Global Chinese Culture

Black Myth: Wukong’s take on a Chinese Familiar Favorite

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If you haven’t read the story yet: Journey to the West is a classic Chinese story about a monk’s pilgrimage guarded by the hero Sun Wukong (the Monkey King). Black Myth: Wukong is a retelling that turns those trials into an action RPG. You don’t play THE Wukong, but you’re a “Destined One” earning his mantle, boss by boss. I’ll show what the game keeps, what it changes, and what new meanings it creates.

Journey to the West follows the monk Tripitaka as he travels to India to retrieve Buddhist scriptures, protected by disciples like the Monkey King. Wukong starts as a rebellious trickster with huge power and 72 transformations, then gets tamed by a magic headband and ultimately attains Buddhahood after completing the pilgrimage. The novel brings together Buddhist/Daoist ideas with monster adventures and moral tests. Black Myth: Wukong is an ARPG that exploded globally, which launched in 2024. You play as the Destined One, a monkey with a staff on a path tied to Wukong. The main arc the game gives you is collecting six relics linked to Wukong’s six senses, which reframes the pilgrimage into a personal, Buddhist-like progression system.

What the game keeps from the classic

The game keeps its imagery and powers. The long staff, cloud-like mobility, and shapeshifting all carry over. Bosses and creatures come from the text’s demon collection, and the world leans hard into Chinese temples, mountain passes, and folk-religious symbols. (It’s basically Chinese myth in a triple-A game). It also keeps its episodic trial structure. The novel’s one trial after another becomes a bunch of boss arenas and zones. The soulslike game rhythm makes the moral/spiritual tests like literal skill checks—you learn a pattern, fail, adjust, and move forward. When I read Journey to the West, the tests in the story would funnily remind me of how I felt when fighting the bosses in the game.

What the game changes (on purpose)

You’re not exactly Wukong. Making the hero the Destined One (not the big guy himself) creates distance from the trickster and makes what I see as a zero to hero/ humbler arc. It’s a way to let players earn power without rewriting Wukong’s story.

From pilgrimage to perception: Making the search for six relics about the senses is a way to focus the story on the path to becoming enlightened. Instead of escorting Tripitaka west, you’re disciplining perception itself, sight, sound, etc. It’s kind of like the journey is internal. That’s a cool thematic point the novel seeds but the game makes a big component.

Tone shift: The novel has comedy and satire. But, the game goes somber and heavy. It takes from games like Elden Ring and Dark Souls (empty roads, mysterious NPCs) to make the game and stakes feel weighty.

New meanings that show up in play:

Failure becomes doctrine: In JTTW, backslides and scoldings (the headband!) discipline Wukong. In Black Myth, however, death-learn-retry is the law. The loop teaches patience and self-regulation. To me, basically a gamer’s version of cultivation.

Individual vs. collective: The book’s team (Wukong, Pigsy, Sandy, the monk) emphasizes interdependence. However, the game trims the party down and spotlights a lone striver. This creates a different take that keeps that single-player feel while still showing the master-disciple tradition in the background.

Global reach (and the noise around it)

The game broke records at launch, with almost ~2.2M CONCURRENT players on Steam in the first day! That is extremely good, especially for a single-player game. That made Wukong a mainstream entry point to JTTW for people who’d never heard of Tripitaka or Guanyin. It also became a talking point about triple-A (high-budget) games made in China, which is a space that is known to be dominated by Western/Japanese studios. Thus, making people more open and interested in Chinese culture and future games made by their studios.

My read on why this retelling works

I like that the game doesn’t just reenact the scenes chapter-by-chapter. Instead, it builds a playable scene out of JTTW’s ideas (discipline, illusion vs. insight, transformation) then lets you discover them at your own pace. Making us the Destined One also avoids the Wukong is OP (overpowered, because he’s immortal and extremely strong) problem and keeps growth meaningful. In other words, Journey to the West becomes less of a map and more like a lens. This can also spark curiosity in players to learn more about the JTTW and Chinese culture in general. Personally, I believe it’s essential for everyone’s growth and mutual understanding that we learn about and appreciate all cultures. I like that the game pushes that.

Global Chinese Culture

The Unseen Transformation: Mulan’s Body in Two Worlds

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From an old Chinese poem to a well-known animated movie, the story of Hua Mulan has changed a lot over time, as each version reshapes the story to fit its audience. People often compare them, by talking about the broad ideas and themes, noting that the original focuses on filial piety, while the Disney version celebrates individuality and feminism.

But the real difference isn’t just in these themes. It also shows up in something smaller and more personal: how Mulan’s body and appearance are shown. In both the original and Disney’s versions, Mulan is shown leaving behind the “traditional” women’s life and developing into someone who embraces more masculine traits as she enters the world of martial arts. Making this move means she has to change how she looks and carries herself.

In the original poem, this change is quick and practical. Mulan puts on men’s clothes, goes to war, and that’s it. Her body isn’t described or questioned. In Disney’s version, her body becomes a central part of the story. She’s told how a woman should look and act, then later cuts her hair and puts on armor to pass as a man. These moments show how her outer change mirrors her inner journey and search for identity.

By looking at how each version shows Mulan’s physical change, we can see what each one values. The ballad shows her body as serving her family and community, while the film shows her body as expressing her own identity.

The Ballad and Mulan’s Quiet Change

In the original Ballad of Mulan, her transformation is described very simply. She buys a horse and armor, leaves home, and goes to fight in her father’s place. The poem does not give details about her disguise or appearance. What matters most is her loyalty to her family. When she returns home and removes her armor, her fellow soldiers are surprised to discover she is a woman. The story shows that her actions, not her appearance, are what really count.

The poem treats Mulan’s body as a practical tool. She does what she must to fulfill her duty, but her physical change is almost invisible. The focus is on her courage and skill, not on her appearance or identity. In this version, her body supports her role rather than telling its own story.

“Mulan Joins the Army” by Feng Luoxia (1900)

Disney and Mulan’s Visible Transformation

In Disney’s 1998 film, Mulan’s body is central to the story. Early on, the movie shows strict expectations about how a woman should look and act, especially when she prepares for formal society. Mulan is cleaned up, dressed, and made to look like the perfect woman, and her tense body language shows her discomfort. When she cuts her hair and puts on her father’s armor, the change becomes both physical and emotional. It is not just her pretending to be someone else; it is her taking control of who she wants to be. During training, her body continues to show her progress as she pushes herself to keep up with the soldiers. By the end, she moves with confidence. Later, when she reveals who she is to Shang, letting her hair down and speaking in her own voice, her body finally matches her true self.

Disney’s “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” : Mulan’s progress during training shows her physical and emotional growth as she adapts to the soldiers’ world.

Every change in how Mulan looks or moves signals her inner growth. Her physical changes are part of the journey, showing that who she is inside comes through in her actions, movements, and the way she carries herself.

Clothes and Makeup: Historical vs Disney

In Disney’s Mulan, clothes and makeup show her transformation. Her matchmaker outfit has white foundation, pink cheeks, red lips, and a neat bun with a ribbon to make her look like the perfect woman. In Mulan’s historical era, women sometimes decorated their foreheads with patterns or symbols, and their outfits were more layered and patterned. Soldiers wore practical armor without fancy decorations.

Comparison of traditional Chinese makeup styles (top) and Disney’s version in Mulan (bottom). Both use pale skin, red lips, and pink cheeks, but the historical style adds symbolic forehead patterns and heavier detailing.

The movie simplifies these details to make it easy for viewers to see her change. Her Hanfu is bright and simple, while the armor she puts on for war has teal and green accents and looks more elaborate than real armor of the time. These costume choices clearly show her move from following expectations to becoming a warrior.

Comparison between traditional Hanfu from Mulan’s historical era (left) and Disney’s simplified version (right). The real Hanfu features layered fabrics, detailed patterns, and symbolic colors, while the film’s version uses a cleaner, modernized design for clarity and animation ease.

By comparing the movie to historical styles, we can see how Disney mixes tradition with storytelling. The way Mulan dresses and does her makeup helps the audience understand who she is and what she is doing in the story.

Disney’s version of Mulan’s armor (left) is light and stylized for animation, while traditional armor from her era (right) was heavier, layered with metal plates, and built for real protection. The contrast shows how Disney simplified the look to highlight her bravery rather than realism

Conclusion

Looking at how Mulan’s body is treated in each version shows how the story’s focus has shifted over time. The ballad presents a practical, almost invisible transformation that serves duty and family. The Disney version uses Mulan’s body as a visual marker for self-expression and confidence.

These subtle differences show that Mulan’s story is not just about her accomplishments or personality, but also about how her physical appearance is part of the tale. Her adaptability and transformation can be shown both visibly and meaningfully, which helps explain why her story continues to resonate across generations.

Global Chinese Culture

“Who is that girl I see”: How Disney Westernized the Story of Mulan

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For many young girls, including me, Disney’s Mulan (1998) served as an inspiration to be brave, strong, and to break gender barriers. However, it would be a lie to say that this remake of the original “The Ballad of Mulan” was entirely accurate.

Disney’s Mulan poster

The Original Story

In “The Ballad of Mulan,” Hua Mulan joins the army in place of her father. After 10 years of fighting, she returns home with her army to be rewarded by the emperor. Afterwards, she finally reveals herself as a woman.

The story reflects strong Confucian ideas of filial piety when Mulan decides to join the army in place of her father, showing her devotion and care to protect him. At the same time, however, she defies him by enlisting without telling anyone and acting on her own belief about how best to protect her father. This aspect of the story provides an interesting perspective on the concept of filial piety. Should you disobey your parents in order to devote yourself to and protect them?

Another primary aspect of this story is gender roles. When Mulan reveals herself to her fellow soldiers at the end, she says,

“Some say the male rabbit’s paws tend to thump and move about, while the female rabbit’s eyes are soft and hazy; but really, when they run side by side, can you tell which is male and which is female?”

This line illustrates the theme of gender roles in the story. Because Mulan fought with as much strength and bravery as her fellow soldiers, they were shocked to learn that she was a woman. They didn’t expect a woman to be strong and capable enough to fight alongside them due to their society’s gender roles.

Illustration of Hua Mulan

Disney’s Adaptation

The Disney movie Mulan (1998) retells the story with the addition of details that slightly shift the narrative. In the film, the story begins with Fa Mulan preparing to find a suitor in order to bring honor to her family, only to fail in doing so. Then, to protect her injured father from being drafted, she enlists in his place and begins her training. Throughout this time, she carefully guards her identity but is eventually discovered after being injured in battle. She is branded a traitor and nearly executed, though the captain spares her life in gratitude for saving him and instead sends her home. Later, even after being expelled from the army, she travels to the capital to warn them of the enemy’s return and ultimately helps defeat him. At the end of the story, she returns home and presents her father with gifts of honor from the emperor.

Disney’s decision to include Mulan’s failed attempt to find a suitor sets up a personal motivation for her journey. Her story is not only about protecting her father, but also about proving to herself that she is not a failure.

This takes place after Mulan’s identity is discovered and she is thrown out of the army.

Compared to the original story, Disney’s adaptation shifts the focus from filial piety to self-discovery and acceptance. Although filial piety is still present through the idea of bringing honor to one’s family, Mulan’s journey is also deeply motivated by her desire to accept herself for who she is, rather than conform to what others expect her to be.

Another major change is the treatment of Mulan’s identity as a woman. In the original story, her fellow soldiers were simply shocked when she revealed the truth. In the Disney version, however, her discovery is portrayed as an act of treason, nearly costing her life. This dramatization highlights the seriousness of gender roles in her society. Her identity was further emphasized after she saved the palace from the enemy and was praised and honored by the emperor, despite being thrown out of the army. This illustrates the theme of breaking out of gender roles and boundaries. Even when faced with extreme obstacles, women can rise and even excel in male-dominated areas. Mulan was one of, if not, the first Disney princess to show that she could not only save herself but also the man too.

Mulan is praised by the emperor, her former comrades, and the city after defeating the enemy

Traditional vs. Western

The creative changes Disney made to Mulan’s story reflect their goal of appealing to their target audience: young girls in the United States. In the original ballad, Mulan’s primary purpose for joining the army is to protect her father, reflecting Confucian ideals of filial piety. In Disney’s adaptation, there is an added motivation for her to prove her own worth. The story moves from traditional, family-centered values to more individualistic, Western values.

Furthermore, Disney’s emphasis on Mulan’s identity as a woman was clearly designed to empower young girls, encouraging them to break through restrictive gender roles and embrace their own strengths. This was an especially powerful message in the late 1990s and early 2000s, a time when more women in the U.S. were beginning to enter male-dominated fields and make a name for themselves despite barriers. While the original story acknowledges gender roles and critiques them subtly, the Disney version actively challenges and reshapes them.

Reflection

As mentioned at the beginning, Disney’s Mulan was deeply inspirational and empowering story for me and many other young girls. Not only was she was one of the earliest major representations of Chinese culture in American media, but her story also taught an important lesson about embracing one’s flaws and turning them into strengths. Many of Mulan’s greatest achievements in the movie did not come from physical strength, but from her intelligence and quick thinking, traits she had from the very beginning.

Is the Disney film a 100% accurate retelling of the original ballad? No, it is not. But is it an entertaining film with a meaningful message? Absolutely. It is difficult to say whether one version is “better” than the other, because each reflects the values of its time. The ballad emphasizes traditional values, while Disney emphasizes modern, Western values. At the end of the day, both versions beautifully illustrate the story of a strong woman succeeding against all odds.

Mulan talking to Mushu after returning home

Global Chinese Culture

American Born Chinese: How Monkey King Takes a Spin in Modern America

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Introduction:

It has been well known for many centuries that the story of Journey to the West has been a focal point of Chinese folklore. A story which may seem hard to relate to the struggles that lie for a teenage boy growing up in a suburban home, fighting his way through school to survive the dread of school cafeterias and classrooms. But, much like the original Monkey King, who has god like powers, and deals with constant struggle to find his place in the world. This story shows how, even centuries later, a character’s struggles remain.

This story continues through American Born Chinese, a TV show, originally based on Gene Luen Yang’s 2006 graphic novel, also called American Born Chinese. This adaptation not only conveys the special character Sun Wukong is, but brings a twist where it is in the world of a Chinese-American teenager. This story brings together the ideas of Chinese mythology to a character’s development of self-acceptance while working through cultural diversity.

A Book Cover to the Story of Journey to the West

The Original:

In the story of Journey to the West, we follow the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, a strong, smart, and ambitious monkey. He is always on his way to confront those in the Heavens. Over this continuous fight,  they punish him by putting him under the Buddha mountain. During his time in exile, he focuses on his real goals of resisting conformity. In the end, he encompasses the qualities of independence and acceptance, which play a direct role in the development of American Born Chinese. This showcases the qualities of rebellion and pride in this modern world.

The Modern Adaptation:

A Cover Release for the Show American Born Chinese

A Cover Release for the Show American Born Chinese


The TV show American Born Chinese picks up the life of a suburban American high schooler, Jin Wang. He deals with the common struggles of racism and not “fitting in”. On the other end, there is Wei-Chen, who initially comes off as curious, polite, and eager to fit in as a transfer student from Taiwan. But when it is revealed he is the son of the Monkey King, it gives the viewer a perspective to realize how Chinese mythology intertwines with a suburban American High school.

The resemblance of how the culture of Monkey King continues to interplay in the modern world, from the defiance of Heaven to the struggle of fitting into a new culture. This theme of defiance continued even through his descendants, as many foreign students are shy, Wei-Chen continues to try to fit in, a rebellion of the norm.

This was also displayed through how the Monkey King tried to fit in with the culture of gods, while trying to fit in with the mere mortals. Wei-Chen is often trying to code-switch between his Chinese Culture and his American culture; the question of where he truly fits in bothers him.

Not only were they focused on character traits that were similar, but also story elements have transcended through time. For the original story where the heavenly figures used to send messages by traveling across clouds, to now moving through the clouds of the internet that run through the phones. These slight nuances in the story carry the meaning of what was contained in the original story of Monkey King, while bringing that modern twist to make it more fitting and understandable.

The Similarities in everyday life:

The mythology that we learn throughout this story is often thousands of years old, but throughout each scene, it is an intricate reminder that the effects of the culture have impacts to this day. We learn in a similar experience to the Monkey King’s rebellion that each teenager has a struggle of trying to adapt. Throughout time, in different circumstances, they deal with the troubles of validity in their identity. One of the most eye-opening struggles that is still dealt with is peer pressure. Jin, who often struggles to create friendships in the cafeteria. There is always a focus to try to fit in, just as Monkey King was trying to figure out where he belongs.

An insider perspective of the actors, in a show release promotion.

Global Significance:

By learning about the story of Journey to the West through American Born Chinese, it shows how the next age of Chinese media is going worldwide. From being on different platforms like Disney, which also has a show that promotes the ideas of the Monkey King. It brings new attention to the tale that is originally a Chinese story. Then, to incorporate American and Chinese elements, it brings new viewers who are interested in learning about the middle ground these two cultures face.

Conclusion:

Journey To the West becoming more prevalent globally.


American Born Chinese is a transcendent show, not only showing who the Monkey King is. But bring him to the modern world and adapt his story and traits in niche ways for the viewers to learn about the culture. A culture that is not only now known to the modern world, but even now on a Western stage, attracting many new viewers. In the end, we know the Monkey King was never a strong force from the get-go, but one who harnessed his powers to become the best he could be. And in this modern adaptation, it perfectly shows how enlightenment was never just in heaven, but really it’s about embracing who you are

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“帝”: The “Emperor’s” Journey Through Pop Culture

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By: Eshaan Patel

Background:

Qianlong Emperor

In Chinese history, “帝”, pronounce “dì” meant something beetween Emporer and Imperial. The word “帝” was associated with terms like “emperor”, “supreme ruler”, and “god”. This word, however, is one that has changed over time throughout China’s 3,500 year written history. Furthermore, the meaning of this word also drastically differs when used in different contexts.

Ancient Human Sacrifice

Dì “帝” first appeared in oracle bone inscriptions during the Shang Dynasty. It’s a pictographic character combining li “立” which means “to stand” and jin “巾” which means to “cloth”. This represents the image of setting up firewood for imperial ancestral sacrifice.

The X帝 (X dì) Structure:

Starting in the 1980s with the Hong Kong Film Awards creating the term yingdi “影帝”, which means “cinema emperor”, for Best Actor winners, the phrase structure “X di” emerged in popular culture. This transformed di’s meaning to refer to people, objects, or organizations that are remarkable or extraordinary in a given field.

Examples of this structure include:

  • Yuyandi (预言帝) – “prediction emperor” for those who make accurate predictions
  • Zhenxiangdi (真相帝) – “truth emperor” for people knowledgeable
  • Offer di – someone who receives many job offers
  • Daodedi (道德帝) – “moral emperor” for self-righteous people

Genshin Impact

In gaming and entertainment, there are various of dì such as in Imperial harem-building games, Empire-building games like Total War: Three Kingdoms, and Character names in games like Genshin Impact.

The 1980s Transformation: Yingdi and the Birth of X帝

A pivotal shift in di’s usage occurred in the 1980s following the establishment of the Hong Kong Film Awards. The phrase yingdi (影帝), which is “emperor of cinema,” emerged to describe actors winning the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor. Notable recipients include Tony Leung Chiu Wai, who’s has won multiple best actor awards. This usage honored these actors with di (帝) to demonstrate the scale of their achievement; this also recognized them as representing the highest level of acting in Chinese cinematography. The combination of di (帝) with ying (影) popularized the phrase structure x di (X帝), fundamentally transformed di’s traditional meaning in popular culture.

Within this structure, di no longer exclusively means “emperor” but instead expands to encompass: a person, object, or organization achieving the highest honor in a given field. A leading figure with outstanding features or expertise in a certain field; and an object with a distinguishing feature. The simplicity and flexibility of the x di structure enabled the creation of countless new words used in pop culture and everyday life of all aspects.

Social and Political Implications

The character di (帝) carries significant social and political implications in contemporary China across multiple domains all the way from politics to entertainment to everything in between. The DiBa Expedition (帝吧), an online movement originating from Baidu forums, organized coordinated attacks on social media platforms, engaging in nationalistic campaigns targeting Taiwan, Sweden, and Hong Kong issues. In commercial contexts, foreign companies entering Chinese markets often strategically incorporate di in brand names to convey luxury, grandeur, and higher quality to consumers – symbolizing how di can still be close associated and directly correlated to wealth, status, and upper class. However, the character remains subject to naming taboos, as it is rarely used in children’s names due to historical fears of appearing to challenge imperial authority or being seen as counterrevolutionary. Within academic discourse, scholars employ “imperial” terminology to describe how modern CCP governance practices draw from China’s imperial history, particularly under Xi Jinping’s leadership, which employs imperial-style rituals, hierarchies, and propaganda methods. Lastly, in the cast of the one-child policy and the discourse surrounding it, despite widespread media portrayals of “little emperors” (xiaohuangdi) as spoiled and socially deficient, academics have found that little empirical evidence supporting these stereotypes. This suggests that economic inequality plays a larger role than family structure in shaping child outcomes.

Broader Implications

Di (帝), a character with over three millennia of history, exemplifies the dynamic nature of language and cultural evolution. While maintaining connections to its historical meanings of emperor, supreme ruler, and god, it has successfully adapted to contemporary contexts, particularly in digital culture, entertainment, branding, and political discourse.

The versatility of the x di (X帝) structure in internet culture demonstrates Chinese language speakers’ creativity in adapting traditional characters to modern contexts while maintaining semantic connections to imperial power and superiority. Whether used complimentarily, pejoratively, or sarcastically, di continues to invoke notions of supremacy, dominance, and exceptionality.


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内卷 (Involution): The Word That Defines China’s Endless Competition

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Introduction:

There’s times I catch myself comparing how much I studied last night or how much work I did, and sometimes I feel guilty when I relax while others kept working. It’s that quiet, persistent sense that no matter what I do, when I compare myself to others there’ll always be someone putting in more effort and working harder. And even when there is no one else for some reason if feels like there should be. These thoughts aren’t neccesarily unique to me, they’re part of an overall pressure that defines our modern life. The Chinese have a slang word for this exact feeling, “内卷” or “Involution”. It describes the cycle of working harder and harder, yet never really moving forward like running on a societal treadmill that keeps speeding up but you still end up in the same place. I chose to explore this word because it encapsulates a lot of the emotions like anxiety, ambition, and fatigue that I and so many students and workers experience every day.

Origins and Evolution:

Before it became one of China’s most famous buzzwords, the concept of involution first appeared in the 1960’s when an American Antropolgist Clifford Geertz used it describe how Javanese farmers were working harder and harder on the same plots of land but producing no real growth, basically an endless cycle of effort without progress. Decades later, Chinese scholars adopted this word to describe similar social patterns of people investing more time and energy but seeing diminishing returns. Fast forward to our modern digital age 内卷 took on a whole new life online. Around 2020, Chinese students and young professionals started using the term on Weibo and Zhihu (chinese social media apps) to describe their own lives like staying up until 3 a.m. to study for an exam, competing for internships, or joining a hundred different WeChat groups just to stay ahead. What started as an academic joke ended up defining a generation caught between ambition and exhaustion. So in our modern day, 内卷 isn’t about farming anymore. It reflects how young Chinese navigate a society that praises hard work yet very rarely slows down to ask if it’s all really worth it. From viral memes showing students sleeping on their desks to workplace jokes about “卷王” (the “King of Involution”), the word evolved into both a coping mechanism and sort of a implicit protest to joke and acknowledge the system that places so much pressure on it’s people.

This graphic is commonly used to show involution and workers burnt out and exhausted over the constant grind of working in Chinese culture.

Usage:

The word is often used when students compare how late they studied or when office workers share pictures of sleeping at their desks. The word captures that collective exhaustion from constant competition, where everyone feels pressured to do more even when there’s little to gain.

Netizens use 内卷 in both serious and humorous ways. Saying “太卷了” (“It’s too involuted”) can express frustration and irony. The term has also branched out to phrases like 卷王 (“Involution King”), describing those who push themselves the hardest.Regardless of how it is used though it has become a single word to describe the burnout being faced by students and workers in chinese culture.

Cultural Analysis:

At its core, 内卷 reflects two forces that have long shaped Chinese life, Confucian diligence and Daoist balance. From Confucianism comes the belief that hard work and self improvement are moral obligations. For centuries, this value defined education and family life as effort showed virtue and success was proof of your character and value. Today, that mindset still drives people to push themselves endlessly turning the discipline and diligence into exhaustion.

On the other hand, Daoism offers an escape from this. Its philosophy of wui wei encourages people to step back and live in harmony with the world instead of fighting against it. The growing appeal of another term 躺平 (“lying flat”) shows a return to that thinking, where peace is found not in striving but by letting go and being content.

In this way, 内卷 and 躺平 represent two sides of the same culture, one rooted in ambition, and the other in acceptance. Together they sort of capture the Chinese struggle to balance ancient ideals with the reality of burning out and the ill effects that causes.

A good example of this is the 996 work culture shown in this video is the real world face of 内卷. It captures how long hours and relentless competition have become normalized in modern China, turning Confucian diligence into exhaustion. It helps show the meaning of involution, how people work so hard – hours from 9.am. – 9 p.m. 6 days a week yet never truly progress anywhere and end up burnt out and exhausted rather than at rest and satisfied.

Reflection:

When I think about 内卷, I don’t just see it as an online thing or restricted to Chinese culture. I see it in myself and the people around me. Especially that fear of falling behind in school, internships, and overall just growth as a person. Writing this made me realize that 内卷 isn’t just about competition, it’s about searching for purpose and what brings you peace in a world that never slows down. And the challenge isn’t to escape it completely, but to find a balance of working hard while being content and retaining peace.

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8wWoQ3_F00

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/what-is-involution-chinas-race-to-the-bottom-competition-trend-2025-09-14

https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2025/08/whats-new-about-involution?lang=en

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“摆烂!” Why not?

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The term 摆烂 (bǎi làn) is one that captures a literal etymological representation of chinese youth. Breaking down the hanzi, “摆” (bǎi) means to deliberately place/lay/arrange, and “烂” (làn) refers to mushy, rotten, or decayed. Putting it together gives the meaning of 摆烂 (bǎi làn) as “let it rot” or “to display rottenness.” 

The first recorded use of bǎi làn came from Chinese NBA fans as their own version of slang for the English word “tanking” to describe NBA teams purposely losing and performing poorly in hopes to gain better odds of securing top player picks. 

https://www.douyin.com/video/7368463371538042166 (above is a preview of the douyin post)

Here is a post of a netizen on Douyin making fun of how one NBA team, Detroit Pistons, had continuous poor performances, being one of the worst NBA teams, and despite many years of securing top picks in the draft are still performing terribly, and as such are continuously “tanking” and are the best when it comes to it.

Origins of ‘Bai Lan’

However the use of the modern, non-niche, usage of the word actually arises as a more extreme/severe evolution of another chinese slang, 躺平 (tang ping) which translates to “lying flat.” The tang ping movement can be seen as the predecessor to the modern bǎi làn, since this first movement was seen as a first grassroots passive-aggressive movement in the youth of their grievances against the Chinese government and societal expectations like the overworking, and overachieving in 996 working hour system that was considered an endless “rat race”.

https://chi.st/bugs/tang-ping (some excerpts from the recovered blog)

Here is a preservation of the original blog, “Lying flat is justice” that sparked the initial tang ping movement that was deleted by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC). The blog, by Luo Huazhong, who said he has come to terms with him not living up to society’s expectations and wanting to live his life the way he wanted to. So he quit his factory job, biked miles from Sichuan Province to Tibet and decided he could get by on odd jobs and $60 a month from his savings, calling his lifestyle 躺平 (tang ping). Lou’s blog served as a message to other Chinese youth on how they have the agency just like him to reject the rate race, intense work culture of the 996 system, and societal expectations, saying “the moment when a life full of desire and excitement becomes still and disappears is the embodiment of true justice. I choose to lie flat, and I am no longer afraid.” This blog went viral before it was deleted and sparked all manner of memes by netizens, which glorified/encouraged the tang ping lifestyle, expressing their desires to simply go and “lie flat” instead of engaging in the constant rat race.

China's new 'tang ping' trend aims to highlight pressures of work culture

These memes led to the emergence of the catchphrase, 躺平的韭菜不好割 (Tǎng píng de jiǔcài bù hǎo gē), which translates to “a chive lying flat is difficult to reap”; this is a humorous take of the “chinese dream” portrayed by state media which netizens believe is a false promise of a better life for the price of endless hard work with no actual internal satisfaction. This movement is very similar to a similar movement in the US, called “quiet quitting” which advocated for doing the absolute bare minimum at one’s jobs and simply getting the money and then leaving. This sense of apathy and doing the absolute bare minimum, and “lying flat” to the rat race is echoed perfectly in Tang Ping. 

Evolution to ‘Bai Lan’

However the change from ‘tang ping’ to ‘bai lan’ is the result of a more extreme version of the same movement.

This became particularly apparent during China’s recovery period post COVID during from 2021 to 2022 where China’s frequent lockdowns led to a very sluggish economic recovery, exacerbating youth unemployment and making basic necessities like education, healthcare, and housing unaffordable for increasingly unaffordable for young people. 

This video is exceptionally informative and would recommend if you want to hear first hand experience

In the eyes of the youth netizens, their conditions and outlook had only gotten worse and ‘tang ping’ couldn’t save them anymore. Now the message evolved from originally being apathetic and indifferent to societal and cultural expectations. The message instead became a willing rejection of the degrading quality of life for youth given the government’s inability to fix the high youth unemployment, cost of living, and extreme pressure from constant competition, giving birth to ‘bai lan.’ Additionally, it also serves as a coping mechanism from the youth since many realize that their current conditions suck, so they are living life embracing the ‘rot,’ not caring what others may think since they feel as if nothing could be worse than right now, actively reflecting cynicism. ‘Bai Lan’ had now become the perfect unfiltered symbolism of the outlook and condition of the youth, true ‘rot’.

Videos promoting the ‘bai lan’ lifestyle are subject to heavy censorship on social media platforms, as a result, videos of individuals actively promoting the lifestyle rarely make it past the strict censorship by the CAC. As a result, netizens resort to spreading it via memes featuring drawings with a caption, which tend to be harder for the censorship algorithms to detect.

https://www.douyin.com/note/7331525838585744679 (above is a preview of the douyin post)

This post by a netizen was captioned 最近状态躺平摆烂,混吃混喝,只想做个快乐的小废物, translating to “Let it rot. Lately I’ve just been lying flat and letting things rot, mindlessly indulging eating and drinking. I only want to be a happy little good-for-nothing.” Posts like these reflect the true inner reflection and vulnerability of bai lan movement as it goes beyond the previous tang ping where it was largely apathy, and now serves as public projection and revealing of the real inner feelings of cynicism and vulnerability of Chinese youth that they feel can only be shared through the anonymity that social media offers.

Why?

The emergence of Bai Lan from Tang Ping actively acknowledges the dreadfulness of the lives of the Chinese youth and attempts to play off the ‘rot’ in a sarcastic and self-deprecating manner with a sense of cynicism, and memes serve as the perfect medium for netizens to spread their message on social media. Its evolution from an earlier movement serves as a key indicator of slang in social media, especially China, that functions as both a cultural mirror and a coping mechanism, reflecting youth disillusionment through a unique gen-z way of humor and self-aware irony.

New Chinese Buzzword 'Let It Rot' Takes 'Lying Flat' to New Heights - RADII

Chinese Internet Keyword

低头族: The ‘Head-Down Tribe’ of Smartphone Addicts in China

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Introduction

We’ve all seen “smartphone zombies” and to be honest almost all of us YES us have been one. Walk into any subway(地铁 Dìtiě) in Beijing, Shanghai, or even Atlanta, and you’ll see dozens of passengers with their heads bowed, and necks bent at an unhealthy 45-degree angle staring at their phones. The train is silent because everyone is on their phones. Throughout my life, I’ve prided myself on being disconnected from my phone, and not using it when I’m outside as seeing this makes me cringe.

These are 低头族 (dī tóu zú). Translated literally as the “bowed-head tribe,” the phrase refers to the people who constantly lower their heads to their devices and ignore the world around them. The tribe’s members are everywhere: the office worker scrolling WeChat in the elevator, the student watching TikToks in class, the disconnected couple having dinner but staring at their phones instead of making eye contact.

The word itself is humorous and pokes fun on these people, but it also shows what has become of our posture, and the frightening lack of human interaction irl.

“Commuters on a Taipei Metro train, each absorbed in their own screen”

Origin of the Term

Where did this term come from? 低头族 is built from two parts: 低头 (“to lower one’s head”) and 族 (“clan/tribe”). Chinese internet slang often uses 族 to describe lifestyle tribes: 拇指族 (“thumb tribe” for constant texters), 啃老族 (“gnaw-on-parents tribe” for financially dependent young adults), and even 月光族 (“moonlight tribe” for those whose salary vanishes by the end of the month). Add 族 to any bad habit, and it becomes a social group according to Chinese Netizens.


The concept of 低头族 rose to prominence in the early 2010s during the smartphone boom. It occured at the same time as the english slang “phubbing” was created (phone + snubbing). Made in Australia around 2012 to describe the act of ignoring real people in favor of a phone. Chinese internet users picked up their own version, popularizing 低头族 to describe a group of people with bowed heads who are look down at their phone.

Examples

Imagine a family gathered at dinner. Instead of talking, all four lean forward staring at their phones, occasionally glancing up only to take a photo of the food they aren’t really eating. That’s the 低头族 lifestyle in a nutshell. You don’t have to imagine any more check the slider out (W ChatGPT using it like it’s intented)!

Or picture pedestrians in China phone in hand almost colliding with distracted driver who also is staring at his phone instead of the road. This isn’t just the youth everyone in China of all age groups even grandparents have joined the tribe.

A European study found that 17% of people use their phones while walking, especially those aged 25–35. In China’s large cities, you can probably see how that would be a problem. Anyone who has been pushed on the subway by someone watching a TikTok or having to pass by a person staring at their phone and walking abnormally slow understands the pain. The phrase 低头族 usually carries a mocking tone, but isn’t entirely a insult more of a social behavior.

Slide the images (I AI generated both)

Cultural Significance

The rise number of 低头族 says a lot about current day life. Everyone is connected online while being disconnected offline. Dinner tables that used to be full of conversation are now silent. This could be thought of as an epidemic or phone addiction. Public safety officials caution us of car accidents and falls caused by distracted phone use. One tragic story in Hunan reported a mother so absorbed in her phone that she failed to notice her child stepping into traffic. Doctors also warn us of physical toll that constantly bending over has on your spine.

There’s also a mental health angle. Excessive phubbing strains relationships as nobody enjoys being barely listened to while the other person scrolls TikTok reels. There are satirical responses to this as the city of Chongqing painted a “cellphone lane” on a sidewalk meant to be funny, but also served as a warning. Other cities have posted “No Texting While Walking” signs which should be common sense like not to jaywalk or check both sides before crossing the road.

If you’re reading this on your phone congratulations, you’re officially 低头族. Please don’t walk into a streetlight :3
Unironically, I was editing this on my phone outside :((

Conclusion

低头族 is what’s called a 双刃剑 (double-edged sword) in Chinese. On one side, it connects us online and to friendships across continents(I know for myself whatsapp is extremely useful in contacting Indian family members as international calls cost money) it is kinda like what WeChat is for China. On the other, it disconnects us from the people sitting right next to us. We can laugh at phone zombies or seeing people distracted not noticing what’s right in front of them, but the joke is we’re all turning into one. The next time we’re in the subway or wherever let’s try to lift our heads! Perhaps we might relearn what “eye contact” is again 👀

Because sometimes the best thing you can do is just look up…

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8ASFg12 (lol)

Chinese Internet Keyword

‘Green Tea Bitch’ (绿茶婊)- Archetypes of Chinese Women

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By: Nancy Han

Introduction

The first time I came across the term ‘green tea bitch’ (绿茶婊) was in a Chinese manhua called ‘That Time I Was Blackmailed by the Class’s Green Tea Bitch.’ At first, I had no idea what it meant, so I asked my mom to explain. She was pretty surprised to hear me use that phrase, but she told me it’s basically the Chinese equivalent of a ‘pick-me’ or someone who acts ‘not like other girls.’ I thought the concept of using tea and other beverages to generalize certain types of women was so interesting that I had to look into it more.

‘That Time I Was Blackmailed By the Class’s Green Tea Bitch’ (关于被班上绿茶威胁那件事 ) by Xian Jun

Origin

The term first appeared in 2013 when many models and actresses in China were exposed for using their body in order to achieve higher status and fame. In response, Chinese netizens began referring to this group as ‘green tea bitches’ The phrase combines two contrasting ideas: green tea (绿茶) symbolizes innocence and purity, the image these women tried to project. While bitch (婊) reveals the reality beneath the façade, describing someone manipulative, attention-seeking, and driven by self-interest.

Usage

The term ‘green tea bitch’ is now more broadly used to describe women often referred to as ‘the kind of woman even other women can’t stand.’ While the exact characteristics can vary, a few common traits are:


(1) She is pretty but not exceptionally beautiful
(2) Her behavior shifts depending on her company. She acts lively and cute around men, but more subdued or indifferent around women.
(3) She keeps the appearance of being innocent and pure, but every thing she does is calculated to garner more male attention.
(4) She’s interested in Chinese art, politics, literature, but makes sure to downplay her knowledge as to not seem too haughty
(5) Makes self-depreciating remarks often, in order to gain sympathy (i.e. ‘I’m so fat, I wish I was skinny like you’, ‘I’m so clumsy’, ‘Oh, I’m so stupid’)
(6) Indirectly/subtly puts down other women

I thought it was so interesting how the western phrase ‘pick me’ was almost identical to ‘green tea bitch’. Both describing a woman appealing to men, but insufferable to women due to the fact they value male attention and themselves over all else, even at the expense of other women.

Derivatives

My interpretation of ‘green tea bitch’, ‘milk tea bitch’, and ‘black tea’ bitch (left to right)

With the popularization of the term ‘green tea bitch,’ many other female archetypes following the same tea/beverage theme have emerged. While many differ from what netizens would typically describe as a ‘green tea bitch,’ they all share one common thread: their lives, behaviors, or self-worth often revolve around men and the validation they can provide.

  1. Milk tea bitch: Extremely cutesy and sweet-looking, she appeals to men who are eager to spoil her with gifts and money.
  2. Black tea bitch: Promiscuous with lots of sex appeal, she doesn’t shy away from flirting with taken men— or even when she’s in a relationship herself.
  3. Dragon well tea bitch: ‘One of the guys’. Insistent that she isn’t concerned in feminine interests, but always makes sure she looks good in front of her guy friends. Flirts with all her male friends but assures their partners ‘he’s like a brother’
  4. Coffee bitch: Sophisticated, classy, and intelligent. Her traits put her above tea, but her real talent is her keen eye for high-status and wealthy men to make her next victim

Retrospective

I find it fascinating that these archetypes of women exist in cultures across the globe. While I agree that it’s important to call out women who value men so much that they deliberately put down other women just to better themselves, the phenomenon also feels like a double-edged sword. When women are overly critical of other women, the conversation shifts away from how we can decenter men from our lives, and instead becomes about tearing each other down.

I understand why this “genre” of women can be frustrating, I’ve met a handful myself, but it’s also understandable that many women internalize the idea that their worth depends on how men perceive them. In a society where women are put secondary to men and often seen as accessories to them, it’s hard not to.

What also strikes me as unfair is the reaction of disgust and contempt targeted towards the models when it was revealed that certain Chinese models used their bodies to climb the social ladder. Shouldn’t that outrage instead highlight the inequality that forces women to rely on their bodies in the first place?

Labeling women into categories like “green tea bitch” or “pick me” can be entertaining or even socially insightful when done playfully—but it becomes concerning when such labels are used to degrade or dismiss women altogether.

Global Chinese Culture

Shifting Perspectives: Green Snake 2021

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Introduction

The 2021 animated movie Green Snake, directed by Amp Wong, builds off of the famous Chinese Legend of the White Snake, exploring the dynamic of the ancient characters through Asuraville, adding themes of emotional strife and modern feminine power.

Netflix cover
Green Snake Netflix cover

Foundations of the Legend

The story tells of a White Snake demon who transforms into a beautiful woman and falls in love with a human man, Xu Xian. Fahai, a Buddhist monk, exposes her true nature after forcing her to transform with a potion. Startled, Xu dies of freight leading white snake to go on a dangerous quest to recover a herb to revive him. Green Snake aids her journey. After overcoming obstacles and reviving Xu, White Snake is confronted by Fahai, where the story diverges.

Fahai in Green Snake
Fahai

The Old Legend 

Before the 18th century the story’s ending was one of tragedy with the white snake being imprisoned by Fahi under Leifong pagoda after giving birth. This version of the legend is what green snake draws from. The animation begins with the violent battle between the monk and the two snake sisters, ending in defeat. This sets up green snake’s quest to escape Asuraville.

White Snake's Fall
White Snake’s Fall

Green Snake Plot

After White Snake (Blanca) is trapped by Fahai, Green Snake (Verta) struggles against him and is transported to the realm of Asuraville, where those who can’t let go of obsession are banished. Zodiac demons roam this cyberpunk realm where spirits attack in waves. To survive, she teams up with Sun, a woman from the 20th century who is later killed during gang warfare between the Ox-Head and Horse-Face Gang and the Raksha. Verta is picked up by the Raksha and proves herself to Simon, their human leader. At Good Day Market, Simon, Verta, and their new masked companion learn that to leave they must surrender their obessions to the Well of Rebirth. Verta refuses to forget Blanca. A flood sweeps over Asuraville, trapping the masked man. Desperate to leave, Simon betrays Verta, blocking the exit as she saves him. When she loses hope, the man reveals a face resembling Blanca’s. Ox-Head invades the market and kills Simon. Verta’s trust shatters when Ox-Head reveals the masked man betrayed her as the magical Blanca disguise he wore gave off a traceable scent. Verta presses on toward the Wish Bridge to escape Asuraville with her memories intact. In the Wind Tunnel when Fahai is weakened, she destroys the Pagoda, breaking his blessing over Ox-Head. As they near the end, the possessed Ox-Head grabs them. The man lets Ox-Head transform him into a spirit, sacrificing himself to carry Verta to the bridge. Back in the human world, Verta restores Blanca’s hairpin with the man’s bone flute, realizing he was her reincarnation. Blanca’s voice calls to Verta, signaling their reunification.

Movie Trailer

Modernizing Feminine Strength

The ancient story flips gender roles, positioning white snake as the more yang character who exudes assertive traits and strength that move her to protect and sacrifice herself for her family. While certainly a progressive story of feminine power for its time, white snake’s feminine strength is demonstrated in the context of motherly love and protection which is the typical picture of what older civilizations viewed as female strength. Verta embodies a character with external motivations beyond maternal duty and romantic love who is strong and decisive in all situations. Verta survives the rough lands of Asuraville by adapting quickly, learning to use modern weapons, forming strategic alliances, and confronting characters like the Baoqing Fox. This reflects how we define and celebrate modern femininity. Female strength is characterized by leadership, resilience, and autonomy rather than being tied only to motherhood.

Woman hammering
Woman space station
woman exploring
women welding

Modern femininity emerging from the cultural revolution

Modern Emotional Care & Love

Like many western works, Green Snake follows a sort of hero’s journey structure. Centering the plot around Verta reorients the emotional underpinning of the story, creating new meaning through Verta’s introspective struggles. Verta, removed from Blanca’s strong emotional passion for Xu, acts as a critical observer. Seeing others struggle with relinquishing their attachments at the Well of Rebirth and the consequences of Blanca’s love, Verta grapples with her perceptions of love and obsession with saving Blanca. Symbolized by her sister’s scarf tied around her arm, Verta’s obsession with saving Blanca traps her in Asuraville. At the end of the story, as she leaves Blanca in Asuraville, she realizes accepting Blanca’s death, but keeping her memory alive, can bring them both peace. She is reincarnated, completing her emotional development. Others in Asuraville give up memories of loved ones, like Simon, or aspirations to escape. Verta’s rejection of this and eventual acceptance of Blanca’s death embody the modern focus on confronting emotional turmoil through means like therapy, which forces people to relive and journey through their most intense emotions, much like Verta does. The story, however, masterfully crafts this emotional journey through the framing of Buddhist rebirth, with Blanca’s reincarnation into the masked man being the way in which Verta is able to engage with her emotional turmoil. The story challenges modern escapism, which takes the form of drugs and other addictions, ironically through the Well of Rebirth, which allows a person to avoid painfully working through loss.

Well of Rebirth
Drug Addition

Well of Rebirth & Modern Escapism

Verta’s assertion that her sister’s entrapment is due to Xu’s lack of strength initially makes her value strength and authority in a partner, which makes her fall for Simon. However, his betrayal shows her, empathy and love for someone outweigh strength. This internal change in Verta’s perception rejects the idea that a man should be a strong provider, reimagining Xu a good partner. Sun and Verta’s partnership further emphasizes the movie’s modern idea that relationships, romantic or platonic, should never be defined by one character overpowering and leading alone. Just like in the movie when the two are separated, partners must have enough independence to fight for themselves at times, but should constantly be backing each other in response to calls for support.