Our journey continues – today in the afternoon, we go to Yuhan. Looking upon what I experienced so far, I realize that I am still a little at a loss about China.
In modern China, it seems that tradition mutated into nostalgia. High-tech and antiquity live side by side. I have not yet been able to get a clear idea about which “values” are currently accepted and lived in China. Also, I have not really noticed any “ethical behavioral considerations” when people interacted.
What I experience is a balancing act between unlimited freedom and total administration. The people actually seem to do what they want. But still it seems that there are huge and sincere restrictions. And wherever you go, the police is very visible. They certainly have a very watchful eye on things and see to it that nothing untoward happens.
I do not perceive any sort of traumatization among the people due to the Cultural Revolution or because of individual restrictions such as the on-child-family. In fact, to me the people look full of harmony and very content. It seems like this is true both for their personal circumstances and the current political and administrative system.
Is it possible that there is a far-east harmony gene? A gene which survived both the Cultural Revolution and the extremely harsh change?
In China, however, the motto seems to be: “Money Talks“. Mind you, this attitude seems to be extremely exclusive. Corruption seems to be a matter of course. Without any hypocrisy as I experience it at home.
It is quite simple: if you want something, you must be prepared to pay well for it. Perhaps this is a new form of ethically correct corruption?
Money is where they particularly like to cheat you. They try it all the time, but they will not be angry if they fail. Some way or other, it seems like “selling things for more than their value” belongs to the entire system.
Consequently, what I experience is a total clash of “doing what you like to do” with a highly restrictive collective shared society. For us relatively prosperous guests, this means a mixture of high quality of living and a profound “feeling of well-being”.
In a world where most Chinese, too, are basically content and happy.
RMD
(Translated by EG)
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