From: pckyip@athena.mit.edu (Patrick C Yip)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan,soc.culture.korean,soc.culture.china,soc.culture.taiwan,soc.culture.hongkong
Subject: Re: korean and japanese culture
Date: 16 Apr 92 07:18:46 GMT
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In article <MS-C.703399884.662824084.mrc@Tomobiki-Cho.CAC.Washington.EDU> Mark Crispin <mrc@Tomobiki-Cho.CAC.Washington.EDU> writes:
>A good counter-argument to the claim that `Korean and Japanese
>cultures are watered-down Chinese handouts' is this:
>
>Japan is easily the most prosperous and democratic country in East
>Asia.  Japan's pop songs and pop culture are appearing all over Asia,
>to the distress of cultural reactionaries who in some countries have
>banned Japanese cultural imports.
>
>The Republic of Korea, after long years of authoritarianism and
>outright dictatorship, is now catching up to Japan.  Korean pop songs
>and pop culture are beginning to appear in Japan; some of the hottest
>stars on Japan's pop charts are Koreans.  The Republic of Korea is
>busy building prosperity and a democratic system; they have a long way
>to go, but have also come a very long way.  I have no doubt that in a
>few years Korea will be doing to Japan what Japan did to the US.  And
>that would be a good thing for both Korea and Japan.
>
>Meanwhile, let's look at China.  Red China is a hell-hole.  The
>Communists have done little to preserve and develop Chinese culture.
>In fact, during the long night of the Great Proletarian Cultural
>Revolution, they were actively involved in destroying it.  China's
>cities are drab, shabby, and dirty.  As in every other country

BTW I have to say that I feel ashamed when I see even Chinatowns,
outside China in some foreign countries, are also drab, shabby and
dirty. I don't know many Japantown, but the little Tokyo in San Francisco
is very decent, I think.

>unfortunate enough to suffer under a Communist regime, the Communists
>were unable to maintain an infrastructure.  But Communists can -- and
>did -- build smoke-belching factories to poison the nation.  In Red
>China today, they now lead tourists through Disneyland recreations of
>the ruins of China's past that remain.  It is a miracle that there is
>even that much.

I would rather they try their best to REALLY preserver the ruins, not
building some very false-looking recreations to fool the tourists.
I think Japan gives a good example of how to treat historic sites.

>Taiwan has done better in preserving the past.  Although Taiwan does
>not have the bulk of ancient China's treasures, it has much of the
>best.  However, Taiwan is also a bit shabby.  If Red China is a raped
>former slave-prostitute putting on her best lipstick to recover lost
>youth and innocence, Taiwan is a jaded old dowager dreaming about the
>past.  Taiwan has done little that is new, and has fallen far behind
>Korea in the past decade both in prosperity and in democracy.  The
>young people in Taiwan look north, not west.  Throughout Taiwan,
>satellite dishes tune in NHK, Taiwan's kids dance to the latest
>Japanese pop tunes, and young Taiwanese girls swoon to fan magazine
>pictures of the latest Japanese movie idols.

I think other people might want to comment on this.
Just an informational note, I think even more Taiwanese BOYS swarmed to
fan magazine picutres of the latest Japanese idols.

>Was China's past one of greatness?  Certainly.  Did China contribute
>much to Korea and Japan?  Absolutely.  But China today is faded and
>decayed.  The Republic of Korea and Japan are both vibrant and alive
>countries, and we have not yet seen the fullness of Korea's new life.
>What is more, both countries have preserved a great deal of their
>native ancient culture which never came from China.
>
>Japan and Korea have nothing to be ashamed about compared to China.

Looking at the past, Korea and Japan definitely had a HUGE "cultural
trade deficit". But I must say that one can't keep living in a dream of
past and stay nostalgic. 

Patrick