An Interpretation Of My Country And My People As A Response To Chinese Characteristics

This paper is a tentative interpretation of My Country and My People, Lin Yutang'smonumental work, from the perspective of its response to Arthur Smith's ChineseCharacteristics, an influential work about Chinese national characters in the West. It aimsto highlight Lin's concrete contribution to rectifying the negative Chinese image and thetransmission of Chinese culture to the world.The paper first offers a brief introduction to the whole research. It then discusses thenegative American images and emotions about the Chinese after the Opium War,particularly Smith and his Chinese Characteristic, which has great influence on Americanperception of China. The paper then analyzes the Chinese reactions to the American"bias" against China and emphasizes Lin's efforts to change the American notions aboutChina. It thus provides the historical context for the possibility that My Country and MyPeople is a response to Chinese Characteristics.Subsequently, the paper presents and analyzes My Country and My People's concreteand specific responses to Chinese Characteristics. The analysis is made in the followingfour parts. Part One examines Lin's response to Smith's description of Chinese physicaland physiological constitutions. Part Two is dedicated to the discussion of Lin's reactionto Smith's generalization of Chinese moral and mental Characteristics. Part Three dwellson Lin's refutation of "the suppressed Chinese women's status". Part Four is devoted tothe discussion of Lin's response to Smith's accounts of Chinese religious life. It alsoattempts to discuss the theoretical bases and the strategy of My Country and My Peoplewhen responding to Chinese Characteristics.The paper finally concludes that Lin Yutang has made a significant contribution torectifying the Westem image of China and the transmission of Chinese culture byresponding to Chinese Characteristics. And he also has offered a possible culturalstrategy in the global world.