China's National Imagein the West

From “Chinoiserie” to

“Made in China”

Steffi Wong 07009380Cheng Tsz Ting 08029768

What we want to find out......Different perceptions of Chinese goods in the West:

• 1500 - 1800: love for Chinese goods was so great that the Europeans make their own version – “Chinoiserie”

• 1978 - present: feel threatened by Chinese goods so much that restrictions was imposed –

“Made in China” In turn, the West has different perceptions of China–

China's national image

“Chinoiserie”

European “Chinese”

Steffi Wong (07009380)

Engraving, designed by Francois Boucher, 18th century

“Chinoiserie”?

• “Chinese-esque”

• A European style would have been recognized as “Chinese” in style

• Idealized vision of Chinese Empire “Cathay”

Steffi Wong (07009380)

•First ever account by Marco Polo (trip:

1269-1273)

•Yet the appreciation was selective

•Strongest appeal : Wealth

•Fascinations for the OrientMarco Polo returned from his trips with exotic animals

Prior to 15th century: Imaging Cathay

The Travels of Sir Jon Madeville, Penguin Classics

Steffi Wong (07009380)

16th-17th centuries: a glimpse of Cathay

•Accounts of Marco Polo not challenged until 1498•China: a distinctive place in the geographical imagination•Trade barriers by the Chinese fueled European fascinations•European imitations not in demand during 16th century

Medici porcelain, Italy, 16th century

Steffi Wong (07009380)

•17th Century: spread of vogue for Chinese export products•Imitations of oriental-styled goods appeared in European workshops

Writing table with “japanned” lacquer, French, 1799

Delft white ceramics with Chinese motifs, ca 1880

Wedding dress in Chinoiserie style fabric, French, ca 1759

Steffi Wong (07009380)

18th century: the theological and philosophical wonderland

•An attractive alternative

•Practical philosophy and political morality

• Louis XV imitated Chinese emperors in the spring ploughing at 1756

• “Lofty ideals” made more desirable by artworks by Boucher and Watteau

“Emperor sailing”, Beauvais tapestry, French, ca 1720.

Steffi Wong (07009380)

La foire chinoise, François Boucher, 1742

Costume design sketch, joureur de gong, Jean Bérain, ca 1700 Steffi Wong (07009380)

Late 18th century: Fall of Cathay

• First report of unromantic experiences in China in A Voyage Round the World by Richard Walter in 1748

• A civilization in decline, a picture of corruption and backwardness

• Desire for an authentic image of Cathay coincided with the European empiricism in 19th century and Britain’s imperialist engagements in China

Steffi Wong (07009380)

“Made in China”(1978 onwards)

Cheng Tsz Ting 08029768

Workers in BYD's factory in Shenzhen

A Chinese worker on a Lenovo Electronic

Technology Co. factory assembly line in Shanghai

Cheng Tsz Ting 08029768

Cheng Tsz Ting 08029768

The Negative Perceptions of “Made in China” Products

in the West's Eyes

1. “Weapons of Mass Production” – Cut-price Chinese products threaten local producers

2. Poor Quality – Toys, fishes, fruits and vegetables, cars, milk ......

3. Poor Labour Condition – Sweatshop4. Loose Environmental Standard – Pollutions,

global warming5. Counterfeit Products – Great economic Loss

Cheng Tsz Ting 08029768

1. “Weapons Of Mass Production”Cheng Tsz Ting 08029768

Cheng Tsz Ting 08029768

2. Poor Quality

Cheng Tsz Ting 08029768

Cheng Tsz Ting 08029768

3. Poor Labour Conditions

Cheng Tsz Ting 08029768

4. Loose Environmental Standards

5. Counterfeit ProductsCheng Tsz Ting 08029768

Cheng Tsz Ting 08029768

To Sum Up......

“Made in

China”1500 18001600 1700 1900 2000

“Chinoiserie”

Positive National Image

- Romantic, Exotic, Culturally superior ......

NegativeNational Image

- Threatening (Economic Dumping, Poisonous, Sweatshop, Pollutions,

Counterfeit)

Bibliography

Auguste, Catherine, Chinoiserie, ornements de fantasie, http://www.meublepeint.com/chinoiserie.htm.

China Labour Watch http://www.chinalaborwatch.org/

Curran, L.. (2009). EU Trade Defence Actions against China and Their Impacts: The Cases of Textiles and Footwear. Journal of World Trade, 43(6), 1281-1297.

Fake Brand in China http://www.hemmy.net/2007/04/29/chinese-fake-brands/

Ille, Francis R. (2009). Building Chinese global brands through soft technology transfer. Journal of Chinese Economic and Foreign Trade Studies, 2(1), 47-61.

Interbrand Best Global Brands (2010 http://www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/best-global-brands-2008/best-global-brands-2010.aspx

Honour, Huge (1973). Chinoiserie: the vision of Cathay, New York: First Icon Edition.

Mattews, Robert Guy (2010, June 9). U.S. News: U.S. Hits China With Steel

Penalty. Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition), p. A.4.

Mungello, David E. (2009). The great encounter of China and the West, 1500-1800. New York: Roman and Littlefield Publishers. Inc.

The Next China; China's labour market. (2010, July). The Economist, 396(8693), 48-50.

Phau, Ian & Teah, Min. (2009). Devil wears (counterfeit) Prada: a study of antecedents and outcomes of attitudes towards counterfeits of luxury brands. The Journal of Consumer Marketing, 26(1), 15-27.

Porter, David (2001). Ideographia: The Chinese cipher in early modern Europe. Stanford, Stanford University Presse.

Sloboda, Stacey (2008). Picturing China: William Alexander and the visual language of chinoiserie, British Art Journal, vol.9 no.2 (Fall 2008)