China

Front 1

Why has China’s ‘developmental energy’ been historically focused more on internal cohesion than on external expansion?

Back 1

The text points out that China is surrounded by mountains (unlike Europe, where mountains are clustered in the middle). In addition, China’s topography of fertile basins separated from each other by mountainous areas, and limited navigable waterways (particularly linking north and south), means that China’s governments needed to focus more on integrating these separate regions.

Front 2

Why was it important for the leaders of the Peoples Republic of China to promote China’s national history as the “story of a singular north China origin to Chinese civilization”

Back 2

t was important for several reasons, but probably the two most significant reasons were, First, the need to claim that the north was the cradle of Chinese civilization since it was from the north that the Communist Party emerged victorious in its battle with both the Nationalists and the Japanese. Thus Party’s version of national history had to support the idea that the north was the hearth of ‘the true Chinese nation’ that over history spread its superior civilization and power over the rest of the region that became China today. The south, from this viewpoint, was a less civilized and more marginal region. It was, “the enemy of the nation” (p. 37). Second, according to Friedman, the story of single origins also supported the idea that China should be ruled by a single strong Party state, rather than by democratic pluralism of weaker regions. Thus, for example, Lin Biao, an important Party leader during the early years of the Cultural Revolution, claimed that it was always the northerners who were stronger rulers

Front 3

Why is it difficult to identify ‘native’ vegetation in eastern China?

Back 3

Because Chinese farmers have been altering their local ecosystems for “several millennia”, it’s nearly impossible to tell which flora was there prior to human habitation. Chinese agriculture is so intensive that all aspects of the ecosystem tend to be manipulated. New species have been introduced from throughout other parts of China and Asia, and deforestation has been a central feature of habitation for centuries.

Front 4

What is the scientific evidence that suggests this story of the Chinese nation’s single origins is a myth?

Back 4

Archaeological sites in the south and in other parts of China indicate the existence of societies that were just as developed and ‘sophisticated’ as the Yellow River valley societies that were thought to be the original sites of Chinese civilization. These other sites often predate or are contemporary with the Yellow River sites.

Front 5

Why does Friedman refer to the northern version of China’s national origins as an “anti-imperialist” nationalism?

Back 5

The northern origins myth became official ideology during the time when China was fighting for survival against Western and Japanese imperialism. The identity of the Chinese nation was thus linked to loyalty to that nation in the face of imperialism. Southerners were thought to have questionable loyalties because of their history of contact with the West and their more liberal history of democracy and capitalism.

Front 6

Why, according to Friedman, is the south – and southern nationalism – more associated with liberalism, democracy, and openness?

Back 6

Because of its historical contacts with the outside world (overseas Chinese, sea-trade, etc.). Also, because during the post-Mao reforms, it was in the south that more liberal economic experiments and policies began to appear. The south was where new press freedoms were being expressed in the media too

Front 7

What political and economic changes in China help explain the rise of a more pluralistic southern nationalism?

Back 7

Decentralization in the post-Mao era allowed regional and local governments more authority in regional development; calls for political reform (i.e. student demonstrations in Tiananmen Square in 1989) led to significant questioning of the ‘old guard’; Deng Xiaoping’s ‘Southern Tour’ to recharge reforms in 1992 (pp. 34-35).

Front 8

What are the basic regions Anderson uses to categorize China’s regional cuisines? Why does he chose this particular way of carving up the country?

Back 8

Anderson rejects the ‘classical’ division of Chinese cuisine because of its urban and elite focus. It also divides Beijing from Henan cuisines when they are basically the same. So, he begins by dividing China into North (wheat and mixed grains) and South (rice). He then divides the south into three separate zones: east, west, and south

Front 9

Where is the ‘spicy zone’?

Back 9

The west.

Front 10

Which is Anderson’s favorite cuisine of China? Why does he like it so much?

Back 10

‘Cantonese’ cuisine in particular. On p. 170 he calls Cantonese cuisine “the finest of all Chinese cuisines.” On p. 171 he claims that Cantonese food is “probably unequaled in China and possibly in the world.” He then lists various reasons why he likes it so much: the superior skills of its cooks, their instance on absolute freshness, the great variety of its dishes and ingredients. It is a true gourmand’s cuisine.