteWell, this is the world we live in and history is not always real, or at least it is not always objective. South Korean always say that Quyuan is one of them. Chinese people are all very speechless with them and consider their idea very funny. However, it is not difficult to guess that South Korean also think it is very funny for Chinese to think Quyuan is one of them as a result of different history. Actually, not only history, almost all the information we get share this factor. So ,I think it is important for us to be objective and do not believe in all the things been told.
ReplyDeleteWhen we talk to a foreign friend, it is wise not to mention some historical issues, especially where disagreements exist. The main purpose for us to communicate with people from other countries is developing friendships, not causing conflict. We can just ignore those disagreements on historical issues. At the same time, we'd better believe that those disagreements may not exist one day.
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ReplyDeleteen ,there are so many disagreements on the issue you mentioned and some like this, and i think we did not live in that dynasty so that we actually did not know some of the realities though we have been taught during our secondary school.however,everybody has his own point,we can just show our respect ,even be tolerant .
ReplyDeleteYou know, when you talk to people with a diferent cultural background with you, you should avoid sensitive topics such as politics. So be aware of the sensitive topics and you can have less misunderstandings with others.
ReplyDeleteDoes it matter if Gengis Khan was a Chinese or Mongolian? History judges the man as a great Yuan warrior emperor. There will always be problem when we go back to ancient history. We just have to look at the President of Iran who till today denies the existence of the Holocaust in spite of the presence of overwhelming evidence that it occurred during WW2. And WW2 is not even ancient history!
ReplyDeleteI really agree with you that we should have an open mind nowaday. As for some special problems, especially those historical problems we can not judge wheather it it true or not completely. We should remain our own idea while do not disagree with others.
ReplyDeletei think about the matter of Gengis Khan, there is no need to debate.because in his time, Mongolia and China was one country ruled by him! of chourse the "china" then does not mean the same as "china" does today. so it is really important and wise to show respect to both history facts and people who have a different opinion.
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