After China was defeated by the Japanese in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, the thinker Yan Fu translated the theory of evolution and analyzed China with the theory of survival of the fittest and survival of the fittest of social Darwinism. He published an article by Yuan Qiang in Tianjin Direct, saying: "Today, China is not a patient, but China is a patient." This is the first time that China has been regarded as a "sick man". He advocated "encouraging people's strength."
1896 The Yearbook of the London School of England commented on the Sino-Japanese War translated by The Times edited by Liang Qichao: "Husband China, the sick man of the East, has been insensitive for a long time, but his illness is deep. Since the Sino-Japanese War, countries around the world have begun to know its authenticity. " This comment is very profound.
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, Ceng Pu, a native of Jiangsu Province, wrote the novel Evil Flowers on the Sea under the pseudonym "The Sick Man of East Asia", which showed that he was in poor health and was a "sick man of a sick country" to escape political persecution. As a result, the word "sick man of East Asia" officially appeared and passed through time and space.
The original "Sick Man" and "Sick Man of East Asia" not only mean that China people are physically weak and backward in sports, but also mean that they are insensitive and defeated. Their incisive analysis and diagnosis inspire and spur the Chinese nation's self-esteem, self-love, self-reliance and self-improvement. Liang Qichao said in Travels of the New World: It is not slander to call the sick man of East Asia. Lu Xun
By the way, about the origin of Japan.
China's nickname culture is the best in the world. China, the only country in the East, has claimed to be "China", "China", "China Merchants" and "China Power" since ancient times, because it considers itself "the center of the world" and "the best in the world", and regards foreigners as wild animals with the concept of "distinguishing China people from foreigners", and its name is decorated with "beast" or "worm", for example. The Japanese who admired China at that time were very happy and thought that China regarded himself as a "person" after all. Nowadays, many Japanese still use "Japanese" to express their contempt for Japan. However, in ancient Chinese, "Japanese" was neutral and slightly positive, and it became a derogatory term after the Ming Dynasty, which is an obvious manifestation of language and culture in the relationship with.
China people give Japan the most nicknames, many of which have derogatory meanings, such as "Dongyi", "Xia Guo", "Xiaopian", "Japanese slave", "just an island country" and "small country". In ancient times, Japan even often claimed to be like this. Chiang Kai-shek also called Japan an "island snake". A more neutral "Japan"
Japan originally meant "the country of sunrise" and "the place where the sun rises". Logically speaking, in Japan, the sun rises from the sea in the east, so it is impossible for the Japanese to call their land "Japan" at first. This should be the feeling and appellation of ancient China people looking at the Oriental Islands, and Japanese people who know little about themselves should also learn from it.
In 607 AD, when the Japanese invaders were young, Shoto Kutaishi wrote a letter to Emperor Yang Di, expressing his strong desire for commanding and equal communication. Yang Di was very unhappy, scolded him and sent someone to blame him.
During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, Zhang Shoujie recorded in Justice in Historical Records that "Wuhou called Japan" and Wuhou was Empress Wu Zetian, and the word "Japan" officially appeared. Japanese lacquerware was introduced into Japan, and Japan's English name "Japan" also refers to lacquerware. It is said that according to the pronunciation of the ancient Chinese character "Japan", various Japanese names have deep roots with China.
After the defeat of the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, China people were in awe of the Japanese, but their words were still tough. In 0903, Chen Tianhua, who was born in Japan, said in The Alarm Bell that "a small Japan is not good enough". Finally, from the mouth of an intellectual hero in China, it was clearly and strongly spoken, and it has influenced so far.
After September 18th, the Anti-Japanese Volunteers in Dehui County, Jilin Province sang: "When I mentioned September 18th, my eyes filled with tears; I hate that little Japan and invade my northeast. "The teacher secretly told the children that if a China man is killed, a car can hold 10, and a small Japanese soldier can hold 20. With the deepening and brutality of Japanese aggression, the people of China denounced a "little Japan" one by one to vent their inner resentment and express their fearless spirit and hatred towards the invaders.
I have known little Japan since I was a child and thought it was "small nose and small eyes". A classmate was called Japan because of his ugly face, short head and obscene words and deeds. Scolding is also subconsciously thinking that Japanese should be like this.
1970 model opera poster-"The Story of the Red Lantern" "Going to the banquet and visiting Wang China to play Hatoyama". In front of the tall China hero Li Yuhe, Hatoyama and other Japanese devils look small and wretched.
There is no lack of hatred and helplessness in calling "Japan", but it is more arrogant contempt and ridicule. I think that Japan is small, the Japanese are small, there are few materials, and they are petty and can't do great things. Calling "Japan" has a derogatory meaning of "short", while China has a vast territory, a large population, a big head and a broad mind.
Calling "Japanese" has become a habit of China people. From Chiang Kai-shek, Northeast Warlords Zhang and Zhang Xueliang, to Taiwan Province writer Bai Yang, general manager of Changhong Electric Appliance Ni, host of CCTV Shui Junyi, comedian Zhao Benshan, coach of middle and long distance running Ma, "Gazi" in the movie Private, and even five-year-old children, they all said "little Japan", and there were more newspapers, media, streets and people all over the country.